AnnaJane Foley

AnnaJane Foley (known as Annie and Granny Annie) peacefully passed away on January 8, 2015. She was under the care of Hospice and the Evergreens of Fargo during the final stages of her dementia process. She was a few days short of reaching her 69^th birthday.

AnnaJane was born January 13, 1946 in Warren, MN, to Dale and Ethel (Swanson) Larson. She grew up on a farm with four sisters in rural Argyle. She loved helping her father on the farm and had an affinity for John Deere green. She aspired to be a school teacher.

She married Leo Edwin (“Butch”) Foley in Grand Forks, ND on April 10, 1965. She gave birth to her first two children, Timothy (1965) and Anthony (1966) in Grand Forks. The young family moved to the Wahpeton/Breckenridge area and welcomed the third child, Taralee (1968). The family lived in Dwight, ND when the fourth child, Tylan was born (1972). In 1976, the family settled into a permanent home in Abercrombie. The five youngest children: Tanner (1976), Torina (1979), Tradyn (1980), Tazary (1981) and Taylor (1983) were born and raised in the same house.

Around 1970, while Butch was recovering from an injury, Annie embarked on an unlikely career as a welder. She was a dedicated employee of Ro-Banks Tool & Mfg in Wahpeton for more than 30 years. Over the years, she served on advisory boards at trade schools in Wahpeton and Moorhead and judged welding contests. She managed her department and took great pride in her work. Her children also felt great pride in telling people about their mom’s occupation.

In 1984, her husband died of lung cancer. With extraordinary grace and determination, Annie successfully raised all of the children as a single mother. She spent a lot of her non-working time on the bleachers of various sporting events. She loved watching her children play, even though she wasn’t a sports fan in the slightest.

AnnaJane was an active member of the St. Thomas Catholic Parish in Kent, MN; a long time member of a Homemakers’ Club; and claimed to be a lifetime member of the Good Sam Club. Those that knew Annie, remember her for her love of country music and dancing. She attended We-Fest every year for nearly two decades. She was a cowgirl at heart; loved to dress in Western wear and loved to look at cowboys – especially at rodeos. Annie also loved to travel. Family trips included drives to Mexico, Alaska, Toronto, California, Mississippi, Connecticut, and Illinois. Trips often included stops at amusement parks to ride roller coasters; another of Annie’s favorite things. For years, she encouraged the youngest, Taylor, to build her a roller coaster in the yard – he was determined to do it for her, too. Annie dreamed of traveling freely across the country with a companion in her retirement.

Annie enjoyed summer weekends at the lakes and going to races. She adored her 24 grandchildren. Granny Annie was known for eating ice cream, and she offered ice cream to the grandkids pretty much any time of day, including breakfast. She would explain that it was OK because it was actually “frozen yogurt.” Right up to the end, her eyes lit up whenever the young grandchildren were visiting.

Annie is survived by her sisters: Barbara (Norm) Shegitz, Diane (Howard) Nowacki, Julie Kay Larson, and JudyLynn (Bob) Solberg; her in-laws: Marianne Braaten, Pat (Roberta) Foley, Don (Karen) Foley, Judy (Gary) Anderson, Margie (Bruce) Lundeby, Dennis (Kay) Foley, Fran (Victor) Scholand, Connie (Doug) Beireis; numerous nieces and nephews; all nine of her children; all 24 of her grandchildren.

Annie is now able to reunite with her husband (Butch); her parents (Dale and Ethel); her brother (Dale, Jr.); her mother and father in-law (Frank and Isabelle); in-laws (Bob, Dorothy, Mike and Kay, and Tony); the family’s long time babysitter and caretaker, Olga Egger; and her dear friend, Purdon Wold.

Funeral services will be at St. Thomas Catholic Parish (Kent, MN) on Friday, January 16 at 10:00AM. Visitation will begin at 9:00AM. Annie will be laid to rest next to Butch in the St. Thomas Cemetery. A meal will be served at the church following the funeral.

A prayer service will be held at Boulger Funeral Home in Fargo, ND, on Wednesday, January 14. Visitation will begin at 5PM. Prayer service will commence at 7PM.

Annie’s family expresses sincere appreciation and gratitude to the staff and caretakers at Evergreens of Fargo for the care given to Annie the past two years. We are told that she was one of the more giggly residents there and it was always easy to make her laugh.

For a woman who was “Always good and sometimes better,” she really is in a better place now. As her headstone will read, “The Party’s Over, It’s Time To Go.” She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will live on for generations to come.