Mildred Soltis

Mildred Soltis, 100, Apple Valley, MN, formerly of Wahpeton, ND, passed away on July 24, 2017 at Augustana Healthcare Center, Apple Valley, MN. Visitation will be from 4-7pm on Mon., July 31, 2017 at Henry W. Anderson Mortuary, 14850 Garrett Ave., Apple Valley. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, August 2, at 2:00 PM at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND with Rev. Matthew Tooman officiating. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the funeral service at the funeral home on Wednesday. Interment will be at Fairview Memorial Gardens, Wahpeton, ND. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.

Mildred was born March 28, 1917, in Jessup, PA to Andrew and Mary Bakos. She was the youngest of four children. At age 2, her father was killed in a coal-mining accident in Scranton, PA. At age 9, her mother remarried and the family moved to Minneapolis, MN. She attended vocational school and worked at Munsingwear, prior to her marriage to George Soltis, June 12, 1937. They moved to Wahpeton, ND, in August, 1938, with their infant daughter Janice. George taught drafting, sheet metal, heating and air-conditioning at the (then) State School of Science in Wahpeton. He later opened Soltis Sheet Metal Heating and Air-Conditioning which he owned until retiring in 1994. After his death in 1994, Mildred remained in Wahpeton until 1997, the year of the Red River Valley Flood.

In 1997 she moved to the Apple Valley Villa, a semi-independent living facility, in Apple Valley, MN where her sister, Ann, also resided. In December 2001 she suffered a stroke which necessitated nursing care, thereafter. She lived in Augustana Health Care Center of Apple Valley from November 18, 2003 until her death July 24, 2017. Her sister, also was a resident there, until the sisters death.

Mildred was a 60 year resident of Wahpeton. During those years, she was active at Immanuel Lutheran Church, was a volunteer at the High School Lunch program and Wahpeton Library, enjoyed playing Bridge with friends, and was a member of the Fortnightly Auxiliary Club for twenty years. At Augustana HCC, she enjoyed playing King’s In the Corner, Bingo and Domino’s. She attended monthly Teas, Memorial Services and other social activities, as well as Sunday afternoon church services. Having been a 14 year resident at Augustana, she will be missed by many residents and staff there.

Mildred is survived by daughter, Dr. Janice “Jan” Dobies-Hein; granddaughters, Julie Dobies and Angela (David) Polley; grandson, Mike (Ellen) Dobies; 8 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and many friends.

She was preceded in death by husband, George Soltis; brothers, John and Andrew Bakos; sister, Ann Rubis; infant great-granddaughters, Sofia and Isabelle Polley.