Amanda Mary Dutton (39) of Tempe, Arizona passed away peacefully at her home on January 17, 2025. Born to Mel and Marcia Dutton on April 26,1985 in Spearfish, South Dakota, Amanda’s vibrant spirit blossomed in Faith where she attended school for 13 years. She excelled in basketball, volleyball, and track. She was also involved in school plays, yearbook, chorus, and many other school activities. She graduated from Faith High School in 2003.
A year after graduation, she was diagnosed with lymphoma, fought that battle, and made a full recovery. Then in 2005, Amanda enrolled in Black Hills Beauty School in Rapid City, where she lived and worked as a hairdresser for 6 years. In 2008, her daughter, Evr, was born, and in 2014 she moved to Tempe, Arizona. She worked in the field of dermatology for one year, and it was then she realized that she wanted to pursue her dream of becoming a registered nurse. She moved back to Rapid City and attended Western Dakota Technical College, and received her LPN degree. Her son, Kado, was born in 2021 and she moved back to Tempe, Arizona to continue her nursing studies.
Amanda’s hands were one of her gifts. Not only was she a very talented artist, she was a remarkable cake maker; the last cake being a three-tiered birthday cake for her mother, that said “Lighting up our Life”. There were lights between every tier that sparkled like the fourth of July, and in sync with music! She was so creative and loved doing special things for people. Another talent Amanda used her hands for was hairdressing. People called in requesting only Amanda! She did hair for her daughter, Evr, for the family, and for proms, weddings, and homecomings. She even corn-rowed many of the girls’ basketball team’s hair. She had a way of making people’s events special to them.
Amanda was also blessed with a beautiful voice. She sang the national anthem at Faith High School games, and she was selected to sing it at a Diamondbacks baseball game in Phoenix, Arizona. She also had the opportunity to sing it at her own graduation from Nursing school in Rapid City. And in 2006, she even ventured to Denver, Colorado to try out for American Idol.
Amanda had an outgoing personality, a great sense of humor, and she was very independent. Her unwavering kindness touched the lives of all who knew her. She was thoughtful, empathetic, and always wanted to help people. She was an advocate for the oppressed, and she thought it was important to fight for fairness and justice. People were drawn to her, and she was an inspiration to many. Her children, Evr and Kado, meant the world to her. She was a devoted mother and dedicated herself to ensuring their happiness and well-being.
She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Amanda is survived by her daughter, Evr and son, Kado of Tempe, Arizona, her parents, Mel (Marcia) Dutton of Faith, two brothers, Jeremy Dutton and Joby (Candice) Dutton, two sisters, Angie Dutton and Ashley (Mike Anderson) Dutton, all of Tempe, Arizona. Three nieces, Ally Christmas, Emily (Luke) Bell, and Amelia Dutton-Williams, three nephews, Jaxon Dutton-Klomp, and Ronin Dutton and Ryker Dutton. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Richard and Theresa Glines, Harold and Vera Dutton, and a special friend, Carrie Strause. In lieu of flowers, a “Go Fund me” has been established for the children.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 31, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Faith.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 1, at 10:00 a.m. at the church in Faith.
Interment will be held on Saturday, February 1, at 3:30 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
