Sheila J. Juhnke, age 87 of Helena

Sheila Jeannine Juhnke, 87, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2021.

She was born on 7 June 1934 in Greeley, Colorado. Her mother, Gladys, eventually relocated to San Diego, California, where she was remarried to Fred Gerald Niece and where Sheila grew up.

After graduating as a registered nurse from Mercy Nursing School, she joined the Air Force on February 24, 1957. It was shortly after joining the Air Force that she met her husband, Richard Juhnke. They were married on September 22, 1957 and began a life-long love of travel with their honeymoon in the Black Hills mountains of South Dakota. When the couple started a family, Sheila was not able to continue her Air Force career; however, she still practiced as a nurse whenever she could – as a hospital nurse, a Girl Scout camp nurse, and as a nurse for various public schools in Tennessee. In addition to nursing, she was a strong supporter of the Girl Scouts and served as a troop leader and in various administrative positions for the Girl Scouts for many years.

Sheila went on to earn her Bachelors Degree from Memphis State university. Sheila also loved dollhouse miniatures and started her own business, Memphis Miniatures, while living in Memphis, Tennessee, changing the name to Munchkin Miniatures when they relocated to Helena in September 2009.

Sheila loved life and lived it to the hilt. Her life can best be summarized by her favorite saying, “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming, Wow, what a ride!!!”

Sheila was preceded in death by her son, Richard Gerald Juhnke. She is survived by her husband, Richard Juhnke, her two daughters, Jeannine Juhnke and Carol Neuman, of Helena, and her son, Fred Colby of Somerville, Tennessee.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 13, 2021 at First Lutheran Church, 2231 E Broadway. Burial with Military Honors will follow the service at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Ft. Harrison.

Service Schedule

Funeral Service

11:00 a.m.

Monday December 13, 2021

First Lutheran Church

2231 E Broadway

Helena, Montana 59601

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Burial with Military Honors

Following the service

Monday December 13, 2021

Montana State Veterans Cemetery

1900 Williams Ave.

Fort Harrison, Montana 59636

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