Marlene Faye Solberg, 63, of Williston passed away Friday, January 4, 2019 at her residence. Her family takes great comfort knowing that she passed away peacefully into the arms of a loving Father. Marlene, the youngest of 5 children, was born to Alvin and Bernice (Ihla) Schepp on May 12, 1955 at a hospital in Bottineau, ND.
Marlene will be laid to rest next to her husband Bruce in the United Cemetery of Zahl, ND.
Marlene started Newburg Public School in 1961 and graduated from there in 1973. During her school years, Marlene was active in choir, band, pep club, cheerleading, paper staff, annual staff and served as a class representative. Her real passions were music, dancing and reading books. Marlene attended Dakota College-Bottineau in 1973-1974. She continued her education at Williston State College. During Marlene’s years at Dakota College the Forest Service was searching for a work-study student. Marlene applied and was offered the position and worked part-time while continuing her studies. After graduating from Dakota College, Marlene continued to work for the Forestry Service from 1974 to 1980, leaving after meeting her future husband.
On July 12, 1980, Marlene met Bruce Solberg at a cousins wedding and they married December 6, 1980, after a whirlwind courtship. They resided in Williston before moving to the farm of Bruce’s stepfather, Lyle Nelson, 50 miles northwest of Williston in the Zahl area. Bruce and Marlene spent the next several years farming and enjoying the farm life. Marlene enjoyed gardening, mowing the grass and the country fresh air. Marlene and Bruce also ran a bed and breakfast for pheasant hunters at the farm for 10 years, serving hunters who came in with their dogs from all over the United States. While farming and running a bed and breakfast, Marlene also worked full-time at the Zahl Farmer’s Elevator, which changed its name several times due to mergers with other farm related businesses, finally being called Horizon Resources from which Marlene retired after 30 years of service.
Marlene and Bruce looked forward to summer and winter sports, enjoying fishing trips in the summer and snow skiing in Montana during the winter months.
Marlene was a member of United Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church Women, served on the Church Counsel and taught Sunday School. In 2000, Bruce pursued a second career in insurance adjusting while Marlene continued working for Horizon Resources. Bruce did not want Marlene to be alone on the farm while he traveled all over the country adjusting storm damage so the couple moved back into Williston in 2002 to help take care of Bruce’s aging parents.
Marlene is survived by: Brothers Lavern Schepp (Coleen) Mesa AZ and Terry Schepp, Vergus MN and a sister (Loralan Seiffert (Michael), New Braunfels TX; step-daughters Tracey Willette (Jason) Las Vegas NV and Angie Solberg Knoxville TN; nieces Candace Otterstrom (Kevin), Mesa AZ and Lori Matus (Tim), San Antonio TX; nephews Keith Schepp (Lisa) Minot ND, Anthony Seiffert (Sharon) Yorba Linda CA, Matthew Schepp, Minneapolis MN, Cody Schepp Bemidji MN, Matthew Rudnick Jamestown ND
She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Bruce Solberg; her mother and father, Bernice and Alvin Schepp; brother, Myron Schepp; two nieces, Heather and Monica Schepp and numerous aunts and uncles.

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