Harry Forbes

Harry (Soddie) Forbes passed away peacefully at the age of 104, at the Maple Creek Hospital on September 29, 2022.

He is survived by his wife Norma, his three daughters; Gail (Dave) Haines, Terry (Murdoch) Carriere, and Lois Forbes; his five grandchildren; Chris Haines, Leigh Miller, Amy Carriere, Dana Carriere, and Megan Dillon; and seven great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Harry is also survived by his sisters Helen Hoszouski and Betty Hok and brothers David, Elmer, and Ralph Forbes.

Harry is predeceased by his parents Allan and Bertha Forbes, brothers; Leonard and Kenny Forbes, sisters Agnes Oddan, Ella Sutton, and Elsie Odden.

Harry was born and raised in the Maple Creek area. After serving in World War 2, Harry married Norma Anderson on December 29, 1948 and they bought a ranch in Cypress Hills. Harry liked working with horses, he especially enjoyed training a team of horses to pull a wagon. In 1939 Harry and his brother-in-law Victor Oddan drove a wagon and a team of horses from Maple Creek to Maidstone. In 1989, to commemorate the fifty-year anniversary of their original expedition, they made the return trip with team and wagon from Harold Oddan's ranch at Maidstone, to Maple Creek. They arrived in time to participate in the Canada Day parade.

Harry loved to dance. In his mid-nineties, he had both knees replaced so that he could still polka. At 104 years old, Harry could still “cut a rug" and had the stamina to outlast many of his younger contemporaries on the dance floor. Harry, well into his eighties, travelled to Eastend, Maple Creek, and sometimes Shaunavon on a weekly basis to dance. He maintained his mobility, never using a wheelchair or walker. He often pushed other residents’ wheelchairs at mealtime in the Cypress Lodge.

Harry was an avid writer and had just completed his seventh book in 2022. He collaborated with his brother-in-law Tony Hoszouski to write ‘What Price Freedom' about their experiences in World War 2, and collaborated with his sister Helen Hoszouski on two other books. Excerpts from some of his books have been published by the Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry Foundation which can be accessed online at http://www.mhcowboylife.com/

The family of Harry Forbes would like to thank Jeanie and the wonderful staff at the Cypress Lodge, Dr. Govender, Dr. Joe and the staff at the Maple Creek Hospital, and the Maple Creek Legion. A Celebration of Life for Harry Forbes held at the Royal Canadian Legion, 218 Maple Street Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, on November 12, 2022  at 1:00 pm with interment to follow at the Maple Creek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice.

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