Gorham, Sonja Deloris (Tranaas) 1928 - 2024

GORHAM, TRANAAS, HVAM, SHERBURNE, TOLLEFSRUD, ODEGAARDEN, PEVENSIE, VATLAND, ERICKSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/29/2024 at 12:48:19

Sonja Deloris Gorham, 96, passed away peacefully in the early morning of Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, Minnesota.

Sonja was born on June 15, 1928, in Hesper, Iowa, to Nikolai and Dagmar (Hvam) Tranaas. She grew up in Hesper, attending Hesper School through 8th grade before graduating from Mabel High School in 1948.
On July 3, 1949, Sonja married Francis Gorham. Together, they made their home on the Gorham family farm east of Mabel, where they raised five children. A lifelong member of Hesper Lutheran Church, Sonja was active in WELCA, circle, and her children’s Luther League groups.

Sonja handled bookkeeping for Gorham Milk Hauling and took over full management of the business following Francis’s sudden passing in 1972. She later worked at the Mabel Record newspaper, a role she enjoyed for several years.
Sonja’s life was enriched by her many hobbies and talents. Her love of gardening was evident in her well-kept yard, always bursting with a variety of beautiful flowers. A talented seamstress, she created beautiful clothes for herself and lovingly crafted outfits for her children.

In her youth, Sonja was an enthusiastic skier, and her active spirit continued throughout her life. She enjoyed bowling in several leagues, treasuring the camaraderie of time spent with friends. Dancing, especially polka, brought her immense joy and remained a beloved pastime throughout her years.

Sonja was preceded in death by her parents, Nikolai and Dagmar Tranaas; her first husband and the father of her children, Francis Gorham; her former husbands, Marvin Sherburne and Roger Tollefsrud; her son, Marvin Gorham; her brother, Norvel Tranaas, and sister-in-law Winifred Tranaas; her sister-in-law, Myrtle Odegaarden, and brother-in-law, Tollef Odegaarden; and her niece, Elyse Pevensie.

She is survived by her children, Darrell (Jennifer) Gorham, Kathy Vatland, David (Laurie) Gorham, and Monica (David) Erickson; her daughter-in-law, Ka Gorham; her grandchildren, Shane Vatland, Shauna Vatland, Josh (Anne) Gorham, Brian (Elyse) Pevensie, Scott (Rachel) Gorham, Ethan (Emily) Gorham, Tim Gorham, Rhyse Jensen Gorham, Westley Gorham, Daniel Erickson, Benjamin Erickson; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. at Hesper Lutheran Church. Interment will take place in Hesper Lutheran Cemetery.

Source: Mengis Funeral Home database

Hesper Lutheran Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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