Joseph W. Murray

Joseph W. (Joe) Murray 97 of Great Falls died Tuesday, January 5^th, 2021 in Great Falls of natural causes. He was born October 4, 1923 the son of Joseph A. and Ella Rebecca (Hogeland) Murray in Lewistown. He was the second of their four boys. He lived his entire life in the Lewistown, Hobson and Danvers aera. When Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941, Joe left high school and joined the US Navy. He served on the AR-2 U S S Medusa, a repair ship. Then he transferred to APA-167 U S S Freestone, a troop transporter. He was in the Navy until the end of the war.

He was united in marriage to the love of his life Betty Jean Anderson on August 21, 1944 in Fergus, Montana. They had seven children. In early life he was a cowboy and preferred being on a horse to any other option. He did ranch work, was a mechanic and a baler mechanic and ran the grain elevator in Danvers for many years until he retired. Because he left school to go to war, her received his honorary high school diploma when he was 70 years old.

He loved his family and was always there for school programs, concerts, plays and sporting events. He was a Boy Scout leader and was a member of the School Board in Danvers and in Denton. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by many.

He was a member of the American Legion for 75 years.

He is survived by one son Scott (Pam) of Cut Bank, MT; two daughters Patricia (Robert) Dockery of Cascade, MT and Judy A. Miller of Great Falls, MT; one brother Ted (Beverly) Murray of Lewistown, MT; 13 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1999, his parents, children Joey, Bettie, Mike and Tim; brothers Robert and Thomas.

Graveside Memorial Services for Joseph W. Murray will be Saturday, July 17^th, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. in the Lewistown City Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. The Cloyd Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Friends are asked to make memorials to Cancer Research, Wounded Warriors or to the charity of their choice and they may be left with the Cloyd Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.