William Austin

Dr. William G. Austin, 70, Bismarck, died peacefully in his sleep on January 26, 2007. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 AM at Eastgate Funeral Service Chapel in Bismarck. There will be no visitation. William "Bill" was born on May 6, 1936, in Bismarck, the son of William J. and Mary Igoe Austin. He graduated from Pacific University School of Optometry in May of 1959. Bill practiced optometry for 25 years in Bismarck. Bill married Sharon Leach on July 7, 1962, in Bismarck. He was a lifetime member of the North Dakota Optometric Association. He received their highest honor of Optometrist of the Year for 1975. During his time as an optometrist, he founded Vision Services, an insurance company for eye glasses. He then turned the management over to the Optometric Association. Bill established the Optometric Room at the North Dakota State Heritage Center, raising funds and finding the displays, and donating this to the Heritage Center. Bill was chairman of the committee that merged the United Ways of Bismarck and Mandan, he wrote that constitution, and visualized the name of Missouri Slope Areawide United Way. When he was 55 years old, he decided to attend the University of Mary and received a degree in management. He then became the CEO of the American Lung Association of North Dakota. He loved this work and often stated it was so much fun that he would have done it for free! He was a published author and the day before his death, he received word that his current work would be published in the next 30 days. Bill received a donor kidney in 2001 and he counted his blessings for this gift of life. Bill was a member of the Elks and the Masons. He was an avid hunter of moose and caribou, and he enjoyed his fishing trips to Canada, the Sea of Cortez, and Florida. His greatest love was fishing and he called the tail race below Lake Sakawea his second home. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sharon; his sister, Maral Loering Johnson; his brother-in-law, Clark Bonnie Leach; his sister-in-law, Corlie Ralph Rohr; his brother-in-law, Aldon Anderson; his sister, Bonnie Banks; and numerous very special nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials may be given to the ND American Lung Association, 212 N. 2nd Street, Bismarck, ND 58501.

William Austin

May 5, 1936 - January 26, 2007