Obituary

Sonja Joyce “Sunny” Beach

1940-2026

On a warm day in August, God sent a ray of sunshine to this earth-our beloved Sonja.

Sonja Joyce Beach was born on August 1, 1940, at SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford, Illinois, the daughter of Joseph and Rose (Lundquist) Carlson.

Her childhood was filled with laughter, music, and family. When she was very young, she sang on WROK radio as the “Sunshine Girl” and was given the wonderfully appropriate nickname “Sunny.” She attended Kishwaukee Grade School, Lincoln Junior High, and was a proud 1958 graduate of East High School, where she sang in the A Cappella Choir and performed in the school musicals.

Sonja met the love of her life, Franklin C. Beach, on a blind date in May 1956-and he proposed that very night! They were married on December 26, 1959, at First Evangelical Free Church in Rockford. Together, they shared nearly 67 years of marriage and more than 70 years of love, life, and memories.

They spent the first months of their marriage in Hinesville, Georgia, near Savannah, while Frank was stationed at Fort Stewart. Sonja returned to Rockford during his 14 months of service in Korea. Upon his return, they were stationed at Headquarters, Third United States Army, at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, where Sonja worked as a radio operator for Delta Airlines. When Frank was discharged from the Army, they moved to Tucson, Arizona, where she worked for Swift and Company. The arrival of their first daughter, Lori, brought them home to settle in Rockford.

Sonja loved her Lord Jesus Christ with all her heart, and that love was reflected in a lifetime of ministry and service to others. Her ministry began as a camp counselor at Camp Willabay in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. She had a special love for working with young people, and she and her husband, Frank, served as directors of the youth ministry at Temple Baptist Church during the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, they welcomed their second daughter, Jodi. At Temple Baptist, she also served as a Sunday School teacher and Bible study teacher and sang in the choir.

Sonja continued serving as both a counselor and camp cook for many retreats at Camp Hickory. Always active in women’s ministries, she became involved with the Winter Warm-Up Women’s Conference through the Baptist General Conference, eventually becoming its leader. During the 1980s and 1990s, the annual weekend welcomed more than 1,300 women and nationally known speakers and singers each year.

Sonja enjoyed mentoring young women in both their faith and their daily lives. For many years, she offered classes in hospitality to encourage women, as the heart of their homes, to bring more joy through simple, everyday touches such as a pretty tablecloth, placemats, special napkins, and, of course, a centerpiece. She made ordinary things beautiful. She loved to plant flowers in her garden and feed the birds and the squirrels.

After their children were grown, Sonja and Frank returned to The Salvation Army Rockford Temple Corps, where their ministry continued. Sonja served on The Salvation Army Advisory Board and was active in The Salvation Army Rockford Women’s Auxiliary and Women’s Ministries. She cooked for the senior citizen luncheons, Wednesday night suppers for the youth, and sang with the String Band. Through the years she received many awards from the Salvation Army for her volunteer service.

Her light shone throughout the Rockford community in countless ways. Proud of her Swedish heritage, Sonja was a board member and was actively involved with the Swedish Historical Society. For many years, she organized the annual Christmas Market-Julmarknad, the Christmas celebration, JUL Fest, and served on the Midsommar Festival Committee. In 2016, Sonja was recognized by the Swedish Historical Society as the Volunteer of the Year. Sonja was also a charter member of Kids Around the World. In 2011, Sonja was honored by the Rockford Register Star as a finalist for Rockford’s Woman of the Year.

Throughout their life together, Sonja was Frank’s devoted partner. She supported his community involvement, working side by side with him at Gibbs-Beach and Associates, Harvest Time Books, Groom Industries, and throughout his years as Alderman of the 10th Ward.

Sonja loved to sing! For decades, she sang with the Rockford Symphony Chorale, the Mendelssohn Chorale, and the Nielsen Chorale. She also treasured singing alongside her daughters in the Christmas and Good Friday musicals at Zion Lutheran Church.

Wherever there was a kitchen, there was Sonja! She loved cooking for her family, but she also used that gift as a ministry, preparing meals at churches, camps, community events, and the Rockford Rescue Mission. Her talent and love of cooking eventually led to her own catering business, “Sunny B’s Catering.”

In 1998, with the encouragement of John Anderson, Sonja began Tuesday Morning Worship in the Gardens, a non-denominational early-morning time of worship held from May through September at the internationally recognized Anderson Japanese Gardens. Now in its 28th year, what began all those years ago continues today, ministering to hundreds of people in person and thousands online. This is another beautiful part of Sonja’s legacy of faith and service.

Sonja enjoyed crafting, painting ceramics, and decorating baskets and wreaths with flowers. In her later years, coloring with colored pencils was her favorite thing to do!

Sonja was an avid reader until the very last days of her life. She loved studying the Bible, filling its pages with notes and carrying in her heart the Scripture verses she had memorized throughout her lifetime.

Sonja was the heart of her family and filled all of our lives with joy. She was the creator of memories, traditions, celebrations, and beautiful moments. She cherished our yearly family vacations in Michigan and long drives on Sunday afternoons. She had a quiet and gentle spirit, a servant’s heart, a deep and abiding faith, and a strength that carried those she loved. Her legacy reaches far beyond what any of us will ever fully know.

Sonja is survived by her loving husband, Frank; her daughters, Lori (Jim Grass) Beach-Grass and Jodi (Jim McDowell) Beach; her granddaughters, Chelsea Rose (Michael) Tomaino and Chloe Yates; her great-grandsons, Chandler Davis and Linden Yates; her niece, Heather (Mark) Bergstedt, and their children; and her sisters-in-law, Charlene and Laura Uptegrove, and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Rose Carlson; her beloved grandmother, Anna Lundquist; her sister, Diane Bertrand; her nephew, Chad Bertrand; and many beloved family members both here and in Sweden.

Surrounded by her family, with songs, prayers, and love, Sonja peacefully slipped into the arms of Jesus on Friday, October 2, 2026, at SwedishAmerican Hospital-the very place where her earthly life began 86 years before.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at both P.A. Peterson and SwedishAmerican Hospital for the kindness and gentleness they extended to Sonja and to our family.

Please join our family as we honor and celebrate Sonja’s beautiful life and her Promotion to Glory on Saturday, October 24, at 2:00 p.m. at The Salvation Army Rockford Temple Corps, 500 S. Rockford Ave., Rockford, Illinois 61104.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 23, from 5:00-7:30 p.m. at the same location.

To share a memory or leave a condolence for the family, please visit Olson Funeral & Cremation Services.