Lewis Roger "Rod" Johnson

Lewis Roger "Rod" Johnson, age 87, of Crowheart and Elk Mountain, Wyoming, died on December 27th, 2025 at his home in the Wind River Mountains. His wife Mackie was by his side.

Rod was born on November 13, 1938 to Robert Jay Johnson and Victoria Arnett Cheesbrough Johnson, in Laramie, Wyoming. He grew up on the A-1 Ranch on the southern foot of Elk Mountain. Rod attended school on the ranch at a young age, and later attended school in Saratoga. Rod served in the army on active duty for 2 years at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. He was in the National Guard for another 4 years. He married his high school sweetheart, Roberta Elizabeth "Bobby" Johnson, with whom he had four children: Kathy, Kelly, Linda, and Tom. Later divorced. Subsequently, Rod married Mackie d'Arge and gained two young sons, Peter White and Ranyon d'Arge.

As the youngest of 4 boys (Bob, Frank, and Bert), Rod grew up tough. At age 9, he drove a hay rake and had to stand on a box to harness the horses that pulled it. In the summers, he often filled in as sheep herder, trailing the herd of twelve hundred sheep across the ranch. He knew Elk Mountain better than the back of his hand.

Rod woke up every morning eager to greet each day. His work ethic was unmatched; there was always something that needed fixed or improved, and no such thing as a wasted trip. It didn't matter if he was going to the meadow, the barn, or into town, a chore waited along the way and at each end.

Rod was a cow man. He sat tall in the saddle and was proficient on the end of a lasso. He could read an animal's next move before it was initiated. He was kind to animals and they trusted him. He chose and trained many good cow dogs.

Rod relished practical jokes--sometimes flying his Cessna low enough to scare a friend driving a tractor in the field, or having a hired man check a sick calf with droopy ears (knowing it had Brahman heritage), or driving around town with a headscarf on his dog in the front passenger seat, hoping people would wonder who that "woman" was.

In addition to ranching, Rod owned the Walcott Service station for 4 years, ran a wrecker service, served as a Deputy for the Carbon County Sheriff's Office (Rawlins), and bought/renovated/sold multiple properties over the years. His innumerable hobbies included flying small planes, sculpting with metal and wood, hunting, fishing, and creating ponds and trails on his properties. He also constructed several homes and built unique furniture. Along with his artist wife, Mackie, he transformed many ramshackle old sheep wagons into true works of art.

Rod divided his time between his cabin (the "Jack Hill Hilton") on the EY Ranch at Elk Mountain, and his primary ranch near Crowheart, in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains. The Wind River Indian Reservation became a big part of his heart and presented a whole new adventure to delve into--new places to explore, new friends to make, and a little less wind to lean into!

Rod is survived by his loving wife, Mackie; his children Kathy (Bob Greely), Kelly (Greg Hewitt), Linda, Tom (Mary), Peter (Michelle) White, and Ranyon d'Arge. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

A small memorial celebration of life will be held in the spring/summer. Lewis Roger "Rod" Johnson 1938 - 2025