RAPID CITY- Evelyn Marie Foster, 90, of Rapid City, SD passed away on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at Prairie Hills Nursing Home.

Evelyn was born on November 4, 1928 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was the youngest of nine children born to William and Cora Mackland.

She had a photogenic memory which made learning easy for her so she skipped several grades at school. That also made her an excellent trivia player.

During WWII, her sister Doris needed help when expecting a baby so at 15 she went to Texas to take care of her. There she met her future husband, her brother in law, Edgar Macklin Foster. They married two years later on December 5, 1945 after the war ended.

They made their home in Texas where they had six children: Dennis, Danny, Karen Sue, Kathy, Ed, and Silas. Karen Sue died shortly after birth. Four days later, Evelyn accepted Jesus as her savior. Her mother made the same decision soon after and they were baptized together in the San Gabriel River.

While in Texas they lived on a farm where Evelyn stayed at home to care for her family while her husband worked as an electrician and pastor of a small country church. They often sang solos and duets together and enjoyed sing-alongs on Sunday afternoons.

In 1954 they moved to Pueblo, Colorado where her husband pastored a small mission church and worked at the Buick Cadillac dealer. He died a few years later on April 21, 1958. The masonic lodge her husband attended helped her find a job to support her five children; the oldest was 11 and the youngest was 4. She went to work at S&H Greenstamps as an assistant manager.

In 1962 she transferred to Sioux City, Iowa to be closer to family. She was the assistant manager of S&H for a short while before becoming the manager. She was so good at her job she was often asked to travel and train the managers. While raising her children in Iowa, she became involved with Eastern Star and became Worthy High Preistess for White Shrine. She belonged to an investment club and the Chamber of Commerce. She joined Central Baptist Church and brought her children to learn of God. She taught a Sunday School class for widows.

After her children left home, she transferred to Boynton Beach, FL with S&H Greenstamps. She loved the beach and enjoyed going when she could. She got involved with a church, belonged to an investment club and became president of the Business and Professional Women's Club. There she became stressed out from her job and the doctor advised her to quit which she did. She started working at K-Mart for more than she made as manager at S&H where she had worked for 17 years.

Her oldest son Dennis asked for her help to raise his son, DJ, so she quit her job to do what she could. They moved to Sioux Falls shortly after. She lived with Dennis until his death in 1998. She stayed in Sioux Falls where she had made many friends. She was active in Eastside Baptist Church and became a senior companion for 20 years.

Because of her health, she moved to Rapid City in 2011 to be near her daughter.

She enjoyed reading and playing games. Her faith was very important to her and influenced how she lived. She was a great prayer warrior and sent many cards to encourage others. She was a loving, kind and caring woman who enjoyed her family and friends. She remembered everything and didn't have many phone numbers written down as she knew them. She was greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include her children: Danny (Pat) Foster, Iowa City, IA; Kathy (Wally) Wood, Rapid City; Ed (Dianne) Foster, Greeley, CO; and Silas (Colleen) Foster, Springdale, AR; sister, Coral Peterson, Council Bluffs, IA; 11 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; 9 great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar; her daughter, Karen Sue; her son, Dennis; her parents; five brothers: Everett, Chester, Myron, Harvey, and Kenneth; and two sisters: Helen and Doris.

A memorial service will be held in Sioux Falls at a later date.

Cards and memorial donations may be sent to 3802 Canyon Lake Dr. Rapid City, SD 57702. Memorials will be used for Kidney research.