Richard Dick Murray was 68 years young on May 23, 2009, when he died in his hometown of Rapid City, after a brave and quixotic fight with prostate cancer. Dick was born in Rapid City on the longest night of the year, December 21, 1940. His parents, E. C. Ping Murray and Ruth Murray (nee Richardson) were longtime active members of the Rapid City community. Dick had one sister LaVea, his only sibling, who died in 1978. Her children, Mike and Greg Steinberg, were part of Dicks life. Dick married Jaqueline Valle and had three wonderful children. Dicks children are Dr. Michael (Cecily) of Mountain View, California, Kelly (DaNita) of Georgetown, and Daniel (Jennifer) of Sioux Falls and Spearfish. Dick was great friends with his boys. Dick indulged and adored his grandkids. They are James, age six, and Andrew, age two (Michael and Cecilys), and Sydney, age four, and Simone, age 2 (Dan and Jennifers). Dick loved life and always had a curious and open mind. He was senior class president and graduated from Rapid City High School in 1959, then segued into higher education at UC (Boulder) with a BS in economics in 1963. He was awarded his law degree from USD in 1966. He then spent three years in Washington, D.C., working for Congressman Ben Reifel and congressional appropriations committees. Dick then briefly practiced privately in Rapid City until his business endeavors prospered. He also worked as a judge both in municipal court and at the greyhound race track. Dick loved food and cooking, hunting and fishing, fast cars, airplanes and good wine (with no apologies to Tom T. Hall). He was a fearless and indefatigable entrepreneur. He was, as benefited everyone close to him, an incurable optimist. He read widely and bought books he liked for his friends. Dick met the love of his life, Tamara Pier, eleven years ago. Dick and Tamara married at the Murray compound on Thunderhead Falls Road on September 1, 2001. They enjoyed an adventurous life together and shared a passion for politics, travel and entertaining friends and family. Dick wanted an Irish wake which will be held May 26 at Dublin Square, corner of 8th Street and Main, Rapid City, beginning at 7 p.m. Bring photos, Murray memorabilia and stories. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, at Calvary Lutheran Church, 5311 Sheridan Lake Rd., with the Rev. Dwight Stensgaard officiating. Visitation will be an hour before the services. Dicks online guestbook is available at www.osheimschmidt.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Richard Murray Prostate Cancer Prevention Fund, 211 South Mable Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57103.