Elizabeth Conrad

Elizabeth Foster, Inupiaq Eskimo (also known as "Kyoglikpuk”,) was born above the Arctic Circle near Selawik, Alaska on March 2, 1928, to Harry Foster and Georgiana Johnson, one of 6 children. She was adopted out to a childless couple just before being orphaned at a young age.

She met US Navy veteran radio operator Bryant Mainord, an air traffic controller who worked in Kotzebue, Alaska. They married and had 3 children, Carmen (Tuck), David Bryant Mainord and William Foster Mainord. The family moved to Manhattan Beach, California in 1965 where Bryant died in 1968. Elizabeth managed to support her 3 children by working various jobs, one being an assembly line worker for Mattel Toymakers, even without a formal education. She had an opportunity to move with the two sons back to Anchorage, Alaska where she was trained to repair telephones, and later worked in a hospital cafeteria.

She met her second husband, David H. Conrad at one of her favorite leisure time activities, bingo. They were married in 1972 and enjoyed 38 years of marriage, being the best of hunting/fishing /berry picking buddies. During their years in Anchorage Elizabeth was an elder and board member of South Central  Foundation where she served and taught beading. Dave passed away in 2010, leaving Elizabeth a widow a second time. She had never lived alone and not wanting to live out her life that way, she started a new chapter of her life by immigrating to Alberta, Canada to live with daughter Carmen, where she remained till she passed peacefully at home, surrounded by loving family.

Her love of fishing, hunting, giftedness in arts such as beading, basketmaking, weaving, and sewing gave her great joy. The strong bond of love, faith and loyalty kept her family together through many difficult challenges in her life, and made her the wonderful mother, grandma, great grandmother that she was. She blessed many lives and is now enjoying her rest with her Heavenly Father.

There will be a Memorial Service at Cremona Country Fellowship Church, 210 1st Ave. W, Cremona on May 19, 2023at 11:00 am. A Funeral Service June 10 in Selawik, Alaska where she will be laid to rest. For any Anchorage local on Saturday, June 17, 2023, a Memorial service is also being planned for family and friends, venue to be determined.