Margaret Josephine Forsen

Funeral Service held Thursday July 16, 2020, 12:00pm (Noon)
Online Livestream / webcast Funeral Services:
https://venue.streamspot.com/event/MjI2NTUyMg==

Margaret Josephine Forsen, 97, born on February 6, 1923, in St. Joseph, MO, United States, passed away June 13, 2020. She resided in Palm Desert, CA at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cathedral City, California.

Margaret J. Forsen
February 6, 1923 June 13, 2020
Margaret J. Forsen at the age 97, Died at home in Palm Desert CA while attended by family.
Born Margaret Josephine Gilmore to loving parents Archie Hamilton Gilmore and Josephine Elizabeth (Vitek) Gilmore in Saint Joseph Missouri. Margaret graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph, MO class of 1941.She and her husband George S. Forsen were married Sept. 26, 1942 and they moved to CA in 1945 after WWII. Margaret was a Life Member Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary. George built there home at 972 Sycamore Court, Upland CA. Margaret retired from General Telephone, Ontario, CA in 1982, after 19 years and 9 months of service. George and Margaret moved to Palm Desert, CA in 1983, and resided in Palm Desert Greens, where she played golf until age 85. She volunteered (AUXILIARY) at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage, CA for 21 years. George and Margaret had been married 72 years at his passing.
Margaret was survived by her daughter Pamela Shanks of Las Vegas, NV and her son Samuel Forsen of Upland, CA survive Margaret. Six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was proceeded in death by her daughter Deborah Jo Medford in 2014 and her husband George S. Forsen in 2015.
Margaret was a Christian and embraced the Baptist faith. George and Margaret were members of First Baptist Church Upland, CA, (S.B.C) and continued Churching and serving God after moving to Palm Desert, CA. She prayed for her family daily, and encouraged all to read the King James Bible. Margaret wanted to say, "Thanks to the many wonderful caregivers that were so helpful to me throughout the years." She lived independently in the home she and George enjoyed in Palm Desert Greens for the rest of her life, and the caregivers made that possible. Therefore, we the family say, "Thank You!"
In the celebration of Margaret's earthly life, our memories with her shall continue to bless us. The world is better having had her in it.

Funeral Service held Thursday July 16, 2020, 12:00pm at: Forest Lawn Mortuary 69855 Ramon Rd. Cathedral City, CA 92234.
Burial Service held Friday July 17, 2020, 1:00pm at: Riverside Nation Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd. Riverside, CA 92518

Online Livestream / webcast Funeral Services:
https://venue.streamspot.com/event/MjI2NTUyMg==
Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cathedral City, California.

Click the following link for the Forest Lawn Obituary and Guest Book pages
https://www.legacy.com/funeral-homes/obituaries/name/margaret-forsen-obituary?sid=108488464&v=forestlawn&pid=196378442

Margaret was the wife of a WWII Army Veteran and while he was at war, she was holding down the fort at home in St. Joseph Missouri. She worked at Sun Manufacturing Co. and the Quaker Oats - Swift Co.
On her husband's safe return from the war they moved to Upland, Ca. where they began their family. They had 3 children. Margaret enjoyed staying at home raising her children. When her children were grown, Margaret worked at General Telephone where she was a long distant operator to all over the world. She was an Honorary Life Member of the Communications Workers of America.
On her retirement from General Telephone on May 31, 1982, she and George moved to Palm Desert, California. While living in Palm Desert California she volunteered at the Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage, California. She volunteered until she retired at the age of 84. Her hope was to always be of help to others.
Margaret was a wonderful wife, a loving mother as well as an inspiration to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was the life of the party, ready to enjoy the moment and the friends and family in those moments. She truly did want to bless everyone around her.

Margaret enjoyed being with family and friends. She enjoyed roller skating, swimming, and riding bicycles. As she got older, she also enjoyed bowling and golf.
She enjoyed dancing her whole life. She and George would always dance together.
In the 1980's she was in a tap-dancing group in Palm Desert Greens while she was in her 60's.

Margaret wrote,
"Born: "At Home" Olive Street St. Joseph MO on the farm (abt. 1923 to 1935). Lived on the farm at 712 S 36 th St, St. Joseph MO. We had a outdoor Privy and a Sears catalog to wipe with. No electricity and coal oil lamps. We went outside to hand pump water and the coon dogs howllering outside the window." I walked one mile to Blair elementary school. (Abt. 1935) moved to _ _ where we had indoor plumbing and electricity. I attended and graduated Central High school 1941. Saint Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri. In the basement we shoveled coal in the furnace to heat the house."

Margaret recounts about her life:
"My favorite toys were dolls, tea set, black board & chalks. My favorite stories were Humpty Dumpty and Little Bo Peep. I liked playing with my dolls, tea set, kittens & 4 dogs. I started school when I was 6 years old. I walked to school in the snow."
" My mother was a good cook, neat, and a good housekeeper. My mother sewed, crocheted, and embroidered. We went in the woods and picked flowers. When I got a little older, we took the bus & went uptown shopping & went to matinee shown on Sat. Some Saturdays we would transfer on 3 different busses to visit my Grandpa Vitek that lived in South St. Joseph. We lived in East St. Joseph. We did not have a car.
My dad was a hard worker. He worked at Swift & Co. as butcher, and plowed fields in summer."

Margaret recounts:
"When I was little, Mother said I had whooping cough & just about died. That was before the days of D.P.T. shots to prevent diphtheria, tetanus & whooping cough. Here I am 84 years later writing in this book. I also had chicken-pox when young & had it again with daughter Debe when she was abt. 10yrs old. Had shingles twice in later years. Had hemorrhoids and hysterectomy surgery in later years. Also, breast cancer surgery at age 69 (lumpectomy) Radiation therapy. Recovered nicely."

Things that use to upset me, "that I had to wear long underwear as a child in the winter to keep warm. When I was about 10years old, I took the scissors outdoors & cut the legs off my long underwear. I threw them over the fence into the chicken coop. Mother never had me wear long underwear again. I kept warm enough after that in my long cotton socks."

My first school was " Blair Elementary 1st thru 6th grade" We had to wear " cool cotton dresses in summer" and "warm wooins & hats & mittens in winter." My best subject was "Spelling & Reading." My best friends were "Nora DuPont - Nova DuPont - (twins)." At recess we "played volley-ball, hop-scotch & walked on walking ladder." Things I remember about my first school "It was a red brick building, 2 stories high."

Little Margaret was a member of the Hersch Brothers Kiddie Klub, Sat Jan.1-1931 8yrs old. Hirsch Bros Dry Goods Co.

My secondary school was "Bliss Jr. High 7 thru 8" "Central High 9 thru 12" We wore "cool dresses in summer - warm clothes in winter." My favorite subjects were, "Music & Singing in Jr. High, and Typing in High School." Our school colors were gold and blue. I was awarded a medal for Typing. At lunch time "I remember eating peas on mashed potatoes in elementary school." Sports I played at school "Baseball & Gymnastics, Volleyball.""I was the Home-room reporter in High School." A clipping from Margaret's S. High School reads as following:
"GILMORE, MARGARET
This cute Miss with her sweet and gay voice has found many friends and we are sure she'll keep them.
Activities: Spring Exhibits: Home Room Reporter; Capers, '39, '40.
Interests: Typing."

Teenage Years:
When I was a teenager, my family lived at
3512 Penn St., Saint Joseph, Mo. Our home - two stories - .
My ambitions "were to graduate from High school & get a job. I graduated from Central High in 1941, St. Joseph, Mo. My first job was at Sun Manufacturing Co. I operated a button hole machine. I made $16 a week for 40hours of work." In my spare time " I went to a roller rink with a group of girls & went roller skating, also swimming, riding a bicycle." My best friends were " twins Nora & Nova DuPont - Doris & Anne Jean Dye, Doris Harless - Agnes & Audrey Reichard." I liked to spend money on "clothes, shoes, bowling, and movies." " My second job was at Quaker Oats. Other girls & myself put a bowl in a box of Quaker Oats as the bowls came by on belts. I worked at that job 1year. Then I went to work at Swift & Co. Worked in the lab running fat and moisture tests on the meat before it was canned and sent to Russa. It was called Tashunka. The war was ending & the lab closed down. I then went to work at a manufacturing Co. I used an electric round wheel machine cutting out H. B. T. (herring bone & twill materials). I resigned that job after a few months my husband George Forsen got home from World War II, after serving 3years in Europe."

George and I moved from St. Joseph, MO to Upland, CA. We had 3 children in a 5-year period; Pamela, Deborah, and Samuel. George worked in construction for 30 years. He was the construction superintendent for many things including houses, schools, churches, and banks.

I did not work outside the home while raising our family. I went to work later when Sammy was in Jr. High. I took a job at General Telephone as a long-distance operator to the USA and the world. I would collect credit cards, bill to 3rd party, or person to person calls. I retired from General Telephone on May 31st, 1982.

The Olympics were held in CA in 1982. General Telephone hosted a luncheon at the sight of the '82 Olympics in Los Angeles. Retries were invited, so I took two of my granddaughters Stephanie and Jennifer Forsen.