Sonja Georgetta Peterson, daughter of Swedish immigrants Emil and Hannah (Lindquist) Peterson, was born in her parents' farmhouse February 22, 1918.
She grew up on the family farm near Kinbrae, Minnesota.
After graduating from Brewster High School, Sonja attended the University of Minnesota "Farm School," and later completed a beauty school course in Minneapolis.
She worked as a beautician in Minneapolis until coming home to care for her mother until her mother's death. Sonja continued to cook and keep house for her father.
Sonja married Willis Hecker on March 23, 1940, at the family farm by Kinbrae. The couple lived in the Heron Lake area until 1965 when they moved to Sherburn, Minnesota. In 1969 they moved to Alden, Minnesota, where they lived until moving to Lakefield in 1988.
Willis died September 19, 1990, and Sonja continued living in their home until this February. She moved into the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Lakefield where she suffered a major stroke on April 14 and died on April 22, 2011, at the age of 93.
Sonja was an excellent seamstress and kept stitching away well into her 80s.
She was known for her lefse, and some years, Sonja turned over 100 pounds of potatoes into this Scandinavian delicacy. She enjoyed collecting teddy bears and surrounded herself with bear memorabilia. Sonja was an avid card player and she played to win!
Sonja worked outside of the home at times and was always active in her church and community.
She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Heron Lake for many years and later a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield. The VFW and Legion Auxiliaries were very important to Sonja and she worked many steak feeds and bullhead feeds and organized the annual poppy sales.
Sonja is survived by her children, James (Susan) Hecker of Elk River, Minnesota, Bonnie (Robert) Pruett of McGregor, Iowa, Richard (Betty Mogensen) Hecker of Lakefield, Wayne Hecker of McGregor, Iowa, Paul (Terry) Hecker of Bowmansville, Pennsylvania. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law LaVon Seleen of Lakefield, brother-in-law Don Hecker of Heron Lake, and many nieces and nephews.
Sonja was preceded in death by Willis, her husband of 50 years; infant granddaughter Kelly Jo; two brothers and a sister; and special friend Ernie Mathias.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lakefield.
The service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Andrew Schensted officiating. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Heron Lake.
She grew up on the family farm near Kinbrae, Minnesota.
After graduating from Brewster High School, Sonja attended the University of Minnesota "Farm School," and later completed a beauty school course in Minneapolis.
She worked as a beautician in Minneapolis until coming home to care for her mother until her mother's death. Sonja continued to cook and keep house for her father.
Sonja married Willis Hecker on March 23, 1940, at the family farm by Kinbrae. The couple lived in the Heron Lake area until 1965 when they moved to Sherburn, Minnesota. In 1969 they moved to Alden, Minnesota, where they lived until moving to Lakefield in 1988.
Willis died September 19, 1990, and Sonja continued living in their home until this February. She moved into the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Lakefield where she suffered a major stroke on April 14 and died on April 22, 2011, at the age of 93.
Sonja was an excellent seamstress and kept stitching away well into her 80s.
She was known for her lefse, and some years, Sonja turned over 100 pounds of potatoes into this Scandinavian delicacy. She enjoyed collecting teddy bears and surrounded herself with bear memorabilia. Sonja was an avid card player and she played to win!
Sonja worked outside of the home at times and was always active in her church and community.
She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Heron Lake for many years and later a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield. The VFW and Legion Auxiliaries were very important to Sonja and she worked many steak feeds and bullhead feeds and organized the annual poppy sales.
Sonja is survived by her children, James (Susan) Hecker of Elk River, Minnesota, Bonnie (Robert) Pruett of McGregor, Iowa, Richard (Betty Mogensen) Hecker of Lakefield, Wayne Hecker of McGregor, Iowa, Paul (Terry) Hecker of Bowmansville, Pennsylvania. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law LaVon Seleen of Lakefield, brother-in-law Don Hecker of Heron Lake, and many nieces and nephews.
Sonja was preceded in death by Willis, her husband of 50 years; infant granddaughter Kelly Jo; two brothers and a sister; and special friend Ernie Mathias.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lakefield.
The service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Andrew Schensted officiating. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Heron Lake.
Sonja Georgetta Peterson, daughter of Swedish immigrants Emil and Hannah (Lindquist) Peterson, was born in her parents' farmhouse February 22, 1918.
She grew up on the family farm near Kinbrae, Minnesota.
After graduating from Brewster High School, Sonja attended the University of Minnesota "Farm School," and later completed a beauty school course in Minneapolis.
She worked as a beautician in Minneapolis until coming home to care for her mother until her mother's death. Sonja continued to cook and keep house for her father.
Sonja married Willis Hecker on March 23, 1940, at the family farm by Kinbrae. The couple lived in the Heron Lake area until 1965 when they moved to Sherburn, Minnesota. In 1969 they moved to Alden, Minnesota, where they lived until moving to Lakefield in 1988.
Willis died September 19, 1990, and Sonja continued living in their home until this February. She moved into the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Lakefield where she suffered a major stroke on April 14 and died on April 22, 2011, at the age of 93.
Sonja was an excellent seamstress and kept stitching away well into her 80s.
She was known for her lefse, and some years, Sonja turned over 100 pounds of potatoes into this Scandinavian delicacy. She enjoyed collecting teddy bears and surrounded herself with bear memorabilia. Sonja was an avid card player and she played to win!
Sonja worked outside of the home at times and was always active in her church and community.
She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Heron Lake for many years and later a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield. The VFW and Legion Auxiliaries were very important to Sonja and she worked many steak feeds and bullhead feeds and organized the annual poppy sales.
Sonja is survived by her children, James (Susan) Hecker of Elk River, Minnesota, Bonnie (Robert) Pruett of McGregor, Iowa, Richard (Betty Mogensen) Hecker of Lakefield, Wayne Hecker of McGregor, Iowa, Paul (Terry) Hecker of Bowmansville, Pennsylvania. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law LaVon Seleen of Lakefield, brother-in-law Don Hecker of Heron Lake, and many nieces and nephews.
Sonja was preceded in death by Willis, her husband of 50 years; infant granddaughter Kelly Jo; two brothers and a sister; and special friend Ernie Mathias.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lakefield.
The service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Andrew Schensted officiating. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Heron Lake.
She grew up on the family farm near Kinbrae, Minnesota.
After graduating from Brewster High School, Sonja attended the University of Minnesota "Farm School," and later completed a beauty school course in Minneapolis.
She worked as a beautician in Minneapolis until coming home to care for her mother until her mother's death. Sonja continued to cook and keep house for her father.
Sonja married Willis Hecker on March 23, 1940, at the family farm by Kinbrae. The couple lived in the Heron Lake area until 1965 when they moved to Sherburn, Minnesota. In 1969 they moved to Alden, Minnesota, where they lived until moving to Lakefield in 1988.
Willis died September 19, 1990, and Sonja continued living in their home until this February. She moved into the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Lakefield where she suffered a major stroke on April 14 and died on April 22, 2011, at the age of 93.
Sonja was an excellent seamstress and kept stitching away well into her 80s.
She was known for her lefse, and some years, Sonja turned over 100 pounds of potatoes into this Scandinavian delicacy. She enjoyed collecting teddy bears and surrounded herself with bear memorabilia. Sonja was an avid card player and she played to win!
Sonja worked outside of the home at times and was always active in her church and community.
She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Heron Lake for many years and later a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield. The VFW and Legion Auxiliaries were very important to Sonja and she worked many steak feeds and bullhead feeds and organized the annual poppy sales.
Sonja is survived by her children, James (Susan) Hecker of Elk River, Minnesota, Bonnie (Robert) Pruett of McGregor, Iowa, Richard (Betty Mogensen) Hecker of Lakefield, Wayne Hecker of McGregor, Iowa, Paul (Terry) Hecker of Bowmansville, Pennsylvania. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law LaVon Seleen of Lakefield, brother-in-law Don Hecker of Heron Lake, and many nieces and nephews.
Sonja was preceded in death by Willis, her husband of 50 years; infant granddaughter Kelly Jo; two brothers and a sister; and special friend Ernie Mathias.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lakefield.
The service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Andrew Schensted officiating. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Heron Lake.
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