John "Jack" Holden Murray

John H. “Jack” Murray passed away peacefully in Detroit Lakes, MN on September 10th, 2018 at Ecumen Transitional Care Unit.  He was much loved and will be sadly missed.  Jack was born on November 8, 1931 in St. Paul, MN.  He graduated from Mahtomedi High School, attended the University of Minnesota and served in the Air Force during the Korean War.  In 1951 he married the love of his life, Kathleen “Kate” Doyle.  They were happily married for the next 67 years.  Together they raised five children and forged many memories with their family and friends.  Jack joined the Minnesota State Patrol in 1954, where he built a 36-year career.  Law enforcement was a passion for Jack, he was a cop through and through. In 1962 he was promoted to Sargent and stationed in Detroit Lakes where he subsequently became the Captain and District Commander.  During those busy years he found time to own businesses including the Castaway Motel and Resort and later Fort Detroit both in Detroit Lakes.  Upon his retirement in 1990 he became active in local politics spending several years as a Becker County Commissioner.    Jack loved his family and was an exceptional Husband and Father.  He taught his children the value of responsibility, hard work, and decorum as he navigated his career and his business ventures.Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Holden and Madeleine, and his daughter Kathy Murray who passed away of cancer in 2007.Jack is survived by his Wife, Kate, his brother Rick of Edina, MN, his children, son John (Laurie Zeller) of Helena, MT and his children Kevin and Caitlin,  son Pat of Moorhead, MN (Sue Murray) and their children Flynn and Casey,  daughter Elizabeth of Hutchinson, MN (Ron Hepola) and their children Ann and Erin, Kathy’s daughters Marie and Maggie and son Dan of Bloomington, MN along with his children Brenna, Michael and Ryan, six Great Grandchildren and many treasured friends.  Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday September 15, 2018; 12 noon at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes, MN. Visitation will be on Friday from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the West-Kjos Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes, MN with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Detroit Lakes, MN.The family is grateful for the care provided by the wonderful people at Ecumen and Hospice of the Red River Valley.