Janice “Jan” Sonday

Janice Rae Neumann Sonday, age 88 of Richfield, MN, went to Heaven to be with her Lord and Savior on December 23, 2025. Jan was born in New Ulm, Minnesota to Ray and Alice Neumann. She moved to Glenwood, Minnesota in 1938 and returned to New Ulm in 1941. She was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and confirmed in 1951 at Friedens Evangelical and Reformed Church. She went to the New Ulm public schools and graduated in 1955: Jan attended Mankato State Teachers College in 1958. In 1958 Jan married Warren Sonday, her high school sweetheart.

Jan was a woman with passion. She had a passion to make a positive difference in the lives of others. She taught school in St. Peter and in Richfield. Jan went back to school at Hamline University and received a degree to teach English Second Language students. She continued teaching and substitute teaching in Richfield until 2017.

Jan was a woman of giving. She was active in Loaves and Fishes, LWML, and Families Moving Forward at Berea Lutheran Church. Jan was active in the Lady Bug chapter of Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.

Above all, Jan treasured her family and her friends, and the time she got to spend with them. Her greatest joy was being a loving mother, grandma, and friend.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ray Neumann, and her mother Alice Anderson Neumann; brother-in-law, Ralph Sonday; and niece, Barbara Sonday.

Those left to honor her memory include her loving husband, Warren Sonday; children, Tim Sonday (Amy Smith), Deb (Mark) Davidson, Susie (Chuck) Carr, and Kathy (Mark) Montang; grandkids, Dan (Kaitlin), Matt (Megan), Paul (Danielle), Jenn (Cameron), Christine (Reid), Brooke (Duane), Jacqueline (Justin), Spencer (Anna), Scott (Jess), Charlie, Ella, Molly, and JT; great-grandkids, Luke, Emilie, Ivy, Piper, Ryder, Parker, Briggs, Ryan, Blake, Brooklyn, Elliette, Evelyn, Hayden, Bennett, Mark, Hilde, and Collins; and sister-in-law, Arlene Sonday, as well as many other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.

A memorial service will be held for Jan at Berea Lutheran Church in Richfield on Saturday, January 10th at 11:00 AM. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM.

An internment will take place at a later date in New Ulm, MN.