John Dwight Foster, age 97, of rural Chester, South Dakota, passed away on January 5, 2023, at the Madison Regional Hospital. Memorial services will begin at 11:00 AM Thursday, January 12, 2023, at the Chester United Methodist Church. Memorial visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Wednesday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Chapel in Colton.
John Dwight Foster was born December 5, 1923 near Ellis, South Dakota. His great-grandfather, Robert E. Foster, was part of a pioneer family that homesteaded in the Ellis/Hartford area in 1872.
John was the youngest son of Harold and Mary (Love) Foster. John's sister Mildred Schipke and his oldest brother Willard preceded him in death. John's older brother Donald, a veteran of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War, is 102 years old and lives in Spokane, WA.
John spoke lovingly and often of a happy life growing up on the farm and the antics of his brothers in the one-room Foster School. John graduated from Hartford High School in 1943.
He enlisted in the Navy on December 3, 1943, two days before his 18th birthday. He was selected to join the 4th Marine Raiders, precursors to today's Navy Seals, and was sent to some of the fiercest battles in the Asia-Pacific War. Injured in the battle of Saipan, John awoke to find himself on a hospital ship in Noumea, New Caledonia. Upon recovering he was returned to his battalion to join the battle of Iwo Jima.
His experience in World War II influenced the rest of his life. John was active in both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
John married Betty Nelson on August 17, 1959. In 1967, John and Betty purchased a farm near Chester, South Dakota. John lived on the farm until his last day, suffering cardiac arrest as he was climbing into his pick-up for what turned out to be the last time.
In addition to farming, John also held part-time positions working first for Sioux Valley Energy for many years and then for Qwest Communications at their headquarters in Sioux Falls. John was disappointed when he was forced to resign at age 88 when Qwest changed ownership.
In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting in the Black Hills with his Foster and Schipke family members.
John is survived by his wife Betty of 65 years; daughter Rosella and son-in-law James DePietro; Independence, MN; granddaughter Johanna and grandson-in-law Jacob Oswelier of Laughlin Air Force Base, TX; grandson John DePietro of Independence, MN; brother Donald (Muriel) Foster, Spokane, WA; sister-in-law, Elaine Foster, Beresford, SD; sister-in-law Frances Nelson, Denver, CO; brother-in-law Dean (Beverly) Nelson, Seattle, WA; and the Foster, Schipke, Mofle and Nelson nieces and nephews.
John was baptized into the Methodist church as an infant and was a long-time member of the Chester United Methodist Church.
The family requests any donations be sent to the Chester United Methodist Church Youth Group or the Wounded Warriors Project.
