Michaela Rebecca Furste

Michaela “Becky” Collins Furste passed away peacefully on August 25, 2026, surrounded by the love and memories of a life beautifully lived.

Becky was born on November 21, 1943, and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. From an early age, she discovered a passion and remarkable talent for swimming. She attended Broad Ripple High School and was a proud member of the Riviera Swim Club, where she excelled on its swim team. At just 15 years old, Becky set four world records and was honored to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as an Olympic hopeful. Her accomplishments as a young swimmer reflected the determination, discipline, and spirit that would remain hallmarks of her life.

Becky attended Indiana University, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She later moved to Arizona to join her recently retired parents and completed her education at the University of Arizona. Following graduation, Becky moved to Southern California, where she devoted more than a dozen years to teaching. She was also an active member of the Junior League in California.

Although she enjoyed her years in California, Becky always carried a deep love for her home state. Missing Indiana, she eventually returned home and began working at Methodist Hospital in the Injury Prevention Program. She became actively involved with Methodist Hospital’s Task Core in 1987 and remained a dedicated member until her passing.

Following her career at Methodist Hospital, Becky found success in residential real estate, where her warmth, integrity, and genuine interest in others allowed her to cultivate strong and lasting relationships with everyone she met.

Outside of her professional life, Becky found joy in the simple things that made life special. She loved gardening, cooking, crossword puzzles, needlepoint, shopping, watching football, and, above all, spending time with her beloved Labrador Retrievers. She was a member of Zionsville Presbyterian Church and treasured the friendships and community she found there.

Becky is survived by her loving husband of 38 years, Stephen Furste. Together, they created a blended family filled with love. She leaves behind her daughter, Jennifer Richter LaMoria (Michael); her stepdaughter, Jennifer Furste Robinson (Rory); her stepson, Andrew Furste (Elma); her grandchildren, Kaitlyn LaMoria, Alexa LaMoria, Alexander Furste, Evan Furste, and Reilly Robinson; and her brother, John Collins (Diana).

Becky was preceded in death by her beloved son, Jeffrey Richter, and her cherished sister, Deborah Collins Cunningham (Richard).

Becky will be remembered for her kindness, warmth, generosity, determination, and the genuine connections she made throughout her life. Whether through her accomplishments in the pool, her dedication to teaching and injury prevention, her career in real estate, or simply the friendship she offered to those around her, Becky made a lasting difference in the lives of many.

As family and friends reflect on Becky’s remarkable journey, may they find solace in the countless memories she leaves behind—a testament to a life well-lived, filled with love, kindness, purpose, and cherished relationships. Her memory will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Memorial Service

A memorial service celebrating Becky’s life will be held on October 24, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Zionsville Presbyterian Church, 4775 West 116th Street, Zionsville, Indiana 46077.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in Becky’s memory may be made to:

Methodist Hospital Task Core Foundation 1633 N. Capital Avenue, Suite 1200 Indianapolis, IN 46202