Solem, Geraldine Mae (Haugen) 1926 - 2017

SOLEM, HAUGEN, RUSTAD, SEATON, CASTERTON, ISTAD, BIGALK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:41

Geraldine M. Solem, age 91, of Decorah, IA, died on Wednesday morning, August 23, 2017 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah with Rev. Stacey Nalean – Carlson officiating. Burial will be in Canoe Ridge Cemetery.

Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 26, one hour before the service, at Fjelstul Funeral Home.

Geraldine Mae Solem was born January 4, 1926 to Gjermund and Marie (Rustad) Haugen in Springfield Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. In her early childhood the family moved from Nordness to a farm north of Decorah in Pleasant Township where she grew up. After graduating from high school in 1945, she became a legally qualified teacher. She taught in two rural schools: Pleasant #6 (Daubney School) for 5 years and Highland #5 (Sacquitne School) for 2 years. Then for many years she worked for the Decorah Community School’s hot lunch program. It was always a delight for her to be able to see her grandchildren come through the lunch line.

Geraldine married Curtis M. Solem on August 12, 1951 at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church. To this union one child was born, a son Randy. Geraldine was a life time member of Canoe Ridge Church where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, served on the church council, belonged to the Canoe Ridge Women of the ELCA and Veda Circle. She always looked forward to helping out with the annual capon supper and working at the Nordic Fest booth serving rosettes and rommegrot.

Geraldine was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She always had the time for her grandchildren and would never turn down a babysitting job. She liked to read, watch RFD TV and go out with her friends, especially the monthly gatherings of going out to eat with her high school classmates later in life. Her smile warmed the hearts of those who knew her and took care of her. Her life was simple yet full. She will be missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband Curtis on February 24, 2007; her parents Gjermund and Marie Haugen; one sister Arlyne Seaton; and one brother Curtis Haugen.

Geraldine is survived by her son Randy (Linda) Solem of Decorah; four grandchildren: David (Chelsea) Solem of Decorah, Sarah (Michael) Casterton of Decorah, Daniel Solem of Des Moines, Iowa and Matthew (BreAnne) Solem of Minneapolis, Minnesota; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marilyn Istad of Decorah and Kathryn (Kay) Bigalk of Harmony, Minnesota; and several nieces and nephews.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Canoe Ridge Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen