SONJA O'CLAIRE

Sonja Ann (Holine) Schaeffer O’Claire, passed away on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at M Health Fairview Lake in Wyoming.  She was 87 years old.

Sonja was born on May 29, 1938, in Stanchfield, Minnesota to parents Andrew and Annie (Hedin) Holine.  She graduated from Cambridge High School.

She was united in marriage to Byron B. Schaeffer on November 21, 1959, in Northwood, Iowa.  They were blessed with three sons, Steven, Jeffrey, and Michael.  Byron passed away unexpectedly in 1984 at the age of 50.

Sonja worked for the Anoka County School District as a Para for a number of years.

Sonja was united in marriage to Kenneth “Frenchie” O’Claire on June 8, 1986, at the Little Brown Church in Iowa.  She welcomed his 7 children into their family.  Ken passed away in 2015.

Sonja loved tending to her flower gardens, cooking and collecting new recipes, and doing word searches.  She will be dearly missed.

Sonja is preceded in death by her parents, husband Byron and Kenneth; son Michael; brother Wilford (Anna) Holine; sister Sylvia (Sydney) Nyman; nephew Phillip Nyman; and niece Heidi Salo.

She is survived by her sons, Steven and Jeffrey; many nieces and nephews and their families; special great niece Erica; her very best friend since seventh grade Ruth (Becklin) Englund; many other relatives and friends.

A Joint Graveside Service and Interment for Sonja and Michael will be held at 3:00 pm on Monday, September 22, 2025 at the Stanchfield Baptist Cemetery.

Please wear blue to the service to honor Sonja and her love of all things blue.

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Michael Larry Schaeffer passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Willmar, Minnesota.   He left us far too soon. 

Michael was born on April 28, 1968 in Fridley, Minnesota to parents Byron and Sonja (Holine) Schaeffer.

He had a passion for watching movies and playing video games.  Michael loved his mother’s cooking and going shopping.  He will be forever loved and missed by all who knew him.

Michael was preceded in death by his father Bryon Schaeffer; step-father Kenneth O’Claire; his grandparents and other extended family.

He is survived by his loving mother Sonja O’Claire; brothers Steven and Jeffrey Schaeffer; extended family and friends of Willmar Group home.

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