Ronold D. Foster, 79, of Estelline, passed away Sunday, July 10, 2016 at the Estelline Nursing and Care Center. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am Thursday, July 14, 2016 at the United Church of Christ in Estelline. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Wednesday at Geise Funeral Chapel, Estelline.

Ronold Dean Foster was born on December 21, 1936 in Estelline, SD, the son of George and Della (Devitt) Foster. He attended Wattnem Country School through 8th grade and graduated from Estelline High School in 1955. He began working at the Estelline Community Oil where he would work for 21 years, 16 years as General Manager. He was united in marriage to Jeanette Hutt on December 14, 1958. Ron started farming in 1972 in Brookings County and continued to farm until he and Jeanette moved into Estelline in 2005.

Ron was a life-long member of the United Church of Christ where he served on several boards over the years. He served as the clerk of Preston Township and was an ASCS Brookings County Committee member for nine years, seven years as the chairperson.  He also served nine years as a director of the Estelline Coop Grain board, eight years as secretary. Ron was a member of the South Dakota Farmers Union, serving many years on the SDFU Board of Directors while President of District III. He received the award for Meritorious Service upon his retirement from the board. He was a member of the Khurum Masonic Lodge in Estelline and Brookings and was a member of the Brookings County Shriners. He was active in the Democratic Party. Ron was a past president of the Estelline Alumni Association and was proud of attending every all-school banquet since the organization was founded in 1982. Ron was an avid sports fan and loved attending all Estelline Redmen athletic events and numerous State B basketball tournaments over the years. He spent 34 years as a volunteer on the football chain gang and kept the book at basketball games. In later years, he enjoyed tailgating with family and friends and attending SDSU games. Ron also managed the Estelline Amateur Baseball Team for many years, but the highlight was going to the SD Amateur Baseball State Tournament in 1974. Over the years, Ron received several awards but the most meaningful to him were:  Petroleum Man of the Year in 1971 from Farmland Industries; his induction into the Entringer Classic Hall of Fame in 1999; Honorary Referee at the 2001 Estelline Alumni Track Meet; and Friend of Basketball from the SD Basketball Coaches Association in 2001.

Ron is survived by his wife, Jeanette Foster, of Estelline, SD; three children, Carla (Tom) Clarke of Estelline, SD; Jeffrey (Tammy) Foster of Watertown, SD; and Todd (Jolynn)  Foster of Brookings, SD; seven grandchildren, Justin (Beth) Clarke, Jameson Clarke, Nolan (Miranda) Clarke, Jordan Foster, Kelsi (Brandon) Houge, Spenser Foster, and Mitchel Foster; one great granddaughter, Emma Rose Houge; one brother, Kenneth Foster of Estelline, SD; three sisters-in-law, Jean Foster of Cary, IL, Joanne  Foster of Estelline, SD, and Sharon Johnson of Estelline,  SD; one brother-in-law, Robert Hutt (Darlene Pedersen) of Estelline, SD and a host of nieces, nephews, and relatives.

He is preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Stanley, Loren, Paul, Darrell, and Curtis; one sister-in-law, Judy Foster; and one nephew, Bryan Foster.