Dwain Edward Forester

Dwain Edward Forester, 89, of Royal City, Wash., passed away Sept. 23, 2026, near Royal City, following an accident while flying the airplane he dearly loved.

Dwain was born in 1937 in Yuba City, Calif., to George Francis (G. F.) and Verda Forester. He served in the United States Air Force from 1957 to 1960, attaining the rank of Airman Second Class.

While serving in the Air Force, Dwain met the love of his life, Marilyn, a city girl from downtown Los Angeles. They married Dec. 12, 1959, in California. Marilyn would later say of choosing Dwain, “I picked him out of all the rest!” Together they built a life centered on faith, family, and hard work, sharing more than 66 years of marriage.

Dwain and Marilyn farmed near Cedarville, Calif., until 1979. Following a prompting that their spring was going to dry up, he and Marilyn relocated their family of seven children to Washington’s Columbia Basin. They purchased a farm near Royal City and settled in to raise their family and farm hay.

Just one year later, the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens devastated the farm. Dwain and Marilyn refused to give up. With a jackhammer and a determination to start again, Dwain began building a dairy from the ground up. Together they rebuilt their livelihood, eventually growing the dairy to approximately 1,000 head of livestock. Dwain and Marilyn ran the dairy hand in hand until she finally talked him into retiring at age 81.

In true Dwain style, retirement simply meant returning to another passion – flying. He traded part of his loafing barn for an airplane and built a handmade airstrip where his corrals had once been. His “fly days,” as he called them, became the highlight of his retirement, and he found great joy behind the controls of his airplane.

Dwain was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as branch president for 13 years in California, helping a tiny branch grow to approximately 75 members. His faith deepened throughout his life, and in later years he and Marilyn treasured reading the scriptures together each night and growing closer to their Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dwain also enjoyed serving his agricultural community. He served on two dairy industry boards and was president of the Grant/Adams County Hay Growers Association for several years.

Dwain is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn; his children: Kennon, Denise, Janelle, Shelly, Gary and April; his sister, Fran Crane; 23 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents G. F. and Verda Forester, his brothers Gary and Gene Forester, his son Michael and one grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 357 Christensen Road, Royal Camp, Wash. Graveside services will follow at Royal Memorial Gardens, 900 Apple Ave. NE, Royal City, Wash.

Dwain’s services will be broadcast live via Zoom.

Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's Chapel of Memories.