Katherine "Kay" Forsman

Katherine “Kay” (Bitz) Forsman died May 25, 2017. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at O’Connor Memorial Chapel.Funeral liturgy will be 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Manchester Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of O’Connor Funeral Home. Kay was born in the East Brady Community, Montana to parents Sophia and Sebastian Bitz on October 2, 1920. In 1937 she graduated from Brady High School, in 1939 she received a two-year teaching certificate from the College of Great Falls, a bachelor’s degree from there in 1957, and a master’s degree in education from Montana State University in 1971. Kay’s early teaching experiences included Pioneer School in rural Pondera County, primary class in Dutton, and junior high classes in Conrad. Kay married Alvin J. Forsman of Great Falls in St. William’s Catholic Church in Dutton on August 3, 1943.They had two children: Constance Rose and David Alvin. In 1960, she returned to teaching for Great Falls Public Schools at Washington and Loy Elementaries until 1972 when she was assigned a principal position at Russell Elementary and, later, at Sunnyside.She retired in 1983. While continuing to maintain a permanent residence in Great Falls, Kay spent the summers between 1955 and 1981 farming with her husband in the East Brady Community. Kay was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, a former CCD instructor and a member of the Altar Society. She held various PTA offices, including the city PTA presidency.She was the recipient of honorary life memberships in both the state and national PTA’s. While serving as the elementary principals’ negotiations chairperson, she was instrumental in securing teacher aides for all the Great Falls elementary schools. Kay also held offices in Phi Delta Kappa, the Great Falls Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma (International Honor Society) and served as the first state secretary of the Montana Association of Elementary Principals. When Kay was selected by the Great Falls peer teachers in 1971 as the “Great Falls Teacher of the Year”, she felt greatly honored.She was also chosen as the first “runner-up” for the state title. Teaching and counseling her students was a real joy in Kay’s life as well as contacts with her family and many friends. Following retirement, Kay’s life focused on family activities, attending grandchildren’s sport events with her husband, Alvin, taking the grandchildren fishing and boating, and traveling with Alvin and friends, BettyJo and Radie Maffit to Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan, the Caribbean and Hawaii.Alvin and Kay also traveled to various Air Force Squadron’s reunions (Troop carriers’ 74th Squadron, 434th Group) throughout the United States. After over 54 years of marriage, Kay lost her partner of “unconditional love” when he passed away on May 21, 1998. Kay is survived by her son and daughter in law, Dave and Gay Forsman and her daughter, Connie Skiftun.Four grandchildren whom she dearly loved survive:Ian David Forsman (Tennille), Jay Issac Forsman (Amy), Erynn Juanita Chrisman (Shad), and Emily Katherine Forsman.Four great grandsons and three great granddaughters also survive:Jonathan David Blanchard, Samuel Noah Blanchard, Christopher Alvin Blanchard, Issac Lee Forsman, Viktoria Lanarose Chrisman, Gabriella Katia Chrisman, and Kayla Jean Forsman. Memorials in Kay’s name may be given to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Great Falls Rescue Mission, or the Great Falls Community Food Bank.