Elizabeth R. Foster

Elizabeth R. Beyer Foster passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2026 after a short illness at Oak Gardens Place assisted living in Altoona, WI.

Beth was born in Milwaukee, WI, the youngest of six children born to Eunice (Slominski) and Alex C. Beyer. She attended Riverside High School in Milwaukee and completed two years at Berlin High School in Berlin, WI. It was in Berlin that Beth met and married her husband, John Joseph "Joe" Foster.

Beth is survived by her two children, five granddaughters, one great-granddaughter, and two foster granddaughters. she is also survived by her two sisters, Sandra Ziske Schneck and Roberta Beyer Erdmann, along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Joseph "Joe" Foster; her parents; her brothers, David and Danny Beyer; and her sister, Carol Harthun.

Beth often described her professional life as being a "jack of all trades and master of none." Growing up on the east side of Milwaukee, she spent her time at the local Olympic-sized pool and Bradford Beach on Lake Michigan. Her first jobs included working as a short-order cook, waitress, and dishwasher, as well as helping with Mrs. Ziske’s catering business. Over the years, she worked in diverse roles, including at a dry cleaners, a J.C. Penney distribution center, and a microfilm photo studio—where she notably helped photograph the medical records of the first heart replacement patient.

Though she held many titles, including movie theater clerk and foundry worker, Beth found the most joy in food service. She even entered a partnership in a hotel, bar, and restaurant before deciding to move to Lake City, MN, to focus on raising her children. As Joe’s career in the foundry business led the family to new cities, Beth viewed each move as an adventure, often telling her children, "Let's go get lost" to explore their new surroundings.

In all these experiences, her greatest constant was her family, whom she loved deeply and fiercely.

A Memorial Service will be held at 12:00-noon Friday, June 26, 2026 at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie with Chaplain Jen Blocher officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. There will be a luncheon following the service.

To share a memory, please visit obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com