Merle Coulter

Merle LeRoy Coulter was born June 28, 1935, in Tracy, MN to James and Pearl (Anderson) Coulter. He was baptized and confirmed at the Lamberton United Methodist Church and graduated from Lamberton High School in 1953. Merle attended Mankato State University and Winona State University, then worked for a building contractor in Redwood Falls. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1957-1959. After his Honorable Discharge, Merle was assistant manager at a lumber yard in Victoria, MN before returning to Lamberton in 1962, where he was a self-employed carpenter. He was united in marriage to Janice Graff on September 29, 1962, at Highwater Lutheran Church. Merle then began farming in 1965, until retiring in 2009. He was a member of American Legion Post #41, the Meadowland Farmers Co-op Board, and Our Savior's Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council. Merle enjoyed hunting, fishing, dancing, playing cards, and watching the Twins, Vikings, and Gophers. He especially enjoyed spending time at Lake Mary with his family, and attending the grandchildren's activities. He is survived by wife Janice of Lamberton; children - Kari (Bob) Halter of Lamberton, Jeff Coulter of Lamberton, Tammy Schenk of Sleepy Eye, Jodi (John) Smith of Jeffers, and Jacki (Pat) Anderson of Hoffman; grandchildren - Angie Halter (fiance Doug Hall), Allison (Tony) Sauer, Abby (Shawn) Neu, Macy Schenk, Mikaela Smith, Dominik Smith, Ben Anderson, Ross Anderson, and Brooke Anderson; sisters-in-law- Edie Coulter, Shirley Mattison, and Joyce Graff, all of Lamberton; brothers-in-law- Roger (Bonnie) Graff of Great Falls, MT, Gary (Diane) Graff of Lamberton, Bruce (Elona) Graff of Minneapolis, and Dick (Joanne) Graff of Le Sueur; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers- Lauren, Charles, Delmar, Earl, and Richard; and a niece LaVonne Karsten. First Visitation 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Sunday, June 10, 2012 Sturm Funeral Home, Lamberton 502 S. Main Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Second Visitation 9:30 am - 10:30 am Monday, June 11, 2012 Our Savior's Lutheran Church - Lamberton 805 Birch Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Service Information 10:30 am Monday, June 11, 2012 Our Savior's Lutheran Church - Lamberton 805 Birch Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Interment Information Lamberton Cemetery rural Lamberton Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152