Charles Emmett Foster, age 89, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at StoneyBrook Suites Assisted Living in Brookings.

Charles was born on October 19, 1936, the son of George H. and Elsie (Brauer) Foster, in Brookings, SD. He attended Trial country school east of Brookings and was a graduate of Brookings High School in 1954. He continued his education at South Dakota State College with a degree in Landscape Architecture in 1958.

He was employed by the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks in Pierre, SD from graduation until 1963, during which time he was delegated to Mobridge where he designed and planned the recreation areas along the Missouri River when the Oahe Dam was built. The city of Mobridge hired Emmett to design and complete the landscaping around the new Post Office, he also landscaped a church in Mobridge.

Emmett enlisted in the United States Army National Guard in 1959 and was called to active duty for ten months in Louisiana during the Berlin Air Lift as personnel officer. He was honorably discharged on May 31, 1965.

His degree in landscape architecture landed a career with the National Forest Service in the Black Hills, Leadville, Pueblo and Denver, CO., Sheridan, WY and back to Pueblo, CO. He designed recreation areas, campgrounds and walks around scenic points of interest. Whenever he came home to South Dakota for a visit he always brought NFS educational materials for the nieces and nephews, the story of Smokey the Bear was a favorite. He received many awards and recognition for his work, the humble guy that he was just said he was doing his job.

Emmett retired from the Forest Service at the age of 56 and bummed around by getting active in the local Master Gardeners Club and was elected president. He designed a memorial garden for a church in Pueblo West. He managed a garden center for five years, and enjoyed giving landscaping suggestions to customers. In his own yard he practiced xeriscaping with mostly native plants and huge variety of cacti that he collected on his many road trips around the southwest. Emmett frequently pinched a cutting or a seed pod to see if he could get it to sprout. He tended many house plants which he showed at the Pueblo Fair and frequently took home the Best of Show ribbon.

He enjoyed hiking in the mountains, down hill skiing until he gave away his skis at the age of 79, bicycling and running races frequently placing at the top of his age division. He enjoyed traveling to Northern Ireland to visit the relatives but also a solo traveler to Europe, South America and the Caribbean then he learned the ease of traveling with a tour group or cruise to Scandinavia, Iceland, the Antarctic and many other destinations.

Emmett was an accomplished stained glass artist designing many intricate pieces. He built a house in Pueblo West where he lived the past 35 years. He was always ready to welcome family for a visit and loved showing off the beauty of the mountains always having age appropriate activities for the nieces and nephews, there was never any whining when visiting Emmett except for the time he took us to a Mexican restaurant in the sketchiest part of town he had teased us all day about how hot the food would be, we were not enthusiastic about the food until the sopapillas were served. He was a great one for helping us fill our plates at mealtime and we didn’t dare not eat what he put on our plates consequently we like all vegetables.

His love for writing letters began in his younger years writing to his Irish pen pal cousins. In his later years he suffered a fall which affected his speech but not his letter writing abilities. He still kept up with his sisters, cousins, and nieces and nephews and was the source of information for everyone in the family.

His oldest niece Ann gave him a nudge to consider moving back to South Dakota when he turned 88. He made the move in May of 2025 and thoroughly enjoyed being closer to family and going out for pizza or Mexican food. He had forgotten how windy South Dakota can be. On one of those gorgeous days in November arrangements were made for him to visit McCrory Gardens for a golf cart tour. They treated him like a visiting dignitary because he actually was for giving so generously over the years.

With a $25 gift to McCrory Gardens in 2003, Emmett’s financial support began to grow. In 2023, he was the Challenge Donor for McCrory Gardens on One Day for STATE, in hindsight, Emmett’s final gift to the South Dakota State Arboreum feels almost poetic - a life of stewardship, spent years caring for trees, shaping trails, and creating places where others could walk, wonder and belong.

“I’m so thankful to have met him. The man, the legend.” - Lisa Marotz, Director of Operations, McCrory Gardens

He is survived by sister Ardie (Gerry) Wyatt of Scottsdale, AZ, brother-in-law Warren Hatfield of Phoenix, AZ; nieces and nephews Kelly (Dave) Lee, Heather (Dave) Parker, Colin Wyatt, Dan (Ro) Hatfield, Jennifer Draheim, Steve Foster, Ann (Bill) Douglas, Neal (Julie) Foster, Joel (Bonnie) Foster and Jenn Piscopo, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces.

Emmett was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Robert J. Foster and his wife Geneva, two sisters Gretchen Hatfield and Joan Piscopo and her husband Floyd and one nephew Paul Piscopo.

He was without a doubt the favorite uncle and a legend. Emmett will be remembered for his smile, his love for his family and the great outdoors, his sense of humor and attention to details. He truly had a fabulous life. 

Memorials may be directed to: McCrory Gardens, 631 22nd Ave. Brookings, SD 57006.