Virgil Snell

Virgil Snell, 85, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at St. Mary’s Mayo Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at American Lutheran Church in Milbank. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and will close with a prayer service at 5:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Monday, one hour prior to the service. We will depart for burial at Osceola #2 Cemetery, near Marvin, SD, at 2:00 p.m.

Virgil Elwood Snell was born on September 20, 1940, in Milbank, SD, to Walter and Lillian (Kruger) Snell. He attended country school in Kilborn #4 and graduated in 1958 from Corona High School. He, his brother Duane, and his parents lived on a farm near Marvin, SD, and later on a farm near Corona, SD. Virgil lived in Grant County his whole life.

Virgil married Sharon Amdahl on August 27, 1960, at Milbank American Lutheran Church. To this union, three children were born: Dawn, Dorene, and Marlin. They were foster parents to three more: Sheryl, Dean, and Jr. The family lived in the Twin Brooks, Marvin, and Milbank communities. Virgil was a member of Twin Brooks Presbyterian Church and Parkview Methodist Church in Milbank.

Virgil was employed as a polisher at Hunters Granite Company and later became a proud truck driver, hauling milk for Valley Queen Cheese Factory for 24 and half years. For many years, Virgil was the mayor of Marvin, SD, the assistant fire chief, and the caretaker of Osceola Cemetery #1 and #2.

While living in Marvin in 1980, Virgil and Sharon began their business, Snell Residential Care Home, where they took in and cared for over 100 elderly men and women, and continued in Milbank, SD, until their retirement in 2015.

In 1997, Virgil retired from Valley Queen. In 2005, Virgil received the “Gift of Life,” a new heart, and lived at St. Mary’s Hospital and the “Gift of Life” Transplant House in Rochester, MN, for a year. Virgil never took life for granted and was grateful for the new lease on life he’d been given.

He is survived by his three children: Dawn (Keven Christensen) Kane of Brookings, SD; Dorene (Wesley) Green of Wilmot, SD; Marlin (Tammy) Snell of Milbank, SD; eight grandchildren: April Steffensen, Alicia Kane, Karyna (David) Souhrada, Kristopher (Wendy) Green, Kalli (Bailley Friesz) Green, Kelby (Brittany Schaeffer) Green, Kailor (Abigail) Green, and Peyton Snell; nine great-grandchildren: Paisley, Lane, and Laramie Steffensen, Brooklyn, Hayven and Ella Souhrada, Draven Persson, Billy and Willamina Green; one niece, Cynthia (Gregg) Oldfield; one nephew, Michael (Kevlin) Snell; in-laws: Galen Bauman; Shelly(Arlo) Anderson, Lori Amdahl, Della Amdahl and Eunice Amdahl; special family: Jesus Sr., Maria, Juan Niño and Martha Niño Sorenson; and many beloved nieces and nephews in the Amdahl family.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Sharon; his parents; one brother Duane (Vivian) Snell; and Jesus Jr. Niño.