Noreen Margaret Cuskelly Austin

Noreen Margaret Cuskelly Austin was born on June 22, 1936, in Killdeer, North Dakota, to Eva Marie Kaufman Cuskelly and Timothy Phillip Cuskelly. She was raised with siblings Irene, Pat, Dot (Dorothy), Jimmy and Rosemary in the Killdeer area. Noreen attended college in Dickinson, North Dakota, earning a teaching degree. She loved children and chose her career to facilitate that love.

After moving to Glasgow to start her new teaching career at Glasgow South Side School, she met her lifetime love, George Phillip Austin. They married in 1958 and had a full family life with children Julie, Roxy, Danny (deceased as infant), Casey, Kerri and Kelli. While raising their children, Noreen also taught kindergarten in their home, and later managed Scottie Day Care. She also worked side by side with George at their Duck Creek Supper Club, and later as a bookkeeper at the Glasgow Packing Plant that George managed.

In 1989 after their youngest graduated high school, Noreen and George began an adventure, traveling through California with George as a construction superintendent building U.S. Post Offices, then on to Spokane, Washington, in 1991 to manage apartment complexes and provide maintenance services throughout Spokane Valley. In 2001 Noreen and George found their retirement piece of property in Trout Creek, Montana, and built their dream home with the help of family members. Noreen enjoyed her grandchildren immensely, baking with them, sewing for them, and taking them fishing on Noxon Reservoir near their home. Many happy times were shared with family and friends in their Trout Creek home. Noreen attended Catholic Church in Noxon, usually with friend Jean Gerstenberger. Following her teacher's calling, Noreen assisted in the local school in the foster grandparent program until she was 80 years old.

Noreen and George relocated from Trout Creek to Butte in September 2019. George passed shortly thereafter, and Noreen busied herself in the retirement community at The Springs. She enjoyed the many new friends she met there, participated in Butte historical and cultural outings, games and cards at the community center, and organized a Springs community Friday afternoon get-together for all cottage residents to meet and enjoy one another. She regularly attended Mass with friend Berta Connors Clowes at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, sharing breakfast together afterward as a tradition. Noreen found much enjoyment throughout her life with her 5 children, 10 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She was the ultimate Grandma! She also loved reading, Celtic music, quilting, baking and her Catholic faith.

Noreen passed to the Lord at St. James Hospital in Butte, Montana, on June 26, 2021.

Noreen is survived by her daughter Julie Jurenka (husband Frank, granddaughter Emily and grandson Collin), daughter Roxy McGuire (husband Brian McGuire, grandson Cody Swank, granddaughter Kelsi Swank-Trygstad, husband Jason Trygstad), son Casey Austin (wife Patty, granddaughter Cassie Vauthier (husband TJ, great-grandsons Zyler, Rhett and Wells), grandson Shane), daughter Kerri Weigum (husband Todd, grandson Harris, grandson Jack), daughter Kelli Funk (husband Tom, granddaughter Maddison, granddaughter Macy). She is also survived by her sister, Pat Cuskelly Busch and family of Garrison, North Dakota, sister-in-law Carol Netolicky and family of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and brother-in-law Ernie Austin and family of Glasgow, Montana.

Following visitation at 10 a.m., Noreen's Memorial Mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 16, 2021, with a reception to follow at The Springs, both in Butte, Montana.

Please visit http://www.buttefuneralhome.com to offer a condolence or share a memory of Noreen.

Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Noreen and her family.