Sandra Murray

Sandra Lee Murray passed away after a brief illness on June 12, 2025.

Sandi was born in Grand Forks, ND on April 22, 1949, to Robert and Joyce Barr (Barse). She was the oldest of three children end grew up in Warren, Minnesota, in the heart of the Red River Valley on the family dairy farm. She was active in 4-H, entering cakes at the county fair and even exhibiting livestock and winning ribbons on both. The family moved to Bismarck in 1965. After graduating from Bismarck High School in 1967, Sandi moved to Medora, ND to work for the National Park Service as a secretary, but also occasionally was out counting bison, which she later said was the most exciting part of her job. She moved to Fargo, ND to accept a job with the IRS, and in 1971 she married James A Murray. Together they raised six children, Michael, Erica, Rachael, Robert, Daniel and Ann Marie.

Sandi will be remembered for her love of flower gardening, her wonderful cooking, her quick sense of humor and the way she loved her family. She was creative and helpful, always giving advice on how to cure ailments with old time remedies, which usually worked! She loved classic movies and keeping all the family memorabilia; nothing was better than a walk down memory lane.

She is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 54 years, Jim, her children, Michael (Denise) Murray, Rachael Murray, Daniel (Jennifer) Murray, and Ann Marie Murray, all of Bismarck. She was a cherished grandmother to 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, and a loving aunt to her nieces and nephews. She will be sadly missed by her sister, Cheryl (David) Peterson of Devils Lake, ND, and two step-sisters, Deanne (Dana) Ostwald, Arizona and Pam (Bruce) Hartwig of Mandan, ND.

Sandi was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Robb Barr, her son, Robert (Marla) Murray and daughter, Erica Harter, her granddaughter, Abbi McKay, Montana, stepmother, Jean Barr and step-sister, Tammy Lee.

May she finally discover what lies on the other side of the rainbow, our precious wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend.