Tootie
Several readers probably know of my cousin Tootie. More formally, she would be Meredith Burdine Austin Felper Foster. But she’s always been Tootie to us, and that’s the name on the top of the restaurant/bar she owned along Highway 63 on the north edge of Spring Valley.
Thursday, Tootie passed from us. There’ll be fewer good times and laughs without her. She was always full of life—even when she was physically hurting. She was one of those folks whom one assumes will “live forever,” therefore her death was a complete shock to me.
Tootie was a hard worker! We would stop by her restaurant to say “Hi!” every once-in-awhile and she was almost always there, on duty, soldiering on, even though she was in her mid-70s.
I’ll put a link to her obituary later. This obituary captures the essence of Tootie better than any obituary I’ve ever read so there’s little more that I could add.
I heard that she had recently sold her business and was, finally, looking forward to some time to enjoy life without the need to manage a business.
These are difficult times for this Austin family, as Jim Austin, Tootie’s brother, just lost his wife a few months ago to brain cancer. She (Ada) was the driving force behind Austin Mohair, just east of Harmony.
Austin Cousins
Austin Cousins with Aunt Goldie, September, 2007
There were 19 Austin cousins, including Tootie. We were the offspring of Ole Austin’s 10 children, who were raised on a farm a short distance SW of Saetersdal Lutheran Church. Four of the cousins have now passed away. Those cousins associated with Lime Springs are Marjorie, Gloria (D), Wanda, and Wallace (D) Ihns, AnnaLee, Clarence (Butch), and Wayne Austin, and Keith and Harlene Williams. Another cousin, Bernie (Hoopman) Finke lives in Cherry Grove.
Services
Visitation will be Monday, May 6, 4 to 8 at Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley. The funeral will be Tuesday, May 7, at 2PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Spring Valley.
Tootie’s obituary is here: http://www.hindtfuneralhomes.com/obits/obituary.php?id=293794