Doreen Mendenhall

Doreen Mendenhall, 97, of Colby, formerly of Gove, died Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Citizens Medical Center, in Colby. She was born in 1926, on a farm two miles north of Quinter, KS, to Joe and Helen Fink. She was their only child. Doreen attended grade school and high school in Quinter, graduating with the class of 1944. She lived in Topeka for six months, then returned to Quinter to help her folks at Fink’s Motel and Café.

Doreen married J.L. Mendenhall (Jr) on March 28, 1946, when he returned from serving in the Merchant Marines during WWII. They lived in Quinter for a year, then moved southeast of Gove to live on the Mendenhall Ranch. They had four daughters, Connie, Pam, Terri and Cindy.

In the days of the CB’s, friends gave them the CB handle of Hefty Hereford and Hackberry Doll.

Doreen was a 75-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Rebekah Lodge. She was active in school and church activities and belonged to Gyne Fealti Club for 60 years. She also belonged to the So & So Club, and she and Jr. belonged to the dance club at Gove.

Doreen loved music, she played the piano and sang in a quartet that sang for many funerals at Gove. She liked to dance and listen to Big Band music.

Doreen liked to sew, and her four girls kept her active in that field along with crochet and crafts. She worked with her husband on much of the outside farm work.

She loved her family and each of her 12 grandchildren had a crocheted afghan she made, her daughters also had one. She made many pillowcase dolls. Her grandchildren loved her French toast.

In September of 1999 the couple moved to Colby because of J.L.’s failing health. He died in March of 2001. Later Doreen became active in volunteer work with the RSVP program. She belonged to a Canasta Club and enjoyed going to “Lady’s Night Out.” She was an avid KU basketball fan. Doreen also was Mrs. Santa at Santa City for several years. She moved to Fairview Estates in 2013.

Doreen was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her children, Connie (Dick) Guernsey, of Parks, NE, Pam Mendenhall (Terry Selbe), of Goodland, KS, Terri (Kelly) Simon, of Bentonville, AR and Cindy (Terry) Rasmussen, of Colby, KS; twelve grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

The Funeral Service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the Colby United Methodist Church, with burial at 2:00 p.m. in the Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter, KS. Memorials may be made to the Colby United Methodist Church and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com