Darold L. Snortum, age 96, of Canby, MN, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2023 at the Sanford Canby Medical Center in Canby. A “Celebration of Life” service will be held on Saturday, April 1st, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby, MN with burial in the St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Canby. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby is entrusted with the arrangements.
Darold Lionel Snortum was born on August 27th, 1926 to Randolph and Gladyce Snortum in Canby, MN. He graduated from Canby High School in 1944. Darold and Olga Lee united their love by marriage on July 29th, 1951. They made their home in Canby where they spent the past 69 years in a home they built right after they married and where they raised their three boys Robert, Steven and Peter. Darold enlisted in a Navy program called V5, a program ending up in flight training. He spent time in Minot, ND, Ottumwa, IA, Iowa City, IA and Corpus Christi, Texas. The war ended while in training so he would say “I opted out before becoming an officer and a gentleman.” He returned to his family business, Canby Floral Company which evolved into Snortum’s Flowers and Nursery. He decided early on that being his own boss, going to work in old clothes and seeing at the end of the day that you had been there… was a good thing. He loved his work and always said “I never worked a day in my life.” Darold became immersed in community life. He served as a Yellow Medicine County Fair board member for 33 years. He was the Mayor of Canby for 11 years and councilman for another 11 years up until recently served on the HRA board, MECCA board. He became a member of the Rotary Club in 1976. His dad Randolph was a charter member of Canby Rotary which started in 1946. In 2006, the community started an annual “Canby Citizen of the Year Award.” He was honored and humbled and somewhat embarrassed to be the first recipient. Soon after leaving the Navy, he started recording weather data for the weather Bureau. He took pride in not having one blank day on record with the help of family and friends in the later years. He continued this service for 56 years. He received a service pin at 5 years, 50 years and 55 years. The Canby community was very important to him and Olga. While on his many committees and organizations over the years he worked for improvement and growth. He often wondered what impression strangers get when driving through Canby… would they think it looks like a nice place to live? He sure did! Darold and Olga enjoyed singing with the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Choir. They were avid fans of their grandchildren and great grandkids’ activities and sporting events. They were top Canby Lancer Fan Club Members. He had a passion for woodworking and did everything from new room additions, grandfather clocks, homemade puzzles, and Intarsia woodworking. He even taught a Vo-Tech class for 24 evening sessions in Groundskeeping and Maintenance to earn extra money to buy a sailboat kit which he completed during the winter months. The whole family enjoyed sailing in his boat for many years.
Darold passed away at Sanford Health of Canby on January 8th 2023 surrounded by loved ones. Darold got to live out his dream of living in his own home until the very end. Darold is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Wendell and John, wife Olga and son Robert. He is survived by his sister Sylvia (Hanson), sons Steven (Rachelle) Snortum of Granite Falls and Peter & Desli Snortum of Perham, MN. His 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. As you can see, Darold lived a full life traveling, spending time with his family and friends, doing countless crossword puzzles and followed his father’s path of recording his story which his family is so grateful for! This man was one to look up to and who set such an example for everyone! You will be missed.
