LaVetta Snyder

LaVetta Snyder was born December 17, 1915 (two years prior to the US entering World War I) near Rollwitz, Nebraska. She was the third of 12 children born to Charles and Lola Mullanix. LaVetta first attended the Rollwitz grade school eventually graduating from Benkelman High School in 1932. Immediately following high school she started her teaching career at Rollwitz at age 17, later teaching at Max.

She met Stanley Snyder in1936 when he arrived as a cowboy moving a herd of cattle down from Paxton. They married in July 1937

Stanley served in the army during World War II and in his absence, LaVetta worked in Indiana in the armament industry, one of the many ‘Rosy the Riveters’, testing steel hardness for tanks. After the war, they moved to San Diego, California, where Stanley mustered out of the army and their first son Stanley was born in 1946. From there, it was back to Nebraska to the Snyder family ranch near Paxton. LaVetta’s second son Robert came along in 1950.

LaVetta resumed her teaching career in 1952 at Keystone, Nebraska where she taught for the next four years. In 1956 she moved the family to Torrington, Wyoming for a better teaching opportunity. She picked Torrington because it had a junior college. She was planning ahead for her two sons, the oldest of which was only 10 at the time. LaVetta stayed with the Torrington school system until she retired in 1980, first as an elementary teacher, then on to middle school English and finally as the middle school librarian. While teaching at Torrington, she pursued her own education advancement at Chadron State Teachers College, each summer traveling to Chadron with two reluctant young sons in tow, until achieving her bachelor's degree in 1959. Later, she went on to receive her master's degree in library science.

After retirement in 1980 she stayed in Torrington keeping up with her social circle and her church activities. She enjoyed traveling and visiting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Oregon. Her husband Stanley passed away in 1985. In 2005 she moved to Benkelman to be near her sisters Wynona, Bonnie, and Shirley. She managed to live independently until just a few months ago (even driving to the grocery, at the age of 107.

LaVetta was a devoted Christian. She was a longtime member of the Presbyterian Church and served as a deacon in the Torrington Church. She enjoyed teaching adult Sunday School for many years. There was always a well-read Bible by her side, as well as other books on faith. She liked to cook and sew for others and was quite good at both. She avidly followed the news and, for some strange reason, professional tennis. Over the years, her concern for others led her to support several charities.

LaVetta passed away April 15, 2025 at the age of 109, a long life well lived.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Stanley, brothers, Beverly, Glen, Duane, Charles, Doyle, and Jim and sisters, Lorna, Wynona, and Wanda. Survivors include her sisters, Shirley Mullanix and Bonnie Mullanix, sons Stanley (Kathryn), and Robert (Candace), grandchildren Aaron Snyder, Elizabeth Richardson, Nathan Snyder and Caitlyn Snyder, great grandchildren, Jack and Imogen of Aaron Snyder, Maggie, Nicholas, Lucy, Katie, Samuel and Benjamin of Elizabeth Richardson, Patrick and Isabel of Nathan Snyder.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 26 at 11:00 AM mountain time at the Benkelman Memorial Chapel, Benkelman, Nebraska with granddaughter Elizabeth Richardson leading the service. Inurnment will follow at the Benkelman cemetery. No viewing or visitation prior are planned.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.liewerfuneralhome.com

Liewer Funeral Home/Benkelman Memorial Chapel are reponsible for arrangements.