Sonja Irene Garbutt

Sonja I. Garbutt (née Dahlin)

December 7, 1931 - November 8, 2024

Sonja Garbutt, 92, passed away peacefully on November 8, 2024. Sonja is survived by her loving children, Lauren and Edwin, grandchildren Peter and Elizabeth and was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 67 years, Edwin B. Garbutt.

Though born on Staten Island, NY, Sonja's Norwegian heritage, passed down from her beloved parents Agnes and Henry Dahlin, remained an important part of her identity throughout her life expressed through her love of traditional foods, especially Norwegian pancakes and nokkelost cheese and various keepsakes from Norway including little trolls, Vikings, Norwegian wool sweaters and Christmas ornamentations.

On January 8, 1955, she married Edwin B. Garbutt, beginning what would become a beautiful 67-year marriage marked by deep love and mutual affection. Sonja was a devoted mother to their two children, who brought immense joy to her life. She was always ready to help them with homework, type a book report, and pack a healthy lunch for school. As adults, her support for them was unwavering throughout her life. Her face beamed with a beautiful smile every time they visited her.

A gifted student with exceptional language and grammar skills, Sonja earned numerous academic awards throughout her primary education. She went on to build a successful career at Nabisco Corporation in New York City, where she advanced from stenographer to office manager before becoming a full-time mother and homemaker. Her passion for learning and education found expression in her volunteer work at the Marguerite E. Small school library on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where she delighted in reading stories to children during the library period. She maintained many interests throughout her life, including bowling, golf, crossword puzzles, and reading. In her later years she was the resident bingo champion of the second floor of the Willows of Ramsey Hill, a claim supported by winnings that amounted to the largest sock and scarf collection in Saint Paul!

A devoted animal lover, Sonja had a special affection for cats. In her later years, she found joy in watching the local squirrels and birds outside her window and during strolls around the neighborhood. She amassed a cherished collection of animal figurines and stuffed animals. Her favorites were named and had their own special place in her heart. To capture her unique spirit, she was laid to rest with her beloved stuffed lemur, “Smitty.”

Those who knew Sonja well were privileged to experience her warm friendship, which she bestowed thoughtfully and selectively. While reserved by nature, once she welcomed someone into her circle, they found a loyal and steadfast friend. Her wry sense of humor, sometimes delightfully silly, created special bonds, particularly with her son who shared her distinctive wit. Sonja's quiet strength and reassuring presence were hallmarks of her character. She was an extraordinarily kind, gentle, and understanding person who served as a stabilizing source of patience and calm for her family and friends alike. She lived life guided by an unshakeable moral compass and remarkable emotional strength. Her legendary stubbornness was matched only by her absolute honesty and integrity. She faced life's challenges with remarkable equanimity, never allowing worry to overshadow her peaceful nature.

Sonja's quiet strength, unwavering principles, and deep capacity for love will be profoundly missed by all who knew her. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of her family and friends, who will forever remember her as a woman who lived authentically, loved deeply, and brought her own special warmth to the world.

A special and heartfelt thank you goes to her incredible team of caregivers, Chelsey, Amina, Tutu, Tigist, Muna, Carmen, Lamera, Alissa, Angie, and Char. We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.

A funeral service will be held on November 18, 2024, at 12:30 PM at Fort Snelling Cemetery (Assembly time is 12:15 in Area 4), followed by a memorial reception at The Willows of Ramsey Hill in St. Paul.