Obituary of Ila Mae Thunberg

To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me When I am gone, release me, let me go— I have so many things to see and do. You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears, Be thankful for our many beautiful years. I gave you my love, you can only guess How much you gave to me in happiness. I thank you for the love you each have shown, But now it’s time I traveled on alone. So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must, Then let your grief be comforted by trust. It’s only for a time that we must part So bless the memories within your heart. I won’t be far away, for life goes on So if you need me, call and I will come. Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near And if you listen with your heart you’ll hear All my love around you soft and clear. And then, when you must come this way alone, I’ll greet you with a smile and say – “Welcome Home!” Ila Mae (Sonne-Johnson) Thunberg April 18, 1930 - February 26, 2015 Ila was born in Letcher, SD to Elmer and Hattie(Dahl) Sonne. She spent her early years enjoying life on the farm with her brothers, Sylvan and Kenneth along with family in the area. She was always active in Trinity Lutheran Church and school life. After graduating high school, she joined her brother, Sylvan and wife, Leota in Olympia, Washington. She worked for a short time for Acme Fuel and later began a lifelong career in banking, where she retired from Seattle First National Bank (Bank of America). Ila was joined in marriage to Oscar Johnson on June 16, 1950. They built a new home on South Bay Road and she continued to live there after his passing in 1954. She married Vern Thunberg on May 17,1975. They also built a home on South Bay road. Vern passed away in 1987. She enjoyed having extended family and kept in touch with them over the years. Besides being a loving daughter, sister, aunt, step-mom and friend, Ila wore many hats over her lifetime. She had worked at a polling site for elections for many years, until voting was changed to voting by mail. Ila sang in the church choir, was a member of church circle, assisted with funeral refreshments for families and a Sunday School teacher at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. She and Virginia Opsata spent hundreds of their Monday mornings counting the Sunday offering and preparing the bank deposit. After Virginia was no longer able to volunteer with Ila, she continued Monday mornings with Gloria Clemmons. She was also a longtime member of Sons of Norway. She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and traveled to Norway to visit relatives there and see where her family heritage originated. Ila always was a gracious hostess for anyone that stopped by or came to visit here in Olympia. The coffee was always on and a "sweet" to offer her guests. Family events were always served with a hot casserole and dessert. Many of us were at her home over the years for holidays, birthdays, relatives visiting, showers, and "just because" meals. For many years she held a "cousin breakfast" for all of her Sonne great-nieces and nephews. If anyone wanted to go out for a bite to eat at the last minute, she was always willing to put on some lip stick and head out the door. Ila was God mother to many and she always remembered them in her nightly prayers. She sent cards out frequently and everyone would recognize her lovely hand writing, even though she was a "lefty". She was fond of saving cards that she received over the years, taking photos, filling scrapbooks and clipping articles out of the newspaper. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers, husbands Oscar Johnson and Vern Thunberg. She is survived by three nieces and two stepchildren along with a wide circle of family and friends. A memorial service will be on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 11:00 am at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Olympia. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made for the Chapel or Endowment fund, to honor Ila's many years of service to God in the congregation. Memorials may be sent to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 1515 Harrison Ave. NW Olympia, WA. 98502 Thank you for sharing in Ila's life.