Benjamin James Murphy, July 30, 1996 – January 25, 2025

Benjamin James Murphy passed away peacefully at home on January 25, 2025, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was 28.

Ben was born July 30, 1996, in Rocklin, California, the second of four children, to Sean and Joanne Murphy, and it became quickly apparent that he had boundless energy and drive.

All four Murphy children played the piano, and were often competitive about who was the best – once, when after a recital, the then-10-year-old Ben’s sister asked him why he had been swaying in time to the music as he played, he replied, “Oh, that’s what you do when you’re good” – but ultimately they all agreed that Ben had a touch for the keyboard that exceeded theirs. He later taught himself how to play the guitar, and then taught his younger brother the same skills. He also taught his brother how to ski: “He’d take me into the hardest black diamond runs, but then he’d patiently stay with me all the way down showing me what I needed to do.”

Ben was a gifted athlete. He played quarterback for his football team before finding his real home in baseball, where he was a four-year stand-out at Whitney High School. He became an Eagle Scout; his final project was a block letter W that he designed, built, and installed on a slope by the school. It was at roughly the same time that he was chosen as a Boy’s State delegate for the American Legion California Boy’s State. He refurbished and repaired bicycles for Goodwill Bikes, and volunteered with Opening Doors Inc., assisting in collecting and transporting household goods for refugees.

He was also a talented artist, and was one of only two high school students selected by the city of Rocklin to create a painting for auction at a fundraiser. “You have to know,” his sister says, “that Ben was a cool guy. Everybody wanted to be like him.”

Ben was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served a two-year mission for the church in Denmark, Copenhagen, often serving in a leadership role with other missionaries. He finished his mission in the same town where he had started, wondering if the members there would recognize or even remember “the scared, quiet missionary” he had been when he first arrived, and was both chagrined and amused to learn that they all remembered him – as Ældste (Elder) Pretty Boy.

Whatever they thought of him, he developed a love for the people there that he brought back with him to BYU. He taught Danish at BYU at both beginning and advanced levels, and added a Scandinavian Studies minor to his business major.

But it was at BYU that life really changed for him, when he met the brown-eyed girl who was to become the love of his life. Ben was sealed to Sarah Ann Foote in the Meridian, Idaho temple May 4, 2019. They finished their classwork together at BYU. After graduation they moved, with their dog Royce, to Philadelphia, where they adopted a second dog, Koda. They enjoyed Philadelphia, loved exploring and trying out new restaurants, and spent a happy three years

there, until Ben’s unexpected cancer diagnosis sent them back to Idaho. Even with his health issues, Ben still liked to travel, and he and Sarah were able to visit Australia together in October.

Determination was one of Ben’s underlying characteristics. “I’m going to stay here until I get this,” was one of his catch phrases, whether he was five years old figuring out the intricacies of the monkey bars on the playground, or 10 years old learning a new song on the piano, or a missionary struggling with a seemingly impossible language. Diffuse midline glioma may have been the only real challenge that Ben was not able to overcome. But he faced it gallantly and fought it valiantly and we are forever changed for having known him. He lived a life of faith and integrity and goodness, and we look forward to that joyful day when we are reunited with him eternally through our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness, made possible by our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Ben is survived by his wife, Sarah (Foote) Murphy; his parents, Sean and Joanne Murphy; three siblings, Megan Murphy, Sarah M. Murphy, and Ryan Murphy; two grandmothers, Elizabeth Murphy and Sandra Horne; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.

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