Marion Velda May Coulter was born in 1923, at Bengough, Saskatchewan. She is the only child of William and Roseanna Hockley (now deceased). She first came in contact with the church of Christ at a gospel meeting conducted by J.C.Bailey in 1929, at a country school near Bengough. Her father had been baptized a number of years previously at Yellow Grass by an evangelist who, during his meetings there, converted 65 people.
Velda received her elementary and secondary education at Bengough, then she attended Normal School in Regina (1941-42). In 1986, she received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Regina. She has also studied courses from the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Waterloo.
In 1949, at Moose Jaw, she married Stanley Coulter and they had six children: Rosemary (b 1950 - d 1967), Ruth (1951), Betty (1953), William (Bill) (1955), Hope (1959), and Leslie (1965). After teaching school many years, Stanley passed away in December 1985, at Weyburn.
Velda taught school in various locations of Southern Saskatchewan: Knoxville (1941), Harptree (1942-45), Moose Jaw area (1945-46), Crestwynd (1946-49), Kildeer (1957-58), Kisbey (1961-62), and Lake Alma (1965-67). Then became assistant librarian and teacher at Western Christian College (1976-86). Velda has also sold real estate in Regina (1969-71) and at Weyburn (1987- ). In Weyburn, she sold Electrolux for three to four years. Velda and Stan Coulter and family moved to Weyburn in 1972, so that it would be easier for the children to attend Western Christian College.
In church and community service, Velda has taught at vacation Bible school in Bengough and Moose Jaw, has assisted in provincial and federal election campaigns (1967-72) in Regina, and has cared for foster children (1967-75) in both Regina and Weyburn.
Velda is proud of her children and pleased with the growth and change within herself since she became a licensed realtor in 1988. Her chief enjoyment is derived from private Bible study.
At Western, Velda enjoyed the students, their openness, their impulsiveness and lack of inhibitions. She also appreciated the Oriental respect for age and authority. Her favourite teaching subjects were typing and E.S.L. (English as a second language).
Velda has two regrets about Western. She regrets the move to Dauphin, believing that the bargain in buildings is not a bargain when the location of the city is considered. She also regrets not taking more time to become better acquainted with the staff. Yet, during her Western days, Velda was a very busy woman. In addition to teaching, she was studying university courses and visited her husband daily at the Souris Valley Extended Care Hospital for four years prior to his death in 1985.
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