Imogene Murphy

Imogene Murphy passed away April 26, 2016, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, May 4, at First Presbyterian Church, 214 E Thayer Ave., Bismarck, with Rev. Dr. David Reiter officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Graveside services will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck. Leah Imogene Murphy was born on November 24, 1928, in Fairfield, IL, the only child of Harry and Gladys (Phelps) Koontz. She graduated from Fairfield High School in 1946 and began employment at N.V. Duncan Drilling Company. It was there she met her future husband, Edward P. Murphy, and they married on April 27, 1956. The young family moved to Bismarck in 1960. The early years of her marriage were spent raising her children. When they were grown, Imogene worked as a secretary at First Presbyterian Church and served in that position for 22 years, until her retirement in 1994. She enjoyed travelling and had the opportunity to take several trips within the United States and abroad. She was an excellent baker and made many pies from the apples in her backyard. She enjoyed her yard, gardening and, believe it or not, mowing her lawn. She loved being with her family, babysitting her grandchildren, and in later years “her” dog Rigsby. Imogene was a member of First Presbyterian Church, PEO Chapter N, Women’s Circle #1 and Golden K Kiwanis. Imogene is survived by her children, Kathleen (John) Fox, Mandan, and Edward (Rebecca) Murphy, Bismarck; four grandchildren, Kristin (Randy) Tidd, Kirkland, WA, Sarah Fox (Jon Satrom), Chicago, IL, Paul and Daniel Murphy, Bismarck; and two great-grandsons, Jack and Max Tidd. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband in 1983. The family wishes to thank the staff at Edgewood Dominion and Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center for their care of Imogene over the last two years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.