Mary Ellen (Palmer) Solano, age 77, of Rapid City, South Dakota, died in the comfort of her home on September 21, 2021 surrounded by her loving family.

Mary Ellen was born in Mitchell, South Dakota on April 1, 1944 to Leander "Jay" Palmer and Cornelia "Nellie" (Kurtenbach) Palmer.  In 1952, when Mary Ellen was eight years old, the Palmer family moved to Rapid City, SD.

She graduated from Cathedral High School of Rapid City in 1962 and entered nursing school, graduating from St Mary's School of Nursing in Pierre, SD in 1964.  She wanted to travel, and she took a job at a hospital in Chicago, IL in pediatrics.  After losing a special patient she decided that she did not want to work in pediatrics anymore.  She returned to Rapid City and worked at St. Johns Hospital.

She married Joseph Rubel Solano on April 16, 1966 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Rapid City, SD. In 1969, they adopted Greg and had many foster children after being told it would be difficult for her to conceive.  In 1974 she gave birth to Jason, Janella in 1981 and Maria in 1984. Throughout the years the family grew with additional foster children and the neighborhood and her children's friends were all a part of the family.  When she returned to the workforce, she worked in a nursing home, realizing that her calling was in geriatrics.  With nursing as her second nature, Mary Ellen had helped with caring for her aging and sick parents and all three adult brothers as they died.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband Joseph Rubel Solano, sons: Greg Solano and Jason Solano, daughters: Janella Solano and Maria Solano; five grandchildren, Ziggy (Kya) Solano (16), Marcia Young (16), Luca Howard (11), Noah Howard (7), Illidan Howard (6) of Rapid City, SD. Siblings: Alice Mae (Ben) Schatz of Des Plaines, IL, Terry (Bonnie) Palmer, Greg (Judy) Palmer, Scott (Dianne) Palmer, dozens of nieces and nephews, and numerous "adopted" children that all adore her, as well as everyone who meets her.

She is preceded in death by her father Jay Palmer (1981); her mother Nellie Palmer (1993); brothers: Daryl Palmer (1937), Larry Palmer (2003), Chuck Palmer (1974), and Jerry Palmer (1972).

Services for Mary Ellen will be Saturday September 25, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, 2700 Jackson Blvd., Rapid City, SD  57702

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St Jude Children's Hospital and St. Joseph Indian School, in Chamberlain, SD.