Charles City’s Solberg celebrates 100th birthday

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Today marks a momentous occasion for Dorothy Solberg as the lifelong Floyd County resident is celebrating her 100th birthday.

“I’m surprised,” said Solberg. “I didn’t think I’d be living this long.”

Born Dorothy Mae King on Tuesday, March 21, 1923, on a farm near Marble Rock, Dorothy was a middle child of Clark and Ruth King. She was the sixth of their nine children born between 1913 and 1932.

“We were all expected to do our chores, milking the cows, feeding the chickens, helping with the housework, or whatever we were asked to do,” said Dorothy in an interview with her daughter provided for this article. “We were not allowed to date on our own until around the age of 15 or 16. I often would double date with a sister or brothers.”

Dorothy attended a country school near their home through the 8th grade and completed her freshman year at Marble Rock High School before deciding to stay home to help her parents raise her siblings and work on the family farm.

“At that time you were only were only required to finish the 8th grade or be 16 years old,” said Dorothy. “I had already finished one more year than what was required and I wasn’t really interested in going any further. My parents didn’t really push the issue and I was happy to stay at home and help out.”

At the age of 21, she left home to move in with her sister, Minerva, in Charles City, where she helped take care of three nephews.

After a brief stint packaging chicken medicine, Dorothy started her career as a waitress, working at local clubs in Charles City, such as Club Iowa and the Frontier Club. She said she enjoyed the independence of her young adult years, going on dates, dancing and once taking a trip to San Francisco with a friend.

Her ultimate goal, though, was to become a wife and a mother.

In 1952, Dorothy King met Ervin Solberg, who worked at the Oliver/White farm tractor plant. They were engaged that December and married on September 27, 1953.

Ervin’s career took them to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they spent their first year of marriage. In October of 1954, they returned to Charles City.

After years of helping raise her siblings and nephews, Solberg became a mother herself not long after coming back to Iowa. The Solbergs’ first child, Michael, was born on Nov. 17, 1954; followed by a daughter, Susan, on Oct. 23, 1955; a second son, Tom, on Dec. 27, 1956; Linda on April 14, 1958; Janet on Aug. 24. 1959, and Diane on Dec. 16, 1963.

“She was a mother, one hundred percent,” said Diane Houdek, the youngest of the Solberg children. “That’s what she wanted to be in life and that’s what she got to be.”

In 1965, the Solbergs bought a farm outside of Charles City where they would settle to raise their children and live into retirement.

“She has given her all as a mother and has installed wisdom and strength in all six of us kids and has been there for us during the most heartbreaking times,” said Houdek. “For a lady that only wanted to do one important job in life she has exceeded her goal in spades.”

Ervin retired in the early 1980s and the couple enjoyed their retirement with dancing, bingo and the music of Johnny Cash. They stayed together until Ervin’s passing in 2015.

Solberg continued to live on the family farm, aided by her daughter, Linda, until last September when she moved into Apple Valley Assisted Living.

Today, her children are spread across the state, living in Charles City, Nora Springs, Clear Lake, Marion and Knoxville. Between them, Solberg has five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Solberg herself keeps as active as she can, attending morning exercise at Apple Valley and walking the paths around the assisted living center once or twice a day. She also keeps up on her soap operas, which she has followed for decades.

“I watch about three different ones every day,’ said Solberg.

Much of the family came back together over the weekend to celebrate Solberg’s 100th birthday. She walked into the party under her own power and was presented with a tiara and a sash, given to her by her granddaughter, Jessica. The family enjoyed dinner and cake, provided by Hy-Vee, among decorations designed by Chris Wells.

“It’s a big milestone,” said Houdek.

A 100th birthday is a big enough occasion that Solberg is celebrating it twice. Following the family party over the weekend, she is celebrating with a pizza party with her friends at Apple Valley today.

From the Great Depression through the COVID-19 pandemic, Solberg said she has watched the world grow and change in ways she never could have anticipated over the last century. She said she has enjoyed her life as a caretaker, homemaker and bingo enthusiast and continues to do so after 100 years.

“I’m just trying to get along,” said Solberg.