Donald Conley

Donald H. Conley, lifelong resident of Wallace, Idaho, died on Sunday, July 5, 2015. He was the principal at Wallace Elementary for 29 years. Prior to his career as an educator, he was also an avid skier, earning varsity letters at the University of Idaho. He was a naval aviator during WWII and a Major in the United States Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot during the Korean conflict. On weekends and holidays and also following his retirement from School District 393, Don was a stope miner, a metallurgical lab assayer, and a underground hoistman. On the job and in the community Don was known as a good man, to his wife a good husband, and to his ten children, a good dad.

Don was born in 1920 in Wallace to Alberta and Phillip (PJ) Conley. He graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in 1938 (“Hustle, bustle, never late, we’re the class of ‘38”). Don and his brother, Phil, were skiers during that time. As this was before ski lifts were introduced to Shoshone County, Don, Phil, and their crew of friends would spend most of the day snowshoeing up mountains like Stripped Peak, and then skiing down in minutes. Don was a student at the University of Idaho before becoming a naval aviator during WWII. During the war he flew SBD dive bombers off aircraft carriers in the Pacific. Don was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1948 he married Ann Denise Magnuson (Denise) and later completed a BA in Sociology at Gonzaga University. He re-joined the USMC during the Korean conflict as one of the earliest helicopter pilots. After retiring in 1953, Major Conley returned to Wallace to teach junior high social studies.

After completing a Master of Education at the University of Idaho in 1961, he became the principal of Wallace Elementary-- known as “Mr. Conley” to generations of elementary school children in Wallace, Osburn, Silverton and Murray. During his 29 years as a principal of one or more schools, he worked at numerous jobs in the Wallace area: as manager of the Wallace swimming pool, in the Day Mines assay office, and as hoistman at the Day Rock. Don retired in 1982.

Don and Denise were married for almost 67 years and had ten children. Their lives were focused on their family and their church, St. Alphonsus. Don grew up in the apartment across the street from the church. He and brother Phil were frequently called upon by the parish priest, Father Shermanson, to serve mass as altar boys. As a man, he would leave home early every morning and stop at the church to pray that he made the right decisions each day.

He is survived by his wife, Denise, nine children, 27 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. His nine surviving children are Chris Conley (Pam) of South Carolina; Kasey McCargar (George) of Grand Rapids, MI; Connie Broughton (Dan Wittenberg) of Spokane, WA; Mary Herrera (Ignacio) of Morgan Hill, CA; Beth Conley (Bill Wilson) of Los Gatos, CA; Sally Norris (Rick) of Wallace, ID; Jan Magnani (Jeff) of Palatine, IL; Jill Niehenke (Dennis) of Moscow, ID; and Tim Conley of Spokane, WA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Phillip Ignatius Conley, and his son, Joseph Phillip Conley.

Rosary/Vigil Services will be held on Monday, July 13, 2015 at 6:00 P.M. at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church of Wallace and a Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at 11:00 A.M. at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church with Father Jerome Montez serving as Celebrant and Deacon John McKinley officiating. A potluck reception and a gathering of family and friends will be held at the Wallace Elks following services on Tuesday. Private family inurnment services will be held at the Nine Mile Cemetery of Wallace at a later date.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church of Wallace or to the charity of the Donor’s choice.

SHOSHONE FUNERAL SERVICES KELLOGG, IDAHO is entrusted with funeral arrangements.

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