Linda Marie Austgen, born on January 28, 1938, passed away of natural causes on January 7, 2019. Born to George Austgen of Schererville, Indiana, and Martha (Lund) Austgen of Spring Lake, Michigan. She is survived by three children, Eric (Laurie) Teasley of Grand Rapids, Stephanie (Tom Finholt) Teasley of Ann Arbor, and Ross (Ellendea) Teasley of Dana Point, CA; two grandchildren, Anders and Carsten Finholt; as well as siblings Mary (Jim) Snyder of Nunica, Joyce Pitre of Albe, Texas, and Michael Austgen of Nunica. Older brother George Austgen Jr. passed away in 2005. An avid reader and history buff, Linda also participated in the Grand Haven Community Theater group, the Central Park Players, in the '70s. She had a number of occupations over her lifetime, including as a baker in Spring Lake and Muskegon, Michigan, and in the radio industry in Indiana. She found her true calling after earning a BA degree in education from the University of Michigan in 1986, and becoming a teacher for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at several of the most remote boarding schools on the Navajo and Hopi reservations in northern Arizona. She had a special passion for identifying gifted students and she worked each Christmas to see that every student at the school received a new item of clothing. She also attended Northern Arizona University for graduate coursework in gifted education. After over 10 years of this service, she retired to Spring Lake, Michigan. Her family is planning a private memorial service. Those wishing to honor Linda's memory can make a memorial contribution for the Native American Studies program at the University of Michigan, which may be made online via the Department of American Culture at https://myumi.ch/lindaaustgen