North Dakota

North Dakota Skydiving Museum takes off in West Fargo

Published

1 year ago

February 3, 2025

Press Room

North Dakota Skydiving Museum takes off in West Fargo

WEST FARGO — Cooperstown has the “National Baseball Hall of Fame.” Cleveland has the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

But West Fargo has just become home to the North Dakota Skydiving Museum.

The museum pays tribute to the sport and the pioneer who jumped out of planes for 50 years and helped “jump-start” skydiving in this part of the Midwest.

Just off main avenue in West Fargo, tucked in next to a Subway, a new space packed full of everything related to North Dakota skydiving.

“These are the skydiving suits from the 50s and 60s,” Megean Solberg, museum director and daughter of Don Solberg, said. “This is a Pegasus suit from 1978, one of his parachutes he jumped with for a long time,” Megean said.

Megean Solberg is talking about the man behind the parachute: Don Solberg, her father.

“To be dedicated to a sport that many years, and especially skydiving, he just had so much passion for it,” Megean said.

Don started skydiving at age 22. His skydiving groups changed names over the years, but in the end, “Skydive Fargo” became the popular organization where hundreds of people in our region learned to skydive. Don would teach it in the basement of his house and then jump with those students. He loved the sport that much.

“It is just a feeling, that he was so proud of it , and I was so happy to be a part of something he was an entrepreneur in,” Megean said.

The museum is packed full of jump suits, photos, awards and history of skydiving in North Dakota.

“It is a testament to what one person can do,” Jim Krogh, longtime skydiver, said.

Krogh learned to skydive from Don Solberg back in the 80s.

“He was a character, and even if you didn’t know him, you would find out quickly that he was a skydiver,” Jim said of Don.

Jim has been jumping a lot since. A lot.

“4,610 jumps, actually,” Jim said of his jump total, so far. He is in Arizona this week for a big formation jump.

He called Don the constant promoter of skydiving in North Dakota. Never missing a chance to talk about it. When Don passed last year at the age of 79, he left all this behind. Decades of skydiving, along with close to 3,000 jumps and hundreds of people who now jump because of him.

“He was just one of those people who wanted to share his love for the sport,” Megean said.

There is no fee to see the museum.

The ND Skydiving Museum is located at 113 E. Main Ave. in West Fargo. For more information on the museum, you can reach out to (701) 866-3317 or

mlsolbergjobcoach@gmail.com

Kevin Wallevand has been a reporter at WDAY-TV since 1983. He is a native of Vining, Minnesota in Otter Tail County. His series and documentary work have brought him to Africa, Vietnam, Haiti, Kosovo, South America, Mongolia, Juarez,Mexico and the Middle East. He is an multiple Emmy and national Edward R. Murrow award recipient.

Reach Kevin at kwallevand@wday.com or 701-241-5317

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North Dakota

PHOTOS: Long Beach State vs. North Dakota State, Softball

Published

2 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

PHOTOS: Long Beach State vs. North Dakota State, Softball

The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.

Long Beach State hosted North Dakota State on March 10 where they suffered a 5-2 loss. Freshman Nina Sepulveda had two hits in the loss. Long Beach State will resume Big West play this weekend when they travel to UC Riverside for a three-game series starting Friday, March 13.

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North Dakota

Four area players land on North Dakota Division A all-state team

Published

15 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Four area players land on North Dakota Division A all-state team

GRAND FORKS — Four area athletes were selected to the North Dakota Division A all-state girls basketball team, which was released by the North Dakota High School Coaches Association on Tuesday.

The North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association will release all-state teams later this month.

Thompson’s Addison Sage led the way as a first team all-state pick, as well as receiving the division’s Outstanding Senior Athlete honor. Her coach, Jason Brend, was the Coach of the Year.

All-state second team choices from the area are Devils Lake junior Tylie Brodina, Four Winds-Minnewaukan sophomore Suri Gourd and Thompson senior Kya Hurst.

Sage, a 5-foot-6 guard, averaged 22.3 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Sage has more than 1,900 career points and holds the Tommies’ all-time scoring record.

Brodina, a 5-8 guard, averaged 18.8 points and 2.6 steals per game. She shot 82 percent from the foul line and 32 percent from 3-point range.

Hurst, a 5-6 forward, averaged 16.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She added 3.7 steals and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range. Hurst has scored more than 1,600 points and grabbed more than 840 rebounds in her career.

Gourd, a 5-8 guard, averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 4.4 steals per game. Gourd has more than 1,600 career points in her career with two more seasons to play.

Gourd led Four Winds-Minnewaukan from a 5-17 record last season to a 16-8 mark this year.

Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 (NSMA, NDAPSSA), 2022 (NSMA, NDAPSSA), 2024 (NDAPSSA) and 2025 (NDAPSSA).

His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.

He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.

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North Dakota

Annabelle Weber

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Funeral Mass for Annabelle Weber, 95, of Dickinson will be 10:00 AM, Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Queen of Peace Church with Msgr. Thomas Richter celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson, with Rosary and Vigil service taking place at 6:00 PM. Annabelle passed away Friday, March 6, 2026 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Annabelle S. Weber was born on December 8, 1930, in Killdeer, North Dakota, to Frank and Eva (Kowis) Schmalz. She grew up in Killdeer and graduated from Killdeer High School in 1947. At the age of 17, Annabelle began working at Zimbrich’s Department Store in Killdeer. She later moved to Dickinson, where she worked at S&L in retail sales and spent many years at Kessel’s Bridal Shop. While working at the Esquire Steak House, she met Gerald Weber, the love of her life. The couple was united in marriage on November 1, 1954, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dickinson, where they made their home and built their life together. Annabelle was a woman who loved staying busy and caring for her family and home. She enjoyed hunting and fishing, along with hobbies such as crafts, sewing, and gardening. She was well known for keeping an immaculate home and took great pride in caring for those around her. Faith was an important part of her life. She joined the Catholic Daughters in 1957 and was active in church circles, often helping with funeral dinners and parish gatherings. Annabelle’s greatest joy was her family. Annabelle is survived by her sons, Greg (Barbara) Weber of Grand Forks, Russ (Rhonda) Weber of Dickinson; daughter, Sharon (Tony) Allen of Andover, MN; nine grandchildren, Christi (Ryan), Tiffani (Tim), Shane (Kayla), Tonya (Adam), Samantha (Scott), Kevin, Tracey (Analisa), Stacie, Tyler; 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Eva Schmalz; husband, Gerald Weber; siblings, William (Evelyn) Schmalz, Elaine (John) Buresh, and Vernon (Dolores) Schmalz; and daughter-in-law, Coleen Weber (Krance). Remembrances and condolences can be shared at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.

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