Valerie Tonsager

Valerie (Val) Ann Tonsager reached the end of her wonderful and adventurous life on March 25th, 2025, at the age of 67.

Born in Chico, California on May 31st, 1957, Valerie spent her youth in California, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, before attending the University of Minnesota. While there, she met her future husband, Gregory Tonsager. They were married on September 8th, 1979 and raised two children in Plymouth, MN.

Throughout her life Val was active with her children's schools, athletic events, and church. You could often find her braving the Minnesota cold, standing at the finish line of one of her children's Nordic ski races, cowbell in hand, urging them across the finish line or cheering them on in their soccer games. She was a generous person, opening her home to anyone and everyone. While the children were growing up, there always seemed to be an extra seat or two set at the dinner table for their teammates, friends and other family members...they would never leave hungry.

As her kids grew older, she spent a significant amount of time traveling, having visited countless countries and all 7 continents. To say she lived a life of adventure is an understatement, from crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica, to eating with villagers in the Amazon, visiting ancient monuments in Europe, trying unique food in Asia and looking for lions in Africa...she did it all and developed lasting friendships with many she met on her travels.

Her biggest accomplishment, however, and the one that gave her the most joy in life, was being a Nonna. Her love for her grandchildren knew no bounds. She found a way to make a special connection with all six of them, whether it be putting that travel bug in them, baking, art, music, doing a puzzle, reading a book, talking about soccer, or learning about the latest & greatest bug or dinosaur facts. They were the light of her life.

Valerie was preceded in death by her brother, Mark Johnson and mother, Helen Johnson. She is survived by her husband Gregory Tonsager, two children: Laura (Ryan) Nordlocken and Matthew (Melissa) Tonsager. She leaves behind six grandchildren: Robert, Audrey, Adalind, William, Oliver and Emily. She is also survived by her father, Lawrence Johnson and brother, Christopher (Sherry) Johnson and countless family members and friends.

A memorial mass will be held on Friday, April 11th at St. Joseph Catholic Community in New Hope, MN at 11:00 AM with luncheon to follow. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider donations to the Alzheimer's Association, an organization Val was passionate about due to the impacts Alzheimer’s had on her mother, and the American Cancer Society, in honor of Valerie.