Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 11252
Title: Forrest D. Austin
Date: 1928 - 2010
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 5/30/1928
Summary: Forrest D. Austin, 81, Center, ND, died February 28, 2010 at Medcenter One Hospital, Bismarck. Mass of Christian Burial was held March 5, 2010 at Spirit of Life Catholic Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Chad Gion as celebrant. Burial was at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery with military honors provided by the Flasher American Legion Post 69. Forrest was born May 30, 1928 in Ardoch, ND to Floyd and Gertrude (Mazurek) Austin. He was raised in Gilby, ND and attended high school. At Wahpeton School of Science he studied as a machinist and after graduation moved to Valley City, ND where he worked as an automotive machinist at Dakota Auto Supply. He enlisted in the US Army in February 1949 and later served for 7 months with Company L, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division in Seoul, Korea. As a squad leader, he performed in an exemplary manner throughout all phases of operation, working under the most adverse field and weather conditions. Corporal Austin’s unhesitant devotion to duty, initiative, and aggressiveness aided in the company’s missions. For this service he received the Bronze Star Medal. During this mission, on February 4, 1951 he was reported missing in action after being trapped and fighting hand to hand combat, enduring nimaginable days of war and conflict. Days later his parents received a letter detailing his ordeal and proving he was alive and well. On May 20, 1951 Forrest was injured, having a shrapnel flesh wound, and received the Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged on August 3, 1951 and has forever been honored and proud of his service to his country. On June 23, 1952 he married Frances Huhncke in Steele, ND. In 1969 they moved to Center, ND and Forrest worked at Minnkota Power Company, Square Butte Station, retiring in 1987 as a power plant clerk. Forrest will be remembered as strong willed and very independent in his ways. An avid sportsman, he was known to those around the water as “the old man and his dog.” Whenever anyone would ask how the fishing conditions were, they’d always refer them to Forrest, out on the water. He once had 91 consecutive days fishing on the Missouri River with his loyal companion, Bruiser, his dog. He loved walleye, and was generous with his catches, having a town fish fry in Center. A wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Forrest’s memories will be forever cherished in the hearts of those he loved. Blessed to have shared his life is his wife of 57 years, Frances, Center; three daughters, Teresa Helmenstein and Patty (Douglas) Burkhart, both of Center, and Elise (Jerry) Argall, Phoenix, AZ; two sons, Keith (Brenda) Austin, Mandan and Kent Austin, Anchorage, AK; nine grandchildren, Lucinda, Melissa, Jyle, Brett, Brian, Aaron, Casey, Kayla, Travis, Jeramiah, and Jessica; six greatgrandchildren; one sister, Luminda (Connie) Murock, Buckston, ND; two brothers, Floyd (Marge) Austin, Devils Lake, ND and Eugene (Flora) Austin, Sonoma, CA; and sister-in-law, Marie Austin, Castro Valley, CA. Forrest was preceded in death by his parents; brother, LeRoy; and an infant grandson, Austin Helmenstein.
Red ID: FND_I_62016 Image ID: 522398 Image Notes: FND001 11252

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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