Boyd Garrison Forster

Funeral Services for Boyd G. Forster will be conducted from the St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Bertrand, Nebraska on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Jeff Ernstmeyer, officiating. Interment will be in the Highland Cemetery at Bertrand.

Boyd Garrison Forster, 52 years of age, of Cloverdale, California (formerly of rural Smithfield, Nebraska) passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at the Healdsburg General Hospital in Healdsburg, California. Boyd was born November 27, 1957 at Lexington, Nebraska, the third of six children of Verlouis G. and Shirley E. (Ball) Forster. He was baptized and confirmed at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church. He received his education at the Bertrand Community School, graduating from Bertrand High School with the class of 1976. While in high school, Boyd took part in wrestling, football, golf and band. He was also active in 4-H and Junior Livestock events. One of his proudest trophies was won for baking a cherry pie.

Following his education, Boyd was employed for local farmers and in construction for Wendland Construction at Arapahoe, Nebraska. He was involved with the construction of the Elwood Dam. In 1984, he moved to Arizona to operate heavy equipment. He resided in Las Vegas, Nevada and Cottage Grove, Oregon until settling to Cloverdale, California, where he started a hay and truck farming operation in recent years. He loved returning to farming. Boyd enjoyed raising a large garden and canned many quarts of pickles and tomatoes.

Boyd was a very proud man that lived a simple life. He dearly loved all of his nieces and nephews. Boyd took great pride in his three Rottweilers and the puppies he raised. He was also a devoted Nebraska Cornhusker fan.

He leaves to mourn his passing his father, Verlouis Forster and his wife, Darlene of rural Smithfield; grandmother, Ethel Ball of Bertrand; siblings: Craig Forster and his wife, Ann of Smithfield, Melanie Ayres and her husband, Gary of Seward, Nebraska, twins: Tamara Eitel and her husband, Ed of Lusk, Wyoming, Kevin Forster and his wife, Kim of Smithfield, and Alan Forster and his wife, Becky of Loomis, Nebraska; nephews: Drew Ayres and wife, Sammie, Reid Ayres and wife, Sarah, Leif and Nigel Forster, Paul Eitel and wife, Staci; nieces: Emerald Fielder and husband, Samuel, Kelsey Eitel and fiancé, Joel Duffield, Katie Rhodig and husband, Jon, and Lynn, Korey and Danielle Forster; step-nephews: Dillon Tiede and Josh Taylor-Forster; step-niece, Emma Sisk; as well as great-nephews: Gabriel and Bobec Fielder; and great-niece, Kiley Ayres. In addition, he is also survived by his uncles: Gary Ball and his wife, Nora of Wallace, Idaho, Norman Ball and his wife, Edilia of Tucson, Arizona, Richard Ball and his wife, Lisa of Lincoln, Nebraska; aunts: Sharon Johnson of Holdrege, Sheila Seyfried of Bertrand, Shelly Ball of Boise, Idaho, Winona Bogner and her husband, Marvin of Kearney, as well as many cousins, friends and his much loved dogs: Sassie, Gus, and Lena.

Boyd was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Forster; grandparents: Kenneth Ball, Ralph and Ethel Forster, David and Ammie Ball and August and Clara Breitling and sister-in-law, Sharon Forster.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand is in charge of arrangements.