Joshua Andrews

Joshua Andrews, 39, of Murdo passed away unexpectedly on July 29, 2025. Family will be holding a Celebration of Life for him on Sunday, August 24 at 2:00pm at Draper Auditorium.
Joshua Wayne Andrews, 39, entered this life on January 19th, 1986, and departed it on July 29th, 2025.
From an early age, Josh was an experimenter. His early years were full of fascination, exploration, and mischief. Forever was he deconstructing and reassembling anything he could get his hands on. From decked out bicycles to bio diesel experiments, Josh was cleverly tinkering around. Often in his dad's shop or backyard, he was bent on improving gadgets or retrofitting them for other wild plans. Josh was rarely convinced his plans were farfetched, and if you were lucky, he would prove you wrong.
Josh's escapades often involved a few partners. For example, on his first day of Kindergarten, Josh and his best bud, Trevor Michalek, secreted away in the playground's tire tunnels during lunch time recess. Once the playground cleared, Josh and Trevor snuck away to Trevor's Grandpa's house where they were later found playing and eating ice cream. His parents and teachers found this was only a small taste of the years to come. He would continue into his adolescent and teenage years expressing his love for eclectic music (loudly from his car's subwoofers) and his enthusiasm for chemistry above other sciences.
Graduating in 2004 from Jones County Highschool in Murdo, SD, he would move on to complete 2 years undergraduate studies pursuing chemical engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD. After those two years, his more adventurous side evolved.
Brick and mortar schooling was never Josh's style. He spent most of his adult years soaking up life, exploring other states and attending EDM music festivals and metal concerts. He met Elle Scarpati in 2014 and then they welcomed a son, Vincent, on August 28, 2015. Elle and Josh went their separate ways shortly after Vincent's birth and Elle and Vincent moved to Wisconsin. Josh, having met Marty Vance in 2014 also, found she and he had lots in common, so they decided to continue adventuring together. On June 1st, 2016, they married in Pierre, SD. They explored through Colorado and Nevada, taking in all the outdoors had to offer. Deadwood, SD became the ideal spot to purchase a home together. Unfortunately, Marty and Josh separated shortly afterwards. Josh continued his nomadic ways living wherever seemed interesting. During his time stomping the earth, Josh left his mark in Rapid City, SD, northern California, Pierre, SD, Draper, SD, Lead/Deadwood, SD, southwest Iowa, Colorado, Nevada and of course, Murdo, SD. Those lucky enough to have met Josh during his journeys would have found him either working as a cook at various local restaurants, panning for gold, moshing in the pit, making biodiesel, tinkering with vehicles and/or collecting scrap iron.
Josh is survived by his wife, Marty Andrews, Pierre, SD; his son, Vincent Scarpati in Illinois; his parents, Robin Cromwell, Draper, SD and Tom Andrews, Pierre, SD; siblings, Jessica Andrews, Brookings, SD; Justin Andrews, Murdo, SD; Jocelyn "Josie" (Ferdinand) Bergh, Martin, SD; Jordan (Alina) Andrews, Spearfish, SD; and Jorja (Caleb) Andrews-Larson, Mission, SD; his nephews: Forrest Giard and Ambrosius and Phineas Bergh; his nieces: Aubrey Giard and Roslyn and Bonnedette Bergh; and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, not to mention his sweet dog, Percy.
Josh was preceded in death by his grandparents, Don and Helen Cromwell, Carrol and Beverly Andrews, uncles and aunts, Rich Andrews, Donna and Dan Westhoff, Deb and Greg Haka and Erika Cromwell.