Janet Marie Sonsteng

On December 15th 2022, Janet Marie Sonsteng ended a battle which began almost 40 years earlier when she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. At the time of her treatment only a small percentage of patients survived; if anyone was lucky enough, their life expectancy was extended by up to five years. Jan beat those odds heroically, a true testament to her will and to her reliance on God. At 57 years old she was far too young to leave us, but we are all beyond grateful for the time we had with her.

In 1989 Jan met the love of her life, Dave, while working at Boeing in Renton, WA. Just nine months after their first date he proposed, she said yes (!) and six months later they were wed. They remained a devoted, loving couple for over 32 years until the time of her passing.

Survivors of her disease were typically unable to have children, but God blessed Jan with three! Two beautiful daughters, Jessica and Chloe, and an amazing son, Andrew. Jan made the decision to forgo a career outside the home in order to focus on her heart’s desire, being a stay-at-home mother. In addition she also took on the auspicious role of a homeschool teacher. Jan was incredibly proud of her children and loved them beyond belief.

The family moved from Kent, Washington to Beaverton, Oregon in 1999. Jan continued to homeschool her children until the youngest, Andrew went on to middle school. At this point, she enjoyed some part-time substitute work at various schools in the Beaverton area.

In 2018 Jan met another love of her life, her sweet granddaughter Colette. The two of them quickly developed a special bond together and in the ensuing years there were many sleepovers where they could both be found delighting in gardening, cooking, playing house, coloring and enjoying games of all sorts. Then in 2021, her heart was filled to the brim again with the arrival of a beautiful grandson, Dorian.

When Jan wasn’t reading, doing puzzles, quilting, knitting, or baking, she could be found outdoors. She loved being at the beach, a passion that was shared with her husband Dave and her dog Rudy. The beach was definitely her happy place. In addition to beach walks and kayak trips in the bay, she enjoyed traveling with Dave. She had a way of lighting up a room with her presence, from the sparkle in her brown eyes to her beautiful smile.

Jan had a deep faith in God and continued to love and praise Him until the day she passed. She was a beautiful person and her smile reflected the loving spirit inside her. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. We are privileged to have known and loved her, and to have called her a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

She is survived by her husband Dave, daughter Jessica (Matt – husband, Colette - granddaughter, Dorian – grandson), daughter Chloe (Tucker – grand puppy), son Andrew (Leah – wife).

In lieu of flowers the family has set up a donation site at the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to hopefully help another young person from going through this disease. https://diy.lls.org/jansonsteng