Betty Mae Baker was born June 23, 1919, at Roundup, Montana, the only child of Lloyd and Lena (Reis) Baker. The family moved back to Iowa by train when Betty was 6 weeks old and lived there until Betty was about six years old. They moved to Murray County, Minnesota, renting farmland in various parts of the county before purchasing a farm a few miles south of Slayton. Betty graduated from Slayton High School in 1937. While attending high school, Betty worked at the Murray County State Bank. Following graduation, she took a job at the bank in Litchfield, MN where she worked for five months, before returning to Slayton and resuming work at the Murray County State Bank. On June 12, 1943 she married Raymond Furan. They farmed with Ray's father on the Furan home farm in Lake Sarah Twp. They rented a farm from Kenneth Larson 1 1/2 miles east of Slayton and lived there for about eight years, before returning to take over the home farm. Ray passed away on August 14, 1963 from pancreatic cancer. Betty and their four youngest children moved into Slayton where Betty became employed as a clerk for the ASCS Office from 1963 until retiring in 1979. On November 17, 1979 Betty married Arthur Quenby Foster at Christ Lutheran. They enjoyed over 15 years together before Art passed away on June 15, 1995. Betty sold her home and moved to Westside Apts in 1996. In June of 1998 she moved to Bremmer Suites Assisted Living in Rushford, Minnesota. In February 2003 she became a resident of the adjoining Good Shepherd Lutheran Home where she died on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at the age of 91.

Betty was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church of Slayton before moving to Rushford. She was a great cook and baker. Her homemade bread was delicious topped with her homemade grape jam, tomato preserves, raspberry or strawberry jam after school or taken to the field for lunch with Ray. She canned fruits and vegetables to last all year long. She had a delightful sense of humor and quick wit and always had a kind word and smile for everyone. She loved to garden on the farms and after moving to town. She had a green thumb and beautiful houseplants. She learned to fish at an early age and it remained a lifelong pastime. She loved to travel and visit her children and grandchildren. Family was always most important to her. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. She kept friends for a lifetime.

Betty is survived by her five children: Donald (Phyllis) Furan of Donahue, IA; Douglas (Lona) Furan of Pillager, MN; Gregory (Tricia) Furan of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Anne (Bob Jr.) Spartz of Rushford, MN; and Beverly (Alan) Felber of Cave Creek, AZ; one step-son, Curtis (Ramona) Foster of Minneapolis; 14 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and one step-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, and one grandchild.

Funeral services are scheduled at Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton on Monday, January 3, at 11:00 AM with visitation starting at 10:00 AM until services. Burial will follow at Slayton Memorial Gardens in Slayton.

Memorials may be directed to Good Shepherd Lutheran Foundation, P.O. Box 747, Rushford, MN 55971, or Christ Lutheran Church, 2959 Queen Avenue, Slayton, MN 56172, or to a charity of your choice.