LaRene Louise Rohwein

LaRene Louise (Newberry) Rohwein died peacefully on January 27, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

LaRene was born on February 28, 1936, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Helen (Jacky) Newberry and Ralph Newberry. She grew up on a farm in southern Idaho, feeding the chickens and lambs. Her self-appointed job was finding all the barn cats’ kittens each spring. She attended the University of Idaho in Moscow and studied French and Spanish, earning membership in Phi Beta Kappa. She spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar in the south of France, in Clermont Ferrand and Aix-en-Provence, where she studied French language and literature and explored Europe. And then she returned home to marry the love of her life, Gerald Rohwein, on Dec. 28, 1959. They were two strong-willed, opinionated people who learned to work together, weaving their differences into a successful marriage until Gerry’s sudden death in 2006. Together they raised three children. 

Passionate about teaching and education, she taught in elementary schools and CCD, and advocated for improved early childhood education. She loved to bake, particularly cookies. Each Valentine’s Day she would make batches of large heart-shaped cookies for her students, her children’s teachers and classmates, and anyone else lucky enough to be on her list. Each cookie was personalized with the recipient’s name written in icing. She loved to play with numbers, creating fancy schemes to recall dates, phone numbers and any other numbers she needed to remember. She studied accounting at the University of New Mexico, mastering the intricacies of tax code. Ever the teacher, LaRene used her teaching expertise to train staff at local businesses, enabling them to manage their financial affairs and taxes in-house. Although she felt that she was shy, she would start conversations with strangers as she went about her daily business, forming friendships. She loved history and read extensively. She was knowledgeable about public affairs, thoughtful, and concerned about the world and the people in it. A strong woman, LaRene faced the world on her own terms. She was deeply loved – her luminous smile will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her sisters Beverly Crabbs and Donna Lankford, by her children Julie Rohwein, Cheryl Christian and Mark Rohwein, and by grandchildren Madeline Christian, Grant Christian, and Lucien Rohwein Aibel. 

Friends and family will gather for visitation and a rosary at 10:30 am on Thursday, February 13 at the Wyoming Chapel of Daniels Family Funerals, 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE, in Albuquerque. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am with a reception to follow. Burial will take place in Cottonwood, Idaho.

 The family suggests that gifts in memory of LaRene be made to 

(1) New Mexico PBS at 1200 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque NM 87102

Or online at www.newmexicopbs.org and select the “Donate” button

 (2) The Brothers of the Good Shepherd Center at 218 Iron Ave SW, Albuquerque NM 87102

Or online at www.gscnm.org