Robert ‘Bob’ Dean Forth; 1938-2025

Robert Dean (Bob) Forth, 87, of Pendleton, OR, passed away peacefully at Suttle Care and Retirement after a struggle with lewy body dementia, his wife and partner of 56 years by his side. 

Robert was born in Pendleton at St. Anthony Hospital to Dean and Louise (Nelson) Forth of Rieth on Feb. 4,1938. He grew up on the family’s wheat, hay and cattle ranch west of Rieth with his brothers, Tom and Ted. He graduated from Pendleton High School in 1956 having been active in FFA, showing cattle and pigs and receiving the State Farmer Degree. He worked for Hansell Farms for several years and showed hogs with them at livestock shows all over the West and Midwest. He began his own hog farm in 1959 on the family’s ranch, which operated until 1966. While doing some work on the family’s ranch, Bob also worked for McCormack Farming and U.S. Gypsum in Pilot Rock. Bob was also in the National Guard during this time and served out of Fort Lewis-McChord, south of Tacoma, WA. 

Robert married Myrna Erickson of Pendleton in 1958. They had four children, Mike, Joe, Chris and Cindy. They divorced in 1967. Robert married Nancy Quesenberry of Enterprise in 1968. Robert and Nancy, along with sons Mike, Joe and Chris, started out on the Forth Ranch, and then in 1969 Bob began working for Kilkenny Ranch on Butter Creek and was there until 1972. He worked briefly at the nearby Campbell farm before returning to the family ranch in 1973. Also in 1973, they welcomed daughter Stacy Dawn. 

Bob was active in local, statewide and national agricultural organizations, most notably Umatilla County Cattlemen’s and Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, where he served as membership chair for several years and two terms on the Beef Council, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, where he represented Oregon Cattlemen’s on the national board Checkoff division for two years. He supported his wife Nancy’s activities in the cattlewomen’s association, traveling with her to county, state and national cattlewomen’s events and lobbying and promotional efforts during the years that she held offices. He supported local agriculture educational organizations, serving on boards and advisory committees for Pendleton High School and Blue Mountain Community College. He served on many county and state agricultural related committees over the years as well. 

Bob began when he was young working alongside his father in activities related to the Pendleton Round Up and Happy Canyon (RU&HC). He and his childhood best friend, Gale Wagner, began in 1961 running the west gates for the Happy Canyon Show, positions which Gale kept until his death in 2000 and Bob kept up for 59 years. He helped with the rolling stock, starting when he was a teenager with his dad and others and closely with his friend, Bill Dawson, for many years. Bob received the Happy Canyon Appreciation Award in 1999, serving on the RU&HC Hall of Fame board as trustee director from 2009-13. Bob received the Orville Gerberding Award in 2014 and the Round-Up Appreciation Award in 2016. He was entered into the Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Bob was active for many years with the First Presbyterian Church in Pendleton, where he bonded with friends through activities maintaining Westminster Woods among others. Two friends in particular, Don Partis and Andrew Clark, formed an informal debate club with Bob, which met in his shop to discuss and disagree about politics, ranching and cars, among other things for many years. 

Bob enjoyed travels with his wife and friends, the Hanleys and Thornes, both through ag related travels such as Western Livestock Journal tours, which they did yearly for many years and to favorite spots in Hawaii and on cruises to Alaska, the Panama Canal, the Caribbean and the East Coast. He enjoyed spending time on the Oregon Coast, taking vacations there about twice a year, especially enjoying the Stormy Weather Arts Festival. Bob enjoyed reading, especially anything related to history, agriculture and classic cars. He was an avid NASCAR fan and watched the races whenever he could. We would be remiss were we not to mention Bob’s sense of humor and ability to tell a good story. 

Pre-deceased are parents, Dean and Louise Forth; brothers, Tom Forth and Ted Forth; and son, Robert Allan Forth. Bob will be remembered fondly by his wife, Nancy Forth of Pendleton; his children, Mike Forth of Pendleton, Joe Forth (Ronald Venancio) of Medford, MA, Chris Forth of Pendleton, Cindy Forth of Curtice, OH, and Stacy (Steve) Sewell of Burlington, WA; his grandchildren, Brendan Sewell and Nathan Sewell (Natasha), and longtime ranch hand, Jeff Bodewig.