Patricia Forsberg

Obituary Patricia Forsberg

After a long battle with recurrent breast cancer, Patricia Forsberg has left us October 1, 2024 at her home in Missoula. Be it known that she did not surrender easily. She did not go gentle into that good night.

With her nursing and her practice in Pilates she nurtured bodies. With her long devotion to music and the arts she challenged the human spirit. She leaves that for us.

Patricia was born on June 20, 1944 in Salt Lake City. She was one of three daughters of Ernest and Maureen Forsberg.

She was a vivacious child, full of life, and she charmed all with her smile. Her presence in the world of the arts came early with performances in the Salt Lake City productions of the Nutcracker Suite.

Patricia graduated from East High in Salt Lake City. Her aptitude with the violin began her devotion to music which remained a major focus of her entire life. She then attended the University of Utah and graduated from an intense 5-year nursing program.

Patricia married Stephen Speckart on December 29th, 1965. Together they continued their medical training and practice in New Orleans; she in her clinical work at Charity Hospital and he in medical school. Their combined medical professions then took them to Washington, DC and finally to Missoula in 1975.

In Missoula Patricia expanded her reach in the arts. She attained a Master's Degree In Fine Arts at the University of Montana. Subsequently she became a prolific artist with multiple shows in Missoula and elsewhere.

She expanded her love of the arts in travel to Italy and Japan, and later returned to school to study Italian and Japanese. She gained sufficient language fluency to teach art at the elementary school level in both of these countries.

Despite her obvious intense engagement in the world of the arts, Patricia never forgot that our lives in this physical world are enhanced by good health. She studied Pilates extensively and became a certified instructor. She taught Pilates in her art studio.

The scope of her intelligence, her organization of her life, and her accomplishments are, throughout, self-evident. And in this varied life a constant was her devotion to the violin. She performed in the Missoula Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to within a few short months of her death. Her family requests that any memorials be directed in support of the Missoula Symphony.

Patricia is survived by her husband, Stephen, after a marriage of 60 incredible years, and her sister, Suzanne, and her two sweet dogs Puccini and Oliver.

Patricia requested no services, which we lovingly honor. A family gathering is planned.