Irene Foster, 82

Thief River Falls - Irene passed away at Oakland Park Communities, Thief River Falls, on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at the age of 82. She was born at home in Badger to Franklin and Minnie (Thompson) Gunderson on May 24, 1941. She grew up in rural Badger. She attended school in Badger, graduating from high school in 1959. On October 17, 1959, she married Donald C. Foster. They relocated to Embarrass, where they raised two children. She was a homemaker until her children were in elementary school. She then worked at Lamppa’s convenience store from the early 1970s to mid-80s. Irene then went on to real estate school, receiving her real estate license, and sold real estate on the Iron Range for a few years before they relocated to Apache Junction, AZ. After Donald passed away in March of 1990, she relocated back to Minnesota and worked at Polaris for a year. She then went on to nursing school and graduated from Northwestern Technical Institute in Worthington, where she earned her LPN degree. She worked various LPN jobs in MN and AZ until retiring 2014. Irene loved her grandchildren, who were the apple of her eye. She enjoyed doing things for them and always wanted to be involved in their activities and their lives. She enjoyed baking, sewing, crochet, camping, snowmobiling, travel, dancing, music, and karaoke with her sisters. Irene also enjoyed helping and taking care of others. Irene was a member of the Eagles, the Legion Auxiliary and the Minnesota Real Estate Assoc. Irene is survived by her son, Jamie (Jackie) Foster of Thief River Falls; and daughter, Robin Desrosier of Mesa, AZ; grandchildren, Emily Foster of Edmonds, WA, Kendra (Chad) Jacobson of East Grand Forks, Amanda (Tyler) Mekash of Thief River Falls, Tyler Desrosier of Tampa, FL, Kelsey Desrosier of Rochester; great-grandchildren, Lexi, Zachary, Joshua and Hailey Jacobson; sisters, Jeanette (Don) Marin of Deer Creek, AZ, Joyce (Joe) Sherwood of Apache Junction, AZ and Janice (Arlyn) Anderson of Greenbush. Irene is preceded in death by her husband, Donald Foster; parents, Franklin and Minnie Gunderson; brother, Elwood Gunderson; sister, Delores Witzman; infant brother, Don Gary; nephew, Terry Svir; and niece, Kim Gunderson. A Memorial Service for Irene Foster will take place on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau at 1 p.m. with a visitation an hour prior. Interment will be held at Nannestad Cemetery. A00003B2024MR06