Bernadine "Bernie" Rieland

Bernadine C. “Bernie” Rieland, age 87 of Melrose, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Sunday, July 20, 2025 at the Cura Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

*************Please note the date of the service**************

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 9 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery. The Mass will be live-streamed and can be viewed on the church’s YouTube channel: Church of St. Mary Melrose.

Visitation will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Bernadine Celine Tillman was born October 18, 1937 in Melrose, Minnesota to Joseph and Mary (Trisko) Tillman. She graduated from Melrose High School in 1955. On January 25, 1958 she was united in marriage to James “Orville” Rieland at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Bernie was proud to be a stay-at-home mom of her seven children. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose and the Christian Mothers. In her younger years, Bernie enjoyed camping, snowmobiling, and traveling. Later in life, she enjoyed sewing, quilting, making scrubbies, and playing cards. Bernie loved being a foster grandmother at the public elementary school in Melrose and was “Grandma Bernie” to many children. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her children, Bruce (Sandi) Rieland of Starbuck, Brian (Pam) Rieland of Unionville, North Carolina, Lynne (Chuck) Revermann of Albany, John Rieland of Pensacola, Florida, Tim (Janelle) Rieland of St. Nicholas, and Jennifer (Dale) Vogt of Sauk Rapids; 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Ron Sova of East Bethel; and sister-in-law, Lailah (Jim) Simmer of New Brighton.

Bernie was preceded in death by her husband, Orville Rieland on March 3, 2011; parents; daughter, Nancy Sova; brothers and sisters, Helen (Edward) Byers, Norbert (Marjorie) Tillman, Mary Ann (Wallace) McGee, Delores (LeRoy) Ellibee, Joseph (Beatrice) Tillman, Donna (Thomas) Brown, and Donald (Carol) Tillman; infant sister, Monica Tillman; and in-laws, Bert Rieland, Roman Rieland, Ron Rieland, and Margie Spanjers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.