Helen Ladeen Ryan

Helen Ladeen Ryan, 90, a longtime resident of Houston but most recently of San Antonio, passed away on March 23, 2017 in San Antonio.

A graveside funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 24, at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Newton, with the Rev. Nicholas Voelker of St. Mary’s Catholic Church officiating. Petersen Funeral Home is handling the funeral arrangements.

Ladeen was born in Newton to Lucille and Arthur Steinkirchner on Dec. 10, 1926. She attended Newton High School, graduating in 1943. She went on to earn a degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, where she met the love of her life, Dean L. Ryan.

Following their graduation, they married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Newton and were a loving couple for years until Dean’s death in 1999. Over the years, they resided in Tulsa, Dallas and Houston, raising five children. Once her children began school, Ladeen worked in advertising, first at Sears and later at Inside Running magazine.

Ladeen was preceded in death by her husband, Dean L. Ryan; her parents, Lucille and Arthur; one son, James C. Ryan; and a brother, Kenneth Steinkirchner.

Ladeen is survived by her son, Michael Ryall (Gina) of Houston; son, Thomas Ryan (Mary) of Richmond, Texas; daughter, Mary Gibbs of Aurora, Colo.; son, John F. Ryan of San Antonio; five grandchildren, Crystal Bacon, George Gibbs, Nicole Szarka, all of Aurora, Colo., Matthew Ryan of Colorado Springs, and Jennifer Ryan of Sugar Land, Texas; and four great-grandchildren, Dustin Good, Natalie Gibbs, Dylan Gibbs and Rebekah Ryan. She also is survived by one brother, Arthur Steinkirchner of Deerborn, Mich.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Optum Hospice Care (and Cristina Gross) and Pearl Personal Care Home (and Lidia Jurovschi) for their very loving care in her final months.

In lieu of flowers, please direct your donations to St. Mary’s Church reconstruction fund.

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