OLMITZ — Elizabeth Louise “Betty” Zink, 80, died Dec. 8, 2023, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. She was born July 28, 1943, in Great Bend, Kan., the daughter of Frank and Cecilia (Younger) Steffan.
Betty graduated from Barton County Community College. She worked for a time with her mother in an upholstery shop, and later for Superior Essex Inc. in Hoisington. She also helped teach sewing for the Hutchinson Department of Corrections.
On Sept. 15, 1990, she married Jim Zink at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Olmitz.
Betty was a lifetime Barton County resident. She was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church of Olmitz and the Altar Society. Betty was a wonderful cook, and loved feeding her family and teaching the grandkids how to bake. They will fondly remember those times baking bread and the recipes she shared, especially her famous chocolate pie. She also loved time spent in her garden, both her flower and vegetables garden, and later canning her harvest. She played the piano and could often be heard whistling a tune throughout the day. Her smile was ever radiating the gentle, kind, loving nature that she exemplified.
She is survived by her husband, Jim Zink of the home; and seven children, Lisa (John) Menzer of Ellinwood, Curtis Thornburg of Clinton, Mo., Cyndi Delp of Camdenton, Mo., Lori (Wayde) Gilbert of Puyallup, Wash., Christopher (Judy) Thornburg of O’Fallon, Mo., Jimmy (Theresa) Zink of Blackwell, Okla., and Charity Zink of Denver, Colo.; three siblings, Marilyn (Dennis) Dougherty of Great Bend, Jerry (Karen) Steffan of Great Bend, and Ken (Mitch) Steffan of Loganville, Ga.; 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Beverly Haselhorst.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, with family to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home with Vigil and Rosary beginning at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Olmitz, celebrated by Father Warren Stecklein. Burial will follow in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Olmitz.
Memorials may be made to the Birthright of Great Bend or any Pro-Life Organization, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544. Notices may be sent and obituary viewed at www.nicholsonrickfh.net
Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home
P.O. Box 146
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 12, 2023
