Willmer (Sonny) Lorenz was born August 5, 1931 to Henry and Louisa Lorenz in Sidney, MT. Sonny was one of eleven children. They grew up on a farm south of Sidney which Sonny later farmed for many years. He married the love of his life Darlene Rau on February 24, 1952. They had three children, Tim, Dennis and Pat. They then purchased two farms east of the river in 1970 and in 1973 that he farmed until he retired.
Sonny wasn’t afraid of a challenge. He was a jack of all trades and all was self-taught. He loved to build things. He learned how to do electrical, plumbing, welding and could fix whatever needed fixing, and it was usually better than before. Because of these talents he was able to build their home that they lived in until his death. He built the walls in his shop in the winter, and set them up in the spring on the hill overlooking the valley, a view he loved a lot.
He loved to do many things from bowling and fast pitch softball, to hunting and fishing. He had a horse named Babe growing up that he loved. His brother Harold built a cart for Babe, and they would go around the neighborhood picking up kids so they could play games. One thing that Sonny loved to do that not many people know about was playing the accordion. He was self-taught and played by ear. Even though he hadn’t played for years, he probably still could have.
Sonny and Darlene loved to travel. They went on many trips across the country, sometimes up to a month away from home, and on several mission trips to Mexico where they made many friends.
Sonny went to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 26, 2020 at Sidney Health Center. Even as he was drawing near to the time he was leaving us, he continued to praise and glorify the Lord and share Jesus. To Sonny, the most important day of his life was the day he asked Jesus to forgive his sins, and to come into his heart as his personal Lord and Savior. He prayed constantly, every day, for all of his family and friends to come to know Jesus as their Savior as he did. He loved the Lord, his family and his Ebenezer Church family, of which he was a lifetime member.
Sonny was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Louisa, grandson Matt and great-granddaughter Macee, five sisters, three brothers and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years Darlene, sons Tim (Jolene) and Dennis (Tamar) Lorenz, daughter Patricia Ann (Bill) Cundiff, sisters Edna Rambur and Bernice Reidle, 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.