Sonia Laurel (Lindgren) Collier

Sonia L. Collier, 93, of Willmar, died Saturday, November 9th at Copperleaf Senior Living in Willmar. Her memorial service will be 11:00 am, Saturday, November 23rd, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar. Visitation will be one hour before the service at Bethel. Private burial will be in the church cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Rice Hospice and Bethel Lutheran Church. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home in Willmar. www.hafh.org  

Sonia Laurel (Lindgren) Collier was born in Willmar on March 5, 1931, the daughter of Clifford and Anna (Olson) Lindgren, the third of six children.  She grew up on the family farm north of Pennock, MN.  Sonia was baptized and confirmed at Mamrelund Lutheran Church.  She attended grades one through eight at the Kandiyohi country school, District 14 South and graduated from Willmar High School in 1950.

Sonia met James Burton Collier at the Fawn Club and they were married on January 13, 1951, at Mamrelund Lutheran Church in Pennock. Together, they had two children, Laurel and James.

Sonia worked at J. C. Penney’s from 1960 - 1993, and was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church for 73 years. She belonged to Bible studies, Couples Club, the prayer shawl knitting group, the quilting group, participated in the Lucia Day celebrations, was a Girl Scout troop leader, as well as many other volunteer groups.

Sonia was a very active member of the Willmar Senior Center participating in many plays, serving monthly birthday celebrations, and playing whist. She and Jim were voted King and Queen in 2009.

Gardening was her favorite pastime as well as sewing, baking, playing dominoes and entertaining. She took great pleasure teaching her daughter and granddaughters many of these hobbies and sharing her talents with friends and neighbors.

Sonia was very proud of her Swedish heritage, making several trips there to visit family and friends. She and Jim took the whole family to Sweden in 2000 to see the Old Country where their ancestors lived. They enjoyed traveling and visited Norway, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, and Canada.

Sonia is survived by her daughter, Laurel (Warren) Kochis of Burnsville; daughter-in-law, Mary (Jeff) Potter of Redwood Falls; grandchildren: Christa Eggimann of Shoreview, Jennifer (Firew Gejabo) Page of Eagan, Bethany (Andrew) Roy of Gurnee, Il, Nicolette (Will) Hermanson of Lake Shore; great-grandchildren: James and Jenna Eggimann, Jack and Anna Roy, Grace Abera, Devany, Raulin, and Welles Hermanson; sister Merry Rue (Jim) Visger,  brother-in-law Ralph Berg; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; son, Jim Jr.; parents; and four siblings.

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