Ernie was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1934. He was raised on a small dairy farm near Chaska, Minnesota. He attended Concordia Academy and Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

He entered the US Air Force in 1955 as an Aviation Cadet. He spent 10 years flying T-34, T-28, T-33, T-37 and F-86F aircraft. While as an instructor at Vance AFB, he met Ginny. They were married in Enid, Oklahoma, in 1960.
Ernie and Ginny had two children, Bradford and Jayna. Ernie left the US Air Force in 1965 to fly for American Airlines. He was based at O'Hare Airport and retired in 1994. While with American, he flew the DC-6, DC-7, BAC 111, B-727, B-707, B-767, DC-10 and the MD-11.

Throughout his life, he was active in his local church, community, and loved the outdoors. He enjoyed participating in many sports, including hunting, shooting, golfing and skiing. He also loved to play jokes on people and loved to hear people laugh.

"Papa Ernie" was deeply loved by family and friends, especially his two children, daughter-in-law, Tricia and grandsons, Austin and Sean Murphy.

Ernie's Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Fort Mill Chapel, 121 Monroe White Street, Fort Mill, SC, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 11:00 A.M., followed by a light lunch.

*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.

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