Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272240
Title: Adolph "Duane" Sneva
Date: 1/17/1931-6/28/2026
Inscription/Marks: 1/17/1931
Summary: Adolph "Duane" Sneva, 95, of Williston, ND, passed away June 18, 2026. His funeral was held July 31, 2026, at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Grenora, ND. He was laid to rest next to his wife, Lois, in the Grenora Cemetery. The Snevas emigrated from Norway and settled in Grenora around 1913. They established the first lumber yard and proceeded to build a good share of the buildings that made up the town. One of those buildings, which no longer stands, was a boarding house located on Main Street and operated by two Sneva sisters. However, after two years, the sisters returned to Norway and the building became the hospital. It was in this hospital that Dad was born on January 17, 1931. Christened Adolph Duane Sneva Jr., he always preferred just Duane. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Army, for a two-year tour, during the Korean Conflict, where he worked as a tank mechanic. He remained stateside during his service and returned home after discharge from the Army to help his Dad on the farm. Duane had dreams of travel to see more of the country, but family farming obligations kept him here. But here, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Lois. They were married in 1959 and settled into a life of building their own farm, while Dad also managed the Credit Union and sold Farmers Union Insurance. Mom worked right alongside him in all their endeavors. Meanwhile, they also built a family of four: Connie, Craig, Scott, and Darrin, the next generation work force! Through example, we learned the value of faith, family, a solid work ethic, moral obligation, and the importance of community. And, as their children, we are grateful for those lessons. Dad and Mom worked hard, but also knew the value of fun. As a family, we enjoyed boating, water skiing, fishing, hunting, and camping. We spent many good times at Brush Lake during summers, and each year, between haying and harvest, we ventured as far into Canada as the roads would take us. We logged many miles and crazy adventures with lots of great fishing. In his 95 years, Dad lived through change and innovation, from farming with horses to tractors and equipment that look more like a train running through the field. Intelligent and resourceful, he met challenges head on and never settled for “good enough”, always going above and beyond. He leaves a life well lived as his legacy. He is survived by his children, Connie (Herberg), Craig Sneva (Mary), Scott Sneva, and Darrin Sneva (Shelly); grandchildren, Sarah Wheeldon, Shannon Smith (Devyn), Shawn Sneva (Naomi), Brandon Sneva (Ashley) and Alex Sneva; great-grandchildren, Claire, Shamus, Isla, Olivia, Ellie, Drasyn, Destyn, and Shaylon; great-great-grandchildren, Emilia and Isabelle; sister, Alma Mae Price; niece, Sharlo Halvorson (Keith); nephew, Roger Price (Shelly); cousins and many other family members scattered to the four corners of the earth. Duane was preceded in death by his wife Lois, the love of his life for all of their 63 years together; his parents, Adolph and Mildred Sneva; three grandsons, Robert, Daryn, and Eric Herberg, and son-in-law, Jon Herberg.
Red ID: FND_I_79732 Image ID: 596186 Image Notes: FND001 272240

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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