Obituary of Eirleen D. Foss

Eirleen D. Foss, age 87 of Menno passed away on Sunday, December 27, 2015 at the Menno-Olivet Care Center, Menno. Memorial Services will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Salem Reformed Church, Menno with Rev. Michael Hecht officiating. Immediately following the service a luncheon will be held at the church. Burial of her cremated remains will be in the Rosehill Cemetery, Scotland. Visitations will be 5-7 PM, Friday, January 1, 2016 at the Salem Reformed Church, Menno with a 7 PM prayer service. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Honorary Urn Bearers will be her grandchildren: Krista (Baker) Becker, Tim Baker, Jason Foss, Jonathan Foss, Kimberly (Foss) Hansen and Kyle Foss. Eirleen (Johnson) Foss was born June 18, 1928 at Viborg, SD to Alice (Nielsen) and Carl Johnson. She was raised in a Christian home, baptized and as a young woman confirmed her faith in Christ as her savior. She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, rural Menno and later years at Zion Lutheran Church in Scotland, SD. She was raised on a farm near Viborg, SD along with her brother, Verle, and five sisters: Maggie, Margie, Shirley, Ruby and Janice. Eirleen was Homecoming Queen at Viborg High School where she graduated in 1946. Eirleen married Palmer Foss of Lesterville, SD, on May 4, 1948. Palmer proudly referred to her as the "best thing that ever happened to him"! They were married until the time of his death on February 9, 2013. Throughout their nearly 65 years together they remained each other's best friend and advocate. Their love and dedication has been obvious by all who have known them. Eirleen worked part-time for Moore Legal and Tax Services during tax preparation season and also for the Scotland Journal, where in both cases hers were the final set of eyes to locate and correct any unintended errors. Palmer claimed her as the smartest person he ever knew, never having to write down a phone number and always being able to recall on demand. Her full-time attention was given to faithfully supporting her husband Palmer and their children Karen (Foss) Baker and Jerry Foss. She loyally participated with Palmer in a lifelong farming career plus his many hobbies. Eirleen was always available to help at church, teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, or serving with Ladies Aid. She thoroughly enjoyed all the household duties including sewing clothes for her family, growing flowers and preparing meals. Anyone that ever visited their home can attest to her relentless insistence of coming inside for at least some coffee and dessert. Her greatest joy was that of raising their two children (Karen and Jerry), and greatly enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and great grandchildren. She especially loved the babies! In October 2008, after Palmer was no longer able to care for her advanced Alzheimer's disease, Eirleen had to leave the farm and moved into the Menno-Olivet Care Center where she resided until the time of her death, December 27, 2015. Eirleen is survived by her daughter, Karen (Foss) Baker of Yankton, SD; son Jerry and his wife Carol (Becvar) Foss of Victoria, MN. 6 Grandchildren: Krista (Baker) Becker and her husband Travis of Yankton, SD; Tim Baker of Yankton, SD; Jason and wife Catherine (Fitch) Foss, Forest Lake, MN; Jonathan and his wife Jenna (Kotlarz) Foss of Shakopee, MN; Kimberly (Foss) and her husband Tyler Hansen of Jordan, MN; and Kyle Foss of Santa Monica, CA. 12 Great-grandchildren: Ashli, Chloe, Tori, and Zachary Becker, Yankton, SD; Cristian and Mykaela Foss (and Quinn Foss, due to arrive in February) of Forest Lake, MN; Selah Foss, of Shakopee, MN and Paxton, Maddex, Elyza and Emzley Hansen of Jordan, MN. Eirleen is also survived by her sister Janice (Johnson) Lehr and husband Elton Lehr of Menno, SD and her sister-in-law Elizabeth (Kautz) Foss of Minnetonka, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband Palmer, her parents Alice and Carl Johnson, her brother Verle Johnson, four sisters and their husbands: Maggie Johnson, Margie (Allen) Simonsen, Shirley (Lewis) Daggett, and Ruby (Leon Edelman) Lehr and also by her mother and father-in-law, Ingeborg and Jarle Foss and brother-in-law, Wilbur Foss.