Obituary - Iona Mae Frost Faraasen Sonsteng

Iona Sonsteng, "Grandma Havre," 86, passed away on Saturday, March 21, at Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow.

Iona was born Jan. 4, 1929. at the home of her grandparents, William and Cloe Anderson in Hinsdale. She was raised by her parents, Myron and Dorothy Frost, 15 miles south of Hinsdale in a cement house on a small ranch.

Iona loved animals. She had a pet antelope until he decided to see what marbles tasted like.

She attended Steen School until eighth grade. Iona was an accomplished horseman, training and riding several horses, even keeping a couple of them long enough for her own children to enjoy. Along with her parents and eight siblings they worked from sunup to sundown.

On Nov. 7, 1946, she married the love of her life; Arvid Faraasen. They had five children. They resided south of Hinsdale until Arvid died in 1960.

In those 14 years she planted and harvested huge gardens and canned produce all the she could. She prepared toasted grains for breakfast, straight from the grain bin. In 1962, she married Milo Sonsteng of Havre, where her youngest son, Melvin, was born, completing her family of six children.

She was a Havre High School custodian for several years. Later, she was a custodian at Mountain Bell Telephone in Havre and Great Falls. She retired and moved to Hinsdale to live closer to her children and grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Friday at 2 p.m. at the Legion Hall in Hinsdale. Burial will follow at Hill View Cemetery.