Lester W. Snyder, Jr. Lt. Col. USAF (Ret). 93, of Rapid City, passed away Monday, May 12, unexpectedly at the Pennington County Courthouse. Les was born on May 8, 1921, in Chelsea, MA to Lester W. Snyder and Gertrude (Dudley). He graduated from Howe High School in Billerica, MA in 1939. He served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II, flying combat missions as a navigator-bombardier off the island of Tinian in a B-29 Superfortress. For his service, he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross. Returning stateside, he graduated with a BS Cum Laude from the Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, Ruston, LA in 1949. Les then married Nell Goodgame in Bossier City, LA on August 25, 1950. Duty called again, and he was summoned by the United States Air Force to the Korean Conflict in 1951, flying B-26 missions from K-9 near Pusan, South Korea. Les returned to complete his MS in Industrial Administration from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh in 1955. After numerous jobs in several different states, including working for the Eastman Kodak Company, Les and Nell arrived in Rapid City on August 14, 1959. Les would then begin his 29-year run as a Mechanical Engineer Professor at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. Les and Nell divorced in 1975. While at the School of Mines, he met and later married Alice Anne Davis on March 1, 1980. The pair would enjoy a 29-year marriage until Alice's death in 2009. Les and Alice traveled all over the states from coast to coast making visits to the Bahamas, Russia, Hawaii and the Pacific Rim, always seeking new adventures along the way. Les retired from the School of Mines in 1985. Shortly thereafter, he became a bailiff at the Pennington County Courthouse, where he would serve for 27 years until his death. Les was actively involved in the community during his 55 years in Rapid City. These activities included membership in the First Congregational Church, the Air Force Reserve, the Boys Scouts, the Group community theater, the Hardrocker Flying Club, the Reserve Officers Association and the Civil Air Patrol, where he served as the Wing Commander. He was also a member of the Black Hills Veterans Writing Group, Elks Club Lodge 1187 and Historic Deadwood Lodge No. 7 AF&M as a Master Mason. Les flew 58 combat missions in WWII and Korea and accumulated over 2,000 private flying hours as a licensed pilot. He retired from the military as a Lt. Colonel, with 16 different decorations. After 29 years in his vocation, he retired as a Professor Emeritus from South Dakota Tech. During his avocation as a Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol, he earned 22 different decorations and awards. Lester W. Snyder Jr. was truly part of the Greatest Generation. For his efforts, he was rewarded with a spot on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2010 to recognize his service to his country in WWII. It was a life well-lived. Survivors include ex-wife Nell Heller, Twin Falls, ID; children Lester W. Snyder III (Coleen Barker) Marysville, WA; Pamela Snyder (special friend Patrick McElearney), Santa Barbara, CA; and Heather Gould, Twin Falls, ID; grandchildren Colleen Humphries, Joshua Snyder, Amanda (Brandon) Perry, Trevor Dain, Schuyler Dain, Madeline Dain (fiancé Jeff Rubio), Kimberly (Omar) Ramos, Jeremy (Kelly) Lloyd, Quinn Averett, and Chelsea Gould; great-grandchildren Jessica, Jenna, Caleb, Mackenzey, Cameron, Natalla, Nathanial, Dylan, and Everly; stepchildren Jeff (Kathy) Davis, Rapid City; Charlaine (Jim) Nielsen, Gillette, WY; Lenn (Hillary) Davis, Rapid City; and Jayna Davis, Bellevue, NE; step-grandchildren Thomas Nielsen, Michael (Jeannine) Nielsen, Courtney (fiancé Shaun) Davis, Megan Davis, Brittany (Cale) Yates, Kayla Stephens, and Jaycee Stephens; step-great-grandchildren Nathan, Joseph, Ella, Mia and Emma Jay. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Gertrude, a brother, Robert, and his sister in-law, Betty, his second wife, Alice, and grandson Cameron. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 16, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with the Rev. Ted Huffman officiating. Inurnment, with military honors rendered by Ellsworth Air Force Base and Rushmore VFW Post 1273, will follow at 12 Noon at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given in his name to the South Dakota Civil Air Patrol or the Humane Society of the Black Hills.