Melba A. (Oleson) RYAN

RYAN, OLESON, RASMUSSEN, BUTLER, SECORY, SCHROEDER, ALDRICH, VANDERLIP

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/31/2006 at 00:12:17

Melba A. (Oleson) Ryan, 89, of Dows, died Friday, Oct. 13, 2006, in Ellsworth Municipal Hospital, Iowa Falls. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Popejoy United Methodist Church, Popejoy. Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Dows. Visitation: 6 to 8 tonight at Surls Funeral Home in Iowa Falls. Melba Oleson Ryan was born July 27, 1917, in Dows, Iowa, the daughter of Lars L. Oleson and Mary (Rasmussen) Oleson. Melba attended elementary school in Morgan Township No. 5, graduated from Dows High School in 1934 and received her teaching degree from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls in 1938. After college she remained at home to care for her ailing mother.

Melba was united in marriage to Harold "Toots" Ryan on June 12, 1943, in Dows, Iowa, at the home of her brother and his wife, Lawrence and Faith Oleson. To this union four children were born. Toots and Melba farmed until his untimely death in 1967. Melba continued to live on the farm tending to her large garden, growing all kinds of beautiful flowers and helping take care of the cows and calves. Melba pursued life with passion and joy, which is evident by her love of spending time with family and friends. She saw the best in everyone and each new person she met became her friend. Melba's everyday friendliness and helping hand will long be remembered. Her first consideration was for her home and family and the things she could do to make for their happiness and contentment. She was happiest surrounded by family and friends, cooking for them her wonderful raisin creme pies, divinity, and her beef and pork roasts.

Melba is survived and will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by her sons, Michael (Shirley) Ryan of Mount Vernon, Iowa, James (Bonnye) Ryan of Clear Lake, Iowa and Timothy (Diane) Ryan of The Woodlands, Texas; grandchildren, Tyler Ryan, Phoenix, Dave (Heidi) Ryan, Mount Vernon, Russ (Sandy) Ryan, Los Angeles, Debbie (Eric) Butler, Rockwall, Texas, Carrie Ryan, Rockwall, Texas and Amanda Ryan Secory (Joel II), Clear Lake, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Emily, Sarah, Trey, Libby, Paul, Lauren and Henry Ryan, Mount Vernon, Logan and Aubrey Butler, Rockwall, Texas, Hunter Ryan, Rockwall, Texas and Elle Ryan Secory, Clear Lake; sisters-in-law, Verna Ryan, Elsie Schroeder, Darlene Aldrich, Juanita Oleson; brother-in-law, Edward (Marge) Ryan; and many nieces and nephews. Melba was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold "Toots"; infant daughter, Mary Kay Ryan; brothers, Lawrence "Doc" and LuVerne Oleson; sister, Buenetta Vanderlip; granddaughter, Jenny Ryan; and grandson, Tad R. Ryan.

Copyright The Gazette
Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA
October 16, 2006