ARTHUR S. SOLBERG

Arthur Sinclair Solberg of rural Agate, ND, age 96, entered rest on April 28, 2014, at the Towner County Living Center. He was born on March 26, 1918, the seventh son of Agate pioneers Owen and Betsy (Hookland) Solberg. He attended grade school in rural Agate at Pleasant Valley #4 and then went to Bisbee High School, graduating in 1935. After High School, Art joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) with a contingent of Towner and Rolette County men and were sent to Washington State to work on the Gran Coulee Dam project. Following his time with the CCC, he returned to the home farm. In 1942, he attended a course on radios at the University North Dakota in Grand Forks. During World War II, Art joined the Navy in September of 1942 and served as a Fire Controlman First Class aboard the Destroyer Escort USS Willis (DE395) on convoy duty in the Atlantic and later the Pacific. He was discharged in December of 1945. Later in life, Art enjoyed several ship reunions, some with family members. After WWII, Art returned to the home farm and farmed until his retirement in 2007, living there until the fall of 2012. With his sister Bessie and brother Owen, they kept the homestead open and welcome to all. The next generations and their families will treasure the memories of the past Thanksgivings, Christmases, and family gatherings. Art was a lifelong member of the Bisbee Lutheran Church where he was involved in the Church Choir, men’s group, men’s quartet, and church council. He also served on the board of the Bisbee Credit Union serving some years as president. Arthur was preceded in death by his parents Owen and Betsy; brothers and sisters Carl, Sivert, Annie, Albert, Iver, Thora, Alice, Benjamin, Owen, Bessie, and Thomas. He is survived by many nieces and nephews and their extended families. Funeral Services for Art will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Bisbee Lutheran Church, Bisbee, ND with Reverend Bonnie Weaver officiating.   Military Honors will be accorded by the Halling-Scobba Post #129, Bisbee American Legion and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team.  Burial will be in the Bisbee Cemetery at a later date.  Visitation will be held on Monday, May 5th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Tuesday one hour prior to the service all at the Bisbee Lutheran Church. Serving as Casket Bearers for Art will be Steve Berg, Brent Kurtti, Brent Bonn, Charles Bursinger, Larry Hendrickson and Karl Solberg. Music will be Congregational Hymns with Lori Kurtti as the pianist. Friends may sign the online register book and share memories of Art at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com