Alma Caroline Forrest, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, pastor and friend, age 95, of Troy went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. Alma was born Dec. 3, 1929, to Andrew and Alice (Anderson) Jackson of Sidney. She was the fourth born of 14 children whose names all began with the letter A.  

Alma graduated from high school in Sidney in 1947 and Northwest Bible College in Kirkland, Washington in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in ministerial studies. She was a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God Church.  

She was married June 30, 1950, to Orville O Forrest in Marysville, Washington. Together they pastored churches at Vashon Island, Washington; Troy and Big Timber; Cottonwood, Arizona; and RV Resorts of Arizona at Sedona and Camp Verde. 

Besides her ministry she enjoyed the high calling of parenting. Short term employment included long-distance telephone operator in Seattle, study hall monitor at Troy High School, line cook in Big Timber, hearing aid receptionist, secretary to business/computer division chairman, and registration assistant at Yavapai College in Clarksdale, Arizona. 

She enjoyed sharing the love of Jesus at Children’s Church, youth camps, Women’s Fellowship, Fellowship of Christian Adult Singles, Senior Fellowship and in life in general. 

She, with her husband, returned to Troy in 1995 to retire and enjoy the four seasons of this area.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband (Orville); an infant daughter (Sharon Rose); sisters Annie Smith, Arlie Gurney, Amy Gurney and Alice Olson; brothers Andrew, Alfred, Alec, Alex, Albert, Arthur and Alvin; grandson Taylor Elkins and great-granddaughter Lucy Willis. 

Alma is survived by sisters Aldha Mae Duran of Sparks, Nevada, Adaleen (Jim) Ronquillo of Billings. Children Janice (Phil) Tatum of Williams, Arizona, Cynthia (Craig) Elkins of Anchorage, Alaska, and Sandra (Dennis) Willis-Faris of Troy. Grandchildren Forrest (Julie) Tatum, Troy (Jessica) Tatum, Amie (Mike) Wells, John (Samantha) Willis, Brendan (Kelsey) Elkins, and Katherine (Logan) McGinnis. Step-grandchildren Jeff Faris, Laurie Faris. Great-grandchildren Gabriel Faris-Talboy, Abby, Emily, Lauren Tatum. Avangelina, Samuel, Elizabeth, Isaiah Tatum. Ryan, Thomas, Claire Wells. Eli, Luke Willis. Melanie, Addison Elkins. 

Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com. Services will be held at the Assembly of God Church in Troy on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 11:00 a.m. (309 E. Kootenai Ave., Troy, MT). 

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Troy Assembly of God Church building fund.