Almond
Sollom, 79
 Thief
River Falls - Almond Al Sollom, 79, died
Thursday, March 29, 2001 at Altru Hospital in Grand
Forks, N.D.
Funeral
services were held at 10
a.m.
on Monday, April 2, at Zion Lutheran Church in
Thief River Falls with Rev. Dennis Ray-mond
officiating. Phyllis Dalager was the organist, and
Diane Johnson was the soloist. Cross bearers were
Matt and Ben Myers. Casketbearers were
grandchildren Claire Sollom, Hugh Sollom, Philip
Sollom, Lydya Sollom, Meg Sollom, Lisa Semanko,
Michael Howe, Erica Myers, Matt Myers, Lindsey
Myers, Kayla Myers and Kayla Noreen. Military
honors were accorded by the Thief River Falls
American Legion and VFW Posts. Marty Semanko was
the bugler. Interment was in Goodridge Cemetery in
Goodridge township of Pennington county. Green
Funeral Home of Thief River Falls was in charge of
the arrangements.
Almond
H. Sollom was born on November 21, 1921 in Thief
River Falls, the son of Alfred and Olivia
(Kjelgren) Sollom. He grew up on a farm near Bagley
and graduated from Bagley High School in 1939. He
earned a bachelors degree in fine arts from Bemidji
State Teachers College and later received a masters
degree from the same institution.
In
1943, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps and embarked
on a varied and successful career that spanned 20
years and allowed him to serve his country in far
corners of the world. He fought in World War II and
the Korean War and was awarded the Silver Star, the
nation's highest medal for heroism, and the Purple
Heart for wounds he sustained in combat against the
enemy. He retired from the Marine Corps as a
lieutenant colonel in 1963.
Al
married Phyllis Prestebak on August 14, 1943 in
Thief River Falls. The couple lived a traveling
life, moving many times during their 57 years of
marriage. They raised their children in locations
across the country from California, Nevada, North
Carolina and Virginia to Minnesota. After Al
retired from the Marine Corps, he and Phyllis and
their children resided in the Thief River Falls
area.
Al
taught social studies at Lincoln High School from
1965 to 1968 and then accepted a position with the
Minnesota Education Association from 1969 until
1980. After his retirement, he and Phyllis spent
many days at their cabin, Summit View on the south
end of Lake Julia, enjoying visits from their
children and friends. Phyllis died in June of
2000.
Al
attended Zion Lutheran Church as was active as
president of the congregation. He was also involved
in numerous other community activities.
Survivors
include two sons, Bob (Cathy) of Stafford, Va. and
Don (Geri) of Thief River Falls; three daughters,
Tobey (Jerry) Myers of Thief River Falls, Carrie of
Wayzata and Kathy (Daryl) Myers of Richland, Wash.;
15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a
sister, Viola Gordon of Cottonwood, Ariz.; and
several nieces and nephews.
He
was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis; his
parents; and three brothers, Adolph, Orland and
Clifford. A00003B2000AP04
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