Selma Loney

Selma “Konick” Loney was born in 1922 to two Jewish parents in Corvallis, Oregon. Her dad, William Konick, was one of the first few Jews to move to Corvallis. He opened the fifth jewelry store in the town and often stayed late working the store . Only a few Jewish families lived near her when she was growing up, so as a little girl, she did not have any Jewish friends besides her brother. Consequently, she grew up only attending a Portland synagogue during the High Holy Days. As a result, she didn’t have an extensive Jewish education. Her mother did try to rectify this by sending her children religious texts she obtained from her Bible studies, but it couldn’t replace a proper religious education.

As one of the only Jewish kids in Corvallis, she knew she was different and felt isolated as a result. During her years at Corvallis High School, she blended in with her non-Jewish peers. She had her small group of friends and never thought much about their religious affiliation because it never really came up. She only started to experience antisemitism once she started at Oregon State University. She realized that she wasn’t invited to rush week because of her Jewish identity, despite having higher grades than her peers. After university, she met her husband at USO, a Marine organization in Seattle, Washington. They were married seven days after V.J. day (Victory over Japan Day) and moved in together soon after. She and her husband had four kids together and worked tirelessly to provide them with a Jewish education, even taking them to Sunday school every week. As a result, she ensured that all her kids had their bar and bat mitzvah. Her firstborn son, Lewis Allen, who they called Butch, was born in 1947. He had a bar mitzvah and ultimately attended the University of Oregon in Eugene.

Loney was heavily involved in the Oregon Jewish community. She actively participated in the UJA drive, also known as United Jewish Appeal. She also started a sewing group with her Jewish friends and sent baby clothes to Israel. Her most significant contribution, however, was her participation in the Willamette Valley Hadassah organization (Beit Am). She helped raise the money required to keep the organization running by sponsoring luncheons and fundraising. She remarked that her time in the Hadassah was incredibly fulfilling and provided her with meaningful connections with other Jewish women. In 2001, Selma Loney sadly passed away. She outlived her father, William Konick, her brother, Alvin Konick, and her mother, Sarah Konick. She was seventy-nine when she died. May her memory be a blessing.