Sybil Elaine Solting

Sybil Solting, 78, of Mapleton, Minnesota died of dementia on December 18, 2025.

Sybil was born in Faribault, Minnesota to Clinton and Henriette (Spiekermann) Wolf and grew up on a farm outside of Medford, Minnesota. Following high school, she attended Mankato State College, where she earned her degree in English Education and Library Science. Sybil married John Solting in the summer of 1969, and they moved to Mapleton, where they raised their two daughters.

Sybil became a school librarian in Mapleton, where she spent her career inspiring elementary students to develop a love of reading and teaching high school students how to use the library for research. Sybil believed that everyone was a reader and made sure the high school library had not just research materials, but also novels and popular magazines, so everyone could find something to read. Sybil also added technology coordinator to her responsibilities, greatly expanding the use of technology at Maple River schools.

Sybil was committed to supporting the community and spent many years volunteering as a Board member for the Maple River Dollars for Scholars chapter, delivering Meals on Wheels, and assisting at Maple River Loaves & Fishes Food Shelf. She also served as a Sunday School teacher and church librarian at St. John Lutheran Church, and participated in the church’s choir, altar guild, and book club.

In retirement, Sybil continued to surround herself with books by working at Creative Company publishers and then at the Bethany Lutheran College library, often stating that her favorite part of that job was working with the work-study students.

Sybil is survived by her husband, John, daughters Johnna (John) Horton of Mankato, Minnesota and Gretchen (Dave) Quillin of Chicago, Illinois, grandson Conrad, sisters Clinette Wolf, Leola Dahl, Marcia (Howard) Merseth, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A celebration of life service will be held in the spring.