Mary Helen Malan

September 11, 1931 - August 10, 2019

Mary Helen (nee Scanland) Malan of Highland, IL passed away Saturday, August 10, 2019 at the age of 87 at the Dammert Center of The Esquiline, formerly Our Lady of the Snows, in Belleville, IL. Mary Helen Malan was born September 11, 1931 in Mineola, MO to Charles and Pauline (nee Summers) Scanland. She started her life at Valley Farm outside of Mineola, MO, in a place of oak savannahs and abundant hay for the horses and cattle. Her mother was a schoolteacher and her father was a farmer. But her father always said it wasn’t the easiest land to farm, full of rocks. At age five, her family moved to the Hatten Farm outside of Auxvasse, MO for flat tillable farm ground. Mary Helen and her two sisters attended the Hereford Grade School. Mary Helen referred to her schooling there for many years, often showing her daughters some of the retired schoolbooks that she had used. Her mother, Pauline, instilled a sense of obligation to attend college in her three girls, in a time when college was a luxury. Mary Helen graduated from Fulton High School in 1950. She then attended William Woods College, graduating in 1952. She then started her Registered Nursing Program at the University of Missouri at Columbia. She was part of history as she graduated in the first Bachelors of Science Nursing (BSN) program offered at University of Missouri at Columbia. As a part of the program she and six other students studied in St. Louis at the Deaconess School of Nursing. During her college years, she worked at Deaconess Hospital, sometimes seven days in a row due to the nursing shortage. Then after graduation, Mary Helen worked as a Registered Nurse for Dr. Wilson’s private practice in Highland, IL. While studying Nursing, Mary Helen was set up on a blind date by her roommate and close friend, Lila. She met her blind date and married Army Corporal Leslie Earl Malan. Leslie and Mary Helen married April 28, 1956 at Calvary Baptist Church in Columbia, MO. They would be married for over 61 years. After having two daughters, Janelle Sue and Catherine June, she took a hiatus from professional nursing. Mary Helen was a homemaker, 4-H Leader, learned to monitor the markets, and was the farm business book-keeper for their livestock and grain farm. They raised and sold SPF Purebred Hampshire Hogs. Thirteen years later, Mary Helen had her third daughter, Anne Leslie. She volunteered and tutored GED students while helping her own children complete school and 4-H projects. They raised Angus and Gelbvieh cattle. When her youngest was in high-school, Mary Helen returned to her nursing career for the last time, working as a staff RN for about a year, at Highland Health Care Center, Highland, IL. She was an accomplished seamstress, excellent cook, and refinished multiple antiques. She loved her trips back to Missouri to visit with family at the Mineola Reunions and friends from her High School, William Woods, and University of Missouri Reunions. She enjoyed gardening, roses, tulips, and gathering with her friends and family. She was an active member of the Bethany Baptist Church at Sebastopol, near Highland, IL until it dissolved; and then attended the First Baptist Church in Highland, IL. Mary Helen was a Bethany Baptist Church Deacon, on the Lady’s auxiliary, and sang in the church choir. Mary Helen supported the farm interests by attending years of Pork Producer and Crow Seed Corn dinner meetings. In 1998, Mary Helen and Leslie co-founded Malan’s Mead subdivision, which is located on the former farm and pasture ground where they raised their own family. They enjoyed family vacations to Disney Land in California, Tan-Tar-A in Lake of the Ozarks, MO, and family visits to Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Yellowstone National Park, and North Dakota. She devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver to other family member’s; including caring for her own mother Pauline, until Pauline passed away at age 98. Mary Helen always enjoyed Sunday drives and chatting with her family and friends. Her interests included family, gardening, sewing, reading, and family or ancestral history. Mary Helen and Leslie lived on their farm two miles east of Highland for their life together, until retiring together at Cedarhurst in Shiloh, IL. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Highland; Former member of the dissolved Bethany Baptist Church and it's Women's Organization; Illinois Nursing Association; Madison County Homemakers Extension. Survivors include: Daughters: Janelle S. (Partner Robert Reidelberger) Schrumpf, Highland, IL Catherine J. (Mark) Luginbill, Delray Beach, FL Anne Leslie (John) Kramer, Shiloh, IL Grandchildren: Gabriel L. Schrmpf, Columbus, OH; Danielle M. (Josh) Thompson; Webster Groves, MO; Michelle S. (Mike) Schwarz, Highland, IL; Lesley Ann (Fiance Nitin Puri) Luginbill, San Francisco, CA; Ben D. Luginbill, Madison, WI; Andrew Jordan Kramer, Shiloh, IL; Evan James Kramer, Shiloh, IL Great Grandchildren: Hazel Schrumpf, Columbus, OH Mason Junker-Schrumpf, Highland, IL Maveric Schwarz, Highland, IL Sister - Jane E. Peterson, Mc Lean, VA Brother In-law - Herb Evert, Naples, FL Sister-In-law - Sue Ann Ammann Frey, Highland, IL Sister-In-law - Betty Malan, Highland, IL Many: Nieces and Nephews; Cousins; Step-Daughters; Step-Sons and Extended Loving Family Members. She was preceded in death by: Father - Charles B. Scanland - Died 11/19/1985 Mother - Eva P. Scanland (nee Summers) - Died 1/6/2006 Husband - Leslie Earl Malan - Died 12/26/2018 Sister - Charlene "Nellie" Evert - Died 7/29/2005 Sister-In-law - Violette J. Scott - Died 3/14/2018 Brother In-law - Robert Peterson - Died 8/25/2018 Brother In-law - Roland J. Malan - Died 9/16/2002 Brother In-law - Linus Frey - Died 1/19/2004 Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and many more extended Loving Family Members. FUNERAL SERVICES Mary Helen Malan’s funeral will take place on Saturday, August 31st, 2019. Friends and family may call 9am to1pm for her Visitation, in the Church Sanctuary at the First Baptist Church of Highland, 2709 Poplar St, Highland, Funeral Service will be held from 1pm-2pm at First Baptist Church of Highland, IL with Rev. Brian High (from First Baptist Church of Centralia, IL) officiating. Interment will be immediately following at Gullick Cemetery on Leroy Road of Highland, IL. Then everyone is invited to gather back at the Church Fellowship Hall for a post-funeral meal hosted by the Women of First Baptist Church, Condolences may be sent to Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions and donations may be made in Mary Helen Malan’s memory to Sinclair School of Nursing and will be received by the Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland. For further arrangement questions or information, please view the online obituary or contact Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland at 618-654-2133. Feel free to send condolences or share memories with Mary Helen Malan’s family at www.spengel-boulanger.com .