Olive Luella Solem was born August 12th, 1927, the daughter of August and Agnes (Holt) Solem, in Dieter township Roseau County Minnesota. She attended school in rural Ross and Badger. As a young girl she worked at various jobs in Thief River Falls and Kennedy, Minnesota.
She married Sanford Foss on April 25th, 1950. They farmed and raised their family on a farm North of Badger. She worked at Polaris Industries for twenty years. She was an active member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Ross and a member of the Concordia Ladies Aid, enjoyed quilting at the church, and belonged to the Sunshine Club.
In 1986, she and her husband retired from the farm and built a home closer to town, where she filled her days with the simple joys she loved most. She enjoyed tending to her flower beds and garden. She delighted in card games, puzzles, and watching the birds that visited her kitchen window, always finding wonder in the little things. But nothing brought her more joy than the time spent with her grandchildren and the cherished visits from her children—moments that filled her heart and home with love.
She is survived by her children, Pam (Terry) Wigfield, Richard (Karen) Foss, Ronnie (Kim) Foss, and Joni Foss. Her grandchildren Amy (Adam) Jackson, Jordon (Lacey) Foss, Whitney (Jeff) Wright, Olivia Foss, Richard Wigfield, August (Haley) Foss, and great-grandchildren Mayson Oney, Zach St. Clair, Dillon Jackson, Leo Anderson, Ely Foss.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, her daughter Karen St. Clair, siblings Marlys Solem, Phyllis Strozyk, Jeanette Wellen, and Roy Reed.
Olive passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family in her home on July 10th, 2025.
A funeral service will be held at 11AM on Thursday, July 24th at the Concordia Lutheran Church in Ross, Minnesota. Visitation will be held July 23rd from 5-7PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau.
Last modified: 07/15/2025
