Helen “Regina” Conroy
Helen “Regina” Conroy passed away peacefully from congestive heart failure on September 3, 2023, in Warrenton, VA, two days after her 98th birthday, surrounded by her loving family. Her funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in Beloit, KS. Prior to the start of Mass, a recitation of the Rosary will be in the church at 10:00 a.m.
Regina was born in Topeka, KS, to William Patrick Supple Jr. and Helen “Nellie” Moran Montague Supple. She was the youngest of their four children, including William P. Supple, Joseph T. Supple, and Anna Marie Supple Bergin. She attended Holy Name Catholic Church and grade school and Hayden High School in Topeka, KS, and she graduated from St. Mary’s College of Leavenworth, KS, in 1946 with a BS degree. Upon graduation, Regina was selected for a 12-month dietetic internship at Charity Hospital, New Orleans, LA. After her internship, she worked for five years as a clinical dietitian at General Hospital, Kansas City, MO.
While still at St. Mary’s College, Regina met her future husband, Thomas Hyde Conroy. At that time, Tom was attending the University of Kansas in nearby Lawrence, KS, and he went on to complete a law degree from KU. After marrying on November 27, 1952, at Holy Name Church, Topeka, KS, they lived in Beloit, KS, Tom’s hometown, where he had started practicing law. Regina soon put her nutrition knowledge to work by helping establish and run a federally funded school lunch program at the Beloit Elementary School. Regina eventually turned her full attention to raising their four children, while remaining active in St. John’s Catholic Church and its related school activities and various community-focused organizations in Beloit, including serving many years as an active Girl Scout troop leader.
Regina passed along her passion for travel and love of music to her family. She was an exceptionally gracious hostess, and true partner to her husband, Tom. Her understanding and support of his private law practice, including 10 years as Mitchell County Attorney and 18 years as Beloit City Attorney, also enabled him to donate his time to a lifetime of community work. After Tom’s passing in 1997, Regina moved to Northern Virginia in 2003 to be near her three surviving children and their spouses: Thomas W. and Colleen Battcock Conroy of Falls Church, VA; Sheila Conroy and Augustus H. Dunheimer, IV of Vienna, VA; and Regina Conroy and Glenn F. Miller of Warrenton, VA; as well as her eight grandchildren: Thomas, William, and Emma Conroy; Olivia and Lillian Dunheimer; and Lydia and Hailey Miller and their sister, Rose Saint-Clair.
Immediately following her funeral Mass, an inurnment service will be held at St. John’s Cemetery, next to her husband and their youngest son, Joseph Patrick, who passed in 1991. Relatives and friends are welcome to a luncheon following graveside services at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 123 W. Court St. in Beloit.
In memory of Regina, please consider a donation to St. John’s Memorial Trust Fund or Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, 5804 W Monastery Road, Hulbert, OK 74441 where her grandson, Thomas, entered its Novitiate program last year.