Ross Duncan Forbes

With sadness in our hearts we announce the passing of Ross Duncan Forbes on January 20th, 2020 at St. Paul’s Personal Care Home, Dauphin, MB at the age of 93 years.  Ross was born in Rorketon, MB on November 18th, 1926 to Richard Elmer and Louise Isabelle (McKay) Forbes.  He was the 5th of 8 children.  The family moved to the Valley River area in 1929, then to the Mountview area south of Dauphin in 1934 where Ross grew up on the family farm and attended the Mountview School.  Ross married Frances Aileen (Strang) on November 6th, 1954 in Dauphin, MB. As Ross was growing up he was involved in the Dauphin Air Cadets and 4-H, then later as a 4-H leader.  Ross farmed most of his life, and along with his brother Bill ran Forbes Seed Farm.  He was a proud member of the Canadian Seed Growers Association for more than 35 years and received an outstanding service award in 1998 in recognition of contribution to pedigreed seed production.  He was also a director of Manitoba Pool Elevators (Dauphin) for 24 years.  Ross was an avid curler and was a life member of both the Dauphin Men’s Curling Club and the Farmers Curling Club.  Ross was a long-time member of the Royal Canadian Legion and spent a number of years on the executive of Dauphin Branch #20, where he also chaired the annual Poppy Campaign and served on the color party; he was awarded a life membership in 2009.  Ross was also a director and past-president of the Dauphin Pioneer’s Association. Ross lived on his family farm south east of Dauphin until a few months before his passing.  He and Fran developed the property from a plowed field in 1960 and it was a source of much pride over the years. Ross is survived by his daughter Margaret (Margie); sister Jean McCall (Seattle, WA); sisters in-law Joan Forbes-Mair (Winnipeg) & Marilyn Strang (Dauphin); brother in-law Jim Strang (BC); and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Ross was predeceased by his parents Elmer & Louise; wife Frances;  brothers Melvin (Mel), Robert (Bob), Reginald (Reg), William (Bill) & Kenneth (Ken); as well as sister Audrey Bawden; sisters in-law Frances (Fran), Dorothy (Dot), Clara, Kathleen (Kay); and brothers in-law Jack Bawden and John McCall. Thank you to Dr. Penrose, Home Care, the staff of the Medicine Ward of the Dauphin Regional Health Centre, & the staff of St. Paul’s Personal Care Home for the care they provided to Dad over the past year.  Also to Pam McLean for the huge support given to Ross over the past couple of years. 
Memorial Service was held on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 1:00 pm from Dauphin First United Church in Dauphin, MB with Ilene Dowd officiating.  Interment followed in Riverside Cemetery in Dauphin, MB.  

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Ross may be made to Dauphin Regional Health Centre Medicine Ward and Royal Canadian Legion Branch #20.

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