Helen McKinley

Helen McKinley, 102, passed away on March 1, 2025 at Pleasant View Home in Inman, Kansas. She was born to Henry F. and Aganetha Penner near Lushton, Nebraska on October 6, 1922.

Helen attended Wheaton College in Illinois , and received her nursing degree from the University of Nebraska in 1950. She served as an RN in many capacities for 35 years. The last 17 years of her nursing career were spent at a VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona as a psychiatric nurse. She retired in 1985.

Helen married Burleigh B. McKinley in 1950; they were married for 57 years. Leigh passed away in 2007. Following Helen’s retirement, she and her husband volunteered with a Christian organization, doing maintenance work at church camps, schools, etc. They traveled to a number of states, going wherever the need was. She moved to Pleasant View Home in Inman, Kansas in 2015 to spend time with her younger sister Jane Toews.

Helen had a strong Christian faith, believing that her future was secured in heaven. Helen is survived by her daughter Mary Lee Nygard (Paul) and Mary Lee’s children: Shanda, Jason, Kirsten, Daniel and Casey; and Karen’s children: Rebecca, Vanessa and Lawrence; and 24 great grandchildren. Proceeding Helen in death were her husband, daughter Karen, brother Arnold H. Penner, sisters Louise Thompson and Jane Toews, and her parents.

A graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday March 15, 2025 at 1:00 o’clock at the North Inman cemetery. No flowers please. Memorial donations may be made to Pleasant View Home or to your favorite charity in Helen’s memory, in care of Inman Funeral Home.