Jeffrey James Conner, 64 of Lead, SD died at home surrounded by his wife, Dale, and four-legged son, Rex, after a courageous seven-year battle with Multiple Myeloma Cancer.

Jeff was born in Des Moines, IA to James Conner and Shirley (Leighton) Davidson who were from Griswold and preceded him in death.

After high school, Jeff played football for one year on a scholarship to Northern Iowa University.  It was then Jeff's desire to become an Army Pilot, so he enlisted with the US Army.  Jeff initially did electronic systems encoding at the Pentagon while awaiting.  He also earned his degree from NY State University in Business.  He also became an expert marksman in rifle and pistol during this time.  Jeff was then accepted into flight school in Dothan, Alabama where he became a Huey UH 2 Rotor Wing Instructor where he flew Medivac before going to Korea.  He did then transfer to fixed wing where he did three more tours in Korea in the OVID Mohawk.  Jeff next was at Moffitt Air Station in California where he became the Chief Flight instructor in the RC 12 K for the Army.  They were on their way to the Gulf War taking the Old WW II  flight path across the Atlantic.  When they got to England the war was over so Jeff was then stationed in Germany.  Jeff's last station was Ft. Bragg in Fayetteville, NC.  He retired from the Army as a CW4 Officer.  He built a house in Mooresville, NC on Lake Norman where he met his now wife, Dale.

Some of Jeff's military awards include Meritorious service medal (twice), Army Commendation Medal (three times), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (three times0 and Senior Army Aviator Badge.

After Jeff retired from the Military, Jeff and Dale decided to relocate to Lakeland Florida where Jeff did Flight Instruction as a civilian.  Jeff and Dale then moved to Vero Beach, Florida where Jeff worked as a Flight Instructor for fixed-wing aircraft for many airlines.  He was program manager for Asiana Airlines and Hianan Airlines where he flew to Korea and China three times.  Jeff then transferred to West Palm Beach where he was an FAA Check Airman in the Sikorsky S 76 helicopters. He gave check rides to former President Trump's pilots, the Queen's pilot, and many notaries from other countries and the US.  Jeff won Best of the Best Flight Instructors twice while in civilian life once for fixed wing and once for rotor wing, only a handful of people to do this.  Jeff was also 1 of 1200 people in the country to give check rides for the FAA in fixed and rotor wing aircraft.  Jeff was a lifetime member of the Deadwood VFW Post 5969.  Jeff also opened Sturgis in 2017 with the Hot Springs Legion Riders of Post 71 with now Governor Kristi Noem.

Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Delfrey "Dale" Conner of Lead and his faithful dog, Rex.  He is also survived by his sister, Shelley (Jeff) Hendricks of Ridgeway, Iowa; niece Amber (Jun)Takano of Rochester, Minnesota; aunts Alice Leighton and Jane Leighton of Griswold, Iowa and many Leighton and Conner cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Grinswold after the holidays and burial will follow in the springs at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.  Donations can be made to Moffitt Cancer Center in Jeff's name. cards and condolences can be sent to 416 Old Abe Street, Lead, SD 57754.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com