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Helen Austin, age 99, of Lemmon, SD, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD.

Funeral services for Helen will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, SD.

Helen Elizabeth Austin was born October 31, 1925 in Lemmon, South Dakota. She was the only child of Charles E. and Myrtle (Galegher) Anderson. She attended Peranto #4 country school in Dakota Township for 5 years, and then attended school  in Kansas City township where mother was teaching.

Helen graduted from high school in 1944 and then went on to attend Dickenson State University., where she received her teachers certificate. Her first job was teaching 3rd and 4th grades in Marmoth North Dakota. It was there that she met the love of her life, Leslie Austin jr.

Helen and Leslie were married December 12th 1948 at the Methodist Church in Hettinger North Dakota. After getting married they lived and farmed Helen's and Dad's original homestead. During this time Helen taught at Paronto #4 school where she herself attended in her earlier years.

To this union was two children were born. Joyce born in 1951, and Garth in 1957.

Helen loved to garden and she always had a huge garden with plenty of produce for family and neighbors. Helen did a lot of canning and freezing  the plenty of everything she grew.  She belonged to several homemakers clubs,  and was a member of Royal Neighbors of America.She loved to cook and bake. While many of us write down things  in our Bibles; Helen often wrote things in her recipe book. One moment she wrote:  With every death of someone we love, our longing for heaven grows stronger because that is where our heart is:taken there one piece at a time, by the ones we loved here on earth.

Helen moved to Lemmon December of 2013 and she so enjoyed her apartment and the friends that she so cherished. She entered five counties Nursing Home in October of 2024, celebrating her 99th birthday shortly after her move.

Helen was proceeded in death  by her parents Charles and Mrytle Anderson. Her Husband Leslie Austin jr. Her mother and father in-law Edna and Leslie Austin Sr. Her son Garth Austin, a grand-daughter in-law Joy Austin, and son in-law Lane Hochhalter.

She is survived by her daughter Joyce (David) Mitchell of Mesa Az, VeRene Potter of Gillette Wy., Two grandsons, Preston (Lindsay) Hochhalter of Mesa Az., Grant Austin Gilette Wy., Somar Austin Dickenson N.D., One great Granddaughter Paige Hochhalter Mesa, Az., One great grandson Gabe Austin Gillette Wy., Numerous nieces and nephews, sister in-laws, Janice Speiser of Billlings Mt. Betty Austin of Mesquite Nv. And Sharon Austin of Rochester Mn.