James Forest

James "Jim" Forest, age 87, Clark, died peacefully with family at his side on Sunday morning, April 19, 2015 in the Golden Living Center at Clark. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 22 from 5:30-7:30 PM with a Liturgical Wake Service beginning at 7:30 PM all at the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark. Visitation will continue on Thursday morning after 9AM at the Church in Clark. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 11AM in the St. Michael's Catholic Church at Clark with The Reverend John Short celebrating. Honorary casketbearers will be his granddaughters & longtime friends, Marshall Drexler, Bob Forest, Gene Furness, David Haugland, Dick Hilmoe, Tom LaBrie, Bob Schlueter, Dennis Varilek, Gordy VanSickle and Don Syvertson-(posthumous). The active casketbearers will be his grandsons, Trent, Todd, Brian, James, Josh, Tony, Blake, Trevor, Jared and Rory. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. He was born James Roy Forest on 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 1-8, 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 on August 21, 1956 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in 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 tho 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 of 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 of Madison and their children, Trent (Julia), Todd (Nicola) and Brian, Carol (Steve) Folsland of Baltic and their children, Megan (Justin), Melissa (Al), Laura (Kristofer), Lisa (Dale), Karly (Tyler), Kari, Jill, James and Josh, Jacqueline (Wayne) Schlagel of Raymond and their children, Shannon (Jay), Tony (Kandice) and Blake and Brent (Monica) Forest of Clark and their children Trevor (Ashlyn), Jared (Candra), Rory and Madison. Also surviving are great-grandchildren, Karstyn, Bryson, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Emily, Kara, Aubrey, Adrian, Grady, Easton, Wyatt, Paisley, and McKoy. He is also survived by sisters, Beverly (Richard) Adams of West Lafayette, IN and Joan Plucker of Rapid City. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Clark High School Track & Field Improvement Fund % Bob Bjerke, Chair, 410 3rd Ave NW, Clark, SD 57225-1314 or the Clark Rotary Club Baseball Field Improvement Fund % 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