Eileen Doris Frey

Eileen Doris (Austad) Frey, 93, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2013 at the Missouri River Manor from natural causes. A memorial service will be held Friday, April 5, 2013 at 2:00 pm at O’Connor Memorial Chapel. Cremation has taken place under the direction of O’Connor Funeral Home. Eileen was born May 10, 1919 to Andrew and Thilda Austad on the family homestead in Fairfield. She attended the small country school across from the homestead. Later she moved to Great Falls where she completed her education, graduating from Great Falls High School in 1938. During WWII she went to Boeing Fields in Seattle for training in telegraphy and teletype. She returned to Great Falls and began to work on Gore Hill. Eileen married Joseph Frey, Jr. in 1943. They resided on the southwest side of Great Falls and raised their three children, Ken, Charles and Joleen. As a family, they enjoyed fishing and spending time at their cabin in Lincoln. She did ceramics for years and her memory lives on in the beautiful pieces she gave to family and friends. She enjoyed gardening, canning and preparing healthy meals, and sewing. She also enjoyed a Bud Light and bingo at the Missouri River Manor where she resided for the last couple of years. Being lucky at Bingo, over 100 stuffed animals decorated the wall of her room. Eileen was a caregiver, whose doors were always open to family needing a place to stay, with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes. She is survived by her daughter, Joleen Frey of Sun River; sons Ken Frey of Missoula and Charles Frey of Naalehu, HI; brothers Emil Austad of California and Richard (Jean) Austad of Fairfield; sisters Pearl Hovden of Lewistown and Sonja (Earl) Blue of Great Falls; sister-in-law Croix Austad of Helena; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and her little dog, Bambi. Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Frey, Jr. (1985); six brothers; and two sisters. She is at peace, but will be sadly missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.