James D. Foster, 61
James Duane Foster, 61, of Austin, died on June 12, 2009, at his home in Austin. 
He was born Feb. 5, 1948, in Crosby, Minn., the son of Layton Archibald and Helene Evelyn (Nelson) Foster. He graduated from Crosby-Ironton High School in 1966 and went on to attend the University of Minnesota. He worked for Crown Auto Stores and later for White Farm Equipment in Hopkins, Minn. On Sept. 16, 1972, he was united in marriage to Kathleen Lettman in Brainerd, Minn. They moved to Austin where Jim worked for DTN and then as an instructor at Riverland Community College in the parts and merchandising program. His most recent employment was with Tandem Products of Blooming Prairie, where he was the purchasing manager. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. He was a lifetime member and Past Master of NE Masonic Lodge No. 345 of Anoka, received the Hiram Award for lifetime Masonic service and was a past master of Fidelity Lodge 39 of Austin. He also had served as Minnesota Grand Lodge monitor. He was a member and past patron of Unity Chapter 29 Order of the Eastern Star in Austin. He served as Worthy Grand Patron for the Minnesota Grand Chapter OES from 2006 to 2007. He also enjoyed traveling, photography, hiking, biking canoeing and was an avid cook. He worked on old cars and especially loved his 1956 Chevrolet Nomad. Jim was a nature lover, tending to his flower garden and raising and tagging Monarch butterflies. 
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Foster, Austin; two daughters, Angela (Leif) Bierly, Eagan and Kimberly Foster, Chaska, Minn.; two grandchildren, Gabrielle and Marshall Bierly; one sister, Joanne (Clarence) Jacobson, Baxter, Minn.; sister-in-law, Darlene Darbo, Hoyt Lakes, Minn.; mother-in-law, Harriet Lettman, Austin; and several nieces and nephews. 
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Cleve “David” Darbo; sister, Nancy Fouquette; special niece, Rae Lynn Kordiak and special nephew, Greg Fouquette.
 Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, June 21, 2009 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with the Reverend Glenn Monson. officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 20 at the Worlein Funeral Home. A Masonic/Eastern Star service will be held at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 20 at the Worlein Funeral Home.
Memorials are preferred to Masonic Cancer Center Fund, 11501 Masonic Home Dr., Bloomington, MN 55437 or Unity Chapter 29 of the Eastern Star or Out Savior’s Lutheran Church Building Fund or Youth Ministry.