John Forgey

A memorial service for John Forgey was held on Saturday, April 10. 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner, SD with Pastor Ron Snethen officiating.

Music was provided Geoff Smith, soloist, accompanied by Anna Messeth, pianist.

Eulogies were given by Sam Flakus and Pat Munday. Karen Baumgartner was in charge of registration and Linda Whalen was flower attendant.

John Finley Forgey was born July 10, 1934, in Long Pine, NE, to Findley and Bertha (Forsch) Forgey. He went to school in Nebraska and graduated from Keya Paha High School in 1952.

John married Lucy Painter on August 15, 1954 and to this union they had six children: Steve, Neil, Jan, Dan, Dale, and Lisa. After their marriage John and Lucy moved to Casper, Wyoming, where he worked for his brother Joe.

In 1957 they moved to the ranch in South Dakota. John and his brother Jim worked together raising cattle, shearing sheep, and manufacturing hay rakes. In 1964 he went to AI school in Denver and did AI’ing for himself and the neighbors. Black Angus were his passion and he was well known for raising top quality cattle.

John took great pride in his children. He coached Little League baseball in Wewela with his boys. He loved baseball. The Dodgers were his favorite team and he also enjoyed listening to the Twins games on WNAX.

One of the highlights of John’s week was the weekly marble games with the Steffens and the Graessers. He was always up for a good Cribbage game with the kids and grandkids.

As the kids left the nest, John and Lucy started new adventures. He assisted Lucy with the Sale Barn Cafe in Gregory.

In 1993 they started Deer Creek Hunting for bow hunting deer and spring turkey. .

John served on the Colome School Board from 1969 - 1983. In 1989 John joined the Board of Directors of the Tripp County Water Users District serving until his retirement in 2014.

In 2000 John, Lucy, and Jan had the trip of a lifetime going to New York to see the mastodon at the Natural History Museum. The mastodon was found in 1932 on land that he later purchased.

John and Lucy moved off the ranch and into Colome in 2007. They enjoyed morning coffee at the cafe and could usually find an afternoon card game at the Flying D.

As much as Dad loved his children, his grandchildren were the greatest joy of his life. He and Lucy would travel to visit them and watch their events. He loved when they would come visit and share ice cream to cool his tummy.

John passed away at the Memorial Hospital of Converse County in Douglas, Wyoming on March 29, 2021 at 86 years of age.

John was preceded in death by his parents Findley and Bertha, six brothers Joe, Glenn, Russ, Sam, Jim, and Charlie Forgey, two sisters Pearl Forgey and Hazel Williams, daughter Jan, and great-granddaughter Elsie.

He leaves behind his wife Lucy; four sons Steve (Shirley) of Casper, WY, Neil (Clarice) of Lance Creek, WY, Dan (Lyn) of Dallas, SD, and Dale (Carla) of Alliance, NE; one daughter Lisa of Colome, SD; two sisters Audrey Walker of Arizona and Lona Lou Libolt of Oregon; thirteen grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.