Announcements
When decorating gravesites this Memorial Day weekend, we ask that you follow all cemetery rules and regulations. All Memorial Day decorations and flags that do not adhere to the Forestvale graveside decoration guidelines will be removed on Monday, June 2, 2025.
The next Forestvale Trustee meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 7pm in the City/County Building Room 309.
About
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
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
Mausoleum
The Mausoleum has above ground full burial spaces.
Mausoleum side View
Forestvale Cemetery Boards
The next Forestvale Trustee meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 7pm in the City/County Building Room 309.
Trustees:
- Wendy Magera
- Gary Long
- Andrew Watne
Historic 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
Forestvale Cemetery Rules and Regulations.(PDF, 121KB)
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