Alon Joan Soderfelt, age 78, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2024, in her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Born to Kenneth T. Soderfelt and Anna (Greening) Soderfelt on March 16, 1946, in Grafton, North Dakota, Alon was the fifth of eight children. After graduating from Drayton High School in Drayton, ND, Alon pursued her love of knowledge at Mayville State University in Mayville, North Dakota, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Alon taught in North Dakota for three years when she discovered her love for literature and became a school librarian. Alon moved to Michigan where she earned her master’s degree in Librarianship from Western Michigan University and began her lifelong career as a school library at Wyoming Park High School in Wyoming, MI.
After retiring, Alon moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be closer to family and warmer days. Her passion for hot air balloons couldn’t be missed by anyone who knew Alon, riding in hot air balloons on three continents. Alon enjoyed reading and sewing in her free time and traveled with friends whenever she could. As a pet-lover, Alon opened her home to numerous rescue dogs and cats. She found her faith family in Tulsa, first at St. Matthews United Methodist Church and then New Haven United Methodist Church, following her dedication to serving the vulnerable both at home and abroad.
Alon was preceded in death by both parents, her oldest brother Rev. Alcyd N. Soderfelt, brother-in-law Jack Hartwig, and great-nephew, Alcyd E. “Cyd” Soderfelt. Alon is survived by her fur babies, Zoe & Zeke; brothers Alan Soderfelt of Hobbs, NM, Allard Soderfelt of Drayton, ND, and Artie (Beth) Soderfelt of Owasso, OK; sisters Arlene (Gerald) Seemann of Hobbs, NM, Adeline Smith of Bloomington, MN, Angela (Carl) Wiebe of Mesa, AZ, and Cheryl Hartwig of Minong, WI, and numerous nieces/nephews and great-nieces/nephews.
During Alon’s life, she lived with a giving heart, so her family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made with a charitable gift to one of Alon’s favorite charities: The Little Lighthouse – 5120 E 36th St S, Tulsa, OK 74135-5228 https:// www.littlelighthouse.org/donate/ New Haven United Methodist Church – 5603 S New Haven Ave, Tulsa, OK 74135-4175 https://newhavenumc. org/online-giving/ Friends of the Tulsa City-County Library – 400 Civic Center, Tulsa, OK 741033857 https://www.tulsalibrary.org/ about/friends-of-tulsa-city-countylibraries/ become-a-friend-today A celebration of Alon’s life will be held Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 1:00 at New Haven United Methodist Church.