FAIRMONT — A Celebration of Life service for Sonija R. DeVries, 71, of Fairmont, Minn., will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont. A private family burial will be held at a later date in Lakeside Cemetery, Fairmont, Minn.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2018, at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont, and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church. Sonija passed away Saturday morning, March 17, 2018, at her home in Fairmont, Minn., surrounded by her husband and daughters.

Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Sonija Rae (Christensen) DeVries was born Dec. 8, 1946, in Sleepy Eye, Minn., the daughter of Arnie Matthias and Evelyn Katherine (Dittbenner) Christensen. She began her education attending country school and graduated from Morgan High School. Sonija went on to further her education at Mankato State University.

On May 1, 1965, Sonija was united in marriage to Cornelius “Neil” Junior DeVries in Mankato, Minn. Together the couple lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota before making their home in Fairmont where they purchased a ServiceMaster franchise.

After retiring, Sonija and Neil volunteered at the Rio Grande Bible Institute where they later attended Spanish language school prior to becoming short-term missionaries in Costa Rica for three years. Sonija loved the Lord Jesus and was a member of Bethel Evangelical Free Church and the Gideons Auxiliary. She happily served as a leader of Women’s Bible Studies, a deaconess, an AWANA leader, VBS leader and a Sunday school teacher. After her Savior, Sonija loved her family and others.

Sonija was an avid game player, especially Scrabble. She loved traveling with her dear husband, Neil, family, and friends. She faithfully attended sporting events and activities for her children and grandchildren, logging many miles in the process.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Neil DeVries; daughters, Chris (Bill) Krumholz, Tonja (Tim) Smick, Andrea (Michael) McCarron, and Leah Jorgenson (Tom Korth); grandchildren, Willis Krumholz (Alyssa Robinson), Kellie (Beckett) Witzke, Katie Krumholz, Anna (Alex) Voyles, Steven Krumholz, Theo Krumholz, Sarah Krumholz, Calvin Smick, Spencer Smick, Stuart Smick, (Ginelle Smick), Hayley McCarron, Tanner McCarron, Evelyn Jorgenson (Timmy Kue), and Christian Jorgenson; great-grandchildren, Sierra Smick, AlmaLeigh Voyles, and Wolfgang Witzke; sisters, Lucille Doss and Karen Christensen; sisters-in-law, Bernice (Bert) Brouwer, Carol Van Dam, Betty (Louie) Toering; as well as many other extended family and friends.

Sonija was preceded in death by her parents, Arnie and Evelyn Christensen; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Cornelius and Anna DeVries.

The family requests memorials be made in Sonija’s name to the Gideons and Options Pregnancy Center of Fairmont.

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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