James 'Jim' Solberg

James “Jim” Solberg, 55, Williston, passed away at Mercy Hospital in Williston on Tuesday morning, Feb. 19.

His funeral service will be celebrated Monday afternoon, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Williston. Rev. Martin Mock will officiate and interment will follow in Our Savior’s Lutheran Churchyard Cemetery, rural Williston.

On April 10, 1957, James Solberg was born in Dickinson to Tom and Norvella (Gresz) Solberg. He was baptized at Belfield Lutheran Church where he was confirmed in the Lutheran faith, grew up in Belfield, and was graduated from Belfield High School.

Like his brothers and sisters, as a kid Jim worked at his dad and mom’s service station, Tom’s Service, where he learned his mechanical skills and developed his good business sense. Helping out on Grampa and Gramma Gresz’ ranch instilled in Jim his passion for horses, cattle and haying.

Jim was first married to Marianne Emch in January of 1980. Together they made their home in Fryburg and had three children, Christopher, Thomas and Erica. The couple later divorced.

His first foray into the oil industry was with Koch where he was a fleet supervisor. In 1985, Jim moved to Williston where he continued his work with Koch until they were bought out by Bear Paw Energy. In 2006, he started Safe Com LLC, a safety and compliance consulting service, which he was still operating at the time of his recent illness.

On June 13, 1987, he first laid eyes on Tami Rae Farhart. They were married Aug. 11, 1990, at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Williston. To the couple was born their daughter, Sheena, Jim’s little sidekick.

Jim had a strong faith, and a deep respect and admiration for God’s creation. He enjoyed being outdoors, hunting and fishing, planting trees or simply observing wildlife.

Jim was a consummate planner, and made lists for various projects which he would then carry out. He was also a workaholic, and much of Jim and Tami’s time as a couple involved them performing work together, whether it be restoring a vehicle, working on an engine, raising cattle, or feeding animals.

They also enjoyed the tranquility of simply sitting together watching all the various animals out back or the snow fall outside.

Being very analytical, Jim could figure out most problems whether they were electrical, mechanical, a plumbing issue or woodworking. He brought his goal of perfection to all his work and constantly strove for continual improvement.

In his safety and compliance work, he brought his strong convictions and assertiveness to the job in a disarming manner, all in an effort to ensure everyone’s safety and their making it home at the end of a work day. He simply cared about his fellow workers.

Jim was a member of First Lutheran Church where he worked the dessert table during the Lutefisk dinner, the American Quarter Horse Association, and the Delta Waterfowlers.

He delighted in simple random acts of kindness, and found happiness in his life by giving it to others. Jim’s greatest treasure was his family. He dearly loved his wife, kids, mother, his siblings, and extended family and friends

Surviving Jim are his mother, Norvella, of Belfield; wife, Tami, of Williston; his children: son, Christopher (Alanna) Solberg of Fargo and Christopher’s daughter, Emilee Solberg of Fergus Falls, Minn., son, Tom Solberg and his son Bryzick, of Williston, daughter, Erica (Andy) Kessel and their daughter, Natalia, of Belfield, and daughter, Sheena Solberg (Miles Jessop) of Williston; his goddaughter, Amber Hofstad; his siblings, Tim (Ame) Solberg, Joyce (Dennis) Reisenauer, Rhonda (Darrell) Tooley, and Ken (LuAnn) Solberg, all of Belfield; his sister-in-law, Sherry Solberg of Belfield; numerous nieces and nephews, Ryan, Kimberly, Shawn, Amber, Alexis, Brooke, Tori, Justin, Laci, Bradley, Danielle, Rachael, Braden, and Carson; his father and mother-in-law, Denny and Sandra Farhart of Williston; his brother-in-law, Brad (Amy) Farhart of Stanley, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Tom, and brother, Keith Solberg.

Friends are welcome to visit www.eversonfh.com to share memories of Jim or leave condolences for his family.

Friends may also call at the Everson Funeral Home of Williston on Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. and at the church Monday for the hour preceding the service.

The Everson Funeral Home of Williston is caring for the family.

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