George Foster

Funeral services for George Foster of Badger will be held on Monday, September 3rd, at 10:00 AM at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Badger. Visitation will be Sunday evening from 5-7 PM with a devotional service at 7:00 at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau, and one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be at the Badger City Cemetery.  

George Ronald Foster was born March 30, 1935 in Roseau, Minnesota to Clarence and Margaret (Lueck) Foster.   He lived in Duxby, Minnesota and attended the Duxby and Ross schools.  The family moved to Wisconsin where George attended school at Cashton.    When he was 16 years-old, his mother passed away, and he moved back to Roseau County.  He spent the next several years beaver trapping in the spring; working at the Clifford and Vernon Erickson ranch in the summer; harvesting potatoes and trapping mink and muskrats in the fall; and cutting pulp at the Northwest Angle during winter. 

In 1957, he was drafted into the US Army and served in Korea. He was stationed near the DMZ where he helped train the R.O.K. (Republic of Korea) Army. 

In 1959, George returned to Roseau County where he met Sonia Christianson at a dance in Badger, and a relationship began.  They were married on December 30, 1960.  They made their home at the little farm in Duxby and started farming. They then moved to Warroad in 1962 where George worked at the Mileage Station and Sonia taught school.  In 1963, they returned to Duxby and, after a couple of devastating floods, moved to town.  George worked for carpenters George Rasmussen and Earl Erickson and often worked evenings at the Midland Station in Badger.  He also found time to trap fur in the fall.  George and Sonia purchased the Joe Christianson farm in 1968 where they milked dairy cows and farmed.  After a number of years in the dairy business, George turned to raising beef cattle. In his later years, he worked at and managed the Badger VFW.

George and Sonia were blessed with three children, Melinda Jo, Matthew Ryan, and Margaret Ann, all of whom grew up on the farm and attended school in Badger.

George enjoyed trap shooting with the Citizen’s State Bank team, playing pinochle, hunting and trapping, reminiscing about the “good old days” and spending time with his beloved dog, Arnie.  George inspired his family and friends with his love of dance, music and laughter.  His shenanigans were well known. 

George is survived by his loving wife, Sonia; daughter Milly (Randy) Prachar of rural Roseau, and son Matt (Ann-Mari) of Moorhead; four grandchildren: Jamie (Bri) Simmons of Roseau, Missy (Reynald) Preteau of Cloquet, David (Jessica) Simmons of Roseau, and Jeffrey Foster of Moorhead; and eight great-grandchildren: Olivia, Brendan and Izzy Simmons, Madison and Wyatt Preteau, and Abby, Nolan and Will Simmons.  George is survived by his sister Roseann Lee of Roseau, and brother Leslie (Marlys) Foster of Warroad, as well as several nieces and nephews.

George was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Donald and Oniel Foster, and daughter Margaret.  George passed away at LifeCare Medical Center on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at the age of 83.

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