Margaret (Rusty) Louise Colahan-Sederstrom

Margaret (Rusty) Louise Colahan-Sederstrom, 76, passed away on August 20th, 2025, surrounded by loved ones, in Wichita.

She was born in Plainville, Kansas, on September 22, 1948, to Tom and Mabel Colahan. Margaret was the youngest of their children, full of rambunctious joy from early on. She remembered Tom’s pride and celebration of her and her older sister, Mary Ann, growing up; he would often take out photos of the girls for new visitors to see so that he could brag about them. He worked long, hard hours in farming and ranching to ensure that both girls went to college. She fondly remembered taking cattle to sell in Kansas City and stopping in Lawrence to shop for new school clothes at Weavers on their way back to Plainville. Mable, loving and devoted to her girls, wanted her daughters to have every opportunity they could in life and passed on her strong Catholic faith to both daughters.

From learning to swim with one another on Mabel’s front porch at the age of 4, she grew up playing and adventuring with her close cousins, Marylou and George Livingston. Though she was a very easy going and good daughter the majority of the time, she had the philosophy of “Why worry her parents, she knew what she was going to do, so just do it” which let her find some trouble and fun from getting caught trying to “smoke” sticks behind the shed and causing a small fire to getting cars stuck on out-of-town trips as a teenager. As she grew up, she felt that her role in the family was to bring happiness, a task for which her personality and adaptability made her well-suited.

After graduating from Plainville Rural High School, she attended Marymount College in Salina, Kansas. While studying nursing at Marymount, she adopted the nickname she used the rest of her life, Rusty, for “her rusty red hair in her younger days and her rusty joints later in life”, she often told folks in recent years. Going to Marymount was one small decision that had a significant impact on her life. She learned about community, a new perspective on God, and made the deepest friendships as she grew up there. She made lifelong, devoted friends, from Kansas roommates and classmates to ones as far away as New York.

Rusty graduated in 1970 and moved to Denver, working at Beth Israel Hospital. While working there, she met a fellow nurse who became the love of her life, Conrad Sederstrom. They married at Camp St. Malo in November 1972. The reception, at her sister and brother-in-law’s home in Boulder, where many enjoyed their first Harvey Wallbanger, is still talked about at family reunions. Rusty and Con made lifelong friends in Denver, with Rick Stone, who was often an adventure buddy on various trips across the US and even to Mexico, where two motorcycles, four people, and a 20-gallon drum of gasoline (in case they ran out on the way) all fit in a used postal van and led to one of the favorite family stories.

From Colorado, Rusty and Con moved to Embudo, New Mexico, where they worked in the small mission hospital, living on the grounds with other staff, taking care of people and animals, and making some of the fondest memories. Con and Rus had a grand vacation as a belated honeymoon, traveling all over the US and then Europe. Rusty fell in love with sweet william flowers in France, and Con learned to tell people he liked their car, regardless of the country they were in. During their 12-week backpacking trip, they met kind, wonderful, and generous people.

The hospital’s closure in 1974 led them to Wichita. They planned to stay for two years, but instead, they created a fantastic community of friends and family that has spanned over 50 years. Rusty worked as a labor and delivery nurse and lactation consultant at St. Francis Hospital for 20 years. In 1994, she moved to McConnell Air Force Base to lead their family advocacy program. Continuing that work with Total Home Care after leaving the base. Rusty wrapped up her nursing career at Westley Birth Care Center, retiring in 2014. Over the years, Rusty supported countless moms through labor, including friends and the babies of babies she had delivered. She taught Lamaze classes, supported new and experienced families through all the ups and downs of pregnancy, and was a kind and welcoming face to all who entered her care.

In 1980, Rusty began her favorite job in life: being a mother. She delivered Paula in 1980, and Kristin followed in 1982. She adored her girls and was an excellent mom. She volunteered at Emerson Elementary School, led and helped out in their Girl Scout Troops, taught in their CCD classes, and took them to every John McCutcheon concert in Wichita from 1984 onward. Throughout her life, she led by example to help those in need, including both humans and animals. She loved attending the Winfield family reunion, also known as The Walnut Valley Music Festival. Family gatherings, with the whole house filled with friends who helped care for family members and became like family themselves, were great joys throughout Rusty’s life in Wichita. Rusty and Con valued giving the gifts of time and body, having started a family tradition of “ritual bloodletting” around Thanksgiving or Christmas time, when Kristin was 17, the entire family would go together to donate blood. Service to others, being present, patient, and kind were all qualities she wanted to instill in her daughters.

Rusty’s love extended beyond family, or rather, she included her friends in her family circle. Neighbors, coworkers from all her careers, fellow parishioners from St Vincent de Paul and Chapel Hill, her Soul Sisters; they were all home in her heart. Her friendships were always a source of love and support; she valued all her friends in life as if they were family. Rusty’s dedication to supporting, counseling, going on adventures with, and simply having quality time with her kids, nieces, nephew, cousins, and friends made her the happiest person. She felt like she had won the lottery with those she loved and who loved her in return.

She is survived by her husband Conrad Colahan-Sederstrom of Wichita; daughters Paula Colahan-Sederstrom of Cleveland, Ohio; Kristin Colahan-Sederstrom of Lawrence; nieces, nephew, cousins, and extended family from Oregon to Texas, New York, and Ireland and France; and a multitude of friends from every corner of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Tom Colahan and Mabel Colahan; brothers, Raymond Colahan and Eldon Colahan; and sister, MaryAnn Finnesy.
A Funeral Service was held on Thursday, August 28, at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita.

Downing & Lahey East of Wichita was in charge of the funeral arrangements.

A Graveside Service was held on Friday, August 29, at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Plainville.

In lieu of flowers, consider giving the gift of time to someone or donating to a local charity that supports those in need.