June Guthrie

of Rapid City, formerly of Murdo, South Dakota, died on Wednesday, December 8, 2021
at Monument Health Hospice House in Rapid City at the age of 92

Rose June (Etzkorn) Guthrie of Rapid City, formerly of Murdo, South Dakota, passed peacefully into God’s loving arms with family at her side on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at the Hospice House in Rapid City at the age of 92.

June was born on November 1, 1929, in Pierre, SD to Anton and Bernese (Loughlin) Etzkorn just three days after the stock market crashed and at the dawn of some of the hardest times our country has ever known - the Great Depression and WWII. June was a fighter from the beginning after contracting Smallpox as an infant and being sent home with instructions to provide comfort to her. She was a survivor and the second born of four siblings, joining her brother James, followed by sister Mary and brother Terrence. She was raised on a farm just east of Pierre, SD, along the Missouri River near De Grey. June was a hardworking and determined woman. She had a zest for life and told those around her she planned to live to be 115 years old. Colon cancer had other plans for June.

She attended school and graduated from Pierre High School in 1947. June had a love for teaching and received her Teaching Degree from Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish, SD. June taught for 8 years in 1-room schools, teaching 1st through 8th grades in the Sully County and Hughes County country schools.

June met the love of her life Raymond Hugh Guthrie at a dance in Hayes. They were married September 7, 1954, at Stephan, SD. To this union six children were born: Veronica, James, Sheila, Clark, Kent, and Morris.

Education and religion were important aspects of June’s life. Over the years she taught The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, was a 4H leader and heavily involved with the Governor’s Scholarship Programs through the Book and Thimble Club. June was co-author and instrumental in the 1st and 2nd publishings of the Jones County History Book. She gave many influential Patriotic presentations in the schools to ensure all students would learn about the American Flag and its meaning. June was active in the St. Martin’s Catholic Guild, as well as the VFW Auxiliary. June, always the teacher, continued to educate in many ways, whether teaching her grandchildren or great-grandchildren. June had a great love for art and loved to paint, always looking for pictures which depicted wildlife. She loved to sew and made many of the clothes for her family in the early years and even created a small business designing and selling men’s custom western shirts to farm hands and harvesting crews. June had great respect for the land and for the last 50 years of her life was the sole manager of the family farm/ranch operation. For over 20 years June was head of Housekeeping at Graham’s Best Western. She prided herself on training employees and was instrumental in the Motel having top ratings within the Best Western franchise.

June always found the best in those she knew and was an incredibly positive individual. She rarely dwelled on life’s problems but found solutions for them. These traits she passed on to her family and friends. Those who knew June know she always wore bright colored clothing with red and purple being her favorites. June loved all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was very quick to point out she shared a birthday with her twin great granddaughters, Sarah and Sophia.

June is survived by her children: Veronica (Bob) Guthrie, Sheridan, WY; James (Susan) Guthrie, Summerset, SD; Sheila (Larry) Mines, Pukwana, SD; Clark (Lynne) Guthrie, Pierre, SD; Kent (Cindy) Guthrie, Rapid City, SD; and Morris Guthrie, Mitchell, SD; grandchildren: Grant (Lisa) Guthrie, Ypsilanti, MI; Jami Guthrie, Rapid City, SD; Courtney (Michael) Rowland, Brighton, CO; Nikki Mines, Chamberlain, SD; Chuck (Crispin) Mines, Pukwana, SD; Ted Mines, Pukwana, SD; Laurie (Matt) Bilben, Kimball, SD; Karissa Guthrie, Lisle, IL; Shelby Guthrie, Rapid City, SD; Jessica (Aaron) Daniels, Rapid City, SD; Ashlen (Travis) Bunkowske, Rapid City, SD; great-grandchildren: Cole Guthrie, Charlotte & Gideon Rowland, Miley & Axel Mines, Delaney Mines, Jared, Levi, & Myles Bilben, Rylen, Sophia and Sarah Ashley; brothers: James Etzkorn, Rapid City, SD and Terrance (Reita) Etzkorn, Pierre, SD; sister, Mary Aasby, Springfield, MO; and a host of other relatives and friends.

June was proceeded in death by her parents Anton and Bernese, her husband Raymond in 1980, brother-in-law Marvin Aasby, sister-in-law Ruth Etzkorn, brother-in-law Kenneth Guthrie and sister-in-law Gladys Guthrie.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. CST with a prayer service starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 14, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Murdo.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. CST Wednesday, December 15, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Murdo with Father Ed Vanorny and Father John Heying as celebrants.

Interment will follow at the Murdo Cemetery.

Service Details

VISITATION
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 - 5-7 p.m. CST
St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church
Murdo, South Dakota

PRAYER SERVICE
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 - 7 p.m. CST
St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church
Murdo, South Dakota

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 - 11:00 a.m. CST
St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church
Murdo, South Dakota

CELEBRANTS
Father Ed Vanorny
Father John Heying

MUSIC
Rose Comp - Pianist
Edith Hooper - Cantor
“On Eagles Wings” - “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”
“Bread of Life” - “Song of Farewell” - “Amazing Grace”

USHERS
Mike Jost - Roy Iversen - Tim Green

LECTORS
Veronica Guthrie - Lisa Etzhorn

PALLBEARERS
Chuck Mines - Ted Mines - Grant Guthrie
Matt Bilben - Travis Bunkowske - Mike Barnes
Chris Iversen - Dean Beckwith - Cole Guthrie

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

INTERMENT
Murdo Cemetery
Murdo, South Dakota

Guest Book

Kent, Cindy and Family,
You continue to be in our thoughts and prayers as you celebrate the life of June. So many memories to cherish and fill your hearts. To you June, you left an amazing legacy through your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. May you be at peace in your journey Home. Love to all.

   ~ Darren and Lynn Paulson Rapid City (12/14/2021)
Sending love, thoughts, and prayers to you and your family during this tough time.
   ~ Jim & Michele (Kerns) McNeely Murdo, SD (12/15/2021)
My memories of Aunt June take me back to my childhood when our family would visit my Grandma Helen, uncle Ray and aunt June and my cousins in Murdo. Aunt June always treated us with such happiness, kindness, and hospitality that will be ingrained in my memories forever. When my father Ken passed away, June spent a long time speaking with me on the phone. It had been a long time since our families had been in contact, but she was the same sharp-minded, caring, and uplifting soul I remembered from those trips to Murdo. Talking to her was such joy and comfort. God bless my cousins, their children and the rest of June's family during this time of remembrance. May their grief be short and their joy long in the knowledge that we will see June again when we meet in heaven.
   ~ Scott Guthrie Winona, MN (12/10/2021)
Jim and Family, Sorry to read of your mother's passing. I never knew her but it sounds like she was quite a lady. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
   ~ EJ Engelhaupt Gillette, WY (12/13/2021)
Florida
   ~ Bradley Guthrie Lake Worth (12/23/2021)
Sincere sympathy to the family . Remembering our
Days in the motel. June was a great employee. Always there to help get the rooms cleaned. Even on days of blizzards, she couldn't drive, but said if we could come get her, she would help out. She was a employee and great friend.
Rest in peace June.

   ~ Marlene Kurle Rapid city, (12/14/2021)
Sincerest sympathies to the family of our Aunt June. As my brother Scott indicated, Aunt June was very kind and sympathetic by contacting us when our dad passed away. She was very sweet in her concern over our well being, knowing that we had lost both parents at that point. Aunt June's light in life brings to mind Matt 5:14 "You are the light of the world, a town built on a hill cannot be hidden." Even in the tribute video I could see that Aunt June had a light about her that was bright and not hidden away. God bless all.
   ~ Brad & Becky Guthrie Lake Worth, FL (12/23/2021)
I am so sorry for your loss. May those good memories be with you always.
   ~ Joan Kerns Mitchell, SD (12/15/2021)

Flowers

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Steve and Cindy Litwer
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Brad and Scott Guthrie and Families
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Randy and Shirley and Rick and Margaret
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The Vestals - Eric, Kim, David, and Daniel
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Lesley Rutter
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Jim; Cathy and Van; Charles and Linda; Carol and Tony; Monica and Jeff; and Robert and Teresa
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Book and Thimble Club
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Lyle and Marilyn Larson
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Marcie Basting
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John and Kimberly Thune