Obituary of Sonia Marie Moder

Sonia Marie Moder, 86, died Friday, March 1, 2024, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth. Sonia was born at home in Automba Township on December 24, 1937, to Frank and Helmi (Ylonen) Erickson. She attended Kalevala School and graduated from Barnum High School in 1956. After graduation she worked in the office at Marshall Wells Hardware in Duluth from 1956-1958 and for the Carlton County Social Service Department from 1958-1962. In 1961, Sonia married Harold Matteen.  After the birth of her daughter, she began working at the Moose Lake Regional Treatment Center from 1962-1994, finishing her career there as a Medical Records Supervisor.  In 1970, Sonia married Bernard Moder, enjoying 35 years together until Berny’s death in 2005.

As a child growing up on a farm, Sonia was active in 4-H and showed turkeys at the Carlton County Fair and Minnesota State Fair.  She had a lifelong love of cows and dogs, but not turkeys! She played in the high school band and attended Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Kettle River.  Sonia was a past secretary of AFSCME (local 1092), member of the Barnum Community Club, the Barnum Centennial Committee, and Barnum Sports Boosters. Sonia enjoyed all things sports related and took pride in being a Barnum Bomber!  Sonia and Berny enjoyed going to dances, Moder family gatherings, social events, and putting on fish fries at Senior Centers and for anyone who may have wanted to come over for fish. She and Berny were Grand Marshals of the 1996 Barnum Spring Fever Days parade and also recipients of the Bomber Fan Appreciation Award. Sonia was proud of her Finnish heritage and displayed her Sisu until the end! Since 2021, Sonia resided at Edgewood Living Community in Virginia, Minnesota, and enjoyed her time there meeting new people and continuing to speak Finnish.  Sonia was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Helmi Erickson; infant brother, Douglas Erickson; her husband Bernard Moder; step-daughter Ruth Nordstrom; step-son Randy Moder; and great-grandson Drew Nordstrom. Sonia is survived by her daughter Melody (David) Swenson, Cotton, MN; step-daughters Beth (Kenneth) Berg, Chandler, AZ, and RaeAnn (Gary) Bakka, Willow River, MN;  grandchildren: Brittany Swenson,  Lisa (Ryan) LaPointe,  Julie (Jimmy Calhoun) Nordstrom; Judd (Amanda) Nordstrom;  Lance (Erin) Nordstrom; Dawn (Dan) Kimball; Rob (Tina) Berg; Josh Berg; Matthew Anderson; Randal Anderson; and Jared Anderson; great-grandchildren , Bentley, Max, Maris, Alexis, Anakin, MaKenna, DeAhnna,  Talon, Torin, Peyton, Reese, Paige, Kennedy, Bailie, Lilian, Jackson, Daniel, Asher, Isaac, Elise, Tristan, Nora; and great-great granddaughter, Emma.

Visitation will be held beginning at noon on Saturday, March 16, at Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, 801 14^th Street, Cloquet, with Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m. and a reception to follow. Please share condolences at www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com.