Sonny was born January 10, 1945, in Cook, Minnesota, to Ella Osier Kortes and Toivo Kortes Sr. After his mother later married Edwin Haavisto, Sonny became the eldest of four children, alongside siblings Donna, Eddy, and Wesley. Though born in Minnesota, Butte, Montana, was the place he always called home.

He attended Butte High School, where he played football and wrestled. Shortly after graduation, Sonny met Sue Shea, and on St. Patrick’s Day in 1966, they were married in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Together, they raised four children: Lenny, Chris, Rich, and Melanie. They made their home in Butte until the mines closed, at which time they moved to Fairview, Montana. Sonny and Sue endured the heartbreaking loss of their son Christopher at age two, and later, Rich at age twenty-four.

During high school, Sonny began working for the Anaconda Copper Company in the Butte mines, later moving to the Berkeley Pit until the mines closed in 1982. After relocating to Fairview, he worked for Power Fuels. He eventually made his way to Nevada, where he worked at the Twin Creek and Lone Tree mines before ultimately retiring from the Newmont Phoenix Mine.

In later years, Sonny married Diane Mehring, and together they made their home in Winnemucca, Nevada. After Diane’s passing in 2000, Sonny remained in Winnemucca until 2019 when he returned to Fairview to be closer to his family and the rapidly growing number of great-grandchildren.

“Grandpa Sonny” loved spending time with his great-grandchildren, whether it was playing competitive games of Uno, War, or Battleship, creating math problems for a fun challenge, drawing and coloring, or simply enjoying their company. He especially looked forward to Halloween, when the kids would stop by to show off their costumes and collect the special candy bags he made for them. Grandpa Sonny’s house was a favorite, and he always had an ice cream cone waiting.

Sonny loved to hunt and fish and was a collector of many things. One of his favorites was his coin collection, and he made sure his great-grandchildren each received a part of it. He was also a great storyteller, his favorite being the time he raised a baby deer as a child.

He is survived by his sister, Donna Richmire of Butte, MT; his son, Leonard “Lenny” Kortes of Fairview, MT; and his daughter, Melanie (Rodney) Hurley of Fairview, MT. He was blessed with a large and loving family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Blayne (Lauren) Kortes of Fairview, MT, and their children Brody and Camryn; Raymond (Stephanie) Kortes of Savage, MT, and their children Zaelee and Zuri; Ty (Katie) Hurley of Fairview, MT, and their children Kolt, Kayson, and Konner; Cassandra Kortes of Sidney, MT, and her children Braylon and Everlee; Brady (Heather) Kortes of Sandpoint, ID; Timothy (Heather) Hurley of Fairview, MT, and their daughter Lakken; Trisha (Tate) Hurley of Fairview, MT, and their children Aaliyah, Cooper, and Aalivia; Torrie (David) Hurley of Fairview, MT; and Addison (Taten) Rice of Fairview, MT, and their children Jax and Willow.

He is preceded in death by his sons, Christopher and Richard; his parents, Ella and Toivo, along with his stepfather, Edwin; his brothers, Eddy and Wesley; and his wife, Diane.