James Forest

August 29, 1927 - April 19, 2015

    James "Jim" Forest, age 87, Clark, died peacefully with family at his side Sunday morning, April 19, 2015, in the Golden Living Center at Clark.
    A Funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday, April 23, 2015 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Clark with the Reverend John Short celebrating.
    He was born James Roy Forest August 29, 1927 at Rapid City, the son of Charles and Anna Elizabeth (Hughes) Forest. He attended all eight grades at the Pleasant Hill Country School near New Underwood. The school had as many as 30 students, grades one through eight, all with one teacher. He then attended Rapid City Central and continued high school at New Underwood High School where he participated in basketball and football. Due to an illness, Jim was unable to  complete high school.
    He was united in marriage to Marjorie Jenkins August 21, 1956, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Clark. The couple has lived in Clark since. At the encouragement of Jim's uncle, Oscar Forest, he began Forest Excavating in 1955 and owned and operated that business until selling to his son, Brent, in 1995.  Jim was proud of the fact that even though he was unable to finish high school, he was still able to own and operate a business that proved to be successful, even though Jim was too humble to really admit that.
    In younger years, Jim enjoyed hunting, especially going out west, hunting deer and antelope. He really looked forward to opening pheasant hunting weekend, making it a family event time.  Jim and Marj enjoyed trips together over the years with friends and family. Second to none though was Jim's love of spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
    He was a longtime member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, served on the Clark Fire Department for over 30 years, a member of the Clark City Council for 10 years and the Clark Rotary Club over 20 years.  Jim also had been involved in the Clark Area Chamber of Commerce and the Jaycees.
    Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Marjorie, in November 2014; a grandson, Jacob Folsland; and a brother-in-law, Duane Plucker.
    Grateful for having shared in his life are his children, Tamara (Mike) Miller, Madison, and their children, Trent (Julia), Todd (Nicola) and Brian; Carol (Steve) Folsland, Baltic and their children, Megan (Justin), Melissa (Al), Laura (Kristofer), Lisa (Dale), Karly (Tyler), Kari, Jill, James and Josh; Jacqueline (Wayne) Schlagel, Raymond, and their children, Shannon (Jay), Tony (Kandice) and Blake; and Brent (Monica) Forest, Clark, and their children Trevor (Ashlyn), Jared (Candra), Rory and Madison; great-grandchildren, Karstyn, Bryson, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Emily, Kara, Aubrey, Adrian, Grady, Easton, Wyatt, Paisley and McKoy; sisters, Beverly (Richard) Adams, West Lafayette, Ind., and Joan Plucker, Rapid City.
     Active casketbearers were his grandsons, Trent, Todd, Brian, James, Josh, Tony, Blake, Trevor, Jared and Rory. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark.
    Honorary casketbearers were his granddaughters and longtime friends, Marshall Drexler, Bob Forest, Gene Furness, David Haugland, Dick Hilmoe, Tom LaBrie, Bob Schlueter, Dennis Varilek, Gordy VanSickle and Don Syvertson-(posthumous).  
    In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Clark High School Track & Field Improvement Fund C/O Bob Bjerke, Chair, 410 3rd Ave NW, Clark, SD 57225-1314 or the Clark Rotary Club Baseball Field Improvement Fund C/O Bob Schlueter, 110 5th Ave NE, Clark, SD 57225-1233
    Funeral arrangements are  with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com

The Pioneer Review

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Philip, SD 57567
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