©2025 The Montana Funeral Directors Association (MFDA) | The newsLINK Group LLC. All rights reserved. Directors Digest is published four times per year by The newsLINK Group LLC for MFDA and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of MFDA, its board of directors or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. Directors Digest is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of MFDA. While a first-print policy is encouraged, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at (855) 747-4003. 12 18 President’s Message 4 To Thrive, We Must Adapt By Bri Mulvaney, President, MFDA Executive Director’s Report 6 Our Future Is Bright By Terri James, Executive Director, MFDA 8 Congratulations, 50-Year Award Recipients! 11 Montana Earns National Award for Protecting Election Integrity 12 2025 MFDA Convention and Trade Show 17 Montana Board of Funeral Service Update By Jim Axelson, Chair, Montana State Board of Funeral Service 18 Preliminary Results of Personalities in Funeral Industry Workers By Teague McChesney and Madison Martinez, Psychological Research Team, MSU‑Northern 20 MFDA Featured Associate Member: Compassus 22 Montana Funeral Trust Update 23 2025 MFDA Associate Members 2025-26 MFDA Board Members BRI MULVANEY, President Axelson Funeral Home and Cremation bri@axelsonfuneralhome.com RICK WALTER, Vice President Longfellow Finnigan Riddle Funeral Home, Anaconda rick@anacondafuneralhome.com (406) 727-1368 JIM ASPER, Treasurer Asper Funeral Homes, Shelby, Custer, Cut Bank, Conrad jim@asperfh.com (406) 434-2172 CHRIS HOLT, Secretary, NFDA State Association Representative Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, Helena chris@aswfuneralhome.com KASSITY SORLIE, Southcentral District Governor Smith Funeral Chapels, Billings kassity@smithfuneralchapels.com FRED NELSON, Western District Governor The Lake Funeral Home, Polson flatheadpolson@centurytel.net JESSIE SATHER, Southwestern District Governor Longfellow Finnigan Riddle Funeral Home jesswldwmn@yahoo.com BROOKE GIEKE, Eastern District Governor Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home, Miles City brooke@stevensonandsons.com AUSTIN ASPER, Northcentral District Governor Asper Funeral Homes austinasper@gmail.com KATIE BACA, Future Development Leaders Director Just Cremation Montana, Missoula katie@missoulafuneralhomes.com STEVE KIRKEGARD, Immediate Past President Bullis Funeral Home and Cremation, Hardin skirkegard@yahoo.com TERRI JAMES, Executive Director info@montanafda.org Cover Photo: MFDA Past President Steve Kirkegard and MFDA President Bri Mulvaney Directors Digest | 3
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