Kirk James Douglas Murphy, 59, of Rapid City and formerly of Huron, passed away on March 6, 2021 at Monument Health in Rapid City, SD due to health complications. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 10:00am CST at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Huron with visitation one hour prior to the funeral mass at the church. Burial will follow at St. Martins Cemetery in Huron. The funeral mass will be livestreamed on Saturday through the Welter Funeral Home Facebook Page.

Kirk was born January 28, 1962, at St. John's Hospital in Huron, SD to the late James and Loretta Murphy. Kirk was sick as a baby and required blood transfusions due to the RH factor. Kirk was baptized and received his 1st Holy Communion and Confirmation at St. Martins Catholic Church in Huron. Kirk grew up and attended most of his school years in Huron and graduated in 1980 from Huron High School. All who knew Kirk, knew he liked to have a good time and there are sure to be many stories related to his High School years. Kirk had a love for animals and raised miniature horses, following in his parent's footsteps. Wherever there was an animal in sight, Kirk could be found. He was the one mixing the llamas with the pigs or the white fallow deer with cows, our own St. Francis of Assisi.

Kirk had an adventurous spirit. He tried his hand at many different vocations. He owned and ran a second-hand store in Huron, wrestled alligators and "milked" rattle snakes at Reptile Gardens, managed Albertsons and worked for Sugar Loaf. He was a successful business owner of A to Z Shredding and Rushmore Novelty Signs.

Kirk was blessed with two sons, Stetsen-born in 1991 and Aaron-born in 1997. Kirk valued family and the special times spent with his sons. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and restoring 1970's Novas with his boys. When Stetsen and Aaron were little, he coached their football and baseball teams. He was very proud of his children and their accomplishments!

The light of Kirk's life was his grandson, Sawyer-born in 2019. Kirk was proud to be a grandpa and his life was complete when Sawyer was born. Kirk had several true and loyal friends; they will be treasured for the times they brought him a meal or took him to doctor appointments. Kirk enjoyed the companionship of his German Shepherds throughout the years. Bo, Magnum, and Sadie were often by his side.

Kirk is survived by his sons, Stetsen (Nicole) Murphy and grandson, Sawyer of Rapid City, Aaron Murphy of Rapid City; his siblings, Ken (Barb) Murphy of Rapid City, Karen Pratt of Harrisburg, Keith Murphy of Huron, Kim (Mark) Larson of Watertown, Kaylene (Tom) Gonnelly of Watertown; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Kirk was preceded in death by his parents, James and Loretta Murphy; his sister-in-law, Lori Murphy; his niece, Camma Murphy; his nephew, Jared Pratt; his niece, Kali Gonnelly; and great niece, Delaynee Schnabel.

Kirk will be remembered for his adventurous spirit and his passion in caring for animals.

Wherever there was an animal in site, Kirk could be found. He was the one mixing the llama's
with the pigs, or the white fallow deer with the cows. Kirk gave a miniature horse to the
Estelline Nursing Home where his parents were residents for several years. The horse's name is
"Murphy" and it still resides there. Kirk was our own St. Francis of Assisi.

Kirk also brought Miniature Horses into the house, it was common place to walk in and find
one sitting in the recliner or laying on the bed.

Kirk had an adventurous spirit. He tried his hand at many different vocations. He owned and
ran a second hand store in Huron, wrestled alligators and "milked" rattle snakes at Reptile
Gardens in Rapid City, was a manager of Albertson's in Rapid City, worked for Sugar Loaf and
was the successful owner of 2 businesses, A to Z Shredding and Rushmore Novelty signs.
Kirk also attended and received his certificate from the Auctioneer School at Western College
of Auctioneering in Billings, Montana in 1981. Kirks family fondly remembers him saying his
auctioneer lingos - anyone remember "Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said this
butter's bitter. If I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter, so she bought a bit of butter,
put it in her bitter batter, made her bitter batter better, so tis better Betty Botter bought a bit of
better butter".

Kirk was the one who was wiling to try and did try, anything adventurous. He liked riding 4
wheelers, motorcycles, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, anything that went fast! Boy, did it make his
day when there was a competitive motorcycle track put in behind our house on the farm! We
also had a go-cart track in Huron and we loved zooming around town in the streets and would
drive them into the garage and shut the doors before the cops could catch us.
Kirk had a lot of stitches and scars to prove his adventures!

One time while riding a motorcycle with a friend he jumped off the back and split his leg wide
open on the license plate - this prompted a visit to the ER. Or the time he was chasing
chickens and crawled under the barb wire fence and sliced open his cheek requiring even more
stitches.

Kirk enjoyed going to Monster Truck shows and concerts while living in Rapid City. One of the
most memorable concerts was going with Tom Gonnelly to Travis Trit, Tricia Yearwood and
Clint Black - they even got to go behind the scenes with VIP passes.

Kirk was the type that went over the top to make sure people remembered him, going so far as
to get bitten by an alligator while wrestling alligators - this scared his 2 sisters watching the
show and they ran to his aid - to yet another ER visit. Kirk lived in a trailer house on the
grounds of Reptile Gardens - the only things in the dresser drawers were reptiles !! YUCK his
sisters said!

Or the time Kirk wrote a naughty word on the back of another kids coat on the bus and
inevitably we all were kicked off the bus. Dad had to go in to school to get the school to allow
us all back on.

There was even a time when he was younger and was met at the convenience store by a group
of rowdy guys - Kirk called his family members for back up and once they arrived, the police
came and the show was over. Kirk knew his family loved him and had his back for everything.
When we were asking family members for funny stories, one of the siblings stated " you gotta
remember, we grew up in the 70's and I don't remember what happened then, and I don't
remember things now because of what happened in the 70's".

Kirk was always the one who got into mischief and was always the one who got hurt.
Kirk was not very technological savvy. Thank goodness for his niece Valerie and other family
members that worked endlessly to help him get his phone and computers working from long
distances.

Kirk told us he saw Jesus a few months before he got sick. We believe Kirk knew his time was
near. Kirk loved his mom and dad immensely and joining them in heaven must've been a
joyous celebration!!!!