Groton: Memorial services for Patricia Murphy, 76, of Groton and formerly of Watertown and Conde, will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at the United Methodist Church in Conde. The Rev. Matt Richards will officiate.
Patricia passed away March 27, 2013, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.
Patricia Anne York was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on Feb. 9, 1937, to Elmer and Evelyn (Hilts) York, and the family later made their home in the Florence area. Patricia was the eldest of seven children. She attended school in Florence, and, in her later years, proudly attended and graduated from Rosemount Technical College in Minnesota, where she graduated with a dental assistant degree. She moved on to being manager of Apple Valley Dentristy in Apple Valley, Minn., for several years. Patricia worked in Watertown before her retirement to Conde.
Patricia was married to Harold Murphy, Watertown, from 1954-77.
Patricia had many interests, but above all were her children, grandchildren, great-grandchilden, as well as her siblings. As the appointed family manager, she prided in keeping her "ducks in a row" and she accomplished just that. Patricia loved to travel, experiencing varied tastes from the Sturgis Bike Rally, to Branson, Mo., to the castles of Germany and to Paris, France.
She was an avid hunter and proudly bagged many deer in the Black Hills. She was a gardener, collector of special trinkets and treasures. As a mother, Patricia wore many hats, some to include, "therapist, doctor, judge and jury, marriage counselor, referee" and many more too numerous to mention. She was a "daily contestant" on The Price Is Right television show, always loyal to Bob Barker, but eventually warming up to Drew Carey.
Celebrating her life are her four children: Debra (Dan) Krueger of Watertown, Vicki (Greg) Stark of Conde, Kathy Grabowski of Radcliff, Ky., and Patrick (Marsha) Murphy of Watertown; 12 grandchildren: Shane Krueger, Melinda Hill, Danelle Krueger, Mikaela Schulz, Tyler Stark, Dylan Stark, Kara Antle, Kelli Grabowski, Katie Grabowski, Chelsea Murphy, Jared Murphy and Nathan Murphy; and 11 great-grandchildren: Gavin Small, Kayden Krueger, Brayden Hill, Hannah Poggenborg, Gracie Hill, Elijah Lich, Jaeden Antle, Cora Krueger, Dakota Antle, Jakob Holt, and Ethan Hopkins. Her siblings include: Darlene (Dean) Purintun of Rockford, Ill.; Shirley Sandidge of Fallbrook, Calif.; Gene (Gloria) York, Waterloo, Iowa; Karen (Wayne) Murphy, Hastings, Minn.; DeWayne York and special friend, Janet, of Canyon Lake, Calif.; and Marjory (Harry) Snyder of Hastings, Minn.; and many special nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents and two grandchildren: Jeremy Murphy and Cassandra Krueger.
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