Sonja Karen Gabel, 81, passed away Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.  A Celebration of Life is being planned for mid-July, near her birthday, in Beresford.

Memorials in Sonja's memory may be made to Dougherty Hospice House, www.averafoundation.org/support/ .  The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dougherty Hospice House and their compassionate staff.

On a hot July 13 ^th day in 1939, Sonja was born at home, in Union County, near Nora, SD. She was the third of six children to Conrad and Berdice (Siljenberg) Ofstad. She was baptized at Roseni Lutheran church on Christmas Day, 1939, and later became a life member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church where she was active in numerous roles throughout her life.  Sonja was a life-long Beresford resident, attending grade school through high school with her dear classmates and forever friends. While attending school she met her husband of 64 years, Melvin E. Gabel. They were united in marriage on February 8, 1957.

Sonja was deeply tied to the Beresford community; her lifelong commitments and contributions will be remembered by many for years to come. If you were a child raised in Beresford, chances are good you knew Sonja. She was a Girl Scout leader, taught Sunday school, worked as the Children's Librarian at the Public Library, and in her later years enjoyed working at Watchpuppy Preschool.  Additionally, she made a welcoming home for her children, Kyle, Lori, Kelvin, and Karin, and their friends, while later doing the same for her grandchildren. There was always a fresh baked good, a crazy story being shared, and memories in the making. She loved youth and remained youthful throughout her 81 years!

Sonja was extremely talented and could do most anything. She cooked, baked, played the piano and the accordion, sewed, knitted, had an eye for design, refinished furniture, managed a household like nobody's business, and the list goes on and on. She was known for her robust garden and a meticulous lawn, bordered by a perfectly manicured hedge. If you stopped by, you were quickly greeted by lively conversation and an offer for a cup of coffee and the latest goodie from the oven. All while making the perfect home, she and her husband owned and operated, Gabel Commercial Refrigeration and Heating for forty years.

Sonja is survived by her husband, Melvin, Beresford, SD; her sons, Kyle (Glenda) Gabel, McKinleyville, CA and Kelvin (Ha) Gabel, Springfield, IL; her daughters, Lori (Bill Shuba) Thompson, Cape Coral, FL and Karin (Guy) Burdick, Brookings, SD; 6 grandchildren, Leslie, John, Lindsey, Kristy, Nik and Nash; 2 great-granddaughters, Adeline and Eleanor; her sisters, JoBelle Ofstad and Clarice Ofstad, both of Fresno, CA; brother, Claude Ofstad, Fresno, CA; and her sister-in-law, Dessa Ofstad, Kirksville, MO.  She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brothers, Clayton Ofstad and DeLayne Ofstad.