Obituary: Sonja Phyllis Roseth

Sonja Phyllis Roseth, known for her compassion, courage, curiosity, and joyful spirit, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2025, at age 86, surrounded by friends and family. One of four children, she was born in Oseo, Wisconsin, to Helmer and Cora Iverson, and lived a life devoted to service, creativity, learning, and community. She is survived by her partner David Bradley, her brother John Iverson, her children Jolianne Einem, John Einem, Eric Einem, and Tanja Sutton, as well as eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many dear friends she embraced as family. 

Raised in Milwaukee with a sister who was deaf, Sonja developed an early interest in teaching the hearing-impaired. After earning her degree from the University of Wisconsin and marrying Robert Einem, she moved to Los Angeles in 1967, where she began a lifelong career in special education. She worked as a teacher of the deaf and earned a master’s degree, later becoming Director of Disability Student Services at Los Angeles Community College.

Following two amicable marriages, Sonja moved to Humboldt County in 1989 to serve as Director of Disability Services at College of the Redwoods, where she ran the Light Center and became a mentor and advocate for many. She was a passionate supporter of local artists and musicians and helped found the Westhaven Center for the Arts.

Sonja embraced life with enthusiasm and openness. She loved her family and friends, nature walks, her vegetable garden, roses and dahlias, backyard gatherings (with music!), the ocean and redwoods, traveling, making jewelry or working with clay. She was committed to personal growth and spirituality through meditation, the exploration of Sufism and Native traditions, attitudinal healing, and dream groups. As a good listener, she supported many through hard times. She worked for a time as a guided imagery coach at the Full Circle for Integrative Medicine and was often a leader, serving as president of Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and co-director of Westhaven Center for the Arts. Whether rafting on a wild river, cheering at a basketball game, dancing, painting or singing with friends, she remained a passionate student of life, steadfast in her positive vision for the world. 

Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched through her kindness, wisdom, advocacy, and generosity of spirit. She will be deeply missed.

Sonja’s Celebration of Life is on Sunday, June 14th at the Humboldt Unitarian Fellowship in Bayside. Finger foods and drinks are welcome. Call 707-834-2479 for info.

A more informal Beach Gathering will be held on Monday, June 15th at 11:00 a.m. at Moonstone Beach to scatter flower petals in her honor.