Joseph Daniel Murphy was born April 20, 1945 in Deer Lodge Montana. His parents, Daniel and Velma Murphy were longtime Butte natives and devout Catholics. Dan Murphy spent his career working for AT&T, but Velma died when Joe was 12 years old. Joe grew up on the upper west side of Butte on Silver Street and while he attended Catholic schools, He was also a bit of a wild one and his dad nudged Joe toward the military.

Joe entered the United States Army out of High school and after basic training was stationed for a time near Memphis Tennessee. It was there that he met the love of his life, Beverly Jane Eubanks, and on July 5, 1968, the two were married. Joe's Duty station was Asmara Ethiopia and he was joined soon thereafter in Ethopia by Bev.

Joe was Honorably discharged from the US Army in 1970, and the two moved back to Butte Montana and in with Joe's father in his tiny Silver Street house. Daniel Henry Murphy II was born in Butte and into that tiny house in November of 1970.

Joe took full advantage of the GI Bill and enrolled in Western Montana College and commuted to and from Dillon every day. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in 1973.

Then he, Bev, and baby Dan moved to Billings so Joe could pursue a Masters Degree at Eastern Montana College. Times were tough in Billings. The family lived in an apartment attached to a Town Pump. During the day, Bev would manage the store and pump gas. After school Joe would take over the station till closing time. Despite the struggle, Joe graduated with a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counselling in 1975.

The family moved once again to Federal Way Washington where Joe took his first professional job with the Burlington Northern Railroad as a rehabilitation specialist for injured railroad workers.

Joe and Bev's second son Joseph David Murphy was born in 1976. The following year, Joe's father passed away at the Silver street home and the family moved back to Butte. It was then that Joe took his second, and last professional job as the District Supervisor for Vocational and Rehabilitation services. This job turned into Joe's professional legacy and many of the colleagues he worked with then became lifelong friends right up until the end.

The family lived in three different houses on Silver street while Joe and his lifelong friend Glenn Voss remodeled his childhood home, adding a much needed basement with 2 additional bedrooms, a family room, and a laundry area. The extra room in the house was short lived as Joe and Bev immediately started fostering children.

For more than 40 years, Joe and Bev fostered children, and over that time, 182 children passed through their doors. Some stayed briefly, some stayed for life, but all found safety and love. Not able to say no to children in need, at times their house was bursting at the seams with children, but somehow, they made it work.

Joe's one true love apart from his family was spending time outdoors camping, hunting, and fishing. Preparations for camping season began at the beginning of the year and the first outings would begin as soon as the snow levels were low enough to drag the trailers to the campsite. Riding motorcycles was a passion for Joe and Bev, and along with Glenn and Kay Voss, John and Renee Will and others and their summers were spent exploring the most remote country they could reach on their bikes. East Fork Reservoir became a home away from home for the family and their many foster children.

Joe's passion for helping others didn't stop at fostering children, He volunteered a great deal of his time for the benefit of the community. He began serving as the President of the Board of Directors for CCCS Inc. when it

was just a good idea and continued to serve in that capacity until his death. He was a board member for Community Health, a member of the Silver Bow Fire Commission, and a longtime member of the Butte School Board where he was a driving force behind bringing the sport of Soccer to Butte High School.

In 2002 he and Bev found the property of their dreams south of Rocker Montana. Joe tended to his trees and his horses, while Bev tended to her garden and greenhouse. They lived there happily until Beverly Jane's passing in April of 2022. At that time, Joe and Bev had been married for 53 years, 9 months, and 18 days. Joe never fully recovered from the loss of his beloved wife. Joe remained living in his home until his last breath surrounded by family on June 11, 2026.

Those who knew Joe will also remember his quick wit and unmistakable sense of humor. Whether through a perfectly timed joke, a playful remark, or a story told with a twinkle in his eye, he had a remarkable ability to make people laugh and instantly feel at ease.

Joe's greatest accomplishment was never his career or his many community roles, but the love, stability, and guidance he gave to every person who walked through his door. His legacy lives on through the family he raised, the children he nurtured, and the countless lives he quietly changed.

Joe is survived by Sons and Daughters Dan and Jen Murphy, Joe and Robin Murphy, Missy and Kenny Wallsmith, Jon and Donna Drummond, Olivia Hogan, Lora Murphy, and many others, and grandchildren Lexi and Colin Hollow, Danika and Tyler Johnson, Clara Murphy, Noah And Kaio Tokura, Hayden O'Leary, Natalie and Caden Fisher, Allyx Tveraa, Nicole and Bobby Cooper, Michael Wollam, Riley and Autumn Wollam, Spencer, Josie, and James Drummond, along with numerous great-grandchildren.

We take great solace in knowing that Joe is once again reunited with his one true love.

Services will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church on July 10, 2026 at 10:30. A reception will follow.