Delores L. Lakin, 85, of Junction City, KS, died February 17, 2024, at Enterprise Estates Nursing Center, Enterprise, KS. She was born July 30, 1938, at Grace Hospital in Hutchinson, to Fred H. and Minnie L. (Roberson) Evans.
She was a loving and devoted daughter, teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Delores was a member of the First Baptist Church in Junction City.
On June 4, 1962, she married Merle L. Lakin in Guymon, OK. They shared over 27 years of marriage and building their family before his passing. Showering her children in unconditional love they raised daughter Melinda (1963), and sons Jay (1967), Kent (1969), and Todd (1973).
Delores graduated from Buhler High School in 1956. She continued her lifelong educational journey proudly across various Kansas institutions with credits earned from Hutchinson Community College, Friends University, Emporia State University, Wichita State University, and Kansas State University. Milestones of her education included graduating from McPherson College in 1961 with a degree in Education & Psychology and a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Kansas.
Delores started her career as a first grade teacher in Kechi, Kansas. After marrying, she briefly traveled the country working with her husband in door to door sales. She returned to teaching at Turner Unified School District (USD), in Turner Kansas. Highlights from Turner included taking her fifth grade class to the 1964 Beatle’s concert in Kansas City. She continued her career teaching and serving the communities they lived in with stops in Macksville and Grainfield Kansas; Minden, Nebraska; and Lakota, Iowa. Finally settling in Junction City, KS, she worked for USD 475 from 1971 through her retirement in 1997.
Delores is survived by: daughter and family, Melinda (Larry) and Neil Vallon, Junction City; son, Jay Lakin, Junction City; son and family, Todd (Monica), Nathaniel, Isabella, and Nicholas Lakin, Overland Park, KS; sister, Evelyn Belt, Hutchinson; sister-in-law, Gayle Evans, Wellington, KS; and numerous extended family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Kent Lakin; sister, Doris Evans; brother, Murriel Evans; and brother-in-law, Raymond Belt.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pleasant View (Darlow) Cemetery, Darlow KS. Family will greet friends from 1 p.m. until service time on Saturday at the graveside. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, February 23, 2024, until Friday, March 1, 2024, at Elliott Mortuary.
Memorials are suggested to Enterprise Estates Nursing Center, 602 Crestview Dr. Enterprise, KS 67441 or to an elementary school of your choice.