Judith Faye (Cournoyer) Umiker of Hot Springs, SD, passed away peacefully at the Rapid City Hospice House on January 19, 2011, ending her three-year battle against breast cancer.

Born on July 20, 1945, to Amy and Peter Cournoyer in Wagner, SD, Judy was a proud American Indian who inspired many people with her endless examples of unconditional love. She spent much of her youth living on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, and attended Saint Paul's Mission (Marty Indian) School. She went on to live in Concord, CA; Vallejo, CA; Pierre, SD; Hot Springs, SD; and Bullhead City, AZ. In Hot Springs, she was widely known for managing the local Community Action Agency throughout most of the 1990's. She was a beloved, humble woman who enjoyed spending time fishing, camping, playing cards, and being with her friends and loved ones.

Judy was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents and her daughter, Tymber Yvette Lloyd. Left to cherish her memory are her three children, whom she dedicated her life to: Tina (Sivec) Pengra of Denver, CO; Lisa (Umiker) and David Schaefer of Dell Rapids, SD;Jonathan Umiker of Hot Springs; six grandchildren; Judy's longtime companion, James Nygaard of Hot Springs; two brothers, Richard Cournoyer of Springfield, MO; Robert Cournoyer of Sioux Falls, SD; three sisters, Pat Bruce of Mission, SD; Deanna Langley of Pierre, SD; Ella Arnold of Springfield, MO; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. We are grateful for having shared our life with Judy.

A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 24, 2011, at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs with Fr. Ed Vanorny officiating. A private intermnet will be held at a later date at the family cemetery in Armour, SD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honoring Judy may be sent to Rapid City Regional Cancer Care Institute's Walking Forward Program (see information below*).

*After Judy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, she became an avid participant of the Walking Forward Program at Rapid City Regional's Cancer Care Institute. She received chemo treatments regularly and grew to love the staff of the Walking Forward Program and the Cancer Care Institute. Her loved ones will forever remain grateful to the sincere care and many resources provided to Judy through these programs.

Memorial gifts in Judy's honor may be sent to the Walking Forward Program at the John T. Vucurevich Regional Cancer Care Institute, 353 Fairmont Blvd., Rapid City, SD 57701. The Walking Forward Program reduces cancer mortality among American Indians in the Northern Plains through patient care and the culturally responsive Patient Navigation program; cancer education to empower communities and patients for self-advocacy; access to state-of-the-art cancer treatments; and access to cancer clinical trials, new knowledge and innovation. For more information about the Walking Forward Program, call Dave Koop or Deb Brunette at (605) 719-2316.