Schnackenberg stepping down as county coroner

The Lincoln County Coroner’s Office will be seeking a new coroner.

Long-time coroner Steve Schnackenberg announced at the Dec. 4 county commission meeting he is stepping down from the position, effective Dec. 31.

Schnackenberg has served as the deputy coroner and coroner for the last 28 years, including 26 as the lead coroner. He replaced Doug Johnson as the coroner when he stepped down.

“I'd like to thank the people of Lincoln County for putting their trust in me all these years,” Schnackenberg said. “But it’s time for someone else to take over.”

Schnackenberg recommended the commissioners appoint Roger Craig Riddle to replace him until the next election in 2026.

“Craig is currently a deputy coroner and has extensive training and education in the medical field and law enforcement,” Schnackenberg wrote in a statement to the commissioners. “Craig is a veteran who has trained as an Army nurse. He is also a licensed LPN and has worked for our local doctors as well as the Libby Care Center for two years.”

Schnackenberg also pointed out Riddle’s current experience serving as a deputy coroner for the last two years and his Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

“He has extensive knowledge of human anatomy, medications and law enforcement. He is by far the most qualified person for the job.”

Schnackenberg became involved with the coroner’s office while he worked at the Nelson Funeral Home.

Niles Nelson, who along with his wife, Bobbie, owned the business from 1992 to 2008 before selling it to Steve and Denise Schnackenberg.

Nelson, in a 2022 article in the Montana Funeral Director’s Association publication, Director’s Digest, wrote of his regard for the Schnackenbergs.

“My unending thanks during this process to my associate (and later successor) Steve Schnackenberg, an experienced carpenter, for his assist,” Nelson wrote while describing frantic renovation work prior to a service. “In 2008, we sold our business interests to our most valued employee, Steve Schnackenberg and his wife Denise, knowing that the families we serviced would be in good, competent hands.”

Steve recalled the ups and down of his work as a coroner.

“You see a lot of things you wish you hadn’t and while we deal with a very small portion of what the cities do, we still see the same type of deaths.

“Dealing with people’s loved ones, it needs to be a serious job,” Schnackenberg said. “You can’t do this job without caring for the people you serve. But, generally, people are pretty good to deal with.”

Schnackenberg offered high praise for his quartet of deputy coroners.

“Our deputies are priceless,” he said. “Before we had them in Eureka, I’d have to drive up there while still running the funeral home, so I have a lot of gratitude for the work of Bo Pitman and Clint Heintz as well as Jay Moody and Craig (Riddle).”

His praise also extended to his wife, Denise.

“She’s run the business side of the funeral home and never balked at all the late night calls we get in this business. She’s a real gem,” Schnackenberg said. “We get a lot of calls in the middle of the night from the sheriff’s office and the tissue bank. I’m on call 24/7 and I’ve lost a lot of sleep over the years.”

He hopes the jobs of coroner and county sheriff remain separate in Lincoln County.

“Darren (Short) is a good sheriff, but we don’t know who the next one will be and that’s why I’d prefer for the two positions to remain separate,” Schnackenberg said. “Each party can hold the other accountable for their decisions. Many counties have combined the positions, but they should be separate to keep that accountability intact.”

Schnackenberg’s impending exit from the coroner job doesn’t mean he’ll be putting more time on the couch.

“I’m not an idle person,” he said. “Since June I’ve been helping my son build his house. I have a passion for my church (Libby Christian Church) and I want to do more there. I hope to do more fishing, too.

“I’ve been lucky with my health, God’s truly blessed me,” he said. “But you won’t get me out of Lincoln County. My mom was born up Pinkham Creek, so I’m related to half of Eureka and I love it here.”