header 1
header 2
header 3

In Memory

Kenneth Foster

Kenneth Foster

Kenneth S. Foster

1951 - 2021

UPCOMING SERVICE

Visitation

Dec, 13 2021

6:00p.m. - 8:00p.m.

Wasatch Hills Ward

Send Flowers

Kenneth S. Foster 

1951 - 2021 

Salt Lake City, UT—On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, Ken passed away in his home in Salt Lake City after a hard-fought struggle with Multiple Myeloma. Ken was born in Washington DC on July 22, 1951, to Arthur Glenn and Gloria Thompson Foster. He was the 6th of 16 children. The family traveled to many parts of the world for his father's Air Force duty. After settling in Salt Lake City, Ken attended Skyline High School, staying in a school for more than one year for his first time. 

Ken met his wife Joanne Bello on a river trip, on which he rescued her from rapids in the Colorado River. They were married March 18, 1975 in the Salt Lake Temple. Ken's adventurous spirit led them, with their 3 children, Matt, Jason, and Kelsey, on many memorable trips to mountains, State and National parks, especially in Utah, and travel throughout the United States and Europe, including France, England, and Italy. One of their favorite activities was exploring ghost towns all over Utah and Nevada. 

While in college Ken sold ads for the Daily Utah Chronicle. After graduating he worked at Harris And Love Advertising. Most of his career was spent at the University of Utah where he made many valued friends. He was Director of Marketing, Advertising, and PR for Continuing Education, and later Associate VP of Marketing & Communications. He was Adjunct Associate Professor in the Communications department, where he enjoyed interactions with his students, and his classes often had a waiting list to get in. Ken lectured on marketing throughout the United States and Canada, and consulted for institutions in locations as varied as Cambridge, UK and Saudi Arabia. He started his own marketing and research firm, Foster & Associates. 

Ken had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and avidly studied the scriptures and other Gospel teachings. He served in the Australia South Mission from 1970 – 1972. He served in many positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including Young Men's and Elders Quorum President, counselor in bishoprics, bishop of the Monument Park 19th Ward, and 2nd counselor in the Monument Park Stake. He enjoyed music, hiking, reading, photography, and piloting small aircrafts. He was an accomplished guitarist. He loved his family and grandchildren very much and fought to stay alive for them. 

Ken is survived by his wife Joanne, sons Matt (Brittany) and Jason (Whitney), daughter Kelsey (Austin) Ewell, and his grandchildren Abby, Sailor, Lenny, Chip, and Jack Foster, and his siblings Becky, Gogi, Glenn Jr., Marsha, Adrienne, Blaine, Warren, Trudy, Maralee, Cory, Dana, and Loen. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Brian and Kelly, and his sister Kathie. 

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 11:00 AM, with visitation from 9:45 – 10:45 AM, at the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 S. Wasatch Drive, SLC. Friends and family may also visit on Monday, December 13th, from 6 to 8 PM at the Wasatch Hills Ward, 2255 S. Wasatch Drive. 

We ask that all wear a mask so that dedicated healthcare workers in attendance may continue to safely care for their patients as they did for Ken. 

A link for Zoom remote attendance is https://zoom.us/j/98610862089 

Donations in honor of Ken will be gratefully received by the BMT Huntsman Cancer Institute, led by Dr. Doug Sborov, who along with the rest of the Bone Marrow Transplant team became cherished friends. 

http://hope.huntsmancancer.org/diy/on-kens-behalf

 
go to bottom 
  Post Comment

12/13/21 07:40 AM #1    

Mark D. Ulrich

I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Ken. We got to visit with him before his passing and he still had a very positive and upbeat attitude. He has suffered for many years but seemed to be happy in his many afflictions. He reminds me of President Nelson's statement, "the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." Ken's focus was always on the Savior and his family. These two things brought him great joy. We were in the same neighborhood growing up and he spend a lot of time at our home because his own home was filled with 15 siblings! There was always so much going on at his house that he would need a break now and then. I remember him always laughing and smiling. He was a very talented young man and could get along with anyone. He has accomplished much good in his life and I am so proud of Ken. I will dearly miss him. My mother always liked Ken being in our home and treated him as one of the family. She is 96 yrs. old and wants to attend his viewing tonight. She went with us to see Ken while he was very sick and always asked how he was doing. These were such sweet sentiments.

His viewing is tonight and his funeral is tomorrow. I hope to see some of you during this time of remembrance of a great man who has accomplished a lot in his life. I am so proud to be called his "friend."

Thanks for being a part of my life. God Bless you Ken!


12/13/21 09:12 AM #2    

Kent F. Goldthorpe

So many feelings swirling around with the receipt of this news.  Ken has been on my mind a lot lately and I was more worried after his not picking up the phone when I called.  We had a good chat just a bit ago during which we reminisced a bit and I expressed my love for him.  We had just so much fun as kids.  A lot of my fun anyway was spent in one way or another with Ken.  I can't remember anymore which days of the week that Gloria baked bread but I enjoyed "dropping by" often to grab a hot loaf, a cube of butter, and a pint of jam and running out to devour it with Ken.  A couple of weeks in Mexico with Ken and my MG was a time I'll never forget.  Joanne, have you forgiven me yet for that joke I played on you with Ken when we went skydiving?  I'm pretty sure I'll be seeing you soon, Ken.  I hope we'll be doing something besides Family History.


go to top 
  Post Comment