Frank Joseph Austin

Frank Joseph Austin passed away Friday evening, January 5th, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Butte Saturday, December 3, 1966 to Edward and Cleda (Mehrens) Austin. He attended the Greeley School, East Junior High and graduated from Butte High School in 1985. He started work at Jim Gilman Excavating right out of high school and with the exception of his service with the United States Army Reserves, he worked for his aunt and uncle, Jim and Chloe Gilman, continuously for 35 years. A true patriot, Frank served in Operation Desert Storm as well as on Joint Task Force 6 along the US/Mexico border. Frank was passionate about the love for his country, freedom, firearms, gun rights, gun shows, heavy equipment and Harley Davidson motorcycles. He attended Con-Expo for many years and was accused that if cut he would bleed “Caterpillar Yellow”. He married the love of his life, Kim Mason on August 26, 2017. She survives. Also surviving are his step-daughter and her husband, Sara Dawn and Mike Ehman of Butte, sisters and brothers-in-law, Ruby (Austin)and Tom Reighard and Marie (Austin) and Mike Regan all of Butte, two special people that were like brothers, Thomas Clemo and Bruce Parks, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Debbie and Doug Yates of Colorado, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Cory and Margo Mason of California, nieces and nephews: Jeret and Taylor (Brinson) Fischer, Kaitlyn Reighard, Abreia Reighard, Anthony Reighard, Adam Reighard, Mikey Regan, Austin Regan, Jake “The Jaker” Regan, Kallyn Regan, great nephew, Oliver Edward Fischer and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. Besides his parents, Frank is preceded in death by his brother, Glenn Austin who passed away April 27, 1993. Graveside interment of ashes will be conducted Saturday morning at 11 o'clock in Mountain View Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by the Butte United Veterans Council. A celebration of his life will follow at 12 noon in Star Lanes Event Center. Memorials in memory of Frank may be made to Kanynn Vanisko’s Medical/Cancer Fund, c/o Jamie Vanisko, First Montana Bank, 1940 Dewey Boulevard, Butte, MT 59701 or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

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Frank Joseph Austin

December 3, 1966 - January 5, 2018