Sharon Snell Obituary

Sharon Snell, age 80, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024, at St. William's Care Center.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 7 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Friday, one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Osceola # 2 Cemetery in Marvin. Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn will officiate.

The service will be livestreamed, recorded, and viewable below this obituary.  

Sharon Irene Amdahl was born on April 15, 1944, at Peabody Hospital in Webster, SD. She was the first born of nine children to Dale Percy Amdahl and Jeanette Ruth (Hjellming) Amdahl. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith on November 18, 1944, and confirmed in 1956. She attended school at Blooming Valley #1, Sunnyside School, and in 1957, she graduated eighth grade at Marvin School. She attended high school in South Shore and in Milbank, and later completed her GED.

Sharon was united in marriage with Virgil Snell on August 27, 1960, at American Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD. The couple settled into their first home in Milbank while helping on the Snell farm near Corona. 

Sharon worked at St. Hubert Hotel and Trevett’s Café, and often cared for her younger siblings. From 1962-1964, Sharon and Virgil fostered three children and were blessed with three children of their own: Dawn, Dorene, and Marlin. The family moved to Twin Brooks, SD, where Sharon worked at the Café. From 1973-1978, Sharon operated Snell’s Hilltop Café and Grocery Store in Marvin, SD, eventually moving there. Sharon was a baker at Foss Café in Wilmot and a dietary cook at Whetstone Valley Nursing Home in Milbank.

In 1981, Sharon started Snell’s Adult Home Care in her home. In 1992, she and Virgil moved to Milbank. In 1995, they built a 6,000 square foot home, added Adult Day Care and was licensed by the South Dakota Department of Health as a Residential Care Home. Sharon poured her heart and soul into their business, and the logo was “Come join us when you can no longer live alone”. She retired in 2015, and the business was sold.

Sharon’s hobbies were dancing, playing accordion, genealogy, sewing, embroidery, cooking, baking, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved music, especially polkas, Danny O’Donnell, and church hymns. She was a lifetime member of the Summit VFW Ladies Auxiliary and a member of Grant County Historical Society. She was a Notary Public from 1971-2010. In Marvin, she taught Sunday School, was superintendent, and was secretary for Osceola Cemetery Association for 20 years. Sharon was a member of Parkview United Methodist Church in Milbank. 

Left to cherish her memory is Virgil Snell and their children: Dawn Kane (Keven Christensen) of Brookings, SD; Dorene (Wesley) Green of Wilmot, SD; and Marlin (Tammy) Snell of Milbank, SD; eight grandchildren: April Steffensen, Alicia Kane, Karyna (David) Souhrada, Kristopher (Wendy) Green, Kalli Green, Kelby Green, Kailor (Abigail) Green, and Peyton Snell; eight great-grandchildren: Paisley, Lane, and Laramie Steffensen, Draven Persson, Brooklyn, Hayven, Ella Souhrada, Billy Green, Baby Green coming in 2025 (Kailor and Abigail) siblings: Shelly (Arlo) Anderson of Summit, SD; and Leon (Della) Amdahl of Woonsocket, SD.; brother-in-law, Galen Bauman of Watertown, SD; sisters-in-law: Eunice Amdahl of Summit, SD; and Lori Amdahl of Sioux Falls, SD; and several beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents: Dale and Ruth Amdahl; brothers: Baby Jerry, Gary Amdahl, Les Amdahl, Kevin Amdahl, and Terry Amdahl; sister, Linda Bauman; sister-in-law, Cindy Amdahl; and great-granddaughter, Nora Souhrada. 

Blessed be the memory of Sharon Irene Amdahl Snell.