LaNell (Johnston) Linder October 8, 1937 ~ March 11, 2023 (age 85)

A viewing for LaNell Linder will be held on Tuesday morning, March 21, 2023 at the Wheeler Mortuary at 500 E Third St, Portales, NM 88130 with a graveside funeral service to be held on Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 PM in the Portales Cemetery with Rev. Matt Wood officiating.

On Saturday, March 11, 2023, Lois LaNell Linder, loving wife, mother of two, grandmother to four and great-grandma to one passed away at the age of 85.

LaNell was born on October 8, 1937 in Littlefield, TX (Lamb County) to Elmer and Laura Johnston. She graduated from Portales High School in the class of 1956, and received her bachelor’s degree in education, master’s degree in special education and additional advanced certificates all from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM.  LaNell with her two sons, Blake and David; and Wesley Linder with his three children, Gina, Melissa and Paul, joined their two families on August 22, 1978, when they married in Elida, NM.

LaNell was a teacher her entire life, ranging from kindergarten special education classes through regular high school. She also coached basketball and cross country with her husband, Wesley, at Fabens, where they won two state championships in 1994 and 1999 in cross country.
LaNell had a passion for all things artistic including pastels, writing, calligraphy and painting. She wrote individual books for each of her grandchildren that she treasured dearly. Although she enjoyed traveling, she was always most at home in the desert southwest. The landscapes, mountains and sunsets captivated her every day.

LaNell was preceded in death by her father and mother, Elmer and Laura Johnston, and brother, Curtis Leon Johnsoton. She is survived by her husband, Wesley; her two sons, Blake (Jan) Bunch of Decatur, AL, and David (Laura) Conrad of Gilbert, AZ; her three step-children, Gina (Steve) Brazil of Dewey, AZ, Melissa (Vlad) Howell of San Antonio, TX and Paul (Lisa) Linder of Santa Rosa, CA; her four grandchildren, Blakeley, Dylan, Ellynor and Jack and her great-grandson Zander.

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