Dorothy Anita (Ahrens) Foster, of Natoma, KS, died July 20, 2013  at Redbud Village, Plainville, KS.   Anita was born December 5, 1925, to Paul Conrad and Amanda Julie (Eickhoff) Ahrens on the family farm in rural Osborne County, KS, the second of four children.  She attended Belleville Country School.
 
Anita married Charles Dean Foster on February 13, 1946, in Russell, KS.  They lived their entire married life in Natoma, where they raised their six children -- Karen, Roger, Sharon (Susi); Charles (Chuck); Larry and Carol.

Anita was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom.  She loved to sew, bake and play the piano.  Her baking favorites included pies, strawberry bread, hot rolls and buns.  Her grandchildren especially loved her peanut butter cookies and doughnuts.  She later worked at various jobs in local businesses – grocery store cashier, waitress, bank and mortuary custodian. 

Gram and Pa loved attending activities that the grandkids were participating in and took great pride in the activities and accomplishments of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
 
Anita’s faith was integral to her life and a continuing source of strength.  She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church of Natoma, Peace Lutheran Guild, American Legion Post 109 Auxiliary, Natoma, KS  and VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Russell, KS. Memorial Day activities were very important to her.  She kept up the roster of veterans, put out veteran’s flags and read the roll of deceased veterans at the Natoma and Paradise cemeteries for many years.
Anita was preceded in death by her parents, son Roger, husband Dean, grandson Christopher Clark, brother and sister-in law Herb and Edith Ahrens and sister-in-law Jan Ahrens. 

She is survived by brother Hobie and wife Mary Ahrens, San Francisco, CA; sister Elaine and husband Don Girvan, Bend OR; children : daughters Karen and husband Jerry Blank, Smith Center, KS; Susi and husband John Clark, Natoma, KS;  Carol and husband Eric Gotsche, Great Bend, KS;  and sons Chuck  and wife Lori Foster, West DesMoines, IA;  Larry and wife Tammy Foster, Wilson, KS;  6 grandchildren Tony and wife Theresa Clark, Wakefield, KS ; Tonya and husband Mike Krueger, Hastings, NE; Jayme Clark, Hays, KS, Tyler and wife Emily Blank, Kensington, KS; Roger Clark, Hutchinson, KS; Nick Foster, West DesMoines, IA; 3 step-grandchildren Jason Buckner , DesMoines, IA; Nate Rasmussen, Denver, CO, and Sarah Rasmussen, Manhattan, KS; 8 great-grandchildren, Brittney and Hunter Krueger; Michael and Jada Clark; TyLynn,KensLy and Aadyn Blank; Savannah Waldschmidt and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Services will be Wednesday, July 24, 10:30 am, at Peace Lutheran Church in Natoma.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 8:00 am -8:pm with family receiving friends from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Natoma.  Memorials are suggested to Peace Lutheran Church, Peace Lutheran Guild or Redbud Village in care of the funeral home.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Natoma, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.