Norma Kathryn ""Kay"" Minnick

Norma Kathryn ""Kay"" Minnick of Arvada Colorado died peacefully, on August 21, 2015, surrounded by her family. She was 90 years old. Kay was born on February 25, 1925, in Towner Colorado. She was the seventh child of Elora and Henry Mikes. At the age of ten, her family moved to Arvada, where Kay remained a lifelong resident. Kay attended Holy Family High School and went on to earn her degree in teaching from the University of Colorado. It was there, in a chemistry lab, that she met the love of her life, Pres E Minnick. They were married on December 29th, 1950. In 1958, their daughter Lora was born and their son Shane followed in 1963. Kay worked as a teacher in the Denver Public Schools from 1951 to 1958. Even at 90 years of age, she could still remember many of the kindergartners that had gone through her classes and was always proud of their many accomplishments. While in college, Kay became a devoted member of the Beta Xi chapter of Kappa Delta. Both during and after her college years, Kay remained involved in her sorority, holding several different offices. Kay and Pres began square dancing in 1969 and were deeply involved in every aspect of the activity, locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally. They served on numerous committees and boards and were named to ""Who's Who"" in American Square Dancing and to the ""Hall of Fame"" of the Denver Area Square & Round Dance Council. In 1995, Kay and Pres co-founded the USA West Square Dance Convention, which was sponsored by thirteen western states, and which continues to go on and host dancers from all over the world. As dancers. they also performed worldwide with Jim's Dandies Round Dance Exhibition Team for eight years. Both Kay and Pres remained actively involved with the University of Colorado, serving on the board of the Alumni Association, Director's Club, and were contributors to the CU Foundation. They were avid Buffalo Football fans and attended almost all home games and many away and bowl games for 64 years. On a personal level, Kay lived her life to the fullest. She and Pres traveled extensively, with the only continent missed being Antarctica. They spent as much time as they possibly could at their home in Carmel by the Sea, where Kay perfected her favorite pastime of gardening. She also loved to spend time at their fishing ranch in Walsenberg, as it reminded her of her childhood on the prairie. Kay was deeply religious and attended church at the Shrine of St. Anne in Arvada. Kay was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and her family was the most important thing in the world to her. She is survived by her daughter Lora Laustrup, her cherished grandchildren, Geno Somma and Aubrey Laustrup, her baby sister, LaVonne Williams and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her adoptive father, her six older siblings, her beloved husband, Pres, and her precious son, Shane. Kay touched many lives with her kindness and generosity. She was a grand lady that enjoyed a life well lived. She will be missed forever. A Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2015 starting at 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 7577 West 80th Avenue, Arvada, Colorado. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 28, 2015 at 10:00 AM at Shrine of St. Anne Catholic Church, 7555 Grant Place, Arvada, Colorado. The Interment will follow the Funeral Mass at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 12801 West 44th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. A Reception honoring Kay will be immediately following the Interment at Ciancio's at Hyland Hills, 9650 Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster. Please share your memories of Kay and condolences with her family by signing the guest book below.