MICHAEL SNYDER

Funeral Mass for Michael Snyder, 58, of Lake Andes will be held Wednesday, April 16 at 11 a.m. at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Lake Andes. Burial will take place on Thursday at the Esterly Cemetery, rural Florence. Visitation will be at the church on Tuesday from 5-7 p.m., with Rosary at 6:45 followed by a Scripture Wake Service at 7. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner is in charge of arrangements.

Michael Lynn Snyder, son of Julius and Ruth (Weldon) Snyder, was born April 24, 1966, at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He died unexpectedly on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at his home in Lake Andes.

Mike graduated from Underwood High School in 1984. This was where Mike first developed his passion for track and field. He continued his education at the University of South Dakota, where he graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and competed on the Track and Field team as a shot put and discus thrower. After graduating in 1988, he went to work in the state prison system as a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor (CCDC), where he earned the South Dakota State Employee of the Year award. Mike had two children from his first marriage, Nathan and Cody.

Mike met his wife Becky while working at Marty Indian School. They were married at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Florence on November 27, 1999. They were blessed with two children, Chase and McKenzie. Soon after their wedding, Mike began working at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Marty as a Youth Minister and counselor. It was here that Mike began his Theophostic Prayer Ministry. Mike was passionate about this ministry and through this ministry, which continued long after his time working at St. Paul’s, many people received inner healing. It was during his years there that Mike was baptized into the Catholic Church.

After his time at St. Paul’s, Mike began working for Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services in their satellite office in Lake Andes.

One of Mike’s greatest passions was coaching weightlifting and track and field. He coached many students, including his four children, who competed at a high level. He helped all three of his sons compete at the collegiate level. Mike was passionate about everything he did, and he was always looking to improve himself. Through his prayer ministry, work, and coaching, Mike changed many lives.

Thankfulforhavingshared his life are his wife Becky of Lake Andes; four children: Cody (Whitney) of Denver, CO, Nathan of Lakewood, CO, Chase of Sioux Falls and McKenzie of Lake Andes; five siblings: David (Pam) Snyder of Council Bluffs, IA, Tom (Cheri) Snyder of Underwood, IA, Don (Lisa) Snyder of Underwood, IA, Sue (Bix) Howard of Bently, IA, and Joyce Snyder of Council Bluffs, IA; aunt, Joyce Anderson of Eudora, KS; brothers-in-law: Rich (Jodi) Maag of Watertown and Larry Maag of Brookings; sister-in-law, Laura Maag of Milbank; father-in-law, Bob Maag of Florence; Godson Paul Snyder; Goddaughter Alyssa Kraning; two nieces and nine nephews.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Julius Snyder; two brothers: James and Paul Snyder; and mother-in-law, Wendy Maag.