Cleo May (Drader) Sorenson of Coupeville, formerly of Minot, N.D., died March 11, 2009 at Whidbey General Hospital after a long and brave battle with cancer.

Cleo was born Jan. 15, 1930, in Granville, N.D., to William B. and Bessie A. Drader. She attended Granville School and married LeRoy Sorenson in Minot, on March 20, 1949. The couple had two daughters, Mona Lynn and Gail Lee.

Cleo is preceded in death by her parents William and Bessie, husband LeRoy, daughter Mona, and her siblings Cletus and Gwenavere.

Cleo is survived by her daughter Gail (Bruce Schwab) of Coupeville, son-in-law Jerry Anderson of Granville, N.D.; siblings Lavere (Ruth) of Harbor City, Calif., Dorlin (Jody) of Amity, Ore., Delano of Granville, N.D., and Ted (Bev) of Sheridan, Ore.; grandchildren Shane Anderson (Monica) of Granville, N.D., Chad Fitzgerald (Alys) of Everett, and Joshua Anderson of Portland, Ore.; and great- grandchildren Derrek Anderson of Minot, N.D., and Lee Anderson of Granville, N.D.

Cleo lived in many locations across the United States, but home was always Minot. Cleo’s passion in life was her family, especially her grandsons and great grandsons, whom she delighted in every day.

A gathering to celebrate Cleo will be held at her daughter Gail’s home in Coupeville on Saturday, March 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to your local food bank or your favorite charity. Cremation was held, with graveside services to follow later this summer in Granville, N.D. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.