Wanda Mae Forbes , 67, rural Minot, died Monday, May 14, 2007, in her home, after a long bout with cancer.

Wanda was born June 11, 1939, two and a half miles east of Belden, ND, on the family farm, the daughter of Jacob and Ragna (Evenson) Olson. She was raised in the Belden area until she was thirteen. Wanda attended her first seven years of school at Dymond School, near Belden. In 1949, they moved to Stanley, where she attended the eighth grade. She worked for several years as a waitress at the Burchman and Stanley Cafe. Wanda also worked for several years in the Bowbells and Flaxton area. She moved to Minot in the fall of 1957, where she started baby sitting for the Pearly Lee family, where she met her husband.

Wanda married Bill Forbes on March 8, 1959, in Minot, ND. They lived and raised six children on the family farm. For several years, Wanda was a cook at the Americana Nursing Home in Minot, ND. Wanda was active in the area belonging to the Logan Homemakers Club and assistant president for the Logan 4-H Club. She enjoyed working with the children. Wanda was very active in Bell and Sawyer Schools, where her children attended, and she served on the PTA at Bell School and was the secretary of the Sawyer Band Mothers for two years, always attending her children's and grandchildren's activities as much as she could. Wanda played softball for Butler Machinery, and as she got older she was the Secretary and then treasure of the Sawyer Senior Citizens. Wanda was an active member of the LWML at St Peter's Lutheran Church, Sawyer ND. She loved quilting and all sorts of craft work. She had a great enjoyment for drinking coffee and visiting with all her wonderful friends at Renee's Corner Cafe in Sawyer. Wanda also liked staying active by getting together with her friends and playing pool at the Sawyer Senior Center.

Surviving family includes: her wonderful husband of 48 years William Forbes, rural Minot; Daughters: Diane (Ray) Helseth, rural Burlington; Sally (David) Hand, Minot and their children: Joshua and Mitch Ofsthun, Step grandchildren, Brian and David E. Hand Jr.; Kathy (David) Woodall, Granville, and their children: Michelle, Margo, Maggie, and Mackenzie Woodall, Granville; Sons: James and special friend (T.J) Alexander, and children: Justin, Ryan, and Erin Forbes; Kevin (Robin) Forbes, rural Minot, and their children: Ethan and Jay Forbes, rural Minot; Dean (Laura) Forbes, and their children: Mark and Samantha Forbes, Minot; Great-grandson: Jacob Hill, Great-granddaughter: Lakin Schnieder; Sisters: Vivian Burnett, DelRain, Canada, Evelyn Wing, Denver, CO, Darlene (Jack) Gurschak, Maple Valley, WA; Brothers: Daryl (Dorothy) Olson, Plentywood, MT and Lonnie (Betty) Olson, Des Lac; Sisters-in-law: Joan Olson, CO and Corrine Olson, Alaska; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by grandparents, parents, brothers: Arlo, Curtis, and Odell, and grandson: Michael Woodall.

Funeral Service: Friday, May 18, 2007, at 1:00 p.m., in St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Sawyer, ND;
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens;
Visitation: Thursday, May 17, 2007, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.