Asmund V. “Ozzie” Highum, 97, of Austin, died Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.

He was born July 31, 1914, in Rushford, Minn., to George and Gertie (Vaagen) Highum. He graduated from Rushford High School in 1932 and attended the Minneapolis Business College. His banking career began in 1938 in Bismarck, N.D., with First National Bank. From there, he was transferred to Pipestone, Minn., in 1939. On Sept. 23, 1939, he married Margaret Peterson at Rushford Lutheran Church in Rushford. His banking career was interrupted in 1943 when he was drafted by the Army, where he served nearly 2.5 years in Casablanca as a cryptographer. At the conclusion of World War II in 1946, Ozzie was offered a job at First National Bank in Austin (now U.S. Bank), and he retired in 1977. He was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, the Austin Country Club, the Sons of Norway, the Mower County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).

Survivors include his children, Allen (Charlotte) Highum and Peter (Judy) Highum, both of Plymouth, Minn., and Ann Highum (Jerry Freund) of Decorah, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Erika Lewis (Nate), Sarah Highum, Julie Highum, Brian Highum, Lisa Kush (Jon), Kristen Alavi (Aamir), Jeffrey Freund (Erin Preloger-Freund), Kevin Freund; great-grandchildren, Jordan and Aaron Lewis, and Tianna and Brandon Bauman; brothers, Robert Highum and Herb (Ruby) Highum of Rushford, and Glenn (Teddy) Highum of New Richmond, Wis.; sister-in-law, Lucille Peterson of Rushford.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Gertie; wife of 57 years, Margaret; brother, George Meredith.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin with Associate in Ministry, Todd Portinga, officiating. Flag presentation will be made by the American Legion Post 91 and VFW Post 1216. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Rushford Lutheran Cemetery, Rushford, 3 p.m. on the day of the service. The family prefers that memorials be made to St. Olaf Lutheran Church or the Mower County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.