Sonja Sue (Docka) Dodge

Sonja Sue Docka Dodge (89 y.o.) of Yakima died on May 8, 2026. She was born in Seattle, Washington on February 27, 1937, to Clarence W. Docka and Helen M. (Nelson) Docka. After following her father to various military bases and numerous elementary schools during World War II, Sonja grew up in Cle Elum, Washington. After graduating from Cle Elum High School, Sonja attended Vassar College for three years before completing her Bachelor of Science degree at Seattle University.

Sonja met her future husband James Theodore Dodge, M.D. (“Jim”), of Seattle, Washington, while they were working in neighboring research labs at the University of Washington Medical School. They married in 1960 when Sonja graduated, and she began teaching science in the Seattle public schools.

The couple moved to Boston in 1962 for Jim’s medical internship. During their two years in Boston, Sonja taught junior high school science classes in the Newton school district. Jim’s receipt of a medical research fellowship then took them to New York City for two years, where Jim and Sonja welcomed the first two of their four children into the world. The couple returned to Seattle for Jim’s final year of medical residency, where their third child was born.

In 1967, Jim, Sonja and family moved to Yakima where they were soon joined by a fourth child. Sonja integrated quickly into the community, becoming an active member of the Yakima County Medical Auxiliary and Junior League. She was a founding supporter of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and served on its Board of Directors for 25 years. With four children in the local public schools, Sonja participated in PTSA and later served for nearly ten years as a member of the Yakima School District Board of Directors. Her other Board positions included Heritage University, the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation and the Comprehensive Mental Health Foundation. Sonja was also an active member of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, serving on its Vestry Committee and Pastor Search Committee. Sonja also was an enthusiastic supporter of Allied Arts, the Larson Gallery, St. Elizabeth’s Alice Miller Guild, and the Yakima & Selah Neighbor’s Network.

In addition to her extensive volunteer activities, Sonja was a successful real estate broker until she retired at age 70. Sonja’s keen interest in people and her knowledge of the community served her well professionally. She got to know her clients quickly, helping them find homes that suited their work and family needs. In addition, she gave tips and provided introductions that helped out-of-town clients integrate into the community. Sonja served her profession on the Board of Realtors Grievance Committee, and she was one of the first women to join the Yakima Southwest Rotary Club, serving as its President in 2006-2007.

Despite her busy schedule, Sonja enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, playing games, teaching them to cook, and passing along family holiday traditions from Norway and Sweden including the annual Christmas baking of cardamom bread and spritz cookies.

Sonja also enjoyed traveling. For many years, she assisted Jim in leading ski trips to Europe with friends from Yakima and the White Pass ski patrol. She and Jim stayed in touch with and visited former exchange students and their families in Germany and Sweden as well as their daughter and grandchildren in Switzerland.

Sonja is survived by her daughter and daughter-in-law Kirstin S. Dodge, J.D., and Edith U. Greiner-Mai, M.D., PhD (biology), of Winterthur, Switzerland; former daughter-in-law Anita Krattinger of Berne, Switzerland; sons and daughters-in-law James Theodore (“Ted”) Dodge, Jr., M.D., and Amy Kathleen (Ralston) Dodge of Wenatchee, Erik Docka Dodge and Kristin (Kuntz) Dodge of Yakima, and Berger Anderson Dodge and Janine (Weber) Dodge of Seattle; grandchildren Kathleen (“Kay”) McNeil Dodge and Maya Harper Dodge; Fiona Dodge Krattinger, James Theodore Dodge III, Maya Dodge Krattinger, Courtney (“Nia”) Anderson Dodge, Tyler Docka Dodge, Steiger Anderson Dodge and Toren Xavier Dodge.

A celebration of Sonja’s life is planned for Friday, June 12, 2026, at 1:00pm at St. Timothy's Church in Yakima. Contributions in Sonja’s memory can be made to the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Heritage University or St. Timothy’s Church.