Lila Hilja Haggren Collman, 82, of Warrenton, died Wednesday, March 19, 2008, in Astoria.

She was born Jan. 17, 1926, in Astoria, to Mikko and Hilja (Lukkarila) Haggren. She was raised on a homestead on the Lower Nehalem River south of Elsie until the family moved to Astoria in 1941.

She attended elementary school in Elsie and high school in Jewell and Astoria, graduating from Astoria High School in 1943. In 1946, she graduated from the Oregon College of Education in Monmouth and became a teacher at Lewis and Clark Consolidated School for four years.

On May 13, 1950, she married Ronald C. Collman at the Zion Lutheran Church in Astoria. He survives, residing in Warrenton.

The couple went on a student tour of Central America with 18 other students and a professor from Pacific University.

Mrs. Collman worked as a substitute teacher. Later, she taught cooking at the evening school at Clatsop Community College.

She was a member of the Lower Columbia Power Squadron and served as secretary and treasurer. She recently became a life member of the United States Power Squadrons, earning her 25th Merit Mark. She was a charter member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 64, and served as secretary. She became a member of the board of Loaves and Fishes and became secretary recently. She was a member of the Finnish Brotherhood Lodge.

Family members said she loved baking and was well known for her “pulla” and her cooking. In 1976, she was honored by the late chef James Beard by winning a recipe contest for her herb cheese bread. The Collmans made two trips to Finland to visit relatives and trace family roots.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a sister, Katherine Karna of Astoria; a brother-in-law, Don Starr of Portland; three daughters and sons-in-law, Permelia “Perky” and John Rasmussen of Portland, Dr. Rebecca and Tim McMahon of Colchester, Vt., and Jennifer and David Warren of Benecia, Calif.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Rodney and Susan Collman of Boring and Benjamin and Michelle Collman of Juneau, Alaska; 10 grandchildren, Andrew Collman and his wife, Melissa, and Heidi Collman, all of Boring, Hilja Taylor and her husband, Ryan, and Laila and Hannah Collman, all of Sandy, Matthew and Chad Warren of Benecia and Eleanor, Sarah and Kathleen McMahon of Colchester; five great-grandchildren, Sierra, Kyle and Caleb Taylor of Sandy and Elizabeth and Autumn Collman of Boring; five nephews, Michael Karna of Astoria, Dick and Bob Starr of Kodiak, Alaska, Gary Starr of Portland and Mike Haggren and his wife, Bobbie Jo, of Lynden, Wash.; a niece, Cindy Cahill and her husband, Chip, of Bellevue, Wash.; and several grand-nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Elina Starr; and a brother, Herman Haggren.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer Presbyterian Church near Camp Rilea. A reception will immediately follow at Suomi Hall in Astoria.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children or Loaves and Fishes, in care of Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave., Astoria OR 97103.