Obituary for Irene G. Solberg

Irene Gladys (Torseth) Solberg died September 2, 2023 peacefully in her home at age 90 with family near.

Irene was born to immigrant parents John Torseth and Dagmar (Hanson) Torseth in Duluth, MN on March 8, 1933.Her family moved to Fargo, ND where she attended school and graduated in 1951.Shortly after her graduation, the family moved back to Duluth. While in Duluth, she worked as secretary and typist.

She married Loren A. Solberg in June, 1957.They first lived in Minneapolis, MN then purchased a house in Fridley, MN. While in Fridley they had two sons. Their house was destroyed by a tornado in May, 1965.They built a new house in Brooklyn Park. After her boys were both in school, Irene returned to the workforce at Dayton’s in Minneapolis. In 1976 the family moved to Minot, ND. There she worked in banking for 14 years before retirement.

Both before and during retirement Irene served her community and church in a variety of roles including hospital auxiliary, delivering books and reading to care center clients, teaching Sunday School and vacation Bible school, assisting with numerous fundraising events, as a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America, and sewing blankets and quilts for kids in the foster care system. She was the primary caregiver for her mother and husband in their later years. Before Loren’s passing in 2004, they enjoyed travel including trips across the US, Canada, and to Norway stopping along the way to visit friends and relatives. Irene enjoyed baking, sewing, lunch with friends, time with her children and their families, and the many dogs that have been part of her life. In 2011 she moved to Rogers, MN to be near family and spend more time with long-time friends.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, John and Dagmar Torseth, and husband, Loren.

Irene is survived by sons, Kent and Linda (Benson) Solberg of Verndale, MN, Jay and Caty (Jensen) Solberg of Rogers, MN, and grandsons, Seth and Eli Solberg of Rogers, MN.

Services will be held 1:30PM, Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Word of Peace Lutheran Church, 21705 129th Ave. N., Rogers, MN with visitation beginning at 12:30PM and a reception to follow. Internment will be next to her late husband at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, MN.