I love you Grandma

At the age of 81 Ruth Edith Solum died Wednesday February 7, 2007.

She was born in Tacoma Washington on September 15, 1925. Born to Nanny (Thomsen) Harkins and Fred Wesley Harkins. Her mother's parents were Kristina (Matta) Thomsen adn Victor Thomsen. She was orphaned at an early age and was raised by her grandmother Kristina who was an immigrant from Denmark. They lived by the lake in Tacoma and raised chickens.

She married Dale Bruce (Pat) Solum on April 22, 1944. They had four sons and one daughter. Tom, Ted, Jim, Steve and Sally. She had three grandsoms, two granddaugheters, and one great grandson.

Ruth and Pat moved to Solvang in 1955 and took over the Danish Village Gift shop, which they owned until 1972.

Ruth was a creative cook and loved taking part in the cooking of aebleskivers for Solvang Danish Days. She and her husband published the Danich Cook Book with over one million copies in print. This local Solvang favorite is a group of recipes collected over a period of years from Danish immigrants who brought a little bit of thier homeland with them to America. All of the recipes were donated to the book as comething precious from the giver. The cookbook also contains photos of the Solum family and members of the community

Ruth loved visiting Hawaii and was a huge Dodger fam. Her vibrant spirit will be missed.