Allen L. Foss, 71

Allen L. Foss, 71, “went to be with the Lord” after a one-year battle with leukemia on Dec. 4, 2015.

Allen was born Oct. 14, 1944, in Hazen, North Dakota, the son of Lucas and Marville (Benz) Foss. Allen grew up in the Hazen area and graduated from high school in 1962. He then worked in the Bowman, North Dakota, area after high school at a livestock sales barn as a bookkeeper. He also worked for an area ranch in Bowman.

In October 1968, Allen enlisted in the U.S. Army and trained in the Army Security Agency as a teletype interceptor. He was honorably discharged in March 1972. While in the military, he married Edith Oster on Dec. 27, 1968, in Hazen. After being discharged, Allen continued his education by home study with the National Institute of Meat Packing, Chicago, in 1976, while working on a ranch at Judith Gap, Montana, for four years. He moved to Kalispell and did another home-study course on electronics and worked on a ranch. He then went to vocational technical school for welding in Billings in 1980.

Allen worked mostly in the agricultural-related industries, construction, as a heavy equipment operator, certified longer vehicle truck driver, doubles and triples, and was very mechanical. He could fix almost anything.

Allen enjoyed going to church, having coffee with the boys at Sykes,’ and dancing to the tunes of the Northwest Montana Accordion Association jams. Allen also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and especially liked helping other people.  

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Lucas and Marville Foss.

He is survived by his wife, Edith “Edie” Foss; son, Daniel Foss; siblings, Roger of Redding, California, Karen Kappen and Bill of Kalispell, Dennis and Lori of Bismarck, North Dakota, Clyde and Patty of Hudson, Colorado, and Curtis of Colorado; and two grandchildren, Conner and Mason Foss, sons of Daniel.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Wings, Regional  Cancer Support, P.O. Box 7852, Kalispell, MT 59904; or to the Fischer House in memory of Allen Foss, 690 S. Valdez Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84104.  

Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.