Funeral services for LaVaughan Austad, 75, of Calera, AL, will be Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hettinger Lutheran Church. Rev. Kathleen Dettmann will officiate and burial will be at a later date in the Hettinger Cemetery. Visitations will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday morning.

LaVaughan Rose was born February 25, 1933 to Alfred Rose and Lena (Vigoren) Rose. She grew up in Hettinger and graduated from Hettinger High School in 1951. In 1952, she married William Byers Sr. of Reeder and to this union was born one son, William Byers Jr. LaVaughan worked at the First National Bank in Hettinger and later, along with husband William Byers Sr., built the TipTop Motel in Hettinger. Tragically, in 1975, William Byers Sr passed away.

LaVaughan continued to own and operate the TipTop Motel until it was finally sold in 1997. In 1979, LaVaughan married Carleton Austad, to whom she was married until his passing in August of 1997. LaVaughan remained in Hettinger until December 2006, at which time she moved to Alabama to live with her granddaughter, Trista Byers Ehlers, and her granddaughter's family.

LaVaughan was the ultimate hostess. She immensely enjoyed visiting with family and friends and was blessed with the gift of superb hospitality. She loved to bake and kept her freezer stocked for the endless impromptu visits from family and friends, which she so dearly loved.
LaVaughan enjoyed being active.

While married to Carleton, they would often times drive hundreds of miles just to enjoy the scenery and a good meal out of town. LaVaughan logged many airline miles, visiting her son and grandchildren all around the country. She was vivacious and enjoyed life to the fullest.

LaVaughan passed away on the evening of February 1, 2009 at Cooper Green Hospital in Birmingham Alabama. By her side, through her final breath, were her granddaughter, Trista Byers Ehlers, and her grandson-in-law, James Ehlers. She passed away after a valiant battle with breast cancer.

LaVaughan was survived in death by her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. William Byers Jr., of Collegeville PA and their 3 children, Reese, Austin & Kira.

LaVaughan was dearly loved by her oldest granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Trista Byers Ehlers and James Ehlers, of Alabaster AL, and their 2 children, Laine and Bryne; and second oldest granddaughter, Marissa Byers of Downingtown PA. LaVaughan was also survived in death by her brothers and their wives, Alfred and Barbara Rose of Hettinger and Darwin and Jan Rose of Billings MT. Also included in LaVaughan's immediate family are her step-children from her marriage to Carleton Austad, Connie & Dave Friez of Bismarck, their children and grandchildren; Carol & Bernie Faber of Eau Claire WI, their children and grandchildren; and Carla Immel of Louisiana and her family. In addition, LaVaughan will be dearly missed by her ex daughter-in-law, Shirley Byers Waltemyer of Murfreesboro TN, her many nieces and nephews whom she loved very much, and many exchange students from all around the world; whom lived with LaVaughan in Alabama during her last two years of life.

Donations can be made in LaVaughan's memory to: Hospice Services of Alabama, 2367 Lakeside Dr, Birmingham AL 35244.