Local woman enters Mrs. Montana contest

Alice Campbell Havre Daily News [email protected]

Her entire day revolves around helping people, helping them accomplish goals. "All day long I coordinate and problem-solve," Lori Solomon said. "(My coworkers) nicknamed me Martha." At a seemingly endless task of supporting coworkers and making sure that Triangle Communications and Hill County Electric offices run smoothly, she never tires. "To me, there is no greater honor than to serve people all day long," she said. "I just love helping people." So when she came to work one day and found a note of appreciation on her desk, she was touched, even more so when she realized that her coworkers nominated her for the Mrs. Montana pageant to represent Havre. "It was the kindest thing, I think, I've ever received," she said. "A few weeks later, we received a letter saying that I had been chosen to represent this area and, I mean, what an honor," Mrs. Havre- America gushed. She loves being a Mrs., and is excited about representing married Women in Havre. Her husband, Todd, who was her high school sweetheart is "still my best friend" 28 years of marriage later. "I love him so much," Solomon said. But her favorite thing has been watching her children, Daine, her 23-year-old son, and Keelie, her 22-year-old daughter who will help her with her hair at the pageant, grow up. "Seeing your kids mature and seeing them flourish and seeing them give back to their community ... seeing them do all the types of things you took the time to engrain in them," Solomon said, "that right there is worth every bit of hard work." To her, there is "no greater gift than when they serve God and help the community." Todd serves the community as a captain with the Havre Fire Department. His "whole life is dedicated to helping people," Solomon said. The secret to her bliss and advice she'd give to struggling wives and mothers? Avoid "the three Ds:" distraction, discouragement and doubt. "That will ruin your marriage. Don't ever let those things enter your marriage," she advised. "No matter how hard life gets, they just need to remember that their kids are the most important thing that God's given them," she continued. "And don't blink because they're out of your life so quickly." Solomon will travel to Billings to compete at the Petro Theatre for the title of Mrs. Montana, where competition begins Thursday. Then, Saturday, July 11, the pageant is televised. Not having competed in a beauty pageant since junior high school, when she won the fitness and talent sections of the competition, doesn't worry Solomon, and she isn't nervous "because I just love being around people," she said. She also loves to dress up and said she's not sure what she'll have to do for the competition but is excited about it anyway. "I just know what I'm supposed to wear and when I'm supposed to show up," she said. Whether she wins the state competition, the official preliminary for the national Mrs. America pageant, or not, she said she's already a winner. "I feel like, in a way, I've already won just because of the support from my friends and coworkers," Solomon said, adding that "being able to represent the people of Havre who constantly give" is an honor in itself. And the community has given for Solomon to travel to the pageant. She was required to have 20 sponsors to participate in the state pageant, she said and added that people in the community would come up to her and offer their support. People even left money on her car seat with notes wishing her luck and thanking her for representing the married women of Havre. "That was very humbling," she said. "None of this would be possible without their support," she added, saying that she's grateful for all the support she's received.