Kevin Foster

Kevin James Foster passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, with family nearby, on the evening of July 31, 2019 at St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon at the age of 53. He is survived by his partner Carrie Flasch, son Colton, daughter Cayley and grandchildren Kinley and Kyler, stepson David and his daughter Temperance, mother Anita and siblings Beverley (Gordon), Brian (Belinda) and Glen. Kevin is also survived by Carrie’s family who loved and welcomed him as he did them. Condolences are extended to Carrie’s daughter Ashton (Ryan) and grandchildren Laina, Casey and Delilah, daughter Jamie (Geoff) and grandchildren Jackson and Lucas and her brother Moe.

Kevin was born in Edam on June 20, 1966 to parents Anita and James Ronald (Ron) Foster. He grew up on the family farm. As a teenager (just barely), and always looking for some way to make money, Kevin worked for family friends In Glaslyn. This meant riding his little motor bike cross country to and from work on weekends and school holidays. Hints of a developing entrepreneurial spirit was seen when he launched a DJ service providing music-for-hire services and also when he partnered up with a friend in a fur trapping venture! Anxious to get out on his own, he moved to Saskatoon for his final year of high school. Although he was a very bright student, Kevin decided to break with the family tradition of pursuing post secondary education and went “full on entrepreneur”.

He joined with his also-entrepreneurial parents in establishing a dry cleaning business in North Battleford. Largely fueled by Kevin’s drive to do more, the business grew to include coverall, floor mat and pickup/delivery services in surrounding areas.

Real estate and property rental were added to Kevin’s portfolio. When an opportunity in the dry cleaning business opened in Yellowknife, Kevin and his young family (Jacquie and son David) headed north to own and operate a 2 site dry cleaning operation. Colton, and Cayley were born while the family were living in the Land of the Midnight Sun.

After selling the business in Yellowknife, Kevin entered the mining field working in the mill at the Giant Goldmine and then as a mine mill technician in the commissioning of the new Ekati and Diavik diamond mines.

Kevin always was justifiably proud of the leadership role he played in establishing, training and competing with the award winning Mine Rescue Teams from these mines.

During the period Kevin worked at the fly-in diamond mines, his family moved back to the Battlefords and then to Meota. Kevin and Jacquie took over the dry cleaners and paint store from Kevin's parents. They parted ways at this time but both continued to support and encourage their kids as they completed high school in North Battleford. Kevin then spent some time working in the increasingly active oil field.

He also added oilfield equipment rentals to his resume and registered a consultant firm. KF Resources consulted for clients looking to improve the efficiency of their mine milling operations. This work had Kevin consulting with, and travelling to, businesses as far away as Mexico and Greenland.

Hotel ownership had always been a dream of Kevin’s so when the Rendezvous Hotel in Edam became available he added Hotelier to his resume.

While living in Meota and working in Edam he was very involved with the communities. The volunteer fire department, the Meota golf course and the planning and construction of the Meota Swim area are some of the major projects to which Kevin applied his energies and expertise for the benefit of the community. Kevin added more rental real estate and rental equipment to his portfolio and then ... purchased the Meota Hotel.

While adding more and more responsibilities to his work life, Kevin also managed to find time to be a Super dad for his kids as well as serving as a stand-in for his kid’s friends. The doors were left open and guests were always welcome at Kevin’s lakefront home. He may have been one of the busiest men on the planet but he was never too busy to help a neighbor or a friend, even if that meant rescheduling his own life. Kevin was, perhaps, “generous to a fault” with his personal time and resources.

He loved spending time at the lake with friends, of all ages, and extended family members.

Kevin’s life became so much fuller and richer when Carrie and her family became a part of his world. Family members on both sides were absolutely thrilled for Kevin and Carrie.

Boating, fishing and jet skiing in the summer and snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter were among Kevin’s passions but being a Grandpa trumped all other activities. Spending time with his 8 grandkids was one of his greatest joys.

In the last few years, Kevin started “downsizing”. Properties and businesses were sold and philanthropic torches were passed to others. Plans were being made to spend more “fun time” with Carrie and their families and friends. Sadly these plans cannot include Kevin now. We know however, Kevin would never have wanted his absence to keep others from enjoying their lives to the fullest.

We can pay tribute to Kevin by sharing remembrances of the great times we enjoyed in the company of this deeply loved, and loving, fireball of a guy.

Rest In Peace, Kevin.

Note: There will be an opportunity to share, remember and celebrate the great times shared with Kevin at a Celebration of Life to be held in the Meota Hall at 2:00 PM, Saturday August 17, 2019.

Dress for comfort and fun!