Obituary of Myrna Foster

Foster - Myrna (Olson) passed away at the age of 67 on December 15, 2023, in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.  Myrna was born on August 23, 1956, in Val Marie, Saskatchewan, the fourth child of Clifford and Eunice Olson. 

She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Randy Foster, daughter, Dana (Trevor) Murphy, son, Travis (Kealey) Foster and five grandchildren, Kane, Ty & Sydney Murphy and Dreya and Cohen Foster.  She is also survived by her sister, Sandra Olson, and brother, Neil Olson, brother & sister-in law Darrell & Barbara Foster, and sister-in-law, Ardell Glenmore, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Myrna was predeceased by her parents, Clifford Olson and Eunice Olson, her mother and father-in-law, Jim and Irene Foster and her sister JoAnn Olson and brother Carl Olson, nephews Wade Strong and Christopher Flagg.

Myrna grew up and attended school in Val Marie, marrying Randy Foster on July 14, 1973, settling in Bracken, Saskatchewan on the family farm with Jim and Irene Foster.  There they welcomed a daughter and son, Dana on September 28, 1973, and Travis on February 21, 1975.  Myrna was a stay-at-home mom and farm wife, always keeping herself busy running with Dana and Travis’ many extra curricular activities as well as actively assisting on the farm, she knew if the work was done on time, the good times would follow.  Myrna was community minded and was very involved in all that was going on.  When Dana and Travis were in 4-H, Myrna became the General Leader.  She helped at school functions, preparing hot lunches, and assisted with all events held Bracken.  Myrna was skilled in the kitchen, always preparing big meals, often noted to feed whomever may be showing up on the farm at that time, there was always a lot of food and an extra plate.  Nobody left their home hungry.  She enjoyed working in her yard, always keeping the grass cut and planting many trees and flowers in the summertime.  In the wintertime she spent many hours in the rink attending hockey games if not for Travis, then her nephew’s many hockey games.  She also enjoyed curling and the lady’s bonspiel was always a fun time spent with friends and many laughs were had.  Myrna loved the holidays and Christmas and Easter were large celebrations with family.  She also really enjoyed Halloween and always had many costumes on hand for whomever happened to need one that year, often being noted to dress up herself.  Myrna loved her animals and was always surrounded by cats and dogs. 

Randy and Myrna purchased a cabin at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in 1994, where they thoroughly enjoyed spending their free time all year round. During this time, she was also managing the Val Marie hotel for a couple years after her father who owned it became ill.  After he passed away, the hotel was sold.  But always a very busy lady, she then purchased a fast-food restaurant at Cypress named Grandma’s Place, which she ran for 3 summers before deciding to sell in 2004.  Myrna was elated to become a grandmother to Ty, Kane, Sydney, Dreya, and Cohen and always said being a grandmother was way better than being a mother because she was able to just focus on spoiling them. 

Randy and Myrna began heading south to Yuma Arizona in the winter of 2010 but with her love of the holidays they had to bear some Canadian cold until Christmas so that she could spend it with grandchildren, and they would then travel to Arizona in January.

Myrna’s health began to deteriorate, and she needed more care, which she received at the Paradise Pines wing of the Long-Term Care Centre in Maple Creek, where she was surrounded by caring staff and was treated like family.  Myrna’s family are eternally grateful for the wonderful care that she received while she was a resident of Paradise Pines over the last 2 years.  Donations can be made to the Southwest Integrated Healthcare Facility, Long Term Care, Box 1330, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, S0N 1N0 or to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan accessible online or at 301-2550-12th Avenue Regina, SK S4P 3X1.

Myrna’s celebration of life will take place on December 29, 2023, at 2:00 pm at the Bracken Community Hall.