Mabel Sorenson
Death was swallowed up in victory on March 1, 2008 for Mabel Irene (Johnson) Sorenson through Jesus
her Savior.
Mabel was born on April 2, 1918 to John O. Johnson and Josephine (Thormodsgaard) Johnson on a farm
near Kremlin, MT. She was the third child of a family of three boys and three girls, and was the first
daughter. Her parents moved to Sheridan County when she was young. Mabel attended the Monroe grade
school 8 miles northeast of Antelope. This is where she met her future husband Palmer Sorenson after he
carried her books home from school one day. Her baby sister and mother died when Mabel was only nine
years old and because of hard times, she and her two younger siblings had to move to a Christian
children's home in Lake Park, Minnesota. Due to such heartache and responsibilities at such a young
age, God blessed Mabel by having her come to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and she followed His
teachings her entire life.
While at the children's home she taught herself to play the piano by ear and discovered her love of music.
When she was 16, Mabel moved to Portland, ND where she graduated high school while working as a
nanny for a Pastor and his wife. She attended a small business college and later managed the "Little Red
Death was swallowed up in victory on March 1, 2008 for Mabel Irene (Johnson) Sorenson through Jesus
her Savior.
Mabel was born on April 2, 1918 to John O. Johnson and Josephine (Thormodsgaard) Johnson on a farm
near Kremlin, MT. She was the third child of a family of three boys and three girls, and was the first
daughter. Her parents moved to Sheridan County when she was young. Mabel attended the Monroe grade
school 8 miles northeast of Antelope. This is where she met her future husband Palmer Sorenson after he
carried her books home from school one day. Her baby sister and mother died when Mabel was only nine
years old and because of hard times, she and her two younger siblings had to move to a Christian
children's home in Lake Park, Minnesota. Due to such heartache and responsibilities at such a young
age, God blessed Mabel by having her come to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and she followed His
teachings her entire life.
While at the children's home she taught herself to play the piano by ear and discovered her love of music.
When she was 16, Mabel moved to Portland, ND where she graduated high school while working as a
nanny for a Pastor and his wife. She attended a small business college and later managed the "Little Red
Hen" drive in diner in Fargo, ND for her uncles. At the age of 23, Mabel followed her musical uncle "Thor" to Tacoma, WA where she sang in his
church choir and worked in the shipyards during the war. On a vacation to visit her father and older brothers on their farm in the Comertown area,
she renewed her grade school friendship with Palmer. She and Palmer were married on July 4, 1943.
Mabel started singing for Jesus early in life and poured her love of both music and Jesus into her 5 children. She was known as a godly woman in
the community and was very active in church her entire life. Mabel was born to serve and loved doing so in a variety of ways. As many will
remember, she ran the City Café and Rainbow Shack in Westby during the 1960's and 1970's.
Mabel loved her family and was proud to be a well used Grandma. She felt blessed having some of her grandchildren close by where she could be
the favorite babysitter. All of her grandchildren felt close to her because she made sure they knew how much she loved them.
Mabel wrote a poem after prayer was taken out of our schools in 1962 titled "Ashamed of Jesus? No Not I." It is a testimonial of her lasting
Christian legacy. She wanted everyone to know, especially her children and grandchildren, the only worthwhile life is one lived serving Jesus. She
wants us all to "Just Be There" when at the feet of Jesus she looks around to see.
Mabel is survived by her daughter Mavis (Jim) Weiler of Westby, sons, Perry (Laura) Sorenson of Billings, Daryl (Donna) Sorenson of Westby, and
Stan (Robyn) Sorenson of Gurnee, IL; Twelve grandchildren, D'Ette (Kirby) Erickson, Tiana Weiler, Tim Weiler, Sharla (Paul) Winston, Shawn (Carrie)
Alexander, Ryan (Cristy) Alexander, Jesse Sorenson, Kolby (Justin) Carrier, Jeremy Sorenson, Nichole Sorenson, Josh Sorenson, Sara (Troy)
Venhorst; eight great grandchildren, Kallie, Lexi, and Blake Erickson, Ginger Tomlinson, Stephanie Wildman, Sabrina Venhorst, Oliver Alexander and
Tage Carrier, and three great great grandchildren. Also surviving are four sisters in law: Doris Johnson, Loretta Johnson. Borgny Haroldson, and
Ingrid Ebstein; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special people that adopted her as "theirs".
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Palmer, daughter Lavonne Alexander, brothers, Oliver, Albert and Norman, her sister
Harriet Rosebrook, and infant sister, Hazel.
Her funeral service is at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Westby, MT on Tuesday March 4, 2008 at 10:00am with interment at St. Johns Cemetery with
Pastor Barb Westhoff officiating.
"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." Prov 31:10
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge of arrangements.
church choir and worked in the shipyards during the war. On a vacation to visit her father and older brothers on their farm in the Comertown area,
she renewed her grade school friendship with Palmer. She and Palmer were married on July 4, 1943.
Mabel started singing for Jesus early in life and poured her love of both music and Jesus into her 5 children. She was known as a godly woman in
the community and was very active in church her entire life. Mabel was born to serve and loved doing so in a variety of ways. As many will
remember, she ran the City Café and Rainbow Shack in Westby during the 1960's and 1970's.
Mabel loved her family and was proud to be a well used Grandma. She felt blessed having some of her grandchildren close by where she could be
the favorite babysitter. All of her grandchildren felt close to her because she made sure they knew how much she loved them.
Mabel wrote a poem after prayer was taken out of our schools in 1962 titled "Ashamed of Jesus? No Not I." It is a testimonial of her lasting
Christian legacy. She wanted everyone to know, especially her children and grandchildren, the only worthwhile life is one lived serving Jesus. She
wants us all to "Just Be There" when at the feet of Jesus she looks around to see.
Mabel is survived by her daughter Mavis (Jim) Weiler of Westby, sons, Perry (Laura) Sorenson of Billings, Daryl (Donna) Sorenson of Westby, and
Stan (Robyn) Sorenson of Gurnee, IL; Twelve grandchildren, D'Ette (Kirby) Erickson, Tiana Weiler, Tim Weiler, Sharla (Paul) Winston, Shawn (Carrie)
Alexander, Ryan (Cristy) Alexander, Jesse Sorenson, Kolby (Justin) Carrier, Jeremy Sorenson, Nichole Sorenson, Josh Sorenson, Sara (Troy)
Venhorst; eight great grandchildren, Kallie, Lexi, and Blake Erickson, Ginger Tomlinson, Stephanie Wildman, Sabrina Venhorst, Oliver Alexander and
Tage Carrier, and three great great grandchildren. Also surviving are four sisters in law: Doris Johnson, Loretta Johnson. Borgny Haroldson, and
Ingrid Ebstein; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special people that adopted her as "theirs".
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Palmer, daughter Lavonne Alexander, brothers, Oliver, Albert and Norman, her sister
Harriet Rosebrook, and infant sister, Hazel.
Her funeral service is at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Westby, MT on Tuesday March 4, 2008 at 10:00am with interment at St. Johns Cemetery with
Pastor Barb Westhoff officiating.
"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." Prov 31:10
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge of arrangements.
| 1918 - 2008 |
Remembering Mabel
| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
