Joseph P. Fink, 87, Fairview, MT

Memorial Mass for Joseph "Joe" Fink, 87, Fairview, MT, was Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, at 10 a.m. at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Fairview, MT, with Father Jim O'Neil presiding. Wake services were at 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Fairview, MT. Joe was laid to rest in the Fairview Cemetery, Fairview, ND. A luncheon followed the service for a time of fellowship and sharing. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Sidney, MT, assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, donations and memorials were made in Joe's name to Emmaus House, 316 9th St SE, Sidney, MT, 59270 or online at https://www.emmaushouse.co Remembrances, condolences, and pictures were shared with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com.

Joseph Peter Fink passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 4, 2024. He was born Sept. 8, 1936, in Sidney, MT, the 11th child to Roy and Isabella (Meyer) Fink. Joe's education started at the Bradley School, a small country school a few miles from the family farm located outside of Lambert, MT. After attending school in town for a few years, he moved to Sidney, MT, where he graduated from high school.

After his graduation, he worked on the Joe Prevost farm until joining the Army in 1956. He served for two years as an auto mechanic, including a year spent in Korea. In 1958, he was discharged from the Army and served in the reserves for two years. During his time in the service, he was awarded the Korea Defense Service Medal and medals for Rifle & Pistol Sharpshooter and Good Conduct.

On July 1, 1961, he married Virginia Baxter, also of Lambert, at St. Philomena's Church, Sidney. Their ceremony was performed by Father Ned Shinnick, which was one of the first weddings he performed after moving to Sidney.

Joe and Virginia lived in Lambert until 1970, when they moved to Fairview. During this time, he worked for the Peavey Company Grain Elevator & Feedlot and Montana-Dakota Utilities.

After his retirement in 1998, they enjoyed taking yearly trips including five cruises, a bus tour through Italy, and three trips to Hawaii. They also loved to make frequent trips to visit their children and grandchildren all over the United States.

Joe's favorite pastimes were watching sports and assembling jigsaw and 3D puzzles. He remembered fondly a trip to Seattle to watch the Mariners play when they were giving out bobble heads of Ichiro Suzuki.

He is survived by his children Gene (Marlene) Fink, Fairview, MT; Kent (Jody) Fink, Aztec, NM; Doug Fink, Fairview, MT; Kandyse (Mark) Whitney, Beaverton, OR; Scott Fink, Beaverton, OR; Lisha (Steve) Lutke, Park City, MT; and Kurt (Michelle) Fink, Russellville, AL; his grandchildren Travis (Jamie) Fink, Billings, MT; Dustin Fink, Glendive, MT; Megan (Devyn) Lutke, Laurel, MT; Jace (Rani) Lutke, Billings, MT; John (Karen) Unruh, Glendive, MT; and Jacob (Lois) Unruh, Fairview, MT; his great-grandchildren Cole and Parker Fink, Billings, MT; Emily, Kaitlyn, Rylee, and Wyatt Unruh, Glendive, MT; Jacob Jr., Cameron, and Taylor Unruh, Fairview, MT; and his sister Dorothy Fink, Sidney, MT.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Isabella (Meyer) Fink; his wife, Virginia (Baxter); brothers Harold, John, Paul, William, Robert, and James; and sisters Muriel, Christine, Margaret, and Mary.