Cecilia Foerster

Cecilia Kathryn Ihly Foerster, 92, Bismarck, died Tuesday, November 27, 2007, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck. Visitation will be Sunday, December 2, from 2:00 - 9:00 PM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a vigil service will be held at 2:00 PM. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, December 6, 2007, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alexandria, MN. Cecilia will be buried alongside her husband, Robert Foerster at St. Mary's Cemetery in Alexandria. Cis was born on July 27, 1915, in Bowman, North Dakota, the daughter of George and Rose Kuntz Ihly. She graduated from Star School, Bowman County, in 1934. She then attended Dickson Normal School now Dickinson State University over a period of years and ultimately received a degree in Elementary Education. She taught school for eleven years in Bowman and eighteen years in Osakis, Minnesota. Her love of teaching and learning helped many students develop positive reading and thinking skills over the years. She was a credit to her chosen profession. Cis enjoyed traveling, bowling, square dancing, and playing cards. As befitting her name, Cecilia, St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music she enjoyed good music and musical theatre. In her 70's and 80's she did volunteer work at the Senior Center in Osakis, area nursing homes, and the Senior Center in Alexandria. She was an active member of the Church of St. Mary in Alexandria, and the Daughters of Isabella. Above all, Cis loved and enjoyed her family. Summers were spent visiting children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, and many nieces and nephews in the Dakotas, Montana, and points West. She had a beautiful smile, a strong character, and a positive attitude that was infectious. She believed in, and lived, the Golden Rule. Her inner strength and generous heart will be missed, as are her apple pies a ribbon at the Bowman County Fair! and caramel rolls. She is survived by her two sons, Robert Deb Wood of Bismarck, and Joe Wood of Idaho Falls, Idaho; two grandchildren, Christopher Nici Wood of Boise, Idaho, and Elizabeth Brian Barrett of Bismarck; three great-grandsons, Logan Brian Barrett, Zachary Robert Wood, and Benjamin Christopher Wood; two sisters, Ruth Brooking of Anchorage, Alaska, and Eileen Keller of Scranton, North Dakota; one sister-in-law, Bernadine Ihly of Dickinson, North Dakota; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert "Bob" Foerster; her parents; seven sisters, Mag, Liz, Ode, Flo, Anne, Janice, and Bernadine; and two brothers, Seb and Glen. May they, and she, rest in peace. Memorials may be sent to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck, St. Mary's Church in Alexandria, Minnesota, or to a charity of your choice.

Cecilia Foerster

July 27, 1915 - November 27, 2007