Elsie (Elsita) Angelica Lawlor

Elsie (Elsita) Angelica Lawlor

1931 - 2024

Elsita Lawlor passed away April 4th at her home in the comfort of her own bed with her daughter Viki by her side holding her hand. She succumbed to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Heart Failure.

Elsita was born in Anaconda on October 30, 1931 to Lt. Robert Donald and Maria Angelica Rouse. In her early childhood she was raised in Nicaragua. When she became of school age she and her brother Bob were sent to Montana to obtain an American education. They lived with their grandparents William and Elsie Rouse in Opportunity. In 1947 the family moved to Dillon. Elsita graduated from Beaverhead High School in 1951.

A few years later she moved to California to live with her Aunt Miriam (Rouse) and Uncle Jack Wernli. She worked at her Uncle's ladder factory. Her free time was spent horseback riding, being a member of an equine drill team, and participating in horse shows. She married Jack Tutt in 1957 and raised a daughter Viki and stepson Jack while working as an executive secretary for Sparkletts Drinking Water. She lost her husband Jack to a brain tumor in 1981.

In 1986 she married John Lawlor. John loved to fish and duck hunt. John fell in love with Dillon when they attended Elsita's high school reunion. They retired to Dillon in 1995. Elsita enjoyed golfing, was a member of the Elks, and volunteered at Barrett Hospital. She took pride and joy in having dinner parties for friends and family, and taking part in pot lucks. Elsita became a widow for a second time when she lost John to Alzheimer's Disease in 2006.

Elsita is survived by her daughter Viki Tutt Neidecker, step-son Jack Tutt, sister Magdalena Rouse, sister-in-law Angela Rouse, four nephews, one niece, her aunt Adele Rouse, various cousins in the Rouse, Stone, and Cornell families.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date which will be posted in the local papers. Memorials may be made to organizations of your choice.