Linnie LaFollette Neves

July 24, 1949 – Sept. 29, 2026

Linnie LaFollette Neves, 77, died on September 29, 2026, at her home in Burlington after a battle with cancer. 

She was born on July 24, 1949, in Lovell to Martin Davidson LaFollette and Merla Wardell. She was the second oldest of seven children and grew up surrounded by cousins and loved ones in Montana. Her ideal childhood was shaped by family, hard work and the simple joys of being surrounded by people she loved. 

At the age of 14, she experienced the heartbreaking loss of her father. Later, her mother was blessed to marry Reanous Henderson, and the family moved to Wyoming. Before long, two more siblings were added to their family. Linnie was raised as the oldest child and cared deeply for each of her siblings. 

Linnie received her associates degree at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, and then returned to Burlington. On April 23, 1970, Linnie married her true love, Lyle Joseph “Jody” Neves, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they built a beautiful family and were blessed with six children. Linnie embraced motherhood with her whole heart. Her family was her greatest joy, and she gave of herself tirelessly to make sure each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew they were loved, supported and cherished. 

Linnie was a woman who had a gift for making everyone around her feel important. She was kind, caring, generous and genuinely interested in people. She was a friend to everyone she met, and she had a way of making people feel welcome and loved. She never needed to be the center of attention; instead, she found joy in encouraging others, serving others and being there whenever someone needed her. 

She was also a true artist in every sense of the word. Her creativity and eye for detail could be seen in everything she touched. She made wedding cakes alongside her sister Mary, creating beautiful memories for countless families. She also made the most beautiful quilts, each one reflecting the patience, care and love she put into her work. 

Linnie loved bird watching, writing and directing plays and sharing her knowledge with others. She had a remarkable ability to take something ordinary and turn it into something beautiful. 

Linnie worked for many years for the United States Postal Service. While her children were young, she worked at the post office in Burlington. She later worked in Basin and Worland before returning to Burlington, where she finished her career as the postmaster. Her work was another reflection of the relationships she valued so much — she knew people, cared about them and treated them with kindness and respect. 

Above all, Linnie was a woman of deep faith. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a sincere and lifelong desire to become more like her Savior. Throughout her life, she accepted and faithfully served in many callings. She also had a deep love for the temple and considered it a sacred privilege to serve there weekly for many, many years. Her devotion to the temple and to church service was a meaningful expression of her faith and her desire to serve the Lord and bless the lives of others. 

Her faith was not simply something she spoke about; it was evident in the way she lived. She tried to love as her Savior loved, to serve as He served and to see the good in every person she encountered. Her compassion, patience, forgiveness and willingness to help others were among the many ways she lived out that desire. 

As a wife, Linnie loved Jody deeply and faithfully. As a mother, she was devoted beyond measure. As a grandmother, she treasured every moment with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and took genuine joy in watching their lives unfold. She wanted to be part of everything — every school program, sporting event, performance, celebration, accomplishment and ordinary family gathering. If one of her children or grandchildren was involved, Linnie wanted to be there. 

That love was especially evident during the last year of her life. Even when time was becoming precious, yet difficult, she continued to spend it doing what mattered most to her: being with her family. She attended everything she could, cheering them on, celebrating their accomplishments and simply being present. She made the most of every opportunity to love her family in person, creating memories that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. 

Linnie loved her family more than anything in this world. Her greatest legacy is not found in the quilts she made, the cakes she decorated or the many years she served her community. Her greatest legacy is found in the people she loved and the lives she touched. She taught her family, by the way she lived, that kindness matters, that people matter, that faith matters and that love is best expressed through service and presence. 

She leaves behind family and friends who will miss her more than words can express but who will also carry forward the love, faith, goodness and kindness she spent her life giving to them. 

Linnie was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, daughter, friend and faithful servant of her Savior. She made the world around her more beautiful simply by being in it. Her love will continue through the family she cherished, the friendships she formed, the faith she lived and the countless lives she quietly blessed. 

Her family was her greatest work of art, and she spent her life making it beautiful. 

She was preceded in death by her son, Martin Neves, parents Martin LaFollette and Merla and Reanous Henderson and brother Martin LaFollette. 

Linnie is survived by her husband, Jody, of Burlington; children Melanie Craft of Kimberly, Idaho, Julie (Kory) Allen of Laramie, Brenda Neves (Ryan Woolley) of Eustis, Florida, JoLinn (Stacey) Shaw of Kimberly and Bryan (Lonna) Neves of Powell; daughter-in-law Monica (Jessie) Hamilton of Burlington; 34 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren with four on the way; siblings Lynette (Randy) Johnson, Mary (Allan) Howard, Lester (Lynette) LaFollette, Janet LaFollette, Judy (Lynn) Wiles, Albert (Karen) Henderson and Sue (Kent) Anderson; and many in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Burlington. Viewing will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Burlington Cemetery.