Forestvale Cemetery

* ATTENTION *

The May 1st, 2024 Forestvale Cemetery Trustee and Preservation Committee meeting has been rescheduled to May 15, 2024 at 7:00 pm at the Forestvale Cemetery Office, 490 Forestvale Road.

Forestvale Cemetery Fall Clean-up

Please remove any flowers/decorations you would like to keep from the Cemetery by Sunday, October 2nd, 2022. Staff will begin Fall Clean-up of all non-permanent items on Monday, October 3rd.

Please call 406-457-8513 with any questions.


Forestvale

This impressive Gothic-arched stone entrance to the Forestvale Cemetery was constructed in 1890, with the first burial in September 1890 and by June 2002, there were 14,271 burials recorded in Forestvale. The cemetery is located near Helena, Lewis & Clark County, Montana about two and a half miles north of the city limits. The Cemetery consists of 148 acres with about 40 acres currently developed. It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Helena civil engineer Harry Wheeler designed Forestvale incorporating the notion of the cemetery as a “rural park” into his design. Mature trees, well-planned landscaping, tree-lined paths, beautiful monuments, a mausoleum, columbariums, and arbor gardens grace this beautiful cemetery in the heart of Montana. Plantings of native trees shade the gravesites and line the meandering roads and walkways that wind through the grounds while the overall landscaping provides an atmosphere of tranquility and solemn reflection.


Receiving Vault

Forestvale Receiving Vault

The Receiving Vault is located just inside the cemetery grounds. It functioned as storage for bodies in caskets during the winter months until the ground thawed and allowed for burial.

It is not necessary to use this vault today.


Columbarium

The Columbarium has above ground ash burial spaces.

Columbarium
Columbarium


Mausoleum

The Mausoleum has above ground full burial spaces.

Mausoleum
Mausoleum side View


Forestvale Cemetery Board

Trustees:

  • Wendy Magera (Chair)
  • Peter Schaefer
  • Andrew Watne

Preservation Committee:

  • Sharon Baker-Heigh
  • Sue Jackson
  • Bette March

Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month of October, November, February, March, April, May and June at 7:00 P.M.
Board Meeting Location:
Forestvale Cemetery Shop
490 Forestvale Road
Helena, MT 59602

Click this link to open the Forestvale Cemetery Rules and Regulations.(PDF, 120KB)

Forestvale Cemetery Price List

FULL BURIAL

PRE-NEED GRAVE ............................................ $ 200.00

GRAVE AT THE TIME OF BURIAL ................... $ 225.00

OPEN AND CLOSE BURIAL............................... $ 175.00

OPEN AND CLOSE BURIAL SAT. AM................ $ 225.00

OPEN AND CLOSE BURIAL SAT. PM ................ $ 275.00

GROUND CONTAINER .......................................$ 425.00

GREEN BURIAL FEES ..........................................$ 100.00

DISINTER OF FULL BURIAL.............................. $ 350.00

ASH BURIALS

ASH GRAVE......................................................... $ 100.00

OPEN AND CLOSE ASHES ..................................$ 75.00

OPEN AND CLOSE ASHES SAT. AM ...................$ 100.00

OPEN AND CLOSE ASHES SAT. PM................... $ 125.00

DISINTER OF ASHES............................................$ 150.00 + reinterment fees if applies.

CRYPT/NICHE BURIALS

ASH COLUMBARIUM
(EACH ONE INCLUDES INSCRIPTION, O&C)... $ 500.00

MAUSOLEUM
(EACH ONE INCLUDES INSCRIPTION, O&C)... $ 3000.00