These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
December 1, 2024
From a scrapbook loaned to me that Gladys Skogstad Qualey kept comes this newspaper
article from February of 1987. Gladys kept scrapbooks for many years, including news articles,
cards, announcements, and other tidbits mostly about relatives. Many people have donated
scrapbooks to the Roseau County Museum. They’re a fascinating personal look at what
interested one person about family and local history and sometimes significant world events. I’ll
read you this article that caught my eye about David Foss. He passed away just this summer, having lived
a very creative life.
“Cold, fun, and sporty all are adjectives to describe snowmobiling. David Foss of Greenbush
decided that a different word was needed to describe the ever-popular winter pastime and that is
warmth. Foss has just finished building his second completely closed in snowmobile. Patterned
after the first model he built in 1981, David started with a wrecked 1982 Datsun King Cab that
he picked up at a salvage yard.
The idea of the comfort of getting into a heated cab for snowmobiling is what intrigued David to
develop his first enclosed model. He began construction of the second one in mid-September
and recently completed it after putting close to 375 hours into it. David had some help in his
work. His wife, Sharon, decided that if she was going to see him at all this winter, she too would
have to be spending some time in the couple’s farm shop which she did. She did a lot of the
fetching of needed parts and also was the additional pair of hands David needed throughout the
development of the snowmobile.
The latest snowmobile David built is for Rudy Blawat of Greenbush. Rudy plans to use it for ice
fishing and also to help him with some of the chores on his dairy farm.
The machine is complete with a 488 Polaris engine and an electric start. It is fully automatic with
three forward speeds and reverse. The machine has an accelerator and brake just like that of car.
The machine cruises between 25 and 35 mph. It burns oil-injected regular gas and has a heater
that is gasoline pressurized so it burns off the same 23 gallon fuel tank that runs the engine.
David made the skis and frame for the machine himself. In addition to the Polaris engine, he also
used two Polaris long tracks in the construction. Foss used a Volkswagen torsion arm in the front
end suspension which he said is really nice. The frame on the machine is made of all new
materials.
David shortened the front end of the Datsun cab by one foot and he also shortened the rear end
by four and a half feet. The body of the machine has been painted bright red with airplane paint
and has a shine like that of a brand new penny. Jon’s Body Shop in Greenbush did the painting,
body work and interior work on the snowmobile.
The only thing left to do on the machine is a little wiring. David said, “It’s still in the testing
stages but everything sure is working out good” David and his family have made use of the first
snowmobile every winter since it was first completed. David said the problems with it have been
nil. Sharon added, “They are really nice for the family. It can be 20 degrees and we can all pile in
it and travel anywhere. We ride around the farm, go to town, and to visit the neighbors in the
warmth of our enclosed snowmobile.”
When asked what was the hardest part in building the machine David said, “The hardest part was
getting the ratio of the weight balanced from front to back. The balancing of the machine was
definitely the most difficult.”
Blawat said he had been thinking about having David build him the machine for the past couple
of years. He said, “There has been too much snow on the lake to get out there and now I won’t
have to worry about a blizzard, or using the compass with this new machine.” He added, “I’ll be
able to use it for farm work and also for driving around and having fun.” The snowmobile is
complete with lights, windshield wipers and even a radio.
The snowmobile was on display last weekend at Strathcona during their Snowfest and will be on
display this coming weekend at the snowmobiling festivities in Thief River Falls.
The two snowmobiles that David has made are not his only projects. He enjoys working with
iron and has built several self-propelled rock pickers, a lawn mower, and the spiral staircase in
the couple’s home along with several other projects.
The Foss’ have two children. They are Crystal 8, and Troy 4. He is employed at Borgen
Implement in Badger in the parts department.”
David went on to use his creativity for many years in Research and Development at Polaris. His
obituary said this about him: “David enjoyed life to the fullest being a teenager at heart,
regardless of what his driver’s license said. He loved to go and spend winters up at Lake of the
Woods every weekend to fish and “campaign” with all the people on the ice to see how the
fishing was. He raced snowmobiles, demolition derbies, was involved in tractor pulls, was very
creative in his shop building anything from rock pickers to scrapers and even track machines. His
biggest passion was hot rods. With his great group of friends, there weren't many car shows they
missed. He enjoyed having his hot rod garage in Strathcona inviting anyone and everyone in, for
a visit about hot rods and to have a special treat (rootbeer floats). Parades were always fun for
him to go to. Troy would come up with some ideas for a float and David would jump right in to
help; however, David wouldn’t drive in the parade. He would rather sit and watch all the floats
go by and catch tootsie rolls. David was always one to give out a hug or a firm handshake. He
cared about everyone and would lend a hand, whether you needed one or not, except when it
came to working with wood. He could never find a straight piece of wood, but he said metal was
always straight. When it came to his grandkids, he was an “uber” driver, teacher, supporter, and
would make grandpa’s famous waffles and bacon, or his special turkey steak, pork roast with
mashed potatoes.”
Thanks to Gladys’ daughter Mariea Hall from International Falls for sharing her mother’s
scrapbooks.
Thank you to 
for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.