Erma Alfrieda Murphy

Erma A. Murphy, age 90, Watertown, the widow of Gerald Murphy, died early Tuesday morning, June 18, 2013 in the Golden Living Center at Watertown. A private family visitation will be held at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark with a private family service Friday in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Watertown with The Reverend Keith Peterson officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery at Watertown. She was born Erma Alfrieda Hvidhyld on June 10, 1923, in Minneapolis, MN, the daughter of Christopher and Ina Mern (Randolph) Hvidhyld. The family moved to South Dakota when Erma was one year old and attended grade school in the Florence area and then Florence High School. Her vocation was a beauty operator working for the Remily's Beauty Shop and also for Bev's Beauty Shop in Watertown. On September 23, 1945 she was united in marriage to Gerald A. Murphy at St. Peters Lutheran Church at Florence. To this union two children were born, Randolph and Connie. The couple lived at Lake Kampeska for some 50 years and later moved to a home nearer Watertown. They were longtime members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church where she was active in the ladies circle group. In later years she worked at Geyermans Dress Shop and also Bonnie Boutique, both in Watertown. In March of 1993, they purchased a fifth wheel trailer and began traveling, something they both enjoyed very much, wintering also in Texas for many years. They also square danced for several years being a part of the "Jean & Jane" square dance club. Erma especially enjoyed music - from symphony to country. She also enjoyed line dancing in the winter months in Texas and also taught line dancing at Watertown during the summer months. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband and a brother-in-law, Francis Schwan. Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Randy (Debbie) Murphy of Baltic, SD and Connie (David) Meseberg of Watertown; 5 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She also leaves siblings, Shirley Schwan of Aberdeen and William (Ruth) Hvidhyld of St. Paul, MN. Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com