Edith Ramona Lajeunesse (Hewitt, Williams) Johnson

Edith Ramona Lajeunesse (Hewitt, Williams) Johnson was born in Fort Washakie, Wyoming, on August 12, 1930, to Herman Joseph Lajeunesse and Rachel Bell (Willits) Lajeunesse.

She passed peacefully in her sleep at the Morning Star Manor on March 3, 2026, in Fort Washakie, Wyoming.

Edith graduated from Lander High School in 1949. She first worked at the Fort Washakie Hospital and later left to work for the government in Washington, D.C. From there, she moved to Indiana to work for Western Union. While in Indiana, she met her future husband, William Hewitt. They moved to Massachusetts in 1952 and were married on December 21, 1952. She lived in Berkley, Massachusetts, until December 15, 1976, when she moved back to the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.

After returning home, she began working for the Eastern Shoshone Tribe at the Game Warden Office. She later worked within the tribal building in various positions and eventually became the Tribal Secretary and mail carrier, serving until January 2020. She also served as a tribal election judge for decades. Edith retired at the age of 90½. She moved into Morning Star Manor in March of 2020 and, due to COVID, had a drive-by retirement party outdoors with her new Pendleton blanket.

Edith enjoyed crocheting and was known for baking the best sugar cookies. She also made bread and cinnamon rolls, which she sold to her friends. She and her daughter, Elaine, sold fireworks in Fort Washakie for 32 years. Edith loved watching the little ones and baked cakes for the kindergarten graduation every year.

Her favorite holiday was Christmas. She saved all year to make sure her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews received their presents.

There was never a kitten or puppy without a home if it were up to Edith—she always found homes for them.

She was married to Norman Williams in July of 1968.

She later married Alfred Johnson in 1980. They resided in Fort Washakie until his passing. Afterward, Edith spent many evenings at the casino, where she enjoyed visiting with everyone.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Johnson; her son, Vernon Hewitt; her grandson, Christopher Elliott; her parents, Rachel and Herman Lajeunesse; her brothers, Lester, George, and Herman Jr. Lajeunesse; and her sisters, Barbara Pinnow, Martha Rocha, Gloria Gaucher, Lillian Backus, and Patsy Lajeunesse.

She is survived by her daughter, Elaine Elliott; Alfred’s children, Beverly Keller, Marcia Sheldahl, and Lance Johnson; her grandchildren, Steve Furio, Peter Keller, Nathan Johnson, William Elliott, and Aileen Elliott; and her great-grandchildren, Evan Jones Elliott, William Elliott McGuire, and a new baby boy expected in June 2026.

She is also survived by her brother, Leo Lajeunesse; her sisters, Sister Florence Petch, Ellen Giles, Katherine Silvia, and Gail Washakie; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services

Rosary: March 25, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.Funeral Mass: March 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church. 

Family service to follow at Rock Hall.

Please sign the online guestbook at: hudsonsfh.com