Richard 'Duke' Ralph Snyder, 78
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 15 years, 5 months AGO
Richard "Duke" Ralph Snyder died Feb. 15, 2011, peacefully at Ivy Court in Coeur d'Alene. He was born Jan. 13, 1933, in Culver City, Calif.
Duke was a retired Anthropology/Archaeology Instructor at North Idaho College. He served in the Army as an MP at Fort Devon Massachusetts during the Korean War. He attended Santa Monica CC and played Trombone in the Marching Band in high school as well as college.
During his graduate studies at UCLA he worked on an Archaeological dig in the Dordogne region of France near Lascaux caves, on a site associated with both Cro-Magnon as well as Neanderthal remains. He also participated in a dig in the Mohave Dessert in California with early New World man remains under the direction of Dr. L.S. B. Leaky.
After graduation from UCLA he worked on Catalina Island at a private school as a teacher but also worked with the Catalina Island company doing Archaeological excavations. He moved to Coeur d'Alene in 1972 to accept the position at North Idaho College. His wonderful imagination created a catapult contest, "plunk your magic twanger" between engineering departments of area colleges, a Cryptozoological Club (a search for Sasquatch and Lake Ponderay, monsters).
He also coached the soccer team at NIC. Duke belonged to a "North Idaho Two Bit Philosophical and Breakfast Club Society," a collection of friends for discussions and books to share. He brought his sense of humor, always willing to tell a story he thought was funny, and an encyclopedic mind and memory. He was able to quote author, book and title and it's related information into the conversation. He retired in 1996 and spent many years on the road with his RV.
He married Betty Fergusson in 1960 and they had two children, Beverly Ann and Brynmorgaine (nee Susan Colleen). They were divorce in 1980.
He is survived by his two daughters, Beverly Vredevelt of Spokane, Wash., and Brynmorgaine of San Diego, Calif.; his sister, Carole Snyder of Post Falls; his brother, Gary Snyder of Kennewick, Wash.; his grandchildren, Rachael Kretz of Oak Harbor, Wash., Sarah Vredvelt and David Vredevelt of Spokane and Joshua Shirley of Oak Harbor. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Gary Snyder Jr. and Andrew Snyder of Massachusetts, Scott Snyder of Kennewick, David Snyder of Portland, Ore., Mathew (Tomoko) Snyder of Riverside, Calif., and Jennifer (Fahd) Saeed of Salem, Ore.; one great-granddaughter, Susan Marie of Oak Harbor and his former wife, Betty.
His memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2011, at the Lutheran Church of the Master, 4800 N. Ramsey Road, Coeur d'Alene. A reception will follow around 10:45 a.m. at the church in the Gathering Place hall.