Thomas G. Murphy, 71, Rapid City, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on July 16, 2014.

A memorial service will be held Monday, July 21, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at The Little White Church in Hill City with Pastor Julie Lantis officiating. The burial will follow at the Hill City Cemetery.

Thomas G. Murphy was born June 6, 1943, in Hot Springs, SD, to Thomas R. and Evelyn M. Murphy.

During the first twelve years of his life the family lived in Hot Springs and various military posts in the US as his father was a member of Hot Springs' Activated National Guard unit during the Korean War. In 1955, they moved to Hill City and operated Murphy's Texaco.

Tom Graduated from Hill City high school. Following graduation he worked for Flyte Construction on the Minnekahta to Pringle road. His next job was in the uranium processing plant in Edgemont. When the mill was to close he took a job at Harvey's Texaco in Hot Springs as an island attendant and mechanic. Early in 1967, Tom started working for Terra Chemical in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. He worked there for five years as a plant operator. When the Gasification Plant in Rapid City started operations, Tom was one of the first operators on site. He was the one who locked the gates at the end of operations and turned the keys over to the new owners. He also worked at underground coal gasification sites in Rawlings, Wyoming, and Centralia, Washington. For a time he worked for Spiers Plumbing in Hill City, and later owned and operated Murphy's Plumbing in Hill City. He then began his twenty year employment with the state of South Dakota: first as the boiler operator and maintenance specialist at the State Veteran's Home in Hot Springs, then with the Department of Transportation as highway maintenance and snowplow operator in Hill City, and finally with the survey crew out of Custer. For the past fifteen years Tom has been the friendly face and hard-working back of Gordon Gulch, keeping things in the Mobile Home Park running smoothly as well as providing security and much of the daily maintenance for the recreational side of the property. Perhaps the job he enjoyed the most was driving the Hill City school activity bus. He always spoke of the wonderful kids and the good times he had with them going to and from games, on field trips and to other activities. The past four winters have been spent in Yuma, Arizona, enjoying the warmer weather.

Tom and his wife Karen celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary in June.

Survivors include his wife, Karen; two children, Terry Murphy of Moorcroft, WY and Pamala Louden of Spearfish, SD; five granddaughters; one grandson; and three great-grandchildren.

The family invites you to join them for fellowship and lunch in the church hall following the committal service. We thank you for your presence and condolences. wishes to thank the wonderful people of Hospice of the Black Hills for the help and care they provided the past few months, Dr. Dzintars for his wonderful care of Tom, and all the friends and neighbors who have always been there for us. Thank you.

Cards may be sent to Karen Murphy 23775 Hwy 385 Rapid City, SD 57702

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