Velda Forster Obituary

Vilda Mae Naegle Forster lived a beautiful and dedicated life and passed away peacefully with her family near on March 10, 2025 at Jamestown Assisted Living in Provo, Utah.

She was born on May 16, 1928, in Cornish Utah, to Manuel Conrad and Ann Reese Naegle. Raised on a dairy farm during the Great Depression she learned faith, service and hard work from her parents.

Vilda was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served a full time mission in the Spanish American Mission (1949-1951) where she met her eternal companion, Merlin Henry Forster. They were married in the Logan Temple on April 25, 1952 and spent 71 years living in her own words "a joyous adventure together"supporting each other and raising their five children. They lived a number of different places including Washington, Texas, Illinois, traveling and living briefly in Mexico and Argentina. Their final move brought them back home to their Utah roots where Merlin ended his career and as BYU Spanish and Portuguese Department Head.

Faith, love, learning, Spanish and music filled their home as they lived their busy lives. It was Vilda's greatest joy to be a mother and homemaker . She supported Merlin and expertly typed his masters thesis and doctoral dissertation on the kitchen table. She found time to enjoy her hobbies such as growing flowers and gardening, sewing her children's clothing and keeping a beautiful clean home. She also loved being a grandmother, and spent a lot of her time traveling to children's homes all over the country to help out when needed. Vilda loved serving others, in her home, her ward, and her friends and neighbors. She was a lifelong volunteer serving at the Missionary Training Center teaching missionaries how to speak Spanish. She had numerous church callings, and worked at the temple once a week regularly while they lived in Provo. She was a proud "Daughter of the Utah Pioneers" group and greatly enjoyed the associations with the sisters. She loved to write cards and special notes and letters to family and friends and all that needed a little bit of encouragement. All that received appreciated her thoughtfulness and her ability to remember special celebrations or condolences. She wrote a beautiful history from her journals and gave to all of the family titled "Our Precious Heritage"

Vilda is survived by her children, Ben (Celia) Galewsky, Dave (Becky) Forster, Angela (James) Anderson, Tracy (Daniel) Forster, and Elena (Ryan) Robinson, along with numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Merlin, children Daniel and Celia and granddaughter Hope. Also her parents, Manuel and Ann Naegle and brothers Reese and Ray Naegle.

Vilda's life was one of faith, love, and unwavering service. We will miss our dear Mother and grandmother, but we know there is great rejoicing once again to be home with her cherished loved ones.

Vilda Forster's memorial service, photos, memories and eulogy can be viewed from Nelson Family Mortuary website: Nelsonmortuary.com