Major General Ret. C. Emerson Murry

Major General Ret. C Emerson Murry died peacefully, August 29, 2010, at his home in Bismarck, surrounded by his family. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. CDT Thursday, Sept 2, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3rd St & Ave A., Bismarck, with the Rev. Steve Sathre officiating. Interment will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, September 1, 2010, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Charles Emerson Murry was born in Hope, N.D. to Ray and Estelle Skeim Murry, on June 23, 1924. He attended school in Hope, N.D. and later in Dunseith, N.D., where he graduated from high school. He enrolled in the University of North Dakota in 1941, but in 1942 he enlisted in the Army to serve in World War II. He fought in the European Theater as part of the 17th and 82nd Airborne Divisions and served in several major campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge. He later served with the occupying forces in Berlin through the end of 1945. Following the war, Murry returned to UND and achieved a B.S. in Commerce. In 1950, he graduated with a Juris Doctorate from the UND Law School. After college, he practiced law with the Nelson and Heringer firm in Rugby, N.D. Emerson served as Director of the N.D. Legislative Council and Chief Professional Officer of the N.D. Legislative Assembly from 1951 – 1975. During that exciting time, he was instrumental in the development of legislation pertaining to the UND School of Medicine, North Dakota’s interstate highway system, energy development and reclamation during the state’s first oil boom, the water pipeline to the western part of the state, compensation to the Tribes for land lost due to the Garrison Dam, and establishing the first clean air act for N.D. In 1975 Murry was appointed Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard. Over the next decade he led the Guard to record levels of recruitment strength and combat readiness, at a time when military morale and readiness were in decline nationally. He served as an advisor on numerous federal panels that established policies for increased reliance on the Guard and Reserves in national defense, policies that remain in place today. In 1984, following decades of involvement in State water projects, including the Garrison Diversion, Murry became Manager of the Garrison Conservancy District. He served as manager until his retirement in 1993. On June 20, 1948, Emerson Murry married the love of his life, Donna Kleve, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck. They recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. They had six children. Emerson is survived by his wife, Donna, Barbara Murry, Bismarck, Karla Curtis Stanley, Bismarck, Susan Walter Gerenz, Bismarck, Chuck René Murry, Seattle, Bruce Lisa Murry, Bismarck; 13 grandchildren: Angela Bushaw, Tom Bushaw, Mimi Stanley, Ross Stanley, Nick Gerenz, Kaylyn Gerenz, Rebecca Gerenz, Matthew Gerenz, Marit Murry, Jessie Murry, Kathryn Alexander, Erika Murry, and Perrin Murry. Emerson was preceded in death by his infant son, Robert; his parents, Ray and Estelle Murry; and his sister, Marguerite Foley. Emerson was a man of integrity and honor, who had a great passion for God, his family, his country. He was a tireless advocate for the state of North Dakota. His spirit of public service and love of North Dakota was passed to his family and all who knew him. After his retirement, he dedicated himself to his family and spent time in the pursuits he loved, including hunting, fishing, private aviation, horses, and history. Murry’s lifelong passion for aviation likely initiated from his drop into occupied Europe on a glider plane. He held a private pilot’s license and logged over 5,000 hours in the cockpit. At age 76, he flew his Beech Bonanza solo from Anchorage, Alaska to Bismarck. Those who flew with him over the years will be familiar with his statement at the end of each trip: “We’ve cheated death one more time.” His knowledge of world, U.S., and especially military history was unparalleled and a constant source of amazement to his family. Family vacations always included trips to points of historical interest – and no matter where you travelled, Emerson knew the historical background. His historical narratives sometimes had strangers hovering on the edge of the family, listening in. He loved to go deer hunting near his beloved Camp Grafton in the fall, and always travelled light. He seldom took more than 3-4 bullets for a weekend of hunting – “why would you need more,” he always asked. He had a dry sense of humor and his children and grandchildren learned early on, that stories from Grandpa might involve something far too crazy to be true – like being expected to wear a bear costume at the wedding where you were the ring bearer. Emerson Murry’s career was marked by multiple professional honors and accomplishments. A partial listing includes: member of the National Guard Association of the U.S., Reserve Officers Association, Executive Committee, Adjutant General Association, Reserve Forces Policy Committee for Secretary of Defense, 1978-1980; past Chairman National Legislative Conference, associate member Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, Model Laws Drafting Committee of the Council of State Governments, past Chairman Vista 99 Study Committee on the future of the Army Guard for the National Guard Bureau; past member of the Exchange Club of Bismarck; past President, N.D. Bar Association, American Legion, past Vice President Missouri Slope Lutheran Home of Bismarck; received UND Sioux Award in 1970; Governor’s Award of Excellence 1971; National Leadership Award from Bismarck Chamber of Commerce. His military service was marked by receipt of the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, America Defense Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, ND National Guard Service Ribbon, Army Commendation Medal, President Unit Citation Badge, Belgian Fourragere, Netherlands Orange Lanyard, Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit; and Distinguished Service Medal. If you prefer, please consider a memorial to Trinity Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers.

Major General Ret. C. Emerson Murry

June 23, 1924 - August 29, 2010