A Celebration of Life Service for Sonja Swenson, age 87, of Westbrook, will be held Tuesday, June 9th at 10:30 AM at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Storden. Burial will be in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery in Storden.

A visitation for Sonja will be held on Monday, June 8th, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Storden. Visitation will continue on Tuesday at the Bethany Lutheran Church for one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Good Samaritan Society of Westbrook, or Hospice of Murray County.

Sonja Kay (Hanson) Swenson was born on July 5, 1938, to Clarence and Alice (Sandbo) Hanson at home, in Westbrook Township, Cottonwood County, Minnesota. Sonja went to be with Jesus while surrounded by her family on May 29, 2026.

Sonja was baptized, confirmed and married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook. She attended Country School District #68, later graduating from Westbrook High School in 1956. On April 6, 1957, she married the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Swenson. Together they were blessed with three children: Cory, Scott, and Susan.

As a family, they were members of Old Westbrook Church, later members of Bethany Lutheran Church in Storden for over 50 years. Sonja taught Sunday School, participated in Naomi Circle, Ladies Aid and choir, cleaned Bethany church for over 20 years. She also cleaned homes for several people.

Sonja worked on their farm picking rock, walking beans, caring for the farm yard and flowers. She maintained a large garden and did lots of canning and freezing its harvest each year. She loved sewing and was well known among family and friends for her rice pudding and other baked goods. In their younger years, she and Bob enjoyed square dancing, and she treasured time spent with her card club and birthday club friends. Sonja cherished babysitting her grandchildren when they were young, and, in later years, enjoyed boat rides on Lake Shetek with her grandson, Ethan, serving as captain.

As Sonja's health declined due to Parkinson's disease, she moved to the Good Samaritan home in Westbrook. Over the 10 1/2 years, Bob faithfully visited her nearly every day as weather allowed, and Sonja always cherished opportunities to return home to the farm for a visit.

Sonja is survived by her husband, Bob, of 69 years, her three children: Cory (Gale) Swenson of Storden, Scott Swenson of Apple Valley, and Sue (Doug) Quade of Jeffers; five grandchildren: Randi (Clayton) Hubert, Tesa (Isaac) Jenniges, Megan (Dwain) Lammey, Bobbie (Ryan) Goeken, and Logan Swenson and Mikayla Quade; great-grandchildren: Carly, Morgan, Katie, and John Hubert, Harper and Fischer Jenniges, Rhett Lammey, Jordan, Emma and Luke Goeken, Elsie, Dakota and Misty Quade; three siblings: Karen Shaplin, Twyla (Bill) Otto, and Wydon Hanson; Bob's siblings/in-laws: Lucille (Kenneth) Peterson, Myron (Jan Wohlk) Swenson, Ardelle Swenson and Lucy Swenson; numerous nieces and nephews.

Sonja was preceded in death by her parents, grandson Ethan Quade in 2025, siblings and spouses: Algene (Bernie) Leiferman, Dale (LaVonne), Myrl (Iola), Dennis (Marlene), Clair "Bud" (Alice), Garry (Joan), David Shaplin, Charles and Gaylon; Bob's parents, Neal Sr. and Lillian Swenson; Bob's siblings/in-laws: Neal Swenson Jr., Carolyn (Vance) Nelson, Donna Swenson and Lyle Swenson.

Blessed be the memory of Sonja Swenson.