Stephen “Coach” Hullett, 65, passed away “to be with the Lord” on May 29, 2016, in Kalispell.
Steve was born July 20, 1950, in Kalispell and raised in Bigfork, where he graduated from Bigfork High School in 1968. Growing up, he excelled at sports, representing Bigfork High School in football, basketball and track. He received a football scholarship to Montana State University-Northern in Havre, but chose to enlist in the Navy in service to his country. He served three tours in Vietnam as a gunner and engine mechanic on a river patrol boat.
After the Navy, Steve returned to Bigfork, where he worked as a wrangler at the Flathead Lake Lodge. There he honed his skills team roping and leading pack trips into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. He met Joannie Peterson, and the two married in 1978 in Swan Lake, Montana, raised two daughters and were married for 23 years. He loved the outdoors and spent much of his time fishing, camping and hunting with friends and family.
In his later years, Steve worked at Eagle Bend to stay close to a sport he truly loved.
His true passion was coaching athletics. He coached the football team as defensive coordinator, and head coach his final three seasons. He was the head golf coach for 34 years. He ended his coaching career cheering on the 2016 Boys State Championship golf team as he was unfortunately not well enough to fully participate.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Bunny Hullett; and survived by daughters Katy and husband Kurt Adkins of Kalispell, and Bobbie and husband Caleb Ford of Apopka, Florida; sister, Shari, and husband, Tom Isom, of Yelm, Washington, and grandchildren, Riley Ford and Zac Adkins.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on June 18 at Bigfork High School at 600 Commerce St. in Bigfork. A gathering of friends will follow at Harbor Village Pavilion, 70 Marina Way in Bigfork.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve’s name to Bigfork VFW Post 4042, P.O. Box 645, Bigfork MT 59911; or the Bigfork Booster Club, P.O. Box 204, Bigfork, MT 59911.