Foster, Elizabeth Matson Died February 20,2018 surrounded by her loving family in Honolulu, Hawaii after a brief hosp-italization for complica-tions of influ-enza pneumonia. She was 75. Liz was born in Decorah, Iowa to Walter and Hazel (Fairbanks) Matson on May 23, 1942. Her earliest years were spent in Butte, Montana, where her father was serving in the Army Corps of Engineers during WWII. The family returned to Harmony, MN where she, then known as Betty or Betty Carol, attended school. She was in many activities both in and out of school and graduated as Valedictorian of Harmony High School in 1960. Following high school, she attended the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and graduated with a BS in English Education. She remained in Minneapolis and taught at Univer-sity High and then at Minnetonka High School. In 1966 she married Richard Foster. They had a son Matthew, born in 1967. In 1973 his work as a college professor took them to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she lived the rest of her life. Here began what would be a 4 decade career teaching English and Creative Writing at Punahou School. It is as a teacher that Liz is best remembered. Rarely is a person matched with an avocation as Liz was with teaching; she was a natural. Her recognition of the power of words and the importance of students each finding and expressing their own voice were central to her personal philosophy and strength as a teacher. Liz inspired thousands of students during her award-winning career. She created the Writing Center at Punahou and there originated the H.A.W.K.S., a program where ad-vanced writing students provided help and guidance for other Punahou students. In addition to her students, her colleagues loved Liz, too. She was a mentor for many new faculty members. In her heart and soul she was a poet. Liz served as an editor for collections of student and campus writing and also broad publications including National Geography photographer Rikki Cooke's Molokai: An Island in Time. Beyond those from Punahou, the others who knew her best were friends from the tennis court. She played her last match 2 days before being hospitalized. In 1992 she mar-ried her soul mate, George Grace. The life and love they shared was what we all hope to find. She is survived by her son, Matthew Foster of Seattle; 2 sisters, Sharyn (Bill) Kiehne of Harmony and Barbara Fishbaugher of Kewaskum, WI; 2 brothers, Mark Matson of Minneapolis, MN and Brian Matson of Honolulu, HI; stepson, Mark Grace of Denver, CO; stepdaughter, Erica (Charles) Grace of San Francisco, CA, and their 3 children along many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard Foster and husband George Grace. A memorial service was held at Punahou Thurston Chapel in April with the sweet smell of flowers and leis and the flurry of her cherished scarfs catching the wind in the courtyard. She never forgot her Minnesota roots from Harmony and returned at least annually to visit family and her many friends. A memorial service is being held at 3 PM on Saturday, August 4th at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony, MN. Family and friends will be gathering following the celebration of life. Memorials can be directed to the Harmony Com-munity Foundation to support the arts and history.

Published on July 29, 2018