Jane E. Walrath-Solem, 95, of Beloit, died July 30, 2015. She was the former co-owner and operator of The Clinton Topper.
Walrath-Solem was born Nov. 25, 1919, in Oak Park, Ill. Her family moved in 1924 to Beloit, where she grew up. She graduated from Beloit High School in 1937 and from Beloit College in 1941. She married Donald Walrath on May 24, 1941.
“Betty” was an accomplished artist and writer throughout her life publishing a book “Wisconsin Angel” at age 89. Her many paintings and drawings often depicted local landmarks and landscapes. Betty and Don owned and operated The Clinton Topper newspaper from 1970 to 1983. She was the newspaper editor and also wrote its weekly column entitled “Cogitatin'”. In 1995, she married Robert Solem and moved to Roscoe, Ill.
She had two sons, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, a step-son, three step-daughters, and 10 step-grandchildren.
