Deloris Madeline Austin

Deloris Madeline Austin, 90, of Dell Rapids and formerly of Colton passed away Thursday, October 21, 2010 at Avera Dells Area Health Center.

Funeral services will begin at 1:00 PM Monday, October 25, 2010 at First Lutheran Church in Colton. Burial will be in Minnehaha Cemetery.

Visitation will begin two hours prior to services on Monday at the church.

Deloris “Da” was born August 7, 1920 to Henry and Emma Austin in Colton, South Dakota. She attended country school until the eighth grade. Deloris lived with her parents to be their caretaker and homemaker.

She was a member of First Lutheran Church. Deloris loved flowers, plants, playing cards and gardening. She also enjoyed shopping in Sioux Falls with her sister Verda where they had their special shopping and eating places.

Deloris resided in Terrace Manor Nursing Home since October 8, 2009 and spent the last seven months of Virgil’s life making sure he was taken care of.

Deloris made many meals for visitors, friends, and relatives that came to visit them and farmhands. Deloris along with her sister made lots of lefse, doughnuts and homemade bread. One of her specialties that family members enjoyed was her egg coffee.

She was a caregiver her entire life for her parents, uncles and her brother Virgil. Deloris was a caring and compassionate person and always made sure that the care and well being of her parents and brother came first.

Deloris was a very quiet lady but had a favorite word which she spoke often and with her Norwegian heritage, ‘Oofta’.

She had a special friend and companion with her dog “Boots”.

She is survived by two sisters, Darla Amundson, Dell Rapids and Ruth Rivenes, Rapid City; many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by eight brothers, Gordon, Ray, Kermit, Melvin, Harold, Robert, Eugene and Virgil and three sisters Verda Fods, Shirley Moe and Norma Austin.