Wallace Dean Spiry

December 1, 1931 - December 26, 2024

Wallace Dean Spiry passed away peacefully on December 26, 2024, in Nampa, Idaho, with family by his side. He was 93.

The oldest of three children, Wally was born to Samuel and Hertha Spiry on December 1, 1931, in the Bowdle, South Dakota hospital. The family lived nearby, in the tight-knit community of Java, SD. Their home was conveniently located on Main Street, just across from the 12-grade school where Wally attended and graduated. He is believed to have had perfect attendance all 12 years. During those years, "Spink", as he was commonly called by his classmates, made lifelong friends who he treasured and remained in contact with until his passing.

Wally began courting Bonita Moser, a freshman, during his senior year in high school. The pair quickly fell in love and stayed in contact after Wally graduated in 1949. Shortly after graduation, he was recruited by head basketball coach, Clark Swisher, to play at Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD. Wally did not have the funds to attend college but a generous cousin was willing to loan him the $750 needed to enroll for the year. This paid for tuition, room and board, and books. He began his freshman year on the varsity basketball team but, due to an injury 3 days before the first game, he was forced to drop from the team ending his basketball career for the season. Wally made the borrowed $750 last. Knowing that the money had to be paid back, and the army draft was coming, he was resigned to the possibility that adjustments may need to be made to any long-term plans he had in place. After just 1 year of college, Wally took a teaching position in a one-room country school, where he taught the local children in their varying grade levels, for 2 consecutive years. He paid back his college loan, and enlisted in the Air Force in May of 1952.

Wally received Air Force training to be a meteorologist/weather forecaster. This career blossomed into a fascination that he carried with him all of his life. While serving his country, Wally was able to reside on several military bases around the US including boot camp in Texas, and technical training in Illinois. After training, he transferred to Elmendorf Air Force Base, in Alaska. While stationed there, he scheduled an important trip back to Java to marry his high school sweetheart, Bonnie, in October of 1953. The newlyweds returned to Alaska, where 11 months later, their first son, Daniel was born in September of 1954. Wally, along with his family, moved on to Kansas for a short time, then returned to South Dakota where he was stationed at Ellsworth AFB just outside of  Rapid City. It was here that their daughter, Vickie was born, in 1957, followed by their youngest son, Steven, in 1960. Shortly after Steve was born, Wally was deployed to Saudi Arabia, for 7 months. During his time away,  he was able to visit several countries and recalled one of his most memorable experiences, walking the streets of Jerusalem.

Upon returning to the US, Wally was transferred to Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. By now, he had spent 10 years in the Air Force, and with 3 small children, he determined that it was time to settle down and provide the stability he felt his family needed. He received an Honorable Discharge in December of 1962, at which point he and Bonnie packed up and moved back to their beloved Rapid City and those welcoming Black Hills. Wally answered a newspaper ad for a 2-week training course with Metropolitan Life Insurance which turned into a 28 year career, working his way up to branch manager. The couple remained rooted in Rapid City until October of 2020 when, after the unexpected death of their son, Steve, the decision was made to relocate to Idaho, where the couple would spend their final years living with their daughter, Vickie.

Toward the latter years of his life, Wally's daily routine included reading the Rapid City Journal e-edition on his iPad while sipping a cup of strong coffee each morning, often served in one of those comfortable Java mugs from back home. He continued to receive the Selby Record, a continuation of the Java Herald, which he referred to as "his letter from home". He enjoyed reading his Bible and watching videos of Bible stories brought to life. He savored trips to The Golden Corral and Culvers, anticipated the challenge of a competitive Bingo game against generations of friends and family, and exuded satisfaction when gathered for special dinners with the whole family (which warranted lowering his hearing aid volume at times). On sunny afternoons, Wally loved peaceful drives through the farmlands, south of Nampa, Idaho, to check the height of the corn crops in the fields. He cherished frequent phone conversations with old classmates and friends. He shared a wealth of stories from a life well-lived with anyone who was willing to lend him their ear. Wally's presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Wallace is preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Hertha Spiry, his sister, Betty Pfitzer, his son, Steven Spiry and his beloved wife of 68 years, Bonnie. He is survived by his son, Daniel (Jodi) Spiry of Crete, NE, his daughter, Vickie (Chuck) Sandvik of Nampa, ID, his brother, Tim Spiry, of Rapid City, SD, 5 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held for both Wally and Bonita at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 10:00 am.  Burial to follow at Mt View Cemetery.