Rose June (Etzkorn) Guthrie
Rose June (Etzkorn) Guthrie of Rapid City, formerly of Murdo, S.D., 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, S.D. 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, S.D., 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, S.D. June taught for eight years in one-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, S.D. 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, Wyo.; James (Susan) Guthrie, Summerset, S.D.; Sheila (Larry) Mines, Pukwana, S.D.; Clark (Lynne) Guthrie, Pierre, S.D.; Kent (Cindy) Guthrie, Rapid City, S.D.; and Morris Guthrie, Mitchell, S.D.; grandchildren: Grant (Lisa) Guthrie, Ypsilanti, Mich.; Jami Guthrie, Rapid City, S.D.; Courtney (Michael) Rowland, Brighton, Colo.; Nikki Mines, Chamberlain, S.D.; Chuck (Crispin) Mines, Pukwana, S.D.; Ted Mines, Pukwana, S.D.; Laurie (Matt) Bilben, Kimball, S.D.; Karissa Guthrie, Lisle, Ill.; Shelby Guthrie, Rapid City, S.D.; Jessica (Aaron) Daniels, Rapid City, S.D.; Ashlen (Travis) Bunkowske, Rapid City, S.D.; 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, S.D. and Terrance (Reita) Etzkorn, Pierre, S.D.; 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 was held from 5-7 p.m. CST with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 14, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Murdo.
Mass of Christian Burial was held 11:00 a.m. CST Wednesday, December 15, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Murdo with Father John Heying as celebrant.
Interment followed at the Murdo Cemetery.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Kadoka.
