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Letter Editor FROM THE

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

As we prepared for this anniversary issue, it felt like a walk down memory lane. I touched nearly every one of the 13,000-plus pages we have put into print. Page after page, story after story, face after face. Somewhere between the early editions and the most recent ones, my heart began to swell.

What a privilege it has been to hold these stories.

I remember the day after Selena Not Afraid’s body was found back in 2020. My daughter, a Billings Central basketball player, was playing a game at Hardin High School. The hallways of the school were covered in red flyers — students had traced their hands, writing messages like “Bring Her Home.” The flyers covered entire sections of the walls. Hope was written in marker on each page. And then grief followed.

Those red pieces of paper didn’t just highlight Selena. They represented Henny, Kaysera, Freda — their stolen sisters. Walking down that hallway felt sacred and devastating all at once.

I remember calling a dear friend who was deeply involved in the MMIW movement and saying, “Let’s not let this fade. How can we work together?” What followed was a powerful series of stories in our March/April 2020 issue that shined a light from so many angles.

My friend told me something I will never forget:

If you know these stories, you’ll care. If you care, you’ll remember. If you remember, there will be awareness. And if there’s awareness, there will come change.

That truth is the heartbeat of every issue of YVW. We hope that when you know these stories they will move you toward the kind of change that impacts a community in beautiful ways.

In prepping for this issue, I thought of cover girl Julie Carter. We told her story in 2007. When I met Julie, I met a warrior. She was fiercely devoted to her three daughters, all living with Chiari malformation, a condition where the back of the skull is too small to properly support the brain, causing part of it to slip into the spinal canal. The pain and complications are immense and often misunderstood.

But Julie didn’t let that define her family’s story. She went on to found and lead a global support group, touching countless lives.

Celebrating

She was beautiful inside and out.

Over the years, I’ve searched unsuccessfully for her online. I don’t want another story. I simply want to ask, “How are you doing?”

Then there was Margaret Ping — our oldest cover story at 97. What a spitfire. I remember sitting in her senior living apartment, captivated not just by her accomplishments, but by the sparkle in her eyes. She fought for nine years to bring Habitat for Humanity to our area. Today, they are building their 100th home. Families have roofs over their heads because she refused to give up.

What a legacy. And that’s just a sliver of what she accomplished.

Over the years, YVW has not shied away from hard topics — human trafficking, teen homelessness, the opioid epidemic. We have grown into a magazine willing to tackle the tough conversations. That is something I am deeply proud of.

When I look at YVW, I see evolution — much like the journey of women themselves.

In our teens, we are bright and fresh and full of possibility.

In our twenties, we begin to see the world more clearly.

In our thirties, we dig deeper and make intentional plans.

YVW has grown into what I imagine as a self-assured woman, one who knows when the spotlight needs to shine on someone else. She wants to bring out the best. She applauds the women creating positive change. She isn’t afraid to speak hard truths, if it might spark something good.

That is who we are.

To every woman who bravely shared her journey.

To every advocate who let us amplify her voice.

To every reader who turned the page and allowed a story to move her.

Thank you.

Here’s to the next 25 years, 20 years

Julie

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what's inside

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS 12 cleared for takeoff, together

A mother, her children, and a lifetime in the cockpit

a second chance, a sacred calling

The remarkable rise of Charis Health

his game isn’t over

A Pioneer Park basketball court keeps one young man’s spirit in play

when grief becomes a movement

Turning heartbreak into action for MMIP families

all about the animals

Triniti Halverson’s hard work and resilience keeps YVAS afloat

because bryten can’t

Felicia Burg turns loss into a legacy of love 40 riding the next wave

How Dana Pulis built Kinetic Marketing and is now reinventing it in the age of AI 78 going beyond

Marcy Tatarka revisits the recipe that started it all — and elevates it once again

flavors to savor: delicious nostalgia at bistro enzo

A return to a Billings classic

The dynamic dimensions of YVW’s creative

HOW DID I GET HERE?

From NICO lullabies to drag-strip thunder, the privilege of capturing your

From statement stone to soulful spaces, the looks redefining home in 2026

meet the STAFF

Together Together

A MOTHER, HER CHILDREN, AND A LIFETIME IN THE COCKPIT

OVER THE YEARS, United Airlines pilot Florence “Flori” Fitzgerald has, at times, been inclined to take her career for granted.

“There are some people in my sphere, pilots in my sphere, that just have a huge passion for it,” she says. “And then there’s the rest of us, who were just exposed to it.”

That exposure resulted from growing up the daughter of Gerhart Blain, who caught the flying bug in the 1950s and went on to found Billings Flying Service. Gerhart also passed on his love of flying to Flori and her three older brothers, all of whom made careers of flying. Now, at 55, Flori realizes how fortunate she’s been.

“As I’ve gotten older, especially now at this stage of my life, I really find I have a lot more nostalgia and love for flying than I did when I was younger,” she says. “I can’t imagine where life would have taken me if I hadn’t flown airplanes.”

In a literal sense, her career has taken her all over the world. People often ask her what her favorite foreign destinations are. “And I’m like, gosh, I don’t really go on vacation, but I’ve been to New Delhi hundreds of times.” She also flies regularly to Sydney, Australia, and her job has taken her to Buenos Aries, Cape Town, Mumbai and Auckland. (For less frequent fliers, those cities are in Argentina, South Africa, India and New Zealand.)

Daniel

in a float plane, which meant he had to retract the wheels and let down the floats for landing on water, or vice versa for landing on the ground.

“He told me, ‘Fifty bucks if you ever catch me landing on water with the gear down, or on land with the gear up.’ I was plastered to the window, just hoping he was getting it wrong. Oh, my God, I was just hoping he’d get it wrong. He couldn’t have had a better gear warning horn than me.”

She’s still a little embarrassed by that, as she is when she talks about taking her first solo flight, when she was a week shy of her 10th birthday. In today’s world, she says, such a thing would be considered highly irresponsible, “but I kind of think it’s great. It was a great childhood. It’s kind of a bygone era.”

I CAN’T IMAGINE WHERE LIFE WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME IF I HADN’T FLOWN AIRPLANES.

— Flori Fitzgerald

At the Blain family property off Blue Creek Road on the south bank of the Yellowstone River, flying was something virtually everyone did. Flori remembers that her first flight was in a Piper Super Cub, and she recalls being flown by her brother, Gary, down to see her grandparents in Joliet on Sundays.

Once, when Flori was 8, Gerhart took the whole family to Alaska

By the time Flori was in middle school, she knew she wanted to be an airline pilot. After high school, she attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona, but only for a year. Back in Billings the summer after her freshman year, she landed a job with Big Sky Airlines and never looked back.

“I don’t like to brag about that because it’s not a good thing, but I never finished my bachelor’s degree,” she says.

Like mother like daughter. Flori’s youngest child, 20-year-old Marin, put in one year at Montana State University, then finished her commercial and multi-engine check ride over the summer. The day after the multi-engine check ride she applied for a job with Mokulele Airlines. She got the job and will be living with her sister, 25-year-old Blayne, in Honolulu, where Blayne flies for Kalitta Air, a cargo airline. Marin does plan to continue working toward a bachelor’s degree, though.

Dillon

A few years after starting her flight career, Flori signed on with Rocky Mountain Airlines, where she met her first husband, fellow pilot Dan Meyer, who came to aviation via a stint in the Army as a helicopter pilot. Rocky Mountain was a feeder for Continental Airlines, for which they both ended up working.

When Flori was pregnant with her first child, Daniel, and Continental was in financial difficulties, she took a five-year leave of absence. Her second son, Dillon, was born just 15 months later. The family moved to Dallas, where husband Dan was based.

“We were living the total suburban life,” Flori says. “I was home with the kids, and he was flying. I got a little stir crazy there.”

Four years into her leave of absence, Flori went back to work for Continental Airlines. With she and Dan both working, and with, eventually, four kids at home, their schedules were anything but “normal.” Because pilots are allowed considerable leeway in bidding on or dropping certain flights, Flori and Dan, who both eventually were working for United Airlines and American Airlines, respectively, juggled assignments so that one of them was almost always at home. Home then was Montana, to which they’d returned in 2003.

“It was like one career between the two of us,” Flori says. “Neither of us were working a full schedule. It was the only way we could really pull that off.”

It helped, she says, that “Dan was an exceptionally good mom as well as dad, if I could say that. And if you don’t have that kind of support, I wouldn’t recommend it. … We could have made a lot more money. We didn’t do that. It was like, ‘Are you going to have a life? Are you going to see your family or are you going to go fly?’ It was a choice you had to make, and I think for the most part we always made the right choice.”

Dan died after suffering a stroke in 2019, after which Flori took almost a year off work. But she’s been flying ever since, and here she is at 55 with three of her kids well into their airline careers and one of them on the verge. Besides rendezvousing with her children in various locales, she’s also managed to do some tandem flying with her sons.

With Dillon, who also flies for United, she’s flown to London, New Zealand and Honolulu. On one flight back from Honolulu, she and Dillon were pilot and co-pilot and Daniel, a Delta pilot, was in the jump seat, hitching a ride home.

“It’s pretty entertaining, especially talking to other pilots who find the fact that our parents convinced all four of us to do it is a miracle,” Daniel says. “And it’s pretty fun telling the story of sitting on my mom’s jump seat while her and my brother are flying the plane.”

The long flight to New Zealand with Dillon was their first flight together, and it was amazing.

“It was the highlight of my career,” Flori says. “If I was going to talk about highlights in my life, that would be in the top five. What a great treat it was.”

Dillon had put in a request to be his mom’s co-pilot, he says, “and to my delight, I was assigned to fly with her. There’s nothing quite like cruising across the Pacific Ocean with your mom in the other seat — just to make sure she doesn’t get lost.”

In 2023, Flori married Bill Fitzgerald, who is not a pilot and is still adjusting to his wife’s unusual schedules.

“There’s been, you know, a learning curve for both of us,” Flori says. “But we’re just feeling pretty blessed to find each other at this stage in life. Both of us had life-altering things happen in our life, and then you kind of land on your feet and you go, ‘Wow, I didn’t expect that.’”

Flori has been based in San Francisco for years, so any assignment starts with a flight to the Bay Area. Before a trip, say, to New Zealand, flying a Boeing 777, the biggest passenger jet out there, she’ll arrive in San Francisco in the afternoon, nap for a few hours, then fly out at night.

On those longer flights, there are always four pilots, so each pair

of pilots flies for six or seven hours, with those ending their shifts usually hopping into a bunk for some more sleep. Once in New Zealand, she generally stays 24 hours before flying home. She prioritizes sleep and exercise. Her usual routine is to walk seven miles or so as soon as she arrives, get a good night’s sleep and then walk seven more miles in the morning.

“The exercise is important, because obviously in an airplane you do a lot of sitting,” she says. Flying those big planes long distances is desirable because, in Flori’s words, “you’re knocking out 30 hours of flying in four or five days,” after which you get six or seven days off in a row.

These days, in addition to sometimes flying with family members on the job, Flori is doing more recreational flying in her Cessna-182, which she describes as a “safe, practical plane that seats four people.” She and daughter Marin flew with a friend of Marin’s to the Bahamas, and even stopped in Florida to pick up Flori’s husband Bill, who didn’t want to be in the back of a small airplane for the whole flight.

“I’m gaining a huge appreciation for it at this stage of life,” Flori says. “I go out in my 182 and I’m just like, this is so wonderful flying over the Beartooths. How did I not know how lucky I was? How did I not know that?”

She supposes she was lucky, too, to have made a career in an industry long dominated by men. When she started, she says, about 1 percent of airline pilots were women, a number that has since risen to about 6 percent.

Marin wishes it weren’t considered a big deal to be a female pilot. If anything, she says, she’d like to see more women involved in airplane maintenance, which is still quite unusual.

“But when they talk of the old days,” Marin says, “it’s kind of cool knowing your mom was one of these young pilots back when it was really just a rare thing.”

Daughter Blayne expresses a similar sentiment. “I was fiercely independent from a young age, but my parents were always people I could rely on,” she says. “While my dad was the one that taught me to fly, it was my

Blayne

Marin

mom who encouraged me to pursue aviation as a career. With my current job I get to travel all over the world, and it’s comforting to have the people you love understand the highs and lows of the job.”

Flori says if she had one regret, it was having spent most of her career living in Montana, when it would have been so much easier to live in the cities where she was based, to avoid all those commutes and extra time away from home.

ED KEMMICK, writer

Then she thinks about it for a minute and adds, “But look at the life our kids got to live. They got to be near family. They got to live out in the country. I wanted to give them what I had.” ✻ SCAN TO READ FLORI’S ORIGINAL STORY FROM AUG/SEPT 2011

Ed Kemmick has been a newspaper reporter, editor, and columnist since 1980. Except for four years in his home state of Minnesota, he has spent his entire journalism career in Montana. In 2014, he founded Last Best News, a digital newspaper based in Billings. He is the former city editor at The Billings Gazette and the author of The Big Sky, By and By.

Morgan Stanley is proud to congratulate

The Fangsrud Stone Group

Named one of Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams

Being named to Forbes’ 2026 Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams list is a testament to your experience, focus, and dedication to your clients’ financial future.

Thank you for the work you do each day and for carrying forward the standard of excellence at our firm.

The Fangsrud Stone Group at Morgan Stanley

Wesley Fangsrud

Senior Vice President Financial Advisor

406-238-8911

Wesley.A.Fangsrud@morganstanley.com

Kayla Schuyler

Registered Client Service Associate 406-238-8906

Kayla.Schuyler@morganstanley.com

Kyle Stone First Vice President Financial Advisor 406-896-4402

Kyle.Stone@morganstanley.com

401 North 31st Street, Suite 900 Billings, MT 59101

advisor.morganstanley.com/ the-fangsrud-stone-group

L-R: Wesley, Kyle, Kayla

Source: Forbes.com (Awarded January 2026) 2026 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams. This ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by SHOOK Research LLC (the research company) in partnership with Forbes (the publisher) for the period from 3/31/24-3/31/25. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors paid a fee to SHOOK Research LLC for placement on its rankings. This ranking is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research LLC and may not be representative of any one client’s experience; investors must carefully choose the right Financial Advisor or team for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. This ranking is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not affiliated with SHOOK Research LLC or Forbes. For more information, see www.SHOOKresearch.com.

A Second Chance, Calling Calling Calling A Sacred A Sacred A Sacred

THE REMARKABLE RISE OF CHARIS HEALTH

written by JULIE KOERBER photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN

“IT FEELS COMPLETELY surreal to be sitting here right now,” says Dr. Sarah Stewart as she looks around one of the patient rooms in her brand-new medical clinic.

She knows that if it wasn’t for March 31, 2017, and a wreck that could have very easily proven fatal for her and her family, this venture — Charis Health Primary Care & Hypermobility in Billings — wouldn’t exist. In fact, when we first featured Sarah in YVW two and a half years ago, this clinic was just a dream.

“2017, that night, that cataclysmic night, I believe it set us on a course for this,” Sarah says.

That night, a drunk driver clipped her Suburban while trying to pass at a high rate of speed, sending her vehicle into a tailspin. The wreck broke Sarah’s pelvis and collapsed her lung. Her husband, Kit, was thrown 70 feet, landing in the middle of Highway 212. While her two youngest daughters were relatively unharmed, her then-14-year-old year old daughter, Naomi, bore the brunt of the force but walked away with only a broken rib.

couldn’t pinpoint a cause, Sarah kept praying and researching. Eventually, they’d discover that Naomi was born with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Those with EDS are “bendy,” with hypermobile ligaments and joints. Sarah knows that if Naomi didn’t have EDS, she would never have survived the crash.

Through every step of Naomi’s healing journey, Sarah, a board-certified family physician, was there, learning, digging for information, finding experts in the field and, eventually, becoming one herself. She is now one of the primary EDS caregivers in the Pacific Northwest. Patients travel from a six-state region just for her care.

I HAVE PATIENTS WHO FEEL HOPEFUL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES THAT THEY ARE BEING HEARD.

— Dr. Sarah Stewart

“That night, we could have all died and it is just mercy that we lived,” Sarah says. “That second chance at life that we were given, I feel like we should give freely from the wealth of that.”

The next few years would be incredibly hard on Naomi. The crash sparked a four-year downward spiral with her health. She was losing weight and suffered severe migraines. When doctors

“I have 600 referrals waiting to be seen,” Sarah says. “Six hundred people.” Kit, who is helping to manage the new practice, adds, “It’s a little daunting at times and people get discouraged when they call. If they called today, it’s going to be a ninemonth wait to get in.”

To start the clinic, Sarah had to wade through software and figure out how to handle insurance, along with Medicaid and Medicare. While the business side of things scared her, “Literally all of these steps have fallen into place,” she says. “I also am very blessed that I have a husband who’s willing to come alongside me.”

After years of listening to Sarah talk about her work, it’s been rewarding for Kit to have a front-row seat to her patient care.

“It’s super gratifying to meet the patients face to face,” especially

— Kit Stewart

after what we experienced with Naomi, Kit says. “Being on the other side and now being able to make an impact means a lot.”

Today, Naomi is 23 years old. Last spring she got married and she and her husband, Tim, are living in Iowa City, where Naomi works as the assistant to an associate dean of the Carver College of Medicine. To say she is proud of her mother’s new path in medicine would be an understatement.

“She’s been able to take a really hard event that impacted me, impacted her and Dad and turn it into something that is going to help hundreds of people. She’s just persevered through all the pain and fought for answers for me,” Naomi says. “Now she gets to fight for other people. It’s amazing and I don’t have the words for how incredible it is.”

As Sarah was getting ready to open her clinic, one of her dreams was to build collaboration with other professionals to expand access and care to those with Ehlers-Danlos — vascular doctors, cardiologists, physical therapists and more. Out of the blue, she received a phone call.

“Completely without my coordination, the genetics clinic in Helena, Shodair, contacted me and said, ‘Hey, would you like to be a part

“We really want to eventually open Charis Rehabilitation. It would have physical therapy, occupational therapy, massage therapy,” Sarah says. “That’s our five-year plan.”

The name “Charis” is Naomi’s middle name. It’s the Greek word for “grace.”

“If it weren’t for her life, her story, her diagnosis, I would not have ever known about, thought about or worked with Ehlers-Danlos,” Sarah says.

“And, this isn’t just a clinic for Ehlers-Danlos, but the need to continue serving that population of people started with her life and her story.”

With the doors freshly open on her new clinic, Sarah knows it’s helping to leave quite the professional legacy of care.

“I have patients

who feel hopeful for the first time in their lives that they are being heard,” Sarah says. “The fact that I am getting to do this is so completely surreal to me and I am blown away with gratitude.” ✻

Growing

young minds one day at a time.

25 years2

His Game Isn’t Over His Game His Game Isn’t Over Isn’t Over

A PIONEER PARK BASKETBALL COURT KEEPS ONE YOUNG MAN’S SPIRIT IN PLAY

written by BROOKE WAGNER photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN & THE EDINGER FAMILY

ON A QUIET CORNER of Pioneer Park, a basketball court now stands where there once was only dirt, grass and a few weeds. Soon, the sound of rubber soles and the swish of nets will fill the air — the kind of sounds Kim and Larry Edinger still hear in their memories of their son, Kaden. He was 20 years old when an accidental overdose took his life in 2017. This court is how his parents are making sure his story doesn’t end there.

Larger than life at 6 feet 4 inches tall, Kaden Edinger was known for his easy smile, sharp wit and incessant charm.

“This court is such an emotional journey for me,” Kim says with a smile. “It’s not about asphalt and hoops. It’s about hope.”

Hope carried Kaden through tumultuous years of high school and early college, when battles with anxiety and substance abuse threatened the light he so easily projected into the world. An athletic and charismatic teen, Kaden excelled in basketball during his time at Senior High. The sport served as both a passion and an emotional outlet. For him, shooting hoops wasn’t just about competition. It was about finding a healthy alternative to help him work through his thoughts.

It was one he wouldn’t survive.

Late in his high school years, Kaden began using marijuana before moving on to heavier substances. His once-straight-A grades fell. Ultimately, he was dropped from the basketball team after getting caught with chewing tobacco and alcohol. He lost close friends and his sense of belonging. Despite attempts at counseling and family support, he continued to spiral.

On the night of his death — July 27, 2017 — he took a pill he believed was oxycodone, unaware that it was laced with carfentanil, a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Kim hopes the basketball court will help people remember that her son was more than the event which ultimately ended his life. “As a mom, you want to protect them even after they are gone,” she says. “This is our way of doing that.”

Kim ended up partnering with Carol Keenan from the “I Am More” campaign, highlighting Overdose Awareness Day in Montana. Carol and Kim share a tragic con-

TO LEARN MORE OR DONATE, updates can be found through the Partners for Parks Foundation at pfpbillings.org or the project’s Facebook page.

nection. Both know what it is like to lose a child to an overdose.

“Carol lost her daughter about six months before we lost Kaden,” Kim says. “She was my lifeline because she had also gone through the same heartache we were facing.”

The support this group provided caught on almost completely by word of mouth.

“People started finding us after losing a child and were desperate for the help we knew we could try to offer,” Kim says. It became the pair’s mission to remind families and community members that those lost to overdose are more than their last days or moments. A day of remembrance has been held every year in Billings since 2020.

When Kim and her family set out to construct a permanent way to keep Kaden’s legacy alive, they envisioned a space where others could find the same joy, camaraderie and solace Kaden found on the court. They found that space in the southwest corner of Pioneer Park. Fundraising began with a goal of $40,000.

crete until long after dark, ensuring it wasn’t vandalized or tagged.

“Nearly every other court in town has had something done to it except for Kaden’s court,” Kim says with a laugh.

The family has been amazed at the outpouring of support and the stories shared along the way, proving how many lives have been touched by substance abuse.

“The whole reason for doing this is so people don’t feel alone,” Kim says. “It’s not a ‘me’ problem, it’s an ‘us’ problem. The fact that we were able to raise this much money shows that. This goes way beyond a basketball court.”

THE

WHOLE REASON FOR DOING THIS IS SO PEOPLE DON’T FEEL ALONE. IT’S NOT A ‘ME’ PROBLEM, IT’S AN ‘US’ PROBLEM. THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE THIS MUCH MONEY SHOWS THAT. THIS GOES WAY BEYOND A BASKETBALL COURT.

— Kim Edinger

“If we could somehow raise $40,000, there was a matching grant that would help get the project off the ground. It was our pie in the sky dream goal,” Kim says.

To Kim’s surprise, the grassroots effort raised in excess of $140,000. Through sponsorships and private donations, they had all the money they needed by the end of the summer in 2025. The project broke ground that fall, and concrete was poured in November.

In a true show of solidarity with his late son, Kim’s husband, Larry, stayed courtside that cold November night to guard the con-

Because of the success in raising funds, she adds, any excess will be used to benefit other basketball courts across Billings’ parks, helping to make an even bigger impact.

As the project comes to a close, Kim reflects on the fact that even the physical location of the court is meaningful and is representative of Kaden’s personality.

“When Kaden died, we planted a tree in his memory in the ugliest, most abandoned part of the park. It was just a dirt field,” Kim says. “That was Kaden. He was always rooting for the underdog and finding beauty in the most unexpected places.”

Today, the Edinger family is looking forward to the day when the first whistle blows and they hear that familiar “swish” of the net as the ball sails through the hoop. From high-intensity community wide tournaments to a casual late-night pick-up game, Kim knows that her son’s story will forever be a part of the game he so loved.

“I think with this whole project, it’s more than a court,” she says.

“To me, it’s about accepting people for their flaws and their mistakes.”

The family refuses to let grief have the final say. “If we can support one kid who lost his life due to an accidental overdose,” Kim adds, “then we can support anybody who is struggling with substance abuse.”

The family isn’t quite sure when the court will be ready for action. At the time the magazine was getting ready for print, the court still needed to be painted and striped. Early spring is the hope.

No matter who convenes at the park’s new court with basketball in hand, Kim envisions it as a “place where you can belong to something. Even if it is a pickup game.” She’s quick to add, “There is always somebody in their court.” ✻

1 year

BROOKE WAGNER, writer

Brooke is a music therapist and proud parent of three wonderful kids. She’s passionate about using the power of music to support healing and connection. When she’s not working or spending time with family, you’ll likely find her curled up with a good book, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, or sipping a warm cup of herbal tea.

SCAN TO READ KIM’S ORIGINAL STORY FROM JAN/FEB 2022

SCAN TO READ KIM’S ORIGINAL STORY FROM JAN/FEB 2022

When Grief Becomes a Grief

M vement M vement

TURNING HEARTBREAK INTO ACTION FOR MMIP FAMILIES

WHEN 16-YEAR-OLD

Selena Not Afraid went missing from the Hardin area in January 2020, her aunt, Cheryl Horn, made the 350-mile trek from the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation to stand by Selena’s mom. Cheryl’s voice was loud and her advocacy put a fire under the powers investigating Selena’s case. Twenty days later, Selena’s body was found a little more than a mile from the rest stop where she was last seen. The cause of death was hypothermia. For Cheryl, it wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of her fight for missing and murdered indigenous cases all over the nation.

“I’m never getting out of it, even if I wanted to,” she says.

When we first met Cheryl in 2020, she spoke about the reasons why.

“Yes Selena was found, but when Selena moves out of the way, there is another girl standing right behind her,” she said back then. “We don’t want to have to fight for justice.”

At the time, Cheryl and others talked about the need for reform. She cited poor reporting of missing persons cases, jurisdictional gaps between local, tribal and federal agencies, lack of coordination between each tribe and much needed search-and-rescue training to help in those critical first hours.

Back then, Cheryl felt it was an uphill battle. Today, she’s a little more encouraged.

“We now have a network of people,” Cheryl says. “Before, families were just lost, all by themselves, and didn’t know where to go. We are not like that anymore.”

She started the organization in 2022. Cheryl Horn also sits on the nonprofit’s board.

Yolanda says the mission is to provide advocacy for MMIP families. It might be providing a banner for that family to honor their loved one at a march. It might be a gas card to help them get to a court hearing. It might mean a letter-writing campaign to call for stiff penalties when a case is charged in court. And then, there is the Red Healing Teepee that Yolanda raises at marches, awareness events and even on courthouse lawns when a suspect heads to court.

“It’s not only symbolic, but it is ceremonial for our families because we smudge and pray,” Yolanda says. “And, it carries the hands of their loved ones, their handprints.”

Yolanda plans to raise the teepee on April 20th when the man charged in connection with Selena’s case goes to trial. Robert Alvin Morning-Bromley III was charged with criminal endangerment for putting Selena at significant risk of death. He allegedly left Selena at a rest stop even though she wasn’t dressed properly for the cold. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

It’s been a long time coming, Cheryl says.

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She represents the Fort Belknap reservation on Montana’s Missing Indigenous Persons Advisory Council, a group that includes representatives from each of the state’s federally recognized tribes plus members of the Attorney General’s office, the Montana Department of Justice, the Montana Highway Patrol and the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Even still, she says, “We had to learn everything and build things from the ground up.” Not only did each reservation need bootson-the-ground representation but, she adds, “It took families to come forward. It took them time to get their strength and to say, I’m ready to do this.”

Yolanda Frasier was one of those who had to shore up her strength. Yolanda is the grandmother of Kaysera Stops Pretty Places, an 18-year-old girl whose death underscored the urgent need to confront the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people. No one has been charged with murder in Kaysera’s case and early on, Yolanda says, a lack of reporting by law enforcement stole valuable time from her search. The case ignited something within her.

“I felt betrayed by our system,” she says. “At times, I get really angry. I feel that anger and then I say, ‘OK, what can we do? What can we change?’”

That’s why she’s now standing at the helm of the Pretty Eagle Woman Resources, a nonprofit designed to advocate for and support the families of missing and murdered indigenous people.

“I can’t believe six years later we are actually going to trial for Selena. Because you know, no matter what comes out of it, it shows everybody else that justice can move along,” she says. “I’m just crossing my fingers that they don’t try to plea bargain. That is the worst thing you can do to a family. We want to know. We want him to say what happened.”

While Yolanda is focused on family advocacy and pushing legislation to mandate investigative protocols in MMIP cases, Cheryl has a different focus. She cites the gains that have been made making sure every Montana tribe received search-and-rescue training. She shares how the MMIP Advisory Council recently launched its own license plate to help raise funds. And, she applauds the MMIP database, where cases are constantly monitored. Cheryl says now it’s time to put on events to get MMIP families in the same room to help them heal.

“We can’t change the bad, but we can try to get them out of that bad space,” Cheryl says. “We still need to check in on that mother, that sister and that daughter and make sure they are OK and keep encouraging them.” ✻

SCAN TO READ THE ORIGINAL STORY FROM MARCH/APRIL 2020

All about the All about theAnimals Animals

TRINITI HALVERSON’S HARD WORK AND RESILIENCE KEEPS YVAS AFLOAT

written

STAFF AT THE Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter never expected to make headline news on September 10th of last year. But that’s exactly what happened, when an evidence burn in the shelter’s incinerator spewed meth-laced smoke throughout the building. Not only did the fumes put 74 animals at risk but the drug-tainted smog sent 14 employees to the hospital and propelled them into a future they could never have imagined.

Those were the headlines immediately after the crisis. But as the days, weeks and months ticked by, shelter staff have dealt with the never-ending aftermath. Worn down by the multitude of extra tasks and inconveniences, some expressed burn out. In early January, as they prepared to move once again, they shared their stories of the event that altered their workplace, severed their social connections and required of them just about every ounce of energy and adaptability they could muster.

One person likened the initial crisis to the ravages of floodwaters.

“Now the flood waters have receded, but we’re not even close to being settled,” says YVAS director Triniti Halverson, elaborating on that metaphor. “We’re still dealing with the aftermath.”

tered, but staff that once thrived on working together were suddenly separated and adrift.

“Getting under one roof again is huge for staff morale — to feel like a team again,” one employee says.

They’d already relocated the animals three times and were poised to move to their new home at 5056 Jellison Road when Triniti and her employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the challenges they’d faced.

Editor’s Note:

The Department of Environmental Quality and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration continue its investigations to determine the potential health impacts of this event. For this reason, employees were urged not to share their names in this piece.

Triniti gushed with praise for the staff who put the animals first and gave their all to keep the shelter functioning.

“I am so proud,” she says. “Their creativity and problem-solving has been incredible.”

Four months after the initial crisis, the shelter’s services were spread across four different locations from West Billings to Worden. Not only were animals, equipment and supplies scat-

In early January, they were still working out of a large garage at Lionheart Cannabis, an active cannabis dispensary. A tour of the space yanked at one’s heartstrings and bombarded one’s ears. In what appeared to be a “warehouse full of dog crates,” nonstop barking — measured at 80 decibels — bounced off the concrete floors and echoed off steel garage doors. The dogs that once enjoyed oversized kennels and outdoor playgroups at the former facility were now restricted to small wire crates, their only privacy provided by a towel draped over them.

“The dogs are over-stimulated,” one employee says. “They have no space to get away if they have an accident. They have no place to go if they’re scared by the noise. It’s a circle. They just feed off each other.”

It’s little surprise that the nonstop cacophony stressed the cats — located only a few yards away — and sent them cringing into the corners of their cages.

Just witnessing the effects on their charges has, in turn, deeply impacted staff and volunteers alike.

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“We were one of the top shelters in the nation, not just Montana,” Triniti says. “Now we’re functioning out of a garage. Our standard of care is so high. It’s hard to be skilled in a way of helping, and it’s super taxing when you cannot. You feel so debilitated, so helpless.”

YVAS was incredibly appreciative for the temporary digs offered by Lionheart at no charge and almost immediately after the incident. But the space was dimly lit, and they relied on space heaters to combat the constant chill. The clincher, however, was the lack of running water.

“We literally didn’t have indoor plumbing,” Triniti says.

So, why didn’t YVAS return to the cityowned facility that had served as its headquarters for more than 15 years?

“My board isn’t willing to put us there,” Triniti says. “I have to be a good steward of my donors’ money, my staff’s welfare

and the animals’ health. I did not make this decision in a vacuum.”

As staff described the event that turned their lives upside down, they recalled breathing the toxic smoke that sent them to local hospitals where they spent several hours in hyperbaric oxygen chambers. As if that weren’t enough trauma, as soon as they were released, they beelined back to the shelter. It was after midnight, but they needed to care for the animals.

“There is no pause option when you’re caring for 75 animals,” Triniti says. “The first day was insane. We evacuated a majority of the animals, all before knowing what was being incinerated.”

The animals were moved to three different locations. The shelter cats went to YVAS’ separate Learning Center on Grand Avenue and the dogs were all moved to outdoor pens.

“We felt being outside at night was better than being in there,” Triniti says. Those animals in need of medical care were transported to Trailhead Veterinary Services, a brand-new clinic that had opened — just that week — by a former YVAS employee.

But their most pressing concern was a baker’s dozen of young kittens that were being treated for ringworm.

“They were the first exposure,” Triniti says.

Overnight, the Heart of the Valley Rescue in Bozeman offered to take them in.

“We drove them to Bozeman,” one employee recalled. “Oh, they looked so scrappy.”

(Incidentally, all 13 were cleared of ringworm in early January.)

As employees scrambled to gather what was needed, all the pet food and blankets had to be trashed. They crammed their cars full of supplies, much of which is still stashed in homes and other spots around Billings.

When the source of the toxic smoke was identified, staff were banned from reentering the facility. The only one allowed in was the staff veterinarian, who donned full PPE gear to retrieve much-needed meds.

“The anxiety meds, that was the big one,” one employee says. “We really needed those.”

But so much was left behind. From the X-ray machine to computers to vet records, the list would boggle the mind.

Almost immediately, one crew got to work decontaminating an-

imals — scrubbing dogs in cold water with Dawn dish soap — and wiping down cats as best they could. “It was 50 degrees and my pants were soaked,” one says. “Try bathing a cat,” another quips. Meanwhile, others frantically began searching for safe havens for the dogs and cats.

“While different crews were trying to decide where to go and what to do, our number one goal was to get everything adopted, to get them stabilized in foster homes or clinics,” Triniti says.

Once decontaminated, the animals were ready to be placed in foster homes. That first day, fosters stepped up and took in almost every animal, Triniti says.

But their work barely missed a beat. Barely a week after the crisis, YVAS held an adoption at Canyon Creek Brewing. The very next weekend, they held a spay/neuter clinic.

As the enormity of their task became apparent, YVAS saw no option but to shut down all intakes. The decision crushed Triniti

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THEIR DEVOTION TO THE ANIMALS IS PROFOUND. I MARVEL AT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE VERY DEEPLY KIND SOULS.

— Norma Buchanan

and her employees. Over the same 10-day period in previous years they would have taken in nearly 200 animals.

“It was extremely frustrating for us,” one employee says. “We would see animals on Facebook and pray that they made it home.”

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The relocation to Lionheart altered just about every protocol that was part of the staff’s norm. Bowls once cleaned in sinks with warm water were being washed outside — whatever the weather — using hoses. Feces that were previously cleaned up with scoopers had to be picked up by hand. Staff transported animals, in their own cars, from one site to another for medical attention, access that was previously just a few steps across the hall.

Much of the paperwork and vet records, once stored in a central location, got dispersed. Adoptions that previously took 15 minutes, were taking twice as long because they were down from three computers to one dependable computer — forcing staff to log adoptions by hand and enter them into the computer as time allowed.

Meanwhile, staff faced lines of potential adopters that grew out of sorts as they waited.

Even establishing a serviceable internet connection proved so difficult that staff could only access voice mails via their email.

And then there was the day they had a parvo scare.

“It ended up being a false alarm, but just mentally doing the gymnastics, trying to figure out how to deal with it….” one employee recalls, her voice trailing off.

While her employees were trying to adapt, Triniti was trying to unsnarl the complexities of government agencies.

“The process the government needs to go through in an emergency is incredibly slow,” she says.

Norma Buchanan, who chairs YVAS’ fundraising Community Leadership Team, was amazed at how the staff adapted. “We take for granted the things that we have in our daily workplace,” she says, things that the YVAS staff didn’t have. And yet, they were willing to put up with such conditions.

“Their devotion to the animals is profound,” Norma says. “I marvel at these young people. Obviously, they have very deeply kind souls.”

Most of the staff have come to tolerate their new “normal” — but barely. Others, too distraught by upheaval, have left.

“We’re trying our hardest,” one says. “But it’s still uncertain. That’s the worst part — not knowing what will happen next. I miss being in my happy little rut.”

Another employee expressed a sense of loss for the place that had served as her work home for nearly 15 years.

“I started working at the shelter when I was 21,” she says. “It was the place where I learned my purpose — the building that raised me. If I had a bad day, I’d go to the shelter, go pet a dog.”

Since the crisis, she’s been working on her laptop out of a coffee shop — isolated from the place and people who had made up her world.

Yet, for all the negatives, the dire situation brought out so many positives. Not only did Lionheart open its space to YVAS, but the business held a fundraiser in support. It even purchased additional space heaters to ward off the chill, Triniti says. Area clinics donated vaccines and much-needed disinfectant while volunteers stepped up to do laundry — five to six 300-pound loads, two or three times a week — the services of which were offered gratis by Spin Fresh Laundry.

Eye Future Eye Future

The outpouring of support reminded Triniti of the Mr. Rogers book that she read to her 5-year-old son.

“It says ‘look for the helpers,’” she says. “There were so many people who came to our aid — businesses and individuals. We wouldn’t have been able to be this resilient without that help.”

In early January, volunteers and staff made yet another herculean push as they moved to the Jellison location.

“Most people can’t move a house in four months,” Triniti says. “We’ve moved this three times.”

Yet, they still envision one last move — someday — into a brand-new shelter. They were already two years into a capital campaign when the crisis made their goal that much more urgent.

“We’re more motivated now than we ever were to get back to the state-of-the-art shelter that matches our level of care,” Trinity says. ✻

LINDA HALSTEAD-ACHARYA, writer

A long-time resident of the Columbus area, Linda Halstead-Acharya enjoys spending time and learning from her rural neighbors. She has a degree in wildlife biology but for the past 25 years has pursued a career sharing other people's stories in print. She loves riding, writing and traveling.

NORMA BUCHANAN, chair of YVAS’ fundraising Community Leadership Team, saw a dire need for a new facility long before the incident that prompted YVAS to evacuate the cityowned shelter.

“The temporary setback has not made any setback in our support,” Norma says. “That just gives us energy.”

In fact, the heightened sense of urgency has significantly increased donor response. As of January, the group was nearing $7 million in funds raised — close to half its goal.

“It just makes me realize the incredible generosity of our community,” Norma said. “I’m just in awe. I have no words.”

To donate to YVAS, go to YVAS.org or mail to PO Box 20920, Billings, MT, 59104.

SCAN TO READ TRINITI’S ORIGINAL STORY FROM JULY/AUGUST 2022

SCAN TO READ TRINITI’S ORIGINAL STORY FROM JULY/AUGUST 2022

years2

because becauseBryten Bryten

Can’t Can’t

FELICIA BURG TURNS LOSS INTO A LEGACY OF LOVE

AT 42, Felicia Burg carries a grief most of us can’t imagine. She’s pulled herself out of homelessness after years of living on the streets or in her vehicle. She’s battled the demons of addiction. And, two years ago, her 17-yearold son was murdered while coming to the defense of another. Instead of being gripped by heartbreak, Felicia has made it her mission to help prevent families from falling through the cracks and to love on them every step of the way.

She’s doing it as the executive director of Family Promise of Yellowstone Valley. After her son, Bryten, died, her purpose in life started to become a little bit clearer. When families hurt, she knows that pain can create cycles of trauma, which can take generations to turn around.

She used to be part of one of those families.

“As a parent, you can do everything for your child, but my boys still struggled,” she says with tears welling in her eyes. “All the writing was on the wall. Bryten was skipping school. He was running away from home. I didn’t have money for a private treatment center,” Felicia says of her son back in 2024. Felicia is a mom to three — Bryten, Eli, who is now 17, and Penny, now 8. “Even though I had connections, there weren’t the resources that I needed for my boys.”

She remembers crying to those who served kids, begging for help.

“All the professionals said, ‘Yeah, we see he’s going down a really bad path. So, here’s what we do. We can wait until he commits a crime bad enough to go to Pine Hills (Youth Correctional Facility) or we wait until he is in full blown substance abuse disorder and then Medicaid will pay for his treatment,” Felicia says, adding neither choice was an option for her.

After Bryten got connected with a case manager at Tumbleweed, a program that serves homeless and runaway youth, she started to see a change.

“I thought we were on a better track,” Felcia says. “He was talking more positively and making plans.”

Then came a phone call that would ultimately shatter so many lives.

“Bryten called and asked if he and a friend could walk up to the Holiday,” Felicia says. It was 9:30 in the morning on April 20, 2024. It seemed innocent enough. She said yes. Bryten and his friend, Cruise, headed up Monroe Street where they were confronted by the new boyfriend of Cruise’s ex, a 16-year-old boy named Shyrone Wolfblack.

“Bryten is there on the sideline,” Felicia says, adding that’s when Shyrone came at Cruise, knife in hand. “When Bryten sees this,

he hops in to help his friend. His friend only got a scratch on the back from the knife. Bryten got stabbed four or five times in the heart and several times in the back. From what witnesses said, Bryten was walking up the street, staggering, before he collapsed.” After a woman ran out of her house to check on him, Felicia says, “He told her several times, ‘call my mom. Call my mom.’”

By the time Felicia got there the ambulance had already taken Bryten to the hospital. While medical staff worked to stop the bleeding, the bigger concern, Felicia says, was the impact on her son’s brain.

“He was without blood and oxygen to the brain for about 15 minutes, which obviously causes a lot of issues,” she says. “For the next five days, we just sat there.”

The swelling to Bryten’s brain was severe and doctors feared he was brain dead.

“They took him off oxygen to see if he could breathe on his own after a minute,” she says, pausing to wipe tears from her cheek. “I knew. So, I just laid on his chest until his heart stopped beating.”

In the days and weeks that followed, more came to light about her son’s killer, who is now serving 65 years in prison for deliberate homicide with the use of a weapon.

“Looking at Shyrone’s past, so many things could have been avoided,” Felicia says. “The kid didn’t have a good life. He was in and out of foster care, trouble, in and out of Pine Hills, just horrible things at a very young age.”

Felicia says she isn’t angry at Shyrone. She’s angry at the system.

“If we had a system that was truly set up to support his parents, I feel like things could have been different,” she says. “Shyrone was

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WIN THAT BATTLE AGAINST THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND HOW IT WORKS. WHAT I CAN DO IS FIGHT HARDER TO RECOGNIZE PARENTS AND KIDS WHO ARE STRUGGLING BEFORE IT GETS TO THAT POINT.

— Felicia Burg

recently let out of Pine Hills. He cut off his ankle bracelet and killed my son within days of being of let out.”

And then, there is the crime that Shyrone was never charged with.

“There’s talk that he stabbed another person and killed her earlier, when he was 14,” Felicia says.

That case revolves around 24-year-old Jessie Jane Guardipe. She was stabbed to death on July 3, 2022. After the crime, a relative of Jessie’s shared with a TV news reporter that Jessie and Shyrone were arguing about a parking spot. When things escalated, Shyrone reportedly lunged at Jessie with a knife. Lt. Samantha Puckett with the Billings Police Department confirmed that a warrant request for Shyrone was filed with the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office in August 2022. The suggested charge was negligent homicide. Today, that case is listed simply as “charges unfiled.”

“There are some complexities to that case,” says Deputy Yellowstone County Attorney Hallie Bishop. She’s also the attorney that prosecuted the case against Shyrone involving Bryten’s murder. When questioned about progress in the Guardipee case, Hallie says, “I want to tread lightly because the case is still open.” She couldn’t comment further.

“I am so mad because the family that lost their family member to this stabbing wanted to come in for their justice,” Felicia says. “Nobody snitches. If somebody would have just stood up and told the truth, my son would be alive.”

When asked if she feels called to try to change the system, she quickly shakes her head. “You are not going to win that battle against the justice system and how it works,” Felicia says. “What I can do is fight harder to recognize parents and kids who are struggling before it gets to that point.”

That is a battle where she is making strides. Last year alone, Family Promise served more than 2,000 people. Some were helped through the organization’s emergency shelter program; others through their eviction-prevention program; others still through their life skills classes designed to keep people stably housed. Of those served, roughly 1,000 were children.

When YVW first featured Felicia in 2019, she shared her gritty past and how she was a graduate of the Family Promise program herself. When she first walked through the doors of Family Promise in 2013, she was a single mom of two without a car, a job or a place to live. She’d been sober for about nine months. After graduating from the program, she applied for a part-time job as a bus driver for the nonprofit. Eventually, she moved from that job to one as a program assistant, then to a marketing assistant, to development coordinator, to eventually being a development director in charge of Family Promise’s fundraising and public relations efforts. When we chatted seven years ago, she made it clear that she wanted to one day run the nonprofit as its executive director. It’s a title she earned in January of last year.

“God and the universe had to align so many things to make it so that I could be here and have the opportunities that I had,” Felicia says. “He opened doors and created space and brought people into my life that helped me.” She admits she still has days when she has to learn on the fly.

“Taking a look at the community. Where are the gaps? What can we do? And then, being able to communicate that with funders to fill those gaps,” she says about the issue and the urgency.

For the first time last year, Family Promise expanded services to cover people along the full housing insecurity spectrum — from someone facing an eviction notice to those who are homeless, to those who become housed but later become unstable. The

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organization got funding through the Siemer Institute to put together a stabilization and eviction-prevention program. It started last October and brought another case worker to the organization. When Felicia started in her current leadership role a little more than a year ago, she had one case worker. Now, there are three. They are also serving more than twice as many people.

“It blew my mind,” Felcia says, adding these are real people with real struggles. “We were able to have 250% more impact.”

She knows this is what she was meant to do.

“I thought my purpose had to be more elaborate,” she says with a smile. Instead, it’s rather simple. “It’s my job to remind our community to love your neighbor. If we are doing that, we won’t let these families fall through the cracks. We won’t let kids sleep in cars on the street. That’s not what love does.”

Felicia is quick to add that this love is unconditional.

“What I know now, deep in my soul, is you have to also love those you don’t like. It’s not my job to judge Shyrone or his mom. I have to love them,” Felicia says. “It’s a commandment because it’s hard.”

Felicia begins to talk about the last time she saw Shyrone and his mom in the courtroom at his sentencing. Security guards stood between her and Shyrone’s mom, preventing Felicia from speaking to her.

“I really wanted her to know that I feel for her. She lost her son too,” Felicia says. “She had her issues very similar to what I had but I had people who loved me out of that. I don’t know if she had that.”

Felicia would love it if they met face to face one day.

“How powerful of a testimony would it be if we could talk together? If we could use both of our kids’ lives to help other mothers and kids?” she asks.

As we talk, Felicia mentions Shyrone turned 18 at the end of January. When asked why she knows the date, she says she wants to make a point to never forget him. She issued him a challenge when she shared her victim impact statement at his sentencing.

“When I got up to the stand, I said, ‘Look at me.’ I told him that I don’t want him to go to prison and just sit his time. Now he has to do twice as good. He has to turn his life around and he has to do twice as good because Bryten is not here to do good. He looked at me and cried,” Felicia says. “I said, are you hearing what I am saying? Lots of good things have happened from a jail cell. I don’t know what that is going to be, but now that is your calling.”

Last Christmas, Felicia says she was tempted to send Shyrone a Christmas card. The reason was simple. “Hey, don’t forget what I asked you to do,” she says.

Since then, she took a grief support course through RiverStone Health. Ironically, she found more value in the lessons taught to her 8-year-old daughter, Penny, in the children’s version of the class.

“The way children grieve, I think it is so beautiful,” Felicia says. “When a child grieves, it is short. They will have a memory and they will miss the person but then their brain switches quickly to the happy memories.” She is quick to add, “I became bound and determined to grieve like a child.”

She has also embraced a mantra that underscores creating the life she wants to live. “Find the things that bring you joy and then, go after those things,” she says. Anger, she adds, isn’t just an emotion. It’s a choice.

“I know hate and anger won’t bring Bryten back,” she says. “I know that love wins. I’m stubborn enough that I want to win, whatever that looks like.” ✻

Summer at the YAM 2026

YAM Art camps and classes are the way to explore art in a museum, learn new art techniques, and have fun! Registration opens on April 1, 2026.

Summer Art Academy Camp

June 1–5 & June 8–12 | Ages 8 – 14

Young artists learn from professional artists in small groups on the campus of Montana State University Billings.

Summer Art Studio Classes

June 18 & 25; July 16, & 23 | 10 am – 12 pm & 1 – 3 pm | Ages 5 – 12

At these Thursday classes, students will tour, explore, and learn to create art. Every week focuses on a different exhibition and technique.

YAM Camp

August 3–7 for ages 6–8 | August 10–14 for ages 7–9 | August 17–21 for ages 9–12

NEW! Folktales & Fanfare Special YAM Camp | July 6–10 for ages 7–10

Young artists spend an entire week exploring and going behind the scenes at the YAM and creating colorful whimsical art using multiple techniques and mediums.

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For more information and to register for camps scan the QR code or visit artmuseum.org.

Riding the Riding the Next Wave

BUILT KINETIC MARKETING AND IS NOW REINVENTING IT IN THE AGE OF AI

WHEN DANA PULIS isn’t busy leading the region’s largest marketing agency, she is thinking about surfing, and that’s no surprise. Her newfound quest to catch a wave and surf the perfect curl is a metaphor for so much in her 20-year career.

“The water is changing every single second, so what you learned two minutes ago doesn’t apply. You have to fly forward to a completely different condition,” Dana says.

With AI growing in popularity, the marketing landscape is changing almost as fast as the ocean in a storm, and the algorithms for online marketing change with a such a frequency that it could give any pro marketer whiplash.

“There are plenty of times in business where we catch a wave of AI and we’re like, we’re on it. We’re riding it. This feels good. Look at it. It works,” Dana says. “But it changed and it just changed again. And it’s changing right now as we speak.”

Dana founded Kinetic Marketing in 2007 without a safety net, and the endeavor was risky from the beginning. She realized she was a woman in a man’s world and knew that building her business would take more than just the right connections. It would take decisiveness and hard work. At that time, the agency’s slim portfolio included lots of spec work — working unpaid to build Kinetic’s reputation.

“From this standpoint now, that would look reckless because we were wasting all this time, but it was very strategic,” Dana says.

She had conviction, believed in her team and was willing to take risks because she knew that she was in it for the long haul. At the time, Dana, who has a degree in journalism, did all the writing. It was her first love and the reason she started the agency.

In the early years, she leveraged her spec work and the success of those first clients to attract more clients and bigger contracts. Dana was always thinking two years ahead, building a flexible strategy that opened the door for more work.

“I would take a little bit of equity from one project or one client and move it forward to the next,” she says.

Dana calls it leapfrogging, and it’s been a cornerstone of her business model. It’s a philosophy she still believes in.

“Just take a risk, take what you’ve got, and leapfrog it,” she says.

Dana worked long hours to support her family while her then-husband pursued higher education. They have three sons, and the youngest was 3 when Dana started Kinetic. No matter how late it was when she got home, Dana insisted on making dinner for her family.

Now Kinetic employs about 25 people, and several employees have been there from the earliest years, the “scrappy days” as Dana calls them. She takes pride in providing a great work culture for her em-

WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY AND WE HAVE AI, BUT WE MUST MAINTAIN HUMAN CONNECTIONS, HUMAN EMOTIONS, AND HUMANIZE OUR WORLD MORE THAN WE EVER HAVE.

— Kris Carpenter

ployees. It’s paid off with team loyalty, and many employees have been with the company for 10 years or more.

Kelsea Schreiner, part owner of Kinetic and a managing partner, came on board in 2009 as a writer. She’s seen many changes in Kinetic over the years and said that Dana has always been a steady, guiding force, who fostered creative solutions and modeled work-life balance.

“Dana is tenacious in a way that is larger scale. It’s not about the small details, and her kind of tenacity and vision is hard to find,” Kelsea says.

Relationships are key to Kinetic’s success, she added, and Dana has always focused on building heartfelt relationships with clients and with her team.

“Dana is one of those people I’ve never not trusted her intentions for people she works with, for clients, and for me,” Kelsea says.

To make Kinetic thrive, Dana realized she needed to embrace structure, focus on the numbers and keep metrics top of mind. It didn’t come naturally, but she knew early on that discipline was essential for the success of the business.

Kinetic had always been a founder-centric agency, but in the last three years, Dana, 57, has orchestrated a shift to a new leadership model. She’s handed off direct management to a leadership team. Now Dana oversees client accounts and revenue, leaving the dayto-day execution to her team. Lately, she’s been working on vision and strategic planning to “reinvent our position.”

“I don’t want to be indispensable, I want this agency to be indispensable,” she says.

As part of Dana’s strategic plan, Kinetic bought a small, successful marketing firm in Bozeman with the goal of serving small businesses. The new venture is called Kinetic Greenhouse.

“We have a love for local business, and we know how hard it is for them to compete in this world, in marketing,” Dana says.

These days, Dana’s neglected creative side is getting the love it has long deserved. She’s hosting podcasts and writing a regular column on LinkedIn. Her column has more than 20,000 views, and her podcast features executives from A-list companies like Wells Fargo, KOA and Fox Entertainment. Dana leapfrogged her way from one top executive to the rest, and she has hosted 15 guests. Her podcast is for marketing professionals and is

called “The Sting,” which is a nod to her beekeeping hobby. You can’t have honey without the sting, she says.

Dana also takes her expertise on the road as a speaker at various marketing conventions across the United States. While her colleagues think she’s crazy for taking the stage in front of a crowded room, Dana is energized by public speaking. Her message illustrates a need in marketing for connection.

“We have technology and we have AI, but we must maintain human connections, human emotions, and humanize our world more than we ever have,” she says.

All these new endeavors — surfing included — sprang from her decision to loosen her grip on the agency and allow others to lead. In fact, she says the move has been one of the best leadership decisions she’s ever made. It provided the time for her to pursue other things in life, including a new romantic relationship and more time with her adult children, who all still live in Billings.

“There was a time in the beginning when I was all the things,” Dana says. “Now, I’m in the long game, and I’m building confi dence for the last chapters of my life.”

She’s excited to share what she’s learned about business and life, and yes, about surfing.

“You don’t have to do it like everybody else. You just have to take action even if it’s just a first small step,” Dana says. “That’s where the confidence is built.”

Starting out in any new pursuit, whether it’s in business or life, can be scary, Dana says. Not every risk she took or decision she

made was met with reward, but she didn’t let fear make decisions for her. She just looked to the next opportunity — the next wave.

LAURA BAILEY, writer

Laura is a Red Lodge based storyteller with more than 20 years experience. When she's not tapping away on her keyboard, chances are she's off on an adventure with her family or starting another DIY project. You can find her online at www.penandlight. com.

SCAN TO READ DANA’S ORIGINAL STORY FROM MARCH/APRIL 2020

“Maybe why I love surfing so much is because I’m learning how to thrive in a condition that is completely unpredictable, uncontrollable, and is changing second by second. It is how life is. It is life in motion. It’s constant,” Dana says. ✻ The thinking is the same — only the scale changes. Great marketing isn’t about size. It’s about impact on our clients’ businesses and knowing who we’re here to serve.

One Philosophy. Two Paths.

with them.

brand and marketing strategy for businesses and organizations navigating complexity, growth and change. sales@kineticgreenhouse com | KINETICGREENHOUSE COM

com | KINETICMC COM

and2unfiltered2

THE DYNAMIC DIMENSIONS OF YVW’S CREATIVE DIRECTOR

written by CYDNEY HOEFLE photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN

IT WAS THE 2025 Montana State Univer sity Bobcats home opener — the Gold Rush Game — and Bobcat Stadium was buzzing. A sell-out crowd of 22,000 set the tone early, the fans’ cheers rolling through the stands in waves. Nearly every seat brought a pop of yel low, as fans donned their Gold Rush T-shirts, flooding the stadium with an unmistakable sea of Bobcat pride.

Somewhere in that sea stood freelance graph ic designer Melanie Fabrizius. The previous spring, she had entered the Gold Rush T-shirt Design Contest. Her artwork ended up cap turing the vote of fans statewide and landed her design on thousands of shirts. Named the 2025 Gold Rush Winner, Melanie earned more than bragging rights; she was in vited onto the field before kickoff as a special guest. As she stepped onto the turf, the roar of the crowd washed over her.

“Oh my gosh,” she says, reflect ing back. “To see thousands of people wearing gold T-shirts with my design on it. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling. As an art ist, it doesn’t get any better than that!”

MELANIE WEARING HER WINNING DESIGN AT THE 2025 MSU

Friends describe Melanie as free-spirited, loyal, colorful, bold, caring, unpredictable and often unfiltered. She’s eccentric and loves art, fashion, rockhounding, 4-wheeling, dressing up for Halloween and her two dogs, Pistol Annie and Comanche Sue. She’s a country girl at heart, known for her uncontrollable laughter. And at 5’11” — and often wearing her own clothing designs —

she makes a statement when she enters a room. She’s also the face behind the design and layout of Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine.

Melanie was already designing ads for YVW as well as fashioning the layout for the quarterly magazine, Raised in the West, when she jumped at the opportunity to be the magazine’s creative director back in 2019.

“It’s been an incredible thing for me and I’m excited to be part of such an inspiring magazine,” Melanie says.

Born and raised on her family’s sugar beet farm near Belfry, Melanie was inspired artistically as a child by the western lifestyle. She doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t drawing.

“Mom gave me paper and supplies at a very young age. I was so young even the walls were my canvas,” she laughs.

She remembers her mother drawing and doodling and she credits her mom for her artistic genes.

“Mom was a great artist,” she says. “Unfortunately, she was so busy working on the farm that she didn’t have time to really pursue it. She also loved fashion, which became something we shared.”

It wasn’t long before Melanie’s two sisters and her parents became her subjects. Even the farm animals and wildlife spurred her creativity. It was a creativity she also expressed by pushing the envelope with her fashion sense.

“I remember wearing a little pink dress to school one day, and pairing it with a spike bracelet,” she laughs. “And that was just one of my outfits!”

By high school, Melanie had become the artistic “go-to.” Whenever an event poster was needed, she was the first choice. To this day, her paintings of the mascots of Belfry High School’s opposing teams still hang on the gym walls.

It’s no wonder she found a way to channel that talent. After earning a graphic design degree from Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, she landed a job at the Billings Gazette, diving into ad layout and production. Working within the structure of a large corporation didn’t fully satisfy her creative instincts and she was almost thankful when the Gazette decided to outsource their design work overseas. What could have felt like a setback became an unexpected opening.

“It was one of those things that was devastating at first, but ultimately one of the best things that could have happened to me,” Melanie says. “It made me really think about what I wanted to do with my life and if I could make a living as a freelance graphic artist.”

Serving as the magazine’s creative director gives her days just enough structure to leave room for the other projects she loves. Among her favorites are the opportunities to bring her nontraditional Western flair to the front of promotional rodeo posters.

MOSES BRINGS PLENTY & MELANIE AT THE LANE FROST EVENT

After several years of independent design work for multiple companies, her creative path led her to new opportunities, including the one here at Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine.

She designed her first in 2019 for the Home of Champions Rodeo in Red Lodge.

“Mel nailed it the first time,” says Shari DeSaveur, the rodeo’s marketing director. “She understood our vision and created a beautiful layout.”

Melanie has designed the poster every year since, along with the rodeo’s tickets and largerthan-life billboards.

But it was a poster for a threeday rodeo in Bosler, Wyoming, that led to dozens more rodeo design jobs. For the past three years, she has created the rodeo poster for the University of Wyoming’s Tribute to Steamboat, the bucking horse whose silhouette has become iconic in the Cowboy State.

If you look deeply into one of her designs, you’ll see each bold tribute features layer upon layer of imagery and symbolic design elements which tell a deeper story. Tucked into every composition is her signature Indian Paintbrush, a subtle but unmistakable mark of her hand. Since each piece demands 40 to 50 hours of meticulous work, it’s clearly a labor of love.

“You can tell by the detail that Mel puts time and effort into every

poster,” Shari says. “It’s not just a project. It’s something she loves doing. She has so many things hidden in the background that she makes a key to find them. They are a work of art and collector’s item.”

It was that very style that caught the attention of those with Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. Plans were already ramping up for a 2024 event aimed at honoring PRCA World Champion bull rider Lane Frost. Lane was tragically killed by

the bull “Taking Care of Business” after completing a successful 85-point ride at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1989. The museum wanted to remember the 35th anniversary of his death and play host to a special screening of the documentary, “LANE: Life/ Legend/Legacy.”

Shirley Holmes Churchill, a volunteer for the museum, had seen one of Melanie’s posters for the Chugwater Rodeo hanging on the wall at the Chugwater Soda Fountain.

MELANIE CREATED A CUSTOM PATTERN USING OLD PHOTOS OF HER MOM & DAD FEATURED ON T-SHIRTS & DRESSES

“I was drawn to it,” Shirley says. “It was so colorful and eye-catching. The artist had done such an amazing job of incorporating so much of Wyoming into the background.” She knew Melanie would be the perfect artist to commemorate Lane Frost.

honor of the milestone event. Measuring 18 by 38 inches, the richly detailed poster is a visual powerhouse, built from an intricate 52-layer design file with more than 40 photographs seamlessly woven into the background.

MELANIE & HER NIECE MILA DURING BILLINGS ARTWALK AT STONE FEATHER ROAD

“That was such an honor for me,” Melanie says. “Growing up in a small town, we all knew the legend of Lane Frost. Being selected to design the poster and attend the event was incredible.”

It was a star-studded red-carpet event, with Melanie in the middle of it all. Moses Brings Plenty, one of the stars of the hit TV show “Yellowstone” walked the red carpet, as did members of Lane Frost’s family.

‘TWENTY’ FROM THE NOT FORGOTTEN COLLECTION

In January, Melanie put the finishing touches on a poster celebrating the 75th anniversary of the World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale. Created, signed and numbered by Melanie, the limited-edition piece will be sold in

“I’m pretty proud of it,” she smiles. “It’s the largest rodeo poster I have ever created and it took me over 60 hours to complete!”

As YVW celebrates its 25th anniversary, Melanie is one of only four creative directors who have, over the years, influenced the look and the face of the magazine.

“I am continually amazed by the women that are featured in YVW,” she says. “Every one of them is so remarkable in their own way and it’s exciting to be part of that. I strive to showcase them the best that I can.”

For the past seven years, she’s redesigned the magazine from top to bottom with the creative use of typography and pops of intense color.

“I love color,” she says. “In fact, my favorites are turquoise, hot pink, sunset and cheetah print. And yes, sunset and cheetah print are colors!”

While each issue bears a piece of her, she was deeply moved when YVW decided to take a deep dive into the topic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in its March 2020 issue.

“That was one of the hardest issues I have designed,” Melanie says. “Selena Not Afraid’s story ended so tragically. It still haunts me.”

The 16-year-old was reported missing in January of that year and 20 days after her disappearance, her body was found. The story sparked national attention and brought to light the number of women, just like Selena, who were still missing. The issue was titled “Say Their Names.”

Part of that issue’s layout shared the photos of some of the missing women.

“That layout was so difficult because those women’s faces were just haunting me. I couldn’t get the images out of my head,” Melanie says. “The pandemic came and still those stories kept nagging at me. I decided, just as an outlet, to start drawing them.” At the time, she started with the images of 42 women, each one symbolic of a missing indigenous woman. The collection was titled

“Not Forgotten.” To date, that collection has grown to 156.

At the end of the day, Melanie says she doesn’t have tremendous wealth to share, but she hopes to spark change instead with her creativity.

“It’s something that’s always in the back of my mind. I want my art to make a difference with people,” she says, adding that she envisions partnerships in the future to use her work to spark change. She’d love to raise awareness for the MMIW cause or even help support fundraising for animal welfare or rescue operations. Growing up, her mom was known for taking in and fostering strays. Watching her mom made an impact.

“Hopefully,” Melanie says, “there’s a way I can use my art to give back.” ✻

CYDNEY HOEFLE, writer

A fourth generation Montanan, Cydney was raised on a ranch on the banks of the Yellowstone River where an appreciation of the outdoors was fostered. She and her husband raised three children in Billings and are now the proud grandparents of three. The best part of any of her days is time spent with Jesus, family, friends, a good book or capturing someone’s story in words.

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FROM NICU LULLABIES TO DRAG-STRIP THUNDER, THE UNSCRIPTED PRIVILEGE OF TELLING YOUR

by DANIEL SULLIVAN

story & photography

THIS — a reflection captured of Vicki and Sheldon Eaton — is one of the first pictures I ever took working for Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine. From a technical standpoint, it’s not all that great and if I had to do it all over again, I’d definitely make some improvements. But this picture remains one of my all-time favorites because it was full of inspiration, and that inspiration didn’t come from me.

It was late summer 2013. I’d only been a professional photographer for about five years when a series of providential encounters connected me with YVW and led me to the Billings home of Sheldon and Vicki Eaton. They shared with us the story of their son, Ryan, who’d been diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma at age of 25. He lost his battle with cancer about a year later. Ryan had used his skills as a graphic designer to start a T-shirt business with one of his brothers, and he spent his final days working to ensure that other cancer patients were comforted and connected though the proceeds of his shirt sales.

I had four young boys at home and I couldn’t even fathom what it would be like to lose one of them, yet these grieving parents spoke with such grace and hope. They told us how Ryan’s legacy was living on through the work that he started and they were now continuing. The Eatons were genuine, and vulnerable. I, on the other hand, was secretly panicking.

THE WOMEN (AND MEN) WHO FILL THE PAGES OF YVW COME WITH A LIFETIME’S WORTH OF INSPIRATION...

— Daniel Sullivan

How can I possibly capture this feeling? I thought, as I went through the motions of doing photographer things. I had a standard shot list to follow, but it felt inadequate, and I was at a loss to come up with a way to even partially convey the love and connection that emanated from their story. Then Vicki handed me a framed photo of her son, and the inspiration struck.

It was their inspiration, not mine, as it almost always is. The women (and men) who fill the pages of YVW come with a lifetime’s worth of inspiration through their stories of loss, pain, trauma, long-suffering, charity, devotion, achievement, creativity, tenacity, talent, resourcefulness and faith — sometimes all in the same story. I’ve met mothers, chefs, business leaders, ranchers, judges, law enforcement officers, musicians, dancers, bakers, architects, truck drivers, civil servants, doctors, nurses, artists, pastors, refugees, athletes, explorers, engineers, authors, aviators, first-responders, educators, caregivers, volunteers and more who all have that unique spark that makes them who they are, and it’s their inspiration that fuels mine.

Can I do them justice? Not even close. How I wish I could convey the delicious aromas that waft out of Stella Fong’s kitchen, or the sounds of children finding a way to express joy during therapy, or the relief felt after a medical breakthrough, or the

kindness in the humanitarian work that I’ve witnessed. There is no way a 30-minute photo session could ever fully encapsulate what took years, decades or a lifetime to develop.

I’ll never forget being at St. Vincent Healthcare’s NICU with Brooke Wagner. Amid the hum of life-sustaining equipment and the incessant beeps and bops of health monitors, Brooke gently plucked at her acoustic guitar and softly sang a lullaby to a young mother holding her tiny infant who was born premature and in need of intensive care. The music was like a warm beam of sunshine cutting through dense, cold fog. As a musician myself, I was caught up in the melodic repose and found myself humming along. How did I get here? I mused, feeling fortunate as I remembered that I had a job to do.

It wasn’t much later that I found myself in the pits out at the Yellowstone Drag Strip, shooting once-in-a-lifetime portraits with Casey Tehle. Her 10-thousand-horsepower top drag racer was thunderously loud and the scene was in sharp contrast to the serenity of the NICU, but my question was still the same. How did I get here?

That question persists on almost every assignment — whether I’m covering a candle-light vigil for a missing high school student, creating portraits of the women who make up St. Vincent’s HELP Flight, witnessing a veteran celebrate a milestone anniversary of sobriety or even taking pictures of my own dear mother. I had the privilege of capturing photos to go along with her story of trauma, despair and ultimate redemption, and now when I tell someone, “Thank you so much for sharing your story with us,” I know what it costs, and I mean it wholeheartedly.

“I’m not very photogenic” they say almost universally, and I commonly hear, “I’m not sure I deserve to be in a magazine.”

Sometimes we’re in their living-room-turned-sewing-center, or a church basement, or literally working out of the back of their car. It’s rarely glamorous, but doing the work of small things with

great love deserves to have its moment in the spotlight. What they don’t realize is the same spark that inspired them has the potential to ignite others in ways they had never dreamed of. And the more they’re inspired, the more I’m inspired.

Every issue is a battle. Every issue is an adventure. Every issue has a little fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants element to it. “Unscripted” as my dad would say. I’ll never know what I’ll find for lighting, location, backdrop or subject matter, but I do know one thing: if I find inspiration, it’s because it was already there. ✻

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BEHIND THE THE

THE WRITERS OF YVW SHARE THE INTERVIEWS AND EXPERIENCES THAT STILL LIVE IN THEIR HEARTS

FOR 25 YEARS, the pages of Yellowstone Valley Woman have been filled not only with powerful stories, but with the voices of the writers who brought them to life. As we celebrate this milestone, we’ve asked them to share, in their own words, the stories that shaped and moved them most. ✻

“Looking back on everything I’ve done for Yellowstone Valley Woman, I’m proudest of the two stories I wrote for the March/April 2024 issue, which were paired with two stories from YVW editor Julie Koerber. All of them centered on the subject of domestic violence, and the efforts under way to help the victims of such violence, and to chip away at the root causes of it.

I’ve written plenty of feature stories for YVW, but given my background in the newspaper business, I love it when YVW takes a deep dive into solid, newsy reporting. That’s what Julie and I did in this issue, producing (if I may say so) a great package of stories, backed up by the usual stellar photography and a double-page spread of relevant statistics.

On top of all that, I got to meet and interview Taya Keith, the coordinator of the Family Justice Center, a one-stop location that brings together multiple services and agencies to provide help for victims of family violence and abuse. Taya is an amazing, inspiring woman, and I was honored to introduce her to the readers of YVW.”

~ED KEMMICK

“When my mom was dying, right at the start of Covid, I was feeling lost. My business was losing all its events, and, of course, I knew that within days Mom would be gone. I prayed about not knowing who I would be, what I would do when I went home from Phoenix. I walked into a third-floor sunroom at the hospital, again, in Phoenix, and one lone magazine was on the table, I kid you not, with a ray of sunshine hitting the cover. It was YVW, and my column in it was about being bold. Much of the story was about Mom and her strength during adversity. I knew then that I could always write, and that’s what carried me forward. Writing these columns, and hearing what they mean to people, have been an unexpected lifeline, blessing and thrilling adventure for me.”

~KAREN GROSZ

“I’ve been writing for Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine — off and on — almost since its inception in 2001. When Julie asked me what story moved me most, the question left me asking, what story hadn’t moved me? Over nearly 25 years, the subjects of my stories have introduced me to so many incredibly inspiring people, mostly wom-

en. I’ve learned so much from their experiences and wrapped up each interview feeling enriched by the intimate stories they’ve been willing to share. I’ve laughed with many of them, I’ve hugged too many to count, and yes, I’ve even shed tears with more than a few.

Two interviews that still haunt me took place in the summer of 2024, while I was working on a story about organ donation. The assigned interviews took place in both Billings’ hospitals — the first with Penny Clifton, the chair of Intermountain Health’s Donate Life Council and the second with Christy Baxter, co-chair of the Organ Donation Council at Billings Clinic. Both women offered remarkable stories about their work and their deeply-moving interactions with organ donors and recipients.

Then, to add depth to the story, I contacted two women whose lives had been forever changed by organ donation. One was Sydney Hunt, a Calgary woman, who spoke about her adventure-loving brother William Hunt. William had passed away at the age of 21 after a tragic auto accident south of Billings in the summer of 2023. William’s death, however, gave new life to five other individuals who received his donated organs.

The other interview was with Billings resident Deanna Wittak, whose infant son Jake would not have survived had it not been for a donated liver. Deanna wrestled with the thought that in order for her son to live, someone else would lose a child. Jake, now in his young twenties, enjoys a virtually normal life thanks to the generosity of donor Michael Arey, who died at the age of 17.

Those interviews not only left me deeply moved, but wanting to spread their stories to anyone and everyone who can check off the organ donor box on his or her driver’s license.

As I revisit the story, I was moved once again by Sydney’s words on incomparable power of organ donation.

“When you’re choosing to be an organ donor, you’re not choosing to be a hero,” she said. “It is the most selfless choice, a choice you will never see the results of. You are making a choice to leave your family with hope.”

~LINDA HALSTEAD ACHARYA

“My very first article appeared in the May/June 2008 issue. I was sure Julie Koerber would fire me after I misspelled a person’s name. Eighteen years later, I know how fortunate I am to be part of a team that celebrates both flaws and fineness. The magazine highlights those who roll up their sleeves, hold their heads high and just act, making a difference in Yellowstone County.

Every cover features women’s faces, their eyes revealing strong spirits and soulful determination. For me, the issue that haunted and inspired me the most was the “Say Their Names” issue in March 2020. Written by Julie Koerber, it gave a voice to those missing and murdered indigenous women who had been silenced, while Daniel Sullivan’s photograph further expressed loss and pain.

As a freelancer, I usually work alone in the office, so when I have

the chance to cross paths with photographer Daniel Sullivan, who photographs the food I make, or joins me for an interview, I am thrilled. I learn from what his eyes and lens see, so I can tell the story I am writing even better.

What continues to live with me is the culture Julie Koerber has built behind the magazine’s cover and pages. I continue to be inspired by a leader who sees the best in her team and in the people she interviews.”

~STELLA FONG

“Back in 2013, I had the privilege of interviewing Sandy Harris, a victim witness coordinator for the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office for my first cover story for YVW. Her compassion for the people she served and her fierce sense of justice was inspiring, and I was struck by how she gracefully carried their stories when others may have easily abandoned such heartbreaking work. I hope to carry the many stories I’ve written about remarkable women with that same grace and compassion. Sandy has passed away, and I am privileged to hold her story along with many more.”

~LAURA TODE

“It makes me smile that something I enjoy would become a decades-long magazine contribution. When Julie approached me close to 20 years ago about joining the staff at YVW, she knew I liked to cook and bake. Admittedly, I was a novice. I followed recipes very closely and learned by trial and error. My favorite phrase was … “No, it’s supposed to be like that.”

As I talked with chefs and cooks over the years, I learned a lot and shared ideas and recipes with you. Gradually, I gained confidence in what I know and really started to cook. Actually, I gained the confidence to create. I still follow baking recipes fairly closely (although I am known to add a ¼ teaspoon or so of Fiori di Sicilia, a wonderful citrus vanilla floral essence, when a recipe calls for lemon zest or lemon juice).

When I cook, I will follow a recipe — well, sort of. I guess at measurements, will substitute when I don’t have an ingredient. I have also been known to stare at the contents of the refrigerator for inspiration on using leftovers and bits of vegetables to a pull together a soup or casserole.

Taste of the Valley has been an odyssey of sorts for me. I hope it has been enlightening for you and that you enjoyed. “

~KAY ERICKSON

“One story that will stick with me forever is the profile of 100-year-old Virginia Toews. Virginia’s strong faith has sustained her through many, many challenges and has fueled her lifetime of service. Over the years, her faith has led her to serve Native Americans on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, lead Bible studies at the Montana Women’s Prison, and work at the Montana Rescue Mission, where she often prays for people who are struggling with homelessness. At each step of her journey, Virginia has leaned into her love for God and for others to make an incredible impact on those around her. Her energy, heart and good humor are an inspiration!”

~JULIE LOVELL

“There was one story written well over a decade ago that still takes up space in my heart. The story was about a mother, one I hardly knew, but her youngest of six children was a friend of mine.

Diana Kobold suffered several heart attacks and didn’t know it. It wasn’t until she woke up one morning with painful arthritis symptoms that she sensed something might be wrong. She found out from extensive testing that she had a mass on her lungs, along with other health issues. She soon underwent a seven-coronary bypass surgery, with lung cancer treatment on hold.

The day I sat with 66-year-old Diana and her son, along with Dr. Scott Millikan, for their interview plays in my mind like it was yesterday. A petite, vivacious woman who looked like she was the belle of the ball kept smiling. She said, “Things are looking up.”

Diana’s heart was stronger after the bypass surgery. Lung treatment was in action. She wasn’t about to give up on life. She was tenacious with amazing grace.

While Diana is gone, her light still shines. She advised women to “be checked. Go to the doctor.” It was a lesson that I’ve taken to heart.”

~TRISH SCOZARRI

“I am honored to have met and written about so many incredible women for YVW. From the two 90-year-old friends who share a friendship spanning seventy years to the mother of seven children, raising them on her own while running a successful painting business and taking college courses toward a master’s degree in counseling. From the woman who opened a gym for veterans to the women who have opened their homes to foster children. I am amazed at the remarkable women living in our community, who have stepped out of their comfort zone, given into their passions, chased their dreams and have made a difference in the lives of their families, their neighborhoods and the community.”

~CYDNEY HOEFLE

The Power Power Power Power Power of Her Story Her

25 YEARS OF YELLOWSTONE VALLEY WOMAN MAGAZINE

written by BECKY HILLIER

WHEN THE FIRST stories printed in Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine hit racks all over Billings in 2001, the idea seemed simple enough — provide a hyper-local, free publication highlighting and celebrating exceptional women.

Some 25 years, 152 issues and more than 13,000 pages later, what’s now known simply as YVW has grown into a respected and reliable platform for inspiration and empowerment. It’s been an ensemble effort, with all involved committed to cultivating a tight-knit community across every page, in every issue.

In March 2001 the city of Billings prepared to host President George W. Bush for a high-profile visit with agriculture producers. As the city was poised to welcome the new commander-in-chief, Jay Hanson was embracing a new role himself, that of editor-in-chief — of a women’s magazine.

“At the time, I was working for a print shop in Billings,” Jay says. “Same old story, working for somebody else.”

With his publishing background, he was ready to strike out on his own, drawing inspiration from publications in comparably sized markets to Billings that, at the time, were unique.

“I went to college in the Fargo-Moorehead area, which had a very successful women’s magazine,” he says. “Rochester, Minnesota, had a similar publication, and there weren’t a lot of free publications in Billings back then.”

Jay felt Billings was prime territory for such a venture.

“There was obviously no end to the number of successful women in the Billings market, so the content part was enjoyable and easy,” he says.

The less enjoyable part for Jay — selling advertising for the magazine. A free publication meant it would have to be 100% advertiser supported.

“I was in my early 30s, so for me to pitch advertising door-to-door was difficult,” Jay remembers. “The advertising part was really a make-or-break thing, and I owe a lot to Terry Perkins (YVW’s first full-time salesperson). She was the key piece from the very start and took that off my shoulders.”

With advertisers on board and the content readily available, Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine made its debut, ushering in a new and exciting era in local media. The first outstanding Yellowstone Valley Woman to grace the coveted cover was local news anchor, Lynne Turner Fitzgerald.

“When it happened and I was on the cover, my kids were like, ‘why’?” Lynne says with a laugh. “But of course, it was an honor. I fully loved the idea that they celebrated women’s lives, women’s accomplishments and women’s challenges.”

The community’s response to the magazine was also enthu siastic, and Jay and his team kept churning out content to satisfy the appetite for it. His early concerns about securing advertisers were put to rest.

“We had great community support at the time,” Jay re calls. “Deaconess (now Bill ings Clinic) and then St. Vin cent, Sanctuary Spa come to mind and Randy at Carpet One. It wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without their help and support.”

Four years into his new pur suit, Jay would welcome two key members to his team, who would prove to be catalysts and visionaries for the magazine’s future.

Julie Koerber was one of them.

“I had been kind of secretly watching it from afar,” Julie says. She had recently left her job at KTVQ as an anchor and

PING

was the oldest cover girl at

Haley & Jeremy Vanatta

PUBLISHER: 2007-2018

Thankfully, Julie was a quick study and immersed herself in her new role, serving as editor of the magazine starting with the November/December issue of 2005. That’s also when Julie’s friend, Haley Vannatta, came on board to do the layout for the magazine.

Haley, at the time a stay-at-home mom of three busy boys, worked part-time on the magazine, not knowing a more encompassing role would soon present itself.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IT IMPACTED AND THAT I HAD PERSONAL CONTACT WITH BECAUSE OF OPENING UP AND BEING VULNERABLE. IT CHANGED MY LIFE AND IT CHANGED THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE, TOO.

—Haley Vanatta

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” Haley says. “It was time for Jay to move on, for new blood to come in and take it to the next level. I loved the idea and the concept and thought there was room for growth and improvement.”

Haley, along with her husband, Jeremy, bought Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine in spring 2007. They settled into a routine and before they knew it, their vision took shape. They went from printing 12,000 copies to 20,000 and doubled the number of distribution spots around town. They increased the number of pages per issue from 48 to more than 100 and put a premium on professionalism.

reporter. “I really missed storytelling. So, I emailed Jay a story idea and then I emailed him another and another. By the fifth story idea, he replied ‘stop!’”

That’s because Jay had an idea of his own.

“He said, ‘let’s meet, I think I have something better for you,’” Julie remembers. “He said ‘I’m trying to do too much and I need an editor. Would you be able to be my editor?’”

Julie answered before thinking too much about it.

“I said, ‘when do I start?’ and he’s like, ‘tomorrow,’” she says. “Then I got into my car, turned the ignition on and said to myself, I don’t have any idea how to do that.”

“We always paid our writers, and editorial integrity was wildly important to Julie and me,” Haley says, adding that professional design and high-quality editorial content was paramount. “When someone is trusting you to tell their story, we took that very seriously.”

An issue addressing mental health held personal significance for Haley.

“I wrote my editorial letter on my own struggles with mental health, and that was hugely impactful for not only me but so many people,” she recalls. “The number of people it impacted and that I had personal contact with because of opening up and being vulnerable. It changed my life and it changed the lives of other people, too.”

Under Haley’s leadership, Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine created the Weekend for Women and Run Like a Girl events. “We wanted to do more,” Haley says. “We wanted to increase revenue but also increase value for our advertisers.” Though short-lived, the events provided another opportunity for women to connect and find their voice. “We wanted to have fun and empower women to be the best they could be. It was so much work, but I’m glad we did it.”

The magazine took all of Haley’s time and attention, often keeping her working long after midnight once her boys went to bed. After 11 years, it was time for change.

“So much of my heart and soul and life had gone into building it to what it was,” she says. “It served a great purpose at a great time, but it was time for me to move on.”

Haley couldn’t think of a better person to take over the responsibility than her trusted editor and friend, Julie Koerber. Julie, however, was less certain.

“I told them no, I’m not buying the magazine,” Julie remembers. “But they kept asking me and, as time went on, I looked at the faces of the people I worked with and realized how important this was to me. I said, I think I’m going to regret it if I don’t try.”

Julie knew the storytelling side of the magazine very well and her husband, Ken, a business consultant, was the perfect partner for the business side of things. There were growing pains, but she soon hit her stride and felt honored to shepherd the magazine into a new era, while maintaining its integrity as a true community publication. She’s even started an Empowered Women Scholarship for high school seniors, awarding local youth who embody community spirit.

“From a circulation standpoint and a readership standpoint, page count and sales, I mean, it’s just amazing to me the love this community has for this magazine,” Julie says.

The community’s love for YVW is eclipsed only by her affection for it.

“Preparing for the 25th anniversary issue, it was quite the trip down memory lane. I was literally sitting on the floor surrounded by all the magazines, every issue. I felt like I was holding onto something sacred,” Julie says. “I’ve been involved intimately in every single issue since 2005. I wanted to challenge myself to see how many stories I wrote personally, but as I looked at the pages and the stories, I got immersed in what we were able to do. What mattered more

THE Youngest COVER GIRLS INCLUDE

Julie Koerber

PUBLISHER: 2018-CURRENT

IF YOU FLIP THROUGH THE MAGAZINE, THERE WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL HIT YOU IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. THAT IS MY HOPE THAT WITH EVERY PAGE THAT’S PUBLISHED, IT WILL IMPACT SOMEONE ON SOME LEVEL.

— Julie Koerber

TOTAL ISSUES PUBLISHED

153 153

“My daughter played basketball for Central High, and there was a game at Hardin High the day after they found Selena,” Julie remembers. “It was a devastating scene, all over the school were these red flyers where students had traced their hands with messages like ‘bring her home’ and they covered sections of the walls. I remember standing there in that sea of red, knowing all hope had been sucked out of that building.”

Julie contacted a friend who was involved in the MMIW movement and asked how they could work together. That collaboration resulted in a series of stories highlighting the movement’s efforts. It is an example of the magazine’s heartbeat and community purpose.

“If you flip through the magazine, there will be something that will hit you in one way or another,” Julie says. “That is my hope that with every page that’s published, it will impact someone on some level.”

were the topics we were able to cover and the women we were able to shine the spotlight on.”

Among the women profiled over the years in the pages of YVW are those whose personal stories and passion-filled missions find them on the frontlines of youth homelessness, the opioid epidemic, human trafficking and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement, or MMIW.

“It is so powerful to sit across from somebody and look them in the eye and say, ‘what’s the story here?’” Julie says. “I feel like you share a deeper part of yourself when you just listen. I mean, I am so humbled by that.”

For Julie, some stories linger a little longer in the heart, like that of 16-year-old Selena Not Afraid. Selena went missing after a New Year’s party in 2020. Her frozen body was found 20 days later near a rest stop outside Hardin.

Someone, like Jay Hanson. Every once in a while, when he finds himself back in Billings, he makes sure to pick up the most recent copy of the little magazine he started 25 years ago. He can’t help but feel proud.

“Kudos to the Vannattas and Julie and everyone else who stayed the course and evolved and kept creating good content,” he says. “You want to see it grow, you want to see it expand, that’s what you hope for. I’m happy to see it thrive.”

As we celebrate a generation of women and their compelling stories thoughtfully told across the pages of each issue of Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine, Julie offers a glimpse into what drives her and the magazine, forward.

“I remember a friend telling me something that I will never forget, and it kind of holds true with everything we do at YVW,” she says. “If you know these stories, you’ll care, and if you care, you’ll remember and if you remember, there will be awareness and if there is awareness, there will come change. I really hope as we move forward, whatever story it is, that it will bring change and the kind of change that can impact the community in beautiful ways.”

1 YEAR Celebrating

BECKY HILLIER, writer

Born and raised in Miles City, Becky spent 20 years as an award-winning local news anchor. She served as a board member of Big Sky Honor Flight which helped fly WWII veterans to Washington, D.C. to see their war memorials, free of charge. Becky served as the director of communications and media for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). She currently works for the NILE Rodeo in Billings. Her husband is a Billings Police Officer and they have two adult children.

LITTLE ACTS GO A LONG WAY TO BRIGHTEN LIVES

FOR 25 YEARS, this magazine has celebrated the best of our community. With magazine in hand, we’ve read about women taking on poverty, injustice, and using their time to help others heal their pain. There have been stories about improving the world with art, education and meals. And, together, we’ve helped to fill thousands of Empty Stockings for children in foster care to have Christmas gifts under the tree. When you add that all together, we’ve literally watched, through these stories, countless acts of kindness.

In late December, with a to-do list that included a temporary move, I was chatting with Julie Koerber, the publisher of YVW, who seems to have no limits to the acts of kindness she is able to take on. In honor of this special anniversary, I suggested, what if I wrote about 25 ways to randomly act with kindness? I started watching for the little acts, those random gifts that make a stranger smile, the acts that you and I — no matter how busy we are — can perform while going about our day. Some happened so seamlessly that the recipient barely noticed. Others bowled people over with joy and gratitude.

You may be the kindest human ever who needs no help in spreading joy. But, if you are like me, you could always use a boost in your kindness game. Here are 25 ways to do just that.

1. Hold the door. Male, female, young or old, hold the door, and smile as they walk through.

2.

Let them hold the door. And smile and say “thank you.” It doesn’t mean you can’t handle the door; it means we are humans looking out for each other.

3. Carry the box. I do strength exercises every day so that I can carry my own boxes, but, my oh my, do I appreciate it when someone offers to share my load.

4.

Look them in the eye. They opened the door, delivered your groceries, washed your car. Notice them. Tip them more than is customary. Look them in the eye and say “thank you” like you truly mean it. Please.

5. Stop and listen. The most gratifying statement I ever heard about my parenting was when my daughter’s friend (then teens) said, “Wow your mom actually listened to you.” Yes, the phone was ringing and chaos was reigning, but nothing mattered more than the person who needed my attention. Stop and listen. It’s very kind.

6.

Pick up the poop. I recently saw a man walking in the park, picking up poop. He didn’t have a dog, but he had a bucket and it was almost full. When I handed him a coffee card, he told me he does this twice a week, so people don’t step in “it” while playing with their dogs. I kid you not. I think that is beyond kind. I feel like I should say something about picking up after your dog, how very kind that is, but you already know this.

7. Carry coffee cards. This is double act. First the coffee shop appreciates your purchase. Secondly, having them handy means you can randomly celebrate people who carry buckets in parks.

8.

Leave a review. When you get good service, say so. Too often, raises are based on reviews. When you get bad service, assume they were just having a bad day and give them another try. Leave the bad reviews to the overactive Karens of the world.

9. Buy the balloon. Or the book, or the groceries. Notice when a treat is out of the question, and make it happen. Quietly. Kindly.

family in ZooMontana’s 7th-8th, 14thzoomontana.org Chase December Finals Montana. Memorial during

10.

Be the first to clap. Loudly. No matter how good or bad the presenter did, applaud their effort. A silent audience sounds like bad fish smells. It’s not pleasant.

11.

Spread compliments like glitter. “I like your hair.” “That blouse is a great color on you.” Earlier, that human stood in front of the mirror hoping someone would like what they chose to wear. Be that someone.

12. Buy the book. Shop with your enterprising friends first. You don’t have to read the book, or display the doodad, but they probably need the sale.

Beauty & the Beast

13. Slip them a twenty. Or a ten, or even a dollar. I carry a few small envelopes with treat money in it and slip them silently to people who need a pick-me-up. I am gone before they know what happened.

14. Stop at the lemonade stand. Please and thank you. You are filling that child’s dream. (Drinking the lemonade is at your own risk.)

Billings Studio Theatre presents “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Junior,” January 10th-13th. Brainy and beautiful Belle yearns to escape her narrow and restricted life including her brute of a suitor, Gaston. Belle gets adventurous and as a result becomes a captive in the Beast’s enchanted castle! Dancing flatware, menacing wolves and singing furniture fill the stage with thrills during this beloved fairy tale about very different people finding strength in one another as they learn how to love.billingsstudiotheatre.com

15. Listen to the story. Again and probably again. It’s important to them, and the telling will only take a moment. (Well, sometimes it takes hours, but still.)

F R inge Festiva L

16. Give new items to your favorite donation location. And remember trash is trash and don’t burden them with crap that no longer has life left in it.

Venture Theatre presents its Fringe Festival, January 18th-19th and 25th-26th.The festival features four nights of shows featuring local and regional performing artists of all types including dance, standup comedy, theater improv, one act plays, musicals, performance art, spoken word/poetry, and puppetry.venturetheatre.org

s ou L s t R eet d an C e

17. Sit with a grieving person. Don’t pontificate, placate or be overly upbeat. Ask about their loved one and sit quietly with them while they grieve.

18. Let them use their gift. Whatever someone is trying to do for you, be it clean your house, carry your box, or sing offkey. Encourage them in the use of their gift and watch the smiles break out.

19.

Give up your seat, your place in line, the last of the cookies. It’s random, it’s selfless. It’s free. It’s an appreciated kindness.

This high energy show comes to the Alberta Bair Theater on January 19th and presents a new era in dance, while pushing the artistic boundaries of street dance. Soul Street concerts consist of a mix of movement that will keep you at the edge of your seat. The music is combined with an electric mix ranging from hip-hop to classical. It’s a show that will make you laugh and keep audiences of all ages entertained.

a Con C e R t F o R the w ho L e Fami L y

20. Sing, effuse joy, make some noise! Our family, especially at Christmas, is known for public displays of joy, crazy clothes, happy songs, loud proclamations of togetherness. Almost every time we are making a joyful noise, someone thanks us for brightening their day. Your joy can help someone else feel joy. Let it out.

Billings Symphony presents its Family Concert on January 26th at the Alberta Bair Theater. Four time Grammy nominees, “Trout Fishing in America,” will perform along with the Billings Symphony. Trout Fishing in America is a musical duo which performs folk rock and children’s music. billingssymphony.com

21.

Invite a stranger to lunch, or coffee, or to share your journey, whatever it is. I have made incredible friends and found the world’s most awesome mentor for my grandson by simply asking people to join me. Only once did I regret offering the invitation, and that is a story for another day.

22. Bake cookies for the neighbors. We are temporarily in a new neighborhood and have enjoyed fresh and delivered coffee cake, meeting pets and learning the names of the people who have come to our door for introductions. It may be old fashioned, but I think it is incredibly kind to be greeted by name when I dash to the mailbox with my hair in a towel.

23.

Snap the picture. Of joy, not pain. When you see someone sharing a moment, making a memory, missing the way their spouse is admiring them, take a photo and promptly ask to airdrop it to them.

24.

Put down the camera. This is both a lecture and an act of kindness. Do not, unless you want to be seen as a buffoon, film your kindness. And, if you do film it, for goodness’ sake don’t share it. That makes you look pathetic, not generous, and we both know you want to be generous, that’s why you are still reading.

25.

Be kind to you. I believe that kindness, empathy, and the art of grace should begin with you. Being kind to yourself makes it possible to notice everyone else, and to have the energy to surprise them with random acts of kindness and love.

Random acts of kindness don’t need to be expensive. They don’t need to be new cars, hundred-dollar tips, or, like Julie, need to be an entire magazine to showcase people’s best. The kindest acts are spur-of-the-moment, I-noticed-you acts. They are simple, but they leave an impression. Today, a young man about tripped three of his friends so he could open a restaurant door for my spouse and me. He simply opened a door, but it made an impression because he smiled so brightly as he did it.

Simple. Honest. I see you. Kindness. It’s how we create a happy community, and a better world today and 25 years from now. ✻

KAREN GROSZ, writer

Karen Grosz is a local Team and Leadership Development coach and motivational speaker. She owns Canvas Creek Team Building, is the author of “What’s Next” and “Quiet Leadership” and founding voice of the Facebook group “I’ll Help”- Billings. You can find more from Karen at karengrosz.life.

SPRING INTO A SOFTER

PASTELS AND LAYERED LOOKS LEAD THE SEASON

THIS SPRING, fashion is embracing a softer, more intentional approach by enhancing pieces we already own. Pastels are leading the season, with butter yellow, blush pink and muted lavender tones at the forefront. These hues add a modern freshness to spring ward robes without feeling overly trendy or fleeting.

The focus this season is on choosing pieces you’ll want to reach for, things like tailored layers, effortless dresses and elevated basics. The mission is to seamlessly integrate them into your existing wardrobe. By thoughtfully layering in a few trend-forward colors and silhou ettes, you can refresh your look while staying true to your personal style. The result is outfits that feel current, confident and easy to wear well beyond the season. ✻

SARA’S LOOK

Morning Glory Dress, $89

Liam Cropped Lilac Cardigan, $48 All From Veldt Clothing

style7

style7

From RocHouse

SARA’S LOOK

Sage-green jacquard tank, $16.99

Brown bow necklace and earring set, $27.95

Wild Horse Skirt, $58.99

Zuma Trucker Denim Jacket from Ariat, $99.95

All from Western Ranch Supply

GLEA’S LOOK

Tova cross necklace, $69

Velvet heart cream tank top, $78

L’agence Janelle Slim Raw Jacket, $428

Mother Midrise Maven Ankle Jeans, $278

Zadig Jim Patent Bag, $578

Dolce Vita Brevel Heels, $98

SARA’S LOOK

Greylin Sutton Crochet Cardigan $149

L’agence Clayton Wide-Leg Jean $278

Marc Fisher Jarli Boot $189

Both Looks From RocHouse

GLEA LAHR, writer

With more than 20 years as a cosmetologist and makeup artist, Glea has dedicated her career to helping women feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. She believes beauty and fashion are about expression and confidence.She has a passion for making women feel seen, empowered and inspired through the artistry of style and makeup.

THAT ENDURES A

• REVISITING A RECIPE THAT STARTED IT ALL •

TWO-AND-A-HALF decades ago, I was a parent of a high school freshman. We survived Y2K and whatever the change from 1999 to 2000 would or would not bring.

For many, there was this HBO show considered mustsee TV, allowing us to live vicariously with the four young women — Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda — in “Sex in the City.” In that vein, the Cosmopolitan became the cocktail of choice, as did enjoying hors d’oeuvres at the latest hot spot.

Coincidentally, two decades ago, the first recipes I brought

taste6

to my Taste of the Valley column were appetizers. While we might call them tapas or small plates, they still play a big part in party hosting.

Back in 2005, I first shared a recipe for Marinated Olives from then-executive-chef Roger Johnson at Bistro Enzo. It’s one that is still a classic on any party table. Pair it with a classic Carrie Bradshaw Cosmo and add in a current favorite from Walker’s Grill (which has been with us these past 25 years) with Nick Steen’s Deviled Eggs.

Enjoy! ✻

marinated olives

2 c. pitted Kalamata olives

2 c. pitted green olives

1 lemon (zest and juice)

1 orange (zest and juice)

½ T. fresh rosemary, chopped

½ T. fresh thyme, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

½ c. extra virgin olive oil

1 t. freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS: Mix all the ingredients and marinate for two to twelve hours. Place in a heat-proof container and heat in a 350-degree oven for 8 minutes. Serve with sliced focaccia, baguette or lavosh crackers to absorb the tasty juices.

classic cosmopolitan

2 oz. vodka (regular or a citrus-flavored vodka )

1 oz. cranberry juice cocktail

¾ oz. lime juice

¾ oz. Cointreau or triple sec

1 c. ice

Lime wedge for garnish

DIRECTIONS: Combine the vodka, cranberry juice cocktail, lime juice, and triple sec in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Cover and shake vigorously until outside of the shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

taste6

candied bacon jam

~Recipe from Nick Steen, Walkers Grill

½ lb. bacon, diced

½ c. apple cider vinegar

¼ c. brown sugar

¼ c. molasses

DIRECTIONS: In a sauté pan, begin rendering the cut bacon. Once the bacon has rendered its fat and the pieces become crispy, use a fine strainer set over a pan to catch the fat. Place the pan back over medium-high heat and deglaze with the vinegar, scraping the browned bits. Once the vinegar begins to boil, add the brown sugar and stir until fully dissolved. Then add the molasses and reduce the mixture to a consistency that would coat the back of a spoon and hold for a few seconds. Return the rendered bacon pieces to the sauté pan and toss to coat in the candied sauce. Reduce the heat to low-medium and cook gently for a short time to let the bacon absorb the sauce and become sticky (not hard/brittle). Stir occasionally and reduce slightly, if needed for better coating. Pour the mixture onto a parchment-lined tray and cool completely in the refrigerator. Once fully cooled and set, portion into smaller containers and refrigerate.

pickled fresno chilies

~Recipe from Nick Steen, Walkers Grill

1 c. Fresno chilies, thinly sliced

1 c. apple cider vinegar

½ c. sugar

½ c. water

DIRECTIONS: With a sharp knife, slice the Fresno chilies as thinly as possible, starting from the narrow end and working towards the stem. Stop slicing once the center membrane and seeds are exposed. Place them in a heat-safe container or jar (a 1-quart mason jar or similar size should work well). In a saucepan, bring the apple cider vinegar, sugar and water to a boil. Once at a rolling boil, pour the hot liquid over the sliced Fresno chilies. Make sure the chilies are fully submerged (press down gently with a spoon if needed). Cover and let sit at room temperature for a few hours, then refrigerate overnight (or at least 8–12 hours) to pickle. Once pickled, portion into smaller containers/jars and refrigerate. They should keep for several weeks.

deviled eggs

~Recipe from Nick Steen, Walkers Grill

1 dozen hard-cooked eggs, cooled Deviled Egg Mixture

Candied Bacon Jam

Pickled Fresno Chilies

DIRECTIONS: At least a day ahead, prepare and refrigerate the Candied Bacon Jam and the Pickled Fresno Chilies

On the day of, hard-cook one dozen large eggs and cool. Remove the shells and halve lengthwise. Carefully remove the yolks. Refrigerate whites while preparing the yolk mixture.

deviled egg mixture

1 c. hard-cooked egg yolks

½ c. blue cheese crumbles

½ c. mayonnaise

1½ t. onion powder

1½ t. garlic powder

¾ t. paprika

Salt to taste (start small and adjust after tasting)

Celebrating

DIRECTIONS: Using the food mill, ricer or fork, rice the cooked egg yolks and blue cheese crumbles together in a large mixing bowl. Add the mayonnaise to the yolk-and-blue-cheese mixture and combine well with a spatula. Season with salt. Pass the filling through a sieve to break up any large pieces and then fill disposable pastry bag. Tie off the loose end, cut off any excess bag. Fill the egg white halves with the egg yolk cheese mixture. Top the deviled eggs with a dollop of candied bacon jam and top with a pickled Fresno chili. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 20 years

KAY ERICKSON, writer

Kay has spent her professional career in public relations and broadcast news, currently at Yellowstone Public Radio. Her journalism degree is from Northern Illinois University. Her passions include her family, sports and food. Her mom and an aunt taught her the finer points of cooking and instilled a love of good food and family mealtime.

Going Beyond

MARCY TATARKA nurtured many appetites with her company, Beyond Basil Catering, which she launched in the early 1990s. Though she shuttered the business in 2015, she continues to embody the spirit of “beyond,” the very word that defined her culinary journey.

In originally selecting the name, “I love herbs, and I wanted something that reflected me,” Marcy says. “I loved freshness, but I was always pushing it a little further.”

Pushing it “a little further” is one of Marcy’s mantras. That was evident in the recipe she provided for Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine’s very first food article and in its inaugural issue 25 years ago. Her Soft Shell Crab Tacos and Chili Lime Shrimp Tostadas were ahead of the times here in Billings, using unique ingredients and flavor combinations. The mission was to fulfill Lent without the Tuna Noodle Casserole. In honor of our milestone anniversary, we asked Marcy to revamp those first recipes. She returned by offering a Duck Tostada with Sweet Potato Salsa and Crema rich giving a nod to local ingredients and clearly going “Beyond Basil.”

Marcy jumped into the catering business while working as a neonatal intensive care nurse at St. Vincent Healthcare. After her first event, feeding hungry attendees at a wedding reception, she was hooked. She began preparing food in the kitchen of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Later, she moved into her own space on

MARCY TATARKA REVISITS THE RECIPE THAT STARTED IT ALL — AND ELEVATES IT ONCE AGAIN

written by STELLA FONG

MARCY WITH GRANDSONS JEDEDIAH, 8, AND HAGAN, 6.

Lake Elmo Drive. The extra room, equipment and mobile kitchen enabled her not only to benefit the community but also to nourish and support the famous, such as Jamie Oliver, Alice Cooper and Kevin Costner. Her can-do spirit and fresh approach made her the “it girl” when those high-profile stars came to town.

Surprisingly, after running a successful business and feeding thousands over the years, she often thinks back to the words of her home economics teacher at Orange High School. In that class, Marcy was known for tweaking recipes, like adding extra chocolate chips to her cookie recipe instead of following the directions to a T. “I was told to marry because she said I did not have a domestic bone in my body,” Marcy says with a laugh.

Anne Schruhl, one of Marcy’s friends who was in that same home economics class, says that Marcy was meant to cook and nurture people. “Marcy feels that everyone should experience good taste,” Anne says, “from the queen to the homeless individual.” ✻

18 years

Stella divides her time between Billings and Seattle and is the author of two Billings-centric books, Historic Restaurants of Billings and Billings Food. Her writings have appeared in Big Sky Journal, Western Art and Architecture, the Washington Post as well as online at lastbestplates.com.

duck tostada with sweet potato salsa & crema

The tostada embraces ingredients that can be sourced locally. These days, far more is available at the grocery store than there was 25 years ago, and the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub is an excellent source of local food. You can turn to Trevino’s Tortillas for the corn-flour tortillas and Swanky Roots for the microgreens. This recipe uses an air fryer, a common kitchen appliance for crisping food, to cook the duck, poblano, and sweet potato.

4 duck breasts, about 4 ounces each

1 t. salt

1 t. achiote or smoked paprika

½ t. garlic powder

1 t. pepper

Sweet Potato Salsa (recipe below)

½ c. Mexican crema

Corn-flour tortillas

DIRECTIONS: Pat the duck breasts dry with a paper towel. Leave unwrapped in the refrigerator overnight to dry further (this will give a crispier skin). Score the skin in a diamond pattern, ensuring you cut only the skin, not the meat.

Combine the spices and rub them onto the duck breasts. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place breasts skin side down. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes (avoid overcrowding). Flip and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, to an internal temperature of 135 to 145 degrees for medium-rare doneness. (Note: Drain the grease midway to prevent excess smoking in the air fryer.) Remove the breast, cool it for 5 minutes, then slice thinly. While waiting for the meat to cool, heat some tortillas in air fryer until crispy.

To assemble, place two tortillas on a plate. Top with a generous mound of arugula. Layer with generous slices of duck breast. Top with sweet potato salsa, avocado and microgreens. Drizzle with crema and serve with lime.

sweet potato salsa

Makes about 2 cups

1 whole poblano

1 large, sweet potato, cut into 1/4” cubes

½ t. cumin

½ t. salt

½ t. garlic powder

¼ t. cayenne pepper

2 T. avocado oil

2 T. lime juice

¼ c. red onion, finely chopped

¼ c. cilantro leaves only, finely chopped

½ c. pomegranate seeds (if available)

DIRECTIONS: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Pierce poblano with a few knife cuts. Put in the air fryer and roast until blackened, about 10 to 15 minutes. Wrap in a cloth towel. When cool, remove skin, stem, and seeds. Dice and set aside.

Combine cumin, salt, garlic powder, and cayenne in a medium bowl. Add sweet potato and oil. Toss until well coated. Place sweet potatoes in a single layer on a baking tray. Roast until golden, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool. Add lime juice, onion, and poblano. Lightly toss. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Salsa can be made 2 to 3 days in advance.) Add cilantro and pomegranate seeds just before serving.

DELICIOUS NOSTALGIA AT BISTRO ENZO Flavors to Savor:

Editor’s Note: When Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine first burst onto the scene in March of 2001, near the back of the magazine was a little review from then-Publisher Jay Hanson on a French restaurant in town, suggesting a delicious space for a weekend nosh. The column was titled “Friday Night Out” and Bistro Enzo was the destination. We decided it would be a good idea to return, 25 years later.

BISTRO ENZO continues to live up to its name, meaning “home ruler.” Although diners are no longer greeted with double kisses on the cheeks and words of welcome in a French accent by the establishment’s former chef, after 30 years it remains one of the most popular dining spots in town.

The menu, established by Laurent and Patricia Zirotti and James Honaker, remains largely unchanged. The French-inspired dishes, such as Veal Piccata, with the classic caper and lemon beurre blanc sauce, Classic Mac and Cheese with Lobster, and Beef Tenderloin with shallot demi-glace and potato puree, continue to anchor the menu. They echo Laurent’s time at the Hotel Majestic on the Riviera. The Rock Shrimp, Vegetable Tempura, and Coconut Shrimp, all with Asian touches, also remain diners’ favorites.

tain, James Honaker, to receive a more practical experience. The knowledge and skills he gained enabled him to serve as executive chef after Honaker’s departure.

“I have not made drastic changes to the menu,” Chef Bean says. Instead, his nightly specials allow him to exercise his culinary creativity, offering diners new options such as handmade pasta and a creative wood-fired entrée.

My husband and I have been eating at Bistro Enzo since it opened, even before we moved here. I still remember how proud our friends, Mitch and Rita Gallagher, whom we were visiting, were of this new place that had just opened in Billings. Nowadays, we also bring friends we are hosting here.

“I wanted to respect the history of this restaurant but then bring new energy,” Tyler Samson says.

Tyler purchased the restaurant in the summer of 2020, after James Honaker’s retirement. Having dined here as a patron for years, Tyler knew the restaurant well. In the commercial real estate business, with a background in bartending and waiting tables, he was confident in the restaurant’s long-term prospects. In knowing the heart and bones of the establishment, he understood what it would take to keep its soul.

I often order seasonal fish specials, especially the halibut served with beurre blanc and pureed potatoes. The fish is always cooked to perfection, just cooked through, with the meat moist and flaky, the rich essence of butter and lemon lifting the dish. To this day, I fondly remember Chef Paul Reitz, now retired day chef showing me how to make the potatoes, adding butter and cream, then meticulously whipping the cooked, riced potatoes to just the right texture. Insufficient mixing resulted in lumpy potatoes, while excessive whipping produced a glutinous mass.

I WANTED TO RESPECT THE HISTORY OF THIS RESTAURANT BUT THEN BRING NEW ENERGY.

—Tyler Samson

Alex Bean joined the kitchen team as a dishwasher while he was still in high school in 2004. Not long after, he planned to attend the French Culinary Institute in New York, but a skiing accident changed his plans. Instead, he went under the tutelage of threetime James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef: Moun-

Each time I eat here, I have difficulty deciding what to order. I go back and forth between the airline chicken, ahi tuna tartare, beet and goat cheese salad or portobella mozzarella fettuccini. But my ultimate comfort dish is shrimp and grits.

The shrimp and grits are easy to eat, with generous shrimp in a rich sauce featuring smoked andouille sausage, bacon, tomato, shallots and garlic. Although the grits are decadently creamy, the coarse cut adds texture, and smoked Gouda grounds the dish in savoriness. The fried prosciutto crisps add a touch of elegance to the dish.

Over the years, Bistro Enzo has remained the “home ruler” of food here in Montana’s Trailhead, respecting not only its history but also the community’s appetites. ✻

Proud to be part of a home built for connection, comfort, and generations to come.

beautifully7 REFRESHED REFRESHED

FROM SPA-INSPIRED SERENITY TO VINTAGE CHARM, THREE STUNNING REMODELS

written by TRISH ERBE SCOZZARI photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN

WHEN IT COMES to reimagining and renovating homes, Jeremy Van Wagoner, owner of Pinnacle Remodeling, specializes in a unique approach. He crafts each from concept through completion, turning once-drab spaces in the home into fab, modern and functional retreats.

Right now, nearly half of homeowners are prioritizing bathroom renovations, making it one of — if not the — most popular interior projects. With that in mind, we stepped inside three Billings homes to see how the owners transformed their outdated bathrooms into innovative retreats designed around the way they live, with help from Jeremy.

FROM STANDARD TO stunning2

“There’s nothing I don’t like or would do differently,” says Karen Bailey about her newly dressed bathroom. “I had no clue what I wanted. I just wanted it different.” From humdrum frameless mirrors, an overly busy floor pattern, and an outdated garden-style tub smothered in chunky square tiles, Karen was ready for a redo.

With her bathroom renovation complete, the results are eye-catching.

This bathroom rebirth features a stone mosaic around the windows, enhancing the room’s mix of organic elements. The tiles tie nicely into the walk-in shower with a decorative inset highlighted by LED strip-lighting. The stone medley blankets the shower floor, anchored by a sleek quartz-top bench.

“I like the hand-held nozzle in the shower,” says Karen. “Mostly for my dog, (a rescued Australian Shepherd) and when I want a quick rinse.”

beautifully7

Lighting takes center stage in this space. Not only are the goldtrim mirrors accented with light, the Canyon Creek high-top hickory vanities offer a toe-kick glow. Floating shelves are enhanced by a splash of LED illumination, as well.

“I dim the lights at night so not to stumble in the dark,” Karen says. “I also gained storage under the vanities. The vanities have soft-close drawers and even the toilet seat doesn’t slam down. I’m very pleased with the attention to detail and the subtle things that make this room pop.”

When you look at the tile behind the mirrors, it looks like polished stone, but it’s not, Jeremy explains. “It’s porcelain, as are the large 30-inch floor tiles.” The glossy surfaces of the porcelain mimic the lustrous shimmering look of onyx stone.

Karen says she would never have come up with the design on her own. When she started to dream about a renovation, Matt the Painter, a Billings painting contractor, was putting a fresh coat of color on the walls of one of her bedrooms.

“He said to call Jeremy,” she says. “Jeremy and his team came over and took pictures. Jeremy came up with five unique design options, color schemes and styles. It’s pretty much all their design.”

What you see now is an expansive space made possible by removing a wall between the vanity and the toilet. A stand-alone cabinet that once hovered over the toilet and provided minimal storage was replaced by a built-in hickory cabinet.

“I didn’t want to lose the storage space, so I’m really pleased with the cabinet, Karen says.

Instead of that outdated garden tub, there’s a freestanding deep soaker, creating a spa-inspired centerpiece.

“This is way more functional for me,” Karen says. It also perfectly mirrors the warm-toned theme that carries through the rest of her home.

A VINTAGE masterpiece2

As the volunteer manager of the Western Heritage Center’s gift shop, it probably comes as no surprise that Mickey Caron loves a vintage look.

While she and her husband, Conrad, cherish their 1960s-era home nestled in the heart of Billings, they worked with Pinnacle Remodeling to refine their home’s narrow bathroom with a classic look.

“I love the colors of subtle pink and sage green, and the look,” Mickey says. “It’s reminiscent of a mid-century bath. Conrad loves it too. The craftsmanship is spot on.”

Jeremy and his team’s expertise hit the mark, turning the small space into a work of art.

“I found Jeremy in the men’s issue of this magazine,” says Mickey, (YVW’s March/April 2025 issue) “and I loved the story and the photos of other jobs he’d done. I knew I wanted something, but I didn’t know exactly what.”

When Mickey and Conrad walked into Pinnacle Remodeling’s design center, the magic took off from there. Jeremy wove Mickey’s love of nostalgia into the final product.

“She brought in the colors that she liked,” he says. “We went with white subway tile on the lower walls of the step-in shower, a green wash on the upper, a pink hexagon-tile band and pink tile in the shampoo niche.”

The shower features a shimmering green glass small-format hexagon floor, paired with the clean lines of a floating quartz-top bench. Chrome fixtures add a little bling. The pink hexagon tile flows from the shower onto the wall above a dark green vanity base. The dark green delivers a pinch of contrast, while the vanity

mirror

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Mickey agrees

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BEAUTIFUL & AFFORDABLE GLASS DESIGNS

Deep-sea blue with a shimmer of gold brings sophistication and a big dose of personality to another of Jeremy’s recent renovations.

“The homeowners wanted something to fit their style,” says Jeremy, about this striking metamorphosis. “They wanted something unique.”

What was once a nondescript bathroom with a nice soaker tub blossomed into a tailored space that feels timeless. Neutral shades of large, white polished porcelain tiles offer the look of marble and

adds an airy feel.

“We did navy blue subway tile in the shower and a hexagon stone shower floor,” Jeremy says.

Gold finish faucets, along with gold trim

glass shower doors from Rocky Mountain Glass, enhance this regal space. The shower is accented not only by recessed lighting but by a quartz-top diagonal shower seat.

Remodeling a bathroom typically offers a surefire way to add value to your home . According to the national average listed on Zillow, the rate of return on an upscale redo is 42%.

A 9-foot blue vanity with white quartz top, double sinks, back-lit mirrors and sconces intensify the ambiance. Shades of white along the backsplash are carried around the tub surround.

Navy blue subway tile trimmed in gold extends around the windows and draws the eye above to an architectural gold chandelier that not only sparkles but adds a beautiful display for light.

Three bathrooms, three distinct looks, all designed to prove that outdated bathrooms, no matter how stuck in the past, don’t have to stay that way. ✻

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: www.pinnacleremodels.com

BUSINESSES INVOLVED

Matt the Painter | mattthepainter.com Rocky Mountain Glass | rockymountainglassmt.com The Countertoppers | thecountertoppers.com Archie’s Plumbing | archiesplumbingbillings.com Central Electric | ceinc.biz Beartooth Wood Flooring | (406) 696-5093 Ferguson Home | fergusonhome.com

THE BLUEPRINT FOR STYLE timeless

MONTANA AVENUE SHOP BRINGS LUXURY RESALE TO A BUILDING RICH WITH HISTORY

written by JULIE KOERBER photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN

WHEN YOU STEP inside Blueprint MT, a luxury resale and curated vintage home décor and furniture store, there’s a feeling that the space already holds a few stories.

Sunlight pours through the large windows, catching on the curves of a tufted navy velvet couch and glinting off mercury highball glasses that could have come straight from a 1960s cocktail party. The red brick walls — part of the original construction — provide just the right aesthetic for this building with more than a century of history.

“I waited months and months for this space to be ready,” smiles owner Lindsey Whitcomb. “Once I saw it, I immediately knew this was exactly what I wanted. I loved the brick, the high ceilings. The double doors are a huge deal.”

1916. Over the decades, the building evolved, hosting a dance hall and offices for a chicken hatchery before being transformed into apartments and, according to local lore, a brothel.

“I feel really grateful to have found this exact spot,” she says. “It celebrates the history that is alive downtown.”

WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN, I

WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR OWN SPACE. IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA ON HOW TO KIND OF ‘ZHUZH’ UP YOUR OWN SPACE.

— Lindsey Whitcomb

Lindsey is, in a way, bringing the building, which sits at 2923 Montana Avenue, back to its original mission. Once home to Pouder Furniture, Howard Pouder and his wife, Nettie, opened and operated the secondhand furniture business beginning in

Today, the space is full of gently used furniture with high-end labels — Restoration Hardware, Formations, Room & Board — just to name a few. In Lindsey’s mind, the business was built on the foundation of being able to buy a refined and timeless piece without taking out a loan.

“Secondhand isn’t for everyone, but I think that there are enough people who want it and enough who want quality stuff, which is harder and harder to find, at a better price point,” Lindsey says.

Blueprint MT is intentionally staged and cozy.

“When people walk in, I want them to be able to see their own space,” she says. “It gives you an idea on how to kind of ‘zhuzh’ up your own space.”

Each piece is handpicked by Lindsey. In fact, she started curating things 18 months before she even stepped foot in her new shop. There’s abstract modern art with a ’70s vibe, twin beds with tall plush headboards perfect for any child’s bedroom, and a mango-wood coffee table that beckons you to sit nearby with a beverage.

“I do a ton of research before I buy anything,” Lindsey explains. “I try to price it fairly, based on what it would cost secondhand from a reputable online retailer. It’s a tricky game. You have to be able to adjust.”

Sometimes, those finds come from unexpected places — like a luxury condo development in New York City that staged entire units, then sold everything afterward. Other times, it’s about networking and following leads she’s spent time cultivating.

“These seedlings were growing for a long time,” she says with a laugh.

At heart, Lindsey is an environmentalist. A pharmacist by trade, she paused her career when her now 15-year-old daughter was going on 2 years old and her twins were born.

“When I got back into working, I got connected with a local gal who was doing zero-waste school campuses nearby, and I jumped in headfirst with her, doing school food-waste management and composting,” Lindsey says. “When you are really passionate about something, it changes how you live day to day.”

She’s always loved thrifting and, frankly, has a knack for it.

“I really like to find things that are unique. I always wanted something that was just a little bit different,” she says. She adds with a laugh, “You know when you are in 6th grade and you show up to school and you are wearing the same exact thing as somebody else and you’re like, ‘Well, that is unfortunate.’ It planted a little seed in me,” Lindsey says. She knows the treasures she finds will give someone else a unique design advantage. “No one else is going to have this because it’s from 1974.”

POWERING Possibility

at the end of November, nearly two years after first imagining the idea. Her husband — retired Army — jokes that after buying things to use for the store for upwards of two years, they’re “not buying any more stuff,” though she admits she’s always dreaming of what might come next.

“One dream I have is to bring in really big, repurposed pieces — like old general store cabinets,” she says, recalling her admiration for the cabinets that sit in Central High School’s science lab. “They’re stunning. I’d take them off someone’s hands in a heartbeat.”

Lindsey is also motivated by a de sire to shop — and sell — locally.

“I think you need to work towards building the community that you want to live in,” she says. “So, if I want to live in a place that has a cool, quaint, walkable shopping district, then I need to shop in those places as well.”

One step further, she says, is cre ating an experience within that little ecosystem. That’s what Lindsey is hoping to build here. You could say she’s even got the blueprint for it. ✻

WARM WARM WOODSY WOODSYand2

FROM STATEMENT STONE TO SOULFUL SPACES,

THE LOOKS REDEFINING HOME IN 2026

written by JULIE KOERBER

IF THE PAST few years were about crisp whites and safe neutrals, 2026 is confidently color-drenched and deeply personal. Today’s style is about layered textures, sculptural lighting and moody earth tones. Turns out, when it comes to home design and décor, the trends aren’t really trendy at all. If you ask those transforming homes in our area, it’s about creating spaces that truly reflect the people who live in them.

NATURAL MATERIALS, COZY FINISHES, FUNCTIONAL DESIGN

Jeremy and Angie Freyenhagen have been the dynamic duo behind Freyenhagen Construction for years. Angie takes care of colors, finishes and design. Jeremy’s skill is creating the structure and function behind every project.

“Right now, Montana homes are moving towards warmth, authenticity and personality — spaces that feel elevated but still livable,” Angie says.

And construction, Jeremy says, is aimed at not only helping homeowners live in their homes longer, but adding space for extended family.

“This past year we’ve done several projects that are multi-generational projects where the intention is to have mom, dad along with grandma and grandpa and maybe an adult child all living

under the same roof,” Jeremy says. That includes creating in-law suites, multiple masters or aging in place options. “That is something we are seeing more and more of.”

If Angie could define the looks making up today’s aesthetic, the list would focus around expression and warmth.

“I do feel people are feeling more confident with color,” Angie says. “Color drenching, where walls, trim and ceilings are all one tone, is becoming a very popular trend.”

So are warm metals. As Angie says, “They bring quiet elegance without feeling flashy.” Think champagne bronze, brushed gold and warm brass. Black, meantime, is being used with intention. “Using black accents in windows, lighting, faucets and even cabinetry gives a home structure and sophistication,” she adds. When balanced with wood, it adds contrast without feeling cold or heavy.

“We are seeing a strong return to stained wood cabinetry and accents,” Angie says. Oak, walnut and maple are being paired with creamy, warm-based whites to keep kitchens and baths feeling bright and welcoming.

No matter the choice, Angie and Jeremy are committed to bringing each homeowner’s vision to life.

“Our goal is always timeless design with a personal touch, so every home truly reflects the people who live in it,” Angie says.

BUILDING CURB APPEAL

The outside of a home is often seen as “the face,” that first impression right from the curb. It’s here you’ll find a shift back to natural elements and bold design.

“We are seeing that earthy component in siding,” says Joey Godwin, owner of Lynnrich Seamless Siding, Windows and Doors. “But the trifecta seems to be a mix of stone, natural wood and some type of metal on the home’s exterior. It has a really sharp design and a contemporary kind of appeal to it.”

While shades of siding are bringing warmth, the placement is going vertical.

Homeowners are also blurring the lines between the inside of their home and the landscape around it by turning to extra-large windows and doors.

WE ARE SEEING THAT EARTHY COMPONENT IN SIDING. BUT THE TRIFECTA SEEMS TO BE A MIX OF STONE, NATURAL WOOD AND SOME TYPE OF METAL ON THE HOME’S EXTERIOR. IT HAS A REALLY SHARP DESIGN AND A CONTEMPORARY KIND OF APPEAL TO IT.

“We used to see horizontal siding to the gable of the home and then there would be a transition board and then it would be vertical from there up,” Joey says. “We are seeing a lot of vertical siding for the entire home.” The result, he says, gives visual height to the home’s façade.

— Joey Godwin, owner of Lynnrich Seamless Siding

“We are seeing 16-foot patio doors that have a fixed panel on both sides and the two center panels open to create an 8-foot opening in the middle,” Joey says. It’s helping to open up space to create expanded living areas.

Instead of those small patio spaces with a concrete slab, Joey is seeing homeowners use that square footage to enclose a space for year-round enjoyment.

“The patio then becomes essentially interior finished space and again, it connects the outside to the inside. You can be inside your home and still feel like you’re in the backyard,” he says.

And with the kind of winters Montana ushers in, having a four-season space dedicated to relaxation just makes sense.

TODAY’S LAMINATE FLOORING IS MORE SCRATCH-RESISTANT. IT’S MORE WATERRESISTANT THAN IT EVER WAS BEFORE, SO IT CAN WITHSTAND SOME MOISTURE.

— Richard Miller, owner of Rich’s Modern Flooring,

GROUNDED IN STYLE

While earthy hues like honeyed oak, caramel walnut and soft beige are helping ground a home’s style, if you ask Richard Miller, owner of Rich’s Modern Flooring, that doesn’t mean homeowners aren’t expressing themselves with bold patterns or pops of color.

“We are seeing a lot of blues, teals, greens, some rusty ’70s colors, even lavender,” Richard says. Those hues are showing up as accents in tile backsplashes or some flooring lines are showing off these colors in carpet.

Patterns are also taking center stage in flooring and tile. Geometric shapes, even florals, are being cut to create a repeating a pattern in plush carpet or being used to create a 3-D effect in tile.

While luxury vinyl products have been the top pick for years, that trend is now ebbing. Laminate floors, made popular decades ago for their click-together appeal, are making a big comeback.

“Today’s laminate flooring is more scratch-resistant. It’s more water-resistant than it ever was before, so it can withstand some moisture,” Richard says. Aside from being more durable in high traffic areas, Richard adds that laminate planks appear more realistic, delivering a high-end look without the maintenance of hardwood.

Finishes are also getting a facelift. High gloss is being replaced with wire-brushed or embossed textures. The result is an attractive floor that disguises scuffs and footprints — a practical bonus for busy households.

BECAUSE NATURAL STONE SELECTIONS COME DIRECTLY FROM THE EARTH. IT BRINGS A PIECE OF THE LANDSCAPE THAT WE HAVE ALL GROWN TO LOVE INTO YOUR HOME.

— Jordan Hoffman, Magic City Granite

INSPIRED BY NATURE

Gone are the days when a kitchen or bath counter was purely functional.

“Big statement pieces have become very popular, whether it be a big island with lots of movement, full-height backsplashes, or a fullwall fireplace,” says Jordan Hoffman with Magic City Granite. “People are using stone as the focal point of the room.”

Earthy hues are making a splash here, as well, with greens and browns at the forefront.

“Personally, I love this change back to a warmer home and I can’t wait to make these visions come to life,” Jordan says.

Homeowners aren’t afraid these days to get a little creative. Picture a large island dressed in bold color with a more neutral counter around the perimeter of a kitchen. “It really brings the kitchen to life,” Jordan says.

Finishes are evolving, too. Glossy surfaces are giving way to matte and leathered finishes. While the leathered look was once one of rustic charm, it’s now gaining popularity across all design styles.

“It provides a more organic and natural feel within the home,” Jordan says.

It’s all about embracing natural warmth, tactile surfaces, and expressive materials that balance beauty and function.

“Because natural stone selections come directly from the earth,” Jordan says, “it brings a piece of the landscape that we have all grown to love into your home.”

THE REAL TAKEAWAY IS THE STRONG RETURN TO WARM AND RICH COLORS, BOLD PATTERNS, DARKER WOODS, SOFTER LINES ON EVERYTHING AND THE DESIRE TO HAVE A HOME THAT HAS A LOT OF PERSONALITY AND TELLS YOUR PERSONAL STORY.

— Tiff Blades, owner

of Davidson Design

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

Visit Davidson Home Furnishings for

CURATED & COZY

If there’s one defining shift in interiors right now, it’s a full swing back to traditional, warmer, personality-filled spaces. Think cozy rooms layered in camel, beige, brown, and green, with rich accent colors like blue, plum, rust, and terra cotta.

If you ask Tiff Blades, owner of Davidson Design, the mood feels collected and comfortable — a home that tells a story rather than follows a formula.

“Incorporate family antiques, if you have access to them; shop antique outlets for accent pieces; reupholster pieces that have interesting and traditional silhouettes,” Tiff says. And, if you want to ditch cool hues or grays, the fix, Tiff says, is simple. “Change paint colors in different rooms to add the warmth and personality.”

Texture plays a major role in creating that inviting feel. In her design, Tiff is leaning more toward organic materials like mohair, tweeds, velvets, shearling and heavy linens. In accessories, ceramics, painted metals and darker, richer wood tones are adding contrast and flair. Furniture silhouettes are softening too — curved sofas, rounded arms, skirted pieces, and organically shaped wood tables are replacing sharper, more angular forms.

While lighting has its purpose, Tiff says today’s design puts the fun in function.

“Lighting is definitely an accessory in our homes now versus being simply there to perform a function,” she says. That means adding unique chandeliers or wall sconces to a space, adding an extra layer of interest.

“The real takeaway,” Tiff says, “is the strong return to warm and rich colors, bold patterns, darker woods, softer lines on everything and the desire to have a home that has a lot of personality and tells your personal story.”

WHEN YOU HAVE RADIANT HEAT, IT IS GENERALLY USING LESS ENERGY BECAUSE ONCE THE WALLS ARE WARM AND FURNITURE IS WARM, IT TAKES LESS TO KEEP IT WARM.

— Jane Geering, Geering Home Co. Hearth & Home

WARM & TOASTY

Radiant heat fireplaces are experiencing a surge in popularity — and it’s easy to understand why. One of the biggest draws, Jane Geering of Geering Home Co. Hearth & Home explains, is their independence from electricity.

“The valve itself creates its own electricity,” she explains. “Our stoves are designed to heat well without electricity and without a blower.” In practical terms, that means reliable warmth even during a power outage. All that’s required is proper venting.

The way radiant heat works is rather simple.

“Think of the sun coming through your windows or standing in a place where the sun is warming you up,” Jane says. “It’s that same feeling.”

Radiant heat warms people and objects directly, creating a steady, enveloping comfort. Instead of hot and cold pockets, homeowners experience corner-to-corner warmth with a more consistent temperature throughout the space.

“When you have radiant heat, it is generally using less energy because once the walls are warm and furniture is warm, it takes less to keep it warm,” she explains.

Since these units don’t require blowers to push heat through, homeowners enjoy improved indoor air quality. They also work to preserve natural humidity.

With features like programmable remote controls, automatic pilot shut-off, and advanced heat distribution options, Jane says today’s radiant fireplaces deliver everyday convenience, and long-term value — along with that unmistakable, sun-warmed feeling homeowners love. ✻

country

MOLLY AND MIKE WIGGS took a short walk with friends one day and fell head over heels in love. The couple had married years ago, but this kind of love was different. It was the love of the land, the close proximity of the mountains, and the rolling hum of Whitebird Creek. It sealed the deal on building a new home. It was time to sell the house in Columbus that they had built a quarter-of-a-century ago and where they raised their four kids. It was time to move closer to the heart and soul of the mountains.

“We were at our friends’ house just across the road,” says Mike, who works at Cenex Refinery, “when we walked over here and saw the creek and the view.”

The 2.2 acres of prime real estate situated in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains happened to be for sale. Molly, who also works in Columbus, recalls the conversation.

“Mike told me, ‘If we buy this land, you can have the home you want,’” she says.

roads2

LIVING NEAR THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE MOUNTAINS

written by TRISH ERBE SCOZZARI photography by NATHAN SATRAN

TAKE ME HOME

They bought the property and planned to build a home suited for multigenerational living. Jordy, their 36-year-old daughter with Down syndrome shares a home with them.

“We were going to do a barn-dominium for the openness, but Mike wanted more of a shop home,” Molly says. “The shop was the first to go up!”

Mike made good on his word. The 4,300 square-foot home, including the three-car garage, meets every one of Molly’s design dreams.

“I knew we wanted two master suites so Jordy would have her own space,” Molly says. “Jordy could be on one end and us on the other.”

The one-level rancher built by Tige Ekle of Ekle Construction features the two primary bedroom spaces, along with a guest bedroom and bathroom. “I grew up in Columbus on the Beartooth Ranch, so Mike and Molly are great family friends. I’ve known them my entire life,” Tige says. “The home has 10-foot ceilings, 8-foot doors, looks at the mountains up the Stillwater, and has a good view.”

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN TO HAVE YOUR BIG FAMILY IN ONE ROOM, AND COOKING. IT’S A PLACE WHERE WE COULD ALL BE TOGETHER.

— Molly Wiggs

The southern view from the open-design living area spotlights the mountains, but inside this home, it’s the kitchen that knocks your socks off.

Kristy Ferguson, owner of Beyond the Box, calls the project “a really fun one, with a lot of thoughtful coordination.” Leisal Wiggs, the cabinet company’s sales manager and Molly’s sister-in-law, worked closely with Kristy, her boss, and the homeowners on the design plan.

They created the space and the functionality with multiple drawer configurations, cutlery inserts, two dishwashers (one a panel-ready dishwasher), two double waste pull-outs, knife/utensil storage and a spice pullout.

A well-designed walk-in pantry, an efficient, yet classy, laundry room and a practical mudroom round out the amenities situated right off the kitchen.

“I knew exactly what Molly’s tastes were,” Leisal says, “so I would tell Molly, ‘you’re not going to like that.’”

“Which I was so thankful for,” adds Molly.

Molly’s joy of cooking prompted the designers to include a massive rustic alder center island with russet stain. The island takes on a sophisticated vibe with Cambria “Everleigh” quartz countertops from Fabricators Unlimited. This natural stone, with its movement-rich design, serves as the backsplash, as well.

Kristy adds that “to achieve a seamless full-height quartz backsplash, we intentionally recessed the bottom of the cabinetry. This allowed

space for a low-profile outlet and lighting strip, keeping outlets fully functional while preventing visual interruptions in the stone.”

Early coordination between cabinetry, electrical, and stone fabrication was key to making this detail work cleanly, she says.

A 60-inch custom hood adds a touch of flair with its shapely coving. Oil-rubbed bronze cabinet pulls polish off the look, as do two Flemish glass chandeliers above the island. High-end appliances, like the Frigidaire column refrigerator and the six-burner gas range, help Molly entertain their large family and friends.

“I can’t wait to cook, but I don’t want to get it dirty,” laughs Molly.

The heart of the home is impressive, with shaker-style perimeter cabinetry covered in a warm biscuit color and emphasized with cove molding and clear-glass accents.

Kristy notes that “the stacked cabinetry from the countertop to the ceiling bookends the (vista) wall, providing a gorgeous configuration.”

What’s known as the vista wall features four meticulously positioned windows that frame the rich landscape that surrounds the home.

The open floor plan is further unified by a cultured stone fireplace in the great room. Its creamy beige tones show off the rough-hewn timber mantle the homeowners acquired in Big Timber.

Leisal describes it as “a classic look that will never go out of style. It balances the kitchen.”

The guest quarters and Jordy’s suite sit on this end of the house. The suite allows Jordy her privacy.

“My favorite thing about this house,” says Jordy, matter-of-factly, “is the shower.”

Leisal agrees that Jordy loves this space. “She loves the bathroom and the shower,” laughs Leisal. “She called her Aunt Leisal from the shower!”

Jordy delights in showing off double sink high-top vanity, fashioned of knotty alder with glaze. Each drawer is organized. “I’m a makeup girl,” she says, touching a small cosmetic bag. Her fancy shower fea-

tures large subway tile and a glass shampoo niche.

Natural light floods into this spacious suite, as Jordy opens the door to the walk-in closet. An apartment-size fridge sits on the floor. Shelves line the walls. “It’s like a shopping mall with all my sweaters,” she says.

The light and airy feel continues in Molly and Mike’s primary suite. They enjoy the spaciousness of the room and a huge walkin closet. The en suite couldn’t be more chic with its bubble chandelier that hangs over the soaker tub.

An off-set pattern of large tile adorns the walls of the walk-in shower. The decorative accent of Lumia Leaf mosaic fills the niche with exceptional texture. And like Jordy’s shower floor, this one is also covered with vibrant penny-round tile.

The warm tones of luxury vinyl plank flooring from Rich’s Modern Flooring flow throughout the home, integrating the organic elements of this charismatic home.

The orchestration involved in bringing so many ideas and details to culmination worked out for the benefit of everyone involved. Molly sums it up when asked, “What was the one thing you wanted the most in your new home?”

“It was the big kitchen island,” she says. “There’s nothing better than to have your big family in one room, and cooking. It’s a place where we could all be together.”

Molly, Mike and Jordy moved in only a couple of months ago. They look forward to inviting the family over and breaking in the kitchen. Mike is anxious to finish his shop. Jordy cranks up the music, as she loves to dance. Molly can hardly wait to sit on the patio.

“I’ve not been in my home a full day,” she says. “It’s been busy with the baby (the third grandchild was born a month ago). Maybe it’s the last big event for a while!”

Molly sounds like she’s ready for to spend some time at home near the heart and soul of the mountains. ✻

BUSINESSES INVOLVED

Citizens Bank & Trust Company of Big Timber | ctznsbank.com

Beyond the Box | btbcabinets.com

Fabricators Unlimited | fabricatorsunlimited.com

Pella Windows & Doors | pella.com

Rich’s Modern Flooring | richsflooring.com

Billings Window & Door | billingswindowanddoor.net

All Star Electric

Keller Supply | www.kellersupply.com

Hertz Plumbing | (406) 248-3106

Joe Currie Painting & Wall Finishing

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