Joan Hale Murdoch
Joan Hale Murdoch, 87, passed peacefully from this life on Friday April 12, 2024, in her home surrounded by loved ones. Joan was born on March 18, 1937, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Clayton Samuel and Clara Quinn Hale. She was the fourth of five children. She loved telling stories of her childhood antics and adventures with her sister Glennis, cousins, and neighbors.
Following her graduation from Pocatello High School, Joan attended the Idaho Falls LDS hospital school of nursing. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Dallas Earl Murdoch, at a Ricks College dance. Dallas felt she was the “one” for him, and they were engaged before he left for his two-year mission. They were married in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple on December 10, 1959. They spent their early married years at BYU and University of Washington School of Dentistry. Kathy and Jimmy were born to them during those years.
After Dallas graduated, he and Joan moved their family to Grace, Idaho. Joan was very outgoing and shared her talents and friendship easily with those she met. She was very service oriented and well known for checking blood pressures, giving allergy shots, or helping care for a sick neighbor. She enjoyed participating in “The Singing Grannies,” the county fair, church bazaars, parades, Halloween Carnivals, roadshows, and a myriad of other local activities. Joan was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in many callings. Her favorite was the Young Women organization, where she blessed the lives of many.
Due to infertility, Joan and Dallas turned to adoption to grow their family. They were blessed with three more children: Karen, David and Sheydene. They also acted as foster parents in the Lamanite placement program to Collette Carry Moccasin, Greta Cottonwood, and Mary Church. They opened their home to family and friends, who might stay a few days, weeks, or more than a year. She also was very caring to her parents. After her father died, Joan cared for her mother until she passed away.
Joan and Dallas travelled around the world as service volunteers providing dental care. They served in Thailand, Tonga, and Peru. They loved traveling to many other countries, where Joan always made new friends.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Dallas, her parents, brothers Deloy and Evan Hale, sister Glennis Matson, a son David Clayton Murdoch, and a son-in-law Brian Anderson. She leaves behind her children Kathleen Anderson (Gary Beach), James Murdoch (Maili), Karen Brandt, (Tod) and Sheydene Murdoch, plus multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Linda Eaton.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Symbii Home Health and Hospice for the loving care they have given our mother.
A funeral celebrating Joan’s life will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Grace, Idaho Stake Center, located at 404 South State Street in Grace, Idaho. The viewing will be from 10:00 to 11:30 prior to the funeral.
The funeral services can be viewed via Zoom at: https://zoom.us/j/96876753069
