Karl Nelson Snow Jr.

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Karl Nelson Snow, Jr., age 94, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2024, at his home in Provo, Utah. 

The youngest of six children, Karl was born on July 1, 1930, in St. George, Utah, to Wanda McGregor Snow, three weeks after the passing of his father Karl Nelson Snow. The family moved to Provo, Utah in summer 1936 so that his mother could complete her degree and begin a career teaching elementary school. Karl attended the BYU training schools for grades 1–12. As a teenager and young adult, Karl worked at Bryce Canyon Lodge for a number of summers, and one summer at Zion National Park. He had many fond memories of his time working at Bryce Canyon, where he progressed from being a linen boy to assistant manager of the lodge.

Following high school graduation, Karl attended Brigham Young University for one year prior to serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Texas-Louisiana Mission from 1950 to 1952. Following his missionary service, he returned to BYU, where he majored in political science with a minor in history. He was actively engaged in campus social life and served as the Viking social unit president, then later as president of the Blue Key Honor Society and of the university’s Student Inter-Organization Council. Karl continued his education at the University of Minnesota, where he received a master’s degree in public administration, and then at the University of Southern California, where he received his doctorate in public administration.

Shortly after moving to California to attend USC, Howard W. Hunter introduced Karl to Hunter’s long-time legal secretary, the beautiful and extremely capable Donna Jean Dain. After a brief courtship, Karl and Donna were married on January 29, 1960, in the Salt Lake Temple. Karl and Donna eventually had six children: Karl Nelson Snow III, Melissa Snow, Daniel Dain Snow, Jeanmarie Snow, Elisabeth Snow, and Howard Hunter Snow.

After Karl completed his coursework, he and Donna moved to Utah, where he accepted a position as an assistant professor of political science at BYU, teaching courses in public administration. He also consulted with the Utah State Legislative Council and served on the Neal A. Maxwell Committee on Legislative Reform. Out of his research and analysis came a proposal and legislation that led to the creation of the Office of Legislative Fiscal Analyst. In 1966 he was able to take leave from BYU for two years to serve as Utah’s first Legislative Analyst. 

Upon returning to BYU, Karl was tasked with assisting to establish the two-year Master of Public Administration degree. He and other public administration faculty were eventually moved to the School of Management, where the MPA program continues today. In recognition of Karl’s significant contributions, multiple students in the program are presented with an annual Karl N. Snow Jr. Academic Excellence Award.

Karl’s strong sense of civic duty and passion for politics led him to run for the Utah State Senate in 1972. He won the election and served for the next twelve years. During this time, he served on several legislative committees, accepted invitations to tour foreign countries, and eventually was named the Senate Majority Leader. He sponsored and succeeded in passing some 100 pieces of bipartisan legislation. Karl concurrently served on the Utah Constitution Revision Committee, making several key proposals which were passed and helped to modernize and improve Utah government. As a legislator, Karl was committed to voting his conscience and not strictly along party lines. Karl believed in and embodied the ideal of the true public servant. In March 2020 the Utah State Legislature passed a citation, approved by the governor, to recognize Karl’s significant lifetime contributions to the governance of the State. 

Karl continued working at Brigham Young University for the remainder of his career. After serving for ten years as director of the Institute of Government, he was offered the position of Assistant Vice President for Development. He served in that capacity for three years before returning to work in the School of Management until his retirement in 1995.

Balancing his active career, Karl was a devoted husband and father. He kept the family busy with endless projects around the house and yard, but he also knew how to have fun. The children remember many trips to southern California to visit family and go to Disneyland. At home, family fun included impromptu polka dances, breaks for Saturday morning cartoons, and backyard barbecues.

Karl’s idea of family extended well beyond his immediate family. He was passionate about gathering the extended family together and could readily connect second and third cousins into the family tree. Over the years, he engaged in multiple projects to honor his ancestors and was always eager to stop by the Parowan cemetery and reminisce about his progenitors in southern Utah.

Karl was a faithful, active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, giving many years of dedicated service in a variety of capacities, including as a BYU married student ward bishop, and multiple times as a high councilor. Probably his most rewarding experiences were in serving with his beloved wife Donna as senior missionaries. In the late 1990’s they moved to New York City, where they were assigned as the first international affairs missionaries working with the various ambassadorial missions to the United Nations. Just a few weeks after returning home, they were asked to serve as hosts for Brigham Young University’s ambassadorial visitors program. Later, they received an official mission call to serve as hosts for the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics. Building on contacts they had made with the ambassador from Mozambique, they then organized a large service project through their local stake to make 10,000 school uniforms for that country. Karl and Donna were given a brief assignment to travel to Mozambique to oversee delivery of the uniforms along with other aid containers from the Church. In 2004, they were called to serve as humanitarian affairs directors in southeast Africa, where they coordinated numerous projects in six nations. They returned to Africa in 2013 when they were tasked with overseeing a measles vaccination program in Botswana.

Karl’s family remembers him as loving teacher who made others feel important and allowed them to learn and grow. A dedicated gardener, his children would often find themselves weeding in the yard before they were allowed to go off and play with friends. They also recall that Karl had a very dry sense of humor and often people who didn’t know him well wondered if he was joking or serious (including, initially, his future sons- and daughters-in-law).

Donna will deeply miss her eternal companion of over 64 years. They served together, traveled all over the world together, and were absolutely united in their devotion to family and their faith in Jesus Christ.

Karl Nelson Snow, Jr. is predeceased by his parents, his five siblings, his granddaughter, Heather Houston, and his son-in-law, James Andersen. He is survived by his wife, Donna; his six children: Karl (Beverly Rust) Snow III, Melissa (Patrick) Houston, Daniel (Ruth Ann Clark) Snow, Jeanmarie Andersen, Elisabeth (Ron) Willis, and Howard Snow; 21 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at the Oak Hills Stake Center, 925 E. North Temple, Provo, Utah. There will be a viewing from 6 to 8 pm on Friday, September 6 and from 9:30 to 10:30 am the morning of the funeral, also at the Oak Hills Stake Center. Interment will be at the Provo City Cemetery.

TO WATCH KARL'S FUNERAL SERVICE LIVE PLEASE CLICK HERE