Sonja M. Johnson

Sonja Marie Johnson, daughter of Charles and Esther (Weigle) Urness, was born October 2^nd, 1938 at the General Hospital in Devils Lake, ND.   Sonja was 7^th of 10 children who grew up on her grandparents homestead half mile north of Leeds. Sonja attended Leeds Public School, graduating in 1956.   She was united in marriage to Leonard Gordon Johnson August 29^th, 1957 at the Leeds Lutheran Church.

Sonja and Leonard made their home in York until 1972 when they moved to Wolford, ND. In 1976, they moved to and made their home in Michigan, ND until health problems had them move to Devils Lake, ND.

Sonja worked as a Secretary for Cenex in York, ND.   Leonard and Sonja then owned and operated the York Bar from 1969 to 1972 and then the Wolford Bar from 1972 to 1976. After moving to Michigan, ND in 1976, Sonja worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant until her retirement, both at the Lakota Good Samaritan Center and Eventide Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake, ND. Sonja and Leonard enjoyed fishing, traveling, camping, and playing cards. After Leonard passed away, Sonja started working with the Foster Grandparent Program as a Grandma at Sweetwater Elementary School in Devils Lake because she always felt it was important to make a difference in a child’s life. She would quote a saying, “A person never stood so tall until they stooped to help a child”.  

Sonja enjoyed teaching Sunday School when they resided in York. Sonja was a lifelong member of Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron for several years.

She is survived by her 3 children, Lynn (Ray) DuBois of Oberon, ND, Lloyd (Kristin) Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa, and Leigh (Tina) Johnson of Cottondale, Florida. 10 grandchildren, Farren (TeeJay Kurtz) Bogar, Nick (Rachel) Johnson, Chris (Eileen Lloyd) Johnson, Shannon Konrad, Allyssa Johnson, Megan Johnson, Shawn (Jill) Johnson, Ashly (Jake) Folven, Autumn Deshano and Victoria Johnson. 9 Great-Grandchildren, Kaden, Emily, Harper, Wyatt, Cheyenne, Seth, Jacob, Olive, Rosina. 4 siblings, Jim (Elayne) Urness, Joseph (Jean) Urness, Gloria Bracken, and Ramona (Clifford) Horner.

Sonja was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Leonard, brothers, Clifford Urness, Benjamin Urness, Lewis Urness, sister, Thelma Pownell, and an infant sister, Hazel Urness.