Obituary

Clarice Norine (Smith) Solvik, 95, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, neighbor, friend, and child of God passed away peacefully on March 14, 2025, in Bellingham, Washington. This amazing woman was born in Bellingham on January 18, 1930, to Mabel (Taylor) and Clarence Smith, the second of three daughters in their egg-farming family in Squalicum Valley. She attended Mount Baker High School and married her high school sweetheart, Neil, on November 24, 1950; they were blessed with seventy-five beautiful years together.

Clarice graduated from Western Washington Teachers College and taught first grade in Sumas and Sedro Wooley. In her first foray overseas, Clarice joined Neil in Germany where he was stationed during the Korean War. After returning to Bellingham, they bought a house on 36th Street and had two sons, Keven and Steven. They were active members of Central Lutheran, teaching large Sunday School classes and singing in the choir. In 1962 the family moved to Seattle where Clarice and Neil attended the Lutheran Bible Institute (LBI). Clarice relished studying the Bible, deepening her faith and developing enduring relationships there.

In 1963, Neil accepted a call to be the pharmacist at Phebe Hospital in Liberia, West Africa. Family was always incredibly important to Clarice, so leaving her large and loving extended family was very difficult. But God gave her a scripture that carried her through that as well as many subsequent changes, and challenges: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). These core values – love for God and love for family – remained paramount throughout Clarice’s life. For as long as she lived Clarice maintained a deep and abiding faith. Her belief in God was a lived reality, and God intervened on her behalf in miraculous ways. She trusted in Him and followed wherever He led; the “joy of the Lord was her strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

In Liberia, Clarice created a loving and welcoming home for her family and her community. She taught elementary school and piano while raising her two sons, and having their third child, Karen. After nine years in Liberia and making many more lifelong friends, the family returned briefly to the States. Clarice and Neil enrolled at LBI again, eager to learn more of God’s word and grow spiritually.

Less than a year later, they accepted a call to Nepal where Neil became the pharmacist at the United Mission Hospital in Tansen, Palpa, in the foothills of the Himalayas. At that time the area was nearly untouched by the modern world, but Clarice adapted to the challenging living conditions and new culture. She again created a warm home for her family as well as the hospital community. Clarice’s hospitality was famous; she always had a snack, a cup of something, and a caring ear for you. Many more precious and lifelong friendships were made. She continued teaching elementary school to the children of the multi-national hospital staff. Clarice and Neil became second parents to many young Nepali men and women, putting several through school and even building homes for some. Clarice also envisioned and oversaw the building and running of terraced gardens to provide the community with year-round produce; she was an avid and expert gardener!

When the Solviks retired (but continued to serve God!) in 1991, they returned to Whatcom County and their church home, Immanuel Lutheran. Clarice continually made their home a place of hospitality by caring for visitors (and visiting others), whether they came from next door or halfway across the world; Clarice and Neil regularly traveled to visit their beloved grandkids.

Another core theme in Clarice’s life was her great desire to help people. If anyone was in need or had a problem, Clarice was eager to provide whatever assistance or support she could. She didn’t shy away from anyone, reaching out in generous and often ingenious ways. Clarice and Neil became involved in gleaning from farms, stores, and bakeries for the Foothills Food Bank and helped to make thousands of quilts, along with baby, health, and school kits for Lutheran World Relief.

Clarice and Neil loved music and ministered through music throughout their lives. Clarice accompanied worship and ministry on piano, pump organ, or keyboard in every place they lived. She loved hymns and had a song to sing for any occasion (or just for the joy of singing it!). Clarice and Neil faithfully sang and ministered in nursing homes for over two decades after retiring to Whatcom County, pouring out God’s encouragement, promises, and abundant love in service to others.

Clarice and Neil moved to Highgate Senior Living in 2023 where she served as an ambassador, warmly welcoming new residents and providing help wherever needed. Clarice and Neil also continued to minister through music every Monday afternoon in the memory care section. Whether at Highgate, or in Nepal or Liberia, Clarice treasured relationships, be they with family, friends, neighbors, or strangers. She maintained relationships, near home and around the globe, through social media, email, and letter writing. She delighted in keeping those precious connections alive and was especially faithful in her prayer for others – even at ninety-five! She was a remarkable woman.

Clarice is lovingly remembered by her husband, Neil; her sons, Keven Solvik (Kay) of Bellingham and Steven Solvik (Lorie) of Lexington; her daughter Karen Myers (Patrick) of Indianapolis; her grandchildren Sarah, Hannah, Hillary, Julia, Steven, and Lewis; and great grandchildren Ollie, Liam, and Sophie; along with many others. Clarice joins her parents and sisters Berdell Holden and Delesta Albee in rest.