Esther Austin

Funeral services for Esther Austin, 86, New England will be 11 a. m. Saturday, December 8, 2007, at Our Redeemer?s Lutheran Church, New England with Janel Kolar, officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Havelock Cemetery. Esther passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2007, at her home with her family by her side. Esther Olson was born on January 6, 1921, in Chico California the daughter of John and Sarah (Huffman) Olson. At a young age Esther formed her love of reading and learning while attending a small one room school house outside Regent, ND and later graduated salutatorian from Regent High School in 1939. On her graduation Esther received a scholarship from Jamestown College, but chose to marry the love of her life, Oscar Austin. Esther met Oscar at the coal mine near Havelock during her junior year of high school. On June 23, 1939, the two were united in marriage, a bond which could not be broken by the death of Oscar, on May 16, 2004. Together they farmed near Havelock, where she kept a clean house, perfected the art of cooking and sewing. She raised their children with a soft hand and an open heart. Esther and Oscar worked hard on the farm, but during their later years enjoyed many Saturday night dances at the Eagles Club, motor trips across the U. S, and trips abroad. She enjoyed afternoons in her garden tending her flowers and vegetables or knitting and crocheting. Esther was very civic minded and involved herself in the New England Senior Citizens Club, Havelock Homemakers Club, TOPS, Democratic N. P. L Party and the Hettinger County Historical Society. Esther is survived by: two sons, Donald Austin, New Port Beach, CA, Roger (Debbie) Austin, Missoula, MT; two daughters, Linda Austin, Burien, WA and Corrine (Bruce) Bach, Phoenix AZ; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; sister in law, Ragna Mesling, New England, one brother in law, Robert Austin, Beach. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and her four brothers, Harold, Sam, Vince and Lester Olson Olson. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred: New England Ambulance C/O Mike Madler 5848 HWY 22 South, New England, ND 58647.


Click to View Program (PDF)


Burial Date: December 8, 2007

Funeral Service: Saturday, Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, New England