Big Horn County Mt. Obits Submitted by: Maria Minear USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. Colleen Conroy HARDIN - On Sept. 23, 1999, after a two-and-a-half year battle with cancer, our Beloved was released from the bonds of this Earth. LuCille Colleen Conroy was born Sept. 17, 1934, to Bernard H. and Ethel Shively Barnes in Crow Agency. She was educated in St. Xavier, Crow Agency and graduated from Lodge Grass High School in 1952. There she was active as a cheerleader and majorette. Her talents were recognized when she won the Sheridan, Wyo., rodeo queen and also when she led the Billings Western Days Parade twirling her baton. She married Thomas R. Conroy in 1952 and the couple made their first home in Helena, then moved to Washington State and Billings, before settling in Judith Gap. There she settled into helping with the farm and raising her family, which soon grew to six children. In 1966, Tom and Colleen bought her mother's ranch in the Pryor Mountains and Colleen spent many years packing groceries and kids back and forth from town. When her husband was elected to the State Legislature in 1974, she took on another role, that of being a supportive political wife. In Helena, she was an active member of the Legislative Wives. She soon assumed greater roles in the political arena by first becoming chairwoman of the Big Horn County Central Republican Committee and then becoming a statewide District Representative. She was active in the Hardin Area Chamber of Commerce and chaired the Economic Development Committee. In 1994, Colleen was appointed by Gov. Marc Racicot to the Montana University System's Board of Regents. She was the first Native American to serve in this capacity and felt honored by this distinction. During her tenure on the board, the Regents successfully reorganized the structure and mission of higher education in the state. Following her resignation due to illness, she was recognized by the Regents for her immense contribution to the Montana University System. Above all, Colleen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She touched all who knew her with her ready wit, her hospitality and her genuine deep awareness. Colleen, by her example, taught the attributes of duty, responsibility and accountability. She was known as a very gracious woman who dearly loved and was loved by her many friends and family members. Colleen was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hardin and a lifelong member of the A.R.E. She was also a member of the Greasy Mouth Clan of the Mountain Crows. She is survived by her husband, Tom; three brothers, Harlan (Betty Jo) Barnes of Jackson Hole, Wyo., Leroy (Betty) Barnes of Billings and Dean (Ruthie) Barnes of Hardin. She is also survived by her children: Harlan (Angie) Conroy of Hardin, Denise Spencer of Boulder, Colo., Tyke (Kelle) Conroy of Gillette, Wyo., Shelly (Willie) Ralston of Hardin, Lyndon (Sandi) Conroy of Colstrip and Molly (Jack) Joyce of Hardin; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. She also is survived by a very large and loving extended family. A Catholic Rosary will be recited 7 p.m. Sunday evening, Sept. 26, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, in the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Private interment will be held. Colleen loved hats and often wore them to special occasions. Ladies, we invite you to wear yours, if you plan to attend. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Colleen Conroy Scholarship Fund in care of Scholarship Committee, Montana State University-Billings, 1500 N. 30th St., Billings, MT 59101-0298.