Thelma Solberg, 104, of Stanley, ND passed away Thursday, May 20, 2021 at Mountrail Bethel Home in Stanley, ND.

Thelma Delores Olson Solberg was born near Blaisdell on September 18, 1916, to homesteaders Otto and Annie Olson. She grew up on the family dairy farm and attended school in Blaisdell, graduating at the age of sixteen. She and her five sisters rode horseback ten miles one way to attend confirmation classes at Shell Creek Lutheran Church.

Thelma earned her teacher’s certificate at Minot State Teacher’s College and taught in country schools around Berthold for five years. On June 23, 1940, Thelma married George Solberg in a double wedding with her sister Helen and Nels Kjellberg. The wedding was held in the family home. Thelma and George lived in Parshall for a year before moving to Kalispel, Montana. In November 1945, George and Thelma moved to Stanley, North Dakota, where they put down roots and started Solberg Implement with George’s brothers.

Thelma raised three children, George, Richard, and JoAnne. She was a gifted cook and her recipes are treasured. Her potato dumplings, lefse, and flatbread were enjoyed by her family. She did lots of baking, especially breads, pies, and cookies. She made crabapple and raspberry wines as well as plum dandy which she served on special occasions. She adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren and made their favorite foods when they visited. Thelma was a two-time breast cancer survivor.

An active member of American Lutheran Church, Thelma served as regular organist for twenty-five years and continued to play for funerals throughout her eighties. She was a faithful participant in her women’s group and circle Bible studies. Thelma was also active in the McDowell Music Club playing piano and singing in groups for many of their programs. She and her sisters sang for many special occasions.

Thelma lived on her own until age of ninety-five when she suffered a stroke. She has resided at the Mountrail Bethel Home since that time.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; her son, George, Jr.; and her grandchildren, Kris and Anne Marie Keierleber. Her five sisters – Alice Hebig, Gladys Strand, Helen Kjellberg, Norma Kjellberg, and Doris Gorseth Kabanuk and their spouses – also preceded her in death. Her in-laws, Gustav and Malin Solberg, Olaf Solberg, Torval Solberg, Lars Solberg, Anna Eidem, Edith Aas, and Gertrude Hovda and their spouses also preceded her in death.

She is survived by children, Richard (Barbara) Solberg and JoAnne (Ken) Keierleber; grandchildren, Jon (Agnieszka) Solberg, Jessica (Ryan) Ackerman, and David Keierleber; granddaughter-in-law, Jocelyn Keierleber; great-grandchildren, Hunter Keierleber, Gunnar and Maggie Ackerman, Daniel Wojciehowski, and Gustav and Anna Solberg, and many nieces and nephews and their children.

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