Surrounded by her daughters, Mary K. "Kitty" Ryan passed away on June 11, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.

Her journey began in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she was born. She grew up in Belle Fourche, South Dakota and graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1959. Kitty went on to attend South Dakota State University in Brookings, earning her Bachelor of Science in Science & Applied Arts in June 1963. It was there that she met John L. Ryan. The two were married on November 23, 1963, beginning a partnership that lasted for over 60 years.

Together, she and John had two children: Maggie and Katy. As a family, they moved all across South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. They eventually settled in Lakewood, Colorado. After John’s retirement, their moves continued as they lived in California, South Dakota, and Wyoming, before finally returning home to Denver.

In addition to raising her children and being a homemaker, she had eight years of work with the Park Service. An avid reader, she also loved gathering around a table to play Whist, Mahjong, Bridge, and work on ceramics. Kitty enjoyed planning holiday neighborhood parties and progressive dinners. Upon John's retirement, she and John took trips and cruises to such places as Australia, Ireland, and Hawaii with family and friends.

Kitty will be missed by her family and all who knew her. She is survived by her two daughters, Maggie and Katy; two grandchildren, Megan and Connor in California and Colorado, and two great-grandchildren, Adeline and James; her older brother, Jim Olsen in Illinois; her younger sister, Sue Broyles in Wyoming; and sister-in-law, Alice Maturkanich in California. 

Following her cremation, she will be laid to rest alongside John on July 24, 2026, 11am, at Mountain View Cemetery in Rapid City, South Dakota, bringing her journey full circle back to the state she always loved.