Lanna Dee Barnett

Lanna Dee Barnett passed away peacefully after an extended battle with Alzheimers on Thursday January 9, 2020. She returned to the loving arms of her Heavenly Father and her parents, Berkley and Peggy Barnett, her twin sister Janna Barnett and her brother Leonard (Spike) Barnett and we are sure they all welcomed her along with grandson Wallace Morin Arave. She is survived by 4 children: Wally (Carolyn) Arave, Bruce (Sharon) Barnett, Brice (Traci) Arave, and Addy (David) Matamoros along with 15 of 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She is also survived by 2 siblings Becky (Don) Wilde and Gregory Barnett.

Lanna was born in Payson Utah on December 10, 1942. She was born along with her twin sister Janna to Berkley Leonard Barnett and Peggy Darlene Barnett (Thomson). Later they relocated to Idaho where Lanna spent most of her growing up years in Taylor and attending Shelley High School graduating in 1961. In High School she was involved with the topperettes and was the 1960 Homecoming Queen. Although mom may have enjoyed more growing up in town, I believe most of the boys in town learned where Taylor was because of Lanna and Janna! After graduation, she relocated to Germany where she married Arvon Jay Arave on April 30, 1963. During her married years she lived primarily in St. Anthony and Shelley Idaho. She later divorced in 1980 and continued to raise her children in Shelley.

Lanna had so many talents and skills that were unique. She was especially talented with plants and flowers and loved taking care of her yard and her home. She used to love to spend time in the yard with a hose watering all the shrubs and plants. She was an expert at macramé. She made some truly beautiful pieces of art with macramé. This carried over to her love of houseplants and displaying them. She worked at a couple of different plant shops and eventually had her own business in downtown Shelley, “Lanna’s Green Thumb”. This was fulfilling for her and for those who benefitted from her expertise. She was a hard worker and often us kids worked along with her at odd jobs such as cleaning the Virginia Theater. She also worked at a few different banks including Idaho First National in Shelley where she greeted and assisted customers with their account needs for many years. She was excellent at customer service as she was such a beautiful friendly face and always helpful. She ended her working career with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s department which gave her a lot of pride in her role in civil service. She loved the people who worked there and made many friends who lasted beyond retirement. She retired from Bonneville County in 2005 and shortly thereafter moved to Kuna, Idaho where she could be closer to some of her kids and grandkids. Through all of her occupations, she supported and provided for her family as a single mom and did so with courage and a great attitude attending many basketball and football games, dance recitals and caring through accidents and illness. It was easy to talk to her and she often gave great advice based on her own life experience and struggles.

Mom truly loved her kids and grandchildren and loved to see their successes and loved to watch them grow. She had such an infectious laugh that lit up her whole face. She would give anything for any of her kids and grandkids. She had a great deal of love for her family and was a great support to her own parents in their final years living with them and helping them where she could. Janna was a very special part of her life and they often travelled and socialized together. They often spent summers with their kids in Island Park camping and floating the river. Losing Janna was very difficult and only her family and extraordinary emotional toughness carried her through.

Lanna will be laid to rest on January 14, 2020. Family and friends are invited to a viewing and a visit at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak Street) in Shelley from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. after which she will be laid to rest at the Taylor Cemetery. Please feel free to come visit with family and reminisce about Lanna and her life.