Sonja Leora (Grill) Meyer was born on Dec 9, 1932 in Kenmare, ND to Reverend Ernest and Esther (Rasmussen) Grill. Growing up she lived in Caruthers, CA and Portland, OR before moving to Minden, NE. Sonja graduated from Minden High School in 1950 and then attended Dana College in Blair NE. On Dec. 29, 1953 she was united in marriage to Marvin Meyer. She passed away at the age of 91 on March 4, 2024 after a long and rich life.
Sonja is survived by her loving husband, Marvin Meyer, her children Brian Meyer, Brent (Dawn) Meyer, Heidi (Wade) Harper, Holli (Michael) Giebler, and brother Keith (Janet) Grill and eleven grandchildren; David Meyer, Paul (Kristen) Meyer, James (Aryana) Meyer, Christian (Elisabeth) Meyer, Carl (Maggie) Meyer, Peter (Kyra) Meyer, Eric Meyer, Nicholas Harper, Nathan Harper, Mitchell Giebler, and Claudia Giebler. She is also survived by 6 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and loyal friends who loved her dearly. Sonja was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Esther (Rasmussen) Grill, sister Carolyn Nelson, sister Marilyn Christensen, son David Keith Meyer and great granddaughter Penelope Meyer.
Sonja and Marvin met in high school in Minden, NE, both graduating in 1950. Sonja studied English for 2 years at Dana College in Blair, NE. After their marriage in 1953, they moved to Harlingen, TX where Marvin was stationed in the Air Force. They were later transferred to Malone, FL and then Kinston, NC before moving back to Minden, NE where they raised their family and attended Fredericksburg Lutheran Church. Sonja and Marvin moved to Ft. Collins, CO in 2008 to be closer to their kids and grandkids.
Sonja was a loving and dedicated wife and mother who took great pride and joy in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Throughout her long life, her interests in literature, music, nature, nutrition, and science were an inspiration to her family and friends. She was an accomplished vocalist and spent her life joyfully immersed in music, participating in many local choral groups, musicals, and church choirs. She loved attending musical performances both locally and wherever she traveled. Sonja was also an amazing gardener. Her vegetable garden supplied the family with homegrown vegetables year-round and her rose gardens brought her great joy. As an avid reader, Sonja never stopped learning and took many adult education classes in the areas of Astronomy, English, and Music. Her resilience, strength of character, and enthusiasm for life and learning will long be remembered. She will be dearly missed.
There will be a memorial service in Sonja's honor on Saturday May 4, 2024 at 10:30am at Fredericksburg Lutheran Church in Minden, NE.
Memorials are kindly suggested to Fredericksburg Cemetery or the Parkinson's Foundation.(
www.parkinson.org
).