Our Senior Spotlight this month is Ed Solie.  He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 1924, which makes him 90 years old.  He lived there until he was three.  His dad had a sheet metal business and they moved a couple of times, finally settling in West Dallas, Wisconsin (home of Allis Chalmers Tractors). He was the oldest child with two brothers and one sister.  He and his youngest brother are the only ones still living.  As a note, his father was Norwegian and his mother was German.

Ed served thirty-seven months in the Navy during WWII as an aviation mechanic.  He never had to leave the United States during the War.  After returning from war, he attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Sociology and Psychology.  He was working as a Social Worker when he met his wife, Eva.  She was a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Ed was a Lutheran when growing up and later became unassociated with any church.  Eva was the reason Ed joined the LDS faith.  They were married in 1956.  She had three daughters when Ed married her.  He didn't think there was any way he could support a family on his wages, but soon found out if they were careful, it was possible.  Ed was eventually able to adopt these girls and to then they added a son and another daughter: Karen Heins, deceased; Sandra and Gary Holland, So Jordan; Janine and David Palmer,  Waterloo, Iowa; Eric Roy Solie, Salem; and Ellen and Noe Casalino, So. Jordan.  They have 28 grandchildren and 56 great grandchildren.

Eva suffered with allergies and respiratory problems.  Her doctor told her she needed a mild climate.  So in Novermber 1964 Ed took the Civil Service Exam in Provo and was hired.  They moved to Provo.  While working he attended Graduate School at the University of Utah from 1965--1967 and earned his Masters Degree.  In 1969 they looked at their home by the pond, which was under construction, and said they would buy it even before they looked inside.  They have a beautiful view!

He served a Milwaukee Stake Mission for the LDS Church.  Eva and he served every Saturday as Giudes at Temple Square in Salt Lake City for seven years.  They served a six-month mission to Jackson, Mississippi and then they served for one year in the Riverside, California Mission.  Ed has served as a Temple Worker for the LDS Church for 22 years.

Eva passed away in 2009.  He said Eva was a special person.  Three qualities were mentioned about her: (1) A noble woman, (2) A valiant lady, and (3) An elect lady.  What a tribute to her.  Ed said she only went to the eighth grade in school, but she was very well read and self-educated.

Ed likes to read. He has had horses he loved to ride; then he went to ATVs.  He liked to hunt and fish.  He also likes to talk and tell about his history, and what an interesting history he has.

Ed served on the Salem City Planning Commission for several years.  He appreciates the community of Salem.  He said, "The glue that holds me together is my sense of humor."  Eva had a sense of humor also.   It was a delight to visit with Ed and get to know him.

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From "Senior Spotlight", Salem City Newsletter, September 2014 -  P 3.