Obituary - Edmond C. Solomon

Edmond C. Solomon, 85, passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at his residence of natural causes.

A vigil service was held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2015, at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 23, 2015, also at St. Jude's with Father Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial followed in Highland Cemetery.

Ed's family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Kallenberger Girls, in care of Independence Bank, 435 3rd St., Havre, or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Ed's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Edmond Chester Solomon was born on Dec. 28, 1929, in Havre, Montana, to Chester Joseph and Delia Merle (Redwing) Solomon. He married Dorothy Ann Cole on May 9, 1950, and they had nine children together. They later divorced in 1978. He married Judith (Hatleberg) Holsapple on July 6, 1985.

Edmond grew up in the saddle. He started to rodeo when he was young and continued until he was in his 70s. He had participated in all the events (at least all male events) and watched rodeo change before his eyes. He started out with his cousin riding broncs in a corral where they would practice in secret. He would reminisce about his teen years when he competed in rodeos at Rudyard where they would get on a horse with no pickup men and cars as a fence. If the horse went by a vehicle, they would go for a ride out on the prairie. At the Big Sandy rodeos, they would be paid with beer, and he and his friends would hide it until they were out of town and could drink it.  

He traveled to the rodeos first with his grandparents and later with a one-horse trailer pulled by a five-passenger '48 Ford coupe.

Ed was about 17 years old when the stock contractor's pickup man broke his leg. So the other pickup man asked Ed to fill in, and that started a lifetime of stories and travels. Ed worked for many rodeo contractors over the years and picked up with many men including his sons. Ed always credited part of the job to good horses and the other to good help. Many horses would come and go through the years because of one of Ed's other favorite pastimes, horse trading. The children were not allowed to talk during that time and were to leave the area or get a "talking to" later. When new horses made their way to his herd they were quickly tried out (when Ed wasn't looking) for other events such as barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway, calf roping, maybe a bronc, etc. Since the family was going to rodeos for Ed to pick up, when the kids were old enough they could enter but were to use one of the horses in the trailer.

Ed coached the Northern Montana College Rodeo Team. He not only gave back to the sport by coaching, but was always willing to help, giving advice to anyone willing to ask. He helped with the rodeo teams, both high school and college, until his sons took over and later his grandsons.

As Ed continued to watch rodeos in the later years, he would comment about how he missed his best seat in the house - on his horse in the arena.  He was inducted into the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame in 2010. He was very proud of this award, but not as proud as he was of his family. He enjoyed the family gatherings, especially the Elk Water trips.

Ed is survived by his wife of almost 30 years, Judith Solomon of Havre; his children, Pam (Bruce) Finneman, Jack (Patti) Solomon, Tim (Krista) Solomon, Debbie (Raymond) Kallenberger and Mary (Randy) Owens, all of Havre, Jeff (Candi) Solomon of Winifred, Montana, Cindy (Earl) Barta of Buffalo, Montana, Vickie (Tom) Ophus of Conrad, Montana, Tammie (Jay) Almas and Jeff (Kris) Holsapple of Havre, and Heidi (Jerry) Vossler of Gillette, Wyoming; his 39 living grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren with two more on the way; his sister, Betty Majerus; along with many other family and friends, including his very dear friend, Murdo McKay.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Merle Solomon; his son Cliff Solomon; and his grandson Jeremy Solomon.