Kieron James Murphy, 40, died suddenly on Saturday, December 27, 2014 due to complications of Influenza A.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00pm Friday at West Central High School, 705 E. 2nd Street, Hartford, SD. Visitation begins at 3:00pm Thursday, with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00pm and a 6:00pm prayer service at Christ Lutheran Church, 613 N. Main Avenue, Hartford, SD.  Condolences may be left at www.millerfh.com.

Kier was born July 31, 1974 in Vermillion, SD and grew up in Pierre, SD graduating from Riggs High School in 1992. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in guidance and counseling from SDSU.

The most important part of Kier’s life was his family and 15 years ago he was truly blessed to meet the love of his life Robin Bell. They married in 2001, moved to Hartford, SD and had three wonderful children He was the best dad ever to Alaina, Lauren and Liam.

Kier was a big guy, 6′ 4 with a heart that was equal to or bigger than his size. His caring and compassion for others was evident each and every day in the West Central School District where he was a guidance counselor at the high school for 13 years and for the past year and a half at Hartford Elementary School. He loved his job and helping kids of all ages solve their problems was his life’s passion. This past year and a half he especially enjoyed the hugs he got from the little children.

Kier’s love for the community of Hartford was evident when he joined the volunteer fire department. Every moment as a part of this special group of people was important and meaningful to him.  Kier was proud of his English and Irish heritage and he had great memories of the time he spent with his mother’s family in Banbury and at college in Manchester, England. His Irish heritage was put to good use as he often helped out at his Mom and Dad’s Irish gift store in Sioux Falls and helped the rest of the family organize the Murphy float in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

His hobbies included golf, hunting, kickball and watching his much loved but, as of late, oh so hopeless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was also very involved with the kids sports and activities and helped coach their softball teams. Kier was a kind and beautiful man and his family and friends will forever miss his wit and humor. His life’s journey was far too short but he lived it to the fullest.

Grieving his loss are his wife, Robin; his children, Alaina,11, Lauren,8, and Liam, 6, of Hartford; parents, Dick & Sandy Murphy, Sioux Falls; brothers, Rich and wife Lori, Sioux Falls, and Ryan and wife Trisha, Dell Rapids; mother-in-law, Paula and her husband Tom; brother-in-law, Brad and wife Jaime; brother-in-law, Travis and wife Carrie; grandmother, Eileen Murphy; grandparents-in-law, Les and Evelyn Schuer; ten nephews and nieces; aunts, uncles and cousins; and so many wonderful friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to fund the children’s education accounts, or to the Hartford Volunteer Fire Department.