Lana Lee Toburen

1942 - 2024

Lana Lee (Henry) Toburen

November 20, 1942 - November 14, 2024

Hansville, Washington - Lana Lee (Henry) Toburen passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 14, 2024, after a lingering illness. Lana was born in Kansas City, KS, in 1942 to Virginia and LeRoy Henry. During her father's military service, Lana and her mother spent time with her grandparents in Marquette, Kansas. Upon his return, the family moved back to Kansas City, where her younger brother Scott was born. In 1954, they relocated to the Marquette/Lindsborg area, where Lana graduated from Lindsborg High School in 1960. After high school, Lana attended Emporia State Teachers College. During her freshman year, she met Larry Toburen, the love of her life. The two married on June 16, 1962, following Larry's graduation. The couple began their life together in Emporia before moving to Nashville, Tennessee, where Larry pursued graduate studies at Vanderbilt University. Lana worked as a medical technician at Saint Thomas Hospital and later at Vanderbilt University Hospital. In 1966, they moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for Larry's dissertation studies, where their first daughter, Debra, was born. Shortly after, they relocated to Richland, WA, where Larry worked at Battelle Northwest Laboratory. Their second daughter, Tina, was born in 1970. As her daughters grew, Lana returned to the workforce, first as a travel agent and later as a bookkeeper - a role she found especially fulfilling. She furthered her education in accounting and joined Battelle's accounting department. The family spent 25 years in Richland, enjoying outdoor activities like camping, hiking and skiing. They also found time for family trips abroad, including camping through Europe in 1980. In 1992, Lana and Larry moved to Arlington, Virginia, where Larry took a position at the National Academy of Sciences, and Lana continued working for Battelle at their Washington DC office. In 1995, Lana traveled with her mother to Sweden and Norway to visit the homeland of their ancestors. That was also the year Lana and Larry relocated to Greenville, NC, where Larry became a professor at East Carolina University. That same year, Lana was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she successfully overcame. She later worked various temporary positions before retiring to focus on family ancestry and social activities. Prior to Larry's retirement, Lana spent summers in Port Ludlow, WA to avoid the hot humid summers of North Carolina, and in 2009 the couple found a home to retire to together in Hansville, WA with expansive views of Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains. Together they traveled extensively in retirement, cruising through Europe and around the World. Lana's passion for travel took her to over 50 countries and 6 continents. She especially cherished their final family trip to Hawaii in 2019 before Covid put a halt to all their excursions. Lana is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Larry; daughters Debbie Toburen and Tina Toburen Crum (David); brother Scott Henry (Houng); and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. A life filled with love, adventure, and dedication to her family, Lana leaves a legacy of cherished memories.