Sonja M. Iverson

Sonja M. Iverson, 73, Moorhead, MN, died on Tuesday, February 3, 2009, in her home surrounded by her family.Sonja Marie Christiansen was born on February 20, 1935, in Valparaiso, IN, to Jacobi "Jake" M. and Bertha N. (Branstad) Christiansen. When her father was asked to become the atheletic director at Concordia College, and later football coach, the family moved to Moorhead. Sonja attended school in Moorhead, graduating from Moorhead High School in 1953. She attended Concordia College and graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor's in Fine Arts and Education. She taught school in Ada, MN for one year and then devoted her life to raising her family and her artistic work. She married H.A. "Bill" Iverson in Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead in 1958. She attended graduate school at Moorhead State University and was a life long artist. She apprenticed as a potter with her brother Karl Christiansen in Wilton Junction, Iowa and had a flourishing pottery business in Moorhead for over twenty-five years.Sonja was a special person. A quiet, calm, deliberate speaker with a hearty laugh, she was a voracious and knowledgeable reader. She fought with tenacity when she saw an injustice, and opened her home and heart to anyone in whom she saw a need. Visiting her at home was a predictable pleasure, experienced by countless of her friends and family. Her wisdom and insights, including that which concerned her final illness and impending death, were much valued by her family and many others.Sonja's grandfather was F. Melius Christiansen. Several years ago she researched her grandfathers family and gathered photo's and bound the history and photos in to books so that all of the extended family could have copies of the history. She also spent much time researching the Christiansen property at Little Sister Bay WI, and when she wasn't fending off developers attempts to circumvent the law, she loved picking strawberries and raspberries and being with family. Sonja was naturally mindful with all she met along the path. She was passionate about politics, family and understanding the spiritual nature of life.Sonja is survived by her husband, H.A. "Bill" Iverson, Moorhead, MN; two sons, John J. Iverson, Fargo, ND, and Billy Iverson, Moorhead, MN; one daughter, Judy Anderson, Mankato, MN; three grandchildren, Christopher Gardner, Mankato, MN, Tyler Anderson, Mankato, MN, and Colton Iverson, Moorhead, MN; four sisters, Winifred Christiansen, Naples, FL, Elsa (Bob) Wilson, Appleton, WI, Judy (Charlie) McDonald, Beaver Dam, WI, and Susan Still, Parkland, FL.She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Karl Christiansen, and an infant grandson Jacobi Christian Iverson.