Dorvan Solberg passed away peacefully January 21, 2024, surrounded by family. He was born to Iver and Jennie (Foss) Solberg on May 20, 1934 in Williston, North Dakota, and baptized at Temple Lutheran Church, Temple, ND.

Dorvan attended school in Ray, playing trumpet in the band and graduated from Ray High School in 1952. He completed a mechanics program at North Dakota State School of Science. As a teenager, his dad thought he spent too much time at the pool hall and suggested he purchase some cattle. Dorvan raised black angus cattle for many years and in later years, backgrounded yearling cattle, which was a business venture he continued into his eighties. He worked with his dad in their certified seed potato business. Dorvan held numerous jobs, including deputy officer for the Ray Police Department, oil field roughneck, brand inspector, and substitute rural mail carrier.

Dorvan married Eileen Anderson on June 17, 1956 and they raised small grains and ranched outside of Ray, while raising their four daughters. They enjoyed dancing and playing cards, especially pinochle and cribbage. They also enjoyed ski trips to Montana with Bob, Val, Steve, Diane, and friends.

Dorvan had a lifelong passion for horses. He raised Quarter Horses, and trained and showed horses in numerous events including halter, performance, and cow cutting, an event he competed in until the age of 86. For over 35 years, Dorvan was a judge for the American Quarter Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, and American Paint Horse Association. Dorvan judged numerous horse shows in the US, Canada, and Europe. In 2014 he was inducted into the North Dakota Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame. In 2020 he was inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. Following retirement from farming, Dorvan and Eileen spent winters in Arizona, where he continued to ride and show cutting horses. Dorvan and Eileen moved to Touchmark Living Center in Fargo, ND in October 2022.

Dorvan served as chairman of the board of directors for Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative for over 30 years and served in the North Dakota House of Representatives for ten years. He was a member of Ray Lutheran Church, Ray Senior Citizens, and Williams County Farmers Union.

Dorvan is survived by his wife of 67 years, Eileen; daughters, Vonnie (Royce) Elker, Mankato, MN; Val (Bob) Bahm, Minot, ND; Diane (Steve) Edwardson, West Fargo, ND; and Gail (Mike) Nelson, Woodbury, MN; grandchildren, Danielle (Ben) Johnson, Eric (Sarah) Elker, and Beret (Kenneth) Holaday; Tyler (Lisa) Bahm, and Zachary (Ashley) Bahm; Olivia Edwardson and Megan (Eric) Johnson; and Alex Nelson and Stephanie Nelson; great-grandchildren, Harper, Kendri, and Rhett Bahm, Conway and Cohen Bahm; sisters-in-law, Barbara (Dan) Delaney and Joyce Perez; and brother-in-law, Dave (Bev) Anderson.

Dorvan was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Marilyn.

Memorial Contribution