OBITUARY: William (Bill) Richard Foster, Sr.

William (Bill) Richard Foster, Sr.

William (Bill) Richard Foster Sr., 87, passed away Tuesday, October 10, 2023, in Mesquite, Nevada, from natural causes.

Bill was born October 20, 1935, to William Henry Foster and Helen Hawkes Foster in Pocatello Idaho. He was the oldest of five children, four boys and one girl. He attended Whittier Elementary School, Franklin Jr. High School and graduated from Pocatello High School in 1953.

Bill was active in athletics and played trumpet in his high school band. He participated in the Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He also had the opportunity to attend the National Boy Scout Jamboree, held at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in 1950. After high school, he enrolled in Idaho State College and joined the Army ROTC program. Bill met and married Jean Wise in 1954. They were later divorced.

In 1958, he was commissioned into the Army and served in the Air Defense Artillery for over 21 years. He earned a Purple Heart for being wounded in Vietnam.

Bill met and married Brenda Prettyman in 1973. They were later divorced as well.

After his military career, he returned to school and received his certification as a secondary school guidance counselor. He worked at Delta High School in Delta, Utah and at Virgin Valley High School in Mesquite, Nevada. While living in Delta, he met and married his third wife, JoEllen Steele, in 1984.

He is survived by his brothers: Gerald R. (Ursula “Sue”) Foster, and Paul H. (Cathy) Foster; his sister, Amy Foster (John) Hatten; his wife of 39 years, JoEllen Steele Foster; his children: W. Richard (Jo) Foster, Jr., James J. Foster, John R. (Sheila) Foster, Jacqueline L. Foster, Holly J. Foster (Keith) Mahoney, Roxanna (Zane) Campbell, Mark Foster, Gina (Steve) Bell, Alica (Taniela) Fangupo, Gerald (Ashlee) Foster, Christopher G. (Almir) Foster, Glen P Foster, and Teresa (Jeffrey)Stewart; along with many grandchildren, great grandchildren and even great great grandchildren.

William was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, J. Brent Foster, and one grandchild.

A memorial service honoring Bill will be held Friday, November 17, 2023, at 11:00 am PST at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 100 N Arrowhead Lane in Mesquite, Nevada, with military honors to follow at 12:30 pm. There will be a private family gathering preceding the service at 10:30 am.