Donna Murphy

Our loving Mother, Donna Murphy passed away peacefully at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula, MT on September 19th, just 20 days after her husband Calvin was buried. She truly wanted to go to heaven to be with the man she loved for over 60 years.

Donna was born in Mitchell, SD on March 4th, 1930. Donna vividly remembered her father working on the Alaskan Highway during World War II. Life was not easy and money was always tight for their family, but these were formative years for Donna, who, until the end of her life did not waste a penny.

In 1948 Donna graduated from Butte High School and moved to Missoula where she met and married the love of her life Calvin Murphy at the University of Montana (then Montana State). The two were married in 1959 and raised five children together in a very busy home.

Donna was the driving force in the family purchasing the cabin on Flathead Lake that became the families' home away from home. The family spent every possible day at the cabin adding several additions and a boat house over the years. The cabin always served as the focal point with all the children returning to the cabin year after year.

Donna was very much a people person and that led her to become a well respected real estate agent working for several agencies in Missoula. She was instrumental in assisting many people purchasing their first home and delighted in helping them to put together a transaction that was done well, she was a woman of great detail. She found great joy in finding the right house for each family.

Donna enjoyed writing and painting the landscapes around the Flathead and was known for her smooth painted rocks she would find in Flathead lake.
After the children left the house Cal and Donna travelled extensively and Donna was always planning their next trip. The couple travelled to Australia, Korea, Europe, South Asia, Panama Canal, Canada and across the US. They especially enjoyed ocean and cruises to include the Caribbean, Mexico, the Baltic and Rhine River.

Donna loved her church, Immanuel Lutheran Church. It was an integral part of her and Cal's life and many of their friends attended there as well. In her later years she thoroughly enjoyed Bible studies and having lunch with her friends.

Donna is survived by five children, Suzanne (Anthony) Perez, Michael (Bonnie), David (Sharon), Chris (Tamera), Ken (Kris), ten grandchildren and seven great grand children.

Donna will be remembered as the rock and the adventurous center of the family, a hard worker, a cancer survivor, a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.
A "Celebration of Life" will be held on September 17th at 11:00am at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 830 South Ave. in Missoula. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the "The Cal Murphy Scholarship Fund at the University of Montana" (University of Montana Foundation, P.O. Box 7159, 600 Connell Avenue, Brantly Hall, Missoula, MT 59807) or to Immanuel Lutheran Church (830 South Ave W, Missoula, MT 59801, 406-549-0736). Condolences for Donna's family may be left at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com

Read Donna Murphy's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.