lma Harriet (Sistad) Foss, age 102 years, 7 months, 11 days of Aitkin, MN, formerly of Mentor, MN passed away on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at Aicota Health Care Center in Aitkin MN. 
Alma was born on March 29, 1920 on the family farm near Grygla to the late Joel Melvin & Mina “Minnie” Tolena (Bye) Sistad. She grew up on the family farm, learning to milk cows and help with all kinds of chores. She went to the country school and walked a mile to get there, no matter the weather or how deep the snow was. When she left home, she went to North Dakota to work for friends of her aunts, doing housekeeping, cooking, baking, and caring for children. It was there that she met her future husband, Marvin Foss. They were married on November 7, 1942, in Crookston, MN. They lived and farmed on the family farm in Hatton, North Dakota. They lived briefly in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and then moved to Mentor, MN, in 1951. They were blessed with 3 children, Judy, Duane, and Elaine.
Marvin passed away in January 1977. Alma continued to live on the farm until September 2017. She was always busy and hardworking, helping with farm work. She was famous for her wonderful homemade bread, buns, caramel rolls, wonderful cookies, and bars. She always had a big garden and lots of flowers. Canning and preserving jams, vegetables, and fruit. She worked various jobs, from potato harvesting in the fall to a Mink Farm. She also worked in a Sewing Factory making snowmobile suits, Artic Cat, Jiffy Fry, and Lee’s Nursery.
She had many hobbies, which included embroidering dish towel sets for family and friends and sold many sets. She was a lifelong member of Faith Lutheran Church. She participated in Ladies Aid, Circle, and many church activities. She enjoyed “Old Time” dancing polka or waltz. She was an avid reader and loved to play cards and board games.
Family was most important to Alma. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother. She would lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Alma is survived by her daughter Judy Straughn of Aitkin, daughter-in-law Nola Foss, Welton, AZ, 4 grandchildren: Stephanie Rutt (James Packard) Plymouth, Shelly (Mac) Brown, Aitkin; Jennifer (Jeff) Rikala, Aitkin; James Hunter (Autumn) Brainerd. 8 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren and one on the way. And many more relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Marvin, son Duane Foss, daughter Elaine Ebnet, Brothers Marvin (Alice), Palmer (LaVona), James (Gladys), Arvid (Bernice), and Stewart (Lottie). Sisters Hazel Bjorge (Ardell), Adeline (Willard) Sletten. Son-in-law Joseph Straughn, Grandson, Ken Foss.
Blessed be her memory.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 16th, at Faith Lutheran Church in Mentor with the Rev. Michael Sletto officiating. Interment will be in Rosehill Cemetery, rural Mentor. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Erskine and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.
