Alice Romanie Murphy

Alice Romanie Murphy was born in Lynd Minnesota on November 8 ^th , 1924 to Joe and Yvonne DeWispelaere and grew up in Ivanhoe, Minnesota. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Minnesota. During this time she met and married John F Murphy in 1955 and later divorced. She went on to teach for several years at the St. Paul Public School System before she moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she taught at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Elementary School. She also completed two years of post-graduate work at the University of South Dakota.

Alice lived in Elk Point South Dakota from 1962 until 2009. She became heavily involved in politics well into her eighties, participating in several local, state and national campaigns, highlighted by her attendance at the 1972 Democratic National Convention. Alice enjoyed singing opera and actually recorded several records over the years. As part of her singing career, she also spent countless hours performing at various local community theaters. Alice also enjoyed planning and participating in the Lewis and Clark Heritage Days in Elk Point and also worked at the Vermillion Area Arts Council.

Alice was survived by her son Tim and his sons Colin and Brock, and her daughter Catherine (Todd) Bird and children, Ashley, Michael and Trevor and her great grand daughter Amelia. She is also survived by several special nieces and nephews; Michael Murphy, Betsy Kramer, Terry Egge, Laurie, Dan, Angie and David DeWispelaere. Alice was preceded in death by her parents Joe and Yvonne DeWispelaere, two brothers, Alphonse and Maurice and a sister Mary.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday, February 12, 2023 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, Kansas. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, February 15 2023 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Elk Point, South Dakota. Burial will be at a later date in Minneota, MN.

Honorary Pallbearers; Colin Murphy, Brock Murphy, Michael Bird and Trevor Bird.