Joseph Walton Murray

Joseph Walton Murray, 97, passed away January 5, 2021. He was born in Lewistown, Montana on October 4, 1923 to Joseph A. Murray and Ella Rebecca (Rebie) Hogeland Murray. He was the second of their four boys. He lived in the Lewistown, Hobson and Danvers area all his life. 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. Because he left school to go to war, he received his honorary high school diploma when he was 70 years old. On August 21, 1944 he married the love of his life, Betty Jean Anderson. They were together until her passing in 1999. They had seven children. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Robert and Thomas, his wife Betty, his children Joey, Bettie, Mike and Tim. He is survived by his brother Ted (Beverly) of Lewistown, daughters Patricia (Robert) Dockery of Cascade, and Judy Miller of Great Falls and his son Scott (Pam) of Cut Bank, 13 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. 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. He was a member of the American Legion for 75 years. 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. Due to COVID-19 restrictions there will be a small family service now and there will be a memorial service and interment in Lewistown in July. The family requests memorials be given to cancer research, Wounded Warriors or the charity of your choice.