Beverly J. Austin

Heavens doors opened to welcome Mom home April 23, 2010. She is now with her Lord and Savior and beloved husband Winfield whom she missed dearly since his passing 10 years ago. She died peacefully at home surrounded by her family.

Beverly was born to John and Winifred Long on Oct. 14, 1928, in a farm house in Titonka, Iowa. She was the eldest of five children. She spent her younger years there until the family moved to Marmarth, N.D. in 1944, where she attended her senior year of school. Upon graduating High School she attended Beauty School and also taught school for one year south of Rhame.

She was married to Winfield H. Austin in Baker, Mont., on April 15, 1950. Their first year of marriage they lived and worked on a ranch south of Marmarth before moving to Miles City in 1951. They began their family with the birth of their son Leighton, soon to follow Clyde, Dudley and then a daughter Leslie.

Mom also began her career working for the Telephone Company in Miles City and worked there until the phone company closed and she transferred to Billings in 1977. She retired from AT&T December 1984, after working for 35 years. Mom continued to be involved with the AT&T Pioneers, attending luncheons and gatherings until her health no longer allowed. Upon her retirement she also worked part time for the Visiting Nurses Pool in Billings taking care of the Elderly who loved and adored her, and obtained many new friends in the people she cared for.

Mom enjoyed doing her daily crossword puzzles, playing solitaire, a pastime she inherited from her mother. She also loved to watch Fox News and you had to schedule your visits or dinners around Bill O'Reilly. She was a longtime member of the West Side Baptist Church and loved her church family dearly.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years; her parents; one son Byron; son-in-law Jim McGuinness; grandchildren Jamie,  Matthew and Aspen.

She is survived by her son Leighton (Shelia) of Billings, Clyde (Bobbie) of Oakdale, Calif., Dudley (Carol) of Yuma, Ariz.; and her daughter Leslie and granddaughter Carly with whom she lived for the past two years. She is also survived by grandchildren, J.R., Aaron, Lacey Lynn, Brittany, Justin and one great grandson Tucker. Beverly is also survived by her brothers Duane (Carol) Long and Jack Long and her sisters  Gloria Hendry and Sandy Zupanik and numerous nieces and nephews.    

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Riverstone Hospice for all of your support and caring for our mom.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at West Side Baptist Church, 323 S. 32nd St. W. Billings. Interment will follow at Terrace Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation begins 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, at Smith West Chapel, 304 34th St. W. Memorial donations may be sent to West Side Baptist Church or Riverstone Health Hospice.