What a wonderful year we have had so far as we celebrate the Montana Funeral Directors Association’s 125th anniversary!
The District Meetings held in May were a great success, with strong attendance from our members. A sincere thank-you to our district governors for their hard work and dedication in planning these events. I would also like to extend my gratitude to US Alliance for sponsoring all of the dinners and beverages. Our partnership is invaluable to our association, and we truly appreciate their continued support. If you haven’t tried the new trust yet, I encourage you to!
The convention was an incredibly uplifting event. I find myself smiling whenever I reflect on it — not only because it was enjoyable and educational, but because it provided such a wonderful opportunity for members to reconnect, build relationships and strengthen the bonds that make our association so special.
It was a true honor to present awards recognizing some remarkable milestones, including Gary Croxford’s 55 years as an MFDA member. Gary, you are a tremendous asset to our association, and your dedication is truly inspiring. We also celebrated the incredible 45-year journeys of Steve Schnider and Joe Stevenson — two exceptional individuals whom I deeply admire. Be sure to check out the photos from the MFDA awards ceremony, which capture the spirit and magic of that special evening. Congratulations to all of our award recipients!
The awards ceremony also included a heartfelt vendor appreciation award for Dennis Beverlin of Precoa. His dear friend, Joe Stevenson, graciously joined me in presenting this special recognition. Dennis has been a cherished part of MFDA conventions and conferences, and his presence has always brought warmth and friendship to our gatherings.
From the moment I joined the association nine years ago, Dennis and I have developed a genuine friendship that I will always treasure. Dennis, you will be greatly missed, my friend.
We also presented a special Lifetime Recognition Award to Rick Evans. Rick has been a dedicated member of the MFDA Board of Directors, serving two terms as president. He has also represented Montana on the NFDA Policy Board. I invite you to view the special Lifetime Recognition Award photo section, which captures the ceremony celebrating Rick with his family and his employees. It was a fitting tribute to his many years of service and dedication.
Following our celebration of members’ milestone achievements, we expressed our gratitude to Bri Mulvaney for her dedicated service as MFDA president over the past year. It was truly a pleasure to work alongside her leadership. Thank you, Bri, for your hard work, commitment and service to our association.
Following the presentation of a plaque from NFDA and MFDA to Bri, we were honored to have Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobson swear in our new board members:
President: Rick Walter
Vice President: Jim Asper
Treasurer: Chris Holt
Secretary: Kassity Sorlie
Immediate Past President: Brianne Mulvaney
District Governors:
Donna Dawson
Austin Asper
Jessie Sather
Courtney Molloy
Brooke Gierke
Future Development Leader: Katie Scot
On behalf of our board of directors and membership, I would also like to recognize our wonderful vendors. Each of you helped make this year’s convention and trade show a special event. Thank you for supporting our association and joining us in Butte. We sincerely appreciate your partnership.
Following the convention, I traveled to Louisville for the NFDA Leadership Conference, where MFDA was proudly represented by President Rick Walter, Chris Holt and me. Chris successfully ran for a position on the NFDA Board of Directors, marking another incredible achievement for our association.
Chris was elected from a field of four candidates, making him only the second MFDA member in our history to earn this honor. We certainly felt the pressure throughout the election process, but Chris delivered an outstanding performance and represented Montana exceptionally well. The entire MFDA family and I could not be prouder of his accomplishment.
The Council of Funeral Association Executives (CFAE) also gathered in Louisville for its quarterly meeting. I am always grateful for the opportunity to participate in these meetings, where state association executives share ideas, experiences and insights that help us strengthen our organizations and better serve our members.
So, what’s next?
Be sure to check the MFDA upcoming event calendar on for information about the Montana Dinner in Charlotte, held in conjunction with the NFDA Convention. Our Fall District Meeting will be held virtually in November, followed by the Mid-Winter Conference in Helena in January. MFDA will also host a legislator reception, providing an opportunity to meet and visit with our new legislators.
Finally, don’t forget about our inaugural Women’s Conference coming in October. We are excited about this new opportunity to connect, learn and celebrate the women who contribute so much to our profession and our association.
As we continue celebrating 125 years of MFDA, I am reminded again that our greatest strength is the people who make up this association. Thank you to our members, vendors, leaders, volunteers and partners for everything you do. Together, we are stronger — and the future of MFDA is bright!
