It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our mother, Myrtle Helen (Ruthven) Murphy, on June 15, 2026 at the age of 90 years.

Myrtle was born in Lacombe, AB on April 22, 1936, to Albert and Frances Ruthven, she being the youngest of four children. Their family lived in Bawlf, AB where Albert was a section foreman with CP Railway. Their home was very close to the tracks, and Myrtle remembered the dishes rattling whenever the trains passed by.

Myrtle attended Nursing School, and soon thereafter, met the love of her life, Dennis. They married in 1956, and were parents to seven children. Myrtle was able to apply her nursing skills in the raising of her active young family.

Dennis began his teaching career within the Catholic School Board in Hay Lakes and Ponoka, AB. In 1968, they moved their young family to Calgary, AB, where Dennis continued his teaching career, and Myrtle took on part-time work with Sears and Woodwards. There, she met many new friends and stayed with Woodwards until the store closed permanently in 1993.

Dennis and Myrtle loved the Windermere Valley in British Columbia, and in the 1980’s, purchased a lot in Indian Beach Estates. They worked together, along with family and friends, building a beautiful retirement home, which was always open for everyone to come and visit, and many special celebrations were hosted in their home and yard. They both had green thumbs, growing fruit and vegetables, and delicious tomatoes. Myrtle was a master at growing beautiful flowers, and her jams were exceptional.

Many treasured friendships were forged in the Valley, and Dennis and Myrtle were active members of the Canadian Martyrs Catholic Perish in Invermere, B.C. They both loved golf and were members of the Men’s and Ladies Leagues at the Windermere Valley Golf Course. They made a dream trip to Europe and were fortunate to see a live presentation of “The Oberammergau Passion Play”, with special friends, Frank and Esther Dyck. In 1967, they loaded up the kids into a station wagon and drove all the way across Canada to experience Expo 67 in Montreal. While there, they took in a baseball game at Wrigley Field, Chicago. When checking in, the incredulous attendant asked if all those kids belonged to them – to which they cheerfully replied, “Yes!” He let them in at no cost.

Myrtle is survived by her seven children, Gregory (Lorelea) Murphy, Colleen (David) Schnell, Michael Murphy, Shannon Grossi, Lorraine Shipton, Daniel (Gail) Murphy, and Grant (Lindsay) Murphy, along with 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law, Amy Ruthven. Myrtle was predeceased by her husband, Dennis Roderick Murphy, granddaughter Sarah Schnell, and sons-in-law Gerry Shipton and Dr. Victor Grossi.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Columbia Garden Village in Invermere, for the exceptional care which everyone gave to Myrtle during her final years. We remain deeply grateful.

A Funeral Mass will be set for a later date.

mcphersonfh.com