On Tuesday, March 3, 2020, Mary Ruth Snider Wettlaufer passed away at the age of 88.
Mary was born on August 14, 1931 in La Grande, Oregon to Hugh and Mildred Stringham Snider. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education in 1953, four months after she married her sweetheart, Robert Kenneth Wettlaufer. Mary supported Bob through dental school and upon his graduation began her life's work as a wife and mother. A newly minted dentist, Bob joined the U.S. Air Force and began his career with a year long tour in Vietnam. During her year alone in California with 4 young children, Mary proved more than up to the task of running the household and filling the roles of both father and mother to her small brood. After a two-year assignment in Hawaii, Bob returned to school in Indiana to pursue a master's in Dentistry while Mary continued to be a strength and support to the entire family. The subsequent 15 years brought another child to the family as well as Mary successfully managing her family's relocations to Texas, the Azores, Mississippi and Oregon with such mastery that the family barely noticed their uprooting.
Mary was an amazing wife, mother and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She devoted herself to serving her husband, family and church tirelessly as they moved around the world.
Mary had a passion for music. She was an accomplished pianist and frequently accompanied Bob as he sang in church as well as in community musical productions. She shared her love of music with her children and grandchildren and always supported them in their musical pursuits.
Mary is loved and remembered by her children, Debra Dickens (Heinz Dickens), Robert Wettlaufer Jr (Eryn McKim), Thomas Wettlaufer (Sheila Wettlaufer), Ruth Snasel (Michael Snasel), and Jennifer Mayfield (Mitch Mayfield), her 22 grandchildren, and her 26 great-grandchildren, and by her sister, Sandra Snider Bell. Mary will also be forever remembered by her nieces, nephews, extended family and dear friends.
Memorial services will be held Monday, March 9, 2020 at 11 a.m. in the Summit Room at Sagewood at Daybreak, 11289 S Oakmond Rd, South Jordan UT 84009 and on Thursday, March 12 at 11:30 am in the LDS Chapel at 3233 NE 162nd Ave, Portland, OR 97230. The graveside service will be on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at Willamette National Cemetery. Those wishing to attend the graveside service should arrive at Lincoln Memorial Park & Funeral Home at 11801 SE Mt. Scott Blvd, Portland, OR 97086 no later than 9:00 a.m., from where they will be led into the cemetery for the 9:30 am graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
