Stanley Isaac Clothier was born on April 8, 1921, in Lakeside, Montana, a tiny town along Flathead Lake, not far from Glacier National Park. His life began at the tail end of the “Roaring Twenties,” a time when jazz filled the air, prohibition shaped culture, and the nation stood on the brink of the Great Depression.
But Stan’s beginnings were far removed from the energy of city life. He was raised in a log cabin built by neighbors in a “housing bee,” without electricity or plumbing, warmed by a potbelly stove. One of seven children in a hardworking homesteading family, his early years were shaped by resilience, resourcefulness, and a deep connection to the land. His father, Asa, had himself journeyed west by covered wagon as a child, an echo of the American frontier that still defined Stan’s upbringing.
As the country struggled through the 1930s, with unemployment soaring and landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge rising as symbols of hope, Stan came of age. He attended high school in Kalispell, where an unexpected second senior year, encouraged by his father, ignited a passion for science and learning that would shape his future. A summer working at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park introduced him to a wider world beyond Montana.
That world expanded dramatically when the Attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States into World War II. In 1942, Stan joined the U.S. Navy, embarking on nearly four years of service that took him across the country and into the Pacific. There, he became part of a specialized unit working on early drone and radar technology, cutting-edge, highly classified work that placed him at the forefront of a new technological era.
After the war, supported by the GI Bill, Stan pursued higher education, ultimately earning a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota. It was there he met Lucille Hanson, the woman who would become his wife and lifelong partner.
The 1950s were a time of growth, in America and for Stan personally. As the country entered the age of television, jet travel, and early computing, Stan and Lu started their family and built a life in Minnesota. He began his career in electronics sales, eventually taking a leap of faith to start his own company. What began as a challenge, especially after the sudden loss of his business partner, grew into a thriving enterprise built on persistence and vision.
Through the 1960s and 70s, as the world experienced everything from the Apollo 11 Moon Landing to the rapid rise of computer technology, Stan’s business expanded alongside it. His company represented major electronics manufacturers and evolved into multiple ventures, including Datalink, focused on large-scale data storage, placing him squarely in the early foundations of the digital age. His work connected him to leading innovators, including Apple Inc., during the dawn of personal computing.
Yet for all his professional success, Stan never lost sight of life beyond work. He and Lu raised three children, traveled the world, and created a lifetime of memories, from boating excursions to international adventures. He had a deep love of golf, a passion that became a defining thread throughout his life.
In the decades that followed, Stan transitioned from building his business to enjoying its legacy, passing his company on to trusted employees and embracing a new chapter filled with travel, family, and friendship. He split time between Minnesota, La Quinta, California, and Santa Barbara, eventually settling there full-time.
Even into his 90s and beyond, Stan remained remarkably active, traveling the world, competing in golf tournaments, and staying endlessly curious about life and technology. At 100 years old, during the global challenges of COVID-19, he chose connection over isolation, continuing to golf, socialize, and celebrate life. That same year, his granddaughter Eva created a viral video capturing Stan’s journey through the decades, a fitting tribute to a man who had truly lived through them all.
Now, as he reaches 105, Stan Clothier’s life stands as a remarkable reflection of more than a century of change, from homesteading roots to the digital age. Through it all, he remained steady, curious, and engaged. A man shaped by history yet never defined by it.
His story is, in every sense, an American story. One of humble beginnings, hard work, innovation, and a life richly lived.
