Phyllis Leona Solem was born on May 21, 1934 in Elk Point, South Dakota to Edward and Minnie (Scott) Johnson. She grew up and attended school in Elk Point. She met and married Stanley Justine Solem on March 19, 1952 in Elk Point, SD. They lived on the Solem family farm just north of Spink, SD their entire married life. There they raised their two children, Larry and Kathy and spent many hours playing with their grandchildren. As well as helping on the farm, Phyllis worked in town driving school bus for the Elk Point School District and worked 8 years with the USDA Soil Conservation Service. She spent 25 years working for the SD Department of Social Services-Food Stamp Program and retired in 1998. She was a long time member of Brule Creek Lutheran Church and was active in the WELCA ladies group.

Phyllis and Stanley enjoyed gardening, camping and fishing, playing Spink rummy for pennies, going to Bingo and their trips to Las Vegas and Hawaii. Phyllis sewed quilts for all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved singing hymns with the congregation during church services. She attended tons of church programs and school events to watch her grandchildren perform. Later in life she loved to watch her great grandchildren play in school sporting events. She also enjoyed her "Word Search" puzzles and putting puzzles together with family. Phyllis always had a great love and compassion for the family pets and was always sure to share her food with them.

Phyllis passed away on March 14, 2023 at the age of 88 years at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD surrounded by her loved ones. Left to cherish her memory are her children Larry (Holly) Solem of Vermillion, SD and daughter Kathy Solem of Akron, SD; her grandchildren Ben Solem of Vermillion, Tami (Brad) Olsen of Beresford, Jamie (Mark) Hoffman of Ethan, Melissa (Ryan) Fickbohm of Beresford and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Walter (Bunny) Davis of Vermillion, her sister-in-law Norma Davis of Elk Point and many nieces and nephews. Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother Floyd Davis, her sister Doris Jensen, and her sisters-in-law Vivian Johnson (Ernest) and Phyllis Davis.