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IF THE LAST TWO months were a cocktail, they’d be equal parts chaos, caffeine, and cold medicine—shaken, not stirred. Life, being quite unapologetic, came at me like a linebacker with no manners and zero chill. It flipped me upside down, spun me sideways, and didn’t even send a follow-up text to ask if I was okay.
As I write this from my couch— possibly inside out, I’m not sure—I’m reflecting on the ride. My daughter, a senior in nursing school, decided to squeeze every last inning out of her final softball season at Carroll College. So naturally, my husband and I were her personal hype squad, zigzagging across the Pacific Northwest. The moment we finished moving her out of her Helena apartment, she announced she was headed 600 plus miles south to Colorado Springs to start her dream job as an ER nurse. No biggie—just a tiny life shift.
Meanwhile, in a plot twist nobody saw coming, my son—he of the ‘shoe-obsessed since birth’ variety (his first word was literally “shoe”)—decided to step away from his dream job in footwear development at Nike. Why? Because something even more important than sneakers entered the picture: a beautiful baby boy and a deeper desire to be near family. So, while one kid flew the coop, the other flew back in—with a wife and a baby in tow.
Somewhere in the middle of all this, I caught a cold so brutal it felt like I’d swallowed a cactus. Naturally, this is when our beloved guest from the Netherlands arrived. Anneke, who stayed with my family as a foreign exchange student fifty years ago, came back to visit. Last time she saw me, I was four, rocking pigtails and gingham shorts. At the airport, she smiled and said, “I
Julie Letter Editor FROM THE
can still see that little girl in you.” I almost cried—though that may have been the Sudafed talking.
Over the course of a week, we toured Red Lodge, hiked Four Dances, shopped like we were on a mission with, of course, a quick lunch at Carmel Cookie Waffle in all its Dutch-inspired glory, and made a wild dash to Yellowstone. There, in a feat of tourist luck, we spotted seven grizzly bears, yes, seven. (It felt personal.) Despite my wicked cold, I loved every minute spent with her. She’s one of the most endearing souls.
After Anneke left, the excitement just kept coming: my daughter passed the NCLEX, the nursing licensure test (cue confetti!), my son moved again—this time to a house with actual grass—and somehow, through the fog of cough drops and cardboard boxes, I still managed to hold down the fort here at YVW.
If this season had a soundtrack, it would be an electric buzz—relentless, wild, and kind of wonderful. Because buried under the exhaustion and the endless todo lists were the real gems: reconnections, love, and moments I’ll treasure forever.
This is the spice of life, my friends. May your summer be just as zesty—though perhaps with a little more sleep. ✻
With tissues in one hand and coffee in the other,
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july/ august 2025
on the cover
30 leading with fire
Erika Purington is a changemaker, ready to uplift the underserved meet the changemakers
12 serving up opportunity
Unbeatable on the courts, Jodie Adams now works to build them
18 sewing kindness
Stitching comfort and hope for children and teens in need
22 color courage and life remembered
Lexy Pyle’s family turns heartbreak into hope
26 mighty women, misleading name
The Billings Junior Woman’s Club proves age is just a number — and service never retires
features
36 two docs and two generations thrive on emergency medicine
Billings Clinic’s Emergency Department marks a milestone
44 magic happens behind the scenes
Meet the women at the helm of NOVA Center for the Performing Arts
56 silly games, serious fun
How a homegrown league is turning strangers into teammates
60 life on the midway
Montana’s only female carnival owner and the family dream that keeps spinning
64 the sky’s the limit
Ellie Manske’s journey through challenge, leadership, and lift-off
68 rolling success
Meet the women behind Billings’ booming street food scene
74 BAKING JOY
The sweet rise of Flours Bakery home and garden
84 where style meets soul
Inside Erin McCall’s warm, welcoming home — and the neighborhood vision that built it
94 MORE THAN GREEN THUMBS
How Bob and Debbie Wicks—and a 55-year-old garden club—cultivate beauty and bonding
100 A HOUSE OF MEMORIES
One couple’s remodel turned a rancher into a modern farmhouse retreat in every issue
42 karen grosz: Sharing Courage
50 fashion: Cheers to Summer
78 taste of the valley: A Sip of Summer
meet the STAFF
Michele Konzen Sales Executive
gayle smith Sales Executive / Writer
melanie Fabrizius Design
daniel sullivan Photography
Laura Farr Photography
Terry Perkins Sales Executive
trish scozzari Sales Executive / Writer
Nicole Burtell Distribution
kayla gray Social Media
Linda Grosskopf Copy Editor
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Use the QR code or visit intermountainhealth.org/mt to learn more and schedule an appointment.
meet the meet the
Changemakers Changemakers Changemakers
HOW EVERYDAY HEROES ARE SHAPING A STRONGER, KINDER COMMUNITY
IN EVERY CORNER of our community, ordinary people are doing extraordinary things— quietly reshaping lives through compassion and purpose. From a Hall of Fame tennis player rallying for more public courts, to a woman stitching comfort into pillowcases for foster kids and seniors, these changemakers are proof that one person can spark lasting impact. You’ll meet a family channeling grief into generosity, a woman whose nonprofit work has strengthened the city she loves, and a group of seniors proving that retirement is just the beginning of giving back. These are the stories of the people who are making our community better—one act of kindness at a time. ✻
Serving Up Opportunity Opportunity Opportunity
UNBEATABLE ON THE COURTS, JODIE ADAMS NOW WORKS TO BUILD THEM
written by ED KEMMICK photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
IN HER HOMETOWN of Springfield, Missouri, Jodie Adams was a tennis prodigy. She was the first undefeated female tennis play er ever at her high school, and when she went on to play at Missouri State University, she won almost 400 titles. She was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, and in 2017 she won that organization’s President’s Award.
Her larger contribution to the sport of tennis, however, came after all those achievements, during a career as a parks and recreation director in Springfield and as a consultant on and promoter of racquet sports and facilities all over the country.
And now she lives in Billings, where she is putting her skills and experience to use by supporting efforts to build an indoor tennis and pickleball center that she says would make it possible for Billings to bid on sectional, regional and even tournaments.
Cyndy Desin, president of the Billings Tennis Association board, says Jodie’s “enthusiasm is incredible and contagious. Jodie has endless energy, and her organization skills and her knowledge to pursue and develop a project are amazing.”
Jodie, for her part, says that while the economic impacts of a tennis center could be big, it’s important to do in Billings what
she did in Springfield — to promote sports for the sake of sports, and to give everybody in the community an opportunity to participate.
That fundamental outlook was something she and her two older brothers learned from her parents. Her mother and father were athletes, Jodie says, but their primary focus was on providing their children with the chance to take part in whatever sports caught their interest.
“They never held us back, but they never pushed us,” Jodie says. “You truly knew that all three of us played for the love of the sport. That’s all it was.”
Love can be a strong motivator. Her brother Jim was a professional polo player, and brother Tom, the oldest of the siblings, was a professional tennis player. With Tom as her partner, Jodie started playing in adult tournaments when she was 13, and she played women’s doubles with a lifelong friend 16 years her senior.
After high school, Jodie became one of the first athletes at Missouri State offered a full-ride athletic scholarship after the passage of Title IX, the federal law that prohibited discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities. Brother Tom was the men’s tennis coach at the university at the time, and she practiced with him and his players, which gave a big boost to her skills.
JODIE CONDUCTING THE COIN TOSS AT THE 2024 U.S. OPEN
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Then, in 1979, just before she was to graduate from college with a degree in recreation administration, she was offered a job as an entry-level manager for Springfield’s park department, where she would run the city’s brand-new indoor tennis center, as well as the women’s sports programs.
About the same time, she was asked by a tennis player from Tex-
as, who had seen Jodie play at a national collegiate tourney, to be her partner in a doubles wild card entry at Wimbledon, the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Jodie declined the invitation, and she says without hesitation that she has no regrets. The job offer meant more to her than another opportunity to play tennis.
“I either had to take the job or it was going to pass me by,” she says. “It was a dream job for me to get at 21 years old, in my hometown.”
“Really,” she continues, “what I did was, I regenerated my focus, putting it into administration, and I really took my enthusiasm for sports in general into my job. My total focus since I’ve been in parks and recreation administration has been to create opportunities for everyone. That has driven me all these decades, and it still does today.”
She would go on to put in 37 years of service with what is now the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, working her way up through the organization and retiring as director. That in itself would have been a big accomplishment, but while working for the people of Springfield, she continuously expanded her involvement in statewide, regional and eventually national associations and boards.
She credits the man who hired her, Dan Kinney, whom she succeeded as parks director, with making sure she had opportunities to broaden her skills and her outlook.
“The key was, he enabled me to grow, he enabled me to travel,” Jodie says. “He made sure that when there were training opportunities, I could go to national schools and learn.”
Thanks to those opportunities, she would serve on the Nation-
TENNIS
BILLIE JEAN KING AND JODIE
Rallying for Red Lodge
TWO-PHASE PLAN TO BUILD & UPGRADE LOCAL COURTS
Jodie Adams isn’t just championing racket sports in Billings—she’s helping to rally a two-phase major courts initiative in Red Lodge. Phase 1, led by Red Lodge Pickleball, will renovate the existing courts at Field School Park by Fall of 2025. Phase 2, spearheaded by Red Lodge Tennis, will construct four brand-new tennis courts at Coal Miner’s Park. With a goal of raising more than $600,000, the community is calling on supporters to help bring these visions to life. To learn more or donate, visit rlacf.org/ donate-2/local-causes/red-lodge-courts
al Recreation and Park Association board of directors, and was its president in 2009-10. She was also on the boards of the U.S. Tennis Association and the U.S. Olympic Committee. She co-authored three books about parks and rec administration and taught at Missouri State from 2012 to 2021. She and a partner, Peggy Riggs, started a consulting firm, Brio 2, whose focus now is working with the U.S. Tennis Association on the development of racquet-sport facilities around the country.
That’s not all. Jodie met women’s tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King during her years on the tennis tour, then served with her
on the U.S. Tennis Association board. During Jodie’s tenure at the park department in Springfield, the city became the first municipal owner of a World Team Tennis franchise, the Springfield Lazers. King was involved in the origins of the WTT, a mixed-gender professional tennis league, and Jodie was the general manager of the Lazers.
Jodie first spent time in this area of the country more than 25 years ago, when she went to Yellowstone National Park, under the auspices of Yellowstone Forever, to learn about the reintroduction of wolves into the park. She went back to Yellowstone many
times over the years, and then, at the urging of two university colleagues, started a “study-away program” for students and teachers at Missouri State to have the same experience.
She would often visit Billings on those trips, making many friends in the area. Another connection was through her brother and sister-in-law, who at one time planned to open a honey-baked ham store in Billings. They purchased land for the project but decided on another location before opening the store.
Then, about 15 years ago, the U.S. Tennis Association invited Jodie to Billings to lend her expertise to efforts to build an indoor tennis center here. Those plans eventually resulted in the Elks Tennis Center on Lewis Avenue. The Elks property was later purchased by a developer hoping to build a high-end housing complex on the site. Those plans are now in limbo, and the fate of the tennis center is uncertain, at best.
outdoors here, and now is the time for the indoors to be taken care of,” she says. “That’s why I’m involved now. I’m ready to see it happen here.”
Jodie quickly became a member of the Billings Tennis Association board, and a member of the Billings Pickleball Association. She was part of the planning process that resulted in a full-blown feasibility study for an indoor tennis and pickleball center in Billings, conducted by Sports Facilities Company LLC, headquartered in Florida. The study was completed in March 2024.
ONE THING THAT I JUST REALLY FELT WAS THAT, YOU’RE KNOWN FOR THE OUTDOORS HERE, AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE INDOORS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THAT’S WHY I’M INVOLVED NOW. I’M READY TO SEE IT HAPPEN HERE.
— Jodie Adams
When Jodie retired from her administrative and teaching jobs in Springfield, she knew she wanted to live somewhere near the mountains, zeroing in on either Colorado or Montana. In the end she chose Billings, partly because of the friends she made here and partly because the city’s potential reminded her of Springfield as it was years ago.
“One thing that I just really felt was that, you’re known for the
The study, which included a fiveyear financial forecast and an economic impact analysis, calls for an indoor center with six tennis courts, eight pickleball courts, a sports performance training area, 5,000 square feet that would be leased for sports medicine activities, a racquet sport pro shop and support offices.
The price tag is estimated at $29 million to $35 million, not including the costs of the needed land, about 6.6 acres. That’s an ambitious plan, to say the least, but Jodie believes it’s doable, and that the time is ripe.
“We’re experiencing such a resurgence of tennis right now, and then obviously with the development of pickleball, it’s phenomenal what’s happening,” she says. She is fond of statistics like
these: there are 25.7 million tennis players nationwide, a number that grew by 5.9 million in just the past three years. Pickleball has 19 million players, up 5 million in just three years.
Other communities in Montana, including Red Lodge, Hardin, Missoula, Great Falls and Bozeman, are looking at building new courts, indoors and out, or doing major upgrades at existing courts.
The feasibility study projects that an indoor center in Billings would begin to show positive revenue generation in the fourth year of operation, and that local economic impacts would total $1.2 million a year in the fifth year. No site has been chosen yet, but Jodie says Amend Park, where there is already a big soccer complex and where an ice arena is under construction, would be logical fit.
Kevin Schuh, with Sports Facilities Company, led the predevelopment study for the local tennis association. Though this was the first time he worked directly with Jodie, he says, he used to work in parks and rec in St. Louis, Missouri, and was familiar with her work in Springfield.
Kevin describes Jodie as “a leader in every sense of the word.” He continues, “Her background in tennis is clear and very impressive, but her passion and knowledge in parks and recreation is unmatched. She has built a career in impacting communities through public recreation.”
Jodie says the plan for an indoor tennis center make look grandiose, but her experience, including attending revenue-management schools, showed her that there are multiple avenues of funding, including grants, bonding and fundraising. The BTA has already acquired the services of the Bannack Firm out of Bozeman, one of the top fundraising companies in the state.
“I’m really optimistic because of our studies, because we know the players are there,” she says. “We know it’s going to be a heavy lift, but it’s the right lift. We’ve been working around the clock for 24 months, and we have a plan and we’re ready to go.” ✻
TO LEARN MORE about the Billings Tennis Association’s proposed indoor center, go to the BTA website at billingstennis.org
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Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 11-5 Thurs 11-8pm, Girl’s Night Out • Sat 9-3
Sew Sew SewKindness Kindness
STITCHING COMFORT AND HOPE FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS IN NEED
written by BROOKE WAGNER photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN & SAVANNAH TRAYWICK
KARI JONES had a needle and thread—and an idea. She wanted to learn how to sew colorful pillowcases for her granddaughters as a way to weave a little joy into their lives. Little did she know that this project, born of love, would seamlessly wind through the fabric of our community.
Her idea became Sew Kindness, a nonprofit organization that provides handmade, custom pillowcases to youth in foster care and those experiencing homelessness. The pillowcases offer a tangible reminder to the recipients that they are valued and cared for during challenging times.
“Sew Kindness was inspired by a tutorial video I watched in 2020,” Kari says. “The video suggested that the gift of a pillowcase not be underestimated, because it could make a difference in someone’s life. I felt like God tapped me on the shoulder and stirred me to start an organization that provides pillowcases to people in our community who may be hurting or in a difficult situation.” Through the simple yet profound act of sewing, this organization transforms fabric into symbols of comfort, security, and hope.
“As a person who found herself unexpectedly pregnant before being married, I can relate in a small way to people who find themselves in circumstances that are not what they planned or hoped for,” Kari says. “I was fortunate to have had faith in God, as well as the support of family and friends, to help me through my challenging days, but not everyone does.”
like-minded seamstresses. “My plan was to purchase the fabric and make pillowcase kits to give to people who were interested in sewing. Friends put me in touch with people they knew, and slowly an inventory of pillowcases began to accumulate,” she says.
A year later, Kari connected with Johanna Kennedy, co-director of Haven Camps, which provides the opportunity for children in foster care in Montana to attend summer camps just for them. “She accepted our offer to provide new pillows and pillowcases for the 47 campers that year, so that was Sew Kindness’s inaugural gift,” Kari says.
SEW KINDNESS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES HANDMADE, CUSTOM PILLOWCASES TO YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AND THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
Kari reflects on the humble beginnings of the organization and marvels at the impact it has today. “In April of 2020, I registered Sew Kindness as an LLC so I could obtain a business license and order fabric wholesale. At one point, I remember telling a friend that I was going to need some help, because I was having visions of sitting in my own little sweatshop in the basement day after day sewing pillowcases into the wee hours,” Kari says.
In the summer of 2021, Kari began reaching out to find other
Kari shares an excerpt from a letter written by Johanna that speaks to the heart of her mission. The letter spoke of the children walking into a room with tables covered in colorful pillowcases. “Many of the children who come to our camps have very little to call their own. Some have moved foster homes up to seven times. They left camp that week with their very own new pillow and pillowcase,” Johanna shares. “Secondly, the children were able to choose what they liked. These precious children have had most, if not all, of their decisions stripped away from them.” The letter went on to say that allowing each child to hand-pick their pillowcase was one small decision that they got to make.
Crafting these pillowcases is as much of a gift to the children who receive them as they are to the volunteers who lend their skills to the project. “I was honored when Kari asked me to be a part of this project. It was a way for me to use my skill to serve and maybe let a child know they are loved by me, and by God,” says sewing volunteer, Sue Roberts. Jan Zoanni, another volunteer with the program, adds, “Happy and joyful would describe how I felt sewing these beautiful pillowcases! I hope it brings joy and happiness to the sweet children too!”
Sew Kindness is a testament to the power of small, intentional acts of compassion. As the vision continues to grow, Sew Kind-
ness hopes to expand its reach, partnering with more organizations and engaging more volunteers to bring comfort to people of all ages.
“I was recently asked if we would consider donating pillowcases to a local nursing home. Of course, we were thrilled to do so,” Kari says. “It took some time to purchase fabric and make pillowcases appropriate for more mature ladies and gentlemen, but I am delighted to say we will keep enough inventory there so that choosing a pillowcase will be part of the welcome process when new residents move in!”
In a world that can feel overwhelming, Sew Kindness reminds us that a single stitch can mend hearts and restore hope. Through the simple act of sewing a pillowcase, this nonprofit is creating a legacy of love, one child, or even one adult, at a time. ✻
TO LEARN MORE, visit sewkindness.com and join the movement to sew kindness into the lives of those who need it most.
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.
Sew Kindness Sew Kindness HOW
SEW KINDNESS operates with a community-driven model that invites volunteers to contribute their sewing talents. The process is straightforward yet impactful:
• PILLOWCASE KITS: Volunteers can request a pillowcase kit, which includes a pattern and pre-cut, 100% cotton fabric. Sewers provide their own thread and skills, crafting the pillowcase within two weeks and returning it to Sew Kindness for distribution to a local child or teen in need.
• DONATIONS AND PURCHASES: For those who can’t sew,
Sew Kindness offers the option to purchase a pillowcase, with each purchase directly funding a donated pillowcase for a child. Monetary donations are also accepted — $20 provides a custom pillowcase, and $30 covers both a pillowcase and a pillow.
• COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: Sew Kindness collaborates with local organizations—like Tumbleweed, Yellowstone County Child and Family Services, Hannah House, and Love and SONshine Home—to deliver custom pillowcases to places where they are needed most.
C urage, C urage, C urage, and a Life Remembered Color Color Color
LEXY PYLE’S FAMILY TURNS HEARTBREAK INTO HOPE
written by JULIE KOERBER photography by KERRI LAMMERS
AT 19, LEXY PYLE lit up every room she entered. She was a soon-to-be college freshman with dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse. She was full of life — a life that was senselessly stolen one August night by a drunk driver.
In the quiet aftermath of that heartbreaking loss, her family is determined to make sure Lexy’s story doesn’t end there.
“You don’t know what true love is until you have kids,” says Lexy’s mother, Melissa Dunn. “And when you have kids, that’s your fear — that something will happen to them.”
On August 3, 2021, Lexy was in the passenger seat as 19-yearold Payton Hunter sped down First Avenue North. Court records show he was driving at excessive speeds and had just blown through a red light when a car turned in front of him near North 12th Street.
“She was a typical seatbelt wearer, but the seatbelts weren’t accessible in the truck, so she wasn’t wearing one,” Melissa says. “All the impact happened right at her door. It was just enough to partially eject her.” Lexy died at the scene. Hunter admitted to police at the scene that he had been drinking.
It wasn’t long after her death that the Love for Lexy Foundation became more than just an idea.
“I think the reason why we did it is because the justice system fails everyone. We were trying to keep her name out there,” says Taylor Dunn, Lexy’s 17-year-old sister. The family says Hunter was charged with negligent homicide and faced 30 years in prison. Instead, he received 10 years, with five of them suspended. He is now serving time in a pre-release center. “Since the accident, he spent one day in jail,” Melissa says.
Instead of letting the anger simmer, she says, “We wanted to be a positive light instead of a negative one.”
“When you keep getting comments from people saying, ‘She did this for me,’ or ‘She helped me in this way,’ it was just so much positivity,” says her stepdad, Shane Dunn. “To create a foundation meant something.”
On August 2, the family plans to turn Pioneer Park into an explosion of powdered paint in her honor with Lexy’s Color Run. It’s the second year the family has hosted the 5K race.
“I don’t know what possessed us to do this,” Melissa says with a laugh. “There are six different powder stations that runners get powdered at throughout the race.”
Taylor adds with a smile, “I rolled in it last year. It was all over the finish line.”
Runners will start at 3rd Street West and Avenue B on the park’s east side. They will wind their way up to 12th Street West before turning back toward the park and the finish line.
Melissa adds that you don’t have to be present to take part in the fundraising effort.
“We had virtual runners,” she says. Last year, 15 states were represented with runners who ran in Lexy’s honor.
When asked what Lexy would think of the family’s efforts and the latest fundraising event, Melissa says, “Oh my, she’d be so happy. I think she’d be rolling around in the color, too.”
Taylor laughs and says, “No, she’d probably grab the whole bottle.”
It’s just one of a handful of fundraisers the family uses to do good in Lexy’s name. They also have a Love for Lexy custom license plate that, to date, has raised more than $10,000. With Lexy’s desire to be a nurse, the family launched a scholarship for nursing students. So far this year, they have doled out six $500 scholarships.
“It’s not much, but it will probably pay for a semester of books,” Melissa says. “I want to be able to fundraise to keep that going.”
Taylor helped her mom start Lexy’s Closet, a collection of prom and formal dresses that can be shared with girls who might not otherwise be able to afford one. The family also used some of the funds to help make Christmas a reality for kids in need, sponsoring more than 50 families in their hometown of Laurel last year alone.
Aside from a philanthropic mission, Melissa hopes to use the Love for Lexy Foundation to spark change in Montana’s laws.
“We are trying to pass a law called Lexy’s Law that makes officers draw blood at the scene of a death or serious injury,” Melissa says, adding that in Lexy’s case, it was hours before officers were able to draw blood from the driver responsible for Lexy’s fatal crash.
May 22 would have been Lexy’s 23rd birthday. Melissa and Taylor celebrated with lunch at The Brew Pub, the place where Lexy worked up until her death. They also got sunflower tattoos — it was Lexy’s favorite flower — to serve as a constant reminder.
“It’s hard,” Taylor says. “She was my only sibling.” Both of the girls’ bedrooms were in the basement of the family home. “The door is always closed. The light is always off.”
It’s just more fuel, the family says, to keep the fire of Lexy’s life lit.
“It’s hard not to love her,” Melissa says. “I don’t want her to be forgotten.” ✻
TO SIGN UP FOR LEXY’S COLOR RUN, visit runsignup.com/Race/MT/ Billings/LexysColorRun. To learn more about the foundation, you can visit their Facebook page by searching Love for Lexy Foundation.
FAITH SAYLER, JENNIFER SAYLER, DEAN SAYLER, MELISSA DUNN, SHANE DUNN, LISA JONES, CASEY HESS, HAYDEN SAYLER, NATE SAYLER, MANDY PIERCE
MISLEADING NAME MIGHTY MIGHTY MISLEADING NAME Women, Women,
THE BILLINGS JUNIOR WOMAN’S CLUB PROVES AGE IS JUST A NUMBER — AND SERVICE NEVER RETIRES
written by LINDA HALSTEAD-ACHARYA photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
THERE ARE FEW ‘juniors’ in Billings Junior Woman’s Club. But make no mistake—the club’s members rival most any ‘junior’ when it comes to getting things done.
From buying a 12-passenger touring cart for ZooMontana to helping stock MSU-B’s food pantry or promoting the Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings Junior Woman’s Club offers avenues for any member to make a difference in her hometown.
“There is something going on almost every day of the week,” says Florence Diede, former president and current committee chair.
Florence joined the club two decades ago and continues to play an active role. Active with a capital A.
“She doesn’t like to stay home,” quips Marsha Hotchkiss, current club president, who is just as involved.
“There’s no reason for old people to sit at home, is there?” Florence asks, grinning. “But if you do, there are even things you can do at home.”
GFWC BILLINGS JUNIOR WOMAN’S CLUB Mission Statement
General Federation of Women’s Clubs is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.
If they’re not bagging “Books for Babies” — on average, members hand out 2,500 books each year — you might catch one of them flipping pancakes at the Community Crisis Center or preparing kits for members to make blankets for the sheriff’s department to hand out.
The Billings Junior Woman’s Club is not short on volunteer projects to improve the community. Members provide meals for teens at Tumbleweed, and they gather medical supplies and hygiene kits for schools. They assemble packets of basic household necessities for young adults moving into their first apartments, and they’ve made thousands of pillows to comfort women after breast cancer surgery. They lead art projects for disabled adults at Casey’s Dream, award scholarships to high school seniors, advocate for children through CASA, and provide financial support to nine other local non-profits. The list goes on.
During their summer “hiatus,” there are outings and gatherings, too, just for fun. One month it might be a tour at Tippet Rise. Another month it could be a class on baking bread or a workshop for building bird houses.
“We’re trying hard to do more hands-on projects,” Marsha says.
“If we want to attract young people, that’s what we need to do.”
There’s even a niche for women who love to snag a bargain. One of their advocates came across coats selling for $4.95 apiece and nabbed 20.
“So, at CASA and the Friendship House, they had 20 coats to hand out,” Florence says.
The club fills needs wherever and whenever they pop up. On last summer’s National Day of Service, several members headed to the Community Crisis Center expecting to make sandwiches. Instead, staff asked if they’d be willing to scan charts into a digital format. They did and they still do. Every Wednesday several of them meet at the Center to stay on top of the paperwork.
Regarding the club’s name, both Marsha and Florence chuckle. “We struggle with that,” Florence says. “We are not the ‘Junior League’.”
WE’RE TRYING HARD TO DO MORE HANDS-ON PROJECTS. IF WE WANT TO ATTRACT YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
— Marsha Hotchkiss
“And we all get to chitchat for a couple of hours,” Florence says, smiling.
They joke about the word ‘junior’ in their club’s name, when most members could better be described as ‘mature.’ The bylaws were changed in the 1980s to allow any woman over 18 to join — a good thing since many of the chapters depend on retirees to get things done.
“That (junior) is just in the name,” Florence says, smiling again. “It makes us feel young.”
Even discounting the word ‘junior,’ the group’s official title is a mouthful. The GFWC (General Federation of Women’s Clubs) Billings Junior Woman’s Club is one of nearly 40 chapters throughout Montana, many in small towns like Moore and Culbertson. The international
GFWC was established in 1890 and now counts more than 60,000 members around the world. The Billings chapter was organized in 1933, when dues were only 50 cents.
Early on, the Billings club took a firm position in support of public kindergartens and public restrooms in city hall. During the 1940s, the club focused on war efforts. When the 1950s rolled around, they assisted with polio clinics, supported school bonds and even planted trees in city parks.
The foresight of Billings’ early members has proven critical to the club’s current level of activity. As early as 1950, they began raising funds for a “receiving home” for abused and neglected children. By 1962, they were able to purchase their own building, which the club later leased to a daycare business. To this day, that lease continues to fund the club’s work.
“That’s why our building is so important to us,” Marsha says.
During the life of the BJWC, membership has cycled and now counts 40 members – some more active than others – involved in seven key committees ranging from Education and Libraries to Health and Wellness to Environment to Civic Engagement.
Though their list of projects might seem daunting, Marsha and Florence point out that members can pick and choose their level
of activity and the projects that interest them. However, Florence grins again as she offers a word of caution to prospective newcomers.
“It’s addicting,” she says. ✻
TO LEARN MORE: The BJWC invites women interested in their group to join them at a meeting at Billings First Presbyterian Church, 2420 13th Street West, every third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., September through May. For more information, go to www. gfwcbillings.org
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.
With LeadingFire
ERIKA PURINGTON IS A CHANGEMAKER, READY TO UPLIFT THE UNDERSERVED
written by JULIE KOERBER
photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
ERIKA PURINGTON has always had a fire in her belly to serve others. When she sees a group whose voices aren’t being heard, she grabs her organizational megaphone. Over the years, she’s advocated for people with disabilities, found innovative ways to support homeless teens, and championed children in the foster care system. Now, as Chief Executive Officer of Allies in Aging (formerly Adult Resource Alliance), she’s channeling that same passion into one of our community’s most urgent needs: supporting our community’s rapidly growing senior population.
Ask her what ignited this drive, and she’ll take you back 35 years.
“I had some experiences very early on that were challenging and traumatic,” Erika says. “It created a drive in me to make things happen.”
she has from that night.
“I was with some girlfriends. We had way too much to drink and... they left,” Erika says. “I have snippets of the evening, but there is so much shame that goes with that. I didn’t call it rape until probably eight years ago in therapy — but that’s what it was.”
ERIKA WITH HER TWO SONS, JUSTIN (LEFT) 30, AND SKYLAR (RIGHT), 34
At 17, Erika’s life was on what she called “a pretty clear trajectory.” She was a social butterfly, a cheerleader, and an athlete at Skyview High destined to earn a college track scholarship. But suddenly, that clear trajectory veered off course.
“I ended up pregnant at 17,” Erika says. “And the events that led to the pregnancy were non-consensual. I was not in a position to consent. So, it was trauma on top of trauma.”
She looks into the distance as she recalls the slivers of memory
News of her pregnancy spread like wildfire around her high school. She remembers parent meetings where people called for her to step down from the cheer squad and hurtful interactions with teachers.
“I was nominated for one of the formal dance queens,” Erika says. “I remember one of the teachers pulling me into a broom closet and telling me, ‘We think it’s best that you don’t accept it.’ I was fiery then, too. I said, ‘Oh, had you not said that, I wouldn’t have cared. But since you did, I’m absolutely going to make a stand. There are girls who are nominated who have had abortions — and I’m not judging that — but it’s no different because I chose to keep my baby. So, no. That isn’t going to work for me.’”
Erika won the crown.
Surprisingly, when asked if she could rewind time and change those life events, she unequivocally says no. “What came with that is this incredible human that absolutely, 100 percent changed
my life.” The events also became a driving force in her career. “It lit a major passion within me,” Erika says, a passion to help others feel seen and heard.
Her career began at Youth Dynamics as a treatment manager working with therapeutic foster care homes. The work was raw and eye-opening.
“My greatest lesson at Youth Dynamics was that love isn’t enough,” she says.
That lesson centered on a boy from one of the reservations who had been placed in foster care in a small rural community.
“Tribal leadership changed, and they made him go home,” Erika says. “That day is burned into my memory. I had to take him back to this place that had tortured him. It didn’t matter how much I loved him or advocated for him — the system won. You can care so much and still have systems that have more control.”
She remembers asking herself, What do I need to do?
ing extreme poverty, others battling substance abuse — having tough conversations with parents about their children’s disabilities and delays.
“To come in with an open mind — to sit on the floor with people who are living in poverty or with challenging circumstances — and still be able to connect and relate,” Erika says. “Honestly, it was incredible to me what people could do against the odds.”
I KNEW I WANTED TO INFLUENCE, I KNEW I WANTED TO WORK AT THE SYSTEMS LEVEL. SO, I STARTED BUILDING MY CAREER THAT WAY.
— Erika Purington
“I knew I wanted to influence,” she says. “I knew I wanted to work at the systems level. So, I started building my career that way.”
From there, she moved into early childhood intervention with Billings School District 2. The work was hands-on and often involved the toughest cases. She worked with families — some fac-
As Erika was earning her master’s degree in mental health counseling at Montana State University Billings, she became a crisis counselor at Tumbleweed, a nonprofit that supports homeless and runaway teens.
“That was my first real go at some pretty extreme situations,” she says. “I remember being on call — I had two phones. I had the parents on one and 9-1-1 on the other. A dad had a gun to his kid’s head, and I was trying to de-escalate the situation.” She adds, “I learned how to be cool when you’re scared shitless.”
It’s a mindset she’s carried with her — allowing her to stay steady amid chaos. “It’s important,” she says. “I can say, ‘I’m not sure what we’re going to do, and I feel a little nervous, but I’ve got this.’ I think people need that.”
Looking back, she can see how each professional experience built on the last and how each brought a valuable lesson.
TYLER AMUNDSON AND ERIKA
At Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming, where she was Chief Development Officer, she says, “I feel like I got my MBA there.” She learned that nonprofits can run like businesses—making strategic decisions while driving social change.
At STEP, which stands for Support and Techniques for Empowering People, Erika took on her first executive director role, helping empower individuals with disabilities and their families. There, she learned what it meant to lead upwards of 90 employees and handle a multi-million-dollar budget. She also learned the importance of humility in problem-solving.
Thanks to her, STEP’s once contentious relationship with Early Childhood Intervention was put aside, and the result was a unified force for children. “We brought our teams together,” Erika says. “We were able to change the referral process for 0- to 3-year-olds in the county, so we were able to get to kids quicker and help more families.” Translation: lives were changed.
From there, Erika would spend half a dozen years honing her skills in the private sector. She worked for Elation, a tech company focused on leadership and team development. She learned how to navigate the corporate world —engaging with CEOs, reading financial reports, and improving employee engagement. The experience shaped her leadership style.
It was, however, her “heart of a social worker” that called her back to the nonprofit world.
“I learned that my work has to be very impactful, community-driven work,” Erika says. “I was missing that.”
This time, she’d return to Tumbleweed as the nonprofit’s execu-
tive director.
“Here, I learned about resistance and what that looks like in change management,” Erika says with a pensive look. Even though she was able to initiate a system to better track the youth served and help her team focus on teens at risk for human trafficking, there was some tension in vision. Erika wanted to invest in mental health services, but was met with resistance.
“Some things need really fast change,” she says. “There were times when people’s lives depended on it.”
That’s when Erika decided to move on and instead go into business for herself. She started a consulting firm and a leadership development program known as SheLeads. The effort still empowers women to get out of their comfort zones to thrive, not just survive.
In January of 2024, however, a job posting caught her eye. It was for an executive director at Adult Resource Alliance, a nonprofit launched by Yellowstone County in 1975 that’s been helping seniors, their families, and their caregivers ever since.
Erika admits she looked at that listing for what seemed like an eternity before applying. She remembers telling the board, “If you don’t want things to change, don’t hire me.” She laughs and adds, “I got an immediate call for a second interview.”
By that March, she was in the role, and it’s been a whirlwind since. In June of this year, Adult Resource Alliance announced a major merger with Big Sky Senior Services, a nonprofit dedicated to providing low-cost, in-home care to seniors. In July, the nonprofit underwent a major image overhaul, complete with a new
ALLIES IN AGING BY
THE NUMBERS IN 2024
SERVED 78,959 HOME DELIVERED MEALS THROUGH MEALS ON WHEELS
DISHED UP 48,921 MEALS AT 11 DIFFERENT MEAL SITES
USED 313 VOLUNTEERS TO SERVICE THEIR PROGRAMS
HELPED 721 SENIORS WITH MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT, SAVING THEM $772,000
SERVED 4,523 PEOPLE IN ALL OF THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS
name, Allies in Aging. Both were strategic moves, Erika felt, that could help with what she calls a major crisis.
“The senior system is in chaos right now,” Erika says. “The needs are so high that our community is not prepared.” The cause, she says, is an aging baby boomer generation.
“By 2040, there will be four times as many people who are 100 years old,” Erika says. “It will be a time when the population is aging at a rate that is not manageable. We are starting to see the healthcare system, housing system, and emergency response system feel the weight of it.”
Erika saw a chance for the organization to lead, unite others, and streamline services through the merger—saving money and ultimately reaching more people through expanded programs. She’s quick to point out, however, that her predecessor, Mike Larson, helped start the conversation that she and the CEO of Big Sky Senior Services, Tyler Amundson, helped pick up.
“Looking at the system, being able to pinpoint where the gaps are, attach that to a budget — because there is always a bottom line impact — and then be able to make hard decisions,” she says. “I’m not afraid to step into something that feels like conflict, knowing that it will impact the bigger picture in a positive way.”
One of the moving parts in the merger was creating what she calls “a very strong leadership team” —people she calls really smart, really humble, and hungry to get the work done.
SHE EMPOWERS PEOPLE AND REALLY
BRINGS OUT THE
BEST
IN HER TEAM, AND SHE DOES IT WITH GRACE.
— Evelyn Dempsey
“Tyler and I sat down right at the very beginning, and we were able to have very candid conversations about needs and say, you know, we are the two providers for seniors in the county,” Erika says. “How are we going to meet those needs? How are we going to do this?”
She went back to one of her strengths to find the answer — looking at an organization from a “50,000-foot view” to see how it all fits.
“When I can empower someone to be themselves and hold them accountable and they hold themselves accountable, these cool gifts show up that you never even knew you needed to make something happen,” she says.
As the balloons still hung in the organization’s lobby announcing the merger, a handful of people on Erika’s team gathered around the table where seniors had just eaten lunch to talk about what’s on the horizon. Every one of them loved the new name and tag line: Allies in Aging—Senior Services, Lifelong Support.
“It’s exciting to think about being somebody’s ally, walking beside them and helping them find resources and navigate conflicts that they are unaware of,” says Evelyn Dempsey, the director of community services. “It’s exciting.”
They also agreed that Erika’s leadership was key.
“She empowers people and really brings out the best in her team,
and she does it with grace,” Evelyn says. Jason Rodriguez, the organization’s finance director agreed, saying, “She has so much energy and vision. She doesn’t lead with a top-down approach. She asks, ‘What do you think?’”
The entire table nodded.
Tyler Amundson, once head of Big Sky Senior Services, is now the organization’s director of mission and development. Since the merger, he says, he’s seen Erika’s out-of-the-box thinking firsthand.
“Housing is an issue. Erika brought in one of her friends who does consulting on housing, and we have already been able to network with people,” Tyler says. “I had been working on that for two years and I hadn’t gotten that far.”
Tyler says not a week goes by that the organization doesn’t witness a senior facing a housing crisis.
“It’s heartbreaking when you get the phone call and someone says, ‘I’ve lived here for more than 20 years and all of a sudden, I can’t afford my rent anymore.’ There aren’t long term supports for people who are in those situations,” he says.
Beyond housing, the organization hopes to tackle critical challenges like transportation, in-home care, food security, and elder abuse prevention.
The organization receives anywhere from $1.7 to $1.9 million of its overall $5 million budget from the Yellowstone County Senior Mill Levy. “I feel really strongly about being good stewards of that money,” Erika says.
The merger, she says, is making that happen.
“It gives us more leverage and strength on a state and national level. It positions us really well to influence in a way that helps the community. We are going to be able to bring in more money. We are already experiencing that,” Erika says. It also helps keep money in the pockets of those they serve. "Someone who once was referred to inhome services through Big Sky might come in for that referral but once they are here, it’s determined that they don’t need that level of care,” Erika says, pointing to the organization’s hundreds of volunteers that might be mobilized to help instead.
When asked why the organization needed a new name, she smiles and says, “It makes a statement that we are walking with people. We are with you on this journey. You are not alone. An ally will fight for things.” The comment is proof that the fire in her belly still burns.
What does Erika’s five, or even 10-year plan
look like for the organization? She has colorful and creative dreams.
“I can see a campus—a place where people have housing options and connections,” she says. “Did you know social connection is the number one thing that holds off dementia? That and exercise.” She also envisions a respite care center that feels like a spa—a place a caregiver can bring a loved one for a haircut or bath while they run errands.
At the heart of it, Tyler says, “There’s a need to serve every senior who walks in. Erika is passionate about making sure that happens.” He deeply respects that she built her career as a single mom, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling during that time.
“I think people who go through that and raise amazing kids and still have a career are unique and inspiring,” he says.
At 52, Erika’s fingerprints are all over vital community nonprofits. She may not know what tomorrow brings, but she’s eager to keep fighting for the underserved. If there’s a constant in the kaleidoscope of experience she’s had in her professional life, it’s what she calls empathy in accountability. She calls it her superpower, and there’s little doubt she’ll continue to use it.
“You hold yourself accountable,” Erika explains. “You give it all you’ve got, and you do things that once seemed impossible, knowing they’ll impact the world in the way it needs.” ✻
TWO DOCS AND TWO GENERATIONS THRIVE ON
MEDICINE EMERGENCY MEDICINE EMERGENCY MEDICINE
BILLINGS CLINIC’S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT MARKS A MILESTONE
LINDA HALSTEAD-ACHARYA
photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
DR. BARBARA CURRY was still in medical school when Billings Clinic established its emergency department in 1975. As for Dr. Jamiee Belsky, who currently chairs the Clinic’s emergency department, it would be more than a decade before she was even born. Separated by a generation, these two ER physicians share a passion for emergency medicine as the Clinic’s ED celebrates its golden anniversary.
Fifty years ago, Billings Clinic was known as Deaconess, the United States had just pulled out of Vietnam, and the movie “Jaws” had just hit the box office. Jumpsuits and bell bottoms were trending when Dr. Curry represented another trend: women in medicine.
Although Dr. Curry wasn’t there when Deaconess’ emergency department was established, she has played a key role in its growth and development for the past 35 years.
Since her arrival in 1990, she’s witnessed major changes in the emergency room. Patient numbers have risen from roughly 17,000 per year to nearly 53,000 – making it the busiest ER in the state. Simultaneously, she’s seen the number of ER docs swell from five to almost 20.
The trends in emergencies, too, have shifted.
“When I first came, the only violence I remember seeing in the emergency department was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty,” she says. “But murder and random violence? No. And there wasn’t a drug trade.”
She’s also witnessed major advances over the years — among them the department’s cardiac and stroke care, its pediatric readiness, and its capability to perform ultrasounds, MRIs, and PET scans. Most recently, last year, the ER earned its designation as
a Level I Trauma Care Center — the gold standard for care.
“We’ve come a long way,” she says.
IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME TO USE EVERYTHING THAT I’D LEARNED IN MY TRAINING. I’M A CRISISORIENTED PERSON ANYWAY. IT SUITED MY LIFESTYLE. AND TO THIS DAY, I STILL USE EVERYTHING I LEARNED.
— Dr. Barbara Curry
During her thousands of shifts in the ER, Dr. Curry has seen just about everything imaginable. And that’s exactly how she likes it.
“It was really important to me to use everything that I’d learned in my training,” she says. “I’m a crisis-oriented person anyway. It suited my lifestyle. And to this day, I still use everything I learned.”
Even after decades in emergency medicine, her patients continue to inspire her.
“Nobody comes to see me because their day is going well,” she says. “Just watching how people react and process unexpected events in their lives has been a continuing source of inspiration for me, especially the way that many patients with seemingly unbearable burdens carry those burdens with extraordinary grace and courage.”
Dr. Curry has faced her own challenges with grace, courage, and a fierce determination. That determination served her well, first as a nursing school student and later as one of the early wave of women in medicine.
SINCE HER ARRIVAL IN 1990, DR. CURRY WAS
THE FIRST
FEMALE
PHYSICIAN IN
BILLINGS
CLINIC’S (FORMERLY DEACONESS) EMERGENCY ROOM
Back in the early 1970s, Dr. Curry — then a nursing school student — could never have envisioned herself as a doctor. At that time, 98 percent of medical school slots were reserved for men. Yet her nursing school professors encouraged her to reconsider her career path and focus on medical school.
“They saw something in me that I didn’t see,” she says.
But still, the idea seemed insurmountable — until serendipity came into the equation. The legislature in Virginia, where Dr. Curry was studying, passed a bill requiring 20 percent of medical school admissions to go to qualified women. That meant, instead of six or eight openings at the state’s schools, there would be 60. Though the break was perfectly timed, acceptance was never a given. She applied three times before being admitted.
She laughs at the turn that seemingly landed her the job. After her mother sent her an article titled, “How to Dress for a Medical School Interview,” Dr. Curry remembers making herself a calflength, mustard-yellow dress. She bought a pair of clear-lensed, wire-rimmed glasses at the local Woolworth’s and then pinned her long hair up into a bun.
“I took the bus and went for the interview in my dowdy dress and wire-rims and hoped for the best,” she says.
When a large packet arrived in the mail — a packet that required her signature — she knew she’d made it.
“My life had just changed forever,” she says.
Still, the challenges persisted. Back then, it was presumed — and verbalized — that a woman accepted into medical school would
soon quit to raise a family, thus taking the place of a man who would practice for a lifetime.
“That weighed heavy on me,” she says. “That governed my decisions through the course of my life.”
Dr. Curry was practicing as an internist. “Emergency medicine wasn’t even a field then or I probably would have picked it,” she says. That’s when she again found the timing to be perfect. A new field in emergency medicine had just been recognized, and a new path allowed for internists with four years of experience to take the boards for that specialty.
“And I passed,” she says.
More than 40 years later, she smiles as she describes herself as being “trained on the fly” in a profession that she likens to detective work.
“You’re trying to figure out the cause of the patient’s symptoms and how best to treat them,” she says.
But what brought Dr. Curry to Montana? The Maryland native was working in the Fairfax Hospital in Virginia when she received a mailing about a job opening in Billings. She’d passed through the Magic City once before and had fond memories of enjoying a picnic lunch on the courthouse lawn.
“It was the ‘Last Best Place,’” she says, smiling. “My husband wanted to go to a place where there were more fish than people.”
When she arrived in 1990, she was struck by Deaconess’ shortage of staff and resources.
The department had only five doctors, Dr. Curry being the only woman.
Within two years, however, the hospital had earned its rating as a Level II Trauma Center — the first in Montana — and was on a mission to move forward.
While Dr. Curry was the first female physician in Deaconess’ emergency room, she was certainly not the last. Dr. Belsky, now chair of the department, was a small girl growing up in Florida when Dr. Curry arrived in Billings.
She and her husband, also a physician, were similarly enticed to Montana after receiving a postcard about job openings at Billings Clinic — a postcard showing a photo of Glacier National Park.
“We asked ourselves, ‘Do we want to live here?’” she remembers. “Do they even have an ER?” The couple flew out and fell in love with the place. That was six years ago.
During an interview with Dr. Nathan Allen, then head of the emergency department, Dr. Belsky described her goals: to be more involved with the department and to work her way into a chair position like his.
“Two and a half years later, I was chair,” she says.
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Yet, while some things change, others remain the same.
Dr. Belsky, too, had been cautioned not to squander her spot in medical school — a spot that could have gone to a man.
“He (a physician) actually said that to me,” she recalls. “And that was in the 2010s.”
Incidentally, both physicians went on to marry and have families. Dr. Curry has two grown children, and Dr. Belsky has a son, nearly 20 months old. And women now make up half of medical school graduates. And, yes, they raise families and continue to practice.
BEFORE ERS, MOST HOSPITALS HAD A BELL AT THE BACK DOOR THAT COULD BE RUNG FOR ASSISTANCE DURING OFF HOURS.
1979 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT EMERGENCY MEDICINE WAS RECOGNIZED AS A SPECIALTY.
IN 2024, BILLINGS CLINIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT EARNED ITS LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTER DESIGNATION — THE FIRST IN MONTANA OR WYOMING TO DO SO.
IN 1992, BILLINGS CLINIC EARNED LEVEL II TRAUMA CENTER VERIFICATION, THE FIRST IN THE STATE.
At Billings Clinic, Dr. Belsky takes pride in the hospital’s support of young families, noting that, over the past three years, three of the ER’s women physicians have given birth and been able to take their full maternity leave.
Today, the two emergency room physicians — separated by a generation — share ideas, insights, and camaraderie. They banter about approaches as they challenge one another.
“The newbies are minimalists,” Dr. Curry says. “They tend to worry about ordering too many tests. But, as time goes by, that changes. With five minutes (to see a patient), I am going to employ everything I have at my disposal. I have to be right.”
Dr Belsky admits that her approach has moderated over time.
“I definitely order more tests,” she says, smiling. She also relies on Dr. Curry’s institutional knowledge and her experience dealing with patients, staff, and even other department heads.
Likewise, Dr. Curry praises her younger colleague as “extraordinarily skilled.”
“Dr. Belsky has been a driving force for advances in our day-to-day emergency practice here at the Clinic,” she says.
As both strive for the best in emergency care, they look forward to new technologies that benefit both patients and physicians.
“I can now perform bedside ultrasounds (in the ER),” Dr. Belsky says. “I don’t have to wait. It’s streamlined the process so you get the definitive care you need faster.”
They also look forward to an expansion of Billings Clinic’s ED, scheduled two years from now.
Yet, despite all the advances, the future of emergency medicine still comes down to the people who care.
“There’s something special at the Clinic in our ability to connect with other services, to talk to providers in other departments,” Dr. Belsky says. “You know who you’re calling at the other end of the phone. We all live here. It matters.” ✻
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.
SHARING SHARING COURAGE COURAGE
I AM SHY. I’d really rather be in the back of the room, behind the curtain, or beside flowing water. If you have seen me on stage, you might find this hard to believe. When I am on a stage, I sing (off key), I dance (without a beat), I throw my head back and laugh (with my whole heart), and I live larger than life. I feel, when the light shines on me, like the best version of myself, but after the applause, when I am done, I want to run off the stage to a quiet corner to recuperate.
There is an interesting dichotomy to living life like this— bold yet quiet, scared yet fearless, a committed introvert and the most obnoxious extrovert. I know that—if I can button up my courage, tamp down my fears, and throw caution to the wind (pick your cliché)—life will send me energy, love, cool humans, and amazing experiences. But first, I have to step onto the stage.
For me, the stage is on social media (check out What’s Next with Karen Grosz on Facebook), in the books I’ve written, and when I am leading a team
through strategic thinking or team-building experiences. The stage changes, but the butterflies do not. Your stage is probably similar. It is whenever and wherever you are doing whatever you are doing—and you know that people are watching. If being on that stage gives you the heebie-jeebies and you want more buttoned-up courage, here are some thoughts for you.
First, know this: People—at least the best people—are never mean. I have never been harassed on any social media platform. This is probably because I look like a grandma (and everyone is nice to grandma), and I have never (at least not purposefully) said a negative thing to anyone. Sure, there are people who do not like what I do. One man calls quite often to tell me to turn down the cheer, but he just keeps watching. Others are not entertained by my style of you-can-do-it energy, and that’s just fine. They are not my people.
Second: You will survive any negatives that come your way. The first time I did a big inspirational speech, I could feel in
14thzoomontana.org
every fiber of my being that I had nailed it. I felt the audience laugh, cry, and cheer with me, and I was elated. As we reviewed the hundreds of evaluations, they were all glowing—well, all but one. That one was written in red Sharpie, across the entire page, all in capitals: KAREN GROSZ IS NOT INSPIRATIONAL. I crumpled. One bad review, from a woman who wanted that speaking slot (we knew who wrote it), tore me down. So, I got back on the horse and tried to ride again. That time, I got booed off the stage when I suggested to a group of businesswomen that they stop playing FarmVille and work on their business instead.
Beauty & the Beast
So… I got back on the horse and tried again. Today, my keynotes often end with a standing ovation. There may be a trick to getting this ending, but I survived the worst days in order to thrive in the best days.
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
F R inge Festiva L
Third: It’s the people in your group that matter—the ones you are supporting, being supported by, or hoping to inspire. They are your courage. They will cheer you, laugh with you, and, most importantly, appreciate you. Your courage gets to be their courage, and their courage gets to be your courage. Step on the stage, and they will applaud. Try something new, and they will try it with you. It’s scary to be all alone, but it is empowering to be part of a group. You don’t even have to be part of the group forever. You can swing in for ten minutes, one event, or the length of a season. Being part of the group is not being part of a family—unless you’re mafia, and I don’t think the mafia is reading this column, so you are safe.
team-building, traveling author with more hiking boots than stilettos.
At a recent conference for that company, there were people dancing on stage during a break—graceful moves without self-conscious tremors, and smiles as big as the sun. I wanted that. But I was scared. I do not move like a dancer. I move like a woman with a catch in her hip and a missing beat. So, I decided to borrow courage and share courage. I joyfully started inviting people to the stage with me. I grabbed their hands, begged, and cajoled—which I really didn’t have to do very hard, because, if you are having a good time, people want to follow you. We arrived on the stage, and everyone found their spot and their rhythm, and the people on the stage made room for us—while also recognizing that some of us (me) didn’t know any of the steps. So, they showed me.
WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW TODAY IS THAT THE WORLD IS BIG. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. IT IS FULL OF POSSIBILITY AND OF MOMENTS THAT YOU WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET. YOU JUST HAVE TO TRY WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO TRY.
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
KAREN GROSZ
What I want you to know today is that the world is big. It is beautiful. It is full of possibility and of moments that you will never, ever forget. You just have to try whatever it is you want to try.
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.
I’ve been living this recently. If you know my story, you know I became me because of my journey with a direct sales company. But when I left—with a broken heart—I said I would never do that again. Faithfully, I stuck to that promise until a group of people came to me and said, with words and actions that showed me I could trust them, that I could—and should—live that life again. They shared their courage so I could use their product to build up more people while staying true to who I am now: a shy,
a Con C e R t F o R the w ho L e Fami Ly
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
They showed me.
That is the beauty of shared courage. There is plenty to go around, and while you are sharing yours, someone will lend you theirs. All you have to do is ask. All you have to do is know that—by stepping into the group and onto the stage, by buttoning up your courage and saying, “Ah, what the hell”—life is going to send you results you never dreamed you could have.
Borrow some courage. Lend some if you have it to give. Be part of a group, or go it alone—as I often do. It’s all going to be just fine. I promise. ✻
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.
By Karen Grosz QUIET LEADERSHIP
will help you discover your capacity to operate as a Quiet Leader for yourself, your team and your community. www.quietleadership.group Order your copy today on Amazon!
Magic Happens Magic Happens behind the scenes
MEET THE WOMEN AT THE HELM OF NOVA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
written by LAURA BAILEY photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
NOVA CENTER for the Performing Arts hummed like a beehive on a hot day. It was the last night of a three-day run of Comic Book Artist, and backstage, children chattered as they donned their costumes and fiddled with their scripts. The set was up, props were laid out, and everyone was ready for their cue. In the minutes and seconds before curtains up, anything can happen, and Dodie Rife and DeLaney Hardy Ray have seen it all. No show goes off without a hitch.
“There’s a lot of moving pieces and organized chaos, but we have fun!” Dodie says. Dodie wears many hats at the NOVA Center for the Performing Arts. She’s the executive producer, but you can find her working the box office, ushering theatergoers to their seats, and jump-
ing in to help behind the scenes. You might find her giving a little girl’s hair a final touch, helping find a lost prop, or reassuring an actor with a silent nod and smile as they enter the stage.
DeLaney is NOVA’s youth conservatory director. She has her own pile of hats she wears. Not only does she coordinate three to four children’s productions at NOVA, but she is also an acting instructor, an actor, a director, and a playwright. DeLaney is a graduate of Rocky Mountain College and worked for the Seattle Children’s Theater before returning to Billings and putting down roots.
Pulling together a production like Comic Book Artist is a heroic task, but it’s typical for the Youth Conservatory. With a cast of
36 for this show—12 of them working tech behind the scenes—pretty much every child from ages 4 to 18 who au ditions gets a part, and it’s free for all children.
“The kids did everything for this one. We have the youth run lights, sound, and work behind the scenes,” DeLaney says.
Parents are always welcome to join the fun and help where needed. In fact, it was as a parent that Dodie was introduced to NOVA. Her daughter was interested in op era, and NOVA was where she found her voice. Dodie stepped into the role of stage manager, and her dedication and passion grew from there. She was hired as the exec utive producer ten years ago.
NOVA Center for the Performing Arts is much more than a children’s theater. It’s an all volunteer-run nonprofit. Dodie and DeLaney are the only two paid employees.
NOVA has two theaters under its roof on Montana Avenue: The Roebling Theater, which seats 120, and the flexible, smaller Black Box Theater. NOVA is also home to the Yellowstone Repertory Theater, and the theaters are rented by many organizations in the performing arts community. In any given year, a NOVA visitor could see everything from Shakespeare to comedy to opera.
The center has hosted the annual Dreyfest Arts Festival and ariel acrobatic performances by Alternacirque. It’s not uncommon to have two shows running at the same time.
“We keep the building really busy,” Dodie says.
Improv groups for all ages meet at NOVA regularly, and the center hosts Reader’s Theater, where participants pick a play and read the script together, and Cabaret Club, which gives people an opportunity to sing and perform.
WE SURVIVE BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WANTS US HERE, AND THEY TELL US THAT WITH DONATIONS.
— Dodie Rife
Rent as well as ticket sales, donations, and public sponsors provide the foundation for operations. However, Dodie, DeLaney, and the NOVA board of directors are always looking for new, creative ways to engage the community and raise funds.
“We survive because the community wants us here, and they tell us that with donations,” Dodie says.
Recently, NOVA hosted an art exhibit where children in the Youth Conservatory created and donated artwork, which was sold to support NOVA.
“It’s just one of all the little ways we connect with our community and help keep the lights on,” Dodie says.
The space has been dedicated to the performing arts for decades. It has been NOVA since 2012. In the past, Dodie says, the theater scene in Billings had a reputation of being an “exclusive club.” It’s taken some time to turn that culture around to what NOVA is today.
“We have really tried to make it an accessible place for everyone,” Dodie says. “It’s safe and supportive and open to everyone. You can come inside and focus on learning a new skill.”
When people think of theater, they often only think of acting and overlook all the other fun that goes into a theater production. At NOVA all the sets are built on site, and there’s a huge costume closet packed with costumes from every show that’s been produced there – and more. Volunteers are encouraged to get creative and help in every facet of the organization.
“We’re creating a space where people are valued,” Dodie says. “It’s a space for people to be who they are.” ✻
THE NOVA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
just announced its 13th season, featuring 10 shows ranging from musicals to comedy and everything in between. The season kicks off in September and runs through the spring of 2026. For more on the upcoming shows, how to donate, or how to volunteer, visit novabillings.org.
QUITE THE MIX IN 25-26!
THE WONDER OF ELVIS: A TRIBUTE STARRING DONNY EDWARDS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 · 7:30 PM
BRIAN REGAN SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 · 8 PM
AMY GRANT
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 · 7:30 PM
WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 · 7:30 PM
THE RAT PACK IN CONCERT STARRING BRIAN DUPREY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 · 7:30 PM
COLLISION OF RHYTHM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7 · 7:30 PM
BIG SKY COMEDY FESTIVAL 2025 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 · 7:30 PM
TAKE3: WHERE ROCK MEETS BACH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17 · 7:30 PM
GENIUS OF THE GENTLE GIANT: THE MUSIC OF DON WILLIAMS FEATURING TREVOR PANCZAK SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 · 7:30 PM
WORLD BALLET COMPANY PRESENTS THE GREAT GATSBY SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8 · 7 PM
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY - MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 · 7:30 PM
MARK O’CONNOR’S AN APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS FEATURING MAGGIE O’CONNOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12 · 7:30 PM
Cheers to Summer!
written by RAQUEL JIMENEZ photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
AS SUMMER WINDS down, the totes will come out of storage, and the dresses, tanks, shorts—anything that shows even the faintest bit of skin—will soon go into hiding. But before we say our goodbyes, let’s say hello to the outfits that take us back to our favorite summertime memories. Grab the girls and embrace the bare skin one last time for all the fun endof-summer events happening in Billings. Time is ticking! ✻
Sip & Savor
Look by RocHouse: Ferlita Blouse by Velvet Heart: $79,,Demim Shorts by Joes: $119, Brevel Heels by Dolce Vita: $98.
Look by Neecee’s: Hermione Eyelet Blouse by Magnolia Pearl: $425, Cargo Crop Pants by Desigual: $129, Black Belt: $39, Catalina Necklace: $119, Nadia Necklace: $99
Look by RocHouse: Summer Shell Dress by Sanctuary: $99, Latice Sandal by Dolce Vita: $139, Villain Sunglasses by Status Anxiety: $99,
Pictured Above: Stamped Concho Earrings: $880, Sterling Statement Ring: $1,200, Turquoise Choker: $175, 14” Sterling Silver Pearl Necklace: $169, 18” Sterling Silver Pearl Necklace: $325, 60” Sterling Silver Pearl Necklace: $1,950, Sterling Pearl Bow Necklace: $375, Silver Lariat Necklace: $355
Ruffled & Ruched
Ruched Peplin Top: $39.95, Bailey Denim Skirt by Wrangler: $49.99, Bone Concho: $27, One Day Tonight Choker: $18.99, Oval Stone Stud Earrings: $15.95, Ava Vintage Tan Snip Toe Bootie: $69.95. All from Western Ranch Supply.
Effortless Evenings
Shay Rib Tank by Micheal Stars: $118, Walsh Short by Micheal Stars: $118, Mazda Strappy Sandal by Marc Fisher: $119, Smooth Mama Hoops by Melinda Maria: $69, She’s A Boss Pendent Necklace by Melinda Maria: $98. All from RocHouse.
Tasha Side Shirred Top by Fifteen Twenty: $89, The Anchor Pant by Frame: $298. Both from RocHouse.
RAQUEL JIMENEZ, writer
Raquel Jimenez is a self-proclaimed fashion lover who enjoys helping people show off their style. As the fashion editor for Yellowstone Valley Woman magazine, she mixes and matches looks that spotlight local shops and loves proving that when it comes to fashion, the only real rule is to wear what makes you feel amazing.
silly games, silly games, silly games, serious fun serious fun serious fun
HOW A HOMEGROWN LEAGUE IS TURNING STRANGERS INTO TEAMMATES
written by CYDNEY HOEFLE photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT and laughter echoed across the field at Ponderosa School as two adult games of Ultimate Frugby were simultaneously being played. Music blared from a nearby car that had been pulled close to the action. There were no spectators. Everyone there was on the field playing.
If you’re not familiar, Ultimate Frugby is a passing game. The team with possession of the ball moves toward the end zone by throwing it to another teammate. The one who catches the ball must come to a complete stop and has five seconds to pass it to another teammate, hopefully without the opposing team intercepting. A rugby ball is used because it’s easy to catch but hard to throw, which, according to those who invented the game, levels the playing field between the abilities of players.
After playing for an hour, both teams bantered and laughed as they walked off the field, but the night was far from over. In fact, some say it was just the beginning, as they packed up and headed to Thirsty Street Brewing to socialize for a few hours.
The Ultimate Frugby league is just one of several hosted by Sportsball, an adult co-ed recreational organization founded by Greta and Sam Hensler in 2016. The mission is to bring adults together in a non-competitive, fun, affordable way that builds relationships. Since it started, the league has grown to almost 1,200 members.
Billings almost a decade ago, the couple found it difficult to develop friendships in a meaningful way.
“We were looking for something social that would connect us with others in the community that wasn’t third-party activities like concerts and dinner,” Greta says, “but we weren’t finding it.”
“It was hard to plug in,” Sam adds. “What we were looking for didn’t exist, so we decided, why not do it ourselves?”
Based loosely on sports and heavily on the social aspect, Sportsball draws hundreds of Billings adults to a variety of six-weeklong sports leagues that are offered year-round. Sports include floor hockey, soccer, and yoga, along with Frugby, innertube polo, and curling.
“We wanted to offer sports that are hard to take seriously,” Greta says, “and that aren’t too rough on people.”
Anna Sullivan’s favorite sport is innertube water polo. She joined Sportsball two years ago to meet new people and enjoyed it so much that she’s signed up for every league since.
“Innertube water polo is even sillier than it sounds,” Anna laughs. “But all the leagues have been fun. Sportsball has been a great way for me to meet new people, and they have become my best friends.”
Shorty Kimmel agrees. She joined just after the group started nine years ago to play flag football.
“I realized quickly that it was far more than sports,” she says. “It’s more social. We’re a diverse group of people from every aspect of business, but we all have something in common, and we’re all friends.”
Most members of Sportsball joined, knowing few, if any, others. And that’s the target audience the Henslers are hoping to attract.
When the Henslers moved to
“You usually can’t sign up for a full team because we want people to meet each other,” Sam says, “and we reshuffle the teams between seasons so that everyone meets new people.”
Sam and Greta are a good team in the administration of the club, though both have full-time careers. Greta takes care of the website and social media platforms, and Sam handles finding places to play, introducing new sports, purchasing and maintaining equipment, and understanding the personalities of the members. Together they come up with new sports, make up the teams, and ref the games.
“Part of what I do is to make sure we’re always having fun,” Sam says, “so, if I have to change the rules in the middle of a game, I will.”
liability insurance, T-shirts, equipment, and a few pitchers of beer after the games). Games are played on the fields or in gymnasiums at local schools.
IT’S ALWAYS FUN. IT’S BEEN A GREAT WAY TO MEET PEOPLE AND GET OUT THERE AND GET IN SHAPE. THE INDOOR SPORTS DURING THE WINTER ARE A REAL BONUS.
— Ella Bohn
“It’s always fun,” says Ella Bohn, who joined the organization two years ago just after she moved to Billings. “It’s been a great way to meet people and get out there and get in shape. The indoor sports during the winter are a real bonus.”
Sportsball information can be found on their website, where people sign up for the leagues and pay fees (which cover the cost of
Sam and Greta have accumulated a storage unit full of balls, hockey sticks, innertubes, and nets over the years. The administration of the club takes a good deal of time, and the couple does not profit from it.
“We do hit burnout occasionally, but it doesn’t happen too often,” Greta says, “and usually, when we feel it coming on, we’ll hear from someone who tells us how much they enjoy it. That’s what keeps us going—knowing we’re making a difference and being with our friends.”
Not only have members become friends at Sportsball, but many continue meeting outside of the club, even to the point of finding their life partner. Sam recently officiated the wedding of a couple who met at Sportsball.
“Sam and Greta have brought hundreds of people together that
might not otherwise have met,” Shorty says. “We’ve made lifelong friends, gotten in shape, and have networked our businesses.”
“Sportsball attracts active, fun-loving people,” Anna says, adding that, if you are looking for something social and active, Sportsball might be the perfect fit. “The games are silly but physically challenging, and the people are awesome.”
TO LEARN MORE, visit sportsballbillings.com or find them on Facebook or Instagram by searching Sportsball Billings. ✻
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.
Midway M Midway LIFE ON THE LIFE ON THE
BRIGHT LIGHTS ILLUMINATE the twilight sky along the midway as kids run past with sticky fingers and cotton candy in hand. The air is thick with the smells of fresh corndogs and funnel cakes doused in powdered sugar. There’s a constant hum of music — from the latest hits blaring from the ride that spins you up and down to the din of the calliope music drifting from the carousel.
From May through September, this is Vickie Cooke’s world. As the only Montana woman heading up a traveling carnival, it’s a life she’s known off and on for more than 40 years.
“It’s not really a job. It’s a way of life,” Vickie says. “You have the same neighbors every week. It’s like a small town on wheels.” In addition to the rides, she explains the crew hauls bunkhouses where they all live while on the road.
A WILD START
Back in 1983, Vickie’s husband, Riley, had a wild idea to use some of his family’s vintage motorcycles as a carnival midway display. The head of The Mighty Thomas Carnival told him it wouldn’t make money, but the couple gave it a shot anyway.
“Before that year was over, they sold us two carnival rides and that was the beginning,” Vickie says with a laugh.
They became independent ride owners, traveling with The Mighty Thomas Carnival wherever it went. “We just bought one ride until we figured it out, and then we’d buy another,” Riley says. That’s no small feat — rides range from $20,000 for kiddie ones to up to $1 million for a Gondola Wheel. “At that point, we didn’t have kids, so we figured why not?” Vickie adds.
Today, the couple operates Dreamland Carnival Company, with around 50 rides ready to rock any midway.
If the Dreamland Carnival had a crown jewel, it would most likely be the ride known as The Frenzy. It is a big tower with 12 seats — six on each side — and it swings more than 90 degrees in each direction.
“It’s the only one in the state,” Vickie says. “In fact, there were only two built. One is in Canada, and we have the other one.” Vickie chuckles as she tells the story about how they bought this showstopper of a ride.
“The gentleman who runs the manufacturing company is 81 and still runs a carnival besides building rides. He and Riley get on the ride and say, ‘Come on!’ I say, ‘Not on your life!’ When the hair-raising ride ended, Vickie says,” Riley got off and said, ‘I’ll take it!’” It’s been wowing thrill seekers ever since.
IN THE BLOOD
You could say Riley’s entrepreneurial spirit is inherited. His father, Oscar Cooke, was the creator of Oscar’s Dreamland, a refurbished pioneer town once home to more than 5,000 antiques — tractors, steam engines, and artifacts — all lovingly collected before Oscar’s death in 1995.
“It’s in Riley’s blood,” Vickie says.
While Riley launched the carnival dream, he insists the operation would fold without Vickie.
“She does it all,” Riley says. She lines up semi drivers for “jump day,” when the crew breaks down the rides to head to the next town, manages daily safety inspections, orders generator fuel, and hires the entire 30-plus-member crew. “Forty-five years later, here we are,” Riley says.
Since the pandemic, Vickie has relied on H-2B workers from Mexico and Honduras to keep the show on the road.
“If we didn’t have that help,” she says, “we couldn’t go on the road.” She goes on to say, “A lot of the people who work for us don’t really fit in anywhere else. This is a place where they fit in—and are like family.”
One worker told Vickie at the end of the 2021 season that he couldn’t go home.
“He said, ‘If I go back, I will die. I came out here and I am clean.’ He’s been with us year-round since then,” Vickie says.
HEART OF THE MIDWAY
Vickie tears up when she talks about how many crew members call her ‘Mom.’ “It’s special,” she says, “that this is how they think of me.”
Her 32-year-old daughter, Jenny Devitt, is now following in her footsteps, running two (soon to be three) food wagons on the midway. Jenny’s three-year-old daughter, Allis — named after the Allis-Chalmers tractors Riley’s dad collected — often rides shotgun in Vickie’s semi as they travel to the next town.
Walking in her mother’s path has given Jenny a deep respect for Vickie’s grit.
“She looks at life and says, ‘Okay, what’s up next?’ And then she just goes after it,” Jenny says. “Nothing seems to scare her. She just keeps moving forward.”
That tenacity has powered Vickie through long days, tough
weather, and decades on the road.
“You have to be willing to be out there seven days a week for as long as it takes in the rain and the heat,” Vickie says.
A SPECIAL KIND OF FAMILY
Vickie reminisces about the early days to share the spirit of why, at 69-years-old, she wakes up every day to do it all over again.
“When Jenny was born, we were setting up at West Park Plaza,” Vickie shares. Her labor turned into a five-day hospital stay after an emergency C-section.
“It almost killed me. They lost my blood pressure after she was born, and it took them three hours to bring me back,” she says. When she was discharged, the entire crew lined the street. “They all drove through the drive-through at the hospital and honked and waved,” she says, tears welling.
“The nurse asked, ‘Do you know all these people?’ I said, ‘I do. They all work for us.’ I have a photo of me in a rocking chair holding five-day-old Jenny with the whole crew behind me. Those are the special things.”
Vickie also shares the story of a longtime ticket seller who always seems to know when the arthritis in her hands flares up.
“She’ll grab my hand and start massaging it,” Vickie says, smiling. “She told me, ‘Mom, don’t look at me like that. I can’t do both hands tonight, but I can feel the stress.’”
Her grandmother was the medicine woman for her tribe, Vickie explains, and the healing touch runs in the family. “My hands won’t hurt for a week after she works on them,” she says.
VICKIE & ALLIS
VICKIE COOKE AND HER DAUGHTER, JENNY DEVITT
GROWTH AND THE NEXT BIG DREAM
For all the long hours and behind-thescenes work, it’s the joy that keeps Vickie going.
“It’s the smiles on the kids’ faces,” she says. “For some of these kids, this is the only Disneyland they’ll ever get to go to.”
And the carnival isn’t the Cookes’ only business. They also run a mobile home moving service and a vinyl wrap company, which they’ve used to give their rides fresh looks every few years.
Next on Riley’s list? Rebuilding the Amusement Park Drive-In, which burned in 2022. He’s already bought a new screen and hopes to bring movies back soon. Vickie laughs as she says it’s a good thing you can remotely start the digital projectors.
“You can turn it on from your couch,” Vickie says, wondering how the drive-in would run with her on the road. “Thankfully, you set the start time and it will just turn on.”
Every now and then, Vickie gives herself permission to slow down — just for a few minutes — and soak in the magic she’s helped create.
“I don’t get to do it very often,” she says. “But sometimes, I’ll walk down the midway
and say, ‘Wow. We built this. All these people are enjoying what we’ve built.” ✻
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ELLIE MANSKE’S JOURNEY THROUGH LEADERSHIP,CHALLENGE,AND LIFT-OFF
Editor’s Note: Ellie Manske is the winner of YVW’s Empowered Women Scholarship. The scholarship sought out a student who shines scholastically and who has character, leadership, and community spirit. Ellie was all of the above. She received a $1,000 scholarship to start her freshman year at University of North Dakota.
“WHEN EVERYTHING seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” That quote from Henry Ford is something 17-year-old Ellie Manske says has kept her grounded when her jam-packed high school days seemed too much to handle.
“This resonated with me when I was overwhelmed with everything I was doing,” Ellie says. “Although I always enjoyed it, it was often difficult to maintain it all.”
If you look at the list of activities she tackled, you can see why. Ellie served on student council and the National Honor Society, was the senior class president, taught cello to middle schoolers, played with the Senior High Orchestra, was on the tennis and cross-country teams, volunteered for a handful of organizations throughout high school, and — up until 2022 — competed worldwide in Irish dance.
the podium, but in 2019, she qualified for the World Irish Dance Championships.
“It was a great experience,” she says, calling Irish dance a kind of escape for her.
Even with her travels, Ellie continued to say ‘yes’ to opportunity after opportunity. “I like being involved in my community and helping others,” she says of her high school years. Surprisingly, she found the time to roll up her sleeves and give her time to causes she cared about. She helped organize “Keep Senior Beautiful” to clean up the grounds of her high school. In addition to volunteering at St. John’s United Assisted Living, Art House Cinema and Pub, and the Billings Clinic, she was the first junior board member for Family Promise, a nonprofit in Billings whose mission is to end homelessness for families with children.
I LOVE WORKING WITH YOUNGER KIDS. I LIKE BEING AN INSPIRATION FOR OTHERS AND THEY ARE SO ENERGETIC AND JOYFUL TO BE AROUND.
— Ellie Manske
“My parents were very into Irish music. We went to the An Ri Ra festival in Butte. It’s a huge Irish music festival,” Ellie says. “They saw a group of Irish dancers and then enrolled me right after.”
Ellie was 5 or 6 years old when she started lessons. Over the years, she not only traveled the nation in pursuit of a spot on
“I think it’s just helped me have compassion for others. I think it has also brought me joy in life. It helps me to appreciate everything more,” Ellie says of her volunteer experiences.
In much of her volunteering, she has found a way to impact the lives of children. She volunteered at Camp Invention, helping kids build a love for STEM through hands-on, one-of-a-kind problem-solving skills. She volunteered to read to younger students at McKinley Elementary to spark a love of reading, and she shared her love of music with middle school students who wanted to learn how to play the cello.
She admits that there is something about touching the lives of young people that inspires and ignites a passion within her.
“I love working with younger kids. I like being an inspiration for
others,” she says, “and they are so energetic and joyful to be around.”
On top of all of that, in late May of this year, she earned her private pilot’s license. It was a process that took a year but helped solidify her future in a big way.
“I decided to get my private pilot’s license so that I could figure out what it was all about before I committed to aviation as a path in college,” Ellie says. She learned early on that she was indeed interested.
“I just connected the dots. I love travel. I love flying. I went on an intro flight in one of these small planes, and I loved the experience,” she says. “That’s when I started the journey to get my private pilot’s license. I have been in love ever since.”
In the fall, she’ll venture off to the University of North Dakota, one of the largest accredited collegiate aviation schools. She plans to earn a degree in aeronautics with a major in commercial aviation. She already knows that, once she gets on campus, she’d love to join the Aerospace Advisory
ELLIE WITH HER CROSS
Council — a student council for students in aviation — as well as the university’s chapter of Women in Aviation. She knows women need more representation in this field.
“It’s growing, but especially with the commercial airlines, it’s a very low percentage of women. It’s roughly six percent,” she says. “I want to help with that representation.”
While she sees herself potentially as a commercial pilot, Ellie isn’t completely locked in when it comes to her precise career path. Right now, there’s far too much to experience before she makes up her mind.
“I definitely see myself becoming an instructor because I love teaching. So, once I get all my wings, I would like to teach. After that, I’m not really sure,” Ellie says, excited to experience all she can before she lands on an official career path.
“I am a first-generation pilot in my family, and although it is sometimes difficult to know what is in my future as a pilot, I am open to exploring every option available,” Ellie says. “There are so many roads I could take in aviation. I’m excited to see what the future holds.” ✻
ROLLING
ROLLINGSuccess Success
MEET THE WOMEN BEHIND BILLINGS’ BOOMING STREET FOOD SCENE
written
by CYDNEY HOEFLE photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
ON A RECENT EVENING, tantalizing smells emerged from the colorful Mediterranean-themed food truck. Nicole Grovijahn hustled behind the window, cheerfully greeting customers while her husband, Brandon, chopped vegetables in between stacking up food orders. Set up in front of a downtown Laurel brewery, the line snaked around the pint-sized mobile kitchen, each person waiting for their slice of Greek goodness.
Nicole and Brandon have owned and operated Opa Grill for four years. It’s been a huge success since the beginning.
“Initially it was going to just be a side hustle,” Nicole says. “But it grew so quickly that we decided to go full bore and just do it. Our claim to fame is that Brandon will never let a customer go away hungry.”
Food truck followers have a lot of options when it comes to mobile meals in Billings. Choices vary from barbecue, burgers, and chicken to ethnic, deep-fried, and healthy — not to mention specialty trucks offering everything from smoothies, popcorn, and ice cream to coffee and kombucha.
OPA GRILL OPA GRILL
business on wheels allows for travel to all types of locations.
“An owner can be up and running far more quickly and for far less cost,” Clark says, comparing the trucks to a brick-and-mortar business. “It’s not an easy business, but if the owners of food trucks find a niche in the market and are prepared to work hard, they will succeed.”
Though most are seasonal and provide supplemental income, many owners rely solely on their food truck income. Those hardy souls open their trucks whenever the weather allows — all year long. Others serve late into the fall, shut down for a few months, and then open back up as soon as the snow melts in spring.
IT’S NOT AN EASY BUSINESS, BUT IF THE OWNERS OF FOOD TRUCKS FIND A NICHE IN THE MARKET AND ARE PREPARED TO WORK HARD, THEY WILL SUCCEED.
— Nicole Grovijahn
According to Clark Snyder, program manager of the Environmental Health Department at RiverStone Health, there are more than 80 registered food trucks in the county. The brightly colored trucks and trailers set up around town also act as billboards and are hard to miss in parking lots, on street corners, in front of businesses, and as staples at events around the region.
While food trucks have served Billings for years, there’s been a recent rise in popularity. Clark says there are two reasons for the increase. First, it’s affordable to operate, and second, having a
This was the first year the Grovijahns kept their food truck rolling all through winter. The decision proved to be profitable.
“We’ve had a good year so far,” Nicole says. “We don’t have any debt against our trailer and that’s helped.” Having saved money to buy a camper, when the opportunity arose to purchase the food trailer instead, the couple jumped at it.
Nicole and Brandon work together almost daily. When they aren’t selling from their trailer, they’re planning, prepping, and maintaining — making sure that every tool, machine, and surface of the trailer is clean and ready to go.
“It’s hard work. The idea of running a food truck is cool, but there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Days off don’t mean we’re not working — it means we’re not selling from the trailer,” Nicole says. “When things get overwhelming, Brandon and I joke to each other, ‘We could be camping.’”
Sharli Swinehart and her husband, Tim, own and operate Let’s Get Fresh, a food truck known for its fresh produce. The tonguein-cheek logo on the side of the truck, featuring three sexy vegetables, attests to Sharli’s playful personality.
In their fourth year of business, the couple has banked their reputation on serving wholesome tacos, salads, and wraps — all made right in the truck from fresh produce and ingredients.
“Fresh produce is the base for all of our dishes,” Sharli says. “And we appeal to those who are looking for healthy food or are on a restricted diet.”
Nicole and Sharli both say that it’s hard to get started in the mobile food industry. Deciding and outfitting a vehicle, startup costs, maintenance costs, licenses, insurance, food costs, and determining where to park and what events to attend all factor into whether it’s successful or not. On average, every hour spent selling out of the food truck takes up to another hour for shopping, prepping, and maintenance.
“There are so many things that can go wrong,” Sharli says. “From the outside it seems shiny, especially when there’s a long line of people waiting at your window. But what people don’t see is what
LET’S GET FRESH LET’S GET FRESH
goes into making that truck or trailer successful.”
Sharli and her husband bought their retired Snap-On Tools truck from a friend and did the build-out themselves. Five years ago, she never would have seen herself as a food truck owner, but like Nicole, she found the opportunity was too good to turn down. Sharli and Tim hire their teenagers to help them during busy events. “Our kids have done well helping us and we’ve grown into a successful business,” Sharli says. “The biggest concern we have is an engine problem. We love our truck. It’s easy to get in and out, and turns on a dime, but if there’s an engine problem, we’re out of business until it’s fixed.”
Just like her fellow food truck owners, it’s been several years of trial and error. What events will be the most profitable? Where can they gain a following? Through it all, they’ve homed in on their efficiency.
“Our business model is to let people come to us,” Sharli says. “We post our schedule on Facebook and our customers come to us. We also cater weddings, graduation parties, and company functions.”
FRESH PRODUCE IS THE BASE FOR ALL OF OUR DISHES AND WE APPEAL TO THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR HEALTHY FOOD OR ARE ON A RESTRICTED DIET.
— Sharli Swinehart
CREPE DIEM CREPE DIEM
Long before food trucks were a common sight in Billings, Kate and Mo Bing had already captured the loyalty of locals with their pop-up crepe booth, called Crepe Diem. What started out as a hobby for the couple evolved into a profitable business they now run with their three children.
Their 15th season started in mid-May at the Bucking Horse Sale in Miles City. By the end of October, they will have worked at more than 100 events, ranging from private catering to the farmers markets in Billings, Bozeman, and Big Sky. Set-up starts several hours before the event begins, and operating the business takes up to 10 people working non-stop under their 10-by-20foot canopy. Kate says moving the business into a truck or trailer was discussed, but in the end, they decided against it.
“We’re a different kind of mobile food business,” she says. “Crepes are so visible, people love to see how they are made. Being in a truck would rob them of that magic.”
At the Yellowstone Valley Farmers Market, a long line usually weaves down the street in front of their booth. During the four-hour market, the team can craft up to 600 crepes.
“We get a little nervous when the line gets long,” Kate says. “But long lines mean it must be worth the wait!”
Kate’s children help with operating Crepe Diem. When the family travels to the farmers’ markets in Bozeman and Big Sky, they live and work out of a specialized van.
“It’s a little tight sometimes,” Kate laughs, “but we make do!”
Last summer, their daughter, Talulah, 11, asked if she could expand the lemonade offered at the crepe booth into a separate stand next to Crepe Diem. That first year delivered success for her and her siblings.
“It’s been incredible to see how my kids have grown in their ownership,” Kate says. “They are learning the value of money and the skills of owning a business, and are a huge help to us.”
Consistency is key for all three business owners. Knowing which events to schedule, purchasing quality ingredients at the lowest cost, keeping their workspace clean and organized, and learning how to step away from the business for much needed breaks all play a role.
Crepe Diem is shut down from Nov. 1 to mid-May while Kate and Mo homeschool their children, ages 13, 11, and 9. Twice a year, Kate escapes with a friend to California, where they hike a 200-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail, a hiking trail that spans from Mexico to Canada.
“Getting away and being alone in the wilderness, walking, sleeping in the dirt. It helps me to feel closer to God,” Kate says. “I like to push myself to see what I can accomplish on my own.”
The hard work and long hours that go along with owning a business don’t deter the women. They all love what they do. It’s also not uncommon to see them together at events. At the Great American Sheep Drive in Reed Point two years ago, once the food trucks were shut down, Sharli and Kate teamed up and won the log-sawing contest in the women’s division.
“Even though we are all competing with our food trucks, we still support each other,” Sharli says.
“We love pulling up to an event and seeing our friends’ trucks there, too,” Nicole adds. “We’re all in this together, and we want to see each other succeed.” ✻
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We know that coming together and helping one another is how we get through stressful times.
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Contact us to see how we can help you or provide a second opinion.
401 North 31st Street, Suite 900 | Billings, MT 59101
WE’RE A DIFFERENT KIND OF MOBILE FOOD BUSINESS. CREPES ARE SO VISIBLE, PEOPLE LOVE TO SEE HOW THEY ARE MADE. BEING IN A TRUCK WOULD ROB THEM OF THAT MAGIC.
— Kate Bing
Wesley A Fangsrud Senior Vice President Financial Advisor
Kayla Schuyler Registered
Vice President Financial Advisor
The Fangsrud Stone Group at Morgan Stanley
Kyle R. Stone
Baking BakingJoy Joy
AT FLOURS BAKERY, Pastry Chef Jacquelynn Beckman sprinkles joy on her pastries, cookies, and breads. You can find the shop she co-owns with her husband, Jeremiah, just off King Avenue, nestled in a nondescript strip mall. Inside the bland industrial exterior, distinctive cakes, scones, muffins, cookies, pies, croissants, and ice cream wait to greet you.
The bakery, which opened in May of 2023, carries a sense of nostalgia and casual comfort —think silk flowers, dried wheat arrangements, and metal bistro tables — but once at the chest-high, curved glass case, the treats in the windowed box hold a flavor of sophistication, and beauty dusted with playfulness and lots of pretty.
Baking cakes and desserts, Jacquelynn says, “It was always a positive, a joy giver in my life.”
You sense that as you look at her cakes adorned with swirls of frosting and garnished with candied flowers. Shiny and colorful sugar dust enlivens cupcakes. Cream cheese frosting tops the cinnamon rolls and carrot cake muffins. Large French macarons blush with tints and flavors of raspberry or Belgian chocolate ganache. Loaves of focaccia deliver the tastes of Parmesan cheese and olive oil.
Jacquelynn received her training at Orange Coast College Culinary Arts and Baking/Pastry Program and was credentialed in 2008.
She originally enrolled in college full time to be on the track team. “I took baking classes in college. I then took more and more classes,” she says. After graduating from culinary school, she baked at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Nigel, and at the Fairmont Newport Beach. For two years she worked as a pastry sous chef with 24 Carrots Catering in Costa Mesa. From there, she moved to Caramel Valley Ranch in Monterey and then to the Heathman in Kirkland, just outside of Seattle. Before arriving in Billings, she worked for five years at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas where she earned the recognition in the Dallas Tastemaker Awards for Best Pastry Chef in 2021.
“I baked with my grandmother, my aunt, with the family. This was always a positive thing around the kitchen. For birthday parties, celebrations, we gathered around cake,” she says about her days growing up. She adds with a smile, “My mom was the worst baker ever. This spurred me on to bake. She made Rice Krispy
It was about that time that the couple decided to move to a smaller town.
“My jobs always took me to big cities,” Jacquelynn says. “My husband and I are very ‘outdoorsy’. We’re really into nature.” They enjoy hikes with their golden retriever, Kiwi, and her husband has a love of hunting, fishing, and backpacking.
The couple relocated to Billings without having any connections here. “My husband went to Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah to check out the options.” In the end, the couple fell in love with Montana’s Trailhead.
treats and box cake.”
After they arrived, the one-time home to Baby Cakes Bakeries came up for sale. Some equipment was left behind, but Jacquelynn invested in a sheeter for rolling dough into thin sheets, and an ice cream machine.
“I love the craftsmanship of making a croissant,” she says of the constant challenges. Changes in weather or slight inconsistencies in the ingredients can alter the outcome of the final product. “It is a love-hate relationship with making a croissant.” When it doesn’t come out right, she has to become a detective to figure out what went wrong.
Making a croissant takes three days. “We make our own butter blocks with high butter fat content. We make our dough from scratch. We shape it and then bake it,” she says. “People scoff at the price, but it’s a lot of labor that goes into creating a croissant.”
“She has spent years perfecting her croissants. They are the best in the state,” Jeremiah tells customers when he is behind the counter. Although he admits, “I am impressed with everything she makes. I know everything is top quality.”
Other challenges have included the rising costs of procuring their Belgian chocolate, as well as other ingredients.
“We get eggs from the Mennonites, who didn’t get hit with the bird flu, so we weren’t hit as hard when the (egg) prices rose. By buying local, we were saved from the price hikes and shortages,” Jacquelynn says, adding that they try to buy as much locally as they can. They get their produce from Swanky Roots, and she says, “Our Montana cherries are sourced through the (Yellow-
Over the years, Jacquelynn says she’s been blessed to have worked with some really good chefs. However, she adds, “I have had to discover many things myself.”
She experienced growth around positive chefs who pushed her in her work. Those encouragements led her to become an executive chef at age 24. “Fake it until you make it,” she says. If she needed to learn how to temper chocolate, she watched YouTube or did the necessary homework to discover solutions.
Unfortunately, she also found that “a lot of professionals don’t openly tell you how to do things.” She shares an experience baking from a cookbook where she “followed the recipes to the T.” The final product, however, wasn’t acceptable. Jacquelynn believes some of the steps were purposely left out.
The errors only motivate her. She enjoys executing the needed precision in producing pastries, cakes, and cookies. Once she perfects orchestrating the ingredients and techniques, the fun comes when she puts her own personal spin on the creations.
Inspirations come from “what’s in season and what I can get my hands on.” Jacquelynn says her full-time employee, Jasper Wines, “asked if she could make blueberry rolls after seeing a shipment of gorgeous blueberries.” Jacquelynn didn’t discourage the enthusiasm.
Jasper has been working at Flours Bakery for about two months.
stone Valley) Food Hub, connecting us to small farms.”
She helped part-time over the holidays by taking on the role of head baker. Originally from Billings, Jasper worked in Phoenix for 10 years with her last job at Pa’La, a tapas, sandwich, and seafood restaurant with Mediterranean and South American flavors.
After coming back to Billings, Jasper worked as an animal control officer for the city of Billings for a spell. After meeting Jacquelynn, however, she gravitated to her background and high level of skill. “It’s hard to find someone that has a creative side that can run a business,” Jasper says, adding, “I am thoroughly humbled working with her.”
Jacquelynn’s husband, Jeremiah does all the sales for the bakery, but that’s not all he does. He’s often in the back of the house making large batches of bread, handling the accounting, or running deliveries. He also helps take care of their toddler. It’s why you’ll find a pop-up crib in the back office to keep their son safe when their hands are busy. With another child on the way, the couple knows they will have to continue being creative in balancing parenthood with running a bustling business.
“The kitchen is one of the roughest places for women to be,” Jeremiah says. “She’s always been very strong and kind to fellow employees.” He adds that Jacquelynn’s kindness carries to her being a mother. “She is a fantastic, loving mother that is very doting.”
While pastries are her specialty, Jacquelynn hopes to expand her sourdough bread program from the current production schedule of Fridays and Saturdays. The bakery is also expanding its reach by providing baked goods to both Maple Moose Coffee and Pop Shop as well as Rock Creek Coffee Roasters.
As her business grows in new and unexpected ways, you can be sure of one thing. Pastry Chef Jacquelynn Beckman will always bake joy into each and every one of her treats. ✻
STELLA FONG, writer
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.
SummerA SIP OF A SIP OF
THE FIZZY DRINK TREND IS BRINGING BACK SODA SHOP
ALL OVER BILLINGS, there are signs, displays, and banners promoting the latest in beverage excitement. Call it an infused drink or a dirty soda—it’s a way to zhuzh up your summer drink without alcohol.
For me, it’s a reminder of home. The Midwest town I grew up in had a soda shop where I could sit down at the counter and ask the person behind it for a Cherry Coke, a Vanilla Coke, or even an egg cream. My drink would be “pop” (in the Midwest, it’s pop, not soda) over ice with Coca-Cola from a dispenser and a shot of cherry syrup, grenadine, or vanilla syrup. Root beer and a scoop of ice cream was called a black cow. If I really felt like splurging my allowance, it was an egg cream. The summertime of my youth.
This summer, it’s a dirty soda or an infused Red Bull season.
Take your favorite carbonated soft drink and add a flavored syrup, half-and-half or non-dairy creamer (that’s what makes it dirty), and maybe a fruit purée—and you are set. A lot like that black cow.
Manufacturers are striking while the drink craze is hot. Red Bull now has Blue (blueberry), Yellow (tropical), Summer (white peach), Red (watermelon), and other very summery flavors that combine well with syrups and fruit to make a spectacular summer drink. Think of the possibilities to try—like an ice cream sundae bar, but for Red Bull, only limited by your imagination.
Coffee Mate is offering a pair of non-dairy creamers that might not sound appealing in coffee, but mix Coconut Lime with Dr. Pepper or Orange Cream Soda with Orange Crush, and your summer of dirty sodas could be set.
Pour, sip, repeat, and enjoy! ✻
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.
SUGGESTIONS:
Crushed
DIRECTIONS:
La Mode
Crushed
DIRECTIONS:
Cotton Candy
Sprite
2 T. vanilla syrup
Crushed ice
DIRECTIONS: Fill a tall glass half full with crushed ice. Add the vanilla syrup. Top with Sprite.
Egg Cream
2 T. chocolate syrup
2 T. cold milk
8 oz. cold seltzer water or club soda
DIRECTIONS: Pour the chocolate syrup into a glass. Add the cold milk and stir until completely combined and smooth. Slowly add the cold seltzer water or club soda into the chocolate milk, stirring constantly until the glass is almost full and the drink is foaming. Serve immediately.
Beachside Coke
Coke or Diet Coke
1 T. coconut syrup
1 t. fresh lime juice
Half-and-half (or non-dairy creamer)
Crushed ice
DIRECTIONS: Fill a tall glass half full with crushed ice. Add the coconut syrup and lime juice. Top with Coke or Diet Coke. Lastly, add a splash of half-and-half or non-dairy creamer. Stir.
Dirty Cherry Coke
Coke or Diet Coke
1 T. cherry syrup or grenadine
1 t. vanilla syrup
Half-and-half or non-dairy creamer
Crushed ice
DIRECTIONS: Fill a tall glass half full with crushed ice. Add the cherry syrup and the vanilla syrup. Top with Coke or Diet Coke. Add the halfand-half or non-dairy creamer. Stir.
DOORS OPEN 4:30 PM
home and2garden7
84 where style meets soul
94 MORE THAN GREEN THUMBS
Bob and Debbie Wicks—and a
100 A HOUSE OF MEMORIES
One couple’s remodel turned a rancher into a modern farmhouse retreat
Inside Erin McCall’s warm, welcoming home — and the neighborhood vision that built it
style7WHERE MEETS SOUL
style7
INSIDE ERIN MCCALL’S WARM, WELCOMING HOME — AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD VISION THAT BUILT IT
written by GAYLE SMITH photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
FOR ERIN MCCALL, interior design is a lifestyle, a chance to play around with timeless styles and a mix of trending elements. If you step inside her latest endeavor, her family’s home in the Annafeld neighborhood, the earthy colors, wainscoted walls, and the mood-setting paint colors seem to come together effortlessly.
“My inspiration usually revolves around family — how we live and what kind of feeling I want people to have when they come into our home,” says Erin.
Just a mile down from Annafeld along Elysian Road sits McCall Homes’ first neighborhood, Josephine Crossing, a family development that launched in 2007 with Erin, her husband Greg, her
sister-in-law Carolee, and her brother-in-law Brad. The concept of community, high-density living, and shared park spaces began in Josephine Crossing and continues to flourish in Annafeld.
Today, McCall Homes includes the next generation to follow in Greg and Erin’s footsteps. Their daughter Abby, who has been involved in the business since high school, now helps with both sales and interior design. The concept of neighborhood is nothing new to her.
“We wanted to design a new urban style to make it easier for people to get to know each other and create a community where people know and love their neighbors,” Abby says. “It’s why we de-
THE BIGGEST CONSTANT IN ANY HOME DESIGN IS CREATING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LOVED, SAFE, AND KNOWN. CREATING A FEELING WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN THAT THEY ARE HOME...
— Erin McCall
signed it with kids in mind—front porches, small streets, and a trail system so people can interact with one another to create community.”
Stepping inside Erin and Greg’s home, you see Erin loves to play with trending designs, bringing them into her own living space to see how they work in real life (See sidebar on Ten Trending Designs). She’s had some help along the way, tapping into the design prowess of her sister-in-law, Carolee. Not only do they work hand in hand designing each model home in the neighborhood, but they also work on the home they feature in the annual Billings Parade of Homes.
No matter what style she pulls into a design, Erin says, “The biggest constant in any home design is creating a place where people feel loved, safe, and known. Creating a feeling when people walk in that they are home, that they can do life in this beautiful space—that is our ultimate goal as designers.”
When Erin began designing her own space, she knew the look she wanted immediately.
“I wanted an old-world feeling with this house, a coziness with warmer tones,” Erin says.
It’s safe to say she succeeded in every area of the home, especially in the kitchen. Playing off warm wood tones, Erin partnered with ProSource and used their Decora cabinet line in a stained cherry design.
“While white kitchens will always be classic and timeless in interior design, wood tones are making their way back to everyone’s Pinterest boards,” she says with a laugh. The luxury vinyl plank flooring picks up on the warm tone as well.
While the kitchen is stunning, it’s also high on function. Erin often entertains, so having a kitchen that is ready to perform is key. Her cooktop uses induction heating. “It’s cool to the touch yet boils water in about 20 seconds and is easy to clean,” Erin says.
A large kitchen island, covered in black matte quartz with a large apron sink, is ready for meal prep or a charcuterie with friends—again, functional and eye-catching at the same time. The black finish plays nicely with the cream Italian brick-jointed tile, creating a crisp yet warm look in the heart of this home.
To the left of the kitchen, you’ll find an arched entryway into a butler’s pantry. This is where all the family’s small appliances live along with a sink, lots of counter
We
are proud to be part of this
stunning home!
space, and extra food storage.
“Originally, the butler’s pantry was designed with a door, but the arches are so beautiful here and the pantry is such an integral part of our daily life I decided to leave the door off,” says Erin.
To the right of the kitchen is a matching arched entryway that leads to the garage. Arches are trending in a big way, and that’s why you’ll find them all over the McCall home—in the main entry, on the fireplace, and upstairs in the master bath.
Next to the door that leads to the garage, you’ll find what Erin calls the drop zone—a place for her kids to plant their things or hang up a jacket before they head into the main portion of the home.
“The back door is for cars,” Erin says, “and the front door is for people.”
In the main floor powder room, Erin loves the trending technique she used. “It’s called color drenching. Using the same color on your walls, trim, and ceiling gives the room a moody vibe,” she says. “Wainscoting on the walls is a nod to a centuries-old technique and adds to the relaxing feel.”
No longer is it the norm to stick to one color
for cabinet hardware, faucets, or lighting. Erin says, “Mixed metals are very on-trend right now—polished gold, stainless steel, and black. You can mix a lot of metals if done carefully.”
Looking at the home’s fireplace, you’ll find a design that could be called English cottage meets Tuscany. “It’s lime-washed, a painting technique that has a bit of old-school plaster look to it,” Erin says. “Using a repurposed beam from an old barn as the mantel gives it even more charm.”
Heading upstairs, you’ll find a dramatic floor-to-ceiling window with a show-stopping light fixture from One Source Lighting, which illuminates Erin’s maximalist gallery wall. It’s a space along the stairway filled to the ceiling with family photos and cherished art.
“Interior design had been minimalistic for several years but is now shifting to maximalism, where we see a mix of texture and layers along with more personal items used as decor,” says Erin.
Up the staircase, you’ll find a space for a home office or for kids to do their homework. Directly across the room sits a lounge perfect for family movie night. Once again, the space plays home to touches that bring a lot of character.
McCall Homes, Greg and Erin for your trust and partnership for the flooring, tile and cabinetry for your beautiful new home.
“Bringing the wood tones to the upper level, vertical wood paneling on the walls and ceiling in the TV area, provides acoustics, and floating shelves add depth and interest,” says Erin.
Step inside the master bedroom, and you’ll find deep hues on the walls, accented by a white vaulted ceiling, to make this space feel even bigger.
The classic feel continues in the couple’s master bath. Counters are covered in white quartz with thick gold veining for a rich feel. The glassed-in shower offers stone pebbles and a neutral tile with double shower heads for pure comfort. Arches abound in this space as well. You’ll also find double sinks, side lighting, and matching medicine cabinets.
“I like a lighter master bath for the brightness, and I love a great
medicine cabinet. It’s a simple storage option to keep everything reachable, yet off the counter,” Erin says.
With every detail covered, Erin admits her inspiration goes far beyond color choice or accents. She measures her design success on a much deeper level.
“My biggest passion is how I can create a space that people feel safe and let their guard down and sit, talk, and be loved,” Erin says. “If it is the actual home that can make them feel like that, then we killed it. Just feeling safe is the atmosphere I want for the house.” ✻
TEN TRENDING
MCCALL HOME SAVORS EMERGING STYLES IN UNIQUE WAYS
1.A comeback of maximalism embraces bold colors, eclectic patterns, and a mix of vintage and contemporary elements.
2.Curved shapes and arches can be found in door openings, fireplace surrounds, artwork, mirrors, and frames.
3.Color drenching creates a moody space by drenching the room with one bold color.
4.Move over cool, monochromatic palettes; warm tones are making a comeback with beige, taupe, and jewel tones.
5.Kitchens are moving toward warm wood tones and rich countertops. Quartz backsplashes have found their way into many kitchens since they are easy to clean as well as beautiful.
6.Butler’s pantries are becoming a popular place to hide all of your small appliances. From coffee pots, microwaves, air fryers, and toasters, these spaces can help keep your kitchen clutter free.
7.Designers will embrace handcrafted elements like rustic beams for a fireplace mantle or a hand-made, handcarved wood coffee table.
8.Smart home technologies will be integrated seamlessly into design. In my home every light is voice activated.
9.Wainscoting, which gives a nod back to 17th and 18th centuries, is a way to create dimension and charm.
10.Adding the lime wash technique adds a beautiful plaster, old world feel. This technique was added to the home’s fireplace.
green green More Than Thumbs More Than Thumbs
HOW BOB AND DEBBIE WICKS—AND A 55-YEAR-OLD GARDEN
SITTING ON THE BACK PATIO of Bob and Debbie Wicks’ home, you’ll find a slice of solitude. Colorful plants of all kinds dot the landscape. Some are in the ground. Others are perched in colorful pots. All give a nod to this couple’s green thumbs.
Bob has been a master gardener for nearly 18 years, and if you ask Debbie, she’s had her hands in the dirt since she was a kid.
“I’ve been gardening, literally, forever. I remember my mom giving me seeds and telling me, ‘Just go plant these,’” Debbie says. “I’ve always had a big garden. I’d spend half the day out weeding while my kids were in school.”
A little over a year ago, Bob and Debbie traded their acre of land outside Park City to move into the West-end home where Bob’s dad lived for 45 years. They leveled the landscape, took out a big elm tree planted smack dab in the middle of the yard, replaced the sod, removed a whole host of boulders, and took down the
CLUB—CULTIVATE BEAUTY AND BONDING
HOW BOB AND DEBBIE WICKS—AND A 55-YEAR-OLD GARDEN CLUB—CULTIVATE BEAUTY AND BONDING
written by JULIE KOERBER photography by LAURA FARR
written by JULIE KOERBER photography by LAURA FARR
Englemann ivy that had taken over the covered patio.
“This is year one,” Debbie says as she looks around to all the areas that now play home to annuals and perennials.
As Bob points out the different plants, more than a dozen friends he’s grown over the last four years nod and ask questions. They are all members of the Thumb-R-Green Garden Club, a group of hobby and master gardeners who get together once a month to talk about all things green. Bob is the president of the club that’s been going strong for 55 years.
Debbie was drawn to this group five years ago after the isolation of Covid started to wear on her.
“Joining the club saved my sanity,” she says with a slight laugh. “I remember thinking, ‘You know, these are people who talk about what I like to talk about.’” Not long after, Bob was roped in when
GARDEN CLUB
HAS MAINTAINED THE BLUE STAR MEMORIAL AT VETERAN’S PARK IN BILLINGS.
THE MEMORIAL HONORS ALL MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED SERVICES.
THE CLUB IS NOW TRYING TO RAISE $2,700 TO ADD A GOLD STAR MEMORIAL TO THE PARK.
Debbie came home after a meeting and mentioned that they would be hosting a landscape school for all the
“That’s when I joined,” he said with a smile. Bob has had a love for gardening since his youth watching his Grandpa Miller tend to his garden.
“When he retired, he got into daylilies, and then, he started hybridizing them,” Bob says.
As you walk alongside the couple’s home, some of his grandfather’s lilies have made the move here. They have yet to bloom this summer, but Bob keeps a
“My grandpa died when he was 84. These lilies don’t bloom until their second or third year. He swore the last few years of his life that he wasn’t going anywhere until he saw what those flowers looked like. He said, ‘I’ve got too much work
In another corner of the yard, trumpet vine puts on a colorful show. That, too, was a gift from Grandpa Miller.
“He gave Debbie, before we even got married, a little piece of it,” Bob says. “Now it’s been to three different houses. We just keep digging up pieces of it and bringing it along.” The couple has been married for 31 years.
Just then, a bright yellow tiger swallowtail butterfly flits by, proof that the trumpet vine is doing its job of contributing to what Bob
Photo by Robb Vann
THERE ISN’T A GARDENER THAT I HAVE MET THAT I DON’T LIKE. THEY AREN’T AFRAID TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY TO GET THINGS DONE.
— Rosemary Power
calls his “place for pollinators.”
“I will come out here and just sit and watch the world go by, watch the plants grow,” he says of the joy each little space brings.
He’s not alone. All twenty-some members of the club feel exactly the same way. While they all love plants, they seem to love their
fellow club members more.
“I moved out into the country. I had poor soil. It was hot and windy with lots of Ponderosa Pine and sagebrush. I got discouraged over gardening and thought, I might just quit,” says Mary Davis, who has been with the club for 45 years. “But then I thought, I wouldn’t have these friends that I have built over the years.”
“There isn’t a gardener that I have met that I don’t like,” 84-year-old Rosemary Power says. She’s been a member since 2008. “They aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty to get things done.”
The club has had its fair share of projects where they’ve dug in and got their hands dirty. The group tends to some of the beds around the MetraPark grounds. It puts on its annual standard flower show late summer. It decks out a Christmas tree at the Moss Mansion to raise awareness and, for the past nine years, has maintained the Blue Star Memorial at Veteran’s Park in Billings. The memorial honors all men and women that serve in the United States Armed Services. The bronze plaque is surrounded by rows of red and white roses, Shasta daisies, blue salvia, and red and white geraniums, grouped in a patriotic show of color.
Club members Joyce and Ron Hendrickson spend time each week weeding and making sure the plants are well watered.
“If we are going to honor the veterans, it needs to look nice,” Joyce says. She’s a veteran herself, having served six years in the Air Force as a nurse practitioner.
As Joyce shares the details, Connie Snyder spends time handing out a flyer showcasing the club’s next fundraising effort to add a memorial at Veteran’s Park—this time, a Gold Star Memorial Plaque. The memorial will honor those families who have lost a loved one in service to our country.
While Connie hasn’t lost a loved one, her brother is retired from the military. Her dad served. So did two of her children. Her
daughter is a Colonel in the Army. Her son is a disabled veteran, injured while serving in Iraq.
“People remember the lost military members in the moment, but their families go on, and then they’re forgotten,” Connie says. “There’s a large group of families who have lost loved ones.”
The club is trying to raise $2,700 to purchase the plaque as a permanent reminder.
As the club makes the rounds through the Wicks’ property, Trish Adam can be heard chatting with new member Graydon Snapp. She already knows Graydon is a “tree guy” and wanted to tap into his knowledge.
“My lilac tree came to me in full bloom. This year, no blooms whatsoever,” Trish explains as Graydon talks about using a hose at the base of the lilac to make sure it gets a good drink. After sharing where to place the hose and for how long, Trish is thankful for the insight. “I’m sure I’ll get it to bloom again,” she says with a smile.
“We have learned so much from the membership,” Bob says. “You start talking to them, and you find out these people are brilliant in gardening.” Debbie is quick to add, “Everybody is humble and knows that they don’t know it all. We can learn from each other.”
And just like the plants these members love to talk about, Bob and Debbie hope new members continue to sprout up to keep the club alive for another 55 years.
“I’m hoping that this just carries on forever,” Bob says, “and that it just gets better and better.” He smiles as he says, “The meetings are very educational, lots of fun with lots of laughter.” Pointing to the freshly baked strawberry pies waiting to be served, Bob adds,
TO LEARN MORE about the Thumb-R-Green Garden Club or how to donate to the club’s Gold Star Memorial Plaque, you can email Bob at bobwix@hotmail.com. The group meets at First Baptist Church located at 218 North 34th St. on the fourth Monday of every month at 10:00 a.m.
A HOUSE OF
memories7
WHEN DIANA AND PHIL STANSELL were on the hunt for the ideal house more than half a dozen years ago, they found one in the Ironwood subdivision. They decided, however, to look at one more—a five-bedroom, three-bath home on the west end.
“When we walked in the door and saw this fireplace,” Diana says, “it was all over!”
The two-level rancher on Poly Drive provides a view of the rims and, as Diana calls it, “a peek-a-boo view” of the Beartooth Moun-
tains. The floor-to-ceiling fireplace, composed of hefty river rock from the Red Lodge area, ties in serenely with the surrounding landscape. It’s the focal point of the living room and the best place for Diana to hang a few tack items from her English horseback-riding days.
The home and its location offered this working couple the peaceful sanctuary they had been seeking. The spaciousness of the house suited their needs when their adult children visited, and the half-acre lot afforded plenty of space for defining their land-
memories7
ONE COUPLE’S REMODEL TURNED A RANCHER INTO A MODERN FARMHOUSE RETREAT
written by TRISH ERBE SCOZZARI photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
scaping palette.
They weren’t in the house too long, however, when they decided the kitchen countertops needed to be replaced.
“We thought we wanted new kitchen countertops,” says Diana, “as there were some chips in them.” Since Diana drove by Pinnacle Remodel & Design Center every day on her way to work, she and Phil decided to reach out to owner, Jeremy Van Wagoner.
“I stopped in Jeremy’s showroom and said we weren’t planning on a remodel,” says Phil. “Jeremy saw that we did.”
“We had fun together,” laughs Diana. “Jeremy and I joked around. It’s about relationships, based on the businesses we’re in.”
“It’s definitely a dramatic change,” says Jeremy, surveying the open living room with its twenty-foot ceiling, newly painted beige-white walls, and unique fireplace. “We kept the fireplace
and raised up the living room by framing it up to one level. It was a step down into the living room and a step up into the kitchen. We redid the flooring (engineered wood), opened walls, and extended the kitchen.”
Diana explains how a total renovation of most of the home’s main floor originated. “Jeremy came over with a piece of paper. It was for a whole kitchen!”
“When you present a design idea,” says Jeremy, “the most important thing is to solve the problem. It’s great to update, but you need to solve the problem. Here, you had to go through the kitchen, past the living room, to the dining room. It didn’t make sense.”
Jeremy, Diana, and Phil discussed the options laid out on the piece of paper. The couple gave their blessing, and the revamp swung into action. One of three walls knocked out was a divider wall Diana and Phil came face-to-face with every time they entered the house from the garage.
“We had a big celebration when Jeremy said he would get rid of this wall and that it wasn’t a structural wall,” says Diana.
“This opened up the kitchen,” says Jeremy. A hallway leading to the dining room was scrapped, as well. “We downsized the dining room and turned it into a large walk-in pantry. Most people don’t use formal dining rooms anymore, and Diana wished she had a
big pantry.”
Diana got her wish. The airy pantry sports two sets of windows and is situated just around the corner from the kitchen. Next to the walk-in pantry sits a full laundry room, created from the dining space.
With the divider wall gone, Diana and Phil now step from the garage into a delightful mudroom. A sliding barn door easily zips across the laundry and mudroom doorways, keeping the new kitchen looking glamorous.
The heart of the home morphed in size and modern sophistication during the renovation. The kitchen transformed from a walled-off small area to an open design featuring a long center island with a luscious white quartz countertop and farmhouse sink. A rich brown cabinet base, complete with toe-kick lighting on all four sides, lends another elegant touch.
Two-tone Canyon Creek cabinets with soft-close Shaker doors from Pinnacle run the length of the kitchen. Dark upper cabinets, juxtaposed with white cabinetry, highlight and balance the European tile pattern Diana chose as a backsplash for a six-burner Thermador gas cooktop. “We love to travel Europe,” says Diana, “so we had to have something European-ish.”
A round table and chairs nestle in the open alcove at the end of the
kitchen, delivering a lovely view of the rock waterfall below and the back area’s manicured grounds. A few feet away, a glass patio door leads to the cozy, covered deck that overlooks this fenced wonderland of trees, decorative bushes, and an array of colorful flowers.
Breathing in the fresh air and gazing over trees and housetops toward the mountains, Diana says she and Phil are “now on our next chapter.” They’ve both retired. “We need to figure out this retirement thing,” she shares. “We’ve been traveling primarily in Montana in our RV, but we do like to travel!”
The couple has toured thirty countries, but the travel bug continues to give them the itch to “explore,” notes Diana. After Phil’s three decades of law enforcement in his native state of Louisiana, which included mounted patrol, plus ten years of working in Human Resources (HR), he’s ready for a change.
“It was the HR job in Montana that brought us here,” says Phil. “We love the area and the quality of life. I always wanted to come west, so it’s where I applied.”
Diana retired from twenty-five years in the banking industry after opening a branch office in Billings for one of the nation’s largest financial institutions. Born and raised in Rochester, New York, before landing in the South, “I swore I’d never again live where it snowed,” she says.
The people, the community, the peaceful lifestyle, along with fairly mild winters in the Magic City, quickly changed Diana’s mind. Their home, now chicly remodeled, fits their modern farmhouse style.
A striking painting of a horse hangs in the front foyer above the new staircase railing, giving a rustic, artsy look to the high-ceil-
IT’S DEFINITELY A DRAMATIC CHANGE.WE KEPT THE FIREPLACE AND RAISED UP THE LIVING ROOM BY FRAMING IT UP TO ONE LEVEL. IT WAS A STEP DOWN INTO THE LIVING ROOM AND A STEP UP INTO THE KITCHEN. WE REDID THE FLOORING (ENGINEERED WOOD), OPENED WALLS, AND EXTENDED THE KITCHEN.
— Jeremy Van
Wagoner
ing entrance. A half-wall was razed in favor of the balustrade crafted by Lesman Iron Works. “This is our modern western-style, all-welded, horizontal picket railing,” says Brandon Wallery, new owner of the local welding and manufacturing business.
The painting ties in seamlessly with the horse tack that’s neatly hung on the fireplace. The personal effects spur on the souls who live here, like the antique lantern that belonged to Diana’s granddad.
Cowboy, the couple’s 16-year-old cat, lounges on the back of the recliner as Diana reveals the backstory about the bundle of long, pointed arrows standing upright in a nearby container. “My great aunt was a nurse and a missionary in the Amazon in the 1950s,” says Diana.
And the antique cedar chest that sits against the wall close to Diana’s office door? “It’s part of my family, a piece of my mom,” she says.
Antique end tables with metal bottoms are filled with deerskins. “I use them for a tree skirt at Christmas,” she says, “and the 1900s kindling holder I use for magazines.”
Diana and Phil’s retirement dreams are in the making while they’re enjoying their modern farmhouse-style remodel that has truly become a ‘house of memories.’ ✻
A FRESH FACE FOR THE stansell5
AN EXTERIOR REFRESH ADDS TO THE HOME’S CURB APPEAL
STEPPING UP TO THE Stansell home, you see immediately that it wasn’t just the interior that got a facelift. The outside has gained some contemporary curb appeal as well, thanks to the handiwork of HWT Construction.
The exterior of the home was recently resided in a light-color lap siding called Glacier Fog and accented with black trim aptly named Abyss. The distinct look of board-and-batten siding at the front entrance makes the blue door pop. “It’s got good balance on the outside of the home now,” says Josh Tolentino, owner of HWT Construction.
A charcoal-color asphalt roof complements the exterior, and a wrap chimney in corrugated steel gracefully tops off this westend home. “The steel will start to take on a rust finish,” says Josh, adding to that rustic charm the Stansells have built inside the home.
