Nila Jean Snell

Nila Jean Snell was born April 18, 1924, in Pierre, South Dakota to Esther and Jake Roebuck. When Nila was five, the Roebucks moved by covered wagon from South Dakota to Nebraska.

Nila worked at Thiele Drug Store in Alliance, Nebraska and was a volunteer for the USO during World War II. This is where she met her husband Bill Snell, an Army Staff Sergeant. Nila and Bill were married for 46 years and had three boys and two girls.

Nila was always adventurous and loved being out in the great outdoors. She enjoyed her many trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Yellowstone, Florida, Oklahoma, and Belize. She hunted, fished, hiked, and was willing to try anything. She loved music of all kinds; her favorite was listening to her son John playing the guitar. She was a great dancer and loved dancing around the living room with Bill.

Nila's home was always open, if you needed a place to stay, or someone to talk to, NIla was always there for you. Known for her cinnamon rolls, potato salad, and chili, she loved having everyone gather around her table.

When you met Nila, she was an immediate friend; whether you needed help or a listening ear, she was always there.

Loving, caring, kind, generous, fun, witty, sympathetic, empathetic, she was the most inspiring person we will ever know. She was truly beautiful inside and out.

If you knew Nila, you also know that she sang "You Are My Sunshine" out loud until her last days. We held her hand and sang with her until February 3rd of 2024,when the rain came and our sunshine was taken away.

Nila was preceded in death by her parents, Jake and Esther Roebuck, by six of her sisters, her eight brothers, her husband Bill Snell and her son John Snell. She is survived by her sister Shirley Joan Adamy, four of her children, nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in her name to your favorite charity.

A celebration of life will be planned for a future date.