Denna Marie (Sanchez) Russell

The Celebration of life for Denna Russell, 62, of Portales will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Legacy Church in Portales with Michael O’Connor officiating. Burial will be in the Portales Cemetery with Phoenix Russell, David Sanchez, Trey Tixier, Tanner Robinson, Elijah Escalante, Keith Diveley, Daivid Isaac Sanchez, and Diego Ortiz serving as pallbearers.
Denna Marie Russell was born May 31, 1963, in Albuquerque, NM to the home of Cecilia Beatrice (Martinez) and David Robert Sanchez and passed from this life on April 17, 2026, in Lubbock, TX.  Denna and her future husband, Tim Russell began dating when she was a freshman in high school.  Following her graduation from Cimmaron High School in 1982, she attended a community college for a year before marrying her high school sweetheart on May 11, 1983, in Albuquerque.  They made their home in Las Vegas, NM until 1995, at which time they relocated to Portales to open Super Save Food Market. They owned and operated the store until 2016. Most recently Tim and Denna own and operate Russell Fit in Portales.
Denna was the heart of her home and a bright light to everyone who knew her. She poured her life into raising her children and serving her husband. Denna was a member of Victory Life Church for many years before becoming an active member of Legacy Church. Her love and relationship with Jesus shaped everything she did in life. She was a prayer warrior on fire for the Lord. She lived her faith not just in words, but in action, serving others whole-heartedly, praying, and offering encouragement. Denna was always involved with the church and ministered to many people, taught prophetic ministry, and served in the jail ministry. Denna loved people, and her outgoing bright personality brought joy and laughter wherever she went. She will be remembered for her bold fierce spirit, her servant’s heart, and the deep love she carried for her family and her Savior. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the faith she so faithfully lived out.
She is survived by Tim Russell, her husband of almost 43 years of their home; a son and daughter-in-law, Phoenix and Kailee Russell of Cimmaron, NM; three daughters and sons-in-law, Hollie and Trey Tixier of Lindrith, NM, Montana and Tanner Robinson of Las Cruces, NM and Dallas and Elijah Escalante of Lubbock, TX; six grandchildren, Aliyah Russell, Addison Tixier, Kru Robinson, Hayes Robinson, Noah Escalante, and Malachi Escalante, as well as Baby boy Robinson and Baby Escalante who are expected within a few months; her parents, Cecilia and David Sanchez of Cimmaron, NM; a brother, David Sanchez of Albuquerque, NM and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Laurie and George Diveley and Stacy and Tom Ortiz of Albuquerque.

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