Murray Frederick Ehlers

Murray Frederick Ehlers, most recently of Missoula, left us to join his wife in their place of final rest on the 2nd of February 2015. He was born in Garrison, North Dakota in 1929 to Clifford and Helen Murray Ehlers. When he was 9 years old, the family moved to Bozeman, and then Sheridan, Montana, where he graduated from Sheridan High School in 1947. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force. He served his country in Okinawa during the Korean War, and was forever shaped by the experience and relationships he forged there. Upon his return to civilian life, he entered the University of Montana in Missoula, earning his degree in three years. Post graduation, he was accepted to the esteemed Thunderbird American Graduate School of International Management, where he earned his MBA. After completing his studies, he moved to New York, taking a job with the International Division of the Gardner-Denver Company. One year after he started with Gardner-Denver, he moved to Venezuela to work as their representative. He remained with the company for four years. In April 1960, he married the person he held most dear, Carol Hestekin, and she joined him in Venezuela, where they would spend the next sixteen years building a life together. They raised their four children, Mike, James, Susie, and Christine, in Venezuela, and the memories made there will be forever treasured as precious and incomparable. In 1962, Murray left Gardner-Denver to invest in South American Machinery, and in 1972 added Communicacion Industriales (a telecom company) to his accomplishments. In 1976, he sold his interests in both the companies, and he and Carol moved the family to Billings, Montana to be closer to Carol’s parents, Clarence and Ruth Hestekin. He and Carol remained there until 2010, at which time they moved to Missoula. Murray had a passion for golf which began during his days at the University of Montana. He was a member of Hilands Golf Club in Billings for over 30 years. Golfing with friends and family was one of his favorite things. Before Murray’s passing, he made it clear that he wanted it known how important his family was to him. In his personal papers, he wrote, “My life was my wife, children and grandchildren, and family and friends.” We who count ourselves in that group know this to be true beyond all doubt. Murray was a deeply compassionate man who shared his love of life with others in many significant ways. He served for 34 years as an usher at Saint Patrick Co-Cathedral in Billings. He served on the Montana Highway Commission, SCORE, and Meals on Wheels for many years. In every way, Murray gave of himself to his family, his church, and his community. Murray will be remembered for his wit and drive, his warmth, and his integrity. There’s not been one like him, and we can only hope those of us lucky enough to know him may try to follow his example. He made many deep and lasting friendships through these activities and his generosity will serve as a shining example to his children and grandchildren, and in this way his memory will be honored and cherished. Murray was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Helen Ehlers, sisters Mary Wright (Beaverton, Oregon), Patricia Finnegan (Sheridan, Montana) and Sharon Ludwig (Sheridan, Montana), brother “Bud” Ehlers (Sheridan, Montana), and his loving wife Carol. A Funeral Mass for Carol and Murray will be celebrated 12 Noon, Friday, April 10, 2015 at St. Patrick Co-Cathedral.