Obituaries
Bonnie Fay Ballard
FORT HALL — Bonnie Fay Ballard, 45, passed on July 25, 2026, at Portneuf Medical Center. She was born October 12, 1980, to Wesley Ballard and Clarice Brown.
Bonnie attended school at American Falls and later received her GED. She attended Job Corps in Portland, Oregon where she received a certificate in Culinary Arts. She worked at the Tribal Enterprises as a deli cook and cashier. She also worked at the Buffalo Horn Grill as a waitress.
She enjoyed beading card holders, barrettes, wallets, listening to music, enjoyed playing cards and handgames at Buffalo Lodge. She was an auntie mom to many including Dallas Johnson and Logan Wahtomy. Bonnie would watch her auntie Logan dance and Robert sing at powwows.
Bonnie was a unique person; she had a way of styling her hair along with her joy of making people laugh. She liked to joke to whomever she came across and made a lot of friends and being around the family. She was a friendly person and had a big heart and opened her house for family and friends. She enjoyed cooking. She enjoyed traveling to handgames. Bonnie would be there to play handgames against anyone and was a tough pointer. She loved to attend peyote meetings and attend Sundances to support family. She had numerous nicknames: Mom, Fable, FeeFee, Bon Bon and Bunnie.
Survivors include her sister Clarissa Brown, cousins whom she called her brothers Eric Wahtomy (Katrina Ute), Samson Bear, Brandon McKean (Judy Hall), Nolan Yupe, Cheston Yupe, Derrick Makes Him First, and Ambrose Wahtomy. Cousins whom she called her sisters Wanda (Franklin) Devinney, Brenda McKean, Corrina First and Alma Mosho. Nephews Dallas Johnson, Braxton Wahtomy, Finlyn (Tara) McKean, Monte McKean, Josh Bear, Al Bear, K'Sean Trujillo, Nathan Brown, Mardell Sonnip, Mark Sonnip, Steve Sonnip and Pablo Sonnip. Nieces Logan Wahtomy, K'Anna Devinney, Valentina Sonnip, Jackelyn (Alonzo Picard) McKean, Ambrea Sam, Seraia Yupe and Sunnie Rose Evening. Aunts Brennita First and Loretta Mosho. Uncle Alfie Wahtomy (Miranda Wilson). Grandmothers Ivora Hill and Leona Nagitsy. Grandchildren Calvin Johnson, Alonii Picard, Zaphire Farmer, Jamaya and Alonzo Sonnip.
She was preceded in death by her parents Clarice Brown and Wesley Ballard, brother Kandell Ballard. The love of her life Robert Two Eagles. Aunts Caroline Sonnip, Brenna Brown, Georgina Wahtomy. Uncles Whitney McKean Jr., Adrian Wahtomy, Edford Wahtomy and Lawrence Wagon. Grandmothers Lillian Brown Wahtomy, Angeline Wagon, Vida Stump. Cousin sisters Cynthia Sonnip, Jana Sonnip and Wineva McKean. Cousin brothers Calvert Sonnip and Alvin Bear.
Viewing is at Samson Bear's Residence on 364 Reservation Road at noon on August 1, 2026. Burial is Monday, August 3, 2026, at Bannock Creek Cemetery at 2 p.m. Family is under the care of Hawker Funeral Home.
Sandy Kay Navo Wesaw
FORT HALL — Sandy Kay Navo Wesaw, age 44, passed away July 21, 2026, surrounded by family and loved ones.
It was this year on Easter Sunday that she had felt ill and went to the doctor. The doctor did all sorts of testing and results were aggressive cancer. The chemotherapy took a toll on her body. Her body was failing and it was sad to see her going down with her health.
Sandy was born November, Friday the 13th, 1981 to Nita Kay Teton and Dexter Navo. She had one brother Albert Navo, who is in North Carolina
Sandy attended schools here in the local area. During this time as a young girl living in Lincoln Creek with great grandma Juanita. Her grandma Juanita is well known for her bead work and tanning hides and making fully beaded buckskin dresses. Upon completion of a buckskin dress, Sandy was lucky enough to be the first one to put on the dresses and model them. She was a very pretty model.
In 2001 she met Brandon Damon, and together they had three children, Leroy Brown, Sandra (deceased), and Alazay – grandpas call him “Haw-Zay.” After this rocky relationship ended, years later she gave birth to her “little angel” Juanita, her pride and joy.
Sandy decided to get back into school and enrolled at ISU where she received her diploma in cosmetology. She loved doing hair, nails and pedicures. She worked in the local area here in Blackfoot and eventually got her own business and shop. She called it Sandyz Nailz & Fadez Salon.
Around this time, she met the love of her life, Shane Wesaw. Her children accepted and loved Shane. Shane took Sandy on many adventures, especially elk hunting back in Wyoming. She helped him skin and butcher the wild game. They would go up to her Uncle Larry’s to ride horses and to look at the herds of elk. Together, they loved the outdoor adventures.
Sandy was a member of the Native American Church and also a traditional Sundancer and enjoyed being in the sweat lodge. Sundays she and her family would go to Idaho Falls Watersprings Church.
Sandy was preceded in death by her maternal great grandma Juanita Dann, and Frank Teton and paternal great grandparents, Richard and Francis Sandy Navo, and many others.
Prayer services were at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 23, 2026 at Hawker Funeral Home in Blackfoot. After services, she was transported to the Denny Teton residence in Lincoln Creek. Friday there was early morning sunrise prayer services and then traditional burial was at 1 p.m. at Lincoln Creek Cemetery.
Celeste Johnson
FORT HALL — Celeste Lanae Johnson, age 41 years, went home to the Lord Creator July 27, 2026. She was in the hospital in Blackfoot, Idaho due to an injury.
Celeste was born on July 7, 1985 to T. Earl Johnson and Tomi Chyne Osborne.
She was a mother to Brooklynn, Beau, Bella and Bindi; a sister to Carol and Kehaulani and siblings Kelly Johnson, Krissy Johnson, Toni Lee Johnson (Matt) and Shawna Rodriguez (Paul).
She enjoyed painting, writing and music.
She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
Services were under the care of Hawker Funeral Home.
