Sonia Carol (Swanson) Churchill

Sonia Carol (Swanson) Churchill of Stillwater, MN, was called home to Heaven on March 15th, 2025 at the age of 75. Sonia is survived by her husband Ronald Churchill. Survived by her daughter Carol Churchill and grandson Milo Poole of Boston, MA. Survived by her daughter Sarah (Churchill) Silva and husband Cristian Silva of Bayport, MN. Also survived by granddaughters Cynthia Silva of Arizona, Julianna Silva of Colorado, and Sabrina Silva of Bayport MN. She was preceded in death by her parents Uno and Marion Swanson, and sister Kathleen Roan. Survived by brother Bruce Swanson.

Sonia grew up in St. Paul where she was active in the Como Park Lutheran Church. She was part of the Job's Daughters youth organization. Some of her favorite pastimes throughout her life were going to the Minnesota State Fair and the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory which were near her childhood home. She also loved going to the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. She especially loved going to these places with her father Uno Swanson. Uno had emigrated to the U.S. from Malmo, Sweden. Due to her father's heritage, Sonia had a rich and culturally immersive childhood with many Swedish traditions and customs that she carried on into her adult life and shared with her children and grandchildren. She put on a Swedish smorgasbord every year at Christmas.

Sonia attended and graduated from the well-known Ancker School of Nursing in St. Paul. There she earned her RN nursing degree. This started her lengthy career of working as an RN in many clinics and hospitals in the Twin Cities area. She was a valued member of the medical staff wherever she was employed. She earned frequent accolades from doctors, directors, nurses and patients, and was appreciated for her long hours standing in where needed when staff was short.

Sonia was able to travel the United States, Canada and Mexico. She was honored to travel with the GTCYS orchestra as a nurse and chaperone when they went on two separate international tours. (Daughter Carol was in the orchestra and Sarah accompanied them on the trip.) The first trip was in 1988 when they traveled to Moscow, USSR, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), USSR and Kiev, Ukraine. The next tour was in 1990 when they traveled to Hong Kong, Beijing, China, Ibaraki, Tokyo and Osaka Japan. She fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Sweden in 2012. She traveled there with daughters Carol and Sarah as well as her granddaughters Cynthia and Julianna. She had a wonderful time experiencing a culture and country she loved. There, she spent time with her dear nurse friend Ninni-Marie, and time with close relatives including Hans Lagerquist, the famous Olympic pole vaulter.

After retirement from nursing, Sonia gardened, was an avid reader and spent time with family and friends. Even through adversity, Sonia had a positive outlook, was very thoughtful and encouraging to others. Two of her favorite songs were, "Let There Be Peace on Earth," (which was the Ancker School of Nursing graduation song.) She also loved the music and lyrics of, "What a Wonderful World." We will miss her dearly!

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Sonia's life will be held Monday, April 21, 2025, 4:00-7:00 P.M. at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center, 2800 Curve Crest Boulevard, Stillwater. Private family interment will be held at a later date at Roselawn Cemetery.