Valley County, IDGenWeb Project | |
Stephanie Ann Flink Murphy, or “Stevie” as she was to those who loved and knew her, passed away on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, in Missoula, Mont., from natural causes.
Funeral services were held Monday, May 23, 2011 at the Brundage Funeral Home in Dillon, Mont.
Stevie was born on July 15, 1943, to William Flink and Doris Kane Flink. Her father was in Europe at the time of her birth so she came home from the hospital without a name on her birth certificate.
Stevie lived in Deer Lodge, Mon., with her family enjoying a normal childhood. At the age of 9 she was diagnosed with polio and spent one year in an iron lung and endured many surgeries on her feet and legs.
She attended and graduated from Powell County High School, and then went on to the University of Montana to pursue a degree in education. While in college she met William “Bill” Murphy. The couple was married Jan. 2, 1965.
As a teacher Stevie touched and changed many lives. During her teaching career Stevie was named Utah Teacher of the Year and Idaho Teacher of the Year.
While teaching in Idaho Stevie also became an advocate for immunization, and gave speeches on the importance of immunization and telling her story of survival.
Also during her time in Idaho she became fascinated with the space program, and made many trips to Houston, and traveled to Florida to watch fellow teacher Barbara Morgan make her shuttle launch in 2007.
Stevie and Bill filled their lives with time with one another, they played bridge and traveled extensively.
They made several trips to Hawaii, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Florida, trips to the Caribbean and Mexico and attended most Grizzly football games.
She missed few of her grandchildren’s events, sports, dance, music or school, and she loved spending time with all of them.
Stevie was preceded in death by her parents.
Stevie is survived by her husband of 47 years, Bill; daughter Maria Hansen and husband Ike; granddaughters Holly, Hailey and Hanne of Dillon; son Patrick Murphy and wife Cambria; grandson Erick of McCall; brother Ernie Flink and wife Robin of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; brother-in-law James Murphy and wife Peggy of Reno; sister-in-law Melissa Dyer of Carson City, Nev.; uncles Leo Flink and Ed Flink and wife Rita of Missoula, James Kane of Pleasanton Calif.; and many special nieces and nephews and friends.
Donations can be made to Special Olympics or charity of choice. Garden City Funeral Home of Missoula handled arrangements.
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