Merla Wardell LaFollette Henderson

Jan. 11, 1931 - Aug. 27, 2025

Merla Wardell LaFollette Henderson, 94, of Burlington, Wyo., passed away Aug. 27, 2025,
at Powell Valley Care Center. 

She was born Jan. 11, 1931, in Cowley, Wyo. She was the fifth child in a family of eight born to Albert Dalton Wardell and Linnie Dalley Jones. She grew up on a farm south of Otto. She attended school in Otto and Greybull.

She married Martin Davidson LaFollette on Nov. 28, 1947, in Billings, Mont. They were the parents of seven children: Martin, Linnie, Lynette, Mary, Lester, Janet and Judy. Martin was a masonry contractor. The family moved often to building sites throughout Wyoming and Montana. When the children were in school the family settled in Montana.

Following the death of her husband in 1963, Merla married Reanous McIntosh Henderson of
Burlington, Wyo., on July 31, 1964, in Idaho Falls. The family settled on the farm in Burlington. Two children, Albert and Sue, joined the family.

Merla loved being a mother and devoted her time to her family. She enjoyed the mountains,
gardening, cooking and was an excellent seamstress and homemaker. After raising her children, Merla was employed as a librarian, then as head cook at Burlington Schools.

Merla was an active life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She
served faithfully in many different capacities. A highlight was a full-time mission with Reanous in
the Washington D.C. temple, followed by years of service in the Billings, Mont., temple. She diligently strived to follow her Savior, Jesus Christ and be an example of His love.

Merla is survived by a brother, Mack (Bonnie) Wardell of Lovell; a sister, Joan (Bruce) Butler of Laurel, Mont., and eight children, Linnie (Jody) Neves, Lynette (Randall) Johnson, Mary (Allan) Howard, Lester (Lynette) LaFollette, Judy (Lynn) Wiles, Albert (Karen) Henderson, all of Burlington, Janet LaFollette of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Sue (Kent) Anderson of Greybull. She has 45 grandchildren, 167 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five siblings, Albert Jones (Fern), Callis Jones
(Euniece), Preston Jones, Irma (Melvin) Neves, and Lee Jones (Jean); her husbands and infant
son, Martin, and one grandchild, Martin Joseph Neves and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Sept. 6, 2025,
at 10 a.m. A viewing will be held at 9:15 a.m. Interment will be in the Otto Cemetery.

Her family expresses gratitude for the loving care given Merla by the staff at the Powell Valley Care Center.