Perlum G. Austin 86, of Rushford, died Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at his home. He was born February 28, 1931, to Perry and Golda Austin. Perlum was an only child. He was only six years old when his own father passed. He taught his mother how to drive and became his own self-taught, independent person.
Perlum enjoyed talking with people, spending time with his family and playing jokes. Perlum could fix anything. He was a wonderful mechanic, loved gardening, loved dogs and cats, knew a great deal about the medical field, enjoyed fishing and hunting, and loved to read. According to Perlum, “Any color was fine, as long as it was green.”
Perlum graduated from Lanesboro High School. He served in the Korean War and was stationed in Alaska. He worked at Tri-County Electric for many years until his retirement. On September 30, 1956, he married Nina Johnson. Perlum was happily married to the love of his life, Nina, for 60 years, and they had four children.
Survivors include his wife, Nina; daughter Susan (Bill) Austin-Lesick, East Lyme, Conn.; daughter Patricia (Bill) Highum-Moe, Peterson, Minn.; son, Philip Austin, Rushford, Minn.; daughter Sheree (Terry) Dahl, La Crescent, Minn.; his grandchildren: Aaron (Kami) Highum, Jenni (Craig) Dahlquist, Nena (Drew Sorom) Highum, Shelby (Nate) Dahl-Ruppert, and Tim Lesick; great-grandchildren: Gage, Nadia, Emma, Raena, Elliet, and Sophie.
A memorial service was held for Perlum at 11 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2017 at Rushford Lutheran Church in Rushford. Visitation was for one hour prior to the service, also at the church. Burial took place at the Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery in Preston, Minn. Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service of Rushford assisted the family with the arrangements.