Jessica Mae McCandless, age 41, of Hendricks, MN passed away Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 3rd at GracePoint Wesleyan Church in Brookings, SD. Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, June 2nd at Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Hendricks, MN with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers please make memorials to the McCandless account at the First Security Bank in Hendricks, MN. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel of Hendricks is entrusted with arrangements.
Jessica Mae (Forseth) McCandless was born April 24th, 1983 in Hendricks, MN to Larry and Holly (Kirkeide) Forseth. Jessica began working as a CNA at the Hendricks Hospital at the age of 16 and continued her career until her diagnosis in February. She graduated from Deubrook Area Schools in 2001. In 2002, Jessica moved to Arizona with a high school friend and met the love of her life, Michael, while working at the same nursing home as him. Jessica and Michael were united in marriage on April 5th, 2008 in Flagstaff, AZ. Isabella Holly McCandless was born into the family on August 12, 2008. On July 20, 2009, Jessica and Michael welcomed Michael Dennis McCandless Jr. They continued living in Flagstaff until 2011, when they decided to move back to Hendricks to be closer to Jessica’s family. On March 29, 2013, Dakota Hines McCandless was born to complete their family. Jessica loved traveling, camping, and being involved in her children’s lives. She always tried to make it to their activities, whether near or far. The residents at the nursing home always brought a smile to her face. Trips to Arizona and Pennsylvania and nearby camping trips were her favorite pastime with family. Jessica always wanted to be around for family events. Being there for her family was truly her passion. On February 2, 2024, Jessica was diagnosed with Burkett Lymphoma and went into chemo. She spent a lot of time in the hospital receiving chemo treatments. Every time she went to the hospital her favorite saying was “Time to kick cancer’s butt.” On May 24th, a blood clot formed in Jessica’s brain causing a stroke. Surgery was performed to remove the clot, but she had another stroke overnight that caused bleeding in her brain. Jessica passed away on May 28th at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Jessica is survived by her husband of 16 years, Michael; 3 children: Isabella (15), Michael Jr. (14), Dakota (11); parents: Larry and Holly Forseth; siblings: Justin (Katie) Forseth, Dawn (Zach) Hildebrandt, Whitney (Jon) Hansen; brother-in-law, Mark (Shaw) McCandless; sister-in-law, Ashley Benedict; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Irwin and Dorothy Forseth, Donald and Muriel Kirkeide; mother-in-law, Carolyn Fisher, father-in-law, Dennis McCandless; and great-grandma Myrth VanDevire.
