Sonja Trooien, age 83, of Balaton, MN and formerly of Hendricks, MN passed away on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at the Avera Tyler Hospital. Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 24th at the Singsaas Church, rural Hendricks. Visitation will be 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday, September 23rd at the Houseman Funeral Home-Birk Chapel in Hendricks and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Singsaas Cemetery. Houseman Funeral Home-Birk Chapel of Hendricks is entrusted with the arrangements
Sonja Linnea Trooien was born at home near Marshall, Minnesota to parents Edward and Genevieve (Swanson) Bengtson. She was educated in the Marshall Public Schools and graduated from Marshall High School in 1953. Sonja married Roger Wayne Trooien on December 20, 1958 in Marshall, MN and they were blessed with three children. After their marriage they farmed near Marshall and then bought a farm near Hendricks and resided there for 23 years. Later they moved to Billings, MT where they lived for seven years and then moved to other various places for countless years until coming back to Minnesota in 2012. Over the years Sonja held many different job titles at the Hendricks Hospital and also spent countless hours helping Roger on the farm. She also was a phone operator for NW Bell Company and worked in the kitchen for the Boys and Girls Ranch. Working with the Holiday Retirement Corp and M.A.P.S was a position she enjoyed. She was involved in many different groups such as the Joy Singers and the Creative Coterie, where they were instrumental in moving the railroad depot to its current location at the Lincoln County Museum. Sonja loved music, she sang in numerous choirs and she played piano and organ in various churches throughout her lifetime. Traveling to watch their grandchildren play in their sporting events was enjoyed by both Sonja and Roger. They also enjoyed watching them play on TV.
Those grateful for having shared Sonja’s life are her husband of 61 years, Roger Trooien, Balaton, MN; her children: Mari (Rob) Bennett, Menifee, CA, Eric Trooien, Sioux Falls, SD and Kirk Trooien, Benson, MN; four grandchildren: Allexis, Kennedee and Estella Bennett and Jason Trooien and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings.
