Robert "Chuck" Solly

Chuck’s services will be livestreamed below at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, and at 10:00 AM on Thursday, July 2, 2026:

“Chuck” Solly passed away from complications from a fall in his home from a brain bleed.

Chuck was born in Philadelphia, PA to Robert E. Solly and Elizabeth Kidd Solly, the eldest of 2 sons, on April 16, 1948.

He grew up in North Hills, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. Later, they lived in new home in Horsham, PA. Chuck was on the varsity basketball team for Hatboro-Horsham High School and graduated in 1966. He attended Fredricks College in Virginia for a short time and then joined the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was assigned to go to Guam where he delivered secret logistics to the troops in Vietnam.

During his stint at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, he met his wife on a blind date in February of 1970. One year later, they were married on June 5, 1971, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo. He brought his new bride back to Philadelphia area and worked as an admissions clerk at the Philadelphia VA Hospital.

He followed in his parents’ footsteps, volunteering and getting involved in the “Music Theater of Abbington.” The theater would put on musicals for the proceeds to go towards music scholarships. Chuck was backstage manager, and also president of Music Theater of Abbington for 5 years.

Chuck was a great “talker” and that led him to be a sales manager at Radio Shack and Silo selling electronic systems. Restless, he knew that there had to be other opportunities for him. He found a huge interest in tool and die work. While in New Jersey, he was a journeyman tool and die maker. He took vocational tech courses and passed there exams to graduate as a manufacturing engineer.

During vacations to visit his wife’s family back in North Dakota, he observed a much better life in North Dakota and made the decision to move back.
In 1979 he had the chance to be hired as a research specialist at NDSU. There he fulfilled his career as a lab supervisor and instructor for the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at NDSU. He absolutely loved teaching the students and it pleased him having them see “the light” in a manufacturing process. He stayed at NDSU for 28 years, loving every minute of teaching.

His grandfather taught him to play pocket billiards and with practice he excelled in the game. He was the Grand Forks Air Force Base champion. That title gave him the opportunity to play against the famous billiard master, “Willie Mosconi.” He admitted Willie beat him in the game, but he cherished the time spent with him and loved the billiard “trick” shots that Willie taught him. He enjoyed doing these “trick” shots in front of other billiard players.

While still in New Jersey, another hobby was riding dirt motorcycles and participating in motorcycle runs. After moving back to North Dakota, he didn’t find any trails to run so that closed the chapter on that hobby.

He loved camping with his wife. They started out in a two-man tent. In a huge rainstorm in South Dakota, in the tent, they both swore they would get a camper to stay warm and dry on future camping trips. They progressed from that tent to a pop-up camper and then to a “Class A” diesel motor home that he called his “coach.” This part of his bucket list was met when he drove that “coach” down the interstate.

Many states were explored but as a couple they rotated to a modular type home in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Chuck loved being a “snowbird” and would tell anyone that would listen to his stories. That dream was wiped out by Hurricane Ian in September of 2022.

Besides traveling in campers and motor homes, they did travel to Greece and Turkey. Good memories were made.

When not traveling, Chuck enjoyed various hobbies. There was coin collecting, dance roller skating at Skateland, rock hunting in Arizona with the cutting and polishing of rocks, metal detecting, and being in computer clubs learning the latest technology. He always had a new interest, telling his wife he was just like his mother, moving from new hobby to new hobby to learn.

He took great joy in having Bedlington Terrier dogs and telling people about the breed and their background.

If he wasn’t on the computer, he loved watching old black and white movies. If it wasn’t an old movie, then it was a musical that reminded him of his parents’ musical productions.

Before his retirement, he purchased a business he named “Universal Commerce,” which leased office space. There he was kept busy and enjoyed keeping his tenants happy and fulfilled.

He loved the casino game, craps, as he was good with numbers and figuring out the odds. His interest in the game led him to lessons and tests and being employed by Dakota Magic as a craps dealer. Again, he loved teaching and helping people learn the game.

He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle, and eight of his Bedlington Terriers: Ashley, Contessa, Frostie, Camelot, Kellie, Rickie, Ballie, and Mercie.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty, his 2 dogs Rockie and Ratzo, his brother Mike (Jane) Solly of Maryland, his step-sister Amy (Andy) Engelhart of New Jersey, his brothers-in-laws Duane (Linda) Johnson of Vergas, Donald (Gail Deceased) Johnson of Vergas and Fargo, Gary (Renae) Johnson of Dent, sister-in-law Karen (Lydell) Thorson of Moorhead, and all his nieces and nephews and cousins.

A vigil service will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center. Visitation will begin one hour prior. The funeral service will take place on Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center, also with visitation one hour prior. He will be laid to rest in Casselton, North Dakota.

Arrangements entrusted into the care of Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center.