2026-2027 MFDA BOARD MEMBERS RICK WALTER, President Longfellow Finnigan Riddle Funeral Home, Anaconda rick@anacondafuneralhome.com (406) 563-3371 JIM ASPER, Vice President Asper Funeral Homes, Shelby, Custer, Cut Bank, Conrad jim@asperfh.com (406) 434-2172 CHRIS HOLT, Treasurer Anderson Stevenson Wilke Retz Funeral Home, Helena chris@aswfuneralhome.com KASSITY SORLIE, Secretary Smith Funeral Chapels, Billings kassity@smithfuneralchapels.com DONNA DAWSON, Southcentral District Governor Smith Funeral Chapels, Laurel ddawsonsofc@gmail.com COURTNEY MOLLOY, Western District Governor Missoula Funeral Homes courtney@missoulafuneralhomes.com JESSIE SATHER, Southwestern District Governor 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 SCOT, Future Development Leaders Director Just Cremation Montana, Missoula katie@missoulafuneralhomes.com BRI MULVANEY, Immediate Past President Axelson Funeral Home and Cremation, Butte Longfellow Finnigan Riddle Funeral Home, Anaconda bri@axelsonfuneralhome.com TERRI JAMES, Executive Director info@montanafda.org ©2026 The Montana Funeral Directors Association (MFDA) | MBR Connect. All rights reserved. Directors Digest is published four times per year 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 (801) 676-9722. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 4 Our Unity, Our Commitment, Our Power By Rick Walter, President, MFDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT 6 Together, We Are Stronger! By Terri James, Executive Director, MFDA 8 2026 MFDA Convention and Trade Show in Photos June 14-16, Butte, Montana 10 Congratulations to Our 2026 Award Recipients! 12 Kyle Gooch Awarded the Dennis Schoepp Memorial Scholarship 13 Meet the 2026-2027 MFDA Board of Directors 15 2026 MFDA Professional Womens Conference October 11-12 16 2026 NFDA Leadership Conference Report By Chris Holt, 2026-2028 At-Large Representative, NFDA Board of Directors 17 Avoiding Burnout in Funeral Service Preventative Strategies and Mental Health Support By Sam Ore, Trauma Therapist, Redtail Mental Health 19 Montana Board of Funeral Service Update By Jim Axelson, Chair, Montana State Board of Funeral Service IN LOVING MEMORY 20 Marjorie Karen (Smith) Boyce 22 Upcoming Events TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 montanafda.org Cover image and convention photography on pages 8-11 by Jennifer Cobarrubias, Queen Beys Photography. 17 DIRECTORS DIGEST | 3
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