Nolan James Murphy, 78

Nolan James Murphy was born on January 12, 1947, in Whitehall, Montana, at Dr. Hill’s hospital. His parents were Terence and Genevieve Watson Murphy. He attended grades one through eight at the one-room Eureka School in the Milligan Canyon area of Jefferson County. In grades nine through twelve, he attended Willow Creek High School.

In 1969, Nolan graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman. He worked as a Seasonal Ranger in Yellowstone Park for several years.

On April 7, 1974, Nolan married Sandra Foster, a widow with a young son named Shawn. Later, they purchased the former Herm Thompson place, just two and one-half miles from his parents’ farm, where he grew up.

Along with raising non-irrigated grain, Nolan and Sandy entered the cattle business with Red Angus. His wife passed away in 2007, and Nolan continued raising a Red Angus herd until a few years before his death.

Nolan died at Parkhaven Assisted Living Memory Care in Manhattan on May 19, 2025.

Nolan was a longtime member of the Cardwell Community Church, the Montana Farmers Union, the Montana Stockgrowers Association, and the National Rifle Association.

Survivors include Nolan’s brother, Terry Murphy; stepson, Shawn Foster; in-laws, Shirley Phillips, Marvin, and Debby Erickson; Drake and Rhonda Albertson; plus various cousins in the United States and Ireland.

The family thanks the staff at Parkhaven for the loving care they provided to Nolan. Memorial service for Nolan James Murphy will be held at the Cardwell Community Church on Friday, June 20 at 4 PM.