Benjamin Michael ('BIG BEN') Austin, 16

Benjamin Michael (“BIG BEN”) Austin, 16, of Athol, died of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound on April 27, 2012. Benjamin was born Sept. 4, 1995, and is the son of LeeRoy and Kelli Austin, father and stepmother, and Kari and Richard Coyne, mother and stepfather.

Benjamin was a sophomore at Timberlake High School. He was a member of STRIVE while at Twin Lakes Elementary and Timberlake Jr. High. As a sophomore he belonged to Technology Students Association (TSA), Robotics Association and Idaho Drug Free Youth (IDFY). Throughout school he had a 4.0 grade point average with academic honors. Math and Science were his favorite subjects, and belonged to Math Counts in 2010. He worked on the junior high yearbook and Science Bowl in 2009. In sports he belonged to the Wrestling Team for three years, the Football Team for three years and Track for one year. Ben was also a newcomer to the 4-H program. Hobbies involved hunting, fishing and Renaissance Reenactment with his family and friends.

Benjamin is survived by his sisters, Annastacia Lorraine Austin, Cheyenne Summer Austin and Charlie Breeanne Austin; and his brother, Richard Clayton Coyne of Moses Lake, Wash. Grandparents are Charles Edward and June Austin of Wenatchee, Wash., Alice Galloway of Marlin, Wash., Charles Sedlack of Moses Lake and Janice Anderson of Moses Lake. Great-Grandmas are Jean Anderson of Moses Lake and Clara Belle Galloway of Marlin.

Donations are being accepted in honor of “Big Ben Austin” at Mountain West (any Kootenai County branch). Services are 6 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2012, at Spirit Lake City Park and Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5, 2012, at his home, for friends and family to celebrate. Our Gentle Giant, Big Ben will be missed by us all!

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of the final arrangements.