Joseph Murtha, age 94, of Mitchell, SD (formerly of Artesian, SD) died Sunday January 10, 2010 in Mitchell. Funeral services will be 10 AM Wednesday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with burial at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian, SD. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday at the Will Funeral Chapel with a rosary service beginning at 7 PM.

Joe Murtha, son of Edward and Josephine (Friedrich) Murtha, was born May 12, 1915 in Pine City, MN. At the age of six, he moved with his family to a farm near Parkston, SD where he attended country school. Joe entered the Army Air Force on December 18, 1941 and served as an airplane mechanic in Alaska and the Philippines. He was honorably discharged on December 12, 1945 and returned to Parkston.

Joe was united in marriage with Viola Berg on February 26, 1946 in Parkston, SD. The couple farmed near Parkston. In 1955 the purchased a farm south of Artesian and he continued to farm there until 2006. In 2006 the couple made their home in Mitchell.

He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Joe enjoyed farming and gardening.

Grateful for having shared his life are his son, James (Donna) Murtha, Mitchell, SD; three grandchildren; five great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; seven sisters, Marianne Frazer, Parkston, SD, Frances Murtha, Tahlequah, OK, Joan (Marvin) Schoenfelder, Dimock, SD, Ann Taylor, Princeton, IL, Noreen (Lou) Cyr, La Porte, TX, Lois (Michel) Panayi, Gause, TX, Carol (Fred) Nastz, Pittsburg, PA; three brothers, Bill Murtha, Parkston, SD, John (Ann) Murtha, Dimock, SD, Tim (Tim) Murtha, Bartlesville, OK.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Viola, on January 8, 2009; a grandson, Joey; a brother, Tom; and his parents.