Obituary notice for
Darlene (King) Murphy   67
Apr. 03, 1938   ~   May 05, 2005

      Darlene C. Murphy, 67, died in Palm Desert, Calif., Thursday, May 5, after a courageous battle with cancer.

      She was born April 3, 1938 to Arthur and Madeline King in Rapid City S.D.  
She graduated from Butte High and started a banking career beginning at Miner's Bank in Butte.   Following a 30 year career, Darlene and her husband, Steve Murphy, moved to Northern California eventually settling in Palm Desert, where they retired to enjoy golf, travel and their grandkids.

      Darlene had a flair for the arts, enjoying ceramics, candle making, tole-painting, sewing, furniture refinishing and her favorite painted rock animals.   She took after her mother, with a love of antiques, creating an impressive collection of glassware, artwork and figurines. Retirement allowed Darlene time to do new things like stained glass, learning to play pool, learning computers, reading and genealogy. but always making time for her daughters.   Darlene and Steve's travels took them to Hawaii, Nebraska, Illinois and Ireland but the most fun was taking the grandkids to Disneyland.

      She will be missed by her beloved husband Steve, daughter Kathy Sullivan and son-in-law Pat Sullivan, daughter Barbara Ward and daughter, Teri Sample, all of Billings.   Also surviving are son and daughter-in-law Jim and Vicky Murphy of Jefferson City, sister and brother-in-law Pauline and Ray Nelson, brother Tom King, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jim and Rosalie Murphy, all of Butte;   sister-in-law Julie Birkelo, Dillon;   cousins Charles Meiners, Larry Meiners and John Meiners;   and aunt Ann Meiners of South Dakota.   Her most precious gems were her four grandchildren, Jason Sample, Butte, Michelle Sullivan, Billings, and Stephen and Kate Murphy of Jefferson City.

      Darlene was blessed with loving nieces and nephews, Rayleen Murphy, Charlene and Don McKenzie, Roy and Dori Nelson, Scott Murphy, Tim and Anna Murphy, Ryan and Marlene Murphy, and Art and Jackie Murphy, Jason Keto, Trent Keto and Gus Birkelo and many grandnieces and grandnephews.

      In tears we saw you sinking, we watched you fade away.   You suffered much in silence, you fought so much to stay.

      You faced your task with courage, your spirit did not bend, but still you kept on fighting until the very end.

      God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so He put His arms around you and whispered, "Come with me."

      And when we saw you sleeping so peaceful and free from pain, we could not wish you back to suffer that again.

      Services will be held at Duggan Dolan Mortuary on Saturday, May 21, at 10 a.m., 213 N. Montana.   Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Posted in Montana Standard Obituaries on Sunday, May 15, 2005
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