Helen Solt

1921 - 2021

CENTRAL CITY - Helen D. Solt, 100, of Central City, died Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, at her home.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the United Presbyterian Church in Central City with Pastor Doug McHargue officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City.
Memorials are suggested to the Merrick Medical Center Foundation or the Merrick County Health & Fitness Center. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.
Helen Dorothy Erickson was born July 29, 1921, in Hordville to Victor W. and Emily A. (Nicholson) Erickson. Helen grew up in the Hordville area and graduated from Hordville High School in 1938. Following her graduation, she attended Nebraska Central Teacher's College and the University of Nebraska, earning her bachelor's degree in home economics. She taught for one year in Red Cloud, then taught home economics in Central City for seven years.
While in Central City, she met Ronald Solt, and they were married June 12, 1948, in Hordville. Helen received her funeral director's license and helped Ronald operate Solt Funeral Home for several years. Ronald died unexpectedly on Sept. 28, 1962.
After Ronald's death, Helen worked as a county home extension agent in both Merrick and Hamilton counties, while earning her master's degree in home economics education. Helen later became a district supervisor, overseeing home extension agents in 30 counties across Nebraska. She retired from the Extension Service after 20 years, but maintained her funeral director's license, occasionally assisting her son, Les, as he operated the local funeral home.
In retirement, Helen always stayed busy. She traveled across the United States and around the world, traveling throughout Europe and spending three weeks in China in the late 1970s. She belonged to and regularly hosted several women's groups in Central City and held season tickets for Nebraska football for more than 50 years. She also took up China painting and became a prolific painter of porcelain dishes and other keepsakes. Her greatest joy, however, was following her grandchildren's activities. She attended every sporting event or concert they were a part of, traveling from Seattle to Miami to watch them compete. In recent years, the visits from her great-granddaughters, Ellie, Blair and Parker, always brightened her days.
Helen was always active within her community and church. She helped conceptualize the Lone Tree Days celebration and served as co-chair of the Hospital Auxiliary that helped plan and build the Litzenberg Hospital. She was a member of Round Table, American Legion Auxiliary and the Fraternal Order of Eastern Star. Helen was also a member of the First Baptist Church in Hordville and the United Presbyterian Church in Central City. She held many offices in the church, participated in the church choir and bell choir, and served as president of the Presbyterian Women. She was also chair of the Merrick County Democrats for several years.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Kathy (Cliff) Mesner of Central City; her grandchildren, Ron (Nicole) Solt of Colorado Springs, Colo., Mitch (Holly) Solt of Central City, Ashley Solt of Omaha and Amy Mesner of Washington, D.C.; her daughter-in-law, Genie Solt of Central City; her nephew, Robert King of Holdrege; and her three great-granddaughters, Ellie, Blair and Parker Solt of Central City.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Solt; her son, Les Solt; her parents, Victor and Emily (Nicholson) Erickson; her sisters, Blanche (Leonard) Johnson, Verna Erickson, Margaret (Adrian) Larson, Pearl (Orwin) White and Ruth (Dwight) King; and her brother, Robert Erickson.