Chaplain Kenneth Austin

Chaplain Kenneth “Ken” Austin, 76, of Underwood, MN died Tuesday, October 27, 2015, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND.

Ken was born on December 11, 1938, in Minot, ND the son of Theodore and Frances (Ewen) Austin. He grew up in Minot and graduated from Minot High School in 1957. He served his country in the National Guard from 1956 to 1962.

On February 15, 1959, he married Mavis Field in Minot, ND.

He started working at the age of 8 at a vegetable farm. Over the years he worked for Broten Lumberyard in Minot, foreman at Peavy lumberyard in Glen Ullin as well as an International dealer. While in Glen Ullin he traveled to Dickinson every Sunday where he helped start a church. In 1972 moved to Bismarck to help start Grace Lutheran Brethren church. He went into real estate from 1972 to 1987. In 1987 he moved to Fergus Falls, to attend The Lutheran Brethren Seminary and graduated in 1990. After seminary he worked for Hillcrest in the Alumni and Home Missions department. During that time he also served Aurdal and Messiah Lutheran churches in the Fergus Falls area. In 2002, he became the fulltime chaplain for Lutheran Brethren Homes (Broen Memorial Home) and served until his death.

He was a member of the Underwood Lions and over the years was very active in the churches he attended. He loved gardening, coin collecting, metal detecting; time spent with his family, and loved to tell tall tales with his brothers. He so loved his family and was very proud of them all. Some of his greatest joys were officiating at many weddings and baptisms for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Ted, Bob, Jim, Don; children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that will be met in heaven.

Survivors include his wife, Mavis of Underwood, MN; children, Ken (Lucie) Austin of MD, Jon (Dee Dee) of ND, Anita (Jim) Gragg of CO, Leona (John) Nygaard of MN, Kathy (Greg) Busch, AK, Mary (Jeff) Matthys of MN; grandchildren, Benjamin Austin, Jonathan (Heather) Austin, Alina (Dan) Eckman, Maria (Derek) Frame, Jimmy (Michelle) Gragg, Amber (Joe) Ramos, Patrick (Shauna) Gragg, Michael Gragg, Brandy (Jerry) Thompson, Heather (James) Zimmerman, Joshua (Bianca) Johnson, Bennett (fiancée Lisa Meyers) Johnson, Jacob and Julia Busch, Britnie (Jesse) Rode and Beau and Zachariah Matthys; 24 great-grandchildren; sister, Vonda (Don) Kirkman of Missouri and brother, Tim (Mindy) Austin of ND. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials preferred to Church of the Lutheran Brethren Ministries or the Gideon’s.

Visitation: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, November 1, at the Light and Life Auditorium, Broen Memorial Home, Fergus Falls, with a prayer service at 3 p.m. and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church
Memorial Service: 1 p.m. Monday, November 2, at Bethel Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverends Ed Monson and Art England
Interment: North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, South of Mandan, ND