Melba Thelma Burau, 90, of Whitefish, and a longtime resident of Columbia Falls, died Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at North Valley Hospital.

She was born Dec. 2, 1920, to Willie and Emila Holte, in Flaxton, N.D., on the family farm.

She married Clifford Burau on Dec. 10, 1945, and they lived in Flaxton for several years. They owned and operated the Flaxton Hotel and Cafe, and she was also involved with the Ladies Auxiliary and several school activities. They then moved to Columbia Falls in 1964. She attended Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters, Evelyn Johnson and Inga Hill; and brother, Benny Holte.

She is survived by her son, Monte Burau; daughter, Vicki and Art Ott; grandchildren she dearly loved, Glenn and Sandy Ott, Angela and Aaron Berlinger, Sara and Lee Morgan, and also a dear great-grandchild, Hayden Morgan.

Services will be private.

Arrangements are entrusted to Columbia Mortuary.