Sonja Ione Leirfallom

Sonja Leirfallom, 69, of Missoula passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, with family members present. After living a very active, fun-filled, happy, healthy life she succumbed to cancer. She touched hundreds of lives in a positive way with her Shaklee business, helping people by supplying them with health and home products for 41 years.

Sonja was born and raised in Milwaukie, Oregon, a suburb of Portland, to parents Kermit and Lois Raftshol. She was the oldest sister in a large family, with a childhood full of many funny stories and memories. Sonja was salutatorian in a large high school class of over 300. She attended California Lutheran University and later got an elementary school teaching degree from Portland State University. Sonja taught school in Canby, Oregon for two years, where she met her husband of 42 years, Jarl. They moved to Missoula in 1975 and enjoyed exploring Montana’s rivers, mountains and lakes together and with their children and grandchildren. Sonja was an avid gardener, hiker, runner, walker, swimmer, skier and canoeist. Most importantly, she was the best daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt that anyone could ever hope for.

Sonja will be remembered for her positivity, kindness towards others and gratitude for all of the blessings in life, even those that seemed inconsequential. Her cheerful spirit was the light of our family.

Sonja was preceded in death by her father, Kermit Raftshol. Survivors include her husband, Jarl, Missoula; daughter Signe (Benjamin Wilson) Leirfallom, Missoula; son Kristofer (Angela) Leirfallom, Ogden, Utah; grandchildren Espen and Eva Leirfallom, Ogden, Utah; mother Lois Raftshol, Bend, Oregon; brothers Trygve (Kim) Raftshol, Fairview, Oregon and Jon Raftshol, Granby, Colorado; sisters Kirsten (Elmer) Groener, Bend, Oregon, Signe (Nick) Gardner, Redding, California, and Lina Raftshol, Bend, Oregon, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
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Services will be held on Saturday, April 29, at 11 a.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 830 South Avenue West, Missoula, Montana. In lieu of gifts, contributions can be made to the Montana Environmental Information Center, P.O. Box 1184, Helena, MT 59624, or meic.org.