Betty Lee Foster Obituary (2024)

Betty Lee Foster was born on August 12, 1937, to Betty Mae and Charles Parkhurst, in Twin Falls, Idaho. She passed away on July 29, 2024, in Yakima, Washington. Betty grew up in Yakima and graduated from Yakima High School in 1955. She also attended Yakima Valley Community College in 1955, after graduating high school early. Betty met the love of her life at YVCC, Keith Foster. Keith and Betty had a relationship, not often found. They began as best friends and as their love grew for each other, they were inseparable through the years. In 1956, both Betty and Keith decided to attend Central Washington State University. After one month of school, and waiting for the most romantic time, Keith asked for her hand in marriage while in the cafeteria dinner line at school. Betty and Keith graduated together in 1959. Being the first in her family to graduate from college, Betty started teaching at Garfield and McClure before her boys were born. While being a stay-at-home mom during this time, she tutored while earning her master's degree in education. Also, during this time Betty volunteered around Yakima and was recognized with the award of Outstanding Young Woman of the Year by the Yakima Chamber of Commerce. She was the first woman Head Start teacher in the Yakima School District. Betty then returned to the classroom at Franklin Junior High, where she taught for 20 years. After some heart issues, she decided to retire early with great sadness as she loved her students and fellow teachers and felt their love in return. She always said, "God put me in 7th grade to be the needed mother hen." Anyone who spent any time with Betty knew how much she loved her family, her church family, and "almost everyone she ever met." She loved quilting, traveling and singing in the Covenant Church Choir. Betty is survived by her sons, Craig and Jennifer Foster (grandchildren Brooke (Eric Borton), Tate (Michael Johnston) and Daniel (Mikaela), Cameron and Noelle Foster (grandchildren Kendall and Delaney (Garrett Locher), and Michelle Cody (grandchildren Callan, Case and Campbell) and her six great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her son, Cortney Foster. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 11:30am, at the Yakima Covenant Church. She has requested that any memorial gifts be sent payable to Yakima Covenant music department. Memorial contributions may be sent in care of Brookside Funeral Home (PO Box 1267, Moxee, WA 98936), who is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.