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Laurel Anton "Lolly"
Foss

October 21, 1926 – November 1, 2018

Laurel Foss
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Obituary for Laurel Anton "Lolly" Foss

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Laurel "Lolly" Anton Foss October 21, 1926 - November 1, 2018 - Laurel A. "Lolly" Foss, age 92, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at Jenkins Living Center.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Watertown with Reverend Craig Werling officiating. Lynn Osthus will be the organist.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, November 5, 2018 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel and prior to the services at the church.

Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Military Honors will be conducted by Codington County Post 17 of the American Legion, Frank H. Adams Post 750 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the SD Army National Guard Honors Team all of Watertown.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the American Legion and VFW.

Active Pallbearers will be members of the American Legion and VFW: Gary Stolp, Bill Russell, Byron Callies, Gary Kuecker, Jim Hanson and Ernie Gatchell.

Laurel Anton Foss was born October 21, 1926 to Herbert S. and Sigrid K. (Fjerdingstad) Foss on a farm north of Wilmot, South Dakota. He attended country school at Springdale #2 and helped farm with his parents until he was drafted into the United States Army in October of 1950. Laurel took basic training at Camp Polk in Louisiana. He served in Japan prior to going to Korea. He served as a sniper and later trained on a Browning Automatic Rifle. He then was a squad leader in Korea. Laurel was wounded in May of 1951 and later received a medical retirement. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart, Korean Service medal, United Nations medal, National Defense Service medal with three Battle Stars, United Nations Service medal, Good Conduct medal, Japanese Occupation medal with Bar, Students and Citizens For Korean War Veterans and Ambassador For Peace medal.

After returning to civilian life, Laurel came back to Wilmot and married Darlene Ward on January 31, 1954 at Webster, SD. The couple moved to Watertown and he was employed as a parts manager at Schweiger's Inc., and was also service manager at Gene Williams Ford prior to working at Cave Supply. Laurel and Darlene then moved to Niles, Michigan where he worked for French Paper Company until retiring in 1988, and then returned to Watertown in 1990. Darlene Foss passed away on February 26, 1999.

Laurel was a member of the VFW, DAV, American Legion, Korean War Veteran Association, Purple Heart Association and 45th Infantry Division Association. He was the originator of the Watertown Veterans Memorial at Stokes-Thomas City Park. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, ham radio, flying, having coffee with friends and storm watching for many years.


Laurel is survived by his son, Dan Foss of Watertown, SD; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friend, Rose Crooks.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Darlene; his son, Bill; two brothers, Norman and Clayton; and one sister, Evelyn.

Service Information

When
Tuesday November 6th, 2018 11:00am
Location
Hosanna Lutheran Church
Address
1617 14th Ave NE
Watertown, SD 57201

Interment Information

Location
Mount Hope Cemetery
Address
1133 11th St. NE
Watertown, SD 57201
Interment Extra Info
Military Honors conducted by Codington County Post 17 of the American Legion Frank H. Adams Post 750 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars SD Army National Guard Honors Team

Reception Information

Location
Hosanna Lutheran Church
Address
1617 14th Ave NE
Watertown, SD 57201
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