Rae Murphy
Rae C Marsh Murphy, 94, died Oct. 31, 2024, at the Mc-Cone County Nursing Home in Circle.
She was born Aug. 7, 1930, in Circle and was raised on the family farm on Cow Creek, south of Vida, alongside her three sisters, the daughters of Raymond and Ruth Marsh.
Her education began at Cow Creek School, then Wolf Point Elementary and graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1948. She attended Northern Montana College for a short time.
She worked briefly as a telephone operator in Wolf Point. She met Gerald Murphy at a country dance, beginning a lifelong partnership. While he was stationed in Germany, they were married in Moneydig Presbyterian Church in Cushendall, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, with his aunt and uncle as witnesses. Together, they settled on the ranch on Horse Creek Road near Circle, where they raised five children.
She set the example of hard work, whether it was driving tractor, working sheep and cattle, her beautiful garden along with strawberry and raspberry patches, and her apple trees. With all her outside work, she was still able to keep an extremely tidy house.
She loved sports, whether watching her children play and keeping stats or competing on her own. Organized sports were not around when she was in school, but she enjoyed golf and bowling. She and Gerald loved golf and played league in Glendive. Eventually, they began traveling south for the winters to partake of the sport. While south, they enjoyed attending PGA tournaments. They loved to travel and were able to make a return trip to Ireland with Gerald’s sister/ husband.
She was also very dedicated to First Lutheran Church as the treasurer of WELCA. During her children’s school years, she taught Sunday/ Monday school.
She is survived by her children, Kim Murphy, Dina Davis, Jill Pinnick, Jere Murphy and Joni Garpestad; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; granddaughter, Michelle Murphy; and siblings, Marian Laubauch, Dorothy Tingler and Evelyn Casterline.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Circle, with internment immediately following the service at the Riverview Cemetery.
