Denny Austad

Dennis Gerald Austad, 84, of Ammon, passed away August 21, 2026, at his home with family under hospice care. He was blessed with a full and generous life, with a grandiose personality in celebrations, with random restaurant diners and hunting enthusiasts, and with wine connoisseurs.

Denny was born November 17, 1941, in Mankato, Minnesota, to Earl Austad and Loretta (Wilaby) Austad. He grew up in Mankato, graduated from Mankato High School, and earned a bachelor’s degree in math & physics from Mankato State University. Starting in elementary school, “Butch” would hunt and fish at every opportunity, using “sick days” as his extra time in the woods. Denny worked long hours in a bakery to pay for his education and, just before graduating, he enlisted in the Air Force to proudly serve his nation from 1962-1966.

On a break from boot camp, Denny met his future wife of 63 years and notoriously proposed on the third day they met. On July 20, 1963, he married Linda Kelso at Holloman Air Force Base. After honorable discharge, Denny worked as a computer programmer at Los Alamos National Lab, notably writing software to track missiles via imagery in between his hunting bears, wild turkeys, and big game. In 1977, Denny and Linda made their home in Ammon, Idaho, worked as a computing division manager at the Idaho National Engineering Lab, and enjoyed new mountain ranges, lakes, and rivers while raising three sons.

In 1979 Denny invested a very small inheritance from his mother to work evenings as a real estate developer, creating Austad Construction, and achieving financial independence in 1985. Over the next 25 years he built townhouses, office buildings, cancer treatment centers, and was most proud of his student housing complexes at BYU-Idaho. Denny took pride in his own designs, business analysis, and construction improvements. He debated often with bankers, architects, and rifle ballistics experts on better approaches.

As a rabid outdoorsman and amateur wine sommelier, Denny invested heavily in his passions. He designed custom “wildcat” rifles, muzzle loaders, & fishing rods, and filled every living room wall (and floor) with his game mounts, asserting “couches were optional.” On September 30, 2008, Denny shot the world record non-typical American elk, known as the “Spyder Bull” in the Monroe Mountain District of Utah, guided by his hunting companion and close friend Doyle Moss. He was a Mule Deer Foundation Life Member, donated over $2M to Utah wildlife conservation efforts, and much more to individual veterans, wheelchair hunters, and those in need.

Denny is survived by his wife, Linda Austad of Ammon, ID; sons, Wayne (Stephanie) Austad of Idaho Falls, ID, Brian (Sarah) Austad of Tewksbury, MA, and Craig (Blair) Austad of Centennial, CO; and six grandchildren (Travis, Sydney, Brady, Hayden, Will, Emily). He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Joyce, Julie, Dale and Doug; and his beloved hunting-lap dogs Buddy, Doc, Jeannie, Bobbie, and Heidi.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Rd, with Wayne Austad officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Burial will be in the Ammon Cemetery. Military Honors will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and the Air Force Honor Guard.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road, with Wayne Austad officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Burial will be in the Ammon Cemetery. Military Honors will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Tema and the Air Force Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations for habitat to the Mule Deer Foundation or to outdoor experiences for those in hardship to Freedom in the Field.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.com.