Mae Forsythe

Mae Forsythe, 91, Ulen, MN, died Saturday, July 26, 2014, in Sanford Palliative Care, Fargo. Mae Olivia (Freed) Forsythe was born November 19, 1922, at Pinewood, MN, to Oscar and Mathilda (Johnson) Freed. At the age of four she moved to Ulen, where she attended and graduated from Ulen Public School in 1940. During WWII, she moved to Minneapolis where she was employed at New Brighton Ammunition Plant making 50 caliber bullets. On September 24, 1943, she married her former classmate, Donald Forsythe, who was serving in the U.S. Navy. Between intermittent sea duty, they were stationed at Pensacola, FL, San Diego and Long Beach, CA, Great Lakes IL, Washington, D.C., Corpus Christi, TX and Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. The couple had three sons: Dwight, Steven and Todd. Upon his 21 year retirement from the Navy, they moved to Rollins, MT. On their 25th anniversary, they registered at Flathead Community College in Kalispell, MT, where they lived for 10 years. After graduating from FVCC, they went on to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ, and graduated in 1972. Mae graduated cum laude with elections to National Mortar Board, Phi Kappa Phi, and Kappa Delta Pi. They returned to Kalispell where she taught school until they moved back to Ulen in 1980. They were in the antique business for several years, operating the "Trollhouse Antiques" and "The Crazy Loon" in Ulen. From 1983 to 1999, they spent their winters in Yuma, AZ, where she taught in the Yuma School District for ten years. She also subbed in Ulen-Hitterdal and Twin Valley. Don passed away June 12, 2001. Mae was confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where she was a member for 80 years. She served on the Church Council and on the WELA Executive Board. Mae was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Fleet Reserve Auxiliary. She was a charter member of the Ulen-Hitterdal Community Education Program, a volunteer worker at Viking Manor and a member of The Ulen Centennial Band, which was started by her husband. Mae was also an officer/director of the Viking Sword Historical Society. She had a passion for art all of her life and was a charter member of the Northern Lights Art Guild. Her artwork can be found all over the country. Mae dearly loved dancing of all kinds and taught a variety of classes over the years. Most important to Mae was her love for God and her church family at Maranatha in Ulen. She had gone through many devastating experiences and heartaches and often expressed her gratitude to God and her church family for bringing her through. She dearly loved, and was so very grateful for her only two granddaughters, Alishia and Monika. Mae is survived by her daughter-in-law, Pamela Forsythe of Sun City West, AZ; two granddaughters, Alishia (David) Zaldivar and Monika Forsythe all of Oceanside, CA; two great-grandchildren, Tristian and Ashlyn; a sister, Berniece Petterson of Cottonwood, AZ; a longtime friend, Lavern Ouellette of Fargo, ND, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Mathilda Freed; her husband, Don; her three sons, Dwight, Steven and Todd; two sisters, Mabel Coffee and Lillian Abraham, and four brothers, William, Luverne, Clarence and Leonard. Funeral Services were held Friday, August 1st at 11:00 a.m. at the Maranatha Free Lutheran Church in Ulen. Visitation was 1 hour before services at the church. Officiating was Pastor Curt Frankhauser with Mary Ann Schneidermann serving as organist and Kathy Frankhauser serving as pianist with special music provided by Monica Winter and Mike Klemetson. Pallbearers were Randy Freed, Berry Freed, Donald Freed, Craig Abraham, Lonnie Petterson and Brant Abraham. Honorary pallbearers will be the VFW Auxiliary. Burial was in North Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Ulen.

Mae Forsythe

November 19, 1922 - July 26, 2014