Frederick Gordon Snyder, 85, Waite Park

February 2, 1930 - July 31, 2015

Frederick Gordon ('Gordon') Snyder, age 85, of Waite Park, MN, formerly of Grand Forks, ND, passed away Friday, July 31, 2015 at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN.

Funeral services will be Thursday, August 6, 2015 at 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church, Sartell, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Burial will be in Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, MN. Funeral arrangements were made by Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN.

Gordon was born February 2, 1930 to Floyd and Virginia (Held) Snyder in Freeport, Ill. He graduated from Freeport High School and proudly served his country for four years in the U.S. Navy. Gordon graduated from Northern Illinois University and later pursued his MBA at the University of North Dakota. Gordon married Bonnie M. Babcock in 1953 in Freeport, Ill. They lived in Grand Forks, ND for 34 years before moving to Waite Park in 2002. Gordon retired from the University of North Dakota as regional director of the U.S. Small Business Development Center in 1999 and always remained a Fighting Sioux supporter.

He will be remembered for his hard work in support of economic development in North Dakota; his love for family and friends; dedication to the health and continued healing of cardiac care patients through Mended Hearts; and years of volunteer work in his community. Gordon was honored to serve for 10 years as honorary commander of the U.S. Air Force 319th Service Squadron at the Grand Forks AFB.

Gordon is survived by wife Bonnie; son Cameron (Kim); daughter-in-law Cherie Myers; grandchildren Greg, Angela, Aaron (Kasey), Logan and Brennan; great-grandchildren Aaden, Olivia and Jonah; brother-in-law Tom Loughlin, and many nieces and nephews.

Gordon is preceded in death by his parents; sons Frederic Scott ('Scott') in infancy and Gordon Mitchell ('Mitch') in 2003; and siblings Carol Wilke, Allison Schoville, Audrey Moritz, Natalie Heimerdinger, Richard Snyder and Cynthia Loughlin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the American Heart Association or First United Methodist, Sartell, MN.