Norma Fink

Norma Lou (Welch) Fink was born in Friend, NE, to Jim and Maurine Welch, on April 1, 1934, during the dirty 30’s. Times were rough. They had outdoor toilets, and no water in the house. Living in a small house. Took a bath in a galvanized tub twice a week, heating the bath water. Studied by a lamp light, as they had no electricity until later. Norma was three years old when we moved to Bartlett, NE, with my parents and brother Kenneth.

Later, Norma went to a one-room school during her grade school years. Then she attended high school at Wheeler County High School. During my high school years, she played all sports. Norma was a baton twirler for the four years of high school.

In the summer years, from 13 years on, Norma rode the blue grass strippers, stripping blue grass, which was a good-paying job for the summer. She also worked in the hay field helping her dad, besides helping with morning and night chores, and helping her mom in the home. Her dad put up ice at Pibel Lake, so we had an icehouse, and we had ice most of the summer. We kept it in the ice box, that she still has of today, everyday it was her job to empty the water from below. These days were the good old days, never had much but never complained. Always had enough to eat.

Norma took normal training in high school. She taught school for her brother when he had his appendix for two weeks. She was only 16 when she practiced teaching. It was scary as she was so young. After graduating at 17, in April. She taught the following year at the grade school she went to for eight years. Then she attended summer school in Wayne, NE, teaching another year and the following summer in Chadron, NE. After teaching for three years in a one-room school, she met the love of her life, her best friend, Neal Fink. While dating, they enjoyed roller skating and going to outdoor movies in Neigh, NE for entertainment. They were married in December of 1954. Neal then joined the service. Norma worked in the Neligh Hospital for some time and joined him later after his basic training in Fort Carson, Colorado Springs. While there, she worked at the college drug store. Later, the couple was sent to Chicago to finish Neal’s time. Norma babysat and worked at Woolworths store, as Army pay wasn’t that much.

While in Chicago, their first son, Mike, was born at Great Lakes, IL. When Neal was discharged, the couple moved to Chambers, NE, where the couple worked for Ralph Carwood. While attending the Baptist Church there, she made her decision to accept the Lord as her Savior at a Revival meeting and later was baptized in the Cedar River. Billy Wagner was the minister, a great man. This was a big change in her life. Norma was a faithful follower of Jesus and looked forward to stepping into Heaven.

The couple later moved north to Burwell, where they worked on the Graff Ranch. Their second child was born. Debbie joined her brother Mike.

After several years living in Burwell, they moved to Ericson, renting school land. There, they started a dairy business milking 40 cows. While there, their third child, Kevin, was born, and two years later daughter, Darla, was born. This completed their family.

After eight years living in Ericson, the couple decided to sell the cows. Neal decided to attend State Patrol school. After his schooling, they were sent to Broken Bow, where he was a patrolman. That was their last move.

Norma babysat with over 25 little kids for several years. In 1972, she started working at the hospital. She was employed there for 38 years, after leaving the hospital. She worked at Off Broadway retirement home for nine years, in the kitchen. She loved the residents. She retired at the age of 85, when Covid hit.

Norma lover her family and that was the biggest joy of her life, always have been a people person, she never meet a stranger. She loved her jobs and hated to quit at that age. She enjoyed coffee with friends, church and their activities, attending the grandkids and great-grandkids activities. She got to attend all of her grandchildren’s graduations and weddings. She got to travel a lot.

Being born on April Fool’s Day, she always loved to “April Fools” and even “April Fooling’s” herself.

Her home was always open to anyone who needed a place to stay. She kept many people whom she had never met before.

Norma is survived by four children son Mike (Michelle) Fink of Kentucky, daughter Debbie Flodman of Grand Island, son Kevin (Renee) Fink of Scottsbluff, and daughter Darla (Bill) Myers of Broken Bow, grandchildren Jenny (Dave) Foley of Kentucky, Brittany (Seth) White of Kentucky, Nikki (Kyle) Nunn of Kentucky, Taylor (Jake) Walson of Kentucky, Brandon Flodman (Jessica) of Grand Island, Becka Flodman (Kevin) of Lincoln, Eli (Tristan) Fink of Maryland, Gideon (Emma) Fink of Chicago, Amanda (Jason) Schrock of Litchfield, Nathan (Kecuna) Myers of Lincoln, and Hailey (Tyler) Hazel of Rapid City,26 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, son-in-law Mike Flodman, sisters-in-law Jean Welch, Linda (Bob) Gottschalk, brother-in-in-law Edwin (Bev) Fink, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Norma was preceded in death by husband Neal, parents Jim & Maurine Welch, brother Kenneth Welch, nieces Dawn Fink and Valerie Welch, nephew Dennis Welch, father & mother-in-law Grant & Mary Fink, and brother-in-law Ronnie Fink.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 1:30 pm at the Berean Bible Church in Broken Bow. Burial will follow in the Broken Bow Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Berean Bible Church, Broken Bow Red Barn, or Shriners. A time to stop and sign the register book will be held on Wednesday, August 6th, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at Govier Brothers Mortuary, and the family will greet on Thursday, August 7th, from 10:00 to 11:30 am at the Berean Bible Church. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online words of remembrance or condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com