Sonya (Workman) Wolf

Remembering Sonya (Workman) Wolf

Sonya (Workman) Wolf of Bemidji, Minnesota, passed away December 12, 2025, with her loved ones by her side. She was a lifelong nurse, entrepreneur, and lover of the outdoors.

Sonya was born on December 4, 1972, in Bemidji, Minnesota, to John and Shirley Workman. She grew up alongside her siblings, Amy and Jamie (Bud), in the wide-open spaces of northern Minnesota, running barefoot through the yard, eating fresh vegetables from the garden, riding horses with neighborhood friends, and helping on her family’s small farm. She was an active member of 4‑H and loved camping with friends, exploring the outdoors, and learning practical skills that would stay with her throughout her life.

She cherished her Grandma Marilyn, who lived just across the road. Many of Sonya’s happiest childhood hours were spent in her grandmother’s kitchen, learning to make bread, harvesting the garden, and canning vegetables and jam. Traditions she carried with her throughout her life.

After graduating from Bemidji High School in 1991, she attended Bemidji State University where she earned her nursing degree. 

Following graduation, she moved to the East Coast and began her nursing career. Sonya embraced the coastal life of fresh seafood and ocean air all while caring deeply for her patients. Her path continued on to California where she resumed her dedicated work as a nurse. She enjoyed exploring the foothills with her dog and sunsets on the beach. Even with all the exciting landscapes and experiences, her heart always remained tied to Minnesota. 

Eventually, she returned home and purchased a small farm just miles from where she grew up. The house needed a full remodel, but she and her dad transformed it into a warm, peaceful sanctuary on the lake. She had a real gift for home decor, furniture refinishing, and antiquing, seeing beauty and potential where others might not. She filled her days with her horses, chickens, and gardens — her tulips and peonies especially were admired by the entire neighborhood. She loved painting with acrylic and watercolors and had a natural talent. Her farm was shared with her beloved golden retriever, Tucker. While running the farm, she continued her nursing career at Sanford, including home health care and hospice work, caring for her patients with compassion, expertise, and humor.

During this time, Sonya founded Just Dandy. What began as soy candles made on her small kitchen stove grew into a thriving business. She created her own blends of candles and body care products, selling first at farmers markets and local shops, quickly building a loyal following. It was around this time that she reconnected with her high school sweetheart, John, beginning the next beautiful chapter of her life.

Sonya later moved to John’s farmhouse, a home with a wraparound porch and a river flowing nearby. Sonya and John celebrated a simple wedding ceremony under an arbor covered in peonies next to her red barn. Together, they expanded Just Dandy by building a gabled-roof barn that Sonya designed on the property. The barn became a destination shopping experience known for its warmth, charm, and all of Sonya’s special touches. She loved everyone who stepped into her shop and greeted them with a smile. Because of the success of Just Dandy, she retired from nursing to focus on her business and their farm.   

Sonya beat the odds of her cancer diagnosis and lived for over two years with incredible strength, enduring chemotherapy and surgeries, supported by the dedicated teams at Mayo Clinic and Sanford Health. She continued to embrace life, with trips to Texas, Arizona, and Massachusetts. She and John expanded Just Dandy with a downtown location, which quickly gained just as much interest and following as the farm store. Her business philosophy shifted toward eco-friendly practices, and she devoted significant time and her healthcare expertise to researching the products she made. She balanced running two locations while navigating her illness with optimism, knowledge, and grace, supported by the love of friends, family, and staff, allowing her time for peace and rest.

Throughout her life, Sonya was defined by her compassion, creativity, independence, and deep love for the people and animals around her. She built a life filled with beauty, hard work, and connection. A life uniquely and unmistakably her own.

Sonya’s courage, generosity, and love of life touched everyone she met. She is survived by her beloved husband and life partner, John; her parents, John and Shirley (Hedlund) Workman; her siblings, Amy (Workman) Lashman and Jamie (Bud) Workman, and her Grandma Marilyn Workman. She is also survived by her lifelong friends, who affectionately called her “Sunny,” a name that reflected the warmth and light she brought into their lives. She was preceded in death by her grandparents John Workman Sr., Ragnar Hedlund and Betty Hedlund. 

A celebration of Sonya’s life will be held in the spring, her favorite season, in her Just Dandy barn at her farm. We will welcome friends and family to gather and share stories, music, and the beauty she brought into the world. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society to support continued cancer research. 

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