David V. Foster

A Funeral Service for David V. Foster of Malung, MN will be held on Monday, July 14, 2025 at 11:00AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Warroad, MN. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 13, 2025 from 5-7PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Warroad, MN. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Warroad.

David Vernon Foster was born in Warroad, MN on May 25, 1945 to Dean and Mildred (Reinhardt) Foster. He met the love of his life, Bonita "Bunny" Ganyo, at Warroad High school. They were married September 4, 1965. This union was blessed with 3 sons: David "Scott", Darin, and Damon. Bunny passed away from lung cancer in May of 1990. In February of 1991, David met Janet Courtright when a mutual friend, Toby Lommen, encouraged David to call Janet.

David and Janet were married August 1, 1998. David worked for John Pick's Mink Farm and in January of 1970 he started at the Marvin Elevator Seed Plant. When that closed in 2002, he transitioned to the Home Center until his retirement in October 2011. In his younger years, David spent time with his dad and uncle building houses, which led to countless opportunities to help his growing family with household projects. Whenever we were in a pickle, "call papa" was always top of the list. David spent hours in hockey rinks watching his children and grandchildren play. He was a hockey referee for many years, known as the ref who "never wore a helmet, and always had a comb in his back pocket" - a trend that continued even past his referee years and is fondly remembered by his grandchildren.

David loved the outdoors and was always seen sporting his navy blue windbreaker, even in the summer heat saying, "Don't wanna catch a cold." He loved to partridge hunt in Beltrami and waited for July to come so he could go pick blueberries. Once he moved to Malung, he would brave mosquitos and wood ticks to pick asparagus, always wearing his knee high rubber boots and blue windbreaker. Dave's favorite spot in the house was laying on the couch by the front living room window, always with the tv tuned into a black and white western. "Gunsmoke," "Lonesome Dove," and occasionally "Quigley Down Under"were on repeat, with a jar of candy placed within arm's reach. He also drove to Roseau every morning to have coffee with his brother Lloyd. Dave was a generous man and always jumped at the opportunity to share the bounties of his adventures. When over at Dave and Jan's for dinner, Papa would always stock the fridge with cans of Coke. He would be seen sitting at the head of the table, pouring half a can of Coke into a cup to share with whoever wanted it but preferred to drink from the can.

Some of Papa's favorite meals included hobo dinners, milk macaroni, and hamburger and pork and beans, which Jan's family affectionately named "Foster's special" and is still on the menu rotation today. He took his step family under his wing from the very beginning as part of his own and took his job as "Papa" very seriously. He was an amazing Papa and will be dearly missed by all. One of Trish's friends summed up Dave like this: "He was a man of few words, but you could read his heart through his eyes."

David is survived by his sons: Scott (Penny) and their children Tiffani and Anthony and Scott's children Brianna (Shawn), Hadley, Hudson; Aaron (Sarah), Morgan, Jordyn, Andy, and Eli; Andrew (Kenzie), Wyatt, Raegan, and Emmitt; Darin (Paula) and her daughter Alyssa (Eben), Briella, and Leland; and Damon (Danielle) and their children Brennen (Victoria), Zachary and Gracie. His wife Janet and her daughters: Trish Waage (Brian) and their boys Daniel (Tasha), Avery, Everlee, Ivy; Brandon (Shania), Taylor, Hudson, Bergen; Shaun (Kailey), Baker; Nathan and Tara Kihle (James) and their girls Brita (Kyle), Astrid and Sybil; Alexa (Brandon), Lainey. Siblings: Lloyd, Edward, Reynolds and Valerie.

David was preceded in death by his parents Dean and Mildred, wife Bonita, brothers; infant Donald "Donny"Jarold "Jerry" and John "Jack" and greatgrandson Brantley.