Wilfred Henry Foltz
Wilfred Henry Foltz, age 97, Rosholt, passed away Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, at the Browns Valley Health Center.
Funeral Mass was Saturday, October 14, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Rosholt.
Burial was in the St. Nicholas Cemetery, Rosholt. Military honors were provided by the Leo American Legion Post 48 of Rosholt and the Read Veflin American Legion Post 180 of New Effington. The Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt was in charge of the arrangements.
Wilfred was born March 5, 1926, to Stephen and Mary (Wemhoff) Foltz at home in rural Humphrey, Neb., the twelfth of thirteen children. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in rural Humphrey.
Wilfred was drafted into the Army in 1945 at age 19. The war ended two days before his basic training was completed and he was shipped to the Philippines to fill in for soldiers coming home. He transferred into the Army Air Corps as a mechanic and eventually got a discharge as he was needed back home on the farm.
Wilfred married Doris Eisenmenger on Nov. 16, 1948, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Humphrey. Their honeymoon was interrupted by a blizzard and a call that his dad was sick, and he was needed on the farm.
To this marriage eight children were born, five girls and three boys ~ Sandy (Pat) Foley, Steve (Jeanne) Foltz, Karen (Mark) Hagen, Ron (Liana) Foltz, Cindy (Mark) Marohl, Tim (April) Foltz, Kristi (Steve) Matlon, and Sheri (Mark) Willrodt.
In addition to his children and their spouses, Wilfred is survived by 24 grandchildren, 33 greatgrandchildren, and his sister, Sr. Valeria Foltz OLVM, (who is nearly 104 years old).
Wilfred was preceded in death by his loving wife Doris; his parents; his parents-in-law Mark and Florence Eisenmenger; and siblings Eleanor, Henry, Paul, Joe, Ludwina, Alfred, William, Dorothy, Clem, Philomae, and Stan.
Wilfred and Doris started farming in Nebraska, moved to Butler, Minn., in 1951, then Rosholt, S.D., in 1954. When they first arrived, they rented a farm north of Rosholt with no indoor plumbing. Baths were taken in a washtub in front of the kitchen stove.
In 1962, they rented a farm south of Rosholt which they purchased four years later. Together they milked cows, farmed, and
Wilfred Henry Foltz
raised their children. On a very happy day when Wilfred was 52 they stopped milking, sold the dairy herd, and started raising beef cattle and hogs. In 1993 they sold all the animals and farm equipment and bought a house in Rosholt.
Wilfred and Doris purchased an RV and started going south in the winter. Those trips continued for 19 years. They wintered in Mission, Texas, Benson, Ariz., and Hemet, Calif. They visited forty-seven states, either by RV or on bus trips.
In retirement Wilfred was a volunteer ambulance driver for the NE Ambulance service for several years, and also volunteered with the Rosholt Area Threshermen’s Association.
Wilfred loved baseball, playing while in school, in the service, in the early years of their marriage, and on a Senior league in Mission in his 60’s. He also enjoyed horseshoes, playing cards and dancing with Doris.
A strong Catholic faith defined Wilfred. He was a man of few words who inspired his family by example. He never missed Mass and prayed the Rosary daily. He lost the love of his life when Doris passed on April 4, 2018, and with a heavy heart he continued to live his life with the knowledge that they would be reunited in heaven.
The family will miss him but are comforted with the fact he is reunited with Doris. He left a legacy that impacted his children, their spouses, grandchildren, and future generations. They wish to thank the staff at Vintage Inspired, CSI, and the Browns Valley Health Center for their compassionate care of their dad and the “Rosholt Foltz Boys” for keeping an eye on him.