George Murphy

HARDING -- George Murphy, 84, Harding, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2001, at St. Cloud Hospital.

He was born May 15, 1917, in Racine, Wis., to Albert and Ida (Duda) Murphy. He enlisted in the Army on Aug. 7, 1941. He was discharged on Dec. 21, 1945. He was an electrical engineer for Osters in Racine, Wis. He married Rita Kosterman in 1957 in Racine, Wis. She died in 1959. He married Doris Bernatovich in June 1960. They moved to the Twin Cities in 1965 where he was employed by Control Data and then they later moved to the Harding area in 1975. He was a school bus driver for 11 years and was employed at the Brainerd State Hospital in Brainerd. His second wife died in March 1982. He was involved in TEC, in Holy Cross Church in Harding, Father Pierz School of Religion and was a member of Knights of Columbus. He was a volunteer at Horizon Health and he volunteered at St. Gabriel's Hospital in a program called Senior Companion.

Survivors include four sons, David Murphy, Highlands Ranch, Colo., Patrick Murphy, Cold Spring, John Murphy, Harding, and Kevin Murphy, Harding; two daughters, Ruthann Ray, Pillager, and Margaret Murphy, Savage; nine grandchildren; and a sister, Agnes Hetland, Racine, Wis.

His first wife, his second wife, a brother and a sister died earlier.

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Harding with Father Roger Thoennes officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Parish Cemetery in Harding.

Friends may call from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday at Brenny Funeral Home in Pierz with parish prayers at 7:30 p.m. and Knights of Columbus Office of the Dead at 8:30 p.m. and from 9 a.m. until the time of services Thursday at the church.