Rae C Marsh Murphy, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2024, at the McCone County Nursing Home at the age of 94. She was born August 7, 1930, in Circle, Montana, and 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. Rae worked briefly as a telephone operator in Wolf Point. She met Gerald Murphy at a country dance, beginning a lifelong partnership. While Gerald was stationed in Germany, they were married in Moneydig Presbyterian Church in Cushendall, County Antrim, Northern Ireland with Gerald’s 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!
Rae loved sports, whether watching her kids play and keeping stats or competing on her own. Organized sports were not around when she was in school, so we saw her talents in golf and bowling. Gerald and Rae 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. Rae was also very dedicated to First Lutheran Church as the treasurer of WELCA. During the kids’ school years, she taught Sunday/Monday school and the kids loved her yummy brownies!
She is survived by her children: Kim (Patti) Murphy, Dina (Mick) Davis, Jill (Brad) Pinnick, Jere (PreElla) Murphy, and Joni (Mike) Garpestad; grandchildren: Danielle (Nathan) Courtnage, Sarah (Travis) Wald, Brett (Kalli) Murphy, Alicia Davis, Jenay (Elliot) Cross, Brook (Andrea) Murphy, Hannah (Klay) Welter, Gunnar (Kayla) Garpestad, and Ryar Garpestad; and great-grandchildren: Jaylen Murphy, Ciaran Courtnage, Ainsley Courtnage, Madelyn Murphy, Norah Wald, Abram Wald, Callen Haynes, Lydia Murphy, Vivian Cross, Hugo Cross, and Gracie Garpestad. Rae was preceded in death by her husband Gerald, her granddaughter Michelle Murphy, her siblings Marian (Clarence) Laubauch, Dorothy Tingler, Evelyn (Keith) Casterline, and her sister-in-law Alice (Red) Hamman.
Rae’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Circle, with internment immediately following the service at the Riverview Cemetery. A reception will follow at CCM. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
The family would like to thank the special caregivers at McCone County Nursing Home that were Mom’s favorite people!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rae’s memory to McCone County Nursing Home.
Rae Murphy, age 94, of Circle.
August 7, 1930 – October 31, 2024
Mary Jo Nerud Lawrence says
Kim, Jerry, Joni, Jill and Murphy families.
Your Mom has been on my mind. I knew she was in the nursing home.
I am very sorry to hear of her passing. Your Mom is the last of the Anderson
side of our families. I remember many years ago attending a family
Reunion at your Mom Dad’s. It was very special.
You are all in my thoughts.
Condolences. God’s blessings graces to each of you.
Kaylee Kleinsasser says
So sorry for your loss.