Sonja Ruth (Christensen) Rehbein

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Rehbein, Sonja Ruth (Christensen) age 68, of Anoka, died Tuesday, July 5, 2016, at Bethesda Pleasant View in Willmar from early onset Alzheimer's. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. followed by the funeral at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 11, at Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka. Burial will be at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home of Willmar, hafh.org. Memorials preferred to Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Rice Hospice or memorial of choice. Sonja was born on September 17, 1947, in Sleepy Eye, the daughter of Milo and Arlene (Krenz) Christensen. She grew up on the family farm and attended Morgan Public School, graduating in 1965. In 1969, she received her teaching degree from St. Cloud State University and taught music for one year at Echo. In 1970, she was hired by the Anoka Public School system and taught middle school band at St. Francis Public Schools until her retirement in 2001. On July 21, 1973, she married Adalbert "Al" Rehbein at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Evan and they had 37 wonderful years together, traveling to over 40 countries in five continents, including numerous trips to Germany, where Al's parents and siblings resided. Not only did Sonja enjoy teaching students, but she loved being a student and gaining knowledge whenever she could. She returned to college, earning her Masters and Ph.D. in music. She participated in MacPhail's Center for Music Artist-in-Residence program, was a member of the North Suburban Concert Band, attended the International Music Camp for many years, directed the New Horizons Band at MacPhail, and was a member of the Minnesota Music Educators and Minnesota Education Associations. And how she loved her tuba! She also enjoyed many hobbies, including gardening, photography, bridge, bowling, reading and wood-working. In her younger years, she was active in 4-H and Luther League and in later years, Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka Area Gardener's club and Anoka Area Kiwanis. Al and Soni met on a dance floor and will be remembered for always being the first ones out on the floor when a polka was played. They were faithful contributors to those less fortunate and also volunteered their time and talents to the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Operation Bootstrap and Zion Lutheran Church. Sonja is survived by her mother, Arlene Christensen, Sleepy Eye; siblings Milo (Barbara) Christensen, Morgan; Donna Christensen, Minnetonka; Michael (Nancy) Christensen, Wells, and Betsy (Daniel) Hallberg, Kandiyohi, and many relatives. She is also survived by Al's siblings in Germany, Johannes (Brigitte) Rehbein, Regina Knoll, and Norbert (Brigitte) Rehbein, and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband, Al in 2010, her father, her mother-in-law and father-in-law and aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Soni stayed strong and positive and seldom complained about her illness, only wishing that a cure could be found. We take comfort in knowing that she is now with Jesus, and that Al and her are again, the first on the dance floor in heaven.

Published on July 8, 2016