Loren O. Solem, 89, Halstad, MN, died Thursday, April 12, 2018, at Fargo Veterans Affair Health Care System, Fargo, ND.

Loren was born in Halstad, MN, on September 18, 1928, the son of Knute and Alice (Omdahl) Solem. He was baptized and confirmed at Augustana Lutheran Church. He attended Garfield School in rural Halstad and graduated from Halstad High School.

Loren then joined the United States Navy and traveled to various ports in Asia on an oil tanker, the U.S.S. Sabine. He was honorably discharged, attended Concordia College and graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College (now MSUM) with the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science.

Loren married Shirley Wollertson on August 1, 1954, in the Shelly Lutheran Church. They were married for 63 years and were blessed with two children. Loren taught school for 31 years in Brookings, OR, Dazey, Caledonia, and Hillsboro, ND. He so enjoyed his students, colleagues and the staff.

The family lived for 6 years on a farm in rural Shelly while Loren commuted to Caledonia and later Hillsboro. They were members of the Shelly Marsh River Lutheran Church. In 1963, Loren bought his family's farm in rural Halstad and continued to teach and farm. They became members of the Augustana Lutheran Church where Loren served on the church council, as Luther League advisor and custodian. He also served on the board of the Halstad Fire Insurance Company.

Loren found satisfaction in the rural lifestyle with farming, gardening, bee keeping, custom baling, Saddle club, and raising livestock. After renting out his cropland, he constantly surveyed the progress in the fields. Loren enjoyed nature, the lakes, camping, swimming, reading, adventure walks with grandchildren, family gatherings, traveling, and a sense of humor which was unwavering.

Loren's health had declined in the past months and he was hospitalized off and on for the past few weeks. He died Thursday at the Community Living Center at the VA in Fargo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Ramona (Jack) Felch and his brother, Peter Solem. Loren is survived by his wife, Shirley, son Mark (Carla) Solem, Detroit Lakes, MN, daughter Julie (Dennis) Roberts Simpson, Pullman, WA, his grandchildren, Michael Solem, Matthew Solem, Nicholas Solem, Joseph (Elizabeth) Roberts, Anna (Carlos) Cordova, great grandchild, Evie Solem, step-grandchildren, Annie (Jason) Morrison, Hunter (Anella) Simpson, step-great grandchild, Raleigh Simpson, sister Anne Hartkopf, Bloomington, MN, brother Forrest Solem, Tustin, SD, and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Funeral: 2:00PM Monday, April 16, 2018, at Augustana Lutheran Church, rural Halstad, MN.

Visitation: Sunday, April 15, 2018, from 5:00PM to 7:00PM with a 6:30PM prayer service at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Halstad, Minnesota.

Burial: Augustana Lutheran Cemetery, rural Halstad, MN.