Minnie Mae Lundstrom was born October 4, 1921 to Frank Nelson Austin and Rebecca Heller Austin at the Austin family farmhouse northwest of Holyoke. She passed away at Prairie Vista Care Center in Holyoke on July 7, 2001.

Minnie was the youngest of 12 children. She attended country school near their home, later graduating from Phillips County High School.

Minnie ran the Sugar Hotel and Sugar Cafe in Ovid for a number of years. Her homemade pies were her trademark, and she loved having her friends and relatives drop in for a piece of her delicious pie.

After closing the cafe, she moved to Denver and married Russell Lundstrom. While in Denver she became a very adept seamstress and sewed for many people. Her hands were always busy crocheting dolls and doing many craft items. She was most proud of the ribbons that she won at the Phillips County Fair.

In her later years, Minnie moved to Holyoke to be closer to her family. Before moving to Prairie Vista she lived at SunSet View Apartments where she was an officer for the residents' council.

Her health began to fail after she had heart bypass surgery and entered Prairie Vista Care Center last winter.

Minnie was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, the Eagles in Denver and the VFW Auxiliary in Holyoke.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Frank and Rebecca Austin, her husband Russell Lundstrom, a close friend Ben Barela, brothers Leo and Frank Austin, and sisters Maple, Letha, Vera, Lila, Ethel, Alice and infant sister Katie.

She is survived by her brother Burl Austin of Julesburg, sister-in-law Delores Zinsli [Memorial# 97813276], a special niece and caregiver Adeline Coyne, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Services were held at Zion Lutheran Church in Holyoke Tuesday, July 10 with Rev. Gary Rahe officiating. Inurnment followed in the Holyoke Cemetery.

Holyoke Enterprise
July 12, 2001