JoAnn “Jo” Thea Solberg 1933 - 2018

SOLBERG, DOCKEN, EWING

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/19/2018 at 20:07:02

Onawa Democrat
12 December 2018

JoAnn “Jo” Thea Solberg, 85, of Moorhead, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, December 14, 2018, at the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Iowa with Pastor Steve Pera officiating, with fellowship and luncheon following at the Moorhead Community Building. Burial will be in Spring Valley Cemetery near Moorhead at a later date. Visitation will be 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. Thursday, December 13, 2018, with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service in Onawa, Iowa

Jo was born, JoAnn Thea Ewing on January 3, 1933 to Lawrence and Grace (Docken) Ewing. She was crowned “Miss Hot Springs” South Dakota being the first baby born that year. She was very proud of this honor.

Jo graduated from Onawa High School in 1951. She excelled in vocal music which she continued to enjoy all her life, singing at many weddings and funerals.

Jo met Don Solberg of Moorhead, Iowa and married him on June 4, 1951. To this union 6 children were born, Becky, Toni, Larry, Jeff, Lisa and Scott. In 1957 they purchased an 80 acre farm which has come to be known as the Solberg Family Farm. She lived on that farm for the next 61 years, and still lived there at the time of her passing.

Jo helped Don with the Well Company, and later added a dry goods store to the shop. She also attended Western Iowa Tech and completed, first her LPN degree and a short time later her RN degree. She worked at Burgess Hospital in Onawa, Iowa for over 40 years until her retirement.

Jo and Don took the family on regular family vacations each year and spent many, many, weekends camping and boating in locations near and far. This was especially unusual because Jo did not like lakes and would never walk any deeper than her waist.

Jo was a member of Moorhead Legion Auxiliary and the Order of the Eastern Star for over 60 years. She and Don were also sponsors for the Bethesda Luther League along with friends, Jim and Elsie Kalskett for many years. She was also a lifetime member of Good Sams Camping Club.

After retirement, Jo and Don enjoyed spending the winter in the Texas sun, traveling to South Padre Island, and occasionally Mexico, staying warm and visiting with friends.

Jo is survived by her children, Becky Anderson of Alexandria MN, Toni Engelhardt, Larry (Lori) Solberg, Lisa (Ken Holtz) Solberg, and Scott (Sarah) Solberg all of Moorhead, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

Jo was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years Don Solberg; son, Jeff Solberg; son-in-law, Steve Anderson; grandson, Dustin Solberg; great-granddaughter, Shelby Solberg; her parents, Lawrence and Grace Ewing; her brothers, Denzel and Don Ewing; and her sister, Shirley Hogue.

Thanks Mom for making us all “#Solbergstrong”

Donations may be made in her memory to the Moorhead Fire and Rescue at United Bank of Iowa, Moorhead, Iowa.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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