Nelda Elena Prado

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Nelda Elena Wagner Prado, 76, of Farmington, New Mexico, on September 18, 2025.

Nelda was born on October 2, 1948, in Kuna, Idaho, to Mike Joseph Wagner and Uva May Carter Wagner. She was the third child of Mike and Uva. At the time of her birth her father was 40 and her mother 30. Her sisters were Emma, age 3, and Frances, age 2. Nelda was 2 when her younger sister Carol was born and 5 when her sister Gail arrived. When she was 7, her only brother, Joseph, was born.

Both of her parents passed away while she was a teenager. Her father died in 1966 when she was 17, and her mother died one year and three days later, in 1967, when Nelda was 18.

Nelda met her future husband, Jose Manuel Prado, after becoming an orphan. They married on December 16, 1967, when she was 19, and were later sealed in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. They welcomed their first daughter, Polly, in 1969 when Nelda was 20. A year and a half later came their second daughter, Elena, followed two years later by their third daughter, Laurie. Nelda later gave birth to her only biological son, Miguel. In 1989, when Nelda was 41, her beloved Ruben entered her life. Although Ruben was biologically her grandson, she always called him—and treated him as—her baby boy.

Nelda faithfully served as a Compassionate Service Leader in her church and held other callings as well. She and Manuel also served a mission together. Professionally, she worked as a teacher’s aide for the Valley of the Sun School for the Handicapped in Phoenix, Arizona.

She enjoyed many hobbies, including reading and sewing, and often cooked meals for missionaries—even though she claimed she never liked cooking. In 2018, she and Manuel joyfully celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

With heavy hearts, Manuel and the family say their “until we meet again,” knowing they will be reunited with her someday.

Nelda was preceded in death by her parents, Mike Joseph Wagner and Uva May Carter Wagner; her brother, Joseph Riler Wagner; her sisters, Frances Renee Wagner, Carol Erma Wagner, and Gail Uva Wagner; and her grandparents, Joseph Wagner, Frances Olitta Mybrnn Wagner, Riley Chesley Carter, and Erma May Walker.

She is survived by her husband, Jose Manuel Urbina Prado; her sons, Miguel Prado and Ruben Prado; her daughters, Polly Uva Prado Riley, Elena Isabelle Prado Wells, and Laurie Jeane Prado Young; and her sister, Emma May Wagner Rogers. She is also survived by grandchildren Ashley Riley, Andrea Young, Elijah Begay, Ana Young, Gina Riley, Ishmael Begay, Skyler Prado, Ilííníí Abish Hermosillo, Zipporah Begay, Jeremiah Young, Paula Prado-Begay, and Abraham Young, as well as great-grandchildren Jasmine Prado, Jeriah Prado, Jaiden Prado, James Roller, Yuna Roller, Rinoa Riley, Avery Stretch, and Primus Prado.