Austin Lee Yost
Austin Lee Yost, 26, sadly passed away March 16, 2025 in Libby, Montana.
He was born in Kalispell, Montana on Dec. 17, 1998, to Tina Hayes and Adam Yost, their only child. He had a huge impact on everyone around him and he will be missed dearly.
He is survived by his parents Adam Yost and Tina Hayes, his high school sweetheart and wife Neva Yost and their only child, daughter Amethyst Yost; also great-grandfather, Donald Yost, great grandparents Greg and Mel Hayes, great aunt Debbie Hayes, aunts Alicia Richter (Hayes) and Haley Dixon (Hayes) uncle Brock Dixon, uncle Scott Hayes, cousins Rowan Richter, Hunter Muzi, Kooper and Khloe Dixon. As well as many other extended family members.
When Austin was two years old his family moved to Redmond, Oregon; he left behind a “second family” Brent and Natosha Barker and their two sons Kyle and Tyler Barker.
Natosha (Austin’s mother’s best friend) was his caretaker/babysitter for nearly seven years and Austin was a big part of their family. Tyler Barker was Austin's first best friend, Tyler being so young that he pronounced Austin’s name as “Hot Sauce” a nickname that was very hard for Austin to shake until his late teen years.
In 2009 his family moved back to Libby, Montana. The first time Austin met his wife, Neva, was in grade school, they became long-time high school sweethearts. Austin and Neva married in 2019. Their only child, Amethyst, was born June 7, 2020.
Austin started working at Idaho Forest Group located in Moyie Springs, Idahoi in late 2020.
While working in Idaho, he showed great work ethic and a superb attention to detail and quickly rose above the ranks of positions at the mill.
While in high school, Austin signed up with the Army National Guard at age 17. In June of 2018 he joined the 1-163rd CAB to be a Tank Crewman on an Abrams.
As a dedicated hard worker, he rose to the rank of Sergeant and deployed as a gunner to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on his Tank American Pie to support Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Enduring Freedom. Austin spent his time in the military playing music trivia, talking about his wife and daughter, and showing a complete lack of control when it came to reading -often reading several books immediately upon receipt that were supposed to last him weeks in the field.
He has a fantastic sense of humor and a reputation for being extremely competent, reliable and innovative. His out of the box thinking led him to be a rock solid leader, particularly when it came to thinking of creative re-training for his men.
Though Austin left the military under an Honorable Discharge in June 2024, his reputation and camaraderie will be missed by anyone who had the pleasure of working with him in uniform, but especially by those of Charlie Co. He was a good soldier, a rock solid brothe, and an even better friend.
He is preceded in death by his grandmother Patty Yost, aunt Kimmy Yost and great aunts Carol Smith and Janice Simmons.
Services for Austin will be held at noon Saturday, March 29. Arrangements by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby, Montana.
In lieu of flowers a Go Fund Me account has been set up for funeral services and associated expenses, the link is https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-yost-family-honor-austins-legacy.
A college fund for Amethyst will be set up, information for that will be available at the services. A celebration of life will be held at the Legion in Libby following the funeral.