Mary Elizabeth Kolsky

Mary was born in Routt County, Colorado on one of the coldest nights on record, to Howard Rockhill and Dorothy Gray, joining older siblings Bill and Sally.

The Rockhills moved to Middleton when Mary was 9. She graduated as Valedictorian of Middleton High in 1954, having participated in every available activity.

She married Jim Foster in 1955 and bore 6 children, 3 of whom died in infancy. She was an extraordinary mother to Phyllis, Micki and Tim as well as their cousins and friends and neighbors and anyone she felt could use a little mothering, which was pretty much everyone.

Jim died in 1979 and although she was heartbroken, she was fortunate to find happiness in marriage again with Darnell Kolsky. They had a sweet life together for nearly 48 years until his passing in 2023.

Brilliant, gregarious, generous, and energetic, Mary ended up running the show wherever she was.

A voracious reader, she was a wealth of information on almost any subject and happily shared advice and experience with friends and family.

As a depression-era baby, Mary knew how to make do. For over 60 years she grew a magic garden that supplied family and friends with fresh vegetables, which she also canned and froze to feed the family all year long.

A modern-day pioneer, Mary ground the wheat, baked the bread, milked the cow, churned the butter and could proudly say that the only thing on the dinner table she didn’t produce was the salt. She sewed the family clothing, volunteered in classrooms, and always looked out for those in need. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t grow, make or fix.

Mary is survived by daughter Micki Openshaw (Phil) and her children and grandchildren and son Tim Foster (Laura) and his daughter and granddaughter as well as many nieces and nephews and step-grandchildren.

She is predeceased by 2 beloved husbands and 4 children, Phyllis, Brett, Bonnie and Charlotte Foster, as well as her stepchildren, David, Jerry, and Becky Kolsky and siblings Bill Rockhill and Sally Genton.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.