Obituary of Carol Jeanette Murphy
Carol J. Murphy
Age 80, of Spencer, passed away peacefully at her residence on Wednesday, August 23, 2017.
A funeral service will be held at 11AM on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Spencer with Pastor Rebekah Tarras officiating. Burial will follow in West Spencer Cemetery in the Township of Sherman. Family and friends are invited to gather on Monday at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer from 4PM until 8PM and again on Tuesday at the church from 10AM until time of services. The honor of pallbearer will belong to grandsons Kevin, Dakota, Dayton, and Robert Murphy, as well as son-in-laws Gary Seehafer and Paul Christopherson.
Carol, born on September 16, 1936, in Park Falls, WI, was the daughter of Joseph and Myra (Smart) Setterman. Her family had moved to Butternut, WI where she later graduated from Butternut High School. On April 20, 1955, Carol married her high school sweetheart, Donald E. Murphy, Sr., and to this union, nine children were born and raised. In hopes of providing more opportunities for their children, Carol and Don decided to move their family to the Spencer area in 1973 where they owned and operated a dairy farm. Her children can remember many breakfast meals where mom had to make over 100 pancakes just to feed everyone present. After retiring from dairy farming in 1982, Carol worked for the Spencer Public School as head of the Custodial Department.
Her hobbies included cooking and baking wonderful foods for her family, knitting items with her patient and gifted hands, going to different tracks and events with their race horses, or sometimes just going for a ride with her husband and best friend, Don. Carol’s greatest love was spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-granddaughter.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years Donald Murphy, Sr.; her stepfather Norman Haegerl of Glidden; her children: Donald E. Murphy, Jr. of New Ulm, MN, Patrick (Sue) Murphy of Spencer, David (Janalee) Murphy of Chili, Brenda (Gary) Seehafer of New Ulm, MN, Steven Murphy of Marshfield, Kurt Murphy of Bowie, TX, Bridget (Paul) Christopherson of Marshfield, and Barbara Andres of Spencer; 16 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter; her siblings: Roger (Betty) Setterman of Burlington, Eugene (Gloria) Setterman of Rib Mountain, Myrna Hilgart of Park Falls, Barbara (Don) Michalski of Park Falls, Linda (Don) Liebelt of Fifield, Susan (Michael) Schnautz of Butternut, Vicky (Cliff) Myzska of Athens, Michael (Brenda) Setterman of Butternut, Debra (Al) Thimm of Glidden; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and cherished friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Myra, a son Robert, and a brother Raymond Setterman.
If desired, memorials in Carol’s name can be directed to: The Carol and Robert Murphy Scholarship Fund at Spencer High School
Her arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. Visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.
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