Lee T Snilsberg

Mankato Mortuary
1001 North Riverfront Drive
Mankato, Minnesota 56001
507-388-2202


Longtime Mankato resident, Lee T. Snilsberg, age 94, died on October 30th, at Pathstone Living in Mankato. A memorial service will be held 11 AM on Monday, November 12, 2012 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church located at 720 S. Second St., Mankato. Following the service there will be a Celebration of his life at the Mankato Golf Club.

The family prefers memorials to the Mankato Family YMCA, Pathstone Living, Kiwanis' Camp Patterson, or the donor's choice.

Mr. Snilsberg was born February 2, 1918 in New Ulm, MN. His parents were Thor and Jen (Sommerstad) Snilsberg.

He graduated from Mankato High School in 1935 and the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland in 1939 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He was employed by the Bell System as an engineer from 1939 to 1942 when he returned to the Navel Service during WW II. He married Loretta Neubert, June 14, 1941. In 1946 he retired from the U.S. Navy as a Lt. Commander and entered the insurance business with his father which was more recently known as Snilsberg=Danish Chartered and he closed this business at the end of 2011.

Mr. Snilsberg represented the Equitable Financial Companies for 65 years. He served as president of the Minnesota Life Leaders, the Southern Minnesota Association of Life Underwriters, and President of the Equitable CLU Association. He was recognized with multiple awards, including the G. Bennett Serrill Memorial Award and the Orris M. Johnson Memorial Award. He was a Life Member of the Million Dollar Roundtable. He was a member of his company's Hall of Fame and was the Regional Honor Agent in 1975.

Mr. Snilsberg had a variety of interests and participated in many activities and community affairs. He served as president of the Mankato YMCA, President of the Mankato Area Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the United Way. He was named Mankato's Outstanding Young Man in 1952. He was a member of the Mankato Golf Club, Downtown Mankato Kiwanis Club, the Elks Club, the American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Oshman Shrine and the Mankato Tom and Jerry Club.

Mr. Snilsberg also served as a Director and Secretary of the Hickory Tech Corporation Board, President and Director of the Board of First Federal Savings and Loan and the Director of the National Bank of Commerce Board. Along with his wife, Lee assured educational help for students at both Bethany Lutheran College and Mankato State University endowments.

He enjoyed golfing, fishing and hunting ducks and pheasants. He organized a group of 24 men, known as the World's Greatest Fishermen and Euchre Players Assoc., and served as its leader of 25 years. He was a member of the Mankato Curling Club and served as its President. He and his wife enjoyed travel and visited all seven continents.

Mr. Snilsberg is survived by his son, Thomas and wife, Jane, of Iron River, WI. He is also survived by four grandchildren; Thor (Christa) Snilsberg and great granddaughter, Freya of Brooklyn, NY, Tara Snilsberg of Mankato, Scott (Katie) Watson and great grandchildren, Aubrie, Cassidy and Jackson of White Bear Lake, Wade (Nicole) Watson and great grandchildren, Ben and Noah of White Bear Lake; sister-in-law, Lucille Neubert of Sun City West, AZ,, Nephew, Jerry (Dorothy) Neubert of El Cajon, CA and niece, Joanne (Bob) Lytel of Palm Desert, CA. He is also survived by a special friend and support, Beth Colway, by his three "blonde Norwegian Cousins" Anne Greta (Ralph) Petersen, of Virginia Beach, VA, Elsbeth Carling of Holen, Norway and Cathy Arntzen of Oslo, Norway; and also cousin, Patti (Rick) Kramlinger of Mankato

He was preceded in death by his beloved and loving wife of 70 years, Loretta, his parents, brother-in-law, C.A. "Nubs" Neubert and nephew, Dr. James Neubert.