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Helen B. Murphy Jun 09 1927 - Oct 10 2010
Funeral Mass for Helen B. Murphy, age 83, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 14, 2010, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Watertown. The celebrant will be Fr. John Lantsberger. Music will be provided by Donna Williams as organist and Tim Ries as song leader. Helen passed away on Sunday, October 10, 2010, at a care center in Watertown. She was the widow of Paul Murphy. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown. Pallbearers will be: Troy Murphy, Tony Murphy, Eric Tieszen, Mark Tieszen, Gary Wadsworth, Jordan Wik, and Jarrod Fischer. Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown from 3:30 to 7 p.m. with a CDA Rosary at 3:30 p.m. and a Scripture Wake Service at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday morning prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 9:30 a.m. to attend the services. Memorials may be directed to the Jenkins Living Center Foundation or Prairie Lakes Hospice. Helen was born June 9, 1927, to James and Tillie (Koza) Stanczyk on the family farm west of Silver Creek, NE. She attended country school K-2. The family then moved to Silver Creek, where she completed school and graduated in 1945. She was a member of the Pep Club and Girls Reserves Organizations and held office positions during high school. She was employed part time by “Sanders Grocery” and “Kula’s Grocery”. After graduation, she was employed by Columbus Public Power District in Columbus, NE, as a secretary for two years and at Southern Nebraska Power District in Grand Island, NE, also for two years. On August 27, 1949, Helen married Paul Murphy, in St. Peter and Paul Church Krakow, near Genoa, NE. They lived in Columbus, NE, for three years after marriage, moved to Lincoln, NE, in 1953, and on to Hastings, NE for six years. In 1960, the family moved to Watertown. She was a member of Altar Society and Holy Name Church. She assisted at the Holy Name Church and School off and on for her entire life. Helen has been a member of AARP, NARFE, and Catholic Daughters. She enjoyed reading, writing letters, making quilts for her children and grandchildren, knitting, embroidering, and traveling. During the summer, she and Paul had a concession stand serving numerous centennial celebrations. They also had a bicycle repair shop. She continued to live at the family home in Watertown where she enjoyed gardening and caring for her flower garden. Helen is survived by two sons: Michael Murphy of Hampton, VA, and James (Barbara) Murphy of South Jordan, UT; three daughters: Mary (Reed) Tieszen of Canistota, SD, Barbara (Greg) Fischer of Lake City, SD, and Julie (David) Wik of Monticello, MN; 17 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren: one daughter-in-law, Connie Murphy, of Hampton, VA; and one son-in-law, Rick Wadsworth, of Hayti, SD. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, in 2003; one daughter, Janet Wadsworth; and her parents.

Helen B. Murphy
Jun 09 1927 - Oct 10 2010

Funeral Mass for Helen B. Murphy, age 83, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 14, 2010, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Watertown. The celebrant will be Fr. John Lantsberger. Music will be provided by Donna Williams as organist and Tim Ries as song leader. Helen passed away on Sunday, October 10, 2010, at a care center in Watertown. She was the widow of Paul Murphy.

Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown. Pallbearers will be: Troy Murphy, Tony Murphy, Eric Tieszen, Mark Tieszen, Gary Wadsworth, Jordan Wik, and Jarrod Fischer.

Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown from 3:30 to 7 p.m. with a CDA Rosary at 3:30 p.m. and a Scripture Wake Service at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday morning prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 9:30 a.m. to attend the services.

Memorials may be directed to the Jenkins Living Center Foundation or Prairie Lakes Hospice.

Helen was born June 9, 1927, to James and Tillie (Koza) Stanczyk on the family farm west of Silver Creek, NE. She attended country school K-2. The family then moved to Silver Creek, where she completed school and graduated in 1945. She was a member of the Pep Club and Girls Reserves Organizations and held office positions during high school. She was employed part time by “Sanders Grocery” and “Kula’s Grocery”. After graduation, she was employed by Columbus Public Power District in Columbus, NE, as a secretary for two years and at Southern Nebraska Power District in Grand Island, NE, also for two years.

On August 27, 1949, Helen married Paul Murphy, in St. Peter and Paul Church Krakow, near Genoa, NE. They lived in Columbus, NE, for three years after marriage, moved to Lincoln, NE, in 1953, and on to Hastings, NE for six years. In 1960, the family moved to Watertown.

She was a member of Altar Society and Holy Name Church. She assisted at the Holy Name Church and School off and on for her entire life. Helen has been a member of AARP, NARFE, and Catholic Daughters. She enjoyed reading, writing letters, making quilts for her children and grandchildren, knitting, embroidering, and traveling. During the summer, she and Paul had a concession stand serving numerous centennial celebrations. They also had a bicycle repair shop. She continued to live at the family home in Watertown where she enjoyed gardening and caring for her flower garden.

Helen is survived by two sons: Michael Murphy of Hampton, VA, and James (Barbara) Murphy of South Jordan, UT; three daughters: Mary (Reed) Tieszen of Canistota, SD, Barbara (Greg) Fischer of Lake City, SD, and Julie (David) Wik of Monticello, MN; 17 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren: one daughter-in-law, Connie Murphy, of Hampton, VA; and one son-in-law, Rick Wadsworth, of Hayti, SD.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, in 2003; one daughter, Janet Wadsworth; and her parents.

Guest book

Comment posted by: Angie Murphy Ellis
Tue 26th Oct 2010 01:39 pm

We were sorry to hear about Aunt Helen. Michelle let us know. Mike, Joe, Stephie and I hope you are all doing the best you can through it all. We apologize for not keeping in touch. We believe my dad attempted to be in touch with Aunt Helen after the passing of Uncle Paul but was unsuccessful the last couple years. As Michelle said we lost mom, dad and uncle Frank all within 7 months. Would love to hear from you if you would like feel free to contact me angelax4@yahoo.com. I am Bill and Jan's

Comment posted by: Mary Koziol Meyer
Mon 18th Oct 2010 07:57 pm

Please accept our sympathy with the passing of your mother. I remember traveling to Watertown once with my family to visit Paul and Helen and family. They kept in touch with my parents, Ben and Geri, for many, many years. My folks were attendants in Paul and Helen's wedding in Krakow. My mom is living in Lincoln and was very sad to hear of Helen's death. She also remembered driving through a blizzard with her brother, Joe, to attend Paul's funeral. Mom no longer travels but remembers all

Comment posted by: Sharon Feil
Wed 13th Oct 2010 08:56 am

Helen and Paul lived next door to my parents on Highway 81. Their name was Dick and Ruth Salchert. It has been a long time ago but I remember James (we called him Jimmy) the little red head who used to climb trees with my son Tim. My folks couldn't have asked for better neighbors. Your mom was a great lady. She always had a smile on her face and a cheerful remark. My prayers are with your family in this time of mourning.

Comment posted by: Michelle Murphy Foral
Tue 12th Oct 2010 06:58 pm

We are so sorry to hear of Aunt Helens passing. Mom ( Aunt Babe ), Has been trying to call for ages to your moms. All we could get was a busy signal. My Dad,( Uncle Frank), passed away April 13 2009, Aunt Jan from Colorado passed before that and this year Uncle Bill passed very suddenly. We have all experianced the sorrow of a parents death. I hope Aunt Helen had a very peaceful passing into the Lords arms. Our Deepest sympathy and our prayers. The Family of Francis J. Murphy

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