Janet Rae Sunde
June 18, 1934 ~ March 15, 2026
Janet R. Sunde, 91, Brandon, SD, died Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Sanford Hospice Centennial Cottage in Sioux Falls, surrounded by her family.
A Celebration of Life Open House will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Francis House in Sioux Falls in Janet’s honor.
Janet Rae Westby was born on June 18, 1934, in Madison, SD, to Ernest and Ruth (Allen) Westby. Her lineage comes from the Mayflower. She was a direct descendant of William White, one of the pilgrims who came to America aboard the Mayflower.
After graduation, Janet worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell. She moved to Sioux Falls in 1976 when the telephone company office in Madison closed. She worked for Northwestern Bell until she retired in 1988.
In retirement, Janet enjoyed reading, playing Mahjong with friends and going for long walks. She spent winters in Arizona until the passing of her husband, Richard, in 2014. They loved spending time in Arizona with their son, Steve, and his wife, Deborah.
The last three years of her life she was well taken care of and loved dearly by the staff at Bethany Meadows in Brandon, and the phenomenal care given at the Sanford Hospice Centennial Cottage during her last week.
Janet will be dearly missed by her five children, Steven (Deborah) Sunde, Phoenix, AZ, Laurel (Michael) Eicher, Madison, WI, Joan (Jim) Clarke, Sioux Falls, SD, David (Julie) Sunde, Sioux Falls, SD, and Paul (Christie) Sunde, Sioux Falls, SD; six grandchildren, Marissa (Zac) Cool, Chelsea (Landon) Greenfield, Nicholas (Brianna) Clarke, Erica Sunde, Caleb (Sonia) Sunde, and Jules Eicher; twelve great-grandchildren, Avery and Zayden Cool, Carter and Cambree Stein, Beckett and Kyler Greenfield, Leyton, Layla, Bridger and Bowyn Clarke, Sloane Napier, and Neva Sunde; brother, Dr. Allen Westby, Brookings, SD; sisters-in-law, Marian Sunde Wiese, Madison, SD, Marley Sunde Wright Smith, San Lorenzo, CA, and Midge Sunde Kloster, Fargo, ND; and many nieces and nephews.
Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; parents, Ernest and Ruth; and brother, Max.
Share this post:
