William P. Foster

William P. Foster, 88, passed away peacefully at the Botsford Commons Senior Community in Farmington Hills, Michigan on June 29, 2015.

     William P. (Bill) Foster was born on February 6, 1927 in Grand View, Idaho, the fifth of six children born to Joseph Chelsy Foster and Grace Marie Ormsby.  He received his education in Idaho, graduating from Malta High School in 1944.

     On January 29, 1945 Bill enlisted in the United States Navy and served onboard the USS White Plains throughout the Asiatic-Pacific Area during WWII.  He received an honorable discharge on June 6, 1946.

      Following his military service Bill obtained employment at Hill Air Force Base as an aircraft mechanic.  His career spanned 28 years during which time he had responsibilities in many aspects of aircraft operations and maintenance.  After his retirement Bill worked as a veterinarian assistant and salesman for Kal Kan Pet Foods.

     On October 8, 1948 Bill married Betty Lou Jacobsen in Burley, Idaho. They had two children before divorcing.  Bill then married Elsie (Elsa) May Cross Bean on February 25, 1983 and they were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.  In the ensuing years, Bill and Elsa lived in Salt Lake City, Roy and Vernal, Utah, Elko, Nevada and Bartlesville, Oklahoma. After Elsa’s death on January 1st of this year, Bill moved to Livonia, Michigan to live with his daughter, Rose.

     Bill loved the West and would probably have enjoyed living the cowboy life.  He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling.  In his younger years Bill was an accomplished trap shooter and dog trainer.  He competed in and won many competitions with his German Short Haired Pointers Rowdy and Zipper.

     Bill was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully for many years in various callings.  He particularly enjoyed serving with Elsa as an ordinance worker in the Vernal Utah temple.

     Bill was preceded in death by his wife Elsa, his parents, his foster parents Robert and Annie Maxfield, his sisters Dorothy White, Kathryn Wier and Elsie Foster.  Another sister, Eva Foster, died at birth.

    Bill is survived by his two children Rose Marie Bialaski (Michael) of Livonia, Michigan and Monty Jake Foster (Sharon) of Springville, Utah, six step-children Dolores Jean Hodgkin (Perley) of Saco, Maine,  David Ralph Bean (Irene) of Biddeford, Maine, Linda Rae Mauer (James) of Spokane, Washington, Julie Anne Mecham (Ricky) of Columbia, South Carolina, Richard Calvin Bean (Diane) of North Salt Lake, Utah and Brian Edmund Bean (Kathy) of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, two brothers Harry Ormsby (Barbara) of Helendale, California and Robert Bockroth (Ann) of Gurnee, Illinois,  21 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

     Funeral services are under the direction of Russon Brothers Funeral Home, 295 N. Main St. Bountiful, Utah, where services for Mr. Foster will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 with Bishop Stephen Wood officiating. The family will receive visitors from 6:00-7:30 PM on Monday, July 6, 2015 at the same location.  A graveside service with military honors and final interment will be at the Rock Point Cemetery in Maeser, Utah on Tuesday, July 7th at 3:30 PM. Our online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com