Joseph D. Foster

Devoted husband, father, grandfather, teacher, coach and friend, Joseph Delaney Foster, 69, of Ashton, died Sunday, March 14, 2010, at his home after a 32-year battle with kidney disease.

Joe was born on August 16, 1940, in Driggs, Idaho, to Stephen George Foster and Sarah Delaney. He was the fourth of six children born in eight years: Noral, Tommy, Morgan, Peggy and Lloyd. He always had a great admiration for his mother and all she did for their family.

Joe attended first and second grade in Driggs, Idaho. He attended third through seventh grade in Burke Canyon Elementary, where his father was a silver miner. He graduated from Wallace High School in 1958, where he participated in athletics and many activities, and felt he received an excellent education.

In June 1958, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served until August 1961. He was stationed in San Diego, California; Norman, Oklahoma; Jacksonville, Florida; and served on the USS ORISKANY Far East Tour.

After the Navy, he worked for the Forest Service and in the silver mines of northern Idaho. He also coached Babe Ruth League teams and had great success. This is where his lifelong love of working with young people began.

Joe then went to Ricks College to play baseball. While there, he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was always very active serving in the church, and it played a great role in his life and the life of his family.

He received a Master's Degree from Brigham Young University, another Master's Degree from the University of Wyoming, and further education from Wayne State University in Detroit and Northern Iowa University.

While at BYU, he met Donna Dee Grover. They married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on August 19, 1967. They were blessed with six daughters, JoDee, Kristine, Patti, Erin, Kathryn and Susan.

He taught school and coached in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, for one year and then moved to Ashton, Idaho, in fall 1969. He taught school and coached at North Fremont High School for 29 years, was very involved and loved NFHS.

In the summers, he obtained Forest Service contracts, where he employed the family and many young people for several years.

In 1977, he was diagnosed with kidney failure and dealt with this problem for the rest of his life. He received three kidney transplants. The first donor was his sister, Peggy, the second an anonymous donor and the third his daughter, Kristine, in 2006. This enabled him to lead a normal and productive life. He was a testament to the blessings that come from organ donation.

He retired from teaching in 2000. Joe and Donna were called on an LDS mission to Birmingham, Alabama, in 2001. Since returning from their mission, he has enjoyed many family activities, especially with his 19 grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Donna of Ashton, Idaho; his children, LaWrell and JoDee Cook of Clifton, Idaho, Terril and Kristine Richardson of Shelley, Idaho, Patti Foster of Grantsville, Utah, Shannon and Erin Hill of Ashton, Idaho, Jared and Kathryn Bolton of Overton, Nevada, and Bryce and Susan Richardson of Lacey, Washington; 10 grandsons; and nine granddaughters.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 19, at the Ashton LDS Stake Center, 516 N. Second St., with Bishop Craig Hammond officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday, both at the stake center. Burial will be in Pineview Cemetery under the direction of Baxter Funeral Home.

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