Austin Post

Austin Post, age 90 of Belle Fourche, and formerly Newell, died Monday, July 18, 2022 at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, with his loving family by his side.

The funeral service will be held 10 am Saturday, July 23, 2022 at St. James Lutheran Church in Belle Fourche, with Pastor Kari Webb officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will take place 9:30 am Monday at Black Hills National Cemetery, with Military Honors provided by the Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard.  Arrangements are with Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. 

Austin’s funeral will be available to view live and after the service as well, on Austin’s obituary page located on the funeral home’s website: www.LeveringtonFH.com

Austin lived a life devoted to service – to his country, his community and his family. He spent most of his life in Newell where his dedication to the community made him a well-known fixture in his hometown. He put in countless volunteer hours and over the years served in leadership positions for the Newell City Council, the Newell School Board and the First Lutheran church. His hard work also came with a healthy dose of humor that kept everyone around him entertained. 

Austin will also be fondly remembered by a generation of youngsters who received Tootsie Rolls from him when they visited the Newell Post Office where he worked for nearly four decades. 

Born in Rodman, Iowa in 1931 to Guy and Mabel Post (Sloan), he moved to Newell, South Dakota with his family at a young age.  After graduating from Newell High School in 1949, Austin joined the U.S. Navy. He served two tours of duty aboard the destroyer USS Rupertus as a fire control technician during the Korean War.  In 1953, Austin returned to Newell and took a job as a postal clerk at the Newell Post office. He was named Postmaster in 1977 and served in that position until his retirement in 1992 at age 61. His 39 years of service was marked by a large community celebration. Oct. 3, 1992 was declared “Austin Post Day” in South Dakota in his honor.  Retirement didn’t last long for Austin. To keep busy, he worked at Newell’s grocery store, at the Newell golf course and finally as a bus driver for the Newell School District for nearly 20 years.  Austin married Donna in 1965. The couple spent many years in their beloved Newell, raising a family, enjoying time with friends, serving side-by-side in the community and enjoying many rounds of golf and walks around Newell. The couple moved to Belle Fourche in 2018 and celebrated their 57^th wedding anniversary on July 10th, shortly before Austin’s passing.

Austin is survived by his wife, Donna of Belle Fourche; daughters, Tina (JayCyn) Ager of Belle Fourche, and their children: Kennedy (and boyfriend Jack), and Brody; daughters, Lori Magelky of Sturgis, Reesa Stahl of Lead; son, Tim (Jen) Post of St. Paul MN and their children: Maddie and Janey; sister, Bobbie (Bill) Clark of Richarson TX; sister-in-law, Geraldine Post of Sioux Falls; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, and brother Gerald Post.

Celebration of Life

10:00 A.M. – Saturday – July 23, 2022

St. James Lutheran Church

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Officiant

Pastor Kari Webb

Music

Congregational Hymn – “How Great Thou Art”

Recessional Hymn – “Battle Hymn of the Republic”

Paula Speidel, organist

“Borning Cry”, “Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone”

Susan Gerkin, soloist

Casketbearers

Brody Ager                    JayCyn Ager

 Jack Pias                        Jeff Smeenk

Interment

9:30 A.M. – Monday – July 25, 2022

Black Hills National Cemetery

Sturgis, South Dakota

Military Honors by

Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard