Memorial services for 94-year old Verna Foster of Hay Springs are Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 10:00 at the United Methodist Church in Hay Springs with Pastors Richard McKay and Paul Smith presiding.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be given to the Hay Springs Ambulance or New Hope Friends Church.
Online condolences may be left at chamberlainchapel.com
Verna Eileen (Billings) Foster was born July 9, 1928 at the Smalley farm west of Springview, NE, to Jay Loy (JL) Billings and Myrtle Mary (Reynolds) Billings. She was called home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 8, 2023 – the day before her 95th birthday – at Chadron Community Hospital.
Verna was baptized at Kewanee by Samuel Waring of Valentine and attended Turkey Creek School in Keya Paha County through 6th grade. The family then moved to the Billings Ranch at the Lost Creek Community, where she completed 8th grade.
Verna graduated from Keya Paha County High School in Springview in May 1945 at the age of 16 and was united in marriage to John K Foster a few days later on May 26, 1945, in a home wedding.
To this union were born Connie Sue, June 11, 1950 in Bassett, Donna Loy, June 30, 1952 and Samuel Allen, October 6, 1956 in Valentine.
After John returned from the Service, they began farming and ranching near Bassett, then on the Foster home place at Kewanee. In 1961, they moved to the ranch at Cody and then later to Hay Springs where they resided in Antelope Valley until John passed away on April 27, 1998.
Verna taught in rural schools for 20 years while working toward her college degree, graduating from Chadron State College in 1971. As a teacher, she enjoyed playing baseball and sledding with the school kids.
Later, she worked for Dayco in Alliance for 14 years receiving the Outstanding Employee Award.
Verna enjoyed playing games, cards, crafts, sewing, gardening, baking, helping others and keeping busy. She especially loved music, playing trumpet into her 80’s and had a keen memory for songs from the 30’s and 40’s.
Verna enjoyed trivia and belonged to RSVP, Red Hatters, and Farm Bureau. She attended New Hope Friends Church and resided at Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs for 6 years.
Surviving Verna are daughters Connie Foster of Oxford and Donna (Conrad) Bostron of Gering; Grandchildren Shawn (Cassie) Garner of Lincoln, Surena (Chris) McMullen of Grand Island, Subrena Garner of Norfolk, NE, USMC Gunnery Sgt Allen Bostron stationed in Japan, and Bethany (Ryan) Soye of Sioux Falls, SD; 12 Great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Vera was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Samuel Allen, and granddaughter Laura Lea. She was the last of her generation for both the Billings and Foster families and was preceded by her Virgil and Dale and all of her sisters-and-brothers-in-law.