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Camilla "Cammie" F. Sorenson, 76, of Ada, MN, passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Benedictine Mission Court, Ada, MN.

Camilla Faith Sorenson was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin on September 29, 1944 to Ivar and Frieda Gjellstad while her father was overseas as an Army Chaplin in World War 2. She lived in La Crosse, WI, Cody, WY, and Decorah, IA, before graduating high school in Lawrence, KS. She attended St. Olaf College and the University of Kansas, graduating from St. Olaf in 1967 with a BA in Nursing. During a summer job as a migrant health nurse in Ada, MN, she met the love of her life, Allen Sorenson. Following a brief time in New Orleans, LA, she returned to Ada, MN, which would remain her home for life. Cammie and Allen were married in Lawrence, KS on September 14, 1968. Together, they had a son, Thomas in 1971, and a daughter, Amy in 1973.

Cammie worked as a nurse in the Ada Hospital, county public health, migrant health, and as the school nurse in the Ada-Borup Public School system. She immensely loved each of her jobs, especially being known as Nurse Cammie in the schools. She truly loved and cared about the children of the Ada community. Her dedication and caring nature, mixed with her sense of humor made her a memorable and beloved coworker in the local schools. Cammie also taught piano lessons for many years and took great pride in seeing her piano students perform at her recitals. She enjoyed her piano students very much and it brought her a lot of happiness in her later years.

Cammie was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church. She had a true love of music and was heavily involved in music at the church for decades. She served as a church organist for 40 years, accompanied the senior choir, and directed the bell choir. In the late 80's, she was instrumental in establishing a monthly contemporary church service and contemporary choir known as the Celebration Singers. She also served on the worship and music committee and the global mission committee. Her passion for mission work was evident as she would sit at her table in the church entryway selling fair trade coffee and chocolate, and South African jewelry to benefit an orphanage near Cape Town, and God's Global Barnyard. She also helped plan and fundraise for a mission trip to Haiti. Cammie was very active in Cursillo, attending many weekend retreats and forming strong friendships with other members of the Cursillo family. She loved the Grace Lutheran Church congregation very much and attending church was a highlight of her week throughout her life.

Cammie was known for having many hobbies. She was an avid gardener. She had a genuine passion for flowers and plants. She often picked roses and would bring flower arrangements to her friends. Her vegetable garden was the highlight of her summers. After retiring from the schools, she spent many years selling her homemade herb butter and pesto at the local farmer's market. She loved sharing the produce from her garden and many friends would come to her garden for fresh rhubarb, herbs, tomatoes, and butternut squash. Her passion for gardening also got her started with creating interesting and delicious recipes with her garden produce. She won three Better Homes and Gardens recipe contests and was featured in the magazine with her recipes for curried butternut squash soup, Mediterranean chicken salad, and herbed couscous.

In addition to being an avid gardener, Cammie loved quilting, scrapbooking, water aerobics, and hardanger embroidery. Many would argue that she liked the social aspects of these clubs more than the hobbies themselves. She cherished spending time working on these hobbies with her friends. Her infectious laugh, caring spirit, and love of life made her a beloved friend to so many. She was also an active member of the DFL party and served as a delegate to several Minnesota conventions.

Cammie loved nothing more than being with her friends and family. She truly was hospitality personified.  She always had time to visit and put friends and family before everything. She never missed a family gathering and found great happiness in being with family at reunions and other family functions. She never hesitated to get in the car and drive long distances to be with family. The unconditional love that she had for her children, nieces, and nephews was always felt.

Cammie left this earthly life on Saturday, October 10 ^th , sitting peacefully in her chair in her cozy apartment at Mission Court in Ada. She will truly be missed, but her family finds comfort in knowing that she will live eternally through all of people that she has touched over the years. She was a genuinely happy person and kept a positive outlook and humor, even in bleak situations. In her final years, she found great comfort in knowing that death was near and looked forward to being reunited with her husband Allen in Heaven.

She is survived by her children, Thomas Sorenson, Denver, CO, and Amy Sorenson, New Orleans, LA; sister, Marybeth Hauffe, Wuppertal, Germany; brothers, Rolfe (Carol) Gjellstad, New Haven, CT, Tim (Jane) Gjellstad, Clarksville, TN, and Eric Gjellstad, Ada, MN.

Cammie is preceded in death by her parents, Ivar and Frieda Gjellstad; and her husband, Allen Sorenson.

Due to restrictions placed on large gatherings, there will not be a large scale funeral at this time.  Her family is planning an epic celebration of her life that will take place after restrictions have been lifted.

Memorials may be sent to Amy Sorenson at 1524 St. Ferdinand Street, New Orleans, LA, 70117.

Graveside Service: 1:00 PM, Friday, October 16, 2020 at Petri Cemetery, Rural Ada, MN.

Visitation: A walk through visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at Grace Lutheran Church, Ada, MN.

All are welcome to attend the visitation and graveside service, following all of the Minnesota and CDC COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. All must wear a mask to attend.

Please view our guestbook and share condolences online for the family.