Sonja Diehl
March 18, 1934 ~ February 28, 2025
Born in:
Fargo, North Dakota
Resided in:
Formerly of Hillsboro, North Dakota
Sonja Diehl entered eternal life on February 28, 2025, after a lengthy stay at Bethany on 42nd in Fargo, ND.
Sonja Pearl Stangeland was born March 18, 1934, in Fargo to Inghart and Pearl (Olson) Stangeland. She grew up in Kragnes Township, MN and attended Oak Mound School and Moorhead High School. She married R. Harlan Diehl on April 10, 1954, and they made their home on the family farm southeast of Hillsboro, ND.
Together they farmed and raised five children. Faith, family, and friends were most important to Sonja. She often volunteered in the church and was active in local clubs. Holidays and summers centered around family. Sonja’s gift was hospitality, and she enjoyed baking. She cherished moments with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There was always room at the lake for anyone who wanted to stay, and she always had a rhubarb cake ready.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Harlan, her parents, and her three brothers, Gordon, Arlan, and Loren.
She is survived by her five children: Kathleen (Phil) Laverdiere, Roberta (Bennie Leonard) Hess, LuAnn (John) Ferguson, Jon (Roseann) Diehl, and Nancy (Jason) Bixby; 11 grandchildren: Ben (Heidi) Tillman, Sarah (Justin) Soberaski, Nick Hess, Erica (Tom) Feher, Adam Hess, Jenna (Alex) Greff, Jack (Sydney) French, Connor Ferguson, Anna, Elsa, and Katherine Bixby; seven great-grandchildren: Bryce and Andrew Tillman, Atlas and Athena Feher, Ainsley French-Rosson, Dominic and Jonah Greff; four sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and dear friends Sandy, Connie, and Muriel.
With gratitude, we acknowledge the care and kindness Sonja received from the staff at Bethany, Ethos Hospice, Pastor Joe and Pastor Vesta.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at Liberty Lutheran in Fargo, ND on Monday, March 24 at 5 pm. A celebration of life will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, March 25 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, ND. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
Memorials can be sent to the Hillsboro Food Pantry or to Our Savior’s Lutheran Kitchen Project in Hillsboro. May God bless her memory.
Services
Gathering of Family and Friends: March 24, 2025 5:00 pm
Visitation: March 25, 2025 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Hillsboro
204 East Caledonia Avenue
Hillsboro, ND 58045
(701) 636-5701
http://oslchillsboro.com/
Celebration of Life: March 25, 2025 11:00 am
Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Hillsboro
204 East Caledonia Avenue
Hillsboro, ND 58045
(701) 636-5701
http://oslchillsboro.com/
My deepest sympathies in the death of your mother and grandmother, Aunt Sonja. Like Paul in said in 2 Timothy 4: 7, ‘I have fought the good fight, i have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’ Her last few miles required a hard fight….and took a lot of faith and grit. We had a couple of good visits recently. She was so grateful for all your visits and care—-very proud of her children and grandchildren. Her mind was sharp and her memory impeccable. While you will miss her, may you find comfort knowing she is free. She finished the race.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We will be in Arizona through March and are so sorry to miss her service. We would have liked to share our sympathy in person and see her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Peace to all—
Beth and Darrel Randklev
Richard and Michele Diehl