BETTY LOU CONLEY

Betty Lou (Dugan) Conley, the eldest daughter of Leland and Mary Ellen Dugan, was born on October 6, 1938 in Iowa City, IA. She was later joined by younger sister, Barbara, and younger brothers, Eddie and Mike.
Betty spent her younger days in Maloy where she attended school until eighth grade. She continued her education at Redding before moving to Council Bluffs and attending Abraham Lincoln High School and Thomas Jefferson High School. Betty moved back to Maloy during her sophomore year where she attended school in Mount Ayr and graduated in 1957.
On Friday, January 3, 1958 Betty was united in marriage to Ronald Lee Conley in Lamoni, IA. They first set up their home in Maloy before moving to Lamoni for a short time. They returned back to Maloy where they welcomed and raised their two daughters, Cynthia Anne and Colleen Dianne. On October 2, 1993 they moved to their current home in Mount Ayr.
Betty retired on October 2, 2002 after working for the United States Postal Service for 37 years. She first became postmaster at Maloy before transferring to Gravity. In 1998 she was appointed postmaster in Clearfield where she worked until she retired. Betty worked many years for the Postal Service at the Iowa State Fair. She also spent time promoting stamp collecting as the Benjamin Franklin Stamp Club Coordinator for the Des Moines Postal District.
Betty was a dedicated family woman. She loved spending time with her family especially her grandkids and great grandkids. Many hours were spent traveling to Kylee and Nici’s sporting events and later on in life traveling to watch her great grandson’s events. The family traveled many miles together. The miles led them to South Padre, TX, Las Vegas, NV, Nashville, TN, Branson, MO, a cruise to the Virgin Islands and many more adventures. Betty always made sure her family traditions were passed on to her daughters and granddaughters like Christmas candy making. She always made sure every birthday, holiday, and special events were celebrated. Betty also enjoyed collecting stamps, and santa clauses, crocheting, embroidering, planting flowers, camping yearly at the Iowa State Fair with her family and spending 61 years with the love of her life Ronnie.
On July 25 at the age of 80 Betty joined our Lord and Savior in heaven at Greater Regional Hospital in Creston. She was surrounded by her loving husband, daughters, granddaughters, brother, Mike, and their families.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Ronald of 61 years, her two daughters, Cynthia Anne (Cindy) and her husband, Martin Tonsfeld,t of Ogden, IA and Colleen Dianne and her husband, Ed Minnick of Kellerton, two granddaughters, Kylee Breanne Minnick Fleharty and husband, Cory, of Clearfield and Nicole Raeanne Minnick Thomas and husband, Dreu of Kellerton. Two step-granddaughters,, Jill and husband, Tom Losh, of Homewood, IL and Michelle and husband, Bruce Johnson, of Clearmont, FL. Great grandsons, Payton and Preston Fleharty and Sawyer Thomas, great granddaughter, Paisley Fleharty, and soon to be great granddaughter, Huxlee Thomas. Four step-great grandsons, Christian and Ryan Struble, Tommy Losh and Carter Johnson, one step great granddaughter, Mackenzie Johnson, sister, Barbara, and husband, Frank, of Dacona, CO, brothers, Ed, and wife, Cindy, Dugan of Mount Ayr, Mike and wife, Joni, of Diagonal, and several nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
Services were at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, IA.
Officiating was Pastor Al Rusk.
Special songs were “The Old Rugged Cross”, “In the Garden” and “Wings of a Snow White Dove”.
Musicians were Nancy Sackett, Mary Davenport and Margaret Bickers.
Active casket bearers were Eddie Dugan, Mike Dugan, Dreu Thomas, Ed Minnick, Cory Fleharty and Martin Tonsfeldt.
Honorary casket bearers were Kylee Fleharty, Nici Thomas, Payton Fleharty, Preston Fleharty, Paisley Fleharty, Huxlee Thomas and Sawyer Thomas.
Betty was laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr, IA.
Memorials in Betty’s name for a memorial bench at the Mount Ayr High School Softball Field.