Deborah Jean Solum

Deborah Jean Solum passed away unexpectedly on March 3, 2025 at the age of 59.

Deb was born December 10, 1965 in Chester, Montana. She grew up on the family farm enjoying the lifestyle of farming and ranching. She attended school in Rudyard graduating in 1984. She then went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Agronomy from Montana State University in Bozeman. Following graduation she accepted a position in the agronomy department and worked in Bozeman for many years. While there she enjoyed elk hunting trips in the winter and helped at some of the hunting camps.

Besides hunting, Deb was a pilot and enjoyed flying her single engine plane from Bozeman to the farm while she lived and worked in Bozeman. After several years at the university, she returned to the family farm and ranch. The livestock were very special to Deb. She enjoyed the cattle, had a horse and raised several unique varieties of chickens. Deb always had several cats in the house as well as many “barn cats”.

She loved hunting and archery and wanted to share her passion with the local youth. Deb was a Hunter Education Instructor in Chester for many years. She was honored in 2024 at the Region 4 Fish Wildlife and Parks workshop in Great Falls for 20 years of volunteering. Safety and enjoyment of the sport were some of her main wishes for the kids who participated. Many archery shoots were set up with her help in the local area.

Deb also served on several local boards and with fundraising events throughout the years. She touched many people’s lives over the years.

Deb is survived by her parents, Marcel and Myrl (LaBorta) Solum of Rudyard, her sister, Kathy and husband Art Wong, niece Cassidy and nephew Cameron all of Edmonds, Washington, and aunts, an uncle and numerous cousins.

No services are planned at this time. Please make any donations in her memory to the Rudyard Historical Society.