Sonja Wettstein Hunsaker

Sonja Wettstein Hunsaker passed from this earthly life peacefully on December 29, 2023, at the age of 102.

Sonja Martha Hug was born on June 21, 1921, in Wyler, Bern, Switzerland to Martha Jaggi and Jakob Hug.

The Hug family emigrated to the United States in 1928, settling in Logan Utah when Sonja was 7.  Sonja entered first grade at Woodruff Elementary.  She mastered the English language quickly and made many lifelong friends in that first-grade class.  Her father passed away shortly after coming to America, leaving a young wife who barely spoke the language and three small children.  As the oldest child, Sonja was a great help to her mother, including caring for her siblings Heinz and Delores (Harris).  She was her mother’s devoted helpmate and companion all through her life.

Sonja married Lyman R. Wettstein in the Salt Lake Temple on August 26, 1941.  Together they built a home and raised six children.  She was a devoted wife and mother, providing her children with memories of a happy, busy childhood with many activities from household chores to dance and piano lessons, 4-H clubs, horse-riding events, healthy home-cooked meals, family vacations, church activities, and holiday and birthday celebrations.

Always a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sonja always held at least one church calling including Primary chorister for many years, Cub Scout den mother for nine years, and twice as Relief Society president for the Logan 6th Ward.  She served a full-time mission with Lyman in Switzerland in 1982-83.

Sonja was a master gardener and had a beautiful yard.  She was happiest the many hours a day she spent in her yard planting and caring for her flowers, pulling every weed, pruning her apple trees, and caring for her award-winning roses.  Sonja was a wonderful seamstress and she sewed most of her children’s clothing and hundreds of dance costumes.  She was also a beautiful singer and sang with many trios, quartets, and choirs, including singing weekly on KVNU when she was young.  When her family was grown, Sonja worked with the Cache County Extension Service as a Nutrition Aid which she enjoyed for many years.  Her children and grandchildren remember her often taking a meal, fresh baked bread, or vegetables from the garden to friends and neighbors.

After Lyman’s passing, Sonja married Lloyd R. Hunsaker, a longtime family friend.  They enjoyed 21 years of loving companionship, serving as officiators in the temple, delivering Meals on Wheels, attending USU games and gardening together.  

She is survived by five of her children, Tanya Watterson, Benson; Sonja Filippi, Denver Colorado; Dan (Kathy) Wettstein, Hyde Park; Jeff (Faye) Wettstein, Preston Idaho; Lori Sue Williamson, Young Ward.  18 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Sonja is preceded in death by her parents, Jakob and Martha Hug, a brother, Heinz Hug, a sister, Delores Harris, two husbands, Lyman Wettstein and Lloyd Hunsaker, one son, Tom Wettstein, and one granddaughter, Wendy Quinn.

A Funeral Service for Sonja will be held on Friday, January 5, 2024, at 12:00 pm at White Pine Funeral Services, 753 S 100 E, Logan, Utah.  A viewing will be held prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:30 am.  The interment will be at the Logan City Cemetery.  

Sonja's funeral service can be viewed below.