Sonja Kaisu Marino, 84, passed on December 19, 2022, after a brief illness. She was born October 26, 1938, in New York, New York to Walter and Kaisu Anderson.
Faith and family were Sonja’s guiding values. Sonja grew up on Long Island and was very close to her parents and siblings. She lovingly referred to them as Mommy and Daddy her entire life. Long Island is where she met her soul mate James Marino. Jimmy and Sonja married in
1958 and enjoyed 60 years of marriage until Jimmy passed in 2018. Not a day went by that she didn’t talk to Jimmy up in Heaven. They moved 14 times during Jimmy’s long career with Northrup Grumman. His career took them to Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas and several locations in New York. Sonja always loved to travel and looked at each move as an adventure and chance to make new friends. After a brief job at the telephone company, Sonja stayed at home to raise their three sons. The family traveled to Myrtle Beach each year and visited family often. On trips, she would write down all the state license plates she saw on their long journeys and track the states she visited. Although she didn’t reach her goal of checking Hawaii off her list, she made several trips to visit family in Sweden.
During their golden years, Sonja and Jimmy traveled frequently between upstate New York and Montana to spend time with their grandchildren.
They bought a home in Helena and established a wide circle of dear friends that all began at the Red Roof Café when Sonja told Jimmy to stop there because it looked like a place where the locals go. An avid reader, devotee to Jesus, eternal optimist and friend to all, she is missed by friends and family across the globe.
Sonja is survived by her brother Henry Anderson, her sister Ellie Lemke and sons James (JoMarie), Andrew and Thomas (Sara) and four wonderful grandchildren who loved her d early.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, May 5 at 2 p.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home 3750 N. Montana Ave.
Dan & Sandi Benson says
Tom and family,
We are sorry to read this news. Know we are thinking of you with kind thoughts. May the days ahead bring you peace.
Claire O'Connell says
A fond memory I have of Sonja is from many years ago when Sara, Tom and Colter lived in Helena. We would go to their home for Christmas Eve and Sara would make stuffed shells and we would all eat at the table. The kids would be running around and Jimmy and Cosley were there, too. Sonja would bring out a cake she had brought and we would all gather around and we would sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. It seems like we did this for many years and it was such a fun, happy time.
barbara e bernstein says
Although I never met Sonja in person, the two of us knew one another for over twenty years..It all started on the Michael Flatley, website, since we both loved Irish dancing…We would speak on the phone, and e mail one another, weekly…even Adorable Jimmy, would get into the act..
They were two of the nicest, and kindest people, I have ever known, even without meeting them, face, to face…when I heard of her passing, I was heartbroken..may both of them, rest in eternal peace…Sonja, you are with Adorable, again…I will miss you, always..