Nina Austin

The heavens gained a beautiful angel when the Lord called Nina Marlene Austin to join him. Nina Passed away peacefully with her family by her side on November 3, 2025, at the Benedictine Living Community in Crookston, MN.

Nina Marlene Sorteberg was born on June 14, 1935 in Ross, Minnesota, the daughter of Alfred and Clara Sorteberg. As a young girl, her father passed away, so Nina, her mother and siblings moved to Greenbush, Minnesota, where she graduated from high school in 1953.After high school Nina went to Teaching School in Thief River Falls. She then taught school at Ponsford near Park Rapids, Minnesota.

Nina met the love of her life when her brother Chester brought a handsome army buddy home with him. That Army buddy was Duane Austin and this is where their love story begins.

Nina and Duane were married on June 4, 1955 in Greenbush, Minnesota. This year they celebrated 70 wonderful years of marriage. In this union, Nina and Duane had 5 daughters: Pam, Marcie, Julie, Lisa and Lori. They raised their daughters in Crookston and still reside there today. Nina worked for the Crookston Public School System in Food Service until her retirement 1997.

Nina was very proud of her Scandinavian Heritage. She continued the Norwegian traditions with her family and taught her daughters how to make lefse and other Scandinavian goodies. Duane and Nina were a team when it came to lefse making. It was always their tradition, and they knew how to make the best lefse around. Nina had the thrill of her life when she was able to go to Norway in 1983 with her sisters to visit her homeland where she still had many relatives living there.

Nina was a talented quilter. She made many beautiful quilts for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also made many quilts for her church, including the babies that were baptized and High school graduates. Nina loved volunteering at church. She helped with many bazaars and especially liked helping at the Rhubarb Festival.

In 2015, the year Nina turned 80 and Duane and Nina had been married for 60 years, they were honored and celebrated at Trinity Lutheran Church with many friends and relatives. It was a most joyous occasion.

Nina's greatest love was her family. She was especially fond up her grandchildren and great grandchildren. The little one always put a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. Nina was the heart of her family.

Nina is preceded in death by her parents, Clara and Alfred Sorteberg; sisters and brothers-in-law, Inez and Helmer Solom, Muriel and Kenneth Hagen, Ardell and Charles Snare; brothers, Russell Sorteberg and Chester Sorteberg and infant brother Arville Sorteberg; brother-in-law Allan Dallum; father-in-law and mother-in law Emery and Laura Austin; sister-in-law Jean Walker and brother-in-law Walter Pederson and Granddaughter- Jamie Lynne Finco.

Nina is survived by her husband of 70 years, Duane Emery Austin; daughters Pam {Mike) Finco of Hibbing, Minnesota; Marcie (Larry) Noah of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota; Julie (Todd) Strem, of Crookton, Minnesota; Lisa (Darrell) Johnson of Bemidji, Minnesota and Lori (Mike) Rich of Prior Lake, Minnesota; grandchildren, Lindsey Meech (Josh); Andy Finco (Jessie Malen), Whitney Finco, Tayler Anderson (Joe), Abbi Noah, Ashton Walsh, Ben Noah, Cole Strem (Bill Tamlyn), Tye Strem (Alyssa Krenke), MacKenzie Strem (Ryan Brown), Macy Strem, Alex Johnson (Hallie Clark);Christian Johnson (Lauren Imhoff), Nathan Rich and Aaron Rich (Kara); great grandchildren; Griffin, Odin and Walker Meech; Noa and Sunday Finco; Banks Anderson, Sawyer, Ozzie and Lulu Panusuk, Hudson Noah, Teaghan Strem, Navy Strem and Nova Schubert, and Natalie Rich; sister, Carol Dallum; sisters-in-law Clarice Sorteberg, Donna Sorteberg and Carol Pederson as well as many nieces and nephews.

Nina's family will celebrate her life with a memorial service at Stenshoel-Houske funeral home on Saturday November 8, 2025 at 4:00 pm. Visitation will begin on Saturday at 3:00pm. A graveside service will be held on Sunday November 9 at 11:00 am at Malung Cemetery. Nina's grandchildren, Abbi, Lindsey, Ben , Cole, Andy, Tye, Whitney, Kenzie, Nathan, Aaron, Alex, Christian, Tayler, and Macy will serve as honorary pall bearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (Help fight Alzheimer's.) or the Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston.