Joseph Peter Fink passed away peacefully at home on January 4, 2024. He was born on September 8, 1936, in Sidney, Montana, 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, Montana, where he graduated 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 in 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 & 3D puzzles. He remembers fondly a trip to Seattle to watch the Mariners play when they were giving out bobbleheads of Ichiro Suzuki.

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.

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

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