Richard Foerster

Beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather Richard Edward Foerster, passed away Saturday, February 13, 2010 at age 94.Although he lived most of his life in Utah, Richard was born in Orange, New Jersey on May 30, 1915 to John and Frances Vanoucek Foerster.Richard was first and foremost a scouter, devoting his life to the Boy Scouts of America. He joined the Scouts in New Jersey at age 12 and was active in the organization for over 80 years. He held many positions and received numerous awards and honors including the Silver Beaver, Wood Badge, Order of the Arrow, Paramount Service and Commissioners Key. To receive The Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor, he stayed up all night tending a campfire as well as undergoing other initiation requirements at the age of 85. He was well-known for his years as Nature Counselor at Thunder Ridge.Our family has a saying, "Thank God for the CCCs" because it was The Civilian Conservation Corp that brought Richard in the 1930s to Milford, Utah where he met his future wife. He married Leah Thompson in Beaver in 1939. They both had a great love of the outdoors and spent many wonderful times together hiking in the red rock canyons of Southern Utah and the back country of Yellowstone Park.Richard learned to hunt and fish when he came to Utah, and this had an important role in his career as he spent most of his working years selling sporting goods, and by the time of his retirement, he was manager of the Gun Department at Ziniks in Salt Lake City.He shared his love of fishing and hiking with his family, teaching his grandchildren to troll from a boat on Puffer Lake in the Beaver Mountains, and to cast from the banks of the Beaver River. They followed him and their grandmother on many a hike through the mountains wearing a backpack and using a hiking staff to negotiate the rough, rocky trails.Richard was not only a scouter, salesman, hunter and fisherman, he was also an actor. He starred in many high school plays in his younger years, and could always tell a joke or a story with all the drama and suspense as if he were on stage. He loved to sing and many people remember him best for his role as song leader at scout meetings and his detailed memory of all the "oldies." His songs and stories, the twinkle in his eye, his love for his family, his stamina (Grandpa Dick is tough), and his devotion to scouting will be greatly missed.He is survived by his daughter, Joyce (Mohamed) El-Mogazi, grandchildren, Dina (Mark), Raddi (Susanna) and Ricky (Gretchen), and great-grandchildren Alex and Aleah Spiro, Garrett Richard El-Mogazi and Jasper El-Mogazi. Preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mildred, and his wife of 66 years, Leah Thompson Foerster.Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at 11:00 am at Southern Utah Mortuary located at 190 North 300 West in Cedar City, Utah. A viewing will be held on Friday, February 19, 2010 from 6:00-7:00 pm at Southern Utah Mortuary, and again on Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 10:00-11:00 am. Internment will be in the Milford Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary.