Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271566
Title: Sonja J. Berget
Date: 9/13/1970-4/17/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 9/13/1970
Summary: Sonja Jean Berget, 54, passed away April 17, 2025, in Minot, ND. Funeral services were held April 22, 2025, at the Northern Lights Wellness Center in New Town, ND, with Pastor Charles “Rick” Rhoades officiating. Interment was at the New Town Cemetery. Sonja’s native name is tirawii’ sukusu’ sapaak which translates to “she has a big heart woman”. We want to say thank you to our grandmothers from long ago who named, loved, cared for, and doctored her as a child. Sonja was born to Kenneth V. Berget and Melda Packineau in Watford City, on September 13, 1970. She grew up in New Town where she attended her early years of school before attending school in Stanley and graduating from Stanley High School in 1991-1992. After high school, Sonja went to live in Tri-City Cares in Stanley, ND, and then moved to Minot, ND. After living in Minot, she moved to New Town before finally finding her permanent home at the Kalix Group Home in Minot. Sonja loved many things including riding her bicycle, playing guitar, shopping, playing cards, word search, painting, helping her mother bake, working in her mother’s jewelry store, and hamburger and french-fries. Sonja loved going on outings with her family, especially when it involved getting pop, chips, or shrump aka shrimp. She loved music by George Straight, Kenny Rogers, Elton John, and especially Elvis. When she would see Dr. Mayor she would sing “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time!” No one was allowed to tease the doctor except for Sonja Berget. Despite all of her many challenges throughout her life, Sonja’s huge heart, full of love, playfulness, and kindness was an example for us all. We would like to thank all of the staff at the Kalix Group Home and Hospice of the Red River Valley for all of their loving and compassionate care for our sister Sonja. Sonja loved her family and her family loved her dearly. Sonja is survived by her siblings, Marmie (Charles) Hamamoto, of Tucson, AZ; Marilyn (Alfred McGillis) Howling Wolf, of Sedro Wooley, WA; Renita Howling Wolf “Lita”, of New Town, ND; Caroline (Charles) Rhoades, of Beaver Dam, WI; Michael (Karyl Jefferson) Howling Wolf, Bellingham, WA; Carroll (Delia) Howling Wolf, of New Town, ND; Susan R. Paulson, of Bismarck, ND; Robert Schmidt (adopted brother), of New Town, ND, and Donna Follet (adopted sister) of Wolf Point, MT; namesake granddaughter, Cedar Sonja Dyanne Grinnell, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth V. Berget; mother, Melda Packineau; brothers, Hugh Drags Wolf Jr., Arthur Paulson; sister, Jolene Begay.
Red ID: FND_I_79062 Image ID: 525298 Image Notes: FND001 271566

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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