Betty Mae (Ruby) Millman of Houston, Texas passed away on February 26, 2018. She was born December 14, 1927 to Merle Emmet Ruby and Blanche Norella (Stokkeboe) Ruby in Rake, Iowa.  Betty lived much of her youth in Estherville, Iowa and graduated from Estherville High School.  She was a Registered Nurse having studied at Kahler School of Nursing at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  She later graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa where she met and fell in love with Dean Beardsley Millman.  Betty and Dean were married on March 6, 1954 in Iowa City, Iowa.  Betty and Dean lived in several cities across the United States during their nearly 64 years of marriage.  Since 1983, they lived in the west Houston area and in November 2016 they moved to The Woodlands.  Betty was an enthusiastic member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, everywhere they lived. She was an active and founding member of Family of Faith Lutheran Church in west Houston.  Betty loved to volunteer and did so at her church and at Bear Creek Assistance Ministries for 18 years.  She enjoyed participating in Luther Hostels and Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML).  Betty and Dean were avid travelers in retirement, visiting Germany, France, Britain, Denmark, Norway, & China and sailing through the Panama Canal.  Betty enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles in ink, and consistently beating everyone in the family at Scrabble. Those who knew Betty will recognize a life lived with deep compassion, quiet dignity, and an open mind and heart.

Betty is survived by her husband, Dean; two daughters, Debra Kistler and Lisa Millman; two sons, Douglas Millman (Valerie) and Paul Millman (Todd Davis); six grandchildren, Jasha Kistler (Melissa), Aaron Kistler, Tigan Hughes (Eric), Ian Harrison, Sean Harrison (Hali) and Logan Millman; and also three great- grandchildren, Brook Kistler, Myla Kistler, Jethro Hughes; two sisters, Martha Rude and Doris Malmberg Long, along with many nieces, nephews and numerous loving friends.  In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her daughter Karen Harrison (Bruce) and her brother, Russell Ruby.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Living Word Lutheran Church in The Woodlands at 11:00am on Friday, March 23rd. Memorial contributions may be made to the Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship Fund at Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN.

Memorial gifts

Gifts in memory of Betty can be made in her honor to the Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship Fund.

Checks may be sent to mail to: Department of Development, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, with a note that states: "Gift in memory of Betty Ruby Millman for the Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship Fund." Credit card gifts are accepted online via Mayo's secure Giving to Mayo Clinic website ( Giving to Mayo Clinic ) . Select "Other" in the "Make donation to" drop-down list and specify "Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship Fund" in the "Specify designation" text box. Gifts may also be made by calling the Department of Development at 800-297-1185. Please mention your gift is for the Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship Fund.