Eldred Donald Murdoch Biography

Eldred Donald Murdoch was born May 28, 1902, to James and Ida Murdoch in Wimbledon, North Dakota. He attended a summer session at Valley City State Teacher's College, Valley City, North Dakota, and began teaching 7th and 8th grades at a rural school in Grand Prairie, north of Valley City. Later he attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. He met Elizabeth Emily Grinstead, daughter of John and Mary Grinstead; they were married August 5, 1925. Murdoch returned to Valley City State Teacher's College and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1929. He received a Master of Science degree in Education from the University of North Dakota in 1941. Murdoch taught in both Buffalo, North Dakota, as well as Marion, North Dakota. He then became superintendent of schools in Lidgerwood, North Dakota. He also acted as dean of men and director of the College of Engineering and the School of Vocations at the Polytechinc Institute in Billings, Montana. From 1943 to 1944, Murdoch worked for the American Red Cross at Roswell, New Mexico, before he resigned to become a vicar of the Episcopal Church in Mandan, North Dakota. He was accepted as a postulant by the Rt. Rev. Douglass H. Atwill and later ordained by him both to the Diaconate and in 1945 to the Priesthood. After teaching at Bismarck High School and Bismarck Junior College, Murdoch then came to Grand Forks, North Dakota, in August 1953, to act as chaplain for the Episcopal Student Center at the University of North Dakota. He was assistant rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Grand Forks and in charge of the Walshville Episcopal Church in Walshville, North Dakota. Murdoch died August 2, 1962 in Grand Forks.

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