Dan Lee Murphy

Murphy, Dan_oval

June 5, 1947 ~ May 7, 2018

Dan Lee Murphy, 70, Brandon, died Monday, May 7, 2018, as a result of a homicide while visiting friends in Brookeville, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore.

Visitation with Family will be 5-7pm, Friday, May 18, 2018, at Brandon Valley Assembly of God Church, with a time of sharing at 7pm.  A Celebration of Dan’s Life will be 10am, Saturday, May 19, At BV Assembly of God Church.  Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls.

In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be given in Dan’s name to Brandon Baptist Church.

Danny Lee Murphy was born on June 5, 1947, in Winner, SD. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and then Winner Public High School where he graduated. He attended SDSU to study teaching. Dan started teaching 7th Grade English at Brandon Valley in 1969, retiring in 2004 after 35 years. He also worked during his spare time and in the summer as a contractor building and remodeling many homes in the Brandon area.

On October 15, 1980, Dan married Joan Kerslake in Sioux Falls. Dan and Joan began attending Brandon Valley Baptist Church in 1980. Dan was always the first one in the kitchen whenever there were treats and he loved the potlucks at church.

Dan was an avid fisherman and loved camping all over the state of Minnesota. Traveling was another of his favorite pastimes including the family’s yearly trip to Disney World and had traveled to Mexico, Canada, and every state in the U.S. except Alaska and Hawaii. Dan also took many tours with students and parents to Europe.

Dan will be deeply missed by his wife, Joan and son, Matt, both of Brandon; one sister, Patricia Hollenbeck, Sioux Falls; brother-in-law, Wayne Kerslake, Sioux Falls; one niece and three nephews, Katie (Andy) Abernethy, Wheaton, IL, Jay (Jody) Hollenbeck, Valentine, NE, Shawn (Mardee) Hollenbeck, Hutchinson, KS, and Christopher (Jessica) Kerslake, Chicago, IL; one aunt, Agnes Koos, Aurora, IL; and many, many cousins.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, George and Margaret (Speckman) Murphy; step-father, Alfred Koos; one sister-in-law, Gayle Kerslake; one nephew, Andrew Kerslake.

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  • Daniel Drapeaux says:

    Sorry to hear of Dan being killed! I new Dan when we attended St. Mary’s Catholic school and Winner High School. However I haven’t seen Dan since graduation in 1965. I keep in touch with other classmates thru Facebook and email and sometime I’ll just call. As I remember Dan he was a great guy and fun to be around. I’m truly sorry to hear of your loss and sorry I haven’t seen him these many years.

  • Ashley Jansen says:

    I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Murphy’s passing… I was a student of his middle school English class in the early 2000s. He helped nurture my love of literature, and was always kind and patient. My heart goes out to your family during this difficult time.

  • Barb Rothenbuehler Kruger says:

    I am so saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Murphy!. He used to live next door when I was a kid and I would sit and visit with him while he washed his beautiful white corvette. Then a few years later he was my teacher. What a sad thing to have happen to such an awesome person. RIP Dan!

  • Dana Larsen says:

    I was shocked. My deepest sympathies. Much love to Joan and Matt. I am thankful that so many of us shared Dan’s life and educational professionalism. Thank you, Dan, for what you did to help me pour concrete and build during the summers too! God Bless All.

  • Chris Bruggeman says:

    I had him as a teacher and he truly had ‘the heart of a teacher’. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dan’s family.

  • Shanna Howe says:

    My deepest sympathies to all of Mr. Murphy’s family. I was fortunate to have him as an English teacher at BV in Junior High. I and members of the class of ‘96 were so saddened to hear of his passing. Peace to all of you.

  • Christine Perry says:

    My sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Murphy. I was a student of his. He was one of my favorite teachers. He was such a wonderful teacher!’ Always so patient and caring about his students. I was so shock to hear of this tragedy, especially on National Teacher Appreciation day! May he Rest In Peace. My thoughts and prayers are with you, his family. He was loved by his students!!

  • Amber Olson says:

    I am so very sorry for your loss. I was a student of Mr. Murphy in 1994. He was a wonderful teacher. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time.

  • Jeff Frerk says:

    My Dad and I did some small projects with Dan and always enjoyed working for him. He was such an easy going and kind man. It saddens us to hear of his unexpected passing, but please know that in just the small time we worked together, he was a guy we truly respected and enjoyed being around. Our deepest sympathies.
    Jeff Frerk & Steve Frerk

  • Tammy (Carstens) Silvernagel says:

    I was shocked to hear of Mr Murphy’s passing. He was my teacher in junior high plus he has been my parents neighbor for many years. I don’t know how many bird feeders he has built for them after the squirrels chewed them up! God bless your family as you grieve this loss. He was a wonderful teacher and will be truly missed by many.

  • Allison (Sewell) Gildner says:

    I’m so sorry to hear of Mr. Murphy’s passing. I was a student of his in seventh grade; he is one of the teachers who stood out and made a lasting impression on my life. I’ve thought of him often over the years. He encouraged my love for the English language through his skilled and passionate teaching, and he helped build my self-confidence at a time in life when most of us are lacking it most. He was a kind man who will be missed by many. I’m so sorry for your loss.

  • Linda & Marvin Larson says:

    Joan, We are so very sorry for your loss. Holding you close in our thoughts and prayers. Deepest Sympathies and God Bless. Linda(Gage) and Marvin Larson

  • Kay Smith & Larry Heinemann says:

    Joan & Matt – it is so very sad that this happened. Dan will be missed. We had such a nice visit in the Black Hills last fall and looked forward to doing it again this fall. An avid fisherman, Dan was fun to talk to and be around – I wish we could have fished together. Reading other’s comments, his memory lives on in so many friends, family & students. What a gift he gave to this world. Until we all meet again. Blessed by God.

  • Jim Deremo says:

    What a terrible loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family.

  • Cecil Vedral says:

    Joan & Matt, My deepest sympathy to both of you. I went to St. Mary’s Grade School, Winner High School, and SDSU with Dan. I can hardly find words to express how sad I am that Dan has passed away. I will always remember the European trip that I took with Dan and Matt. I also have wonderful memories of the tour of Scandinavia that I was on with Dan and my son, James. Again, my deepest sympathy to both of you. If I can do anything for you, please let me know. Also my deepest sympathy to his sister, Patty.

  • Wendy Gehle says:

    Joan, I am so sorry to hear of the unfortunate circumstances that led to your husbands passing. Hold on to the memories that you have made together. May God wrap his arms around you and your son during this difficult time.
    Thinking of you,
    Wendy Gehle
    (Former assistant with Dr. Seaverson)

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