Dana Ruth Fink

Dana Ruth Milleson Fink, of Elsmere, Nebraska, was born to Frank and Lola Milleson on January 6, 1923 at Thedford, Nebraska. Dana Ruth passed away April 10, 2012 in Kearney, Nebraska. She moved with her family to the Elsmere area in 1934. Dana Ruth graduated from Thedford High School in 1940. After completing teacher’s training, she taught school at South Wrage, Calf Creek, north of Seneca and at the Pleasant Hill School for a total of 4 ½ years. Dana Ruth Milleson and Chester Eugene Fink were married August 28, 1943 in Salt Lake City. When Gene returned home from the war, he and Dana Ruth moved to the ranch in Elsmere in January 1946. In 2004 their X7 Ranch received the Aksarben 100 Year Pioneer Award. Dana Ruth was a long time member of the Elsmere Missionary Society, Secretary of the Sunday School, Elsmere news correspondent for the Custer County Chief and Ainsworth Star Journal for several decades. She was a member of the Elsmere Bible Church and for many years was active in the Happy Homemakers Project Club, the Secret Sisters, and the Elsmere Connection Card Club. She took great joy in watching the wildlife from her picture window and the daily activities of the ranch. For many years she had a large garden and did a lot of canning. She was a wonderful cook and her desserts were the favorite of many, especially her grandchildren. Over the years there were teachers that boarded with the Fink family and many summers hay crews stayed there. She was active in the Goose Creek Beavers 4-H club. She watched sports on TV and had her favorite game shows. She also enjoyed talking to family and friends on the phone and looked forward to her 9 pm nightly call from Kathryn. Dana Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Gene, in 2005; mother Lola; father Frank; sister Jeannette Edelman and husband Bob; father-in-law and mother-in-law Chester and Erma Fink; brother-in-law Arnold Fink and wife Frances; sister-in-law Dorotha Nicholson; brother-in-law Howard Fink and wife Wilma; brother-in-law Melvin Fink; brother-in-law Archie Fink and wife Marguerite; and five nephews. Dana Ruth is survived by children Kathryn and Gary Austin of Omaha; Roger and Sheila of Curtis; Benjamin and Teri of Elsmere; Ray and Kerry of Dunning; grandchildren Kristi & Gene Svec of Kearney; Brian & Jodie Austin of Omaha; Tim Fink of Phoenix, Arizona; Tony and Annette Fink of Curtis; Scott and LaCaylla Fink of Elsmere; Amy and Chris Berggren of North Platte; Konni and Pat Harris of Kearney; Wesley and Adi Fink of Fort Lee, Virginia; and Jessica Fink of Kearney, as well as great grandchildren Nate, Jake, Jordyn and Izzy Svec; Emily and Brody Austin; Addison, Kinley and Greysen Harris; Thane and Brittin Fink; and Mark Fink. Dana Ruth is also survived by her brother, Junior, and Marlene Milleson of Dunning; brother-in-law Nick Nicholson of Los Angeles; sister-in-law Pearl Fink of Ainsworth; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Dana Ruth loved her family and took pride in her children and grandchildren and always had gum in her purse and kitchen drawer for the visiting children. Dana Ruth loved the ranch and her life as a ranch wife, mother and neighbor. She was a kind, gentle person that enjoyed each day and had a positive attitude. God was good to Dana Ruth and her family and she was a devout Christian. Funeral services will be held on Monday April 16, 2012 at 1:30 PM in the Elsmere Bible Church in Elsmere, with Reverends Les Canfield and John Schere officiating. Burial will be in the Purdum Cemetery with Govier Brothers Mortuary in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be held on Sunday 1 PM to 6 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary. Memorials have been established to the Elsmere Bible Church or the Purdum Cemetery.