Merla Wardell Henderson

Merla Wardell LaFollette Henderson, 94, of Burlington, WY, passed away on August, 27, 2025,

at Powell Valley Care Center. She was born on January 11, 1931, in Cowley, WY. 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 November 28, 1947, in Billings, Montana. 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, WY, 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, 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, MT 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, Montana, 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 September 6, 2025,

at 10:00 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.

To view the funeral service Livestream, please follow the link:  https://www.facebook.com/events/3725205724449496/