Sonia Joann (Rosenvold) Willoughby, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away surrounded by her loving family in her home in Bismarck, ND on March 9, 2026.
Sonia was born in Wildrose, ND on January 20, 1940 to Thor and Thea (Olson) Rosenvold. She grew up in Ray, ND and graduated from Ray High School in 1958.
After graduating from nursing college in Fargo, ND she returned to Williston and worked at Good Samaritan Hospital from 1961 to 1964. In December of 1964 Sonia married John C. Willoughby. They lived in Lambert, MT where John was a teacher. While living in Lambert, Sonia worked at the Sidney Memorial Hospital in Sidney, MT from 1965 to 1967.
Sonia and John moved to California in 1967 and this is where she raised her two children Elizabeth and James. While living in Woodland, California she worked at both Hacienda and Alderson’s convalescence hospitals. Upon retirement in 1997, Sonia and her husband, John moved back to North Dakota to be near their grandchildren in Bismarck.
Sonia’s favorite activities included planting flowers, antiquing, and collecting Norwegian Rosmaling decorations. While we were saddened that our time with her was being shortened, she made sure that she handed down her lefse recipe to her grandchildren, supervising and training their lefse making skills. When she decided to pursue treatment for her cancer, she told her doctors that she would like to see her great grandson turn one. She did. Then when she told her doctors she would like one more Christmas with her family, her physician said that it was unlikely, but she did. After Christmas she said that maybe she will make it to her 86th birthday and to no one’s surprise, she did. She was a brave, witty, loving wife and mother, and we will miss her terribly. She left a note regarding the bible verse 2nd Timothy 4:7. It fits her: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.". Yes mom, you did.
We are comforted in knowing that she is with other loved ones who passed before her. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Carol, Jordyce, and Donald.
Left to share her memory are brothers, Ron (Sharon) Rosenvold of Bismarck, Robert Rosenvold of Fargo; daughter, Elizabeth (Jay) Gotta of Bismarck; son, James (Monica) Willoughby of Gilbert, AZ; grandsons, Matthew Gotta, Steven (Alisyn)Gotta, Michael Gotta, and Scott Gotta, all of Bismarck. And a precious great grandson named Calvin who inspired her to ‘fight the good fight’ and stay with us a little longer.