TRO hearing Thursday.

Son came home after being out of town for a few days to his daughters and wife being totally gone. He was blindsided. TRO and the works. Actually we could probably see that coming before he did. Very dysfunctional marriage. But he-was always really good with the kids. I really cared for my son’s wife. I can’t believe that she did this to him and the girls Very cruel.

So, My son said I could write a letter. I’m trying to stay very neutral but here it is. What do you think!?

Dear Judge Jon Sogn,

We are writing to you on behalf of our son, Joseph (Joe) Mark Sneve, regarding his upcoming TRO hearing.

Joe has two daughters, Kerrigan, who is 9, and Scout, who is 1. Joe is very active in their lives. He was the coach of Kerrigan’s softball team, The Dells Hurricanes, this summer. We taught Joe and our two daughters to ride dirt bikes as children. He is passing on this tradition by teaching Kerrigan to ride as well. He has been teaching her to snow ski at Great Bear over the last two winters. Joe and Kerrigan ride bicycles together and they take walks with Scout. He built a tree house in his back yard last summer.

During Covid, he home schooled Kerrigan and cared for Scout while their mother worked, and he worked from home. He arranged for daycare pre-covid and when Kerrigan returned to school. He also arranged daycare for Scout after she was born.

Joe enjoys taking the girls on outings such as meeting his sisters, their family and us at indoor waterparks during the cold months, taking the girls to the Washington Pavilion, trick or treating, movie theatres, parades and fairs among many things. Joe is an avid USD fan and has taken Kerrigan to several USD games. He is also a big Chicago Cubs fan and has taken Kerrigan to at least one of their games. He recently brought Kerrigan to see family in California and while there went to Disneyland for the first time.

When we have family get togethers, Joe makes sure the girls are there. My oldest daughter and her husband have three children who live in Iowa and visit several times a year. Kerrigan adores her cousins! Kerrigan is also good buds with her aunt, our youngest daughter.

In Joe’s lifetime we have never witnessed violent behavior from him. This includes any family or friends. While there was likely typical sibling rivalry, we do not recall anything of particular concern. We were never notified of violent conduct while he attended school in Dell Rapids. Joe’s mother, Kelley, retired early to provide daycare for Kerrigan when she was two years old. Kelley regularly picked her up from school. She has had many fun sleep overs at grandma and grandpa’s house. Kerrigan has never mentioned anything about any violent behavior from Joe. She was always a happy and fun-loving girl.

We respectfully ask that you dismiss the TRO. Joe loves and cares for his daughters deeply. This has upended his life as well as ours and his entire family. Joe is a good father. We do not see any benefit of the TRO for his girls; we see it as detrimental.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.