Beth A. Murphy

OLDTOWN, IDAHO—Beth A. Murphy, 79, died Sunday, June 7, 2009 at Newport Long Term Care. She was born January 12, 1930 in Rochester, the daughter of Chester Roy and Susan Mae (Stockwell) Billings. She graduated from Rochester High School in June 1948. After high school, she attended the Burbank School of Nursing in Fitchburg, Mass., graduating in 1951. She married James O’Neill in 1952. The couple moved to the Newport area in 1955. They were divorced in 1980. She married Mike Murphy on September 7, 2002.

She worked as a nurse at Tri-county Hospital in Deer Park, Wash. from 1963-77 and later at Newport Family Medicine from 1978-99. She enjoyed knitting, writing poetry, and jigsaw puzzles. She was a member of the United Church of Christ in Newport for many years, where she served as clerk of the council and secretary for the women’s fellowship.

Survivors include her husband Mike Murphy of Oldtown, Ida.; her children and their spouses, Michelene and George Weisbarth of Newport, Wash., Robin and Gary Wright of Eden, Heidi and Marc Genty of Longmont, Colo., Duane and Barbara O’Neill of Spokane Valley, Wash., Shaun and Bryce Mideke of Kalispell, Mont., and Darin and Argentina O’Neill of Deer Park, Wash.; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Lois Stoddard of Lyndonville and twin sister, Betty Morgan of Lancaster, Calif.; a brother, James Billings of Rochester; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her step-children and their spouses, Cathy and Skip Elford of Post Mills, Ida., Ernest and Patti Murphy of Sandpoint, Ida., and Michael and Terri Murphy of Spokane, Wash., and their children and grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her sister, Hilda Stoddard and two grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Saturday, June 13 at the United Church of Christ in Newport, Wash. Donations may be made in her name to the United Church of Christ’s Women’s Fellowship, P.O. Box 959, Newport, Wash. 99156 or the Inland Northwest Blood Center, 210 W. Cataldo Ave., Spokane, Wash. 99201.

The Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home and Crematory in Newport is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at sherman-knapp.com.

A memorial service is planned in August in Rochester.