Frances Foerster, of Fordville, passed away on Mar 30, 2011 at the First Care Health Center in Park River.
Frances was born Aug 14, 1926 on the family farm near Pisek, the daughter of Frank and Anna (Votava) Maresh. She was raised and grew to womanhood in Pisek where she also attended public school. She received her Christian education at St. John's Catholic Church in Pisek. She worked for her brother, Theodore, in Ted's Café at Pisek before moving to a farm by Fordville, where she worked for the Hamilton's. In Nov 1946, she moved with her mother and brother, Charlie to Milwaukee, WI, where she worked at the Phoenix Hosiery Co. for 6 months; at Johnson Candy Co. for a year and for Milcor Steel Factory for 3-½ years.
In 1951, Frances and her mother moved back to North Dakota and bought a home at Lankin. She worked for Joseph and Clementine Vorachek at the Red and White Store at Lankin.
On Oct 12, 1954, Frances married John W. Foerster at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Park River. They lived that winter at the Carl Foerster home on the farm by Conway. In the spring they moved into Conway and lived there until the fall of 1958. The couple moved to the homestead of Ben Kouba, which they later purchased and lived there until Oct 1993 when they bought the home in Fordville. Her husband passed away Nov 17, 1994.
Surviving members of her family include her daughters: Debra (Bill) McKee, Fordville; Dawn (Allen) Madson, Niagara, Laurie Skibicki, Fordville; and sons: Douglas (Sue) Foerster, Fordville and Charles "Chuck" Foerster, Fordville; Grandchildren: Jason McKee, Joey Cooper, Kari McKee, Sarah (Mike) Anderson, Alissa Foerster, Heather Madson, Jordan Foerster, Courtney (Nick) Voaklander, Erin Foerster and Mike Foerster; great grandchildren: Dylan Rasmussen, Vanessa Cooper, Kelvin Cooper, Axel Anderson, Jarrett Rudnik, Zane Anderson and Aryanna Karanja. Sisters-in-law: Edythe Foerster and Anita Hanson both of Texas and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and 11 brothers and sisters: Elhard, Charlie, Theodore, Marcellina, Agnes, Marie, Wendell, Margerita, Alexa Ann, Frank and Clementine.