Janette K. Murray, born July 19, 1942, died peacefully at her home May 18, 2026, attended by her husband, Arthur Amiotte while under the auspice of Rapid City Monument Health Home Hospice Care.

She is survived by her daughter, Leslie Murray, of Pine, CO; stepson, Andrew Amiotte of Chadron, NE:  sister, Judy Trautman and nephew Tim Trautman of Moorhead, MN  niece, Tamara Trautman Bowersock (Douglas) of Wichita Falls, TX and three grand-nephews, Landon and Collin Bowersock and Tyler Trautman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Berna (Schwandt) Juntunen, formerly of Moorhead, MN.

She was proud of her large extended family of past and present Finnish Juntunens and German Schwandts nationwide.

Having received her Ph.D in education from University of North Dakota in 1974, she was an accomplished educator, administrator, grants writer and advocate of Midwest Native American college, higher education and the arts.

During the late 1990s, employed as a grants writer and programmer for the development department of the administration of Rapid City Regional Hospital she and local community committee members and volunteers established the very first prototype of home hospice care in Custer, S.D.

She, her husband Arthur, an artist, and community participants sponsored arts-related events and generously contributed to the funding of this pilot endeavor which eventually became the present Monument Health Hospice Program, Black Hills wide.

The family sincerely thanks the Rapid City and Custer Monument Health medical caregivers over the years, the Fountain Springs Health Facility, Rapid City, special neighbor-friend Charlotte Johnson, Custer and the Custer Chamberlain McColley Funeral Home.

At Jan’s request, no formal funeral service will be held.

Visitation at the Custer Chamberlain McColley Funeral Home will be from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 2026.

Condolences may be sent to Box 471, Custer, S.D. 57730

No memorials have been designated.