In Memoriam: Deacon Sonnee Steveson
We pray for the family and friends of Sonnee Ann Olson Steveson, 79, of Phoenix, AZ, and formerly of Ventura, Belmond, and Sac City, IA, who died October 7, 2023, after a brief illness.
Memorial services will be held at Mountain View Lutheran in Phoenix on Nov. 25, 2023 at 2pm.
Sonnee was born December 29, 1943, in Storm Lake, IA, to Don & Doris (Coats) Olson. She was born while her father was away on a navy transport ship in WWII and did not meet him until she was about 18 months old. She attended Jackson #7 country school until about 5th grade when she transitioned into town to attend Sac City Elementary.
Sonnee met her husband, Ron at Sac City High School, and they were united in marriage at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Sac City, on August 17, 1963. She worked at a meat-packing plant in Waterloo while Ron attended college, and then went on to attend UNI while pregnant with their first child, Derek, graduating with a BA in Jr High Education - English in 1969. They lived in Waverly and Houston prior to moving to Belmond, IA, in 1970, where they raised both of their children, Derek and Jennifer. Sonnee was a substitute teacher in the Belmond School District and also taught adult education and GED classes through NIACC, prior to getting her position as the Executive Director of the Lutheran Resource Center in Clear Lake, IA. She drove back and forth, from Belmond to Clear Lake for many years until 1990, when they purchased their dream lake home in Ventura, IA, on Clear Lake.
Sonnee enjoyed her job at the Lutheran Resource Center, often traveling around the US to share the resources available for churches. Because of her faith and love of Jesus, and her many years of service and involvement in her churches, she applied for and was appointed an Associate in Ministry Certification for the ELCA in 1987. This allowed her to continue her earthly work of sharing God's love to all those she met.
Sonnee and Ron moved to Arizona after the birth of their most special grandson, Eli Jax (Jenny), making their home in Ahwatukee. Sonnee enjoyed taking care of Eli and participating in water aerobics at the ARC. In 2017, Sonnee and Ron moved to Friendship Village Independent Senior Living in Tempe, where they enjoyed making new friends and the many food options. After Ron's death in 2021, Sonnee moved back to Ahwatukee to be closer to her one and only grandson and her children, to Mountain Park Assisted Living. She fit right in - making friends always came natural to her - and she also won the hearts of many of the staff that took care of her over the last year.
The past year and a half since Ron's passing have been tough on her, along with many health issues. She is now at peace with Ron, her parents, many family and a few close friends, and heavenly father.
Sonnee was preceded in death by her husband, Ron, parents Don & Doris, mother and father-in-law Don & Eva Steveson, and brother-in-law Rick Steveson.
Sonnee will be missed immeasurably by her son Derek (Phoenix), daughter Jenny & "greatest joy" grandson Eli (both of Phoenix), sister Tammy Beschen (Wenatchee, WA), sister Laura Olson (Decorah, IA) & the Vanney Boys (who were like grandsons), sister-in-law Sandra Hanson (Mesa), brother-in-law Steve (Stephanie) Steveson (Indianola, IA), sister-in-law Kathie Steveson (Unionville, MO), many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces/nephews, Olson cousins, and the many friends she has made throughout her life.
“O God of grace and glory, we remember before you our sister, Deacon Sonnee Steveson. We thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord, Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.”
