Sonja Marie Bradeen, went to be with the Lord, on March 10, 2024. She passed away at her home, in Liberty, MO, surrounded by family. The immediate family would like to extend a sincere thank you and are very grateful to Kansas City Hospice for their care during her last weeks of life and for all the family and friends that came to see her in her last days. It was very much appreciated.
Sonja was born on November 12, 1945, at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT, to Earl and Colleen Tweedie, who were both born and raised in Maine. Her father was in the Air Force, so she grew up traveling to different military bases with her family. In 1962, she graduated from Las Vegas high school. Soon after, she met and married Richard Hunt, and they had two children, Robin Minder and James Hunt. In 1972, she moved to Liberty, MO, where her two sisters, Lee Curnow and Marcia Reid, lived. This is where she stayed and raised her children. She graduated from Penn Valley Community College in 1977 as a Physical Therapy Assistant, and worked in a variety of places, but her favorite place was working in a nursing home, taking care of the elderly. She had a passion for the elderly, and even started a nursing-home reading program through her church, Liberty Christian Fellowship. She did this for many years and would even take in her little dog and do birthday celebrations for the elderly people she was reading to.
Sonja was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 45 and, because of the nature of her diabetes, she retired from physical therapy soon after her diagnosis.
High School sweetheart, LeRoy Bradeen, from Unity, ME, came to Liberty in 1995 with hopes of “getting to know” her again. On June 1, 1996, they married and were married 24 years, until Roy’s passing on June, 13, 2020. After their marriage, they built a home together in Liberty and we have many great memories of their life there. They both loved to travel back to Maine every summer to see family and friends and spend time at the Bradeen camp on Unity Lake. She also loved to travel to see her best friend, Linda, of 50 years.
Sonja was an active member of PEO Chapter LH for 20 years. She enjoyed doing this with her two sisters, and served as a chair person for several committees. She was proud to be in an organization that supported women’s education and also helped support the local community.
She also loved having a little dog in her life, and her latest, little Noel, brought her great joy over the last 2 years. Noel loved her too and was right by her side and checking on her constantly in her last days.
Sonja loved her two children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She was a fun grandma that would get down and play with all her grandkids. She was at every soccer game, wrestling match, and dance competition that she could attend. Never wanting to miss any of them!
She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Earl and Colleen Tweedie; her husband, LeRoy Bradeen; and nephew, Adam Curnow.
Survivors include daughter, Robin (Hunt) Minder and her husband, Tim Minder, of Liberty, MO; son, James Hunt, of Liberty, MO; grandson, Tyler Minder, his wife, Kiley (Bennett) Minder, and great-grandson, Silas Minder, of Smithville, MO; grandson, Tanner Minder, his wife, Carson (Brehm) Minder, and great-grandson, Rowan Minder, of Parkville, MO; granddaughter, Tessa (Minder) McCoy, and her husband, Connor McCoy of Kansas City, MO; Roy’s children, daughter, Billie Theriault, her husband, Francis Theriault, and grandchildren, Kayla and Macy, of Ashland, ME; son, Rex Bradeen, wife Heather (Roach) Bradeen, and grandsons, Wes and Owen of Jericho, VT; sister, Lee Curnow, her husband, Dick Curnow and sister, Marcia Reid, of Liberty, MO; along with nephews, Matt Curnow and wife, Gina, Pat Curnow and wife, Joly, Nathan Curnow and wife, Kristina, and Eric Reid and wife, Iraida; niece, Kelley Riley and husband, Steve; many great nephews and nieces; and a church family and friends that truly cared for her and she loved very much.
Sonja will be greatly missed. She loved to laugh and be with her family and grandchildren, who made her laugh:) We have many memories to cherish, and are thankful for her, her life, and that she Loved the Lord. We know she is now in heaven, with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We will be having a Celebration Of Life for Sonja and her deceased husband, Roy, on Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at their home located at 1859 Loughrey, Liberty, MO 64068.
All her family and friends are invited to come celebrate. We will have sandwiches and snacks, and we ask that anyone that can make it wear something with yellow in it. As This was her favorite color:)
If you would like to honor Sonja, a memorial donation can be made to: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for Type 1 diabetes, www.jdrf.org, under donate/memorial.
In memory of Sonja Bradeen
Next of Kin: Robin Minder, daughter
10806 NE 137th St.
Liberty, MO 64068
Arrangements in care of Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.
Our Sincere Condolences
Had NO idea that she and I got married on the same month and year!! Me for the first time and her for the second!! We adored Sonja and will miss her so very much!
Kris Plubell
My condolences on the passing of Sonja. She was such a beautiful, happy young girl when our
Lives crossed. Her dad and my husband were Navy Pilots so we were together at times and the Tweedie family visited us in California. I send my prayers to all her lovely family!
Elvera Rollins
Sonja was such a sweetheart to me and had a kind and loving soul. I will always remember her very fondly. Hugs to you James, she loved you so much!
Kari Danielson
Sonja and I met at physical therapy school in 1975. We met at a time when we both had been through some life-changing experiences in our lives. So we began a span of friendship for 49 years as we both began new futures.
Sonja was always up for new adventures!
When Sonja walked into a room, she always brought smiles. Sonja was strong and self-reliant, she knew her strengths. Sonja lovingly cared for others; Roy, Robin and James , her parents and me! She willingly served others; patients, church, PTO, family and many friends. Sonja was determined; living her life to its fullest! Sonja loved life. She loved her little doggies and the flowers she grew in her garden. But most of all, she loved The Lord. Reading and studying The Bible. Always in a Bible study. A very special privilege of mine was to be at her baptism. Coming out the water with her amazing smile and the new life she had in Christ.
Jesus said, do not be troubled, there are many rooms in my Father’s house. I will really , really miss Sonja. Our phones calls which sometimes lasted hours! Her laughter, her sweetness, her honesty, her great advice, her joy talking about her children and grandchildren She loved Silas! You could feel that love over the phone.
Sonja, my most special friend. I will think of you often. Your forever best girlfriend.
But I am rejoicing that you are with our Savior, you are, a new shining light in heaven.
Linda Kilgus