Kollette Kay Austad

SIOUX FALLS - Kollette Kay Austad, age 51, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away November 18, 2023 at Avera McKennan Hospital. She died of natural causes. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 on Friday, November 24 at St. Lambert Catholic Church, with burial in the Hills of Rest Cemetery. Visitation will start at 9:30 preceding services in the church.

Kollette was born on March 20, 1972 at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. She was the oldest of two living children born to Dean and Cheryl (Fokken) Austad. Kollette grew up in Sioux Falls, attending Cleveland Grade School and Whittier Junior High. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1990, ranking fourth academically in her class of 400, and Nettleton Business School in 1996. Kollette also took classes at the University of Sioux Falls and Dakota State University in Madison, SD.

During high school, Kollette was an outstanding student, violinist and soccer player, and was honored by placement in Who’s Who Among American High School Students and the National Honor Society. Kollette was also a member of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra during her Senior year in high school.

Kollette was kind, smart, dependable, and funny. She loved cats, Star Trek and bible study at St. Lambert Catholic Church. She also made spending time with family a priority, especially during the holidays with baking, decorating, and gift giving.

Grateful for having shared her life are her parents, brother, Brett Austad, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Kollette is preceded in death by a baby sister, Patrece Laurel Austad.