Jan. 20, 1965 – Aug. 31, 2000
Theodore “Ted” Joseph Foss, 35, of 410 Pleasant Hill Drive, died Thursday, Aug. 31, 2000, as a result of a traffic accident. Ted was born Jan. 20, 1965, in Zumbrota, Minn., the son of Shirley Renee (Holmes) and LeRoy Llewellyn Foss. He grew up on the family farm near Kenyon, Minn., and later moved with his family at age 10 to Bagley, Minn. He graduated from Bagley High School and also from the Alexandria Vocational Technical Institute with a degree in law enforcement. He worked part time as a police officer for the city of Clearbrook, Minn., and also as a groundskeeper for Twin Pines Golf Course.
Ted began his career with the Minnesota State Patrol as a trooper candidate in State Patrol School. He excelled early and graduated as one of the top students. In November 1986, he was assigned to the Winona Station in the Rochester District.
Ted’s career flourished, and he received two commendations for professionalism while on duty, one involving a bank robbery and another for a fatal automobile crash. He was promoted to Trooper I in 1991 and to corporal in 1997.
Ted married Andrea Kay Gerth on Sept. 15, 1990, at Grace Presbyterian Church in Winona.
He had been an avid athlete since high school, participating in football, basketball, and golf. His love of golf led to a hole-in-one at the Northfield (Minn.) Golf Course and two State Trooper Golf Tournament wins in Minnesota. His love of the “greens” carried over into his yard at home, which he was proud of and enjoyed decorating for Christmas. He loved taking his family and friends on boat rides on the river and hunting turkeys and pheasants.
He is survived by his wife, Andrea; son, Mitchell, age 5; daughter, Hannah, age 2; mother, Shirley Foss of Cannon Falls, Minn.; brother, Bill Foss of Kenyon; five sisters, Christine Foss of Minneapolis, Julie (Bob) Miller of Bloomington, Minn., Marianna (Mac) MacDonald of Kenyon, Theron Homeier of Kenyon, and Ramona (Ken) Djernes of Fosston, Minn.; several aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews; and two special friends, Norm Allen and Pamela Holberg-Allen.
He was preceded in death by his father and two brothers, Eric in infancy and Paul as a result of a car accident.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, on the campus of Winona State University in McCown Gymnasium. Officiating was the Rev. Hugh Drennan of Grace Presbyterian Church. Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Friends called at the Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home on Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., and again on Wednesday after 9:30 a.m. at Winona State University.
Casketbearers were the Minnesota State Patrol Honor Guard, and honorary casketbearers were Ted and Andrea’s colleagues in law enforcement.
The family has established an endowment to help fund scholarships for students pursuing a career in law enforcement. Friends were encouraged to donate to this worthy cause in Ted’s honor.
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