Peggy Jean Soneson

Peggy J. Soneson, 89, of St. Paul, died peacefully, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Pastor Daren Popple will officiate. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul.

Memorials are suggested to the Howard County Medical Center Foundation, St. Mark’s Church or the Elba United Methodist Church.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Peggy Jean Soneson was born Aug. 11, 1935 in Holdrege. She was the oldest of 12 children born to William and Etta (Soderquist) Popple. The family lived on a farm near Axtell until they moved to a ranch in Boyd County in 1946. She attended country school and then entered high school in Butte. The family returned to Axtell in 1952, where she graduated from high school. She attended Mary Lanning School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse in 1956.

Peggy was united in marriage to Carl “Bud” Soneson, Jr. (a childhood friend) at Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell, on Aug. 12, 1956. He preceded her in death on July 19, 2005.

Peggy and Bud lived on farms near Axtell and Holdrege. During this time, four children were born to the couple; Lori, Timothy, Mark and Robert. The family moved to Loup City in 1969 and to Elba in 1974. Peggy worked as an R.N. in hospitals and nursing homes, finishing her employment at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul in 2002, where she was the Director of Medical Records.

Peggy enjoyed her children’s and grandchildren’s activities and she and Bud made many trips to ball games in the surrounding communities. She liked to read, plant flowers and bake cookies. She was known as the “Cookie Grandma” to her grandchildren. She was active in the churches in the towns she lived in, attending Bible studies, joining the women’s groups and was a part-time organist.

Peggy moved into St. Paul in 2011, where she made new friends and reunited with old ones. She was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Carl Mogensen Legion Auxiliary Unit 119 of St. Paul and the Howard County Medical Center Auxiliary.

She is survived by her children, Lori and Kevin Schmidt of Des Moines, IA, Timothy and Belinda Soneson of St. Paul, NE, Mark and Jeanine Soneson of Milford, NE and Robert and Donna Soneson of Ellis, KS; eleven grandchildren, Eric (Taryn), Dustin, and Ethan (Rachel) Schmidt, Nicholas (Jim) Kolnik, Jessica (Jeremy) Meyer, Jennifer (Mike) Higgins and Trevor Soneson, Andrew (Lynn) and Jon (Katie Fore) Soneson, and Kaleigh Soneson and Geoffrey Soneson; fourteen great-grandchildren, Zuri, Olin, Lyra, Otto, Mackenzie, Landon, Grae, Axon, Tyson, Jaxin, Reagan, McKinley, Lincoln, and Monroe; brothers, Frank (Margo) Popple, Edward (and special friend, Carol) Popple; sisters, Susan Roads and Vickie Erickson; sisters-in-law, Lois Popple, Johanna Popple, Maureen Popple, Ardyce Murdoch, and Marline Gugel; as well as many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Bud, she was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Colleen and husband, Herb Warnken, and Sandy and husband, Jerry Johnson; brothers, Max, Bradley, Michael, Brent and Brian; brothers-in-law, Don Roads, Paul Murdoch, Karl Gugel, and Gordon Soneson and his wife, Lucille.