Terri "Lady Jaeger" Austin

Terri Jean Austin passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at the age of 56, after fighting a month long, valiant battle, from complications due to Lung Cancer. The memorial service is scheduled at 3:00pm on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at O’Connor Memorial Chapel, 2425 8th Ave. N. in Great Falls. A Celebration of Terri’s Life will follow at another location. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Terri was born to William and Joan Austin on October 3, 1962 in Bitburg, Germany. Her father was stationed in Germany with the Air Force, and they eventually relocated to Great Falls in 1976. Terri lived a happy childhood with her parents, sisters, and close friends (Crowell family). She graduated from Charles M. Russell High School in 1980, and decided to stay in Great Falls. She met her first love in high school and they conceived a beautiful baby girl named Wendy. Their love was true but fleeting and they divorced in 1983. Terri then became a single mother and deeply loved and cared for her only child, Wendy. Terri’s daughter joined the Army in 1999, and during this time Terri married and divorced her second husband. Terri was a proud daughter, sister, mother, aunt, and grandmother, that would boast about the many achievements of her family. Terri applied for one job in her entire life and was continually recruited for every job thereafter. She was a strong, gifted, intelligent, and capable woman that went after what she wanted and spent 28 years in various duties serving several credit unions throughout the Great Falls area. Her favorite and final job as an IT Business Analyst, was at Russell County Federal Credit Union. She continued this career until the day she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Terri became a loved and respected member of the American Poolplayers Association, playing eight and nine ball matches, over the next 10 years. Terri played over 800 pool games, winning several MVP and Good Sportsman Awards and made various friends while playing on over 93 teams. Terri was the life of the party and could always make people laugh. Often, when the mood was mellow, she would yell “Everybody dance now” and hype up the crowd. She was known for her patriotism and love of America. Terri left this world unexpectedly and far too soon, and she believed because she had chemotherapy treatment that she would not be able to be an organ donor. Her family was notified, shortly after her passing, that she was able to give the gift of her corneas. Terri joined her mother, Joan C. Austin and her former mother-in-law Ann Dahlman, on the evening of November 30, 2018. Terri will be remembered always by her daughter Wendy (Robert) Smith of Rio Rancho, NM; grandchildren Aidan and Tegan-Jean Smith of Rio Rancho, NM; father William (Kathy) Austin; father-in-law Fred (Kay) Dahlman; sisters Cheri (Lyle II) Cusson and Cynde Austin of Butte, MT and Raelene (Guy) Norton; brothers Robert Jakubowski of Heron, MT and Fred Jakubowski of Townsend, MT; nephews Lyle III (Sara) Cusson of Gilbert, AZ, William Cusson and Aaron Meaders of Butte, MT; niece Kyla Jean Ross of Helena, MT; and countless other nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Terri’s name to the following Go Fund Me link: https://www.gofundme.com/at-cancer-free&rcid=r01-154373982985-b87cccc9ec2e459a&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_m