Jack Henry Snyder

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Jack, “Opa,” Henry Snyder, 82, of Billings, Montana on December 19, 2025. Jack passed away surrounded by several members of his loving family after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer.

Born on September 24, 1943 in Billings, Montana to Oscar and Henrietta Snyder, he remained a resident of Montana his entire life. He attended grade school at Orchard School, junior high at Garfield School and graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1961. He attended Eastern Montana College and University of North Dakota before enlisting in the Navy, training as a hospital corpsman and serving aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War. After his discharge from active duty, he remained in the Navy Reserve for 26 years attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 1970 he returned to Billings and resumed his studies at Eastern. On January 30, 1971 he was married to Claire Elaine Southward. The following fall they moved to Missoula MT where he completed a degree in Pharmacy at the University of Montana. Upon finishing an internship in Polson, MT at Eddie’s Drug he moved back to Billings with his wife and two daughters. He worked at several drugstores in Billings including Western Drug, Skaggs and Odegaards. The family, which included two more daughters, then moved to Colstrip, MT where he worked at Odegaards there. In 1982 he became the owner of Sweetgrass Pharmacy in Big Timber, MT. He bought a computer to keep business records and from then on had to have the latest technological device. He worked with a contractor to build a house on a bluff above the Yellowstone River and relished dropping down to the river several evenings a month to fly fish. After spending several years serving and working in the community in various roles and forming lifelong friendships, the family returned to Billings where Jack worked in several more drugstores and also spent about eight years traveling and working for the Indian Health Service. In addition to a long career as a pharmacist he also served in capacities as a volunteer fireman, a Billings School District #2 board member, a church elder at Billings Bible Church, a camp committee member and volunteer at Clydehurst Christian Ranch and a lifetime member in Montana Trout Unlimited.

Jack was a true outdoorsman who found his greatest solace in the forests of his beloved home state. He was an avid hunter and fly fisherman and enjoyed camping and hiking in the back country and floating the many rivers that run through Montana. He was an amazing cook and a lifelong learner with an inquiring mind as well as a voracious reader, teaching himself to do just about anything through self study and all before the age of the internet. Known affectionately as a “jack of all trades,” he was happiest when tinkering (his super power) in his garage (where he had two of just about everything) or spreading enthusiasm for his latest idea. A “girl” dad par excellence, he instilled these deep passions in each one of his four daughters. In one phase of his later life he taught himself to sail and captained many adventurous, mostly harrowing, trips with friends and family aboard his sailboat the Calloh Callay. Approaching retirement he developed interests in RVing, woodworking, birdwatching and gardening. He also made several trips with his wife in the USA as well as Canada, Europe and Asia. Most recently he became a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church where he came to love the liturgical service, sang in the choir, served on the vestry, did many repair jobs on the property and joined the men’s book club. He also attended a weekly coffee klatch with his brother Jim and friends, and, of course, the infamous weekly board meetings at Angry Hank’s where the problems of the world were thoroughly debated.

Jack is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Claire, and his siblings, Marlene Schmid of Portland, OR, Ralph Snyder (Kammy) of Billings, MT, and James Snyder (Fran) of Laurel, MT and sister-in-law Robin Southward White (Mike) of Reno NV. He leaves behind a large, loving family, including his amazing daughters and much admired sons-in-law: Adele and Michael Pucci, Carmel and Jae Bang, Rachel and Craig Myrstol and Ariel and Aaron Koenigsberg. He was proud Opa to nine beloved grandchildren: Ilana Koch (Luke), Augustus, Abigail, Cicely and Kiera Myrstol, Luke (Holly), Ciera, and Cate Bang and Jonah Koenigsberg, as well as two great grandchildren: Bentlee Richard and Claire Marlene, and a third great granddaughter expected in the spring; his family also included several nieces and nephews.

There will be an inurnment service with military honors at the Yellowstone National Cemetery, 55 Buffalo Trail Road, Laurel, MT on May 22, 2026 at 11 AM. A celebration of life will follow on May 23, 2026 at the Koenigsberg residence 2920 Wise Lane, Billings, MT from 11 AM - 2 PM. Memorials can be made to Clydehurst Christian Ranch or St. Luke’s Endowment Fund. A heartfelt thank you to all the friends and family who came to sit and visit with Jack in his last days. It meant the world to him. The family would also like to thank these wonderful and compassionate staff members at Billings Clinic Oncology for their care of Jack: Dr. Goulet, Dr. Onyshchenko, and Lacy Tangedahl and their teams and Anna Weber and Melissa Dinges and their team in Palliative Care. Our thanks also to Dr. Camidge, Dr. Watson and Dana Rounsborg at UC Health Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver for their kindness while working closely with Jack in a drug trial. Not enough can be said about the empathy and tenderhearted care Jack received from Riverstone Hospice personnel, especially Michaela Finn and Corinne Denegre.

From Claire: To know Jack was to know a man of profound depth and complexity. He battled with PTSD and drug addiction but he was much much more than those struggles. He was the laughter that filled our home, the unexpected appreciation for poetry, opera and symphony concerts, the generous spirit and the fierce, quiet love he had for his family. He had a heart that was perhaps too sensitive for this world, and a mind that never quite knew how to rest. Jack lived in a landscape that most of us will never have to navigate. He waged a war on two fronts: the painful echoes of the past called PTSD, and the relentless pull of addiction, but with the help of therapy, support and care groups, loyal friends and family, fervent prayer and his faith he was able to keep claiming the victory over his challenges. He battled cancer with all his might and did not go gentle into that good night. I saw his courage not just in his best moments, but in the moments he chose to keep trying, even when the weight felt unbearable, but in the end was a warrior who was simply tired of the fight. My sweetheart, I love you forever and thank you for giving me and our daughters the best love and life you were capable of giving. You taught me about the complexity of the human spirit, the necessity of forgiveness and compassion, and the reality that a person can both wrestle with dependence and yet be deeply, deeply loved. I know that your pain is over and you are at peace-the peace that passes all understanding. I rejoice with you in the promise of the resurrection.