By JIM AXELSON, Chair, Montana State Board of Funeral Service Montana Board of Funeral Service Update The State Board of Funeral Service held its last quarterly meeting of the year in Helena on Nov. 5, 2025. All board members were present, except for the public member whose appointment is still pending. I have contacted the governor’s office to inquire as to when the appointment might happen, but as of yet we have received no response. Hugh Pratt, our board member management section chief, provided an update on the department’s ongoing outreach programs in the state, aimed at better educating the public on the department’s distinct roles and gathering feedback from towns across the state. Much of this information was included in the board member training sessions held in September. Glen Disque of the Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program provided the board with updates on the administration of apprenticeships in Montana. He provided a working template for the mechanics of apprenticeship training in the state. His office will continue to rely on the board’s advice and input regarding best practices and licensing requirements. The programs currently in place are mostly a hybrid of time-based and competency-based design, with a mentor ratio of one mentor to two apprentices. The hourly requirements for different apprenticeships currently span from 4,000 to 6,000 hours before licensure. The board was very appreciative of Mr. Disque’s work, as it provides us with a reliable methodology for measuring an apprentice’s progress. Board member Chris Holt provided a report from his attendance at the 2025 NFDA Leadership Conference. A copy of his report is available from our executive officer, Susie Osborne, and I highly recommend that everyone obtain a copy. The report is extremely informative and outlines some of the challenges currently facing the industry. The board truly appreciates Mr. Holt’s dedication to attending these meetings and providing all of us a broad view of what is occurring beyond the state level. Executive Officer Susie Osborne and board member Denis Pitman attended the Regulatory Board Member Training held in Rogers, Arkansas, in September. At both the Helena board member training and in Arkansas, boards were reminded that they are vital to the protection of community safety, but that they must continue to demonstrate that they are relevant, active and effective. There is also a continuing focus on clarifying the definitions of lawful and unlawful practices permitted by the licensing an individual holds. While the board is keenly aware of the shortage of licensed morticians, not only in Montana but across the nation, this should not be a cause for us to lower our requirements. We must ensure that there is clearly defined criteria for what is allowed or prohibited under a particular license. Mr. Pitman also asked about the last time that our board examination was reviewed or updated. With no definitive answers, our executive officer will make inquiries and provide a report. The board’s screening panel heard five complaints, four of which were dismissed and one that was held over for additional investigation. Susie Osborne presented the financial report to the board, which showed that the organization is fiscally sound. The board will revisit our financial statements at the first meeting in 2026. The board is allowed to retain its apportionments two times with any overage being returned to the state’s general fund. The amount to be returned this year is substantial and prompted a brief discussion to avoid violating open meeting requirements. 20 | Directors Digest
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