Frank Foslien

Frank Winkjer Foslien was born on December 26, 1925 in rural Garfield on the family farm, the son of Frank O. and Julia (Foslien) Foslien. Frank attended District 54 country school and high school in Brandon. In his later years, Frank received his high school diploma because he quit school to fight in World War II. He joined the Navy in 1943 at the age of 17 spending his first eight weeks at Faragat, Idaho. He went on to sonar schooling in California. Frank was shipped out to the South Pacific serving on the patrol craft escort 872 where he witnessed much fighting with kamikaze planes and ships sinking. He remained in the South Pacific until the end of the war. Upon his return to Minnesota, Frank and Ed Foslien enjoyed a well-deserved two-week trip to California on their new Harley Davidson motorcycle. Frank took over his parents? family farm raising sheep, milking cows, raising polled heifers and of course, horses. Frank was united in marriage to Corrine Torgeson in 1950. To this union three children were born: Karen Ann, Frank Glen and Emily Josette. Corrine died in 1977. On March 20, 1981 Frank married Betty Harne Johnson and three more children were added to their family: Scott Allan Johnson, James Emmanuel Johnson and Kristi Lou Johnson. Frank was active in Farmers Union, 4H and his church at West Moe Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and the cemetery board. Frank was the postmaster of Garfield from 1965 through 1988. He always took the time from his busy life to attend family functions or help others. Frank enjoyed downhill skiing, motorcycling and restoring model T Fords. He traveled throughout the United States attending postmaster conventions. He also traveled to Norway to visit the Foslien Farm and to Alaska. Frank died on May 31, 2013 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Corrine; daughter, Kristi; and his brothers and sisters: Philip, Martha, Clarenza, Gurtrude, Conrad, Rueben, Irene Norman and Doris. Frank is survived by his wife, Betty of Alexandria; children: Frank ?Skip? (Sue) Foslien, Karen (Dean) Andrist, Emily (Rick) Roers, Scott (Edna) Johnson, Jim (Lori) Johnson; seventeen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Louella Myhr and Fyllis Flanery; and many other relatives and good friends. A funeral service was held Tuesday June 4, 2013 at the West Moe Lutheran Church in rural Brandon, with Sarah Evenson officiating. Barb Gulbranson, Sue Peterson and Stacy Hemmings provided the music. Interment was in the West Moe Cemetery. Pallbearers were Joshua Slack, Darren Foslien, Phillip Roers, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Johnson and Daniel Leason. Military Honors were performed by the Brandon American Legion Post 278 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 936. Arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home