Ronald Norman Solberg was born on January 17, 1941, and passed away on July 12, 2023, at age 82. He passed away due to natural causes, his body was tired of hurting. The angels came down on Wednesday, July 12th and took Ron to Heaven to be with his lovely wife, Penny Lee Marrie Thrap-Solberg, Daughter Ronda Lee Solberg, grandson Bobby James Solberg-Keeling, sister Linda Lou Childress and his gambling buddy Celestia Keeling. Ron was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Norman Angelo Solberg and Mildred Kathern Gaymor.
In the sixth grade, Ron was the marble champion of Arizona. Due to funds, he would not be able to compete nationally. At recess, none of the boys would play marbles with him unless he gave their marbles back.
Throughout Ron's life he new many famous people. Some he went to school with some he just simply met. Ron went to school with Al Unser Sr. and Al's brother Bobby taught them how to drive. He attended school with singer Wayne Newton. Ron had even asked Annette Funicello, from the original Mickey Mouse club out on a date. One night when Ron was sitting in a bar in Las Vegas and singer Darren bought him a drink.
Ron accomplished many things; His biggest accomplishment was raising his daughter Sheila by himself since she was 3 years old. It was not an easy task in those days for a father to raise a daughter, but he did it. He founded 4-States Roofing in 1980 in New Mexico and later moved the company to the Texas Panhandle where it became known as Big 4 Roofing. The company continued to thrive up until Ron retired in 2006. Nowadays, Ron is well known on some Roofing web sites.
Ron loved to play the horse races and was a very good handicapper from the time he was a young man. He made many friends within the horse racing community. In his younger years he loved to fish and hooked many fish as well as plenty of large ones. He liked camping out at Jackson Lake NM where the size of the catfish were amazing. Ron loved to cook until it got too painful.
Ron was a member of the United States Army where he served from June 1958 until January 1961 at which time, he received an honorable discharge. Throughout time he was a member of the Moose Lodge in Denver, CO and Farmington, NM as well as a member of the American Legion in Farmington, NM.
Ron leaves behind his Daughter Sheila Marrie Solberg-Keeling and husband Dalton: granddaughters Twila Marrie Keeling-Gibson and husband Chris; Kristalee Marrie Keeling-Kennedy and husband Marc as well as great grandkids; James Hayden Gibson, Cheyenne Marrie Gibson, and Adalee Celestia Kennedy. Ron also leaves behind his (adopted son) Bernie Montoya and wife Jesse, nephew Donnie Coleman and nieces Cheri and Cheryl, great nieces Kristen and Windi and great nephew Brandan, as well as his faithful cat Sniper.
Visitation with the family will be held Friday July 28, 2023 from 10 am to 11 am, followed be a funeral service at Farmington Funeral Home, 2111 W. Apache St., Farmington, NM 87401. Interment Memory Gardens, Farmington, NM.
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