Richard Sodja, 80

 A devoted Catholic priest for nearly 50 years, Richard Sodja “went home to his heavenly Father” on Jan. 29, 2015, after a battle with cancer.

Father Sodja was born Feb. 14, 1934, in Warm Springs and resided in Butte, until the age of 3. He and his brother, Lester, were then relocated to East Helena and raised for the next 10 years by their aunt and uncle, Agnes (Sodja) and Steve Strekall. Although he returned to Butte and his paternal home at age 13, Father Dick always considered “Ma and Pa Strekall's place” his real home, and forever credited them with teaching him love and true faith.

He graduated in 1952 from Butte High School, and enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served in England for four years. A year later, Dick enrolled in the pre-seminary program at Carroll College in Helena, graduating in 1961. He completed his religious training at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Helena on May 22, 1965.

Father Sodja's first assignment as an assistant priest was St. Patrick Parish in Butte. (Dick loved to tell stories and some of the most hilarious ones he shared were of this first couple of years as a priest.) During his years of ministry, he also served at St. Lawrence and St. John the Evangelist Parishes in Butte; St. Rose of Lima Parish in Dillon; in Helena,  at the Cathedral of St. Helena, St. Mary Parish, and as the founding pastor for Our Lady of the Valley Parish; St. Margaret Parish in Cut Bank;  St. Francis Parish in Valier; St. Catherine Parish in Bigfork; and St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Whitehall; Father Dick accepted senior status as a priest in March of 2004, and became semi-retired. He continued to participate in Helena church ministry until his loss of hearing necessitated full retirement. 

Throughout his life, Father Sodja loved owning new cars and driving fast!  He never seemed to mind the distances between rural parishes in Montana; God was his co-pilot and kept him safe despite several close calls.

In addition to his love of the Lord, Father Dick was passionate about family, friends, fishing, good food and especially golf. He was seldom without a story to tell, and had an amazing ability to find humor in so many aspects of life, especially in himself.

Father Sodja was preceded in death by his cousin, Agnes (Strekall) Jensen, and nephew, John Sodja. 

He is survived by his brother Lester Sodja, and Lester's children, Laura Stansberry, Anna Albertson, Patty Sodja, Rick Sodja and Mark Sodja; his cousin, Steve and Helen Strekall, and their children, Mike and Brenda Strekall, and Patty and Sonny Westerman; and second cousins, Joe and Carol Kump, Janet Cadwell, Gary Kump, Dave Kump, Robert and Lynda Kump, Lea and Jack McCarthy, John and Teri Kump, Julie and Steve Walsh, Karen and Steve Workman, and Mark and Anita Kump.

A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 2, at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Helena. The funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Our Lady of the Valley Church, with a luncheon to follow. Burial will take place at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Holy Cross Cemetery in Butte. 

Father Sodja was blessed to have Bonnie LaFontaine, and her entire staff at Rosetta Assisted Living, provide loving and companionate care during the last year of his life. The family would also like to thank Frontier Home Health and Hospice for their kind support.

Memorials in Father Sodja's name may be sent to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena or the pre-seminary program at Carroll College in Helena. Please visit www.aswfunteralhome.com to offer condolences.