Forrest C Moen

Forrest C. Moen, lifetime resident of Virginia Dale, CO passed away on August 3, 2023 at the age of 98. He was born on October 24, 1924 to John and Mildred (Clark) Moen. He graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1943 where he participated in wrestling and track.

Forrest married his best friend Shirlie McGregor on May 13, 1951 in Phenix City, AL while stationed at Fort Benning, GA. Two days later he shipped out to Germany for 15 months where he served in the Army during the Korean War as a medic in the Fulda Gap. Shirlie always joked her first year of marriage was a breeze. They welcomed son Mark in 1955 and daughter Dana in 1956. Forrest loved hunting and ice cream, but most of all loved his dogs, horses, cows and family. Except for his time in the Army, Forrest spent his entire life doing what he loved every day, working on the family ranch, which was purchased by his grandparents in 1903. He worked very hard to make sure his legacy continues through his children and future generations. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and friend as well as an excellent horseman and cowman who enjoyed improving his herd of Hereford cows and breaking and training young horses. In his younger days, he and brother Clark became the ones to beat in calf roping at rodeos all over Colorado and Wyoming.

Forrest chose his family and his ranch over becoming a professional calf roper but did fall back on his talents after Mark was born by winning second at the Fourth of July Greeley Rodeo, which enabled him to pay the hospital bill. Forrest was a member of the Virginia Dale Community Church, Virginia Dale Community Club and the neighbor everyone could count on for help moving and branding cattle or training their horses or anything else they needed. "The Girls," as Forrest called the nuns at the Saint Walburga Abbey, were particularly fond of Forrest when they became neighbors in 1997. They reached out many times for his advice and he was thanked with prayers, hay, and dozens of cookies. Forrest and Shirlie were married for 54 years before her death in 2006. She was the love of his life and the best "hired hand" he could ever have.

Forrest was also preceded in death by his parents, brother Clark, granddaughters Carlee & Alexa Wright, cousin Duane Moen, nephew John Moen and many other family members and lifelong friends. Forrest is survived by his beloved dog Buddy, son Mark (Cathy), daughter Dana (Paul) Wright, all of Virginia Dale, CO, granddaughter Elly Wright of Campbellsville, KY, step granddaughter Skylar Kunce of Arvada, CO, brother in law Paddy McGregor of Fort Collins, CO and several nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Virginia Dale Stage Station on Saturday, August 12th at 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Virginia Dale Community Church, 30437 US Hwy 287, Virginia Dale, CO 80536, Virginia Dale Community Club, 844 County Rd 43F, Virginia Dale, CO 80536 or Pathways Hospice, 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525