Obit: Austin, Betty Jean (1928 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Austin, Tubbs, Dignin, Clark, Meyers, Thompson, Hargrove, Hurd, Sieg, Deardorf, Blom, Erickson

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI) 12/23/2015

Austin, Betty Jean (20 April 1928 - 7 December 2015)

Betty Jean Austin, 87, Cross Roads, TX, died Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, at Mission Ridge Resident home, Plano, TX.

Betty Jean Dignin was born April 20, 1928, in Neillsville, the daughter of Laura Belle (Tubs) and Jerome Leo Dignin. She grew up in Humbird and graduated from Humbird High School in 1945. She met her future husband, Dale Austin, at a roller skating rink at Hatfield. They married Aug. 26, 1945, and were married for 51 years.

The Austins moved from the Merrillan area to Beloit, where they raised their family. While living in Beloit, Betty worked at Fairbanks Morse as a crane operator and then for Beloit Public Schools for 23 years, retiring in 1996.
After retirement, the Austins moved to Black River Falls. Betty moved back to Merrillan after her husband died and later spent her final years with her daughter in Texas.

Family always came first for her. She was a loving mother and grandmother and extended that love to be a caregiver to many. She was a faithful and humble servant of God through Grace United Methodist Church of Beloit and Merrillan United Methodist Church. She was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, very much enjoyed playing cards and games, camping and entertaining. She also was known for her incredible “busy beaver” work ethic that extended well into her 80s.

Betty will be dearly missed by her children: Cary Deane (Julia) Austin, Beloit; Cindy Austin (Tom) Clark, Cross Roads, TX; six grandchildren: Aaron (Nancy) Austin, Beloit; Emily Austin (Jayson) Meyers, Chippewa Falls; Laura Thompson, Bentonville, AR; Heather Austin (James Hargrove, Ethel Heights, AR, Codi Cark (Andrew) Hurd, Dallas, TX, and Tomi Clark, Dallas, TX; five great-grandchildren: Allison Meyers, Aidan Austin, Rebecca and Anna Hargrove and Owen Hurd; a brother-in-law, Woody Austin, Walloon Lake, MI; a sister-in-law, Donna Dignin, Neillsville; many nieces and nephews, and the angels who have taken care of Betty the past few years, including her niece, Joy Sieg, Betty Deardorf and the caregivers at Mission Ridge.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, who died Dec. 8, 1996; sons Robert Dale and Danny k. Austin; her granddaughter, Maddie Hargrove; her sister, Theo Blom; and her brothers William, Robert, Lynn, and Dale Dignin.

Memorial services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, at 2 p.m. at Merrillan United Methodist Church, 307 E. Pearl St. Merrillan, with Pastor Meg Erickson officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to services at the church. A reception at the church will be held immediately following burial in Oakwood Cemetery, Merrillan. A second memorial service is scheduled in Cross Roads, TX.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in her name to Merrillan United Methodist Church, 307 E. Pearl St., Merrillan, WI 54754.

Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com.  The family is assisted by the Anderson Funeral home in Augusta.