Anna Austin
April 19, 1916 – October 11, 2008

MAXBASS – Anna Isabel Austin, 92, of Riverside, CA, and formerly of the Maxbass, Westhope and Minot areas; died Saturday, October 11, 2008 in a Riverside hospital.

She was born April 19, 1916 in Westhope, one of eleven children born to Hubert and Anna (Schuett) Lesmann.  She was raised in the Westhope area and attended a rural school near her home.  As a young woman she worked at the Bottineau Hospital as a nurse’s aid.  Anna married Arthur William Austin August 17, 1935 and they farmed near Westhope and Maxbass. Arthur died June 27, 1979.   After Art’s death she worked in the dietary department at the Westhope Home.

Anna married Franklin Johnson October 14, 1987. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Minot.  He died November 13, 2002.  Anna continued living in Minot until moving to Riverside in 2007.

Anna was a member of English Lutheran Church, the Maxbass Homemakers, Maxbass Garden Club and the Westhope Arts & Humanities.  She enjoyed painting, dancing, sewing and other handwork.  She and Frank had traveled to Norway to visit her daughter and son-in-law. While there they also visited Germany.

Family:  daughter, Ethel (Leslie) Aanderud, Riverside, CA; sons, Selmer (Kathy) Austin, Idaho Falls, ID; Orlyn (Debra) Austin, Westhope; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, step children, Janice (Curt) Seiffert, Fischer, TX; Janet (Ray) Norsby, Rugby, ND; Grace Marchand, Newburg, ND; 17 step grandchildren and numerous step great-grandchildren; sisters, Alice Huber, Minot; Evelyn (Arnold) Bangs, Landa, ND; brother, Lloyd (Lynette) Lesmann, Minot; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Anna was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, son, Marvin; sisters, Doretta Beingessner and Irene Austin; brothers, Arthur, Eugene, Herbert, Lyle and Albert Lesmann; a step daughter and a step grandchild.

Funeral:  Monday, October 20, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at English Lutheran Church, Maxbass

Burial:  Westhope Cemetery

Family Service:  Today at 6:00 p.m. at the church

Memorials:  Memorials preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association of MN and ND, 4550 West 77th Street, Suite 200, Edina, MN  55435-5007

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