Jeanene Raye Jukkala

Jeanene R. Jukkala passed away peacefully on Friday, January 19, 2024 at St Patrick Hospital from complications due to dementia.  Jeanene was born April 23, 1938 in Missoula to Frank and Irene Griffing.  A graduate of Missoula County High School, Class of 1956, she worked at the Old Canyon Hotel in Yellowstone National Park before starting her banking career as a teller at First National Bank in Missoula.  A family vacation to Hawaii in 1959 sparked an enduring love for the islands, prompting her to return with friends later that year for a job with the Bank of Hawaii in Honolulu.   She returned home to Missoula a year later and in 1965, Jeanene met and married the love of her life, Arthur Jukkala.  She was a loving, attentive mother to her two children, Malia and Clint, who have many fond childhood memories of ​camping, baking, family trips, and themed birthday parties. After taking time off to raise her children, Jeanene returned to work at First Interstate Bank in 1981 and retired in 2005.

Ever active, Jeanene was happiest spending countless hours walking in Grant Creek and along the Clark Fork River Trail.  She loved cooking, sewing, working in the garden, getting together with friends in her craft group and book club, attending farmer's market, and cheering on her beloved Griz. Jeanene was also an avid scrapbooker and helped to organize several of her high school reunions.  She enjoyed travel and made trips throughout the US and to Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Jeanene is survived by her daughter Malia (Stephen) Bineau of Bothell, WA.  Son Clint (Colae) Jukkala of Wallingford, PA. Granddaughters; Karina and Cyan. Brother John (Shelley) Griffing of Sacramento, CA and sister Michele (David) Dearborn of San Jose, CA; multiple nieces, nephews and countless good friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Art Jukkala, parents Frank and Irene Griffing, her sister and brother-in-law Darlene and Virgil Adler.

We would like to say a special thanks to Bonnie Malcolm of Case Management Caregiving for several years of care and friendship of Jeanene, as well as our thanks to the staff at St. Patrick Hospital.

In memory of Jeanene, we ask you to get outside and take a walk in the calming beauty of nature. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/.

A celebration of Jeanene’s life will be held in the summer of 2024.