Lawson Jude Lutgen

Lawson Jude Lutgen age 19, of Gillette, WY and currently attending college at Arizona State University died in the Grand Canyon National Park on Friday, February 13, 2026. Funeral service for Lawson will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at Cam-Plex Heritage Center with Pastor W.O. Dunlap officiating. Lawson Jude Lutgen, a young man defined by his fierce heart, quick wit, and a soul of rare kindness, passed away on February 13, 2026. Born in Gillette, Wyoming, on October 5, 2006 - Law made his family complete. While he was quiet and reserved as a child, he possessed an intensity that far outpaced his years. As a three year old, he would challenge himself to 1000-piece puzzles and insist on completing them entirely himself. He was always independent and determined - traits he carried with him his entire life. Lawson’s stature may have been smaller than his peers as he grew up, but his drive was unmatched. He lived by the philosophy of relentless effort in everything he did. Whether it was basketball, x-country, football, tennis, track, wakeboarding etc - Lawson had no shut-off valve. He was the athlete who would dive for every line and push himself until he reached the point of physical exhaustion from start to finish. He loved the challenge of being matched against the opposing team’s best player whether they were the point guard or center exemplifying his heart and hustle. Lawson was recognizable by his beautiful smile, his crazy thick curly hair and a signature smirk he couldn’t quite suppress when he just said something clever. He was known by his friends for being kind and funny and a rare soul who could bring rivals together, often hosting everyone in his basement that saw students from both high schools laughing and enjoying their time together. He loved being with his friends and never wanted to miss out on the fun. Lawson had a deep love for animals and he always had plenty around the house. One of his favorite memories was his 6th birthday spent traveling through a record-breaking blizzard just to bring home his sweet Peke, Moxie. Above all, Lawson’s world revolved around his family. He held a deep appreciation for his aunts, uncles, cousins and his grandparents and always looked forward to times that they could all get together. He was quick to join in on all the sarcasm, humor and whatever competitive mischief that came with family gatherings. However, his rock and ultimate best friend was his brother, Nash. The bond they shared was unbreakable - free of typical sibling rivalry and built on a foundation of unwavering support and love. They could make each other laugh till the tears rolled down their cheeks and always had each other’s back. In the past couple of years, you would rarely see one without the other. Lawson often expressed how much he loved spending time with his parents and Nash as a family. They loved anything active, playing cards, building projects, hitting the hills and the lake, took road trips full of fun and mishaps or just hanging out and enjoying each other's company. His parents were beyond proud of everything that encompassed Lawson. Their house was full of love and laughter and Lawson’s presence will be missed deeply. Lawson leaves behind a legacy of style (however mismatched or backwards his outfits may have been), academic brilliance (although a complete space cadet), and a level of kindness that changed the lives of everyone who knew him. Lawson is survived by his parents Braidi and Court Lutgen; his brother Nashua Lutgen; his grandparents Mike and Judy Hladky and Gary and Chris Lutgen; uncles, aunts and cousins (Bubba, Trey, Luke and Lane Hladky), (Brett, Dusti, Drew, and Bayli Bulawa), (Dustin, Amy, Tylar, and Parker Lutgen) (Nate, Kylee, Addison, Makinlee and Aurora Lutgen) along with many other friends and family who loved him. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Lawson Lutgen Memorial Scholarship Fund via Venmo account: @Braidi-Lutgen. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716.