Ruth Ann Leahy

Ruth Leahy, 82, of Boulder, Colorado, passed away peacefully from natural causes at Balfour Senior Living Memory Care Facility on July 22, 2025. She was born on March 10, 1943, in Tecumseh, Nebraska, the daughter of Arnold and Ella (Ebler) Miller. Ruth grew up on a farm outside of town and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1961.

On August 17, 1963, Ruth married her high school sweetheart, George Michael (Mike) Leahy, a lifelong friend she had known since the age of four. The couple moved to Boulder in the summer of 1987.

Ruth’s career began at the Johnson County Bank in Tecumseh and she went on to hold secretarial positions at Bellevue College and Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska, and at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. However, it was her role as Secretary to the Assistant Dean of Technical Services at Norlin Library at the University of Colorado in Boulder that she cherished most, describing it as “the best job I’ve ever had.”

Ruth’s true joy came from being surrounded by her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. For over 40 years, she kept statistics for her husband Mike’s high school basketball teams, supporting him and their sons from University High in Lincoln, NE, to Ravenna High in Ravenna, NE, Omaha St. Joe’s in Omaha, NE, Johnson-Brock in Johnson, NE, Bellevue High and Bellevue West in Bellevue, NE, Manhattan High in Manhattan, KS, to Fairview High in Boulder and Centaurus High in Lafayette. She continued 5 more years with her son’s and grandson’s team at Erie High in Erie, CO. She took great pride in attending the sporting events of her three sons and her grandchildren, as well as making cherished memories through travel—especially with her husband, Mike, and their lifelong friends, the Duensings, Marshalls, and Snyders. Ruth also enjoyed trips to Mexico with her CU library colleagues. She was an avid collector of Cats Meow village pieces and special pieces of Depression glass.

Ruth is survived by her husband Mike; their three sons, Tim (Maribeth) of Boulder, CO, Todd (Kristine) of Glenwood Springs, CO, and Tom (Jenna) of Houston, TX; six grandchildren, Megan, Kyle, Jamie, Travis, Hunter, and Hailey; and one great-granddaughter, Chandler, as well as two nieces and several nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Don Miller and Ray Miller.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Balfour Senior Living and Bloom Hospice for the care and comfort they provided to Ruth during her final days.

A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at Ruth and Mike’s home in Boulder on August 9. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Bloom Hospice at:

12600 W Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado 80215.