Karen Lee Snyder, 81, of Rochester, died Monday, July 24, 2023 at home.

Karen was born June 20, 1942, in Fairmont, MN to Charles and Eunice (Feigum) Gunsten.  She graduated from Fairmont High School in 1960 and attended Macalester College in St. Paul.  On December 29, 1962, she married Larry R. Snyder, and the couple lived in Minneapolis, Fridley and Pine Island before settling in Rochester.  In addition to raising her two sons, Karen worked part-time for St. Marys Hospital and Methodist Hospital in Rochester.  Later in life, Karen began a career as a writer; she was the Rochester Post-Bulletin's first female sportswriter and wrote hundreds of articles for various newspapers and magazines.

Karen had a wide variety of hobbies, including golf, tennis, polka dancing, reading, hiking and word games.  She especially loved spending time with her beloved dogs and training them in agility and hunt trials.

She is survived by her sons, Shawn (Kay) Snyder of Ankeny, IA and Barry (Kris Torres) Snyder of Duluth, MN; two grandchildren, Niki Snyder of Milwaukee, WI and Andrew Snyder of Denver, CO; and her cocker spaniels, Snicket and Karl.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Larry, and her beloved dogs Skunky, Snooper, Woody, Hector, Raymond and Chester.

The funeral service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Rochester on Saturday, July 29, 2023, with Rev. Steve Johnson officiating.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with the service immediately following at 11:00 a.m.

Memorials are preferred to Paws and Claws Humane Society in Rochester, MN.