Joy Colleen Conway, 85, passed away on Wednesday, September 10th, at Hospice House in Rapid City after bravely battling numerous health issues for many years, always showing the spirit of a true fighter.
Visitation will be on Thursday, September 18, from 5-7 at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. The funeral will be on Friday, September 19th, at 11:00 am at Grace Lutheran Church with lunch to follow. Burial will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery at 1:30.
Joy was born March 10, 1940, to Chester and Mabel (Hanks) Olson in Sturgis, where she was raised. She graduated from Sturgis Brown High School in 1958 before attending college in Denver at the School of Business, now known as Colorado State University.
In January of 1959, Joy traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska, where she married the love of her life, Bill Conway, on January 17. Their journey together spanned 37 years, with their 38th anniversary just around the corner. After Bill was discharged from the service, they returned to Sturgis, where Joy made her home for the rest of her life. She worked first at SD Cable in Deadwood and later devoted more than 30 years to Farm Bureau Insurance in Sturgis, retiring in 2002.
Joy loved her community and gave back through her involvement with the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, TOPS, and Zonta. For a time, she also served as an EMT, always willing to step up and help others.
She is survived by her daughter, Cindy (Don) Swenby of Sturgis; sons Doug (Diane) Conway of Juneau, Alaska, and Ron (Tinya) Conway of Sturgis. She was the proud grandmother of Brian (Amy) Swenby of Sturgis; Brandi (James) Schneider of Illinois; Cara (John) Moraitis of Florida; Ray (Brittany) Sievenpiper of Utah; Cami Sievenpiper of Alaska; Melissa Conway of Belle Fourche; and Stacy (Ryan) Hannah of Hot Springs. She is also survived by 21 great-grandchildren,7 great-great-grandchildren, her brother-in-law Chuck Conway of Nevada, nephews & nieces David (Kati) Bak, Darren (Carmen) Bak, Amy Bak and Cash (Helena) Conway, Dawn (Ross) Carrie, and many cousins.
Joy was welcomed into heaven by her husband, Bill; parents, Chester and Mabel Olson; parents-in-law, Ivan and Hattie Conway; sister, Gerrie Olson; nephew, Dirk Bak; great-granddaughter, Jada Faith Sievenpiper.
Memorials have been established for the Hospice House in Rapid City and the Plainview Volunteer Fire Department.