Vonjia Bredehoft-Thorson

Mar 29, 1948 -

Apr 8, 2025

Vonjia Thorson passed away peacefully in her home on the morning of Apr. 8, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska.

Vonjia was born in 1948, to Lavone Spicer in Torrance, Calif. She spent her first few years living on the family farm with Lavone's family in Hazelton, Kan. The family moved to Playa del Ray, Calif., where sister Kristine was born in 1951, and brother George was born in 1953. Vonjia attended Loyola Village Elementary school, Orville Wright Junior High, and graduated from Westchester High School in the Winter of 1966. After a few semesters at Santa Monica City College, Vonjia studied art at Long Beach State. Vonjia continued her education and earned her Masters in Education from Seattle University.

In 1973, Kris and Vonjia traveled to Anchorage to babysit the three Sholton children, leading to their lifelong love of the state. Vonjia moved to Anchorage in 1974, where she married Scott Thorson in the fall of 1978. They welcomed their daughter Nerissa in 1980.

Vonjia was an elementary school teacher for 26 years in the Anchorage School District. Her first classroom was at O'Malley, followed by Tudor. Vonjia was part of the core staff that opened the then new Bear Valley elementary in 1984. Vonjia taught at Bear Valley for 18 years; and is where she retired from in 2002. She created lifelong friendships with fellow educators that have stood the test of time. She enriched the lives of hundreds of children over the years.

In her retirement, Vonjia restored the family's 1956 Chevy station wagon. She always looked forward to a beautiful sunny Alaskan summer day for an opportunity to work in her garden and drive the Chevy.

Family was of paramount importance to Vonjia; not just the family she lived with, but all the family spread out across the country. She often traveled the lower 48 to visit her loved ones. Vonjia's world travels began at an early age and continued throughout her life. Some highlights included South Africa, Cuba, Fiji, Mexico, western and southern Europe, Mexico, and very close to her heart…Kaua'i.

She is survived by her daughter, Nerissa; her husband, Morgan; brother, George and his wife Tanya; niece, Ann Wenona; grandnephew, Zephyr; grandnephew, Ezra, their partner Autumn, and son Justin. Family friend Miah from Kaua'i wrote, Vonjia "…is loved and still smiling with us. We just can't see her."

Aloha and safe travels Vee, we love you so much. Thanks for being.