Michael Stephen Sorenson Obituary (2025)

Michael Stephen Sorenson, age 80, passed from the arms of his wife, Linda, into the arms of Jesus on Sunday morning, December 7, 2025. Mike was born on October 14, 1945, to Harold (Bud) Ulysses Sorenson and Gertrude (nee Klomp) Sorenson in Yakima, WA. An energetic kid, physical activity was a great outlet for Mike. He spent hours outside engaged in all sorts of neighborhood sports and games. Summertime, you'd find him at the nearby public pool with his good friend, Mike Buttke. He turned out for a variety of sports throughout junior high and high school and was a proud graduate of Davis High School, class of 1964. After high school, he worked a year at a local fruit warehouse and ran around with friends before signing up for the Navy. Mike served from 1965-1969, stationed on both the east and west coasts, with tours in the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Asian Pacific. The Navy whet his appetite for travel and adventure, which never left him. After the service, he worked various part-time jobs and used the GI Bill to fund his education, attending YVCC and Central and becoming the first of his family to graduate from college. Mike became a Special Education teacher and worked for the Yakima School District for 32 years, spanning age groups from preschool through middle school before finishing the last 16 years of his career at Davis HS, during the time of his own children's attendance and graduations. While doing his student teaching, Mike met Linda (nee Sheeler), who worked as a teacher's aide in the same school. Despite their age difference of over 9 years, a quick friendship and romance blossomed. When spring break rolled around in April, co-workers teased them not to do anything foolish over the break. Although already engaged to marry in the summer, Mike and Linda jumped on the idea and eloped to the beach at Kalaloch, WA, and began a marriage that lasted over 50 years. Linda, the six children, and the twelve grandchildren were an unending joy and pride of Mike's life. Mike had varied interests. Sports remained a prominent favorite throughout his life. An avid reader, Mike always had at least two or three books going at one time of a variety of genres. He enjoyed staying home, working in the vegetable garden, but also taking road trips and visiting kids as they fanned out from Yakima. Mike's sense of adventure made him a great traveling companion, as he always had the knack to find little gems off the beaten path. He had aspirations to further his world travels with Linda but willingly chose to be a caregiver for his parents and brother, as well as a delightful two-year stint as a "manny" for his first grandchild, Eleanor. He counted it all as a privilege. Whether at the beach or in the mountains, he loved the outdoors and made happy memories camping and day hiking. He took up backpacking at the age of 49, completing more than 2/3 of Washington state in sections on the PCT over the ensuing years. Uncomfortable in the limelight, Mike preferred to be in the background, saying of himself that he "made a better follower rather than a leader." He helped others in many ways, assisting at Special Olympics games, serving as a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church, advising the Davis Interact Club, chaperoning a number of youth mission trips, helping build Habitat for Humanity houses in Yakima, and making several trips to New Orleans to help with recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina, to name a few. Compassionate, patient, and a good listener, Mike felt at ease with people others often found challenging. He was passionately opposed to injustice, and you could usually find him rooting for the underdog. For many years, he was actively engaged in a faith-based peace and justice group and in a number of Bible studies and small group fellowships through the years, even up until the last week of his life (Thank you, Al Harding). He was 30 when he came to accept the unconditional love of God and spent the rest of his lifetime learning how to live into his faith. He wrote a note in his Bible, "Make Jesus your main focus in life--always moving forward towards him." Mike is survived by his wife, Linda; son, Steve Sorenson (Debbie); daughters, Effany Martinson (Matt), Hannah Sorenson (Alex Kerr), Fritha Milliken (Stephen), Erin Betancourt (Eferon), Eleni Cabaniss (Andrew); grandchildren, Eleanor, Alyse, Olive, Charlie, Jolie, Rowan, Teddy, Novalee, Max, Soren, Ainslee, and Gemma; sister, Sheila Rundell; in-laws, Jack and Donna Sheeler; sister-in-law, Valerie White; brother-in-law, John Sheeler (Robin); nieces and nephew, Salina, Josh, Kacie, Kammi, and Kristi; one great-niece, seven great-nephews, and several cousins. He was preceded by his parents and older brother, Wayne Sorenson, and brother-in-laws, Jim Biedert and Steve Rundell. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Grace of Christ Church at 9 S. 8th Ave., Yakima, WA, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM, with a luncheon to follow. The service can be viewed live-stream during and after the service at Yakimagrace.com/sorenson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the following: Yakima Habitat for Humanity; The BibleProject; Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation; National Park Foundation. We especially want to thank and recognize those who have gifted Mike and Linda with their compassionate care during Mike's illness: friend Tom Oliva (Mike's unofficial deacon); Edgar Garcia of Sound Oxygen; Jackie Hernandez of Addus Home Health; Stephanie Herrera of HeartLinks Hospice; Dr. Emmans III; and Dr. Raghu and all the staff at UW Center for Interstitial Lung Disease. There have been innumerable kindnesses from family, friends, neighbors, and healthcare servers along his path. Mike was so touched by all their compassionate care and love. Words are inadequate to express our thanks. Brookside Funeral Home & Crematory is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.