Cleota Mae Dinkel

Cleota Mae Dinkel, of Plainville, passed away on March 15, 2023, at Hays Medical Center in Hays at the age of 89.

She was born on January 28, 1934, to Hector and Cecilia (Gagnon) Boucher in Zurich, Kansas. She married Gilbert F. Dinkel in Zurich on April 13, 1953. They were blessed with eight children.

Cleota graduated from Palco High School in 1952. As a homemaker, she kept busy and found time to be involved in her children’s activities and church. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Ladies Guild and was a CCD teacher for many years. She was a part of the foster grandparent program at Fort Hays State University and was a girl scout leader when her daughters were young. She also enjoyed the President's Club with Avon.

Cleota enjoyed her family, quilting, and card games—even cheating sometimes! She hand-quilted for her whole family and donated a quilt to the annual church auction for many years.

As a loving, caring mother and sister, Cleota’s family was second only to God; and although she has now gone home to be with her Lord, the legacy of her love, laughter, and joy will live in our hearts and memories forever. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, but the celebration of her life and memories will forever remain.

Cleota is survived by her sons, Allen (Vickie) Dinkel of Plainville, Nicholas (Linda) Dinkel of Fincastle, Va., Mark (Julie) Dinkel of Garden City, Dan (Denise) Dinkel of Terrell, Texas; daughters, Paula (Erv) Hertel of Cimmaron, Lynette Dreher of Hays, and Lori (Mike) Whitmyer of Arvada, Colo.; brothers, Norbert Boucher of Pa., Leroy (Justine) Boucher of Lecompton, and Kenneth (Lin) Boucher of Sun City, Ariz.; sister, Vivian Boucher of Concordia; brother-in-law, Bill Virgason of Sun City, Ariz.; 18 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gilbert Dinkel of 61 years; infant daughter, Mary Dinkel; brothers, Eldon (Beverly) and Gene (Judy) Boucher; and sisters Lucille Fischer and Alfreda Virgason.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Visitation will be Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Plainville and from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the church with the family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. until the Parish Vigil and Rosary service at 7 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic School or Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org/donate, and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, KS 67663.