Joan Austad

Joan Elaine Austad, age 80, of Oldham, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.  A funeral in her honor will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at Lake Whitewood Lutheran Church, with burial in the Whitewood Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 1-2 pm preceding services in the church on Tuesday.

Joan was born on March 30, 1942 in Madison, SD.  She was one of two daughters born to Otto and Johanna (Labahn) Brinkman.  She attended Center #15 country school for eight years, graduated from Oldham Highschool in 1960, Dakota State University, and earned a Master’s Degree from SDSU in Brookings.

Joan married her high school sweetheart, Gene Austad, on June 30, 1961.  They were married 61 years.  Gene and Joan farmed east of Oldham for 55 years before retiring.  Joan taught elementary school in Oldham, Trent, and Oldham-Ramona totaling 40 years.  She retired from teaching in 2003.

Joan enjoyed many things:  tending her flowers, mowing a very large yard, snowmobiling, playing with her border collie, bird watching, throwing horseshoes, being head mechanic in the Austad Antique Car Shed, and breakfast with the Model A Club.

Joan is survived by her husband, Gene, of Oldham; sister, Donna Bart of Gladstone, OR; in-laws Dean and Cheryl Austad, Jon and Darla Folsland, Dan Jasperson and DeAnn Helm, Darold and Deb Otten, and many nieces and nephews.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents Otto and Johanna Brinkman and brother-in-law, Brad Bart.