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Submitted: 9/18/23 • Approved: 9/19/23 • Last Updated: 9/22/23 • R275434-G275434-S3
Section 12 Columbarium #5
Jena DiAnn Conley
December 10, 1943 – December 15, 2022
Jean DiAnn Conley, age 79, passed away on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at Ava’s House is Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at St. Michael Catholic Church (1600 S Marion Rd.) Family will be present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Monday, December 19, 2022 at Miller Funeral Home – Westside Chapel (6200 W. 41st St.) for visitation, with a Wake Service at 6:30 pm followed by the praying of the Rosary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Association of South Dakota in Jean’s honor.
Jean Nyhus was born on December 10, 1943 to Tilmen and Gertrude (Goodale) Nyhus in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. She grew up in Dell Rapids and attended St. Mary’s School through the 11th grade when the family moved to Sioux Falls. Jean completed her senior year of high school at St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
Jean was joined in marriage to Bruce Conley on July 30, 1962 in Fort Knox, Kentucky. The couple had two children, Teri and Tricia. Jean loved her family more than anything. She enjoyed spoiling her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with love, attention and gifts. Jean cared deeply, and wanted the best for her family. She loved holidays and making each an experience for the people she held dear. Her favorite was Christmas, and you would need a guide like Jean to help you spread holiday cheer. She knew all the details for all the deals and the best way to get them. She would say she, “loved hard; worked hard.”
During her life time. Jean worked a variety of jobs, bringing her strong and reliable work ethic to each. She worked for the late Dr. Ken Vesledahl, DDS, Citibank, Dakota King, and the Sioux Falls School District (SFSD). Jean also operated a day care for two and a half years with her daughter Tricia. Jean found her work at Jefferson Elementary within the SFSD to be the most rewarding, assisting with children in the Bridges Program in the Kindergarten and the First-Grade age groups. In 2011-2012, Jean was named Outstanding Rookie Mentor in recognition for valuable contributions to Lutheran Social Services Mentoring programs for her work with Jefferson Elementary.
“Jean’s impact on her students has been so noticeable that it has gotten attention by many, including the school principal. The Jefferson Principal says after the first couple meetings with Jean, we see a different little girl. The student smiles and looks at me as she visits. She is happier and more positive in her outlook at school.”
-Jean’s Outstanding Rookie Mentor Certificate
Jean was a charter member of St. Michael Parish. She served as a Eucharistic Minister until Parkinson’s Disease prevented her from distributing Holy Communion. Community was important to Jean, and she easily made friends where ever she went. She was magnetic and outgoing, forming friendships with the staff at her favorite breakfast spots to forming life long bonds with her in-laws. Jean would travel to visit her family, and there was no sight to see of more value to her than who she was there to spend time with. Jean enjoyed sitting and watching the snow fall on winter days and watching the sunset. The quiet moments and time with her family were the best moments for her. Jean’s presence will be deeply missed.
Grateful to have known and loved Jean are her husband; Bruce Conley; her daughters, Teri (Barry) Nagel of Sioux Falls, SD and Tricia (Aaron Smith) Conley of Rochester, MN; her grandchildren, Kaylee (Brady Burt) Metzger and Matlin (Tyler) Blohm of Rochester, MN; Riley (Eric) Feiderman, Connor Nagel and Zach Nagel of Sioux Falls, SD; her three great-grandchildren, Carson and Sutton Felderman, and Kinley Metzger; and her two sisters, Marilyn McFarlane and Judi (Jim) Even of Sioux Falls, SD. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Tilmen and Gertrude Nyhus; two sisters, Donna Bowen, and Vicki Kirkvold; her brothers-in-law, Gary McFarlane, George Bowen, and Rick Kirkvold; and her grandparents.
Contributed on 9/18/23 by 9katz
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Record #: 275434