Janice Dean Forbes, 84, Loveland, CO passed away on Saturday, December 16th, 2023, at UC Health Medical Center of the Rockies.
Janice D. Forbes was born August 18th, 1939 at Seattle, Washington to Dick and Ann Taylor. She was raised in the western United States but settled down for much of her childhood in Estes Park, Colorado. Janice was one of three sisters and they all worked in a family-owned printing shop where they learned to read backwards as they set type for production. Janice graduated from Estes Park High School in 1957 where she was active in Pep Club, Choir, and exploring Rocky Mountain National Park.
After High School Janice pursued a degree as a Registered Nurse (RN) and graduated from Columbia University in 1963. After college she started nursing at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco, and it was here that she met the love of her life. During a trip to Squaw Valley she met Jim Lee Forbes as he stopped to help her down a run that was too steep for her to ski.   Janice married Jim on August 9th, 1964 in Loveland, CO. They celebrated 54 happy years until Jim’s death in 2018. They were blessed with a son and a daughter: James in 1970 and Janalee in 1973.   Janice later moved to White Sulfur Springs, Montana and St. Maries, ID before settling down in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It was here that she worked as a RN at Fort Meade Medical Center where Jim also worked as a Chaplain.
In her free time Janice liked to explore the Black Hills with her family and she would serenade many camping sites with a guitar and her lovely voice. Janice also enjoyed participating in Christian Ministry conducting events that featured clowns, magic, balloon animals, singing, and ventriloquism. Her faith was extremely important and sharing God’s word was always one of her biggest priorities.
In 2014 Jim and Janice moved part-time to Loveland, CO where they resided at the Good Samaritan Society. Janice was very active at Good Sams serving as a Chapel greeter, worship singing leader, and attended numerous dance and exercise classes. She would be seen daily taking her long strolls quickly moving around the campus with her walking sticks. Janice was known as being extremely kind and her humor and joyful spirit was a gift to all that met her.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Dick and Ann Taylor; husband, Jim Forbes, in-laws Jim and Doris Forbes, and grandson Gus Forbes.
Survivors include, sisters Marilyn Benzel and Ruth (David) Laabs; children James (Chrislyn) Forbes and Janalee Forbes, grandchildren, Nic, Alyssa, Austin, Lilly, and Erica; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Janice fought a courageous battle for 5 years against various cancers but she never lost her smile or sense of humor. On her last day she told the Doctor she felt fair and her strength and grace has been such a great learning example for our entire family. We want to thank the doctors and nurses from Medical Center of the Rockies as they did everything, they could to harness her fighting spirit.
Memorial services will be held Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 2:00 p.m., Kinkade Funeral Chapel, Sturgis, SD. Private family graveside service will be held at Bear Butte Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to www.kinkadefunerals.com.
