Irene Solie passed away peacefully on June 11, 2020 in Minot. Irene Myrtle Eraker was born January 6, 1925 on the family farm in Winger Township, four miles SW of Winger, Minnesota. She was the 8th of 9 children. Her father Andrew was an immigrant from Borgund, Norway. Her mother, Dina (Anderson) was born to Norwegian immigrants who were homesteaders; their farm was near her birthplace. Both Norwegian and English were spoken in her home, but Norwegian became less used as she grew older.
Irene attended school in Winger and McIntosh, graduating as class valedictorian. Her first job after high school was at Dayton’s in Minneapolis for the Christmas rush. The job ended right at Christmas but that was okay--she was able to return home for Christmas. Irene’s next job was at Willow Run Bomber Plant near Ypsilanti, Michigan, first as a riveter and next as an inspector--this being during the World War II era. Later, she worked for a year in the accounting department at the main office of Brunswig Drug Company, in Los Angeles, California. Her last job was at Minot State University as cashier in Food Service where she worked for 20 years. After that, she did volunteer work for SHA for 11 years, finally “retiring” at age 86.
Irene was a loving wife and mother. She married Henry George Solie in 1947, in Winger, Minnesota. Early on, they lived in Crosby, ND with children Thomas, Paul, David, and Diane. They later moved to Minot, where Kevin was born. The family enjoyed many summer weekends at their cabin at Rice Lake, hosting many friends and relatives. Irene and Henry loved to travel, with a few trips to Europe visiting Norway, France, England and Belgium. Family vacations were also important, with Irene and family traveling to almost every state. Henry died in 1997, but Irene was still an avid traveler, visiting New York City to see Broadway shows with relatives from Norway while in her 80s. She was active in Sons of Norway and a member of Zion Lutheran Church.
Irene is survived by her children: Paul (Minot), David (Hickory Hills, Il), Kevin (Tamara) (Bismarck); daughter-in-law Jean Solie (Springfield, MO); grandchildren Brian Vitko (Maize, KS), Tonia Vitko (Minot), and Erik Solie (Bismarck); great grandchildren Solana Gautschi and Levi Vitko (Minot); brother-in-law Ray Solie (Mukilteo, WA); and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, son Thomas, daughter Diane Vitko, son-in-law Mitchell Vitko, parents, nephews Glenn Ohrlin and Michael Eraker, and all of her siblings.
Thompson-Larson Funeral Home
Irene attended school in Winger and McIntosh, graduating as class valedictorian. Her first job after high school was at Dayton’s in Minneapolis for the Christmas rush. The job ended right at Christmas but that was okay--she was able to return home for Christmas. Irene’s next job was at Willow Run Bomber Plant near Ypsilanti, Michigan, first as a riveter and next as an inspector--this being during the World War II era. Later, she worked for a year in the accounting department at the main office of Brunswig Drug Company, in Los Angeles, California. Her last job was at Minot State University as cashier in Food Service where she worked for 20 years. After that, she did volunteer work for SHA for 11 years, finally “retiring” at age 86.
Irene was a loving wife and mother. She married Henry George Solie in 1947, in Winger, Minnesota. Early on, they lived in Crosby, ND with children Thomas, Paul, David, and Diane. They later moved to Minot, where Kevin was born. The family enjoyed many summer weekends at their cabin at Rice Lake, hosting many friends and relatives. Irene and Henry loved to travel, with a few trips to Europe visiting Norway, France, England and Belgium. Family vacations were also important, with Irene and family traveling to almost every state. Henry died in 1997, but Irene was still an avid traveler, visiting New York City to see Broadway shows with relatives from Norway while in her 80s. She was active in Sons of Norway and a member of Zion Lutheran Church.
Irene is survived by her children: Paul (Minot), David (Hickory Hills, Il), Kevin (Tamara) (Bismarck); daughter-in-law Jean Solie (Springfield, MO); grandchildren Brian Vitko (Maize, KS), Tonia Vitko (Minot), and Erik Solie (Bismarck); great grandchildren Solana Gautschi and Levi Vitko (Minot); brother-in-law Ray Solie (Mukilteo, WA); and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, son Thomas, daughter Diane Vitko, son-in-law Mitchell Vitko, parents, nephews Glenn Ohrlin and Michael Eraker, and all of her siblings.
Thompson-Larson Funeral Home
Irene Solie passed away peacefully on June 11, 2020 in Minot. Irene Myrtle Eraker was born January 6, 1925 on the family farm in Winger Township, four miles SW of Winger, Minnesota. She was the 8th of 9 children. Her father Andrew was an immigrant from Borgund, Norway. Her mother, Dina (Anderson) was born to Norwegian immigrants who were homesteaders; their farm was near her birthplace. Both Norwegian and English were spoken in her home, but Norwegian became less used as she grew older.
Irene attended school in Winger and McIntosh, graduating as class valedictorian. Her first job after high school was at Dayton’s in Minneapolis for the Christmas rush. The job ended right at Christmas but that was okay--she was able to return home for Christmas. Irene’s next job was at Willow Run Bomber Plant near Ypsilanti, Michigan, first as a riveter and next as an inspector--this being during the World War II era. Later, she worked for a year in the accounting department at the main office of Brunswig Drug Company, in Los Angeles, California. Her last job was at Minot State University as cashier in Food Service where she worked for 20 years. After that, she did volunteer work for SHA for 11 years, finally “retiring” at age 86.
Irene was a loving wife and mother. She married Henry George Solie in 1947, in Winger, Minnesota. Early on, they lived in Crosby, ND with children Thomas, Paul, David, and Diane. They later moved to Minot, where Kevin was born. The family enjoyed many summer weekends at their cabin at Rice Lake, hosting many friends and relatives. Irene and Henry loved to travel, with a few trips to Europe visiting Norway, France, England and Belgium. Family vacations were also important, with Irene and family traveling to almost every state. Henry died in 1997, but Irene was still an avid traveler, visiting New York City to see Broadway shows with relatives from Norway while in her 80s. She was active in Sons of Norway and a member of Zion Lutheran Church.
Irene is survived by her children: Paul (Minot), David (Hickory Hills, Il), Kevin (Tamara) (Bismarck); daughter-in-law Jean Solie (Springfield, MO); grandchildren Brian Vitko (Maize, KS), Tonia Vitko (Minot), and Erik Solie (Bismarck); great grandchildren Solana Gautschi and Levi Vitko (Minot); brother-in-law Ray Solie (Mukilteo, WA); and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, son Thomas, daughter Diane Vitko, son-in-law Mitchell Vitko, parents, nephews Glenn Ohrlin and Michael Eraker, and all of her siblings.
Thompson-Larson Funeral Home
Irene attended school in Winger and McIntosh, graduating as class valedictorian. Her first job after high school was at Dayton’s in Minneapolis for the Christmas rush. The job ended right at Christmas but that was okay--she was able to return home for Christmas. Irene’s next job was at Willow Run Bomber Plant near Ypsilanti, Michigan, first as a riveter and next as an inspector--this being during the World War II era. Later, she worked for a year in the accounting department at the main office of Brunswig Drug Company, in Los Angeles, California. Her last job was at Minot State University as cashier in Food Service where she worked for 20 years. After that, she did volunteer work for SHA for 11 years, finally “retiring” at age 86.
Irene was a loving wife and mother. She married Henry George Solie in 1947, in Winger, Minnesota. Early on, they lived in Crosby, ND with children Thomas, Paul, David, and Diane. They later moved to Minot, where Kevin was born. The family enjoyed many summer weekends at their cabin at Rice Lake, hosting many friends and relatives. Irene and Henry loved to travel, with a few trips to Europe visiting Norway, France, England and Belgium. Family vacations were also important, with Irene and family traveling to almost every state. Henry died in 1997, but Irene was still an avid traveler, visiting New York City to see Broadway shows with relatives from Norway while in her 80s. She was active in Sons of Norway and a member of Zion Lutheran Church.
Irene is survived by her children: Paul (Minot), David (Hickory Hills, Il), Kevin (Tamara) (Bismarck); daughter-in-law Jean Solie (Springfield, MO); grandchildren Brian Vitko (Maize, KS), Tonia Vitko (Minot), and Erik Solie (Bismarck); great grandchildren Solana Gautschi and Levi Vitko (Minot); brother-in-law Ray Solie (Mukilteo, WA); and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, son Thomas, daughter Diane Vitko, son-in-law Mitchell Vitko, parents, nephews Glenn Ohrlin and Michael Eraker, and all of her siblings.
Thompson-Larson Funeral Home
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