For children in crisis, Jenn Weber ensures Christmas still comes For children in crisis, Jenn Weber ensures Christmas still comes
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Letter Editor FROM THE
EVERY YEAR around mid-November, something happens. It starts as a small, innocent enough thought. Maybe I’ll bake a few cookies. I start making a list of recipients and think about where I can buy the coolest holiday plates and best decorative cellophane to tie them all up with the ohso-perfect bow. Before I know it, I’ve planned an elaborate cookie lineup that would make anyone but Martha Stewart break into a cold sweat. Six types, each chosen not only for the unique flavor but because I know they will complement each other on that perfectly dressed plate.
You’d think that would be enough. No. No, it is not.
My mind tells me I could write heartfelt letters to every friend I’ve ever had. Reconnect with family back in the Midwest. I could knit up Christmas slippers for my entire family. And, that holiday open house I’ve been wanting to host? I could actually plan it so that, somehow, it looks like a Hallmark movie and smells like cinnamon and accomplishment.
But somewhere between frosting batch number three of cookies and adding a dash of crushed peppermint candy on top, I had a small moment of clarity. Well, maybe it was just a sugar crash. Either way, I remembered something important. The holiday season doesn’t come with a report card. No one’s grading my cookies. My friends won’t love me more if their gifts come with handmade satin bows. And honestly, no one’s going to notice if I send
my Christmas cards in January. I waved the white flag and did that a few years ago. I never heard a peep about it.
So this year, I’m taking a new approach to the holidays. Fewer lists, more laughter. Less “perfect,” more “present.” Maybe I’ll bake one type of cookie. Okay, two. I’m not a complete monster. Maybe my gifts will come from an actual store, wrapped in paper that doesn’t match the tags. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll sit down with a mug of my favorite spiced coffee and cue up one of our favorite Christmas movies as a family. Sigh. That sounds marvelous. Doesn’t it?
Because here’s the truth. The season isn’t meant to be a performance. It’s meant to be lived. Sure, there will be a little mess and maybe a few burnt edges but, hopefully, there will also be a whole lot of love.
Wishing you peace, sanity, and maybe even some store-bought cookie dough! ✻
Julie
p.s. If you wanted to check out the recipe for that cookie with the crushed peppermint topping, it’s one from a past issue submitted by Kim Mork. Check it out at yellowstonevalleywoman.com/ seasoned-with-friendship. It’s now one of my family’s favorites!
Annual Craft Fair
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meet the STAFF
Michele Konzen Sales Executive
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Nicole Burtell Distribution
kayla gray Social Media
sue olp Copy Editor
Behind the Red Dress Heart Heart Heart Heart
WILLOWA FRENCH SPRINKLES HOLIDAY MAGIC AT BILLINGS’ BRIGHTEST TRADITION
written by BROOKE WAGNER photography by HOLIDAY NIGHTS
IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE of the holiday season, Willowa French undergoes quite the transformation. With Holiday Nights as her backdrop — the Christmas experience that transforms ZooMontana into a winter wonderland with millions of lights and large-scale displays — Willowa quietly puts on a velvet red dress, grabs her wire rimmed glasses, her white wig and, of course, her smile. At this moment, she’s no longer Willowa. She’s Mrs. Claus, spreading cheer with a twinkle in her eye and a heart full of love.
“My favorite thing is seeing the smiles and happiness it brings to not only the kids, but the adults as well,” Willowa says.
It was a chance encounter at ZooMontana that sparked her Claus calling. Holiday Nights had just launched at the Zoo in 2022 and its director, Josh Benson, met Willowa as she came to volunteer. He mentioned offhandedly that they were looking for a Mrs. Claus to pair with their jolly Santa volunteer. “I thought, ‘why not?’” Willowa says with a laugh. “I’ve always loved working with kids and spending time with my grandkids. This felt like it was meant to be!”
thinks it’s pretty cool that he’s married to Mrs. Claus!”
That first season, Willowa arrived at the Zoo on a frosty November evening, fully dressed in her costume. The next year, she got ready on site, and last year Mrs. Claus even had her own personal dressing room. Her costume is classic Christmas, with a long red dress, fur collar, and a perfectly coiffed white wig. Unlike the sometimes-stiff portrayals of holiday icons, Willowa embodies Mrs. Claus as a warm, approachable matriarch with a Montana twist. From tiny babes in strollers to grandparents seeking holiday magic with their grandkids, Willowa welcomes each one.
MY FAVORITE THING IS SEEING THE SMILES AND HAPPINESS IT BRINGS TO NOT ONLY THE KIDS, BUT THE ADULTS AS WELL.
“It just melts my heart. I do it for the kids,” she says.
MY FAVORITE THING IS SEEING THE SMILES AND HAPPINESS IT BRINGS TO NOT ONLY THE KIDS, BUT THE ADULTS AS WELL.
— Willowa French
Willowa grew up in Colstrip, the daughter of a road construction worker who traveled with his family all over the state of Montana. She spent time living in Oregon and eventually returned to Montana with her three sons and their families. It was here that she reconnected with her high school sweetheart. They married in 2024, and her husband, is tickled with her holiday side gig. “He
One family formed a particularly special bond. Her first year as Mrs. Claus, Willowa remembers greeting a young boy with his family. She noticed the boy looked distracted and sad. After asking what was wrong, the tears started to flow. “I didn’t get to tell Santa what I want for Christmas,” the boy told her.
Expecting a list filled with toys or games, Willowa was moved to tears herself when the youngster said, “My mom has cancer, and all I want for Christmas is for her to be okay.” Willowa glanced over at his dad, who also had tears in his eyes. In true Mrs. Claus fashion, she held the young boy’s hand and said, “I’m going to talk to Santa for you, and we will pray that your mom is going to be okay!”
The next year, the family returned with news that outshined the
Capture the Magic
HOLIDAY NIGHTS KICKS OFF NOVEMBER 28
HOLIDAY NIGHTS KICKS OFF NOVEMBER 28
Holiday Nights draws more than 24,000 visitors annually, and runs from Nov. 28 through Dec. 31. To learn more or to buy tickets for this year’s event, go online to visit holiday-nights.com
GENIUS OF THE GENTLE GIANT: THE MUSIC OF DON WILLIAMS FEATURING TREVOR PANCZAK
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 · 7:30 PM
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY - MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 · 7:30 PM
brightness of the holiday lights. Mom was in remission. “I still get goosebumps,” Willowa says. And, the boy promised to come back every year to visit her, no matter how old he is.
Over the years, Willowa’s role has evolved with the event. Mrs. Claus now has her own craft room, where younger visitors will find crayons and coloring pages and older kids can create beaded necklaces to bring home. Guests of all ages are invited to decorate a sugar cookie, and Willowa makes sure the whole family gets involved.
“It’s a great way for families to spend time together during a busy season,” she says. Many of the children think Mrs. Claus baked the cookies just for them, telling her, “You’re such a good baker,” as they’re captivated by the array of sprinkles and frosting before them.
Every evening at Holiday Nights ends with Santa thrilling the crowd from his bright red sleigh. And there, by his side, Mrs. Claus helps him sprinkle a little holiday magic with every wink and wave, a reminder that Christmas lives wherever hearts believe. With her ever-present smile, Willowa keeps the Magic City glowing, one wide-eyed child at a time. ✻
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.
MARK O’CONNOR’S AN APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS FEATURING MAGGIE O’CONNOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12 · 7:30 PM
KINKY BOOTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 6 · 7:30 PM
THE CHOIR OF MAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 · 7:30 PM
TANGO AFTER DARK WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 · 7:30 PM
BUZZ BRASS - FAMOUS INSPIRATIONS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 · 7:30 PM
TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 · 7:30 PM THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 · 7:30 PM
AMERICAN PATCHWORK QUARTET WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 · 7:30 PM
THE MCDADES
SATURDAY, MARCH 14 · 7:30 PM
RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS TUESDAY, MARCH 31 · 7:30 PM
MOMIX - ALICE THURSDAY, APRIL 2 · 7:30 PM
MONTREAL GUITAR TRIO SATURDAY, APRIL 4 · 7:30 PM
CIRQUE KALABANTÉ
FRIDAY, APRIL 10 · 7:30 PM
INVINCIBLE: A GLORIOUS TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON SATURDAY, APRIL 18 · 7:30 PM
TheSanta Santa Santa Santa project
TWO BILLINGS WOMEN HELP BRING THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS TO KIDS IN NEED
written by BECKY HILLIER
photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
WHERE WOULD WE BE without the dreamers and the doers? Each, independent of the other, excels and succeeds. But when they meet at just the right moment, the potential exists for a meaningful — even magical — collaboration.
Such is the story of Bridget Merry, the dreamer, and Jena Huck, the doer. Together, they’ve created The Santa Project, with the ambitious goal of making sure every child in Yellowstone County experiences the joy of a visit from Santa.
Bridget married into the Merry name, which you might think somehow influenced her to take on this endeavor. However, the idea for what would become The Santa Project was sparked by an innocent interaction at her child’s school a decade ago. It happened at a holiday party, right before the students went on break.
“I was sitting at their table and I still remember the little boy,” Bridget says. “They were talking about Santa and he made the comment along the lines of, ‘Well, I’m a good boy, but Santa never comes to me.’”
Bridget initially thought maybe the little boy’s family didn’t celebrate Christmas because of religious beliefs. But when she saw his teacher putting meals for the weekend in his backpack, she realized it was likely because they didn’t have the means to celebrate.
“I’ve reflected on that a lot because I have kids who have never not had Santa,” Bridget says. To see this little boy feel he deserved
Santa but didn’t get the chance, and “knowing the kids would come back after Christmas and talk about what Santa brought them, it kind of broke my heart.”
Two Christmases ago, Bridget, who is an Operations Manager for Intermountain Health Patient Experience, was visiting with her friend Jena, a Nurse Director of Inpatient Care at St. Vincent Regional Hospital. Jena was heavily involved with Friendship House of Christian Service in Billings and the Montana Rescue Mission. Bridget answered Jena’s call for gifts for two girls who were new at the mission just before Christmas. In addition to presents, Bridget decided to put together Christmas stockings for the girls.
It was then that Bridget shared with Jena the story of the boy at her son’s school a decade earlier, and her desire over the years, to make a difference for kids like him at Christmas.
“I’m a planner, a thinker, let’s-create-a-spreadsheet type of person,” Bridget says. “Jena is just a doer and she said ‘Well, let’s do it,’” remembers Bridget.
And that is how dreams get done and how The Santa Project came to be.
Last year, thanks to donations from friends, family and their employer, The Santa Project jingled itself into existence. The goal was to deliver Christmas stockings stuffed full of fun and practical items to kids across the county.
“We tried to do some hygiene items, like socks, body wash, shampoo,” recalls Jena. “We also wanted to put a book in every single one and that was really fun.”
Of the many holiday giving campaigns currently active, Bridget and Jena couldn’t find any that involved stockings from Santa.
“I think really it’s the Santa piece,” Jena says. “Santa is known for bringing stockings and we hadn’t heard of anything like that in the community.”
SEEING THE KIDS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, IF THEY GET PLACED IN DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS, HOW THAT AFFECTS THEIR SCHOOL YEAR. THAT’S WHERE IT SPARKED OUR DESIRE TO HELP THAT POPULATION.
— Jenna Huck
The idea of giving to others during the holidays is something very familiar to Jena. “As a family, we had always done the shoe boxes,” she recalls. “I remember as a little girl, getting excited to go shop for those and then sending them overseas.”
As an adult, Jena’s volunteer work with Friendship House and the Rescue Mission was equally fulfilling and helped her see the real and present need for help in her own community.
While some kids asked Santa for big-ticket items, Jena saw kids who were so thankful for far less.
“These kids are asking for a coat that fits and shoes that don’t have holes in them,” Jena says. “They only wanted items they absolutely needed. That broke my heart. These are core items they need for survival, not an exciting toy for Christmas.”
As the pair worked on the initial ground rules for The Santa Project and who would receive the stockings, they took into consideration which kids were most in need — kids like the ones Jena encountered through her volunteer work at the Friendship House. Jena says there are roughly 1,000 students in Billings Public Schools who are classified as homeless. Some of those students end up in community homes or shelters.
“You hear about poverty, but just seeing these kids and how happy they were to play games,” Jena says. “Seeing the kids throughout the system, if they get placed in different households, how that affects their school year. That’s where it sparked our desire to help that population.”
The two women decided to focus on kids between the ages of three and 12, with some exceptions.
“If those kids have siblings, we would look to support the sibling as well,” Bridget says.
They purchased most of the stockings, but a couple of volunteers made homemade ones. All were stored and then lovingly packed at Bridget’s house. Identifying the children who would receive the stockings was made possible through lists provided by the Rescue Mission, Friendship House and a network of friends and other sources.
Bridget and Jena blew past their goal of 180 stockings last year, ultimately distributing 234. This year, the goal is to include a “wow” item in each stocking and serve as many kids as possible.
For the dreamer and the doer, seeing The Santa Project in action is everything. The effort, during an already hectic time of year, pales in comparison to the contentment they feel knowing they’ve brought the warmth of the season to kids — like the little boy who unknowingly inspired The Santa Project — who would otherwise be forgotten at Christmas.
“It’s knowing that we make it a point to get Santa to kids at a place like the Rescue Mission who are literally showing up a couple days before Christmas,” Bridget says. “They
How can you help?
DONATE STOCKING STUFFER ITEMS, SUCH AS:
★ Matchbox Cars/Trucks
★ Coloring Books
★ Crayons
★ Small Stuffed Animals
★ Kids Card Games
★ Candy/Treats
★ Play dough/Slime/Putty
★ Small Drawing Pads
★ Barbies/Small Dolls
★ Small Lego Packs
★ Playing Cards
★ Fun Key Chains
★ Hair Ties
DONATE USING VENMO
$20 will purchase a filled stocking
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you know of a deserving child, or would like to volunteer to help stuff stockings contact Bridget and Jena at thesantaprojectmt@gmail.com
have nothing. The fact that we make sure, one way or the other, we get them covered really brings it home to me.”
“It’s that deeper meaning of just love, compassion, humanity, people are happier at Christmastime,” adds Jena. “I’m sure it’s crushing for the parents who can’t provide some of that, but I’m sure it brings them joy to see their kids’ faces light up. And we have a piece in that.” ✻
BECKY HILLIER, writer
Born and raised in Miles City, Becky spent 20 years as an award-winning local news anchor. She served as a board member of Big Sky Honor Flight which helped fly WWII veterans to Washington, D.C. to see their war memorials, free of charge. Becky served as the director of communications and media for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). She currently works for the NILE Rodeo in Billings. Her husband is a Billings Police Officer and they have two adult children.
trusted for over 50 years SHOP, SELL & SAVE AT WESTERN PAWN
Q: Congratulations on 50 years! Tell us how Western Pawn Broker & FarWest Gallery got its start.
A: The pawn shop got its start over 50 years ago when my dad opened the first location in Missoula. Not long after, he expanded to Billings, and before we knew it, the whole family had relocated there to help run the business. It truly became a family operation, with all of us pitching in. After purchasing the building we’re still in today, we added the FarWest Gallery, which gave us a chance to showcase unique art and collectibles alongside the pawn shop. It’s been an incredible journey rooted in hard work, family, and a deep connection to the community.
Q: What makes your business special to Billings?
A: What makes our business truly special isn’t just its longevity- it’s the deep connection we’ve built with our community and the remarkable reach it has beyond Montana. As the oldest pawn shop in the state, we’ve become a landmark in Billings, a place where locals feel at home and visitors from all over the world come to experience something authentic. People walk through our doors not just to buy or sell, but to hear the stories, see the history, and feel the warmth of a family-run shop that’s been part of the fabric of this town for decades. The addition of the FarWest Gallery has only deepened that connection in a way that is uniquely ours.
Q: How has the business grown or changed over the years?
Andy Nelson with Western Pawn Broker and FarWest Gallery in Downtown Billings
Celebrating 50 Years of Family & Community!
For five decades, Western Pawn Broker and FarWest Gallery has been proud to serve the Billings community. We’re celebrating 50 years of family, tradition, and local love-- and we’d love for you to join us!
Come celebrate our history-- and the people who made it possible: You!
50th Anniversary Celebration During the Art Walk Friday, December 5- 5-9pm Food, drinks, and community fun-- all evening!
• Visit us at farwestgallary.com
• Follow us on Instagram @westernpawnbrokers
• Shop local. Celebrate together.
• Family-owned. Billings-grown for over 50 years
A: It’s hard to think of the pawn shop without thinking of the Nelson family- because at one time or another, just about every one of us has worked here, including my kids, my nieces and nephews. The shop has always been more than just a business; it’s been a gathering place for our family, a spot where we learned the value of hard work and the importance of community.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories from the past 50 years?
Each of us has our own special memories tied to this place, whether it’s the excitement of a rare find, the satisfaction of helping a customer, or simply the warmth of being together. The pawn shop is woven into the fabric of our family history, and every nelson who’s worked here has left their mark.
Q: How will you be celebrating this milestone?
We’re excited to celebrate a major milestone for our family run pawn shop during the upcoming Art Walk in December! Join us for an evening of food, drinks, and live music as we honor our history and the community that’s supported us for decades. Whether you’re a longtime friend or a first-time visitor.
Ornaments Ornaments of ofLove Love
A FAMILY’S RICH TAPESTRY OF CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
written by
TRISH ERBE SCOZZARI
photography by
DANIEL SULLIVAN
JULIE AND JOE MAVENCAMP with their two sons, Peyton and Kayden, take down every picture and piece of artwork in their home weeks before Christmas. “We empty the house,” Julie says. “It’s bare-naked for a week. My mom comes over and helps me clean and then it all goes up.”
Christmas goes up. The walls are decked with colorful winter scenes along with the boys’ pictures and artwork from many Christmases past. “I’ll bring up boxes from the basement,” Joe says, “and Julie has a room done.”
It’s a big production, readying the house for Christmas. It takes time to place thousands of ornaments that adorn ten trees spread throughout the family home. It boils down to traditional tree trimming at its finest, steeped in layers of sentimental journeys.
Nostalgia plays a key role in the family’s holiday expression. It starts with the farmhouse in which they live. “My grandparents built it in the 1930s,” Julie says. “Kayden and Peyton are fifth generation on the land.”
The couple has extensively upsized and modernized the original footprint in recent years, but family roots grow deep on this timeless plot of ground northwest of Billings. The Mavencamps continually honor their grandparents as they add a new layer of history and new Christmas memories each year.
“When we travel, we pick up ornaments,” Julie says. “We visit Great-Grandpa, who is 100-years-old and lives in New Mexico. It’s fun for the boys to find ornaments.”
Every tree décor they discover represents that unique destination and shared experience.
THE TRAVEL TREE sits in the foyer, decorated with a large assortment of ornaments gathered from years of Mavencamp family excursions. From the southern desert to the mountains of Montana, with Las Vegas in-between, bears, angels, signage, and all the memories that come with them trim this be loved tree.
THE BIG TREE reaches for the great room’s high ceiling, sparkling with over 2,000 red, white and silver adornments. “We try to get the big tree up by Thanksgiving,” Julie says. “It takes us a full four weeks to decorate.”
The stunning Tannenbaum stands 14 feet and is topped with an angel in red. “This is my tree,” adds Julie. “It’s what I pictured as the perfect tree when I was a girl. I’m particular about what ornaments go on it. They have to be just right.”
Each ornament is intentionally placed. Julie makes sure of it. The bigger ones are spaced, and the pattern goes from big to medium. “Ones that mean a lot to us go in front,” she says.
The lavishly adorned tree presents a dazzling storybook of delicate glass figurines, glittery silver stars, red Santa jackets and black boots, plus a myriad of other treasured pieces.
“There are multiples (ornaments) on the backside,” Joe says. “We also put on extra lights and layer them.”
Icicle lights weave through the tree, giving it a dimensional look from all sides. “I don’t know how many thousands of lights are on it,” Julie says with a giggle. “Thank God for LEDs.”
KAYDEN’S TREE
PETON’S TREE
THE SHOW TREE
THE SHOW TREE sits in the play area, loaded with Kayden’s and Peyton’s favorite movie ornaments, mainly Disney shows. A bright and colorful Mickey Mouse hangs close to a red guitar paying homage to The Beatles.
It’s a fun display of everything good. Sitting beside the tree is Santa kneeling before baby Jesus. “We bring this out every Christmas Eve,” Julie says with a wistful smile. “We adopted Grandpa Jim at The Springs (at Grand Park Assisted Living) and he gave this to the boys the year before he died. It was a special moment.”
Christmas is a family effort. “The boys help decorate every tree and they decorate their own trees,” Julie says.
PEYTON’S TREE comes alive with collectables from design er Christopher Radko. “The Nutcracker is from Grandma,” says 13-year-old Peyton as he removes a couple ornaments from the tree and holds them in his hand, “but my favorite ornaments are the Christopher Radko collection. I remember these the most.”
Peyton figures he has about 80 ornaments on his personal tree, including a skiing Santa from his grandma. A few Lego characters he created hang on the tree, while the good-sized Lego train he fashioned sits on a nearby shelf.
KAYDEN’S TREE boasts a white tiger ornament he acquired after the family attended a Siegfried & Roy show in Las Vegas. “It’s my favorite one,” 15-year-old Kayden says excitedly. Several other fancy tigers, Santas, red trucks, a butterfly or two, and horses enhance his cherished Christmas tree. Many of the ornaments come from
grandparents and loved ones in local nursing homes.
“The boys buy each other an ornament each Christmas and we write their names and the year on them,” notes Julie.
NANA’S TREE belongs to Lorene Oswald McCar thy. “This was her house,” Julie says, about her grand mother, “and the tree is covered in all the ornaments she loved. Three of them are from when she was a little girl. She loved butterflies, birds, deer, and she loved owls. She
A ladder leans next to Nana’s tree that holds her beautifully crocheted afghans.
THE WHITE HOUSE TREE overlooks the great room from its perch at the stop of the staircase.
“We have every ornament since the tradition was started in 1981,” Julie says. “My friend Arlynne lived in Washington, D.C., and, after her brother Bob passed, she gave all his ornaments to me. What I didn’t have, she filled in all those that were missing. This is a memorial tree to her brother. Arlynne still brings me a White House ornament every year.”
The Whitehouse
THE WHITEHOUSE TREE
NANA’S TREE
‘MY
LADY’ TREE
THE ROSE TREE pays tribute to other grandmothers in the family, particularly Julie’s Grandma Juanita Swanson. The tree situated in the master bedroom blossoms with red and pink roses. “She had over 200 rose bushes,” Julie says. “She hosted Christmas Eve dinner every year for 50 to 60 people. Everyone had a place to go.”
The vintage blown-glass tree top belonged to Juanita’s mother, Julie’s great-grandmother, Martha McGuire.
‘MY LADY’ TREE is dressed in a vintage-inspired, lighted, sparkly, white Christmas skirt. Her bodice is wrapped in a luxurious fur stole sealed with a silver pendant. A silver bow is tied around her waist. “She’s a pretty lady,” Julie says, of the mannequin she enjoys dressing up for the holidays.
THE KIDS’ HOMEMADE TREE
THE KIDS’ HOMEMADE TREE reflects the years Kayden and Peyton have hand-crafted ornaments either at home or at school. “We’ve had to upgrade the tree due to more ornaments the boys have made,” Julie says. “It’s now seven feet tall.”
After all the themed trees have been dressed and have filled the home with holiday spirit, it’s clear each one keeps this family’s rich tapestry of memories vibrantly alive.
Julie sums it up well. “It’s magical for the kids.” ✻
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401 North 31st Street, Suite 900 | Billings, MT 59101
WHEN MOST PEOPLE think of a miniature Christmas village, they picture a few tiny houses and twinkling lights arranged neatly on a mantle. For Kari Longshore, it’s an entirely different scale. For 33 years, she has been building a winter wonderland that spills across almost every square foot of her home.
“I just love them,” she says simply, as she looks at the thousands of tiny items used to create this holiday magic.
It started innocently enough. Back in 1985, Kari spent that summer before college at her uncle’s house near Put-In-Bay in Ohio. She was captivated by the 19th century Marblehead Lighthouse, which sits on the shores of Lake Erie.
“I spent a lot of time in that lighthouse,” she says as she points to the tiny version of it that now is perched amongst her collection.
That one keepsake grew into a passion, fueled at first by her parents who began gifting her a new piece every Christmas once she and her husband, Steve, married.
Over the years, Kari developed a tradition. Each new addition to her village would mark a milestone. When her son, Derik, earned his pilot’s license at 14, she added a tiny flight school. When he
joined the Navy, a recruiting station took its rightful place in the Legion Hall. When Derik and his wife, Erin, got married in a mill, the miniature version appeared in the village, complete with a bride and groom walking out the door.
“I just picked up pieces here and there,” Kari says. She is, however, strategic about her purchases. She smiles as she says, “I buy all year long. I buy things in March when everyone is taking their village down and they are tired of pieces.” She’s found more than a few treasures on eBay.
A little before Thanksgiving, the hustle and bustle begin. The storage boxes come out and piece by tiny piece, the village takes shape. When visitors comment about her dwindling space, she laughs and says, “Everybody says that!” That’s why Steve is building a few more shelves to stack above her current display. “One shelf will hold 18 more houses,” she says excitedly.
Putting it together is no small feat.
“Unwrapping everything takes a whole day,” Kari says. It then takes up to six days to assemble and arrange. “I have photos, so it goes up the same way every year.”
She’s got pieces in her village that pay homage to The Nutcracker, a family favorite. Kari is an avid birdwatcher, so there are pieces that showcase that part of her life as well. “When the Queen died, I bought this carriage,” Kari says. And, then, a few steps away from the living room, is the village devoted completely to her dogs. There’s a dog park, a doggie salon, dogs sporting ugly Christmas sweaters and one tiny woman who, some think, resembles Kari.
“Isn’t this hilarious?” Kari says pointing. “Everybody says I take too many pictures of my dogs. This lady is holding a cell phone taking a picture of her dogs!”
UNWRAPPING EVERYTHING TAKES A WHOLE DAY. I HAVE PHOTOS, SO IT GOES UP THE SAME WAY EVERY YEAR.
— Kari Longshore
Looking at the main display, you can’t help but notice one of Kari’s latest additions, the Gemini, a legendary roller coaster that’s a popular attraction at Cedar Park Amusement Park. In a way, the park was the beginning of Kari and Steve’s love story.
“We were good friends all of our lives, but we never connected until 1991,” she says. “Our parents were really good friends and so our families always went together to Cedar Point.”
Kari crafted the mini roller coaster by gluing thousands of pieces in the wooden structure together by hand. It took about a month to get it just right, with a lot of hot glue and even more patience.
While many of the pieces are personal and priceless, like the hand-painted Village Inn Pizza Parlor or the tiny church where Steve and Kari got married in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, there have been a few additions which Kari calls her “purple unicorns.” There’s the Department 56 Greenhouse that no one can seem to find anymore, and the treasured Aldi store replica she hunted down while visiting her son in Florida. Apparently, the store only makes a select number each year and it’s a purchase the store will not ship.
Kari is always searching. She’d love to find just the right pieces to create a concert scene to honor one of her favorite bands, Journey. She’d love the Central Perk coffee shop from the TV show “Friends,” and then, there’s an Elvis-themed figurine she has her sights set on.
“It’s two girls in poodle skirts and one has a picture of Elvis that is signed and it’s called, ‘I got his autograph.’ It’s $150! It’s just a tiny figurine,” she says, adding with a laugh, “I might need to save my money for that one because I really think I might need it.”
If you move through the village, you might catch a few surprises. She’s hidden the Where’s Waldo character somewhere in the display. Olaf from “Frozen” is buried in the snowdrifts. Even Bigfoot lurks, waiting to be spotted. As she picks up a piece in her cherished village, she points to the handwritten date on each piece showing the year it was purchased.
While Kari is happy to tell you the intricacies behind this one-of-a-kind Christmas village, don’t ask her how much she’s invested in it.
“Oh gosh, I have no idea,” she says with a laugh. “If I knew, my husband would probably die,” she jokes. “I told him, just don’t sell them for what you think I paid because you’d lose money!”
For Kari, though, the value isn’t in the price tag. It’s in the memories, molded together in porcelain, resin and paint.
“It’s fun to put it up with somebody who hasn’t helped me before,” Kari says with a smile. “Every piece comes with a story.” ✻
Mark your calendars—one day only! Winterfair at the YAM will coincide with the annual Holiday Stroll and December ArtWalk in downtown Billings. The event features rows of artisan vendors offering a variety of handmade goods, festive entertainment and refreshments all day.
WinterFair is a cheerful opportunity to start your holiday shopping locally while directly supporting our creative community!
Art ArtGathering Gathering
SPECIAL THANKS TO JIM GAINAN OF GAINAN'S MIDTOWN FLOWERS FOR BEAUTIFULLY STAGING
DECKING OUT A LIGHT FIXTURE HELPS CREATE A VISUAL CENTERPIECE ABOVE INSTEAD OF ON YOUR HOLIDAY TABLE.
FOR ANNE MARIE FOISY, entertaining has never been a duty. It’s a delight. As the oldest of seven children, she learned early how to set an extra place or two at the table. By the time she was married, she was already the designated hostess of her family.
“My mother was very, very happy to say, ‘Go ahead,’” she laughs. “So, starting in my 20s, all the big dinners and parties were at my house.”
Over the years, Anne Marie has hosted everything from Sunday dinners with family to children’s birthday parties, to elegant dinners for her husband’s corporate colleagues. Sometimes it’s been as many as 50 people at once. “That was more of a buffet,” she says with a grin, “but my sit-down dinners, especially for holidays, usually run in the 20s.”
For her, hospitality is about more than the menu. It’s how a person feels when they walk through her door.
comfortable and to sort of pamper me, I so appreciate it,” Anne Marie says, “and I try to do that for other people too.”
DRESSING THE TABLE LIKE YOU DRESS YOURSELF
One of Anne Marie’s most charming philosophies is that a table deserves the same care and creativity you give to your outfit.
A GOOD HOSTESS PLANS FOR THE UNEXPECTED. IF YOU’RE HOSTING A GIFT EXCHANGE, EVEN A WHITE ELEPHANT EXCHANGE, KEEP A COUPLE WRAPPED GIFTS AT THE READY SO NO ONE GOES WITHOUT IF A GUEST FORGETS TO BRING A GIFT.
— Anne Marie Foisy
“I can tell that the hostess has made an effort to make me feel
“When you get up in the morning, you decide what you’re going to wear depending on your mood or the occasion. Some days it’s a boho look with jeans, some days it’s a business suit. The table is the same. You’re creating a mood and suiting the occasion.”
Her everyday dishes are simple white, but her serving pieces are red, her favorite color. “With that, it can be Fourth of July, it can be Valentine’s Day, it can be Christmas. I can add in a green or a blue dish and completely change the look.” She delights in mixing platinum-rimmed, hand-painted chargers with Waterford crystal or art glass she’s collected over the years.
CANDY-CANE SCENTED CANDLES
SERVE AS GIFTS FOR ANNE MARIE’S GUESTS AS A 100-YEAR-OLD WATERFORD CRYSTAL BOWL FROM ANNE MARIE’S GRANDMOTHER AND ORNAMENTS FROM HER PARENTS PROVIDE CHERISHED MEMORIES.
And she always insists on using the “good stuff.” The Waterford crystal comes out not just for champagne, but for something as simple as apple cider for her grandchildren. “I want them to have memories of it,” she explains. “So many kids don’t want their parents’ china or stemware, but if they had memories attached to it, they would.”
BEYOND THE CENTERPIECE
When it comes to the center of the table, Anne Marie doesn’t like anything that blocks conversation. Instead of a tall floral arrangement, she shifts her gaze upward.
“If you have light fixtures, take advantage of that space above the table,” she says. “Fill it with greenery, ornaments, or twinkle lights. It makes the table cozier and leaves more room for food, wine and family-style serving.”
“Your décor should tell a story about you,” she says. “If you have a collection, don’t keep it in a cupboard. Bring it out and let people appreciate it.”
ALL THE SENSES
REIMAGINE HOW YOU USE FLOWERS. HOW ABOUT INCORPORATING A BUD VASE OF FRESH FLOWERS AT EACH PLACE SETTING OR CREATE A SMALL TABLESCAPE BETWEEN GUESTS SITTING ACROSS FROM ONE ANOTHER?
— Anne Marie Foisy
A thoughtful mix of old and new also makes her spaces feel layered and personal. Rice lights in a vintage Waterford vase, martini glasses from a recent purchase adorned with floating roses, wreaths on the windows, or art glass picked up at an antique shop for just a few dollars — everything has a place.
Anne Marie believes true hospitality is multi-sensory. Lighting and music matter just as much as the menu. “We are multisensory, right? It’s not just your eye. It’s your ear, your sense of smell, your taste. I try to appeal to all of the senses when I’m setting the mood.”
Her favorite trick? Sending guests home with a little something to remember the evening. A truffle in a silver box that doubles as a place card with a guest’s name handwritten on a tag. A candy-cane scented candle. A jar of homemade rosemary meat rub. Even a slice of pecan pie tucked neatly into a to-go box.
“People appreciate a small gesture,” she says. “It shows thoughtfulness and extends the memory.”
THE INVITATION IS PART OF THE FUN
For Anne Marie, the magic of a gathering starts long before the
Midtown
A SASH OF FABRIC PAIRED WITH A SILK POINSETTIA DRESSES UP DINNER TABLE CHAIRS
TABLE RUNNERS SET SIDEWAYS ADD ELEGANCE AND DRAW ATTENTION TO EACH PLACE SETTING.
first guest arrives. It begins with the invitation. She reminisces about one gathering that others might have postponed due to an arduous construction project. Not Anne Marie. Instead, her invite featured sandpaper and sections of old blueprints to show her guests the show must go on.
“Who’s not going to want to go to that party?” she says with a laugh.
She suggests an element of surprise with each invite. How about using a fortune cookie with the invitation stuck inside to promote a retirement? Or, using a hinged Christmas ornament with a handwritten note inside with all the festive details. “You’re setting up an expectation,” she explains. “People get a really cool invite and it creates enthusiasm for whatever event you have.”
ADVICE FOR THE ANXIOUS HOST
If you are an entertainer who can never seem to settle and gets flustered by the details, Anne Marie has a bit of advice for you. Start small.
“Don’t plan a big party for your first one,” she says. “Start with six. Invite your best friend or a few couples and try it out.”
Keep the menu cozy and manageable. Anne Marie suggests a pot of soup and a salad for a gathering on a chilly Montana night — something prepped ahead of time so you can sit and enjoy the company.
“People want to feel warm and cozy, with a sense of belonging,” she says. “Put your effort into the conversation and into pampering the people. It doesn’t have to be elaborate.”
At the heart of all Anne Marie’s gatherings,
whether for 6 or 50, is her belief that entertaining isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating space for joy, memory, and connection. And when someone asks to bring something, she has a simple parting thought.
“What you can bring is a story, something that makes people laugh, something meaningful,” she says. Because no matter how you gather, “it’s about sharing life together.” ✻
SMALL BITES, BIG IMPRESSIONS SMALL BITES, BIG IMPRESSIONS
THE CREATIVE TOUCH BEHIND RONI SIDER’S PLAYFUL, ELEGANT APPROACH TO FOOD
by DANIEL SULLIVAN
written by STELLA FONG photography
RONI SIDER is always crafting ways to bring special touches to the food she serves. She wants each of her culinary creations to bring joy. While her charcuterie offerings can cover a kitchen counter or several platters overflowing with countless meats, cheeses and other accompaniments, her signature is transforming traditional entree combinations into bite-sized treats paired with individual desserts. Noshes of biscuits and chicken are skewered together and piped with a splash of maple syrup. A cube of beef is pierced onto the prongs of a fork, with a baby potato garnished with caramelized onions and Boursin cheese.
“The little details matter,” Roni says proudly with a smile.
Roni grew up in Bridger, the youngest of five children. Being in the kitchen with their mother, Jeannie Scott, and grandmother, Nellie McPhee, nurtured the kids’ love of preparing food. “We all find joy in cooking and cooking for our families,” Roni says. “They encouraged us to be in the kitchen and to experiment.”
Meat and potatoes, along with casseroles, came to the table most nights when Roni was growing up. “When my siblings moved out, my mom experimented more. There was more time and more finances,” Roni says of her mother broadening her cooking repertoire.
Her father’s garden exposed her to fresh produce. Having homegrown slices of tomato on toast was normal during the summer.
Freshly harvested rhubarb and strawberries went into baked pies, while raspberries made for delicious ice-box pies.
In addition to a love of cooking, Roni’s mother also gave her a love of art. While Jeannie painted watercolor landscapes and did calligraphy, Roni longed to teach art on the college level. After studying fine arts and literature at Rocky Mountain College, however, she learned something about herself. She never wanted to put a price tag on her work, explaining that if someone didn’t agree with its worth, “That would be crushing.” Today, you will find that artistic flair and attention to detail in Roni’s food presentation.
She uses every bit of it while entertaining, something she also learned from her parents.
“We had company all the time,” Roni says. There were continuous invitations to her father’s teaching colleagues or fellow church members to share a meal. “I remember one Thanksgiving. It snowed, and no one could go anywhere. My mom and dad were very generous and invited the neighbors to the house.”
While the recipes for Roni’s edible masterpieces are whipped up in her kitchen, she continues to reference the Fannie Farmer cookbook. “I know that on page 100, there is a barbecue sauce recipe,” she says with a smile, adding that she uses the recipe as a starting point. “I will make tweaks and modernize the recipe” with twists such as adding chipotle or citrus flavors. She also
has a binder full of recipes handwritten by both her mother and grandmother that she cherishes.
Roni is unusual in that she loves to both cook and bake. “I have been blessed to straddle that line pretty well,” she admits. She enjoys the leeway that savory cooking offers, but she also embraces and practices the fact that “baking is a precise science.” She is, however, still trying to perfect her grandmother’s homemade bread recipe with its base ingredients of potato flakes and flour.
With baking, Roni fusses with the presentation, braiding strips of dough for the top of a fruit pie or varying the flavor of a buttercream frosting. She makes brown sugar cutout cookies for the Christmas holidays in the shape of a snowflake, striving to make each one identical.
“I didn’t realize until after I was away from my family that I had a wider skill set than most of my friends,” she says. While many hesitate at inviting people over for meals, Roni easily throws together a meal and adds her creative finishes.
They are finishes that are appreciated.
Years ago, Roni taught piano lessons in the basement of her home. While the children were downstairs, the parents upstairs mingled at the “cocoa bar with marshmallows, cookies and treats.” Roni shares with a smile, “One father said that he didn’t care if his kids learned any of the piano songs, but he was happy as long as he continued to be invited to the Christmas parties.”
Roni’s specialty is individual bites. She finds them easy to eat and yet, they can be elegant. She uses creative containers, including parfait cups with miniature spoons. She has used Chinese food takeout boxes to serve up noodles. She will often use small plac-
ards to label her appetizers. “This lets people know if the dish is gluten-free or vegan or indicates something special like balsamic pearls or something to be aware of, like cilantro,” she says.
It is the element of surprise she enjoys the most. “I love putting fun twists on things, such as a fried jalapeño potato salad,” she says. “I love putting together things that people wouldn’t think of doing. I want people to talk about it.”
I LOVE PUTTING TOGETHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULDN’T THINK OF DOING. I WANT PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
— Roni Sider
Pam Pace, Roni’s cousin, tells of a woodland-themed bridal shower for her daughter that “people raved about.” Roni made little cheeseballs that looked like hedgehogs and cheese sticks that looked like mushrooms. There was a “pond” punch and s’mores cookies, Pam says. “Her presentation is out of this world, outstanding.”
Roni’s husband, Kevin Sider, chief marketing and information officer at St. John’s United lauds his wife’s talents. He tells a story of how he and his son, Harrison, cherish every morsel of food Roni creates. “My son was asked at school what his favorite food from home was and he said, ‘scraps.’” This answer gave the teacher pause and a need to investigate further. Kevin continues with a laugh, “We would have bags of scraps from the s’mores cookies she baked for her desserts. We can’t let anything go to waste.”
These days, “Instagram provides the inspiration through all the beautiful photos,” Roni says. She follows Spoon Fork Bacon for the easy and flavorful recipes and Domestic Rebel for “making baking fun and accessible.”
While it has taken years for Roni to hone her craft, she credits her success to a bit of preplanning and organization. If holiday parties are in your future, Roni suggests making a countdown list, getting all the shopping done well before and taking note if any specialty ingredients need to be ordered. Then, of course, giving yourself time to order and receive them.
“It is stressful for people if they do it all in one day. Have a prep list of what can be done ahead. The prep work should be done the day before the party. The dessert should be 100% done. On the day of the party, you can grill the meat or fry the chicken,” she says. “You should be able to have a glass of wine while waiting for the guests to arrive. The music should be on. You should have the time to freshen up.”
And, once freshened up, you can rest assured that Roni will be ready to serve her small bites that deliver big impressions to both friends and family. ✻
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.
Unexpected
Company? No problem! Unexpected Company? No problem!
PUFF PASTRY
Puff pastry can be filled with jam or cream cheese with cutouts easily baked in a muffin tin.
PHYLLO CUPS
“These are great entertaining shortcuts. Warm the cups in the oven and then fill with sweet or savory ingredients,” Roni says. Ideas include adding goat cheese, tomato and basil.
LETTUCE
“The idea is finding a vessel to hold flavors and tastings. A lettuce cup can be that vessel.”
FRESH HERBS AND LEMON
“Adding fresh herbs and grated lemon zest can fancy up storebought spinach dip.” Just a sprinkle of the fresh ingredients adds life, color and flavor to an ordinary dish.
PANTRY ITEMS
“Olives, good honey and jam to add to a nice charcuterie. Worcestershire, Dijon, olive oil and balsamic vinegar can be used for a pan sauce or vinaigrette. Balsamic reduction as a topper continues to make everything fancy.”
Recipes on next page
RONI’S
Makes 2 dozen
STEAK AND POTATO BITES
15 baby potatoes (Yukon gold or baby red)
1 large sweet onion
1 T. unsalted butter
1 T. neutral oil
1 box Boursin cheese, any flavor
¼ c. heavy cream
2 New York strip steaks or cut of choice
Small bottle of balsamic reduction
Small bundle of fresh chives for garnish
DIRECTIONS: Boil potatoes until fork-tender. Drain and cool. Slice potatoes in half and scoop out most of the flesh. (You can save and use the scooped potato for either mashed potatoes or fried potatoes. This can be done up to 3 days in advance, simply refrigerate in a container with a lid.) Set scooped potato skins on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray and season shells with salt. Place in a 350 degree oven until slightly browned, about 8-10 minutes. Thinly slice sweet onion. Add butter and oil to a medium skillet on medium heat. Once butter be-
gins to melt, add sliced onions and stir to coat. Once onions begin to color, turn heat down to medium-low and slowly caramelize onions, stirring occasionally, around 30 minutes. Set aside. (This can be done up to 3 days in advance. Refrigerate cooled onions in a small container with a lid and warm in the microwave before assembly.) Whip Boursin and whipping cream in a stand mixer with whisk attachment (or hand mixer) until smooth. Place in piping bag & keep at room temperature until assembly.
Pat steaks dry, season liberally with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (or your preferred seasoning mix). Grill, sear, or broil steaks to the temperature of your choice. Rest and slice steak into thin strips. Roll into bite-sized pieces.
To assemble the bites, place browned potato skins on a serving platter. A deviled egg platter works great. Pipe whipped Boursin into each potato skin and top with caramelized onion. Place steak on top of onions and top with a drizzle of balsamic reduction. Finish with fresh chive on top of each bite. Great served warm or even room temperature.
BROWN SUGAR CUT-OUT COOKIES
Makes 3 dozen
~Recipe by Nellie McPhee & Jeannie Scott
1 c. unsalted butter
2 c. brown sugar
3 beaten eggs
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
4 c. all-purpose flour
1 T. vanilla
1 t. almond extract
DIRECTIONS: Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, salt, baking soda, flour, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix until just combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. Roll the dough and cut out. Chill cutout cookies on a parchment-lined sheet pan for 30 minutes to maintain shape. Bake at 350° F for 8-10 minutes. Cool on the sheet pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Frost and decorate.
ALMOND ICING FOR CUT-OUTS
Makes about 2½ cups
½ c. unsalted butter
¼ c. canned evaporated milk
2 c. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
½ t. almond extract or other flavoring
DIRECTIONS: Melt butter. Mix with either a stand mixer or a hand mixer. Combine butter with milk and powdered sugar. Add vanilla and almond extract. Add more powdered sugar or more evaporated milk to achieve the desired consistency (thicker for outline, thinner for flood consistency) Color icing and decorate cooled cookies with either a knife (as my grandma & mom would do) or a piping bag.
by KAY ERIKSON
ROLL ROLLlet it6
CALL IT A YULE LOG CAKE, bÛche de Noël or Chocolate Cake Roll, this delicious dessert is an impressive crescendo to a holiday table. It puts the “zazz” in “pizzazz.”
I appreciate this recipe for Chocolate Cake Roll because it is fairly simple without a lot of steps. When the holidays roll around, I can use a little simple.
This recipe is also a good template, meaning you can “zhuzh” it up with a favorite filling like coffee butter cream instead of whipped cream. Chocolate and coffee are an amazing pairing. A chocolate ganache can also be used over the cake roll instead of the chocolate glaze.
Besides, if you ask me, nothing says “holiday” more than a little chocolate.
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.
Chocolate Cake Roll
Recipe by Kay Erickson
6 eggs, room temperature, separated
1 t. vanilla extract
¾ c. granulated sugar
¼ c. cocoa
2 t. instant espresso coffee (I like Medaglia D’oro)
3 T. cake flour
½ pint whipping cream, whipped
Chocolate Glaze
1 T. unsalted butter
1 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
¾ c. powdered sugar
1 t. corn syrup
½ t. vanilla extract
Whipped cream rosettes for garnish
Decorative candy for garnish
DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray a 15-by-10-by-1-inch jelly roll pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper. Spray parchment paper. Set aside.
Beat the egg yolks and vanilla extract in small bowl with an electric mixer until thick and lemon colored. Gradually beat in ¼ cup of sugar. Beat the egg whites with a mixer in a large bowl with clean beaters until they are stiff but not dry. Gradually beat in ¼ cup sugar.
Fold egg yolk mixture into the whites. Sift together the remaining ¼ cup of sugar with cocoa, espresso coffee and cake flour. Fold this mixture into the egg mixture, about 2 tablespoons at a time.
Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 15 minutes or just until cake springs back to the touch.
Loosen the edges of the cake. Turn out on a damp towel. Gradually remove the paper. Cut off any crisp cake edges. With the help of the towel, gently roll the cake, starting from the long side. Cool to room temperature. Unroll and spread with whipped cream, reserving some for garnish. Reroll.
Melt butter and chocolate in heavy pan. Do not stir. Combine the sugar with corn syrup, vanilla extract and 1½ tablespoons of water, blending in with the chocolate mixture. Beat until smooth. Spread glaze on the cake roll. Garnish with whipped cream rosettes and decorate with Christmas or holiday CandiFetti. Do not use nonpareils (a type of decorative confection,) as they will bleed into the rosettes.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. or Delivery
Unwrapping Unwrapping Love Love Love
FOR CHILDREN IN CRISIS, JENN WEBER ENSURES CHRISTMAS STILL COMES
written by JULIE KOERBER photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN AND JENN WEBER
THE BACK SEAT OF JENN WEBER’S Chevy SUV is piled so high, you can barely see light streaming through the back windshield. It’s crammed with stuffed animals, stacks of books, musical toys that start playing when she hits a bump and even a brand-new bike wedged into her rig sideways. It’s late December and as Jenn drives across town to pick up carload after carload of donated gifts, she’s on a mission to help deliver Christmas to foster children who might otherwise not have one.
With every pickup, she takes a second to soak in the community’s generosity.
“Half the time, I drive back to the office tearing up,” she says. “It’s insane.”
You could call Jenn “Santa” for the 400-plus children who will rely on the program known as Empty Stockings to get a little love during the holiday season. While Jenn orchestrates things as a supervisor with Child and Family Services, there are lots of “elves” to help. Social workers gather Christmas wishes from the children they serve. Wishes are posted on the Yellowstone Valley Woman website (and printed, in part, on page 54). There’s even a tree at Meadowlark Brewery that hosts wishes in festive fashion. It’s Jenn’s job to keep the process meticulously organized and streamlined.
Four years ago, when she was told the department would no longer have the Empty Stockings program as a way to deliver Christmas presents to children in foster care, she made the mad scramble to find a solution. The program’s original community sponsor bowed out after decades of running the program.
“The email said that this was a pet project of someone who no longer works there and, so, they wouldn’t be doing it again,” Jenn says. Empty Stockings was canceled, and social workers were urged to try to find other resources.
“I said, ‘can we hold off on calling this off? Can you give me a minute?’” she remembers saying. “I don’t like a problem without spending some time on a solution, especially something that big.”
As a social worker, she’d gathered wishes before but had never been deeply involved in the program, let alone taken the time to organize it from the top down.
That’s when Jenn turned to Yellowstone Valley Woman and me (Julie) for help.
“I called you and said ‘I have a problem.’ I remember you saying, ‘Just tell me what to do.’ I don’t think we even talked all the way through it,” Jenn says. “We just dove in that first year to wing it.”
YVW had already printed the magazine, which meant all that was left to use was the publication’s website and social media.
“By the first week of December panic set in when we realized only 60 of the program’s 400-plus stockings were filled,” Jenn says.
That’s when we called the woman who we knew, without a shadow of a doubt, could energize our efforts — Karen Grosz. After all, we thought, doesn’t this woman, who built a business on networking, know pretty much everyone in Billings?
“The initial call felt devastating,” Karen says. “We were given an impossible, improbable task, one that we couldn’t fail to complete. And, so, we did what people do in a crisis. We pulled together, called everyone we could think of and watched one miracle after another fill the stockings.”
Karen says she will never forget the magic that followed. It was Dec. 23, just minutes before the offices at Child and Family Services were set to close. She was dropping off the last load of gifts she had rounded up.
EVERY DECEMBER, THE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
CONFERENCE ROOM TRANSFORMS INTO A MAKESHIFT TOY STORE.
UNASSIGNED DONATED GIFTS FILL EVERY INCH OF THE SPACE, READY FOR CHILDREN WHO MAY ENTER THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM—EVEN DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
“As I stood in the elevator, a grandma told me what these last-minute gifts would mean to the children she had just taken custody of,” Karen says. “They would have gifts to open. Our small act of love was magnified to joy, just like that.”
“It was chaos, but we did it,” Jenn says. “There was not a child on that list who went without Christmas that year.” She laughs as she says, “How did we survive that season?”
Each year since, by early December, every inch of the Child and Family Services conference room turns into a makeshift toy store. Gifts donated and not designated for any child in particular are staged for those children who might find themselves in the foster care system even days before Christmas.
“We can go there and shop and make sure that, even if it is Christmas Eve, there is a way to sneak a little Christmas in for a child,” Jenn says.
Knowing how special holidays are for families, she makes an extra effort to think of kinship families, even birth parents.
“Not all of our kids automatically go into foster care, but these relatives step up with no notice to take on maybe a set of siblings who they love and who are part of their family but they weren’t planning to take over raising for a little while,” Jenn says. “To also have Christmas right around the corner is so financially challenging.”
She makes sure birth parents working on reuniting with their children have a gift to share as well. “That way, they still get to be a part of that magic, even if they aren’t waking up with their kids on Christmas morning,” Jenn says.
Keep in mind, when she takes on the role of Santa, her workload doesn’t stop and wait for her. She oversees five social workers who each have a caseload of up to 25 kids. For Jenn, there is no clock out. Whether it’s a midnight call about a child in crisis or a teen who just needs to hear someone say, “I’m still here,” Jenn always answers.
18-year-old Teyana is one of those teens. She had been in Jenn’s care for seven years before aging out of the system. When Jenn took her case, Teyana’s previous social worker was leaving the department. She and her sister were close to being placed with an adoptive family. All Jenn had to do was wrap up the case. To this day, even after the adoption fell through, Jenn is still involved in the girls’ lives. Teyana was just 11 years old when she met Jenn. Her sister was 13.
“She is my biggest support in a lot of ways,” Teyana says. “She’s someone who has been there for me like a mother.”
Teyana and her sister were removed from their family due to their mother’s substance and physical abuse. “I had called the cops on my mom. My mom would get drunk and hit me,” Teyana says.
Jenn says she’s been able “to just love them through some really vulnerable things. There have been a lot of really unfortunate things that led to their case still being open.” Over the years, Jenn admits she’s been offered jobs outside the department. She always turned them down. “I couldn’t walk away from the girls before they were out of the system. That’s part of why I never leave,” Jenn says.
She loves her role as a mentor to them.
“These kids don’t have a lot of other people in their corner. I get to be a part of the ups and downs and the good and bad,” she says. When Teyana recently had her high school senior pictures taken, Jenn was by her side.
“Even though I am aging out of the system, she still helps me,” Teyana says. “She told me, ‘I will still be here for you.’”
It’s that kind of dedication that landed Jenn on both the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Court and ICWA Recovery Court, helping those caring for Native American children to find the best possible solution for each child-welfare case. Since Native American children make up more than a third of all foster care cases but are a little less than 7% of the population, the court, which was the fourth of its kind nationwide, brought a team together to help find solutions.
“Jenn’s heart is in the right place for this type of very hard work,” Yellowstone County District Judge Rod Souza says. He oversees both courts and has, since their inception. “She’s not antagonistic with parents. She is very creative, looking for great outcomes for children. It’s problem solving and I see it happen with Jenn all the time in my treatment court.” He goes on to add, “You can see that she really cares about the people that she is working with.”
Helping families is her passion, Jenn says simply. “Magic has happened in that court. You can sit in your office and say ‘I wish this was different,’ but being a part of team of people who call themselves agents of change is really powerful.”
Both programs are helping to better collaborate with neighboring tribes and creating a cultural shift when it comes to caring for these children.
an unsung hero for children. “You always trust she has their best interests at heart.”
Since Jenn was little, she always knew she wanted to work with children. Her mother spent 30 years working in child care and all Jenn wanted was to turn 16 so she could work at the same day care. When she got to college, she started off as a childhood education major before realizing she wanted to make a different impact.
JENN’S HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THIS TYPE OF VERY HARD WORK... YOU CAN SEE THAT SHE REALLY CARES ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT SHE IS WORKING WITH.
— Rod Souza, Yellowstone County District Judge
Heather Webster, a deputy chief county attorney for Yellowstone County, is assigned to manage the Child Abuse and Neglect Division. She’s worked side by side with Jenn since the ICWA court started seven years ago and has seen Jenn’s heart for children firsthand.
“I love her open and curious spirit,” Heather says. “She is always wondering what can we do differently and what can we do better. She is always open to trying new pathways.” Heather calls Jenn
“I wanted to help kids more than I wanted to teach them,” she says. “I wanted to be able to love on them and help solve problems.”
After spending a few years working for both Youth Dynamics and the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, she became an intake social worker investigating cases of abuse and neglect for Child and Family Services. Within a year and a half, she became a supervisor. Shortly after, she started supervising social workers who follow cases through the system and work with families on reunification. That’s when she really hit her stride.
“I realized my passion is helping other people do their jobs really well, teaching, giving feedback and challenging people to grow,” she says, smiling.
I JUST HAVE THAT CAPACITY TO BE PATIENT WITH PEOPLE AND ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH ALL THE THINGS. THEY COME INTO MY LIFE FOR A REASON, BUT IT IS ALWAYS HEALING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
— Jenn Webber
caseload but the number of cases where parental rights are permanently revoked.
“Now, we can say, ‘What’s your next step? How can I help you do that?’, instead of just saying, ‘Fix it. You have 30 days,’” Jenn says.
Even with a newfound positivity and more focus on prevention, there are still dark days.
“We see the worst things you could possibly imagine happening to children and families, the worst struggles that you can’t imagine related to addiction, mental health and homelessness,” Jenn says. “We see families at their very, very, very rock bottom.”
This year brought one of the worst child abuse cases Jenn has seen in her career. With every tough case she experiences, she always searches for a silver lining.
The entire department was challenged four years ago when a new director took over the department statewide. Jenn credits Nikki Grossberg’s focus on preventative social work for reducing each social worker’s caseload and providing a better safety net for kids.
Today Jenn oversees the cases of about 125 children spread out over five workers. Four years ago, she was supervising six social workers who each held a caseload of no less than 60 children.
“It was terrible,” she says. “I was directly responsible for 360 kids. It was terrifying.”
Jenn gives an example of the night and day difference in how the department operates today.
“If we can wrap a family with services or move grandma into the home with what we call a safety plan, we can tell a family, ‘Grandma is going to live with you for 30 days to see if we can get this under wraps or get you enough help to stabilize.’”
That kind of creative thinking, Jenn says, is reducing not only the
“The only silver living for the first few days, it was awful enough that my worker had to step away from it for a while. But, as awful as it was, I could step in and help,” she says. “I agreed to take on the terrible and carry it those few days so that she could breathe before she jumped back in. That was the only silver lining.”
The work, at times, takes a toll on Jenn’s body.
“I have a lot of autoimmune health issues and so, when that stress is constant and I don’t take breaks and decompress, eventually my fatigue and body aches get really hard,” she says. “I try to be mindful of it.”
She credits therapy every other week to keep her grounded and, surprisingly, the four-legged baby she adopted two years ago named Burrito.
“He was rescued from an apartment in Texas,” Jenn says about her adopted 4-year-old pit bull. “He was left out on the patio, not fed or watered for days on end. He was skin and bones. I don’t know if anyone knows the intricate details but it was pretty severe neglect.”
Her friends tease her and have told her, “Of course, you are going to get a dog with a ridiculous amount of trauma.” She is quick to say, “I just have that capacity to be patient with people and animals that have been through all the things. They come into my life for a reason, but it is always healing in both directions.”
Knowing she has her “tiny tornado” waiting for her at home, gone are the constant days of staying at work until after the sun goes
JENN AND BURRITO
down. The nightly cleaning crew no longer wonders where she is. They know she’s at home.
“It was meant to happen,” she says about Burrito. She laughs as she adds, “He’s the biggest love bug. He will snuggle so hard he wants to be inside your skin.”
When the calendar moves closer and closer to December, Jenn gets another jolt of love. It’s a time when she can help spread joy to families and children who desperately need it. And, she gets to do it with the backing of an entire community.
“It’s insane what this community does to show up for families at Christmas,” she says. “I just can’t wrap my head around the generosity at times.”
She’s watched families begin to cry as they take packages from her in their driveway. She’s watched teens who are aging out of the system be amazed when the community helps outfit their new apartment with everything they need but could never afford on their own. She makes sure when those gifts are shared that she gives each teen some words of wisdom as well, saying, “Look how much our community did for you. All of these people believe you can do it and they want to help you.”
As she looks ahead to this year, Jenn’s Christmas wish is simple.
“My absolute dream would be that every wish is filled and that it is filled with time to be really intentional with each child,” she says. She knows the work it takes for each social worker to deliver gifts to their entire caseload. Sometimes gifts need to be mailed. Other times, they have to be driven to homes outside the city limits. There’s a ton of coordination.
When every last gift has been delivered, however, she often wonders what Christmas looks like for the foster children now nestled into safer homes. She hopes each gift comes with an underlying feeling for each and every child.
“You are loved. That’s it,” Jenn says, tears welling up in her eyes. “We love them. Foster parents love them. Birth parents love them. Kinship families love them. They are loved not because they are in foster care. They are just loved.” ✻
LET YOUR Sparkle! Holidays
✴ Expert Dry Cleaning
Shirt Laundry
Alterations
Comforters & Blankets ✴ Draperies & Curtains
LET’S MAKE THE HOLIDAYS BRIGHT FOR KIDS IN FOSTER CARE
RIGHT NOW, roughly 700 children are in the care of the state through foster care in and around Yellowstone County. When the holidays roll around, so does the fear that there won’t be one for them.
In partnership with the Montana Department of Child and Family Services, Yellowstone Valley Woman is hoping to make the holidays bright for these children, and we need your help! We’ve gathered up the names and wishes from some of these children to help make sure there is a present with their name on it under the tree.
To sponsor a child this holiday, simply purchase the items in need and label the unwrapped gift with the child’s name and make sure to label it with the stocking number listed.
1.
Sadie is a 2-year-old girl who is constantly singing and dancing. She would love a karaoke microphone or any toys that play music. She also loves wearing princess dresses, especially if they have sparkles and ruffles. She wears size 2T.
2.
3.
Jason is a 14-year-old boy who loves gaming. He would love a new headset for his gaming system. He loves the colors black, blue and green. He would also like gift cards for Target and Kohls to go shopping.
Wilson is a 10-year-old boy who loves to play soccer and be outside. He would like a soccer ball, Nerf guns, and a skateboard. He also loves to build Legos, especially Star Wars.
4.
5.
Bre is a 12-year-old girl who loves to do makeup and make videos. She would like new makeup and a ring light for her “get ready with me” videos. She also loves pink and wants a Stanley water bottle.
Connor is a 14-year-old boy who is always playing sports. He would love to get a skateboard, baseball gear, and an RC car. He wears size medium for clothes and loves baseball jerseys.
7.
8.
Emily is a 16-year-old girl who loves to go shopping. She would love gift cards to Scheels, Ulta Beauty, and Target. She loves matching sweatshirts and sweatpants and the color lavender. She also loves gold-colored bracelets and earrings.
Lizzy is an adorable 1-year-old girl who always has a smile on her face. She would benefit from some new 18–24-month-old outfits and size 4 diapers. She loves toys that play music or move.
Eric is a 3-month-old baby who is learning a lot about the world! He chews on everything and would love new teething and bath toys. He wears size 3–5-month clothing and size 3 for diapers.
17.
9.
Josie is an 8-year-old girl who is shy and sweet. She loves reading and would love books about adventures. She loves all things Disney and makes a lot of jewelry. She would love beading kits or Rainbow Loom supplies.
10.
Alex is an 18-year-old youth who is navigating becoming an adult. He would love gift cards to Target and Scheels. He would benefit from warm clothing like a jacket and sweatpants, mittens and a hat. He wears size large for clothes and loves the colors black and red.
11.
Thomas is caring for his 7-year-old nephew. Thomas has been navigating having him in the home and would love gift cards for family activities. They love the zoo, bowling, and going out to eat.
12.
Jesse has worked hard to get her child back into her care. She is getting established in a new living arrangement and would benefit from kitchen supplies (pots, pans, utensils). She could also use some self-care items, such as face masks, a neck massager, and fuzzy blanket.
13.
Elise has been caring for her grandchildren who love to play sports. She would love to get them a pickleball set, yard games, and family board games. She would also love supplies for a movie night, including popcorn and candy.
14.
Ellie is a 14-year-old who is living with her grandparents. She wears a women’s size medium in shirts and pants. She loves art, paint by number, Diamond Dot Kits and journaling.
15. Sarah is an 8-year old girl who loves Barbie and Squishmallows. She plays soccer and loves all things pink and sparkly. She wears a girl’s size 8 and a size 1 in shoes.
16. Noah is a 16-year-old who lives in sweats and loves anything and everything Nike. He would love gift cards to eat lunch with friends during school.
Jacob is a 12-year-old basketball phenom who spends his days dribbling in the driveway. He’d love a new basketball and maybe some basketball shoes to up his game. He wears a size 8 in men’s shoes. His favorite color is royal blue. He wears a men’s small in T-shirts.
18. Jaden is a laid-back 16-year-old boy who loves the freedom and practicality of gift cards. He’s currently in need of specific clothing items to round out his wardrobe, such as shirts, pants, shoes and jackets. Amazon or Visa gift cards will allow him to choose his style, so they are a perfect option for him this year.
19.
Scottie is an adorable 8-month-old boy who loves Elmo! He’s growing fast and could use 9-12-month-sized clothes, including shirts, pants and shoes to keep him comfy. Although he doesn’t need a jacket right now, fun, Elmo-themed toys would surely make him smile.
20. Jenna is a creative 9-year-old girl who adores all kinds of stuffed animals. She wears a size 10 in both shirts and pants, and a size 4 in shoes. She could use a jacket in size 10-12 to stay cozy. Arts and crafts activities or new Rainbow High dolls or accessories would make her day!
21. Emma is a sweet 3-year-old girl who loves anything to do with the movie “Frozen,” dolls and ponies. She prefers wearing dresses, but when it comes to winter clothes, she could use size 4 shirts and pants, and a size 4 jacket to keep her warm.
22. 10-year-old Ethan loves all things Spider-Man! He wears size 10–12 clothes and men’s size 7 shoes. A warm jacket in his size would help him stay cozy this winter, and a Spider-Man blanket or web shooters would make his day.
23. Meet Lila — a bright, imaginative 7-year-old who spends hours playing with her Barbies and Rainbow High dolls. She wears size 7–8 in clothing and size 1 shoes. A jacket in size 7–8 would help her stay warm, and a few new dolls or accessories would make her playtime even more magical.
24. 2-year-old Ella loves exploring playing with puzzles or age-appropriate toys. She wears size 2T clothing and size 6 toddler shoes. She would benefit from winter hats, warm socks, and snow boots for the chilly months, and a craft apron would be perfect for her creative play.
25. Stewart is a lively 4-year-old boy who loves “Paw Patrol,” “Spider-Man” and “Transformers.” He enjoys anything hands-on, like cars, trucks and trains. He wears size 5T shirts and jackets, size 4T pants, and size 12 shoes. He could use a warm jacket for winter and some fun new toys to fuel his active playtime. ✻
Standing Standing gap gap in the
RECONNECTING NATIVE FAMILIES AND CULTURE THROUGH FOSTER CARE
written by LAURA BAILEY photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
WHEN SIERRA SINGER was at Crow Fair last summer, children from all over camp ran up to her for hugs. They eagerly updated her on their families, activities, and the latest in smalltown happenings. The joyful little reunions were confirmation that her many years of work in child welfare has made a difference in her community.
“These children need to know that someone’s thinking of them,” Sierra says.
In her career, Sierra worked for the State of Montana’s Child and Family Services, as well as for a similar federal child welfare program run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Now, she’s found a new role with Child Bridge as the organization’s new Native Family Services Director.
Child Bridge, a faith-based nonprofit, recruits foster families and provides them with a variety of support, including training and one-to-one coaching. Their Native Family Services is aimed at supporting Native children and families.
“There has been a growing tension about that,” says Child Bridge Executive Director, Eric Basye. “Natives are feeling like they are losing their children and losing their culture.”
The goal of Child Bridge’s Native Family Services is to recruit and equip Native foster families and provide trauma-informed training and cultural support for non-Native families who are caring for Native foster children.
WE ALL HAVE A PURPOSE, AND MY PURPOSE IS TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR THE CHILDREN, KNOWING THAT IT WILL RIPPLE INTO GENERATIONS TO COME.
— Sierra Singer
Currently, more than 2,000 children are in foster care in Montana. While Native Americans make up a little less than 7 percent of the population in Montana, more than a third of all foster children are Native, and most of them are being cared for by non-Native foster families.
“A lot of foster families are caring for Native children out of a genuine concern, and they want to preserve their culture as much as they can, but it is challenging,” Eric says.
Sierra is an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe, and her professional experiences and cultural heritage make her ideal for the new role.
“We all have a purpose, and my purpose is to stand in the gap for the children, knowing that it will ripple into generations to come,” Sierra says.
Native Family Services is six months into a three-year pilot program, and Sierra, Eric and the team at Child Bridge are in the final stages of developing a trauma-informed curriculum that honors the culture and heritage of Native children and families. They also recognize and aim to serve kinship and informal foster families. Kinship foster homes are made up of family members who become caregivers.
“There’s a lot of kinship fosters that need resources and support,” Sierra says.
Sierra is married with two children, a boy and a girl, and she lives with her family in Hardin. She was raised in Lodge Grass and lived in a multigenerational home. Sierra’s mother worked long hours, and her grandmother and other family members cared for Sierra. She understands what kinship means.
“My mom didn’t have to ask my grandma to do that. It’s just how families are, especially when you have a supportive family. They know how to care for you,” Sierra says. “Kinship is a cultural thing. There are a lot of Native American children who are raised by relatives. It’s very much a part of the community.”
Informal listen-and-learn meetings are in the works in communities across the Crow Reservation to build relationships and make connections. While Child Bridge does a lot of work online,
Sierra says that the meetings will be in-person due to the relational nature of reservation communities.
“The community will tell us what they need through their lived experience,” Sierra says.
Why so many Native kids are in foster care is a complicated question, and one that Sierra believes will require an equally varied solution. Influencing factors include poverty, addiction and an overall lack of resources on the reservation.
“Luckily Child Bridge is there to equip caregivers while the children are in their care and the parents are healing,” Sierra says.
The Native Family Services program is funded by a grant from the Treasure State Foundation, established by Montana Governor Greg and First Lady Susan Gianforte. For now, Child Bridge is focusing on providing resources to foster and kinship families
in Bighorn and Yellowstone counties. If the program is successful, Child Bridge aims to provide the same services to foster families affiliated with other tribes.
“Different tribes have different traditions when it comes to family, so what we’re doing brings sensitivity to that,” Sierra says.
The Native Family Services program is poised for expansion.
“There’s not anything like this happening across the United States. Of course, we would love to do more,” Eric says. “Although we are focused on the State of Montana right now, anyone anywhere can access the materials no matter where they live.”
Sierra is taking small, intentional steps to meet members of the Crow Tribe where they are. Children are at the heart of her personal mission.
“The overall goal is to find and equip families and bring them hope by walking alongside them, so they know they are not forgotten and their community is there for them too,” Sierra says. “It’s a big job but I have a lot of hope. It’s for the children. They need to know that we are standing in the gap for them.” ✻ TO LEARN MORE about Child Bridge, visit childbridgemontana.org This holiday season, celebrate the people who matter most by giving the gift of hope and healing. Honor or memorialize a loved one with a special tribute.
To give online, scan the QR code or visit billingsclinic.com/ year-end-giving
To give by phone, call (406) 657-4670
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EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC
Join us in Billings this 2025 holiday season for a magical Christmas Lighting Experience brought to you by TDS Fiber, here at ZooMontana. From November 28th to December 31st, immerse yourself and your family in the festive spirit with over 15 million dazzling lights, enchanting large-scale displays, sleigh rides, cherished photo opportunities with Santa, cozy S'more tents, and so much more! Witness ZooMontana's transformation into a winter wonderland, creating cherished memories and celebrating the joy of the holiday season together!
Reserve a S’mores Tent for the one’s you love and make their holiday bright!
LEARN MORE AT HOLID A Y -NI G H T S . C OM
Gift OF DISTRACTION OF DISTRACTION THE THE
OUR HOUSE, the one with the lively garden and wicker rockers out front to welcome guests and a comfortable patio in back, is a place we love to share with others. We enjoy the laughter of friends and family, the snacks, meals and frenetic activities that seem to bubble up. There are house rules for cards, which sometimes come from their house not ours, and a guest room full of snowflakes and penguins to remind guests that if they stay too long, things might get chilly.
During the holidays I tend to either over- or under-decorate, depending on my schedule. But there are some things that always appear, like the angel wearing a jute gown that has been the tree topper since I was 4 years old and our ever-famous Christmas shorts, which were tacky before ugly-sweater parties were a thing. There are must-have foods and foods that only one person likes, but I make them anyway because sometimes the best gift you can give is the gift of preparing a treasured recipe. Porcupine Balls and Son-of-a-Gun in a Sack are two of those recipes, and it makes me wonder who names these things. Well, the second one was named by my great-great grandma, who apparently
had quite a mouth on her. I am glad to carry on that honored tradition.
While this all sounds warm and wonderful — the welcome, the laughter, and the nibbles — it is as true at my house, as it probably is yours, that there are people I would rather see go than stay. Then there’s the house itself. We have unfinished remodeling projects, a box of tools and gadgets in the hallway for said projects, and a wall that has never seen the finishing coat of paint. I’ve not, even after 20 years in this house, figured out what to do in the master bath, and the housekeeper does a great job of cleaning the stove on Tuesday, but I mess it up by Wednesday. My husband says this is just life in a happy home. I say it is a problem.
And the guests. The ones we must invite but can’t, even though we try, see eye to eye with politically, faithfully, or even food-wise, well, they always show up, sometimes arriving late, which does nothing to improve my opinion of them. One group has the proclivity to show up so late that we often tell them the event is the day before it actually is going to
family in ZooMontana’s 14thzoomontana.org
Chase December
Finals Montana. Memorial during
happen. Still, I smile through it all, and when my dentist suggested I might want to ease up on the teeth grinding, I discovered the art of distraction, which is probably the best art there is in my life.
You see, as a team builder, I pride myself on everyone in the room thinking I vote like they vote, eat like they eat, and pray like they pray. This isn’t subterfuge. It is possible, if we try, to find commonalities in each of those areas while still being true to ourselves. And when you can’t find commonalities with the crazy aunt or pushy uncle, that is where distraction comes in.
Beauty & the Beast
Here are a few of my favorite distraction techniques, and if you are, by chance, a regular guest in my home, please stop reading now. I really do love you, even if things are not always as they seem.
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
First, tame the TV. In a world of rabid sport and political rivalries, it is best to avoid digital triggers. You can tame those triggers by running on a loop a slide show of favorite events and family photos. The “coolest” of you, which I will attempt to be this year, will build a video with several portals into treasured memories, so while Uncle Sal looks to the upper left vacation photos, Aunty Em is looking at the baby pictures in the middle of the screen. A little something for everyone keeps them engaged, curious and distracted from the latest goings-on in a world gone mad.
F R inge Festiva L
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
Second, give them a job. It is true that idle hands are the devil’s workshop, so have a little fix-it-project for the family know-it-all or a complicated salad to assemble for the one who can’t stop poking the family buttons. Involvement in these time-consuming projects can also slow down the family drinker, and it is worth the price of breaking the vacuum just so it can be fixed when rum is on the run. (If you are the family drinker remain calm, you get to make the house rules and dole out the punch. Fill your glass first.)
s ou L s t R eet d an C e
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.
Third, photo scavenger hunts are a great way to get everyone laughing and keep them distracted from hot topics. Held indoors or out, you can make a list of generic ideas and let teams (assigned at random or in retaliation, you decide) hunt for the perfect photo. Imagine the laughter as small groups “wear an unwearable gift,” “discover a holiday disaster,” or “pose for a Christmas Album cover.” Sharing these photos will be as much fun as taking them was and this creative distraction is exciting for any age!
a Con C e R t F o R the w ho L e Fami Ly
The fourth idea means you will get a few eye rolls at first, but stick with me. Each person chooses an item from a bucket of miscellaneous do-dads. These items can be toys, logo gifts from trades shows, tools or kitchen gadgets. In my bucket of do-dads, a plastic
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
sheep, a multipurpose tool and a hair clip are things that get chosen every time. Once everyone has selected their item, they get to use it as a prompt to tell a funny story or share a memory the item triggers. It doesn’t matter what they choose. After the first story or two, the laughter and the hugs will take over and you will forget that your pesky nephew should have worn clean socks. (Imagine having the rum drinker wrap these items so they are chosen completely at random!)
For the fifth distraction, (which sounds like a book title), I want to address the messy room, the weird hole in the wall, the bathroom that still needs remodeling. You can distract the eye with soft lighting, throw pillows or strategically placed holiday décor, or, you can say —and this is what my husband wants me to say — “That right there is just evidence of a happy home.”
What I have learned, after years of hosting and being hosted, is that no one cares. No one, (well no one who matters), looks to see if your baseboards are dust free or your plates match. No one cares that you didn’t finish the laundry, that the wall is the wrong color or the shade is a little wonky. All they care about is that they are with you. They are laughing, nibbling and being insulated from the differences in our world because you used the art of distraction gently. And while nibbling, laughing and making a new memory, I hope the commonalities you share, the love, the hope, the joy of being together, is what gets carried forward until the next time you are in the same space. ✻
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
TO FALL FOR fashion7
RICH TONES, TEXTURE AND COZY CHIC
THIS SEASON, it’s all about rich fall tones, luxe textures and that perfect balance of cozy and chic. Think warm rusts, deep burgundies, soft knits and buttery leather that not only keep you comfortable but effortlessly on-trend. From tailored shackets and wide-leg trousers to flowy skirts and statement sweaters, these pieces layer beautifully for crisp autumn days and can just as easily transition into holiday festivities with a quick swap of accessories. It’s fashion that feels good. It’s comfortable enough for everyday wear, yet elevated enough to take you from pumpkin spice to party season. ✻
RICH and2RUSTIC
CARLY SUE’S LOOK (LEFT)
Charlie 1 Horse hat by Lainey Wilson, $89.99; Cowboy boot-print Western skirt, $38.99; Wrangler horse-print sweater, $59.99; Western leather clutch, $161.99; Concho earrings, $39.99
HALLEE’S LOOK (RIGHT)
Cremello Nellie fringe purse, $124; Stetson Aztec crop sweater, $117.95; amber-brown satin blouse, $41.99; beaded bow necklace, $23.95; Charlie 1 Horse highway hat in sand, $79.99; khaki tiered skirt, $27.99 All from Western Ranch Supply
With more than 20 years as a cosmetologist and makeup artist, Glea has dedicated her career to helping women feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. She believes beauty and fashion are about expression and confidence.She has a passion for making women feel seen, empowered and inspired through the artistry of style and makeup.
GLEA LAHR, writer
THE MAGNETIC PATH TO SucceSS SucceSS SucceSS
SPARK OF AN IDEA HELPS SISTERS BUILD A THRIVING BUSINESS FROM SCRATCH
written by LINDA HALSTEAD-ACHARYA photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN, SENSORY PHOTOGRAPHY AND 406 MEMORIES
JESSICA DRAIN remembers many a Halloween watching her mother sit at the sewing machine, whipping up costumes for her and her younger sister. There were homemade Christmas pajamas and quilts galore over the years as well. While Jessica never really took to the craft, she’s now at the helm of a seven-figure, Billings-based business dedicated to making sewing and quilting easier.
“I've made the quilt I sleep under and some stockings, but that's about it,” Jessica says.
The company’s journey started eight years ago when Jessica’s sister, Jaime Trinier who lives in Calgary, Alberta, was working on a quilted bag. She was about to attach a leather handle when she hit a snag. How would she hold the handle as she stitched it in place? She didn’t want to pin it and puncture the leather, so she thought long and hard about a work-around. Eventually, she reached for a few magnets. Stumbling upon what she thought was a great idea, she called Jessica, a trained graphic designer who owned her own marketing firm. She indeed thought the idea was worth marketing.
That’s how SewTites — a system of replacing pins with magnets in sewing projects — was born.
Surprisingly, the sisters weren’t sure the invention would be a sure-fire hit and ended up putting it on the back burner for about a year. At the time, they were running a fabric subscription service called Culcita Box. They were at a quilting conference in 2017 promoting that compa ny when they decided to test SewTites as their giveaway swag.
“We ran out of samples on day two of a four-day show,” Jessica says.
By October of that same year, SewTites was being stocked by all major U.S. distributors. In 2021, when a world-famous fabric designer sought their product for her lines, Jessica says, “That put us on the map.”
The sisters launched SewTites on a $60,000 loan — in part from their parents and from Jamie. As her contribution, Jessica invested sweat equity, part of which she reinvested in shares of the business. By December 2020, they had paid back the loans, shut down the fabric subscription side of the business, and started paying themselves.
Up until 2021, the sisters ran the company together.
“We still didn’t really know if the company was going to become much of anything,” Jessica says. When the opportunity arose for Jamie to buy a quilt shop in Calgary, Jessica jumped in to take over the day-to-day operations.
Since those early years, the business has evolved. Mag nets now come in various sizes for a variety of pur poses — from English paper piecing to lon garm quilting. A cut ting system was added to the prod-
uct line with a magnetic mat and magnetic “boosters” that hold fabric and patterns to the mat for faster and easier cutting.
Creating a magnetic cutting mat, however, brought its own challenge when they discovered the idea had already been patented.
“Everything is always figure-outable,” Jessica says, echoing her knack for problem solving.
This time, the solution came from their intellectual property attorney, who explained that, should the patent owner agree, they could license the rights to use the patent — which they ultimately did. By reimbursing the patent’s owner, the move proved a win-win for both parties.
“They hadn’t made it because it was very challenging to manufacture,” Jessica says. “But we knew we could probably figure it out.”
Sales of the cutting system doubled SewTite’s revenue in the first year of production and took the company to $1 million in sales.
As the sisters launched their busi-
ness, they learned that manufacturing their niche product in the United States — as they’d wanted — was virtually impossible. Most American companies manufacture on a scale that’s much larger — in their case 50 times larger than their company could market, Jessica says. Seeking other global options and coming up with none, they ended up having SewTites manufactured in China.
That decision, combined with a significant error in a cash-flow projection, put SewTites in a tough place this year. A new model of the cutting system was ready to be shipped from China when 145% tariffs were announced. The company was forced to wait to import the product until tariffs were much more favorable.
“We’ll be fine, but it was a nexus of terrible timing,” Jessica says. “It definitely impacted our sales. We probably lost $100,000 in the first month after the (big) tariff announcement.”
While the lesson took its toll, it confirmed the sisters’ plan to expand beyond one economy. They already have a strong following in Canada, Europe and Australia and now hope to expand into Africa, Asia and South America.
Earlier this year, Jessica took a dream trip she’d wanted to take for years. With her two sons by her side, she embarked on a three-month, around-the-world trip made possible by the success of SewTites. Aside from amazing memories, it gave Jessicca the chance to meet established business connections plus
JAIME (LEFT) AND JESSICA
JESSICA WITH HER TWO SONS
make some new ones. She also had the opportunity to visit the company’s Chinese manufacturer.
“They’re not sweatshops,” Jessica says, noting the warm welcome she and her sons received as they observed the entire process. “But they’re doing jobs that no American would do.”
Today, SewTites employs six women at the Billings-based warehouse, mostly on a part-time basis. Counting contractors and influencers, however, Jessica figures the company supports or at least supplements the livelihoods of 25-50 people between the U.S. and Canada. They have made it a priority to pay their staff well above the typical part-time wage. The company pays them for the value they provide the company, not the hours they log.
“If I take care of my employees, I figure they will take care of the company,” Jessica says.
For Jessica, it’s been a lesson in taking care of herself as well. Roughly a decade ago, the mother of two was in debt, facing a divorce and burning both ends of the candle. She attributes her natural drive, combined with strong family support and a financial management class, for keeping her head in the game.
“I was determined not to be a poor single mother my whole life,” she says. “I learned how to do things with very little. And I’ve always been good at solving problems.”
Today, she relies on a color-coded calendar with each color indicating a different demand on her time.
“When I show people my calendar, they think I’m a little bit crazy,” she says, smiling. “If it’s something I want to get done, it’s on my calendar.”
She set personal boundaries. She limits herself to checking her email twice a day and for only a half hour each time. She no longer responds to social media or customer service calls on the weekend. She’s also stretched her level of risk tolerance. The changes nurtured both her family and her business.
“I used to be 24/7 on call,” she says. “I will not do that now. I’ve learned that nothing is an emergency. Almost anything can wait a day or two.”
The transformation earned Jessica last year’s prestigious “Editor’s Pick” for her TEDxBillings presentation on her management practices and hybrid work philosophy.
These days, Jessica spends time enjoying the fruits of her labor. She’d love to keep growing the business and add new products. When it comes to the future, however, Jessica plans to wait and see where the business and life take her.
Showing her true problem-solving nature, “I won’t let it fail,” she says of SewTites. “But even if it did, I know now I could figure out something else.” ✻
Start Small, Dream Big Start Small, Dream Big
JESSICA DRAIN’S NINE TIPS EVERY ENTREPRENEUR SHOULD LIVE BY
1. KEEP YOUR DAY JOB – RESEARCH SHOWS THAT SUCCESS IS BUILT ON THE SIDE.
2. DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY, OR AT LEAST EVERY WEEK, TO MOVE YOUR IDEA ALONG.
3.
LEARN HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TIME — IT’S YOUR ONLY TRUE CONSTRAINT IN LIFE.
4.
CONSIDER IDEAS AND LISTEN TO ADVICE FROM MANY SOURCES BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.
5. LEARN HOW TO MARKET. LEARN PERSONAL AND BUSINESS FINANCE.
6. REMEMBER, “NOTHING IS PERMANENT” AND EVERYTHING IS “FIGURE-OUTABLE.”
7. ASSESS THE ABSOLUTE WORST-CASE SCENARIO AND HOW YOU WOULD SURVIVE IT BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS.
8. BE PREPARED TO BE PATIENT. DON’T BE CONCERNED IF THE PROCESS SEEMS SO SLOW.
9. FAIL FORWARD. EXPECT ERRORS AND FAILURES. THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS HOW YOU DEAL WITH THEM.
Notary
Medical
PERSONAL INJURY ADVOCACY
1. Do I have a case?
west west west
AVA LAW GROUP PARTNER
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions, you might have a valid personal injury claim. Let’s take a closer look at what happened to see if your situation qualifies.
2. How much is my case worth?
We wish we had a magic calculator. But truthfully, it depends on your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and whether your injury has long-term effects. We crunch numbers and compare verdicts.
3. How long will it take to resolve my case?
Cases can settle in a few months or take years if they go to trial. Factors include medical treatment duration, evidence collection, and insurance negotiations.
4. What does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer? Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, which means we only get paid if you do. If we don’t win, you don’t owe us a dime.
5. What is the process for a personal injury lawsuit? It starts with investigation, followed by demand letters, negotiations, and possibly litigation. If a lawsuit is filed, it includes discovery, depositions, mediation, and trial.
6. How are my medical bills paid?
Eventually, the at-fault party. But until then, your health insurance, auto insurance, or at-faults insurance. We’ll help sort it out so you’re not stuck holding the bag.
7. What’s the Deadline to File?
In Montana, it’s generally three years from the date of injury. But don’t wait—evidence fades, memories blur, and procrastination is the enemy of justice.
8. Will I Have to Go to Court?
Probably not. Most cases settle. But if the other side lowballs you, we’re not afraid to suit up and head to trial. We’ve got your back either way
The Buzz in Billings
9. What kind of damages can I recover?
You may recover: • Medical expenses • Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Property damage
• Punitive damages (in rare cases)
10. What is my role in the lawsuit?
Be honest. Stay in touch. Follow your doctor’s advice. And let us do the heavy lifting.
Where the CREEKSings You to Sleep
REVIVING THE SPIRIT AT ROCK CREEK RESORT
written by STELLA FONG photography by STELLA FONG & ROCK CREEK RESORT
ON A SUNDAY with a mix of sun and clouds covering the day, the newly refreshed Rock Creek Resort in Red Lodge is my destination. With my friend Val Jeffries riding shotgun, the Beartooth Mountains stand sentry over the quaint town where we plan to indulge in some retail and dining therapy, taking in fresh mountain air as we go.
“I love being able to hang out with my pal. You’re trapped in the car and can’t go anywhere,” Val says teasingly. I feel the same.
Life slows down the moment Highway 212 leads us into Red Lodge. The city’s roots go all the way back to the early 20th century, when it was established as a coal mining town.
After enjoying a bite to eat and wandering through some downtown shops, we drive five miles south and round a gentle curve where we are welcomed by a new sign for the Rock Creek Resort. The building is freshly stained but still shows off its farmhouse cathedral windows and iconic rock fireplace. The rushing sound of Rock Creek flows by.
shammer and partners Eric Sailer and Anderl Moterer. Pepi and his wife, Sheika, operated the resort for decades, expanding it in the 1970s, adding more lodging facilities.
The property changed hands when David and Simona Krug of Krug Development and Daniel Cauley took ownership in the fall of 2024, with Columbia Hospitality acting as the hotel operator. Simona led the design team and interior design work for the facelift. The resort reopened at the end of July, with the Old Piney Dell Restaurant expected to complete its renovations to serve meals next spring.
TINA WILSON, MANAGER & TROY DOUTHIT, GENERAL MANAGER
The resort, a 40-acre property, was opened in the mid-1960s as a summer training ground for alpine ski racing by Pepi Gram-
When we arrive, Tyler Pyle who mans the front desk, greets us with a warm welcome, standing at the front counter paneled with belts. The Wild Rose Restaurant sits off to one side, overlooking the creek, across from a small area selling merchandise. Tyler has been working here since July, after following General Manager Troy Douthit from Libby, where Tyler worked at both the Venture and Country Inns.
“I needed a change in scenery and asked Troy if he would hire me,” Tyler says. After being offered the job, “I wrapped up in two months and moved here.”
Tyler loves the sense of family he finds with the people he works
THE RESORT CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 35 PEOPLE, WITH STAFFING EXPECTED TO REACH 95 ONCE RENOVATIONS ARE COMPLETE.
with, and with the guests. “It’s fun for me to live vicariously through the lives of the people who come here.” Moreover, he can bring his 17-year-old dog, Myrtle, a chihuahua and pug mix, to work.
After receiving our key cards, Val and I make our way upstairs, pausing at the old phone booth that once held a coin-operated phone. It is now lined with dark-blue wallpaper featuring ethereal nature scenes, anchored by a leather chair and a side table, where a guest can converse privately. Next to the booth is the Wildwood sitting room, themed in red, where a group can gather before heading into the dining room.
Our room with two double beds takes on a modern Western feel. An upholstered brown-leather headboard backs the beds that are made with a white duvet and white covered pillows. A blue, brown Native American-inspired blanket with geometric patterns rests on the foot of the bed. The highlight comes when we step through the sliding glass door and up to the balcony overlooking Rock Creek.
“I love having fresh air in the room when I sleep,” Val says. “I cannot wait to have the slider opened with the sound of the creek lulling us to sleep.”
The room has all the comforts of home with fluffy towels, cotton robes, refillable aluminum water bottles, and soap products from Grown Alchemist. The high ceiling provides room to breathe and relax.
Now settled, we go downstairs to meet with General Manager Troy Douthit. Troy brings the real Montana spirit to the Rock Creek Resort. “The owners found me and offered me a job,” he says, still disbelieving his good fortune. Beckoned from Libby, he believes he can provide “true Western hospitality.”
Currently, 35 employees work at the resort, with 95 people needed when all renovations are complete. Troy takes us downstairs to the banquet/conference room, where windows bring in the outside.
“The entire ceiling has been replaced, and the chandeliers are brand new,” Troy says of the 3,600-square-foot space with a capacity for 500 people.
Down the hall is the access to the 50-meter pool warmed to 86 degrees, and a hot sauna set at 190 degrees. For those needing to cool their bodies, a cold plunge is available. “Then here is my favorite, the outdoor sauna,” Troy says. The hot box with tempera-
THE RESORT IS A 3,600-SQUAREFOOT SPACE WITH A CAPACITY FOR 500 PEOPLE
tures at 140 degrees with windows is found above the creek, beneath the trees.
Troy leads us to the back of the property, to Pepi’s workshop. Here, guests can pick up flyfishing waders and boots. They can also learn how to tie flies, practice the art of wood burning or develop skills for leather crafting.
Don Wilson, the resort’s fly-fishing consultant, takes Val and me through the creation of a Woolly Bugger fly. This fly, which simulates a baitfish or leech, is one of the easiest flies to tie. “I taught myself how to fly cast in a baseball field,” Don admits. After watching a Bill Dance fly-fishing reel, he practiced on his own. For fly tying, he “read a lot of books and watched videos. It was a lot of trial and error and lots of wasted materials,” he says with a chuckle.
We had originally hoped to get into another activity but time is running out, so instead we decide to eat dinner. But first we stop and chat with Manager Tina Wilson.
“I love the people who work here because we all started together and built something,” Tina says. “We each had a hand in building the resort. It’s been a labor of love, and it means so much to me.”
Before she joined Rock Creek, Tina worked as a consultant for digital infrastructure. These days, she handles everything from the front desk to guest services, retail, housekeeping, and adventures and activities.
We leave Tina and wander into the Wild Rose Restaurant, where we pick a corner table overlooking the creek and the firepit. We
learn that Executive Chef Brent Halverson has come here with skills learned most recently from PREROGATIvE Kitchen and earlier, the Triple Creek Ranch and Chico Hot Springs.
“Feeding people is such a wonderful thing to do,” Brent says, adding that he looks forward to opening the Old Piney Dell Restaurant. “The restaurant is a legacy, such a cool restaurant and space.”
The menu at the Wild Rose Restaurant is compact. The goal for this space is to offer accessible and casual food, with the Piney Dell providing a more formal dining option. We order the chicken wings special with freshly sliced celery sticks and chunky bluecheese dressing. We share the mushroom soup made with oyster, shiitake, portobello and trumpet mushrooms.
“This is the best mushroom soup I have ever had,” Val says, of the cream-chili-oil-drizzled bowl of goodness. While Val opts for a glass of wine, I sip a Huckleberry Margarita that comes with a glass rimmed with huckleberry salt.
Brent and Executive Sous Chef Lloyd Huff deliver to our table the Quinoa Protein Bowl that Val orders and the Curried Squash Bowl that I select. Both are fresh and flavorful and beyond generous in portion size.
After finishing a glass of wine while sitting by the firepit, we head to our room where Val slightly opens the sliding glass door. The natural white noise and mountain air make for a perfect night’s sleep. Early the next morning, with fresh coffee in hand, we head back up the road to Billings, renewed and refreshed for a brandnew week. ✻
Nurse Midwife
VETERAN'S DAY IS NOVEMBER 11TH
Still Still Still Serving Serving Serving
HELPING FELLOW VETERANS NAVIGATE LIFE BEYOND THE UNIFORM
written by LINDA HALSTEAD-ACHARYA photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
WHEN LORRAINE SCHLEDER reflects on her three decades in the military, vivid memories come flooding back to her — memories overshadowed at the time by the intensity of what she was doing. Now a civilian, the full weight of her experiences comes back to her in pieces.
“I find when you’re busy ‘doing’ you put a lot into a box,” she says. “And when you sit down, all of this stuff starts to come out of the box.”
Because Lorraine knows this personally, she’s able to tap into her experiences to help other veterans make the transition to life back home. And that’s precisely what she’s doing as a resource navigator with Veteran’s Navigation Network, a nonprofit established in 2019 to serve Montana’s roughly 87,000 veterans, of which an estimated 11,000 live in Yellowstone County.
“Just knowing that some of the things they feel, they’re not the only one,” she says.
“Especially when you get out (of the service) and feel lost.” Those common experiences build a sense of trust that often encourages veterans to open up to her. “Being a vet, it buys you a certain ‘in,’” Lorraine says, “that when you walk in a room, they’re your people. They just get it.”
And the connection goes both ways. “When someone starts telling me their story, my heart breaks for them,” she says. “I might hand them a Kleenex; I might need a Kleenex.”
Veteran’s Navigation Network (VNN) is dedicated to supporting service members, veterans, and their families with core services ranging from healthcare, housing and employment to assistance with federal and state VA benefits, education, mental health support, legal assistance and discharge upgrades.
Sometimes VNN’s role is simple yet impactful. Lorraine tells of one veteran who was struggling when her vehicle broke down. VNN covered the cost of the parts and located a mechanic who would repair it for free.
“We look for the resources and help the vet to navigate them,” she says. “It can be everything and anything that anyone could think of.” And that includes veteran suicide. Despite Montana’s high rate, Lorraine has dealt with few. She prefers to focus on the suicides she may have helped prevent.
“I’ve been more fortunate to see the ones going down that path and pull them back,” she says. “My purpose is helping others make their lives better. I just think I’m an instrument doing the Lord’s work.”
Lorraine was 33 and the mother of four when she joined the Army as a combat medic. Thirty years and four deployments later, she retired as an Air Force colonel. In between, her life catapulted from military base to military base, from Germany to Afghanistan to the Pentagon. Her responsibilities changed with each new position, but she spent much of her time moving patients from one locale to another — often transporting wounded soldiers from battle zones to military hospitals in other countries.
“From wheels up to wheels down, to where they’re handed off to
I’VE BEEN MORE FORTUNATE TO SEE THE ONES GOING DOWN THAT PATH AND PULL THEM BACK. MY PURPOSE IS HELPING OTHERS MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER.
— Lorraine Schleder
a hospital,” she says. “Patient movement — if you get one percent wrong, you can have a disaster.”
Sometimes she found herself moving presidents of other countries to the United States for medical care. “It was always for the interest of the United States,” she explains. “It was not necessarily a black-and-white thing.”
Lorraine was on duty in 1998 when the U.S. embassy in Nairobi was bombed. As she oversaw the medical aircraft preparation to recover bombing victims, she was captured in the front-page photo of The Air Force Times, supporting a wounded Kenyan embassy staff.
And when terrorists struck on 9/11 she “had a phone in each ear.” She says,“We were getting calls, ‘Hey Air Force, you’re the only thing flying, can you help us?’”
chest and spit at by a terrorist under her care in Afghanistan. She recalls one American soldier who’d already lost a leg and wanted the other amputated so he could go on with his life. The vision comes back to her of one patient who appeared so very young that she said to herself, “Honey, you’ve probably only shaved
three times and I want your mama to know I’m with you.”
And then there was the event of Dec. 10,1999, when a C-130 Hercules aircraft missed the runway, tore off its undercarriage and crash landed near the base she was deployed to in Kuwait. She pauses to gather her emotions as she describes that day.
“When the phone rang in our tent at 4 in the morning, I knew something was wrong,” she says. Three people were killed and countless others sustained injuries. Some of the latter later told her that her smile reassured them and gave them hope. “They told me, ‘When you walked in, we knew we were safe,’” Lorraine says.
She downplays her role but was glad if her concern made a difference. “At that moment, they just needed a little more gas in their tanks,” she says.
But Lorraine was also assigned to process the fatalities. The first of the three had a social security number that indicated he might be from Montana. The second, a pilot, suffered injuries that made it clear he had died instantly. Lastly, she froze when she glanced at the third deceased soldier. “He looked exactly like my oldest son,” she says, her eyes glassy as she spoke.
For years she carried their souls with her, wondering about their families back home. Then, by happenstance, she met a pilot while
stationed in Illinois. As they got talking, the pilot told her he’d had a close friend die in that crash. It was the second fatality, the pilot who had died instantly. “He thanked me for the closure and I thanked him for the closure,” she says.
While Lorraine has traveled the world, her roots are three generations deep in Montana. She grew up working hard on the family farm outside Shepherd and its ranch in the Bull Mountains. “Boys’ work. Girls’ work. I didn’t know that was a thing,” she says. “Just work — and lots of it!”
She laughs, saying she’s probably the only person who bought a round bailer while deployed to Afghanistan. But she’s probably not the only Montana veteran who’s watched a trail of dust on the horizon in Eastern Montana and was instantly transported back to similar scenes from their time in Afghanistan.
Lorraine’s Montana roots served her well in the military. When a hard-core drill sergeant questioned why she, at 33, wasn’t grumbling like her much-younger peers, Lorraine merely put the circumstances in perspective.
“Well, knowing it’s minus-80 windchill back home and we’re here where it’s just raining, I think I’ve got the better end of the deal,” she told the sergeant. “This is not hard.”
But what drew Lorraine to the Army in the first place — especially with four young children at home? The family was virtually living “hand to mouth,” below the poverty level, when she came to the realization that, even though she was married, she’d have to take charge to provide for her family. She signed up with the Army Reserve, spent several months in training in New Jersey and Texas and returned to Montana to earn her nursing degree from Montana State University — a background that put her on the path to her multi-layered assignments around the globe.
But she anguished over her decision. While her father provided an anchor back home, she consoled herself with photos of her children and a determination that she had little choice. “I just kept telling myself ‘You’re doing the right thing, you’re doing the right thing. If you’re not here for them, who will be?’” she says.
On the heels of such an action-packed career, Lorraine was 63 when she retired to the family farm. She was glad to be back in Montana, but at times she found herself lacking purpose. Then, last year, she crossed paths with Mike McManus, who has been on staff with VNN since 2021.
“He was quietly persistent in getting me involved,” she says, smiling.
It was not long before McManus talked her into applying for the resource navigator position — and today he couldn’t speak more highly of her. “She has such a heart for service,” he says. “She really has a lot of compassion and empathy for individuals and is willing to go that extra mile.”
Shelley Knudtson, an Army veteran from Virginia, echoes that sentiment. She met Lorraine at a veterans’ retreat in Montana and was struck by Lorraine’s energy, knowledge and her willingness to help in any way she could.
“When I was at the retreat, I wasn’t doing well with my cancer. I was in a lot of pain,” Shelley says. “Lorraine took me under her wing.” Now, even separated by thousands of miles, the two have maintained that connection. “I’ve even ‘shared her’ with other friends of mine,” Shelley says. “She’s always there. I know I can always talk to her. She’s such a grand woman.”
After seven months with VNN, Lorraine is just hitting her stride. The work has given her newfound purpose.
“It’s like drinking out of a fire hydrant,” she says, grinning. “But it’s one of the best working environments I’ve ever been in. And in a way, I think this job has saved me. It really has.” ✻
Lived Life
HALSTEADACHARYA, writer
LINDA
PHOTOS COURTESY OF YELLOWSTONE WOMAN MAGAZINE
home and2garden7
SOPHISTICATION SOPHISTICATION
THE BAN FAMILY HOME IS ROOTED IN CRAFT, DESIGNED FOR LIFE
written by TRISH ERBE SCOZZARI photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN
THE IMPRESSIVE BRICK
entrance leading up the drive to Ban Construction’s newest Billings Parade of Homes entry is a prelude to the extraordinary house and grounds. It’s the home Tana and Brian Ban plan on living in for a long time. The one-level West Billings residence features Ban’s signature contemporary craftsmanship, showcased with traditional artistry.
“Brian grew up on a ranch,” says Tana, “and when we were married, we said we’d like a ranch entrance. So now we have it.”
The earthy-colored brick extends to the front and west sides of the home, capped with stone at the three-quarters mark. Copper planters sit on either side of the black-framed door at the front entry. Black-framed windows further accentuate the sharp look against the entry’s light exterior.
Significant beam work defines this architectural beauty, with attention given to the smallest of details. After overhead beams were set in place at the front entry, Tana and Brian added trim work between the timbers.
The Ban family’s construction firm lives up to its reputation as one of the top home builders in the Yellowstone Valley. Tana and Brian, along with sons Nick and Zeth, have entered 14 homes in the annual Billings Parade of Homes. They’ve won the coveted People’s Choice award five times.
Each home they’ve built is easily described as a labor of love. This particular house captures every want and need listed on Tana’s and Brian’s must-haves. The three-bedroom, three-and-one-half bath home provides 3,378 square feet of living space. Over 2,900 square feet is dedicated to additional garage and storage space.
“We made our house smaller and our garage the same size,” says Tana. With seven grandchildren, the finished garage serves as the family entertainment area. “When the family comes together, we play games in here and Brian uses the golf simulator every day in the winter.”
It’s also a space to accommodate Brian’s indoor flat grill. It tucks neatly into its own space, complete with a hood. The gas is piped in, making it convenient for the family’s grill master.
“There’s no junk in this garage,” notes Tana. “We have the storage for that.”
There’s no shortage of storage availability in this home. Even the design principles that promote independence and safety for aging-in-place are incorporated. Tana and Brian knew exactly what they desired in their home and relied on the Ban Construction team’s way of getting the job done.
“When we build homes,” says Tana, “Zeth works on the plans, gets bids from vendors and subcontractors, and any permits (utilities) that are needed to set up. He meets with our clients throughout the process. Nick and Brian are the hands-on guys, doing whatever needs to be done. They are also the troubleshooters in any area of our construction.”
Tana’s interior design skills and décor selections elevate the final outcome of all the Parade homes they build. This one is no exception.
The high-quality materials of the kitchen present a graceful aes-
thetic. An immense black granite island with an inset black sink is punctuated with varied wisps of ivory and grey-colored veins. Solid black granite countertops run the periphery of the space, giving the center island its due status.
“The focal point is definitely the center island,” nods Tana.
Stained-white-oak custom cabinetry from Kosmann Inc. softens the dramatic appearance of the black granite. The sophisticated combination results in a classy feel, while lighting beneath the cabinets emphasizes the ambiance.
“I’ve loved every kitchen we’ve done, but this is my favorite,” says Tana. “I like warm colors. This makes me feel cozy.”
Tana’s choice of backsplash adds another degree of style. Silver-colored subway tile presents a dimensional accent between the countertops and cabinets. A more ornate nugget-sized backsplash centered behind the gas stove creates yet another visually interesting texture.
“It’s jewelry for your house,” says Pam Before, designer for Rich’s Modern Flooring, supplier for the home’s tile and flooring. “Tana knows what she wants, and it always turns out beautiful.”
Warm walnut-toned luxury vinyl plank flooring draws visitors through the open main-floor living spaces. Briarwood, a rich neutral paint color with shades of grey and brown from The Paint Center, covers hand-textured walls, appearing soft
and inviting. The ceilings are 10 feet high throughout the home, except for the great room where it soars to 12 feet.
“It gives you the illusion of a bigger home,” says Tana.
Sunlight spills through four expansive black-framed windows topped with automated roller shades in a textured tan finish from The Blind Guy. Motorized window coverings with remote controls offer a nice convenience for these tall windows from Pella Window & Doors.
A floor-to-ceiling natural-rock fireplace crafted by Schwartz Brothers Masonry adds an architectural focal point to the great room. It sweeps the eye up, emphasizing the room’s height.
A custom-made sectional featuring an off-white neutral texture with dark grey flecks complements the rustic charm of the fireplace. Tana worked with Jane Leuthold at Davidson Home Furnishings & Design to find the perfect furniture pieces.
“(It’s) a spacious and functional sectional,” says Jane, “with a centerpiece being the eclectic cocktail table.” The cocktail table presents a modern silhouette, balancing a broad top with a tapered base. The pieces “work perfectly with the textured area rug,” she adds.
Tana finished the great room’s décor with a piece of artwork of a cowboy riding a horse. Smiling, Tana says, “It honors Brian’s dad.”
Several pieces of art with deep personal significance are on display throughout the home. One of Tana’s favorite pictures, fluffy sheep faces, hangs in the powder room that’s just off the mudroom. “I always find a place for them,” she says.
The natural artistry behind the home’s design carries into the dining room. A hand-forged ore chandelier suspends from a beamed ceiling. Its hammered texture blends old world charm with the home’s modern style.
“It shows a lot of movement,” says Lauri Patterson, owner of One Source Lighting. “It lights the space and looks different from every angle.” Two layers of soft LED lighting add depth to the tray ceiling. “This makes the space more comfortable.”
The beam work augments the lighting. “I showed Lance (Kosmann) a picture and he created it,” says Tana.
The tray ceiling’s intricate beam work and the chandelier create a stunning design feature.
Tana calls the style of the home rustic-mountain-modern. “All of my favorite parts of previous houses I put in here. I knew it’d be our last house,” she says.
suite. It’s elevated convenience with dual islands that provide functional counter and storage space. There’s the large closet island (where one of the home’s two Electrolux stacked washer/ dryer units sit) and there’s the medium-size en suite island which makes getting ready in the morning a breeze.
The light and airy master bath strikes the perfect balance with individual counter space, tower cabinets and sinks on either side of the bathtub. The flooring is a textured sand-colored Italian ceramic tile with the softness of fabric. Two-tone strip tile with textured surface covers the walls of the walk-in shower.
The entire suite exudes warmth. The gleam of Tana’s favored copper accents writes the final note with a copper piece of art above the bed, bringing a feeling of comfort.
On the back side of the home, the covered patio is the perfect space to relax, unwind and entertain. The outdoor kitchen sports Brian’s second grilling station, with a raised bar island where
One favorite stands out in the master
family and friends sit and visit.
In the floral landscape of the grounds surrounding the patio, red canna lilies strike a pose. The entire property hums with life. It’s where Tana and Brian tend to their dozens of beloved trees and hundreds of plants.
“We love to garden,” says Tana. “That’s what we’ll be doing when we retire.”
As the fiery canna lilies fade into winter, Tana will dig up the dozens of bulbs and replant them next spring. Brian will baby the trees.
As Ban Construction continues to create, plan and build, it’s clear that Tana and Brian are ready to enjoy this slice of rustic-mountain sophistication in Billings’ West End. ✻
Curtis, Tabitha, Kade, Malena, Blake, Tatum, Ethan and Carla
