Wilma Jean Foster

Wilma Jean Foster, 65, of Troy, died at her home July 17, 2009.

She was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on July 30, 1943, the daughter of Kenneth and Lou (Sanford) Dayton. She grew up near Bradgate, Iowa and attended school there and in Gilmore City, Iowa, and graduated from Gilmore City-Bradgate High School in 1961. She resided in several locations around the country including Des Moines, Iowa, Mississippi, Minneapolis-St. Paul in Minnesota and Grand Marais, Minn.

During her life, Ms. Foster worked for a time as a hairdresser and performed service for many years in various support organizations addressing battered women and children. She also went to culinary school and worked as a chef at Gunflint Lodge and Nanaboujou Lodge in Cook County, Minn. She later took a job as the sexual assault/battery advocate for the Family Crisis Center (now the Violence Prevention Center) in Grand Marais, Minn., a position she held until retirement. She also hosted a radio show on the local public radio station in Grand Marais.

Ms. Foster’s passions included beading, making jewelry, gardening, cooking, listening to music and animals. She embraced a Native American world view and loved the North country. In Troy, she enjoyed raising food and was active with Friends of the Library as well as adult education. She was a founding member of the Northwoods Fiber Arts Guild in Grand Marais.

Ms. Foster was preceded in death by her mother, Lou, in 1997; her father, Kenneth, in 2000; a younger brother, Marion, in 1950; and her older brother, Raymond, in 1984.

She is survived by one sister, Linda Tenorio of Loveland, Colo.; and two brothers, Jim Dayton of Dayton, Ore.; and Paul Dayton of Boone, Iowa.

Services have already taken place. The family suggests that any donations be made to the “Billie Foster Memorial Fund” at the Lincoln County Credit Union, P.O. Box 1586, Libby, MT 59923.

Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby handled arrangements.