Wilbur Peder Foss

CLERGY
Rev. Jonathan Vehar
LECTOR
Maurice Bueber
MUSIC
Violinist Emily Penk Smith & Guitarist John Hauck
“Ashokan Farewell”
Happy Memories Band ~ “Jesus Loves Me”
instrumental with congregation join in singing verses 1 & 3
Violinist Michelle Stein & Pianist Diane Hofer
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
South Dakota Old Time Fiddlers
“Amazing Grace”
instrumental with congregation join in singing verses 1,3, & 5
Fiddler Michelle Stein & Guitarist Bob Stein
“Golden Slippers”
Congregational Hymn ~
"Lord of All Hopefulness #795" verses 1, 3, & 4
HONORARY URNBEARERS
Aisha Abbink, Julie Auch, Maurice Bueber, Clifford Bridge,
Fr. James Doyle, Lu Ann Geiman, John Hauck, Roger Haugo,
Wini Iverson, George Mallory, Kay Nickles, Elaine Peacock,
Cindy Schmlingen, Loretta Schoenfish, Michelle Stein,
Erling Thomsen, and Eugene Weidenbach
Wilbur Peder Foss was born on June 15, 1921 to Jarle and Inga (nee Jorstad) Foss in rural Freeman.  He attended rural schools and graduated from Menno High School.  He attended Southern Normal College in Springfield.  His teaching and coaching career began at Rose Cottage, Pleasant View, and North Star Schools and continued in Wagner, Lennox, Davis, Beresford.
On June 15, 1946, Wilbur was united in marriage to Elizabeth Busch. Together they owned and operated the Coast to Coast hardware store for 17 years. Following another interest, he was a bank officer at the Valley State Bank in Yankton, SD for 23 years.  They returned to live in Scotland in 1997.  He moved to the Good Samaritan Center in February 2015.
During his working years and beyond, he was involved in volunteering, education, church participation, basketball refereeing, baseball, politics, horse trading, car deals, old time and country music and mentoring young fiddlers.
Wilbur had the desire to learn to play the fiddle at age 55 and continued until he died.  He and Elizabeth founded the South Dakota Fiddlers in the 1970’s and they entertained often in the 5 state area. They traveled to Arizona 14 winters and made countless friends there who shared a love for old time music.
Wilbur wrote for the Yankton County Observer on a regular basis, his last entry was published after his death.  With a great memory for detail, he wrote about the communities he loved and the interesting people he met along the way.
Wilbur died on Nov. 18, 2015 at the Landmann-Jungman Memorial Hospital in Scotland at the age of 94.  He was a remarkable man and a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, friend and mentor to generations.
Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents Jarle and Inga Foss and his brother Palmer Foss.
Wilbur is survived by his wife of 69 years, Elizabeth; a daughter Nancy (William) Penk of Hopkins, MN; a grandson Ryan (Anette) Penk and their sons Bjorn and Noah of Lier, Norway; and a granddaughter Emily (Marshall) Penk-Smith and their daughter Elsa of St. Louis Park, MN.  He is also survived by his sister-in-law Eirleen Foss.
A memorial will be established by the family.