By Havre Daily News
Lena (Tilleman) Burkland, 86, formerly of Havre, died of heart problems Sunday, Nov. 17, 2002, at her granddaughter's home in Poulsbo, Wash.
Services are private. Her family asks that anyone who knew her take a moment and remember her with their own special thoughts.
Lena was born Aug. 23, 1916, in Chinook, to John and Stephanie Tilleman. She was raised near and attended the Fairview School.
She married Lloyd Sonnenberg and raised her two children, Myrna and Frank, in the Paradise Valley area. She was a cook at the Jameson Ranch, Zurich School, Sweet Memorial Nursing Home and Havre Eagles Manor for many years. For a period of time, she owned and ran the Tastee Bite Cafe in Chinook. Not long after Lloyd's death, she moved to Havre, where she was a member of the Eagles and the First Lutheran Church.
She met Bob Burkland while enjoying one of her favorite pastimes, dancing, at the Eagles. They were married and he passed away less than one year later. In addition to dancing, she enjoyed playing the organ, traveling, cribbage and pinochle.
In 2001, after surgical complications, she moved to Poulsbo from Havre, to be near her family and caregivers granddaughter Lisa Thorsen and her husband, Todd, and their children, Ty and Mitchell.
In addition to her granddaughter, Lisa Thorsen and her family, she is survived by her son, Frank Sonnenberg of Missoula; three grandsons; three great-grandsons; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by husbands, Bob Burkland and Lloyd Sonnenberg; daughter, Myrna Hayes of Bremerton; and siblings Art, Hank and Charlie Tilleman, Mabel Bennett and Juliette Acher, all of Chinook.
Memorial donations may be made to Bremerton Fire Department Rescue Fund, 817 Pacific Ave., Bremerton, WA 98337, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
