Charles Forseth

Charles Steven "Steve" Forseth - Fairfield



1,734 days of unbearable grief ended this day February 2, 2022, for Charles Steven "Steve" Forseth (76) who died of a broken heart.



Steve's wife Karen preceded him in death on May 5, 2017, and each day thereafter Steve dealt with a sorrow that few know and now that loneliness has given way to the peace of God and that well deserved final rest is his.



Many friends and family where they lived on the Fairfield bench remember Steve's generosity, creativity, gentleness, and perseverance to the task at hand. His love of country was evidenced in his service in the Air National Guard.



His sisters, Clairice Brady and Judy Loss remember Steve's selflessness and uncommon tenderness of heart. Steve's brother Orville is married to Karen's sister Caroline and thus the children are double cousins with a reverence to Steve and childhood memories of adventures, misadventures and yes, a little mischief in the mix.



Karen was a twin sister to Kathy Hammer (Bob) of Seattle and the two families spent many years of outings together.



Growing up on a farm and ranch, Steve went on to pursue the same. Steve purchased acreage alongside the farm of his father to raise his family along with crops, cattle, and sheep. In the early 80's, his son brought home five sheep from the Columbia Show and Sale in Lewistown, MT that he had attended with his Uncle Orville. Steve was less than impressed as the sheep were unloaded from a trailer into the corrals. This however started his sheep business where he went on to have a herd of around 200 head.



Steve had a level of common sense very uncommon today. He could build and repair anything and his shop always had a project in progress. He would help neighbors repair equipment and took on major build projects like the trailered big-time BBQ he took all over Montana. The BBQ was modeled after a steam locomotive, and he named it Number 9 Chow Line. He and Karen, often with kids and cousins in tow, provided a full catering service and would feed up to 1,000 people. Steve and Karen also built a lemonade stand to accompany his catering at the annual Augusta Rodeo where his granddaughter Treyann, grandniece Arielle, and later his granddaughter Samantha sold lemonade. It was a great entrepreneurial experience for all three kids which made Steve beam with pride. He also built a wood splitter and attached wood elevator that could spit out a mountain of firewood and the elevator part of the machine could even feed the split wood into a truck for transport. His son-in-law Rob and Steve decided they needed to roll up a bunch of old barbed wire, so they built a roller for the front of their skid steer and tackled the job. They also rebuilt an old logging truck into a hay hauler.



He drove the school bus for Golden Ridge School, located west of Fairfield, for 30 years. As the bus driver, there were occasions where Steve had to correct the behavior of children who rode the bus. A former student told a story where she was having a disagreement of sorts with another student. The result was a moment of revenge that left the second child howling as though she was dying and the first student receiving a very stern scolding and then having to write 100 sentences as to why hocking a loogie at people was not allowed. She wrote the sentences and handed them into Steve. Years later, the nephew of that same girl was a student at the same school. Steve still had the sentences pinned to a small corkboard at the front of the bus."



Steve loved music, and the music of Johnny Horton was a favorite... Commanche the Brave Horse, North to Alaska, Battle of New Orleans, etc., and he would spin records for the kids all afternoon. Afterward, he would ask about the meaning of the lyrics.



Steve is survived by his son, Stacey (Barbie) Forseth of Great Falls and daughter Amie (Rob) Wieder of Augusta, his siblings, Clairice Brady of Hamilton, Orville ( Caroline) Forseth of Fairfield, Judy Loss of Great Falls, Jim (Cindy) Forseth of Fairfield, grandchildren Taylor Talkington of Great Falls, Samantha Talkington of Casa Grande, AZ; Riley, Wyatt, Justin and Korey Wieder of Augusta, and Treyann (Robert) Lowry of Great Falls, who blessed Steve with a great grandson, Colt, who he dearly loved, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. He is preceded in death by the love of his life Karen, his parents Oliver and Lucille Forseth as well as brothers-in-law Keith Loss and Dale Brady.



Funeral services will be held Saturday February 19th at the Fairfield Community Hall at 11:00 a.m.



In Lieu of flowers donations in Steve's name can be made to the FFA or 4-H.



Condolences may be left on-line at www.gorderjensenfuneralhome.com