James Murdoch

James Murdoch, 83, Bismarck, died December 22, 2007. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday at St. George's Episcopal Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Michael Horn officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Jim was born July 11, 1924 in Wimbledon, ND, to Marshall T. and Carrie Ambuehl Murdoch. He lived both in Wimbledon and in Grand Prairie township Barnes County as a child, then briefly in Valley City and Harvey before the family moved to Bismarck in 1941. His father received employment as a teacher and basketball coach at Bismarck High School and his mother became a proofreader at the Bismarck Tribune. After graduating from Bismarck High in 1943, Jim worked as a radio telegraph operator for the U.S. Border Patrol stationed at the Fort Lincoln Internment Camp, located just south of the Bismarck Airport. In 1945 he went to New York City, spending two years studying electronics at the RCA Institute. Included in his course work was a study of a new emerging technology now known as television. Jim was then employed by the Federal Aeronautics Administration then called the Civil Aeronautics Administration and was assigned to maintain aviation navigational radios in the interior of Alaska, stationed at McGrath. While in Alaska Jim married Barbara Barneck of Bismarck. In 1950 they moved back to Bismarck, where Jim opened Bismarck TV Repair in a basement location at 5th St. and Broadway. This business later moved and grew into Electronic Center, which Jim operated until 1965. He was asked to create an Electronics Technology program for the new Vocational Technical Education Center, now a part of Bismarck State College. Jim developed the program, then taught this very successful part of the BSC vocational curriculum from 1965 to 1990, when he retired. Jim was united in marriage to Vera Jean Solberg in 1980. He became a resident of Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in 2002, where he was noted for his habit of being "on station" daily in the West hallway reading his paperback novels. His social and fraternal memberships included the Bismarck Elks Lodge #1199, the Central Dakota Amateur Radio Club, the Bismarck/Mandan Retired Teachers Association, and the BSC Retirees. He leaves one son, Marshall Marilyn, Bismarck; and two daughters, Lynn Paul Larson, of South Elgin, Illinois, and Janet Jim Geltel of Williston. His grandchildren include, Kristin Larry Larson, James Stephanie Murdoch, Beth David Hokanson, Ryan Tara Geltel, Allen Geltel, Richard Carina Larson, James Larson, Brent Larson, Eric Larson, and Kathy Larson; his great-grandchildren include, Thomas Murdoch, Meredith Larson, Amy Larson, Macie Jo Murdoch, and Sam Larson. Jim is also survived by one sister, Marlys Dale Saxvik, Bismarck; by numerous nieces and nephews; by four step-children: Wayne Connie Solberg, Tim Penny Solberg, Lynda Solberg, and Debbie Solberg; and by step-grandchildren, especially Abby, Tanner, and Shawn. He was preceded by the death of his parents and by his wife Vera. The family prefers memorials be donated to the Bismarck State College Foundation.

James Murdoch

July 11, 1924 - December 22, 2007