P hillipsburg resident Holly Jolene Dinkel, age 59, passed away peacefully at her home, following a long battle with cancer, on November 22, 2021.

She was born March 9, 1962 in Lincoln, KS the daughter of Robert and Dorothy (Starks) Hansen.  Holly attended school in Lincoln, KS, graduating high school with the class of 1980.  She was an active student participating in band, vocal, plays, and student council.  She participated in all sports, but excelled in basketball where she was an All-State Athlete helping to win the first ever State 2A girls' basketball title in 1980.

Holly then attended Cloud County Community College.  She played basketball and participated in Jazz Band, graduating in 1982.  She then attended Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX where she played basketball with the "Flying Queens".   Holly graduated in 1984 with a BS in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation with a Minor in English.

She accepted a teaching and coaching job in Texhoma, OK in 1986, coaching boys and girls Jr. High basketball and track.  She coached the High School 6x6 girls basketball team, taking one of her teams to a state tournament.

Holly moved to Phillipsburg, KS in 1992 to be closer to family, accepting a position as the K-12 Physical Education Teacher and as the Head Coach for the Girls basketball team.  She coached for 7 years, then retired from coaching in 1999.

On May 13, 1999 in Phillipsburg, KS along with family and friends, Holly and Jeff Dinkel were united in marriage.

Holly continued to teach K-12 Physical Education, spending the majority of her time at the Elementary level.  She retired in the spring of 2021 ending a career of 35 years teaching children, their children, and their grandchildren.

Holly held many part-time jobs during her career as a teacher.  She was always busy and filled her summers working to fill her time.  One of her many jobs was cleaning rooms at the Assisted Living Facility in Phillipsburg.  She developed strong and close relationships with the people that resided there.  Her last part-time job was running concession stand for the girls softball and t-ball games.  This gave her such joy to watch her "kids" play and have fun along with visiting with their parents.

She is survived by her husband, and two daughters Zoey Dayle and Payton Jolene.  Other survivors include a brother Tim Hansen and wife Leisa of Colby, KS; Nieces Trudi VanderPloeg and husband Jim, Kayla Dickson and husband Josh; and her Great Danes Bailey, Millie, Demaryius, Denver, and Omaha.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Barbara.

Holly loved to make people smile.  Her greatest joy was to provide a kind word of encouragement or funny to make a person's day.  She had an infectious smile that became her trademark and a way of making anyone or any room comfortable.

Cremation was planned.  A Memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 18 ^th , 2021 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg. The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. Inurnment will take place following the services at 2:00 p.m. in the Lincoln Cemetery, Lincoln, KS.

Friends may sign the register book on Friday, December 17 ^th from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral chapel.  The family will receive friends Friday evening at the funeral chapel from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. for visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made in Holly's name in support of her daughters' education fund.