Irene Ivadel (Gunderson) Foster

Irene passed away at Oakland Park Communities, Thief River Falls, MN on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at the age of 82. She was born at home in Badger to Franklin and Minnie (Thompson) Gunderson on May 24, 1941. She grew up in rural Badger. She attended school in Badger, graduating from high school in 1959.  On October 17th, 1959, she married Donald C. Foster.  They relocated to Embarrass, MN where they raised 2 children. She was a homemaker until her children were in elementary school. She then worked at Lamppa's convenience store from the early 1970's to mid-80's. She then went on to Real Estate school, receiving her real estate license, and sold real estate on the iron range for few years before they relocated Apache Junction, AZ. After Donald passed away in March of 1990, she relocated back to MN and worked at Polaris for a year. She then went on to nursing school and graduated from Northwestern Technical Institute in Worthington, MN where she earned her LPN degree. She worked various LPN jobs in MN and AZ until retiring 2014.

Irene loved her grandchildren, who were the apple of her eye. She enjoyed doing things for them and always wanted to be involved in their activities and their lives.  She enjoyed baking, sewing, crochet, camping, snowmobiling, travel, dancing, music, and karaoke with her sisters. Irene also enjoyed helping and taking care of others.

Irene was a member of the Eagles, the Legion Auxiliary and Minnesota Real Estate Assoc.

Irene is survived by her son Jamie (Jackie) Foster of Thief River Falls, MN and daughter Robin Desrosier of Mesa, AZ, grandchildren Emily Foster of Edmonds, WA , Kendra (Chad) Jacobson of East Grand Forks, MN, Amanda (Tyler) Mekash of Thief River Falls, MN, Tyler Desrosier of Tampa, FL, Kelsey Desrosier of Rochester, MN, great-grandchildren Lexi, Zachary, Joshua and Hailey Jacobson, sisters Jeanette (Don) Marin of Deer Creek, AZ, Joyce (Joe) Sherwood of Apache Junction, AZ  and Janice (Arlyn) Anderson of Greenbush, MN, sister-in-law Gerd Gunderson of Virginia, MN and  several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Irene is preceded in death by her husband Donald Foster, parents Franklin and Minnie Gunderson, brother Elwood Gunderson, sister Delores Witzman, infant brother Don Gary, nephew Terry Svir and niece Kim Gunderson.

A Memorial Service for Irene Foster will take place on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau at 1:00pm with a visitation an hour prior. interment will be held at Nannestad Cemetery. 

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