Josephine Grace Rundle

Josephine Grace Rundle, 32, of Missoula, passed away on Sunday, January 25th, 2026.

She was born on August 5, 1993, in Seattle, Washington to Dale and Terrie Rundle.

Josie spent her toddler years living with her family in Lake Forest Park, Washington. She was a shy, freckle-faced little girl who loved swimming pools and riding her bicycle.

In 1999 Josie moved with her family to a house in the woods near Bigfork, Montana where Josie started elementary school. Josie was a creative, articulate child. At school, she wrote stories to read out loud for classmates and parents that were amazing in their creativity. Josie and her classmates competed in “Destination Imagination” which is a competitive program for building creativity and problem-solving skills. Her and her friends twice finished first in the state and went to the national championships in 2004.

Early on she was introduced to cross-country skiing and hiking. Her love of the outdoors started early. With her family she made frequent trips to nearby Glacier Park to go hiking. For them, the season often opened on Father’s Day, when Dad and the kids would hike along upper McDonald creek to the Sacred Dancing Cascades. Josie continued to hike with her father all her life and there were many happy days spent together.

The passing of Josie’s mother in 2003 eventually forced a move back to the Seattle area. Josie graduated from Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, WA in 2012. In high school Josie participated on the cross country and track teams and was also a member of the band.

Josie, having been an excellent student, qualified for a scholarship that allowed her to return to Montana to go to college. She had always thought of Montana as her home.

She started at Montana State University in the Fall of 2012 and was quickly accepted into the School of Nursing. In 2014, she was sent to Missoula for her clinical training, and this is where she stayed. That same year she started working as a nursing assistant at Community Medical Center. She graduated with her Bachelor of Nursing in May 2016. She passed her boards that summer and continued as a Registered Nurse at the medical center.

In January of 2015 Josie was introduced to contra dancing at the old Union Hall in Missoula. This would prove fortuitous, as Josie would meet her future husband James Sapp, at one of these dances the next year. Josie and James were married on August 16th, 2021, on the top of Mt. Sentinel.

Josie was an avid backpacker and often went on very challenging hikes in the nearby Bitterroot mountains. She was also an avid backcountry skier. Over time, she expanded on her backpacking, so it included trips to Europe, South America, and New Zealand. She also did some long, extended hikes on the John Muir, Colorado, and Continental Divide trails. In the spring of 2024, she summited and skied down Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier all in the same week!

Josie was a joy to know, and she brought much light and laughter into our world. She was an inspiration to those who knew and loved her. Our time with her was much cherished. She will be sorely missed by all her family and friends.

Josie was preceded in death by her mother, Terrie Ellen Rundle, April 14th, 2003.

Survivors include her husband, James Sapp, Missoula; her sister Abby and her family, Carthage, New York; her brother, Avery Rundle, Seattle; her father, Dale Rundle, Kenmore, Washington; Dale’s wife, Cathy Garland; and an aunt and numerous cousins in the Puget Sound area.

There will be a celebration of Josie’s life, the date and time has not yet been determined.