WILMA ELLEN (DEAL) CONWAY was born Dec 11, 1934, near Sloan, Iowa, the seventh of ten children born to Lawrence and Ellen (Tighe) Deal. She passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at the Logan Valley Manor in Lyons, Nebraska, at the age of 73 years.

On June 26, 1950, Wilma was married to James Conway in Pender, Nebraska. They farmed near Decatur, Nebraska, where their first two sons, Joseph and Ronald were born. In 1957, they moved to Minnesota, finally settling down near Randall. During their 28 years in Minnesota, she gave birth to two more sons, Michael and Kenneth and finally their daughter, Laura. As well as being a farm wife, she worked at Munsingwear in Little Falls, Minnesota, as a seamstress until the plant closed in the early 1970's. In Minnesota, she loved gardening, quilting, long walks through the fields and woods, visiting with dear friends and raising her family. She also cherished her grandchildren and great grandchildren and could rattle off their names at any given time. In 1983, she along with her husband and daughter moved back to Nebraska, where they settled on 37 acres north of Lyons. There they renewed old friendships, made new ones and continued to keep in touch with dear friends from Minnesota. In 2006, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In March of 2007, she moved to Logan Valley Manor in Lyons and lived there until her death.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Lawrence and Ellen Deal; sisters: Mary Davis of Middlesboro, Kentucky, Peggy Courier of Sunnyside, Washington; and a brother who died at birth. 

She is survived by her husband: James of rural Lyons; sons: Joseph (Joan) Conway of Atwater, Minnesota, Ronald (Letha) Conway of Turin, Iowa, Michael (Susan) Conway of Rosalie, Nebraska, Kenneth (Robin) Conway of rural Bancroft, Nebraska; daughter: Laura (Ralph) Rogers of rural Gillette, Wyoming; brothers: John Deal of La Vista, Nebraska, Joe Deal of South Sioux City, Nebraska, Charles Deal of Omaha, Nebraska, Robert Deal of Sioux City, Iowa; sisters: Irma Carver of Spokane, Washington, Shirley Young of Fremont, Nebraska; eleven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

FUNERAL MASS: Saturday, March 29, 2008, 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Lyons.

VISITATION: Friday, March 28, 2008, 1 - 8 p.m.with the family receiving friends from 6 - 8 p.m. and a 7 p.m. Rosary all at Pelan Funeral Home in Lyons. Visitation will also be held Saturday at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Hillcrest Cemetery, Decatur, Nebraska.

MEMORIALS: St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Lyons.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com