Florence Conroy

Florence "Babe" Conroy, age 90, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away at her home with family on December 5, 2014. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton with Fr. Joe Vandeberg Celebrant. Visitation will be held Wednesday morning at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Florence was born on February 29, 1924 to Robert and Ella (Gray) Murphy in Graceville, Minnesota. She was the youngest of six children. Florence attended country school through the 8th grade then finished her high school education in Graceville. She attended the College of Commerce in Minneapolis followed by employment in Ogden, Utah and Riverside, California, where she worked for California Light & Power. A year after Don returned from military service in Europe and WWII had ended, they were married November 15, 1947 at Holy Rosary Church in Graceville, Minnesota. Don and Florence lived on a farm west of Dumont where they raised six children. Don was involved in farming and road construction. After thirty-three years on the farm they moved to Wheaton in 1980 and retired in 1990. Florence was active in church activities, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, involved in 4-H, and she enjoyed playing golf and bowling. She is survived by her husband of sixty-seven years, Don Conroy of Wheaton; children, Diana Martenson of Shoreview, MN; Bruce (Joann) Conroy of Dumont, MN; Jane (Tom) Gau of Maple Grove, MN; Chris (Paul) Cherwien of Minnetonka, MN; Marla Conroy of Shoreview, MN; and D.J. (Katie) Conroy Roswell, GA along with sixteen grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law Clara Marie Honzo of Wheaton, MN and Ruth Murphy of Graceville, MN. Florence was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Pete and Mike Murphy; three sisters, Nellie Murphy, Grace Ann Mills, and Kathryn Rixe; and a son-in-law, Richard Martenson.