Sonja S. Long passed away February 27, 2022, after suffering the last three months from amyloidosis that caused her organs to stop functioning. She passed away with expressions of love and admiration from many family members who loved her dearly. She is no longer in pain and suffering. Sonja was born on July 20, 1963, in Vernal, Utah to James C. Slaugh and Edith Timothy Slaugh. She grew up with 3 sisters and many friends. This is where her early childhood memories are summarized up through her nanny time.
After graduating from Uintah High School and attending one year at Utah State University Sonja spent time as a Nanny in Denver, CO in 1984, 1-1985 to 4-1986 in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY and 5-1986 to 5-1987 in Los Angeles, CA.
In 1988 Sonja moved to Bountiful, Utah after finding employment with the Federal Government as a clerk typist. In 1990 she went to work for the Utah Department of Transportation working for the audit and construction departments. In 1993 she went to work for Franklin Covey and then in 1998 returned to state government working for the Utah Department of Financial Institutions and worked there until 2017 when she quit to be with her husband in retirement.
On November 17, 1990, Sonja married Frank F. Long and was later sealed in the Bountiful Utah Temple as they made Bountiful their permanent home for the last 29 years. She immediately became a part of a large family of 5 stepchildren and together they welcomed 11 grandchildren into their lives with much love and caring. She was his soul mate, and they lived a life of service and devotion to each other.
She is remembered best as a crafter. Whether it was tole painting, sewing, making quilts for grandkids, nieces and nephew and many friends with children. She became associated with Close To My heart, a scrapbook and greeting card company and spent many hours outside of work with them celebrating her 25 years as a consultant to others and made dear friends of people who also worked for CTMH and others who became customers. It wasn’t a job it was a social group with her clients which she loved, and this became a highlight of her life. Sonja was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who read the Book of Mormon Daily and enriched her by life was serving others. It didn’t matter whether it was in Relief Society, Young Women’s or Primary, where she most recently was serving was where she could share her love for people and getting to know them. Most of all it was children big or small that she loved and who fulfilled her enormous heart with the love of sharing of her talents and testimony.
Sonja loved the poetry and artistry of music. She walked around with a song in her head and would dance down the hall or across the room. She joined Utah Voices that was started by a friend Michael Huff and loved singing and enjoying the camaraderie and friendship gained through this association. A great experience in her life was singing with the choir at Lincoln Center in New York.
Sonja and Frank shared many memories together, traveling, sharing hobbies together or separately in the shop with she on one side crafting and he on the other woodworking or making things for her crafting. They also served several years in the Self-Reliance program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved supporting grandkids and nieces and nephew in life moments, school activities and sports because in the end she knew better than anyone it was about family and friends you meet along the way.
Sonja is survived by her husband Frank of Bountiful, mother Edie of Bountiful, her father Jim of Vernal and her sisters Teresa (Sean) Solan, Jamie (Ryan) Pederson, and Jessi (Paul) Nelson. She is also survived by her stepson David Long, and stepdaughters Marci (Bret) Whitesides, Becky (John) Wendt, Kammy (Grant) Hanson, Janie (Chris) Wheeler, 11 grandchildren with 2 great grandchildren on the way and 8 nieces and nephews and their children.
She is best remembered by her motto “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at the Val Verda Ninth Ward, 3317 South 800 West, Bountiful, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, Utah and Saturday morning from 9:00 to 10:30 am at the church prior to services. Following the service, the interment will be at the Bountiful Memorial Cemetery. Memories may be shared in the “Guestbook” tab on this obituary page.
Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.
In lieu of flowers support the Bountiful Food Bank or give service to someone in need of support or friendship. She was about people.
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