Mildred Solomon, 92

Beloved mother and grandmother Mildred Solomon died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on the March 2, 2008.

Mildred was born on Jan. 23, 1916, in Minot, N.D. She was the eldest of four children born to Frederick and Pearl Gottbreht.

Education was very important to Mildred, who, with the help of her grandfather, was able to obtain her teaching credential from Minot State Teachers College.

Her first job was teaching in a one-room schoolhouse. She was a substitute teacher for many years while rearing her large family.

Mildred married John Henry Solomon on Nov. 24, 1939.

After living a few years in Seattle, they moved to Sandpoint, Idaho. John had friends there and they both really liked the mountains and the lakes.

A devout Catholic, she loved her church, and attended mass every day for many years.

They moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where they operated a grocery store, before retiring.

Mildred was a devoted homemaker, and excellent gardener, especially successful raising roses. She always had a vegetable vfor her family. She was also a skilled seamstress and made lovely clothes for her family.

Mildred was active in the church and in the St. Vincent de Paul Society where, for many years, she helped women in the shelters get help they needed, and assisted in distribution of charity to needy individuals.

She was president of the Catholic Daughters, and was awarded “Catholic Daughter of the Year.”

For several years, she helped run the parish rectory, cooking, cleaning and even making the priest's vestments.

She was an avid reader and a Gonzaga Bulldogs fan.

Mildred is survived by her children and their spouses, Sue Flammia, Gary and Judy Solomon, Julie and John Smith, Anne Solomon and Charlie Roan, Jim and Diane Solomon, David Brandsen, and Lori Solomon; her grandchildren, Pamela Morgan, Jon Miller, Jamie Solomon, Erin Roan, Beck Roan, Uriah Solomon, Jeffrey Smith, Jennifer Smith, Brook Brandsen Irwin, Katie Solomon, Ryan Solomon; and great-grandchildren, Keanan, Cole and Trey Morgan, Madison and Tayler Miller, Kailee and Carson Irwin, Christopher Smith and Hannah Antrim.

She was preceded in death by John Solomon, daughter Eileen Brandsen, and son-in-law Patrick Flammia.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas Catholic Church on Saturday, March 8, 2008, at 11 a.m.