VANCE VICTOR MURPHY obituary

Vance Victor Murphy, 97, of Havre, Mont., passed away Friday, April 9, 2010, due to complications from a broken hip at Northern Montana Care Center. Viewing will be Monday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and 9 a.m. Tuesday until the time of service. His funeral service will be held at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2010, with Ila McClenahan officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles. Memorials in Vance's honor may be made to the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 166, 202 1st St., Havre, MT 59501. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Vance was born at Savoy, Mont., on Oct. 15, 1912, at his grandparents' homestead to John P. (Jack) Murphy and Emma (Tegan) Murphy. Vance attended Wing Elementary School in Hogeland, Mont., and Devlin School and Havre High School in Havre, Mont. His parents divorced in 1917, when Vance was 5 years old. His mother and stepfather, Edward Mejie, raised him. Vance married Louise Trotchie on June 9, 1933. They had four children, Caroline, Jo Ann, and twins Donald and Deanna. They later divorced. Vance married Olive Katherine Christopherson on Jan. 15, 1947. They had one daughter, Elaine. In the early 1930s, Vance worked for the Works Progress Administration at Fort Peck, Mont., doing cement work on the dam and helping build the transmission line to Great Falls. He then worked for the state Highway Department in Havre for several years. In 1942, he went to work on the Great Northern Railroad as a brakeman and later as a conductor, retiring in 1973. He was a brakeman on the first diesel freight train that went through Havre on the main line. This is the train featured in the large picture in the Palace Bar in Havre. In 1940, Vance bought his farm west of Havre and was busy for many years growing wheat, hay, cows, chickens and pigs. Vance was a member of the United Transportation Union and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 166, for 67 years. He was the oldest member of Aerie 166 and its second-longest serving member. Vance and Olive also thoroughly enjoyed their years in the Happy Hi-Liners R.V. Club, camping in their motor home, socializing and playing cards with their friends. Vance also enjoyed listening to country music, tinkering with anything mechanical, hunting, fishing and traveling. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Taylor; and an infant sister, as well as one granddaughter. He is survived by his wife, Olive Murphy of Havre, Mont .; children, Caroline (Gil) Fleury of Great Falls, Mont., JoAnn Murphy of Aguanga, Calif., Donald Murphy of Butte, Mont., Deanna (Bud) Tuss of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and Elaine (Phil) Moen of Havre, Mont .; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 23 greatgreat- grandchildren; and one great-great-great-great-grandchild, making six generations.