Marcia F. Anderson

August 31, 1937 - January 29, 2022

   Marcia Fink Anderson, 84, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on January 29th, 2022, after a two-year battle with multiple myeloma. The daughter of Jane Mills Fink and H. Bernerd Fink, Marcia was born in Topeka, Kansas, on August 31, 1937. She graduated from Topeka High School in 1955 and attended the University of Kansas, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. In 1960, she graduated from the University of Kansas School of Nursing and worked as a nurse at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. She married Robert J. Anderson, of Salina, in 1961. They were blessed with three daughters: Jane Anderson Bush (Jim) of Overland Park, KS, Nancy Anderson Colwell (Troy) of Lawrence, KS, and Susie Anderson Wilson (Steve) of Lawrence, KS. Marcia cared deeply about her Salina community. She was a member of Christ Cathedral Episcopal Church, where she sang in the choir for more than 50 years. She was also a member of the Topeka Junior League, Salina Charities League, PEO, St. Johns Pediatric Service League, Colonial Dames, Christ Cathedral Episcopal Church Vestry, Asbury Hospital Board of Directors, KU School of Medicine/School of Nursing-Salina Advisory Board, and the Board of Directors of CGF Industries. She volunteered at the Salina Care Clinic and Salina Blood Mobile and worked on Nancy Landon Kassebaum’s Senate campaigns. Fearless and adventuresome, Marcia lived a life full of friends, family and as much fun as she could generate. In the mid-1980s she was certified as a scuba diver and enjoyed diving in many parts of the world, including the Great Barrier Reef. After her three daughters left home, she bought a horse named Dandy and rode with friends on Kansas trails and wild prairie. She won many ribbons in horse shows.

In 1992 at the age of 55, she enrolled at Kansas State Salina and received a private pilot’s license. After that she proudly flew family and friends around the state. Once she piloted a plane with a cameraman shooting video through an open door for a story about Salina’s Land Institute. That story would later air on the PBS Newshour. After Bob’s retirement, they spent summers in Alexandria, Minnesota, where she enjoyed introducing her seven grandchildren to waterskiing, fishing, horseback riding and a love for the Land of 10,000 Lakes. She read widely and enlivened book groups in both Salina and Alexandria.

She is survived by her husband, Bob, of 61 years; daughters, Jane, Nancy and Susie; grandchildren, Joe and Laurie Bush, Ella and Brody Sullivan, and Bennett , Alec and Lia Wilson; sisters, Elizabeth Fink Farnsworth , Diana Cochener Broze and Caroline Cochener Bonesteel; and many wonderful cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jane Mills Fink and H.B. Fink; her stepmother, Ruth Garvey Fink; her brother, Bruce Cochener; and her sisters-in-law, Nancy Matthews and Jody Anderson. A devoted wife, mother, daughter and sister, Marcia was a loyal friend to many people and will be greatly missed.

A private family graveside service was held and a celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date. Memorials may be made to the University of Kansas School of Nursing-Salina, 138 North Santa Fe Avenue, Salina KS 67401, or a charity of your choice.