Stanley James (Stan) Speck

Stanley James (Stan) Speck, 71, of Helena died at home on Saturday, January 27, 2018, of pancreatic cancer.

He was born at the Hill Hospital in Whitehall, Montana, on September 8, 1942, the middle child of E. Carroll and Phyllis Speck with two older and two younger sisters. He attended Whitehall schools, graduating in 1964. There were early indicators that he would become an expert plumber, carpenter, electrician, mechanic and builder when, during his school years, he built his own motorcycle. Also as a high school senior he won first place at the statewide Youth Electric Fair by building an electric arc welder using a transformer from an X-ray machine.

Following his graduation from the University of Montana in 1975 with a major in English, he taught English and journalism at the Pine Hills School for Boys in Miles City for two years. Stan earned a Master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Utah in Salt Lake in 1982 during which time he worked as the general manager of the Utah Motor Inn and renovated two homes. Proceeding to Philadelphia he did extensive work toward a Phd in philosophy at Temple University while selling insurance on the side. Interspersed in the following years were trips to several Asian countries including India, Thailand, and the Philippines and work as an independent cross-country truck driver.

In 1987 Stan married Paquita Anacta. Their son Adrian James was born in 1993 when they briefly lived in the Philippines. They later divorced. Upon their return to the U.S. Stan wanted to own his own business. The family moved to Dardanelle, Arkansas, where they operated a successful commercial poultry farm. Here Stan designed and built entirely by himself a lovely home that overlooked ponds and habitat for ducks and geese. He created a bird sanctuary complete with many bird houses he built for wood ducks, bluebirds and purple martins. A deep sense of contentment came from the walks around his sizable property to check on these structures, providing him with an excuse to be in the outdoors and nature he loved. Following his retirement from farming, Asia once again beckoned and he toured extensively in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines and also in Austria. Moving to Helena, Montana in 2015, he married Karen Mandi in 2017.

Known and loved by his family and friends for his wit and dry humor, he was truly a Renaissance man. In addition to his many manual skills, he was a widely read scholar in many fields and disciplines and he possessed an extensive library. He loved classical music, art of the Old Masters, fishing, Montana history, bird watching, photography, gardening, Asian culture, and debating with his sisters.

He is survived by his son, Adrian Speck of Fayetteville, Arkansas, his wife Karen Speck of Helena, his sisters Carolyn (Bob) Adams of Helena, Virginia (Jim) Court and Gail Speck of Billings, and Brenda Speck-Mullner of Graz, Austria. Also surviving are his former wife, Paquita Speck of Russellville, Arkansas, and cousins Sharon Speck of Helena, Shirley (Dave) Swogger of Miles City, Evan Speck of Evansville, Indiana, Eric Speck of Lexington Park, Maryland, Janice Fantz of Columbus, Montana, and Randy (Mary Ann) Harsch of Leavenworth, Kansas and numerous nieces and nephews.

If desired, memorials contributions may be made to the Montana Historical Society, PO Box 201201, Helena, MT 59620 or the Jefferson Valley Museum, PO Box 902, Whitehall, MT 59759. A family celebration of his life will be held at a later date followed by internment at the Old Whitehall Cemetery.