Sonya A. Neisess

Sonya Anne Neisess, 45, died Saturday, Dec. 29 at her home in Libby. She was born in Valparaiso, Ind., the fifth child of Rush Dean and Carolyn Elaine (Fant) Colley on Sept. 27, 1962.

Sonya attended grade school in Chesterton, Ind. and later came to Troy during her freshman year in high school, graduating as salutatorian from Troy High School in 1981.

She married Joseph Neisess, Jr. on June 21, 1980 in Kemmerer, Wyo. They returned to Montana, first to Troy and later to Libby in 1983.

Sonya first worked as an employee for Cabinet Books and Music for 14 years and later purchased the business which she operated for six years. She remained active in that area, serving on the Montana Book Award Committee.

Always active in community affairs, Sonya had served on the board of the Libby Area Chamber of Commerce and the Libby Revitalization Committee.

A noted local musician, she had been a band member of Young Country for several years and had been a member of The Treasure Tones. She also had been a member of a local troupe of actors in several productions of the Kootenai Heritage Council.

Sonya was a member of St. John Lutheran Church as well as a member of the Alter Guild.

Her largest passion in life was that of being a loving wife and partner and a very involved mother to her children Ashley and Adam.

Sonya was preceded in death by her mother and father.

Survivors include her husband Joe at the family home in Libby; her children, Ashley Renee and Adam Christian; her sisters and brothers, Nancy and her husband Michael Vrska of McKinney, Texas, Mark and his wife Rebecca Colley of Sandy, Utah, Renee and her husband Steve Tornello of Jacksonville, Fla., Karl and his wife Carol Colley of Chesterton, Ind., Denise Lange of Grand Rapids, Mich., Dean and his wife Julie Lange of Lake Jackson, Texas, Joseph and his wife Margaret Colley of Durango, Colo., and David and his wife Dawn Colley of Brownsburg, Ind.; her step-mother, Arline Colley of Grand Rapids, Mich.; 28 nieces and nephews and 19 great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday at St. John Lutheran Church with Pastor Eric Christiansen officiating. Interment services will follow in the City of Libby Cemetery. Friends may call at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the church.

Memorials may be made to St. John Home Health/ Hospice, 350 Louisiana Ave., Libby, MT 59923.