John Murphy

John D. Murphy was born Jan. 1, 1936. He passed away peacefully in his sleep Sept. 2, 2024, at the home of his daughter in Wisconsin. He was 88.
John is survived by his wife, Florence; children, Maureen, Shawn (Kathy), Shaila (Bruce Boutell) and Michael (Tanya); grandchildren, Jeramy (Kari), Katie, Kevin, Finn, Liam; great-grandchildren, Olive and Evan; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
John grew up in Canonchet, R.I., and after graduating Westerly High School he attended the University of Maine to study forestry. He left school to join the U.S. Army in February 1958. Upon fulfilling his active-duty requirements with the army, he finished his forestry studies at the University of Rhode Island and graduated in 1963 with a bachelor of science in Agricultural Studies.
He joined the U.S. Forest Service and was assigned to the Black Hills National Forest in Custer. It is here where he met his wife, Florence.
John spent his entire career in forestry moving around the country with his family, all the while making lifelong friends everywhere he went.
After retirement John and Florence returned to his beloved Black Hills of South Dakota, where they lived happily for 30 years.
John enjoyed people and always had a story to share. John was a one-of-a-kind, unique man and he is already greatly missed by his loved ones.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Ruby (Hoxsie); his brothers, Maurice and Edward; and his sister, Sister Ann S.C.N.
Services will be held Oct. 15. A mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Church at 10 a.m and John will be laid to rest at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D. at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Operation Black Hills Cabin or Feeding South Dakota.