Imelda Alice (Ryan) McMillin
A proud Nebraskan, Imelda was raised in an Irish Catholic home and attended St. Cecilia Cathedral School in Omaha. In 1956, she earned a bachelor's degree in Home Economics from Duchesne College in Omaha. That same summer in Omaha on June 23rd at St. Margret Mary Catholic Church, Imelda Alice Ryan married Raymond Alvin McMillin of Junction City, Kansas. The couple had become sweethearts while vacationing with their families at their summer homes at Grand Lake, Colorado.
Alvin and Imelda lived in Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas where they raised four children. She loved with a kind heart, always willing to forgive others. She enjoyed gardening, fishing, ice skating and snow skiing, cooking, entertaining, interior design, sewing and quilting, reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. Her heart was large enough to make everyone feel like family, and she was a mother and grandmother figure to countless loved ones. Imelda was known for her gift of gab, an Irish trait. She was proud of her Irish heritage and celebrated St. Patrick's Day every year with gusto and green beer. One of the highlights of her life was visiting Ireland with her husband.
Imelda's primary focus was being a homemaker for her family, supporting her husband, Alvin, in the family business, City Ice Co., Inc., Junction City, Kansas. She served as a substitute teacher with the Geary County Schools USD 475. Being actively involved in her church and community was her passion. Imelda provided leadership and helped organize fund raisers for several volunteer organizations, including: the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts of America, the Ladies Reading Club, Sunflower Quilters Guild, the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Circle 1, Prayer Chain, Respect Life and Rosary groups. Imelda founded the Living Water Ministry, a group of Spirit filled women who are the Lord's Hands and Feet supporting their Catholic church and school as well as helping people living in the greater community. She was a member St. Thomas More Catholic Church. More recently, while a nursing home resident, Imelda enjoyed many activities with the good friends she made at Via Christi Village in Manhattan.
Imelda is survived by her four children, Raymond Alvin (R.A.) (Rebecca) McMillin-Beckman, Denton, Texas; Catherine Ann (Cathy) (Pete Sandoval), Manhattan, Kansas; George Ryan (Donna Mitchell) McMillin, Herington, Kansas; and Mark Thomas (Teresa) McMillin, Manhattan, Kansas. Surviving grandchildren are Michael Sean (Jessie) Rettig, Megan Ann (Brent Rees), Andrew Ryan (Katie) Rettig, Sarah Caitlyn (Alex Otto), Kayla Deann McMillin and Ashley Marie McMillin. Imelda also leaves six great grandchildren: Grayson and Cooper, Mya and Beckett, and Luke and Connor.
Imelda is also survived by her brother John Ryan and his wife Kit, Omaha, Nebraska; sister Mary and her husband Robert (Bob) Rehan, Sioux City, Iowa; sister-in-law Ann (McMillin) and her husband Ernest Willert, Germany; sister-in-law MalYon (Otto John) McMillin, Wamego, Kansas; sister-in-law Beth Ryan Omaha, Nebraska; sister-in-law Marilyn Ryan, Montgomery, Minnesota; and brother-in-law Brian (Mary Jane McMillin) O'Neill, Eugene, Oregan; along with many nephews and nieces.
Imelda was predeceased by her parents, her husband Alvin, siblings Thomas (Tom) and his wife Sue, Francis (Fran) and his wife Loretta, Father James, S.J., George and his wife Judi, Ann, Catherine (Sister Sabina, O.P.), Lauretta (Sister Marie Colette, O.P.), Patricia (Patty) (Sister Nora, O.P.), Nora (Nonie) and her husband Bernard (Bernie) Moore, Susan and her husband Robert (Bob) Rochford, Virginia and her husband Marvin Garner; brother-in-law Otto John McMillin; and sister-in law Mary Jane O'Neill.
The family wishes to thank the nurses, caregivers and support staff of Ascension Living, Via Christi Village in Manhattan for being an important part of Imelda's happy life and caring for her over the last four years.
A visitation with family and friends will be at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas, on Friday, January 23rd, 2026, at 6 PM, with a Holy Rosary for Imelda starting at 7:30 PM that evening.
The Mass of Christian Burial and inurnment services for Imelda Alice McMillin will be Saturday, January 24th, 2026, at 10:00 AM at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 2900 Kimball Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas, with celebrant Father Frank Coady. A funeral luncheon will directly follow services at the church.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Imelda's memory to the Living Water Ministry of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, or to the new church organ fund at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home