Rick Walter
President
Rick graduated from the University of Montana Western with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. In 2001, he received his mortuary science degree from Mt. Hood Community College in Portland, Oregon. Rick has worked at several funeral homes in Montana since 2010, and in 2025, he started working at Longfellow Funeral Home in Anaconda. In his spare time, Rick enjoys reading and collecting books, as well as camping and kayaking.
Jim Asper
Vice President
Jim began his career in the deathcare industry as a part-time cemetery maintenance worker. When he turned 18, he started as an apprentice mortician. He graduated from Mt. Hood Community College with an applied degree in mortuary science. Together with his beautiful wife, Autumn, and four teenage kids, Jim moved to Shelby after the purchase of the Whitted Funeral Chapels in Cut Bank and Shelby. He spends whatever little time off he has golfing, hunting, traveling and enjoying as much quality time with his family as possible.
Chris Holt
Treasurer
Chris graduated from Mt. Hood Community College in Portland, Oregon, in funeral service in 2007. Chris moved his family to Helena and has been serving there ever since. Chris previously served as president of MFDA for two years and is also an at-large representative on the NFDA Board. Chris is married to Kelly, and they have five wonderful children. They enjoy activities outdoors, including hunting, fishing and hiking.
Kassity Sorlie
Secretary
As a mortician at Smith Funeral Chapels in Billings, Kassity’s true passion lies in supporting families through one of the most difficult seasons of their lives. She has previously served as the MFDA Southcentral District governor. When Kassity is not serving families, her greatest joy is being a wife and a mom. You can often find her hand-painting wooden character displays for her front yard to celebrate the holidays, curled up with a good book or watching a rom-com.
Brianne Mulvaney
Immediate Past President
Brianne has worked in funeral homes since 2014, starting at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home in Helena, Montana. She graduated from American Academy McAllister Institute with her mortuary science degree in 2016 and became a fully licensed mortician in Montana in 2017. Brianne and her husband, Nick, moved to Butte to serve families at Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services, Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Cremation Services, and other civic involvements. In her spare time, spending time with family and friends and practicing yoga are her passions.
Austin Asper
Northcentral District Governor
Austin started working in the deathcare industry when his father decided to take over the funeral homes in Shelby and Cut Bank. When he graduated from high school in 2015, he decided to pursue a degree in psychology but ultimately changed his major to mortuary science. While in school, he worked as an apprentice at Larkin Mortuary in Utah. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Austin cut his apprenticeship short and returned home to assist the family business. He has been there ever since. Austin currently resides with his wife, Molly, their sons and their dog in Shelby, Montana.
Donna Dawson
Southcentral District Governor
Donna proudly served 24 years as a United States Marine and also has 10 years of experience as an educator. As a first-generation funeral director, Donna blazed her own trail into the profession. Over the past four years as a licensed funeral director in Montana, Donna has embraced the sacred responsibility of serving families during their most vulnerable moments with compassion, dignity and professionalism. As district governor, she is committed to strengthening the bonds between funeral professionals across the district.
Courtney Molloy
Western District Governor
Courtney earned a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science and funeral service with a minor in sociology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Courtney began working in a funeral home in 2005. Prior to joining the Missoula Funeral Homes, Courtney worked for Baue Funeral Homes in St. Charles and O’Fallon, Missouri, serving as a funeral director and manager. Courtney and her husband, Eli, moved to Missoula in 2021, and they have three boys. In her free time, Courtney enjoys reading, hiking, skiing, traveling and generally being in the sunshine.
Brooke Gierke
Eastern District Governor
She attended Montana State University Billings, graduating with an Associate of Business. After a few years, she decided to attend Mt. Hood Mortuary Science Program in Portland, Oregon. Brooke started with Stevenson & Sons in the summer of 2021. She is married to a Miles City native, Jordan Gierke, and they have one daughter, Ramsey, and twins on the way — due this fall. In her free time, she loves being with family and friends, traveling and planning a good lake trip when time allows.
Jessie Sather
Southwestern District Governor
Jessie is a dedicated public servant, wife and mother of six. She lives with her husband, Doug, and spent 20 years working as a pediatric physical therapist before returning to school to pursue a career in mortuary science. Jessie joined the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Coroner’s Office in 2011 and was appointed coroner in 2017. In 2021, she entered the funeral industry. When not serving her community, she enjoys spending time with her children and family, traveling, attending concerts and finding great food spots to try.
Katie Scot
Future Development Leaders
Katie attended the University of Montana, earning her doctorate in forensic anthropology. While in graduate school, she discovered funeral service and has worked in Missoula funeral homes ever since. She now works at Just Cremation Montana in Missoula. Katie also teaches a few classes remotely for Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Katie lives with her two-year-old son and their dog. In her free time, she tries to enjoy the Montana outdoors as much as possible, but more realistically, as a parent, she will settle for reading and cross-stitching at home.
