Elsa Foster

Elsa May Foster, 88, passed away peacefully at her home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on January 1, 2015. Elsie (Elsa) May Cross was born on May 26, 1926 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, the third of four children born to George Alba Cross and Mary Mathilda Jane Goings. She attended school in Vermont, graduating high school from Barton Academy in 1944. In August 1945 Elsa married Neil Lewis Cass. They had three children before divorcing in 1953. In 1954, she married Calvin Taylor Bean and three children were born from that union as well. Elsa and Calvin raised their children in various locations in Vermont and Maine before moving to Utah in 1976. Shortly thereafter, they divorced. Elsa then married William (Bill) P. Foster on February 25, 1983 and they were later sealed as eternal companions in the Salt Lake Temple. In the ensuing years, Elsa and Bill lived in Salt Lake City, Roy and Vernal, Utah, Elko, Nevada and Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Elsa enjoyed being a mother and loved her children and grandchildren dearly. Elsa liked meeting new people and made friends easily. Once most of the children were grown she ventured out into the workforce where she applied her many talents and abilities working in sales, marketing, office management, private home health care and property management. She found great satisfaction and personal growth during this time. Elsa had a beautiful voice and loved singing and listening to music. She enjoyed her home, the beauties of nature (particularly plants, flowers and birds) and had a great love for her pets. Her favorite pastimes were traveling, reading and writing poetry and children’s stories. She will always be remembered for her sharp wit, humor and contagious laugh. Elsa was a very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully for many years in various organizations including Primary, Sunday School, Relief Society, Singing Mothers and as a Stake Missionary. Elsa became a “second mother” to many Sister missionaries who lived in her home during their missions in Salt Lake. While living in Vernal, Elsa and Bill served as ordinance workers in the Vernal Utah Temple, which was the highlight of their service in the Church. Elsa was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Ralph Leland Cross, a sister Betty Ruth Quinn and most recently, a special niece Melody Ann Barrett. Elsa is survived by her loving husband Bill, her children Dolores Jean Hodgkin (Perley) of Saco, ME, David Ralph Bean (Irene) of Biddeford, ME, Linda Rae Mauer (James) of Spokane, WA, Julie Anne Mecham (Rick) of Spring, TX, Richard Calvin Bean (Diane) of North Salt Lake, UT, Brian Edmund Bean (Kathy) of Bartlesville, OK, two step-children Monty Jake Foster (Sharon) of Springville, UT, Rosemarie Bialaski (Mike) of Livonia, MI, her sister Barbara Ellen Barrett of Mendon, MA, and 21 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. Funeral services are under the direction of Walker-Brown Funeral Home, 4201 Nowata Road, Bartlesville, OK. Services for Mrs. Foster will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1501 Swan Drive in Bartlesville with Bishop Stephen Wood officiating. The family will receive visitors from 6:00-7:30 PM on Monday, January 5, 2015 at Walker-Brown. A viewing will also be held on Wednesday, January 7 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at the Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful, UT. A graveside service and final interment will be at the Rock Point Cemetery in Maeser, Utah on Thursday, January 8th at 2:00

Elsa Foster

May 26, 1926 - January 1, 2015