Mary Louise Solberg, 79

Mary Louise Solberg, 79, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell after a long battle with COPD.

She was the youngest of seven children born to Axel and Cornelia (Sheaffer) Swenson on a homestead in Kevin, Mont.

The family later moved to a farm near Cut Bank along the Milk River. She attended boarding school in Columbia Falls from fifth to eighth grade. She attended high school at Flathead County High School in Kalispell. She married Albert Solberg on Sept. 24, 1949. Three children were born to this union, Merdith, Nancy and Duane. They farmed in the West Valley area of Kalispell. Mary worked hard raising chickens, candling, selling and delivering eggs, along with the care of many farm animals and a large garden. They moved to Whitefish in 1971. They divorced in 1973. She worked as a waitress at Sykes’ Fountain and the Park Inn in Kalispell. After her divorce, her adventurous spirit led her to working for the R.L. Polk Company doing city directories in Alaska and the Northwestern States. She settled down in Portland for a time, working for Opticraft. After tiring of her life in a fifth wheel, she was proud to purchase her own home in Gresham, Ore. In her retirement years, she returned to the Flathead Valley and settled back in the family home in Whitefish. She enjoyed her family, playing cards, collecting turtles, watching birds and animals outside her window, her computer and watching ballgames. She experienced great joy in the past few years when she was introduced to her four grandchildren, who were adopted out at birth.

Mary is survived by her big brother, Warren Swenson of Cut Bank; big sister, Margaret Wagner of Langley, B.C., Canada; daughters, Merdith and husband Ron Hartsoch, and Nancy Solberg of Kalispell; Duane and wife Karen Solberg of Anaconda; eight grandchildren, Jeff and wife Mary Hartsoch, Jeanne Harbin, Jessica and husband Chris Anderson, Emilie Solberg, Joel Kegel, Tim and wife Sara Meyer, Luke and wife Amy Bowen and Sarah Foster; eight great-grandchildren, Kyler, Cody and Cassidy Hartsoch, Jordyn and Heather Harbin, Elyse Bowen, McKenzie Meyer and Bryer Anderson; and many nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Robert and Harvey Swenson; and sisters, Dorothy Ruth Boyle and Jean Anders Bucher.

A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Dec. 3 at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Following services, a potluck will be held at Central Bible Church Gym at 902 First Ave. E., in Kalispell.

The family suggests donations be given to Lamplighter House, 410 Windward Way in Kalispell in Mary’s name.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Mary’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Mary’s tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories.