Forresters Recall 63 Years Of Marriage, Service And Memories

Bill and Mary Forrester met in Great Falls, MT while Bill Forrester was stationed at the Air Force Base and his future wife was there training to become a nurse. On July 6, 1951 they were married and will be celebrating their 64th anniversary this summer. In 1952 their oldest son was born and shortly after that during the Korean War, Bill Forrester was stationed in Alaska and Mary Forrester moved back to Sidney, where she is from originally. Eighteen months later, he joined her. It has been their home ever since.

"Sidney's always been home," said Bill Forrester of moving to the area. "I don't think of being from Wisconsin originally. I sunk my roots deep here."

Since then, the Forresters have been a fixture of the community. In 1957 they had their second son and they built the house they still live in today in 1962. Some of their involvement with organizations like the Jaycees and Boy Scouts was because of their two sons; Mary Forrester was part of the Jayceens, the women's division of the Jaycees before it was combined, as well as a den mother. Bill Forrester served as Scout Counselor for forty years and as Scout Master and was a Charter member of the Jaycees.

Bill Forrester was a volunteer firefighter for 21 years and in 1960 the Jaycees bought an ambulance. The ambulance service was run by volunteer firefighters for approximately ten years before an EMT service was organized. He drove the ambulance for the first three and a half years and was essentially on call 24/7 recalls his wife. He was also part of the Bob Johnson Singers for seven years, which he remembers as being a lot of fun. In 1959 he started giving blood and still does, giving a 192 pints to date; he currently volunteers each time there is a blood drive to set up tables and chairs.

Both agree that staying busy keeps them young. They are happy to still be in the town they call home serving their community. With their two sons grown, four grandkids, and five great-grandkids, the Forresters continue to be active in the community, volunteering for Meals on Wheels, the MonDak Heritage Center, and being involved with the Peoples Congregational Church and RSVP. Mary loves to play bridge and Bill keeps himself busy fixing bikes and sharpening chainsaws.

"We've always enjoyed doing what we could for the community, that's just the way we are," noted Bill Forrester.

Mary Forrester shares that every day they make the bed together and do the dishes together.

"It's our quality time," she laughs. "It has all been worth it. It's a lot of work, but it is worth every bit of it."

A lifetime of working and serving together has not simply been a life well lived for the couple, but has had a lasting impact on the community and everyone fortunate enough to know the extraordinary couple.