Elinor Marcille "Marcy" Sohlberg

Elinor Marcille Rapp Sohlberg passed away on March 4, 2025. She was born on July 3, 1934 in Fullerton, California to Charles F. Rapp and Agnes Elinor (Ginter) Rapp. She had 2 younger sisters, Nancy and Joanne. She attended Ford School and Fullerton High School and then went on to graduate from Stanford University. It was there she met Olof Stephen Sohlberg, a pre-med student. They were married on June 23, 1956, shortly after graduating. 

Marcille and Steve moved to St.Paul, Minnesota where Steve attended medical school while Marcille taught first grade. She learned many Swedish traditions and recipes from her mother-in-law during this time. Children Kristen Marcille, Olof Erick, and Rolf Charles were born while living in St. Paul. After Steve completed his obstetrics/gynecology residency at Stanford, they moved to Missoula, Montana in 1966 where son Sten David was born. They built a house on Elk Ridge where Marcille lived until shortly before her death. In her younger years, Marcy hiked, backpacked, and skied with her family, fully embracing the Montana lifestyle. 

Well known for her dazzling array of baked Swedish goodies that appeared at their annual Christmas Glugg parties, Marcy was an accomplished cook and baker. Many, many people were recipients of her homemade cookies and shortbread rounds. Summer meals at the Flathead Lake cabin were especially memorable, from “golden browns” (sliced potatoes) cooked in an iron skillet over an open fire in the early days, to hearty meals like “pizza meatloaf,” that always tasted delicious. Marcy always made room for an unexpected guest at the dinner table, with the caveat that their name then appeared on the KP list. She had an uncanny ability to make newcomers feel like part of the family, partly because they had to participate in meal planning and cleanup. It was her “secret sauce,” and a reason that so many of her children’s friends loved to spend time at the lake house. 

Marcille was an active member of the Missoula community. She was a devoted member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, served on the Missoula County High School board, delivered Meals on Wheels, and faithfully worked as an election judge at Rattlesnake School where she got to know residents of the Rattlesnake precincts. She was a member of Chapter AM, P.E.O. for more than 50 years. She played bridge and loved her water aerobics class, especially when the group went for coffee after their workouts.

Above all, Marcille loved family. Her sisters, Nancy and Joanne, were her lifelong best friends, speaking weekly throughout their lives on Saturdays (when the phone rates were cheapest!) and meeting as frequently as possible, with many ski trips, trips to the beach, and overseas travels. 

Marcille was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, her son Olof Erick, and her sister Joanne. She is survived by her daughter Kristen (Missoula), sons Rolf (Lakeside, MT) and Sten and wife Cathy (Missoula), and daughters-in-law, McKay Sohlberg (Eugene, OR) and Luann Warren (Boise, ID). She had 10 grandchildren, Karl Bretz (Lindsey) of Newcastle Washington, Karin Roy (Bestin) of Portland, Oregon, Ericka Sohlberg (Lee Anderegg) of Santa Barbara, California, Tatum Sohlberg (Jared Naimark) of San Francisco, California, Emma Sohlberg (Taylor) of New York City, New York, Marylyn Hunter (Travis) of Boise, Idaho, Sarah Sohlberg (Alec Harbison) of Denver, Colorado, Amy Sohlberg of Portland, Oregon, Annika Sohlberg of Renton, Washington and Olof Sohlberg of Missoula. She had 9 (almost 10!) great grandchildren, Jackson, Parker, Madison, Oswald, Adelaide, Clara, Finley, Lola, Ty, and a great grandson due within days of her passing, her sister Nancy (Bob), brother-in-law Garth, and 7 nieces and nephews and their spouses and children.

A celebration of life is set for July 12, 2025 at Immanuel Lutheran Church.