Lena Kiehne Shellhorn

SHELLHORN: Lena Kiehne Shellhorn, 96, a resident of Glenwood, beloved mother, grandmother (Mamo), and great-grandmother passed away at home on Monday, May 3, 2021. 

A Celebration of Lena’s Life will be held on Friday, May 7, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. at the Glenwood Park in Glenwood, NM.  Interment will follow at the Glenwood Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Bradd Shellhorn, Wyatt Shellhorn, Joee Corso, Steven McMahan, Beau Bruton and Danny Montoya.  Honorary pallbearers will be Howard Simons, Charlie Kiehne, Terry Kiehne, Craig Kiehne, Greg Sopyn, Mike Bailey, Hugh Faust, Gusty Faust, Wilford Estrada, Stanley Elkins, John Baumberger, Glen Stailey, Sam Hubbell, and Marea Williams.

Lena was born in Magdalena, NM on August 28, 1924 to August William Kiehne and Perfeta Romero Kiehne.  She lived her entire life in Catron County.  She attended both elementary and high school in Reserve and graduated from Reserve High School in 1943.  During her time in high school, she worked at the confectionary in downtown Reserve.  Out of high school, Lena attended Western College for Private Secretaries in Albuquerque, NM.  From 1944-1945, she worked as a clerk in the Office of Price Administration, which was the War Price and Rationing Board. 

Lena married Charles Edward “Junior” Shellhorn in December 1949 and moved to Glenwood where Junior owned the Glenwood Tavern.  From 1945-1950, Lena was the Deputy County Clerk for Catron County and then was elected to the County Clerk position in 1951.  She held this position until 1955.  She and Junior were owners and operators of not only the Glenwood Tavern, but the Pleasanton Store and Wrecker Service from 1956-1970. During this time her oldest son Wayne Edward was born in January 1954, Auggie Dale was born in August 1955, followed by daughter Yolanda Gaye in August of 1956.  Lena was elected to the Reserve School Board in 1957 and served for 3 years.  She was also appointed to the newly created New Mexico State Board of Education by Governor John Burroughs and served in this capacity for a year in 1959.  In 1964, Lena became the postal clerk at the Glenwood Post office and then served as the postmaster from 1970 to 1990 when she retired.

Lena is survived by her daughter, Yolanda O’Connell, grandchildren, Kristen Corso and husband Joee, Bradd Shellhorn, Wyatt Shellhorn and his wife Micheon and daughter-in-law Cindy Shellhorn.  She is also survived by her great-grandsons Braden Shellhorn, Jack Klein and Waylon Corso. Nieces and nephews, Jerry Kiehne, Karlena McCargish, Charlie Kiehne, Tammy Kiehne, Craig Kiehne, and Terry Kiehne.  She was preceded in death by her husband Junior and both of her sons, Wayne and Auggie.

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