In Memory of Vicky K. Murray

Vicky K. Murray, age 75, of Johnston, Iowa (formerly of Holstein and Ida Grove, Iowa) passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center of Johnston, Iowa.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 20, 2025, at the Ida Grove Methodist Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Rev. Luann Benge will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 19, 2025, at the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa. 

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com 

Memorial contributions can be made in Vicky’s name to the Mapleton Vet Clinic for their great care of Skeezix or to her family in care of Roxanne Wilken.

Vicky Kayleen Murray, the daughter of Lois Jean Cox and Harry Martin Murray, was born on July 17, 1949, in Storm Lake, Iowa. Her parents were living in Marathon, Iowa, with her maternal grandparents at this time. Vicky passed away in Johnston, Iowa, on June 12, 2025, at the age of 75. 

In January of 2025, Vicky moved to Johnston to the Bishop Drumm Care Center to be closer to her family. Prior to this, she spent nearly four years at the Good Samaritan Center in Holstein, Iowa. 

Vicky attended all twelve years of school in Ida Grove, graduating with the class of 1967. She went on to attend Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, graduating in 1971 with a degree in Physical Education and Art. Upon graduation, she worked at the flower shop in Ida Grove for a short while when Gloria was the owner.

In 1973 Vicky relocated to Chicago, Illinois, for 40 plus years. She lived in the suburbs of Sterling and Berwyn and worked at Mangels Floral Shop located in the Drake Hotel for many years. She also worked at the City Scents Floral Shop in downtown Chicago on Ohio Street for several years. Upon her retirement in 2016, Vicky moved back to Ida Grove. She continued to make floral arrangements out of her home and then worked at the floral shop in Ida Grove a short while.

Vicky enjoyed attending OABCIG High School basketball games until she became ill and moved to Holstein. She was a member of the Ida Grove Methodist Church.

Surviving family members include her aunt Josephine (Gaylord) Henderson of Havelock, IA; cousins Roxanne Sones Wilken (Phil Falkoski) of Des Moines, IA, John (Peggy) Sones of Laurens, IA, Cindy (Duayne) Wieczorek of Sioux Falls, SD, Calvin (Tracy) Cox and Chris (Sandy) Cox both of Victorville, CA; along with numerous second and third cousins; extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lois Jean (Cox) Murray in 2007 and her father Harry Martin Murray in 2013; infant brother Randy Martin Murray in 1960; maternal and paternal grandparents; many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She also had several dogs through the years; the most recent being Skeezix (named after her father). Skeezix passed away while Vicky was in the Good Samaritan Center after being her pup for near 22 years.