Mary Elizabeth 'Betsy' Foster, 71

Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Foster, 71, passed away at her home in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Monday, April 9, 2007.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 13, 2007, at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Steve Nickodemus officiating. Inurnment will take place at the Lakeview Cemetery Niche Wall.

Betsy was born on July 27, 1935 in Winston-Salem, N.C., to Everett and Emma Hayden. Betsy grew up in Wisconsin, Georgia and Seattle, as the family moved with her father's military career. She attended the old high school at Pine and Euclid in Sandpoint before graduating from Roosevelt High School in Seattle in 1953.

Betsy met Dick Foster when they were both students at Everett Community College, and it was love at first sight. They married on Aug, 29, 1959, in Seattle, started a family, and continued to make their home there. Betsy started an antique business in the Fremont District called "Attic to Cellar." The family later moved to Sandpoint, and in 1978 started Foster's Crossing Antique and Country Market.

Betsy and Dick sold the business and retired in 2005. They attend Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and Betsy was a member of P.E.O. Betsy liked to travel and tell family stories. She loved the Sandpoint community and she especially enjoyed meeting all the friendly folks who visited Foster's Crossing. She delighted in the antics of her grandchildren and continually shared her love with her family and friends.

She and Dick sincerely appreciated the compassionate care from North Idaho Cancer Center and fellow survivors who helped her live a more fulfilling life with the disease. Her faith and the support she shared with family and friends sustained her spirit.

She is survived by her husband, Dick Foster of Sandpoint, Idaho; a son, Bill Foster of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; two daughters, Barbara (John) Nicolich of Sandpoint and Elizabeth (Steve) Neuder of Sandpoint; four grandchildren, John and Katie Nicolich, and Julia and Camille Neuder; a sister, Jane Hayden of Yucaipa, Calif.; a brother, Fred (Carol) Hayden of Albany, Calif.; cousins, Frances Stump of Washington, D.C., Felix (Linda) Stump of Cleveland, Ohio, and Paul (Kim) Smith of Napa, Calif.; nephews Ramon Hayden of Olympia, Wash., and Armen Shamamian of San Jose, Calif., and a niece, Roxanne (Boojie) Waldron of Olympia.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grand daughter Jasmine Foster.

Memorial donations may be made to Bonner Community Hospice, PO Box 1448, Sandpoint, ID 83864, Community Cancer Services, 718 Cedar, Sandpoint, ID 83864, or the charity of your choice.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Betsy's memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her online guest book.