Margaret Coulter
courtesy photo
Margaret Coulter
CHARLO — Margaret Coulter, 89, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother, joined the angels early Thursday morning. Margaret was surrounded by her family; husband Neal, son Curt (Sandy), daughters Connie Sills and Cathy Maher, all of Charlo; Mary Pat (Rick) Leishman of Spokane; Wash.; Colleen Coulter (Jim) of Helena; and Chris (Bryan) Hurd of Kalispell.
Margaret was born in Circle, Mont., on Sept. 13,1923 to parents Norris and Polly Boice. The family moved to western Montana. Margaret attended several schools in the valley including St. Matthews High School in Kalispell. Her family settled in Valley View and she graduated from Polson High School in 1941. She met Neal Coulter at age 15 and they would meet at grange hall dances whenever possible. Her grandmother Tracey always made sure Margaret was never late for a date with Neal stating, “He was a keeper.” Following graduation Margaret and her sisters Ethel and Flossie headed to Seattle to work at the Boeing plant during WWII. She was very proud of her contribution to the war effort.
After coming home to Montana, Margaret married the love of her life, Neal Coulter, on June 14, 1943. They began their life together in Charlo, farming and raising a family of six children. Marg cooked many a meal for the hired hands and always raised a huge garden. After the sale of the ranch, Marg was able to spend hours planning her new gardens, ordering seeds and digging in the dirt. Many have enjoyed her blooms throughout the summer on Highway 212. Margaret enjoyed her family and her church. She had the great ability to make all who entered her home feel welcome.
Marg was a founding member of the Mission View Garden Club and remained active until recently. She was a member of the Charlo Women’s Club. In 2003, Marg and Neal were honored as Grand Marshals of the Charlo 4th of July parade. She was active in the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the Altar Society.
Margaret’s parents, Norris and Polly (Tracey) Boice, sisters Ethel Lund and Florence Schmitz, brother Frank Boice, and great-grandson Dillon Lipscomb, all precede Margaret in death.
Margaret leaves behind her husband of 69 years, Neal, her six children, 18 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren.
Services have been held.
