Lois L. Fink

Lois (Loeffler) Fink, 100, passed away peacefully on November 17, 2015, at Homestead Assisted Living Facility, Manhattan. Lois was the daughter of George and Callie Loeffler, born and raised on the family farm in Rooks County, west of Stockton. She graduated summa cum laude from Stockton High School in 1933, and after completing “Normal Training”, she taught grades 1 through 8 at Liberty School, District 66, Alcona Township, and another year at a school near Phillipsburg. Lois graduated from Strickler’s Topeka Business College in 1936, and moved to Manhattan to work for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration as a switchboard operator and administrative secretary. She met Lorrin A. Fink of Chase County in Topeka, and they were married in Manhattan, in November 1940. Lois returned to Rooks County with her infant daughter, Sherry, to stay with her parents on the farm, while Lorrin served in World War II. The young family became permanent Manhattan residents in 1945. Lois was a homemaker, active volunteer for the Kansas Arthritis Foundation, served on the Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, was a member of both the Zoning Appeals and Human Relations Boards in Manhattan, served on the Manhattan City Commission, and worked for Arthur- Green as a bookkeeper for several years. She helped to establish Youth, Inc., which became Manhattan Youth Care, a home for mistreated and neglected boys, and was the treasurer for the organization. She was active in Tri Delta Mothers, Family and Consumer Education units, and many activities of the First United Methodist Church, where she was a member for over 50 years. Lois enjoyed Kansas State athletics as a longtime season ticket holder for football and men’s and women’s basketball. Lois was proud to be a member of the Kansas State University Foundation. Lois maintained her ties to Rooks County as the agent for Loeffler Farms, encompassing a section of land jointly owned with her sister, Betty Mavis (Loeffler) Fletcher, which was part of the original farm owned by their parents. Mrs. Fink’s family includes a sister, Mavis Fletcher, Manhattan; two daughters: Sherry Denton, (Jeff) Salina, Jan Converse, (Curtis) Colorado Springs, CO; son-in-law Bob Dearborn, Ankeny, IA; seven granddaughters, and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Mildred Loeffler, her husband, Lorrin, and a daughter, Rebecca (Beccy) Dearborn. The family will host a visitation at Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, 1317 Poyntz, Manhattan, from 6 to 8pm on Friday, November 20. Funeral services will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Manhattan, on Saturday November 21 at 10am, with internment to follow at Sunrise Cemetery. Lunch will be served at the church after the graveside services. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Kansas Arthritis Foundation, in care of the funeral home. The family wishes to express appreciation to the nurses and staff of Homestead for their dedicated and compassionate care over the last eight years. For more information, to send an e-mail condolence or a gift to the family visit the funeral home web site at www.irvinparkview.com