Ken D. Solum, 50

Ken D. Solum, 50, passed away Thursday, April 14, 2005, at HealthCenter Northwest in Kalispell, strong in his faith that he was going home to be with his Lord and Savior.

Ken was born Oct. 1, 1954, in Sumter, S.C., the oldest of four sons born to Orville and Mary Ellen (Patrick) Solum. When he was about a year old, his father's Air Force duty was completed in Sumter and the family returned to live in Rudyard.

Ken and his brothers grew up in Rudyard. Today, Ed Solum lives with his family in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and Phil Solum lives with his family in Aberdeen. S.D. His brother, Russ Solum, died in May 2003 in Arizona.

Ken first attended a one-room country school north of Rudyard, then transferred to Rudyard's elementary school and graduated from Rudyard High School in 1972.

In high school and throughout Ken's life, music remained a strong focus. He played piano, participated in All State Choir and in State Music Festival, and played baritone in the school band and bass guitar in pep band. In football, he was named the most valuable player and made the most tackles in 1968 and 1971. He competed in track, was the student body president and was named to Montana Boys State.

After graduation, he enrolled as a psychology major at Seattle Pacific College. While home in the spring of his first year, he agreed to provide guitar accompaniment for Renae Rude of Chester as she sang for a wedding. They have been together ever since.

The couple married on Dec. 28, 1974, in Chester, and lived in Bozeman until 1977 when Ken earned his Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in business management and finance.

He took a job in computer work for the Burroughs Corporation in Spokane, where Renae enrolled full-time in nursing school. In 1979, after she finished her nurse's training, Burroughs transferred him to Kalispell. He eventually became the office manager for Northwest Business in Kalispell. In 1989 he partnered with Stacey Gutierez to form Professional Business Systems, a Kalispell computer services firm which he helped lead until his death.

Ken and Renae are the parents of two children, Ryan David, born April 3, 1983, and Sonya Renae, born Dec. 22, 1987. Ryan attended Seattle Pacific University until this quarter, when he came home to be with his family; he is working at Glacier Bank until he returns to Seattle Pacific in the fall. Sonya is a junior at Stillwater Christian School.

Ken was very involved with his children's lives, regularly taking them with him to worship music practices. He coached both of them in Rotary basketball and attended all their games as they went through Trinity Lutheran School and Flathead Valley Christian School, now named Stillwater Christian.

His love of music led him to write many pieces, including an Easter cantata and several worship songs.

The family has been active since 1979 with New Covenant Fellowship, where Ken served as worship leader, elder and home group leader. He was a key player in the church's decision to relocate from Columbia Falls and build its new facility on Birch Grove Road nearly three years ago.

He was diagnosed with colon cancer in June 2003, but continued to deflect attention from himself as he ministered to others. With a spirit of grace, he told friends and family that he wanted God to be glorified through it all.

Before his death, he was able to attend Seattle Pacific's Parents Weekend in February, watch his daughter play in the state basketball tournament the same month, and take a trip to Hawaii with family and friends in March.

Ken was preceded in death by his father, Orville Solum, and his brother, Russ Solum.

He is survived by his wife, Renae, and their children, Ryan and Sonya, all of Kalispell; his mother, Mary Ellen Solum of Rudyard; his brothers and their wives, Ed and Sue Solum, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and Phil and Lynda Solum, of Aberdeen. S.D.; his mother-in-law, Coral Fyall, of Kalispell; his sister-in-law and husband, Neoma and Phil Anderson, of Kalispell; his brother-in-law and wife, Craig and Wanda Rude, of Cut Bank; and several nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many friends who loved and respected him.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at New Covenant Fellowship, 436 Birch Grove Road, Kalispell.

Memorials may be made to the Solum Children Education Fund at Glacier Bank, 202 Main St., Kalispell MT 59901; or to Wings, 310 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell MT 59901.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.