Sheila Mary Sorenson (Tisdell)
April 25, 1942 - March 29, 2026
Age 83, formerly of Chaska and Eden Prairie, Minnesota, passed away on March 29th, 2026 at Carver Ridge Senior Living in Carver, Minnesota.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Catherine (Dolan) Tisdell; her brother, Terry; a stepson Scott Sorenson and her husband, William (Bill) Sorenson.
Sheila was born on April 25, 1942, in Willmar, Minnesota, and grew up on the family farm in Olivia. She graduated from Olivia High School in 1960 and went on to earn her RN nursing degree. She dedicated 34 years to her career as a registered kidney dialysis nurse in the Twin Cities, most notably at Methodist Hospital. One of her fondest professional memories was spending a summer in 1984 caring for patients in Saudi Arabia.
In 1966, Sheila married Lawrence Daniel Whalen Jr., and together they raised their two children, Tom and Kate, first in Rochester and later in Eden Prairie.
In 1990, Sheila met William (Bill) Grover Sorenson, and they shared many happy years together. They especially enjoyed time at their lake homes on Platte Lake in Onamia, Big Sandy Lake in McGregor, and Chub Lake in Carlton, MN. Sheila and Bill loved lake life, traveling, and spending time outdoors until Bill's passing in 2015.
Sheila is survived by her son, Tom (Kellie) Whalen of Carver, MN and daughter Kate Whalen of Denver, CO. Granddaughters Casie (Zach) Sufka of Waconia, MN. Paige and Baillie Whalen of Minnetrista, MN. Great-grandchildren Charlie Ann, Sloane, and Fletcher Sufka, as well as Sheila's brother, Joe (Maggie) of Mankato, MN
In addition, she is also survived by her stepchildren, David Sorenson, Jim Sorenson, Jane Way, and Tracy (Tego) Venturi, along with 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Sheila had many interests and talents. She loved gardening, needlework, quilting, playing cards, and cribbage. She devoted countless hours volunteering at her churches, serving in roles ranging from greeter to song leader, and contributing to bake and quilt sales. She was an avid reader and cherished time spent with friends.
A memorial service for Sheila will be held Friday April 24th @ 11 am at St. Victoria's Catholic Church in Victoria, MN. A private burial service will be held at Ft. Snelling Cemetery at a later date.
Send Flowers: When Is the Ordering Deadline?
ANY DAY OF THE WEEK
Order any time up till the day before
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Order by 3:00PM
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Send Flowers: When Is the Ordering Deadline?
ANY DAY OF THE WEEK
Order any time up till the day before
MON-FRI Order by 2:00PM
SAT & SUN Order by noon
TUES-SAT
Order by 3:00PM
The day before
SAT & SUN Order by Saturday
Note: These are general guidelines; some florists may not be able to operate within these timelines. During peak periods such as Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day and most holidays, florists are not always able to keep up to demand. Tribute will contact you if there are any issues.
Plant a tree: How does it work
When your purchase is complete, a post will be made on the tribute wall of the deceased signifying the planting of a memorial tree.
An official certificate recognizing your purchase will be included with your email receipt. You can then forward the email to the family or print it and give it to them personally.
After an order is placed, our forestry partners will plant the tree in the area of greatest need (nearest the funeral home), according to the planting schedule for the year.
Due to seasonal conditions, the tree planting takes place during the spring and summer.
Tree Planting Timeline
Orders placed in:
January - May
Planting will take place in Spring or Summer of the same year.
June - December
Planting will take place in Spring of the following year.
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