Ted Rodney Murphy

Ted Rodney Murphy left us suddenly to be with his Father on the night of October 1, 2019. He was at his home & ranch in Ovando, MT with his wife, Lynne Murphy by his side.
He was born in Missoula, MT on May 4, 1953 to Thomas & Bonnie (Lee) Murphy. The oldest of two, his sister Colleen would soon join the family.
He grew up wild and free on the family ranch alongside a host of cousins with whom he would play and work together with, under the watchful eyes of their revered Grandmother Mattie.
At the early age of 5, he was introduced to the ever popular family side business of Outfitting, following his father and grandfather to Murphy Flats deep into “the hills” of the Bob Marshall. He grew up fishing the streams of White River and hunting under the shadows of Peaks such as Rampart & many others. With the exception of 1967 when his father was injured, he and his sister spent every August from 1961 to 1969 helping to set up the hunting camp belonging to Joseph B. Murphy & Sons, Packers and Guides. He spent many hours chopping wood, and in 1962 he began leading a mule string for the trips at the age of nine. He spoke dearly of this camp at White River on Murphy Flats, just an 80 mile round trip from Ovando! He had just made plans to take the whole family back in the Summer of 2020.
He began his education in the same 2 room school house in Ovando that his 5 children would later attend. He continued his education at Seeley Lake High School. He was proud to be a Blackhawk and enjoyed being a part of the 2nd Place State Champion Wrestling Team in 1970, and Cross-Country State Champ team in 1971, always aiming to show his true grit under Coach Meachum.
After school and on weekends, he put in many hours on the ranch and worked for his Grandfather Joe as a packer and guide after his father’s stroke in May of 1971. That September he helped his Uncle Harold guide a 6 day trip.
After graduating high school in 1971, he enrolled at MSU hoping to pursue a Veterinary Science Degree. This dream would be short lived though. The need to return home after his grandfather’s sudden death in February of 1972 would beckon him back to the family ranch after just a semester, attempting to fill those boots. After his Uncle Harold was killed in an accident in 1973, it was Ted who did the packing for the family to guide the last trips booked into the Bob in 1974. He then worked the ranch with the help of his father.
Shortly upon returning he met the love of his life and soul mate, Laurie Lynne Schlueter. It was during a Merle Haggard concert in October of 1975 he would propose marriage and by Valentine’s Day 1976 it was a done deal.
Even after long days on the ranch, he and Lynne managed to find time to team rope together with friends into the evenings at an arena he built on the hill. He also could be found playing bass guitar in the band they shared on weekends. His brother in law Mike Schlueter was one of his closest friends, main hand, and a partner in crime for so many ranch shenanigans. Oh the stories they’ve told!
During the next several decades, in the midst of all kinds of seasons on Warren Creek, he would find his true passion in life; fatherhood. This role quickly became his purpose and he worked tirelessly to provide a beautiful life for his family. In the winter of 1977 Laurie Leigh entered the world. Jennifer Lynne came next in the winter of 1979, then Amanda Jo in the summer of 1982. And in the fall of 1985 he became a father to his only, Thomas Joseph Heinrich. Mattie Marie then stole the show, sharing his birth month in 1988.
He taught them everything he could about life and ranching. His children became his best ranch hands following in his boot steps through every season. In the winter was calving, then in the spring came the time to brand the herd and put them out to pasture. The start of summer was full of fencing and irrigating, followed by haying, soon after it would be time to bring the cows back from summer pasture to ship the calves, and then prepare to do it all over again. Most importantly, he always took time to joke around and play. It was through this ever-changing process of life and loss, growing and learning, planting and harvesting, that he taught us the very meaning of Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8. There IS a season for everything. He was his children’s number one fan, no matter what; track, basketball, volleyball, football, swimming, gymnastics, dance, Pony Club and random road trips. Any activity and Dad was always there cheering them on. He poured his life into his family and was the best dad and husband.
Those who knew Ted well, know that he was a quiet, observant man, and led more so by example than word. He was seldom the first one to speak up, however, his counsel was often sought after by those around him.
A true follower of the Lord, he spent many hours serving alongside his church family at the Blackfoot Community Church. He could be found most every Sunday in the back of the church running the sound system, while Lynne played the hymns. He led through leadership in the church council. He took his oldest girls on a youth trip to Los Angeles, and then his son to Promise Keepers in Colorado. Sharing his faith and the Lord’s eternal plan with his children was a priority. He always sent encouraging words when they needed it most; even posting his favorite devotionals and messages for us to find on his office walls and Facebook page.
In 2014, Ted and Lynne purchased WTR Outfitters. It gave him such joy to share his heritage with his clients, while encouraging them to “Leisure with the Legends”. The last week of his life was spent doing what he loved the most, with great friends and clients, in the Bob for the final hunting trip of his season.
We will forever miss our husband, father, brother, “Papa”, “Murph”,Teddy Bear, hero and friend. There are really no words to encompass the man he was and the love he shared with his family. How do you describe the man who was our world? Although he is not here with us, he lives on in the eyes of his children and grandchildren, and in the hearts of all who loved him. We know when we finally see him on the Other Side, he will be waiting patiently at top his beloved Riley, with his pup Blue by his side. He will have our horse saddled, he will hand us the reins, give us that smile, and in his low raspy voice say, “What took ya so long? I’ve been waiting to ride these meadows with you!” Our hearts are forever fractured, but we know if he were here he would say to us, “Whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger”.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents Joseph & Mattie Murphy, Mark & Ruth Lee, his parents Thomas & Bonnie Murphy, and several aunts, uncles & cousins.
He leaves behind his beloved family; his wife, Lynne Murphy of the family home in Ovando. His children, Laurie (Jon) Gendrow of Bonner, Jennifer (Kenny) Dypwick of Missoula, Amy (Blake) Ridley of Scobey, Tom Murphy of Ovando, and Mattie (Scott) Freydenland of Polson. His grandchildren Brody & Josie Gendrow, Kennedy & Carson Dypwick, Leah, Mason & Vanessa Ridley, Maverick Meyer, and JayCee Freydenland. Sister Colleen (Scott) Southwick of Hamilton, nephews Wes, Brandon, Eric, Pat & Marcus, nieces Bonnie, Jessica & Nora. His Aunt Janie (Stu) Nicholson, Brothers-in-Law, Mike (Andrea), Nick (Verna), Scott(Gladys) and Mother-in-Law Verdonna Schlueter. And many aunts, uncles, cousins, special friends and extended family, Ted wanted everyone to feel special and important. He truly loved us all, his family and friends were everything to him.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Camp Utmost, 12901 Camp Utmost Way, Greenough, on Saturday November 2, 2019 at 2 PM. A potluck reception will follow the Memorial Service.
During the last 5 years of his life, he would once again follow the footsteps of his ancestors into the Bob Marshall, where he was finally able to return to those wild and free roots, and it is where he will forever be.