Stanley “Stan” Jack Coulter, 86, of Great Falls, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
He was born on September 5, 1939, in Lewistown, Montana to Samuel and Mary (Duffy) Coulter. He was the youngest of six children. His five siblings had already left the nest when he was born. He learned as a child to be an outdoorsman swimming, fishing, camping, and cooking with his friends and brothers on Spring Creek. Stan’s father died young and the fathers of his friends made sure that he wasn’t overlooked. Stan had lots of stories about he and his sidekick, Donny Peterson, whose sister taught the boys to “Sit and behave,” while they played teacher. He climbed and fell out of every apple tree in the neighborhood at least once and was briefly a member of a gang called the Cougars. Bob Blackhall oversaw his first date. One girl invited him for tea while the other asked if he’d like to wrestle?
Stan joined the Navy after he graduated. He served as a personnel specialist during his enlistment. The Navy took him to Spain and Newfoundland. He preferred Spain. After his time enlistment was up he went to California with friends and rented a “beach house” just steps away from the ocean. He worked his way through college getting his bachelor’s degree in English. During this time, he had some very interesting jobs. He set up telephone poles, cleaned crime scenes, and did electrical work in sewers. He even discovered that making toys was easy and lucrative. Once Stan finished his bachelor’s degree he started teach in Los Angeles. His first job found him taking over for a teacher who was sick. He had many hilarious incidents learning “Spanish” from his young students.
He returned to Lewistown and worked on getting his master’s degree at MSU Billings. He loved all the seminars that he attended and easily attained his master’s degree. He was on the Dean’s list and graduated Suma Cum Laude. After teaching in many Montana schools (one which is now a museum), he was invited for dinner with a girl he knew from Sunday school and all through high school. They were married on May 12, 2002.
He was the finest and kindest man I ever knew, Jacqueline Lacy Hudis Coulter.
Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.OConnorFuneralHome.com.
