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Services for Bessie Austin, of Diagonal, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 1, at the United Church of Diagonal with burial in the Union Cemetery. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorials are to be directed to the United Church of Diagonal and the Union Cemetery.
Bessie Ann Overholser was born Dec. 24, 1931, to Stanley and Helen Fredricksen-Overholser in Knowlton. Bessie departed her life at her home, north of Diagonal, on Monday, April 29, 2024, at the age of 92 years, 4 months and 7 days.
Bessie lived her whole life right in this area starting at Knowlton and living on the farm north of Diagonal. On July 4, 1950, she was united in marriage with Edward Austin. They were blessed with three kids: Dixie, Mike and Becky. Through all the years, Bessie farmed along with Eddie and then went to work at ASCS in Mount Ayr.
Bessie and Eddie loved to dance and when Eddie passed Bessie learned to play guitar and enjoyed the jams. She enjoyed her time going to Texas and meeting so many dear friends. Joe and Irma Zapata were so special to help out with her place in Texas. When Bessie turned 90, she thought it was time to retire from going down there and stayed in Iowa with the family. She kept busy going to all the grandkids’ and great-grandkids’ sporting events.
Preceding Bessie in death were her husband, Eddie; a grandson, Paul Austin; her parents, Stanley and Helen Overholser; parents-in-law, Clarence and Nellie Austin; sisters-in-law, Mary Austin and Virginia Morris; sister and brother-law, Betty and Delbert McCombs and brothers-in-law: Ed Fletcher, Charles and Tom Austin and William Tjaden.
Survivors include son, Micheal (Kim) Austin of Long Prairie, Minnesota; daughters, Dixie (Bruce) Baker of Creston and Becky (Steven) Stamps of Diagonal; grandchildren: Shane Austin of Cromwell, Kerry (Lynnae) Austin of Sauk Center, Minnesota, Amy (Jerry) Shultes of Creston, Kylene (Isaac) Lumbard and Jason (Shauna) Stamps, both of Diagonal; great-grandchildren: Melissa Austin, Sophia (Jephthah) Foaty, Danika and Mattias Shultes, Skyler Stamps, Taylor and Carter Lumbard and Eli, Abe, Vivian and Eva Austin; sisters, Barbara Tjaden of Titonka and Bonnie Fletcher of Diagonal; sisters-in-law, Carol Austin of Ames and Liane Austin of Des Moines; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.