April 6, 1968- August 5, 2022
Our beloved Sonja was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Sonja Sue (Hinrichsen) Rhodes, 54, of rural DuBois, Nebraska went to her Heavenly home Friday, August 5, 2022 after her courageous battle with cancer. She was born April 6, 1968 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Douglas and Luella (Chauza) Hinrichsen,Sr. The family moved from Bennet to DuBois a month later, where she grew up and went to public schools. She graduated from Pawnee City High School in 1986.
On June 7, 1986 she married Scott Michael Rhodes. They were blessed with two children, a son, Delton Clark, and a daughter, Rena Renae. The family lived and worked on farms and ranches in Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, where Sonja spent many hours riding and training horses. She attended many clinics to improve her skills, even in Canada and England, learning from the best. Sonja was known far and wide for her natural gentle touch and loving ways training horses and riders.
Sonja never forgot her family and friends at home, visiting as often as possible, and was ecstatic when they came to see her. She found out she had basil cell carcinoma in 2012. She moved to Riggins, Idaho in 2014 living in a little cabin on Shingle Creek Road where she got to enjoy nature and explore. She worked shuttling river rafters and being a sub rural mail carrier for several years. The magic of her art, drawings and writings touched many hearts, and won her many friends from all over, and endeared her to the neighborhood. She was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in March of 2020, which led to surgeries, chemo and radiation, with another round about a year later. On August 8, 2021, after radiation on her spine and brain, she was able to move back home to the”Hill House” overlooking DuBois and the countryside she explored on horseback in her youth.
Always rejoicing, Sonja gave God the credit and glory for all her blessings. She inspired many with her courage, positive attitude and devotion to God. Her “Happiness Is”, The Sunny Roads” and “The Secret of Happiness” cartoons and inspirational messages were enjoyed in The Pawnee Republican for several years. She always wanted her Bible, Daily Devotional book, pen and sketch pad by her side to read, write and sketch. Her computer and phone kept her in contact with her family and friends near and far. She was “Ommie” to her eight grandchildren who she was so proud of and hoped they would always see the sunny side of life and let God be their guide.
Sonja was preceded in death by her father, Douglas Hinrichsen,Sr., five uncles and one aunt. She is survived by her children, Delton (Katie) Rhodes, and their children, Austin, Dakota and Abel; Rena Rhodes (Logan Brundy) and their children, Chelsie, Jaron, Kiera, Bailey and Blaine; mother, Luella Hinrichsen; siblings, Douglas (Teresa) Hinrichsen,Jr., Rick Hinrichsen and Yvonne (Tony) McAferty; aunts, uncles, many cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends. She will be truly missed here on earth, but welcomed to Heaven.
Cremation was entrusted to Wherry Brothers Mortuary, Pawnee City, Nebraska.
A Celebration of Life will be Friday, October 14th, 2022 in the DuBois Community Center at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Howard Blecha officiating.
“Happiness Is”- always following the “Sunny Roads” and seeing the “Sunny Side of Life” as “Sonny Rhodes” did.