But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
A Common Question: What Will be Needed?
One of the most common questions we receive is: what information will we require in order to assist you with making the final arrangements? If you have visited with us, and pre-planned the final arrangements, we will likely already have everything required. If you have not made arrangements previously, here is a list of the information that we will need while the funeral arrangements are being made:
• Full name of deceased
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Social security number
• Father’s name
• Mother’s maiden name
• Last or usual occupation
• Education level
• Name of minister officiating at the funeral
• Cemetery information, if available
• Veteran information, if available
It’s a good idea to keep all of these things, or copies of them, in one place so they can be easily gotten to with as little stress as possible.
Empowering Youth
Funeral Director and owner, Terri Stevenson, gave a talk and tour to a large group of MedStart students. The students asked questions and went on a tour of the funeral home in Miles City. MedStart is a weeklong healthcare camp put on by the Montana Healthcare Network. The program brings high school students from across Montana together to explore careers in the medical field through hands-on training, job shadowing, and unique experiences.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Brooke Gierke (Funeral Director at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City) and her husband Jordan, on their new little girl and growing family. Ramsey Reed Gierke was born May 23, 2025 in Miles City. At just 2 months old, she’s already attended 2 weddings, 3 lake trips to Hell Creek, and traveled to Idaho to be with extended family. She’s a trooper!
Very helpful and kind staff – Thank You Notes sent to the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home in Sidney, Montana
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Planning Ahead
More and more people are realizing the many advantages of prearranging their funerals. The process is simple, and the benefits to the loved ones who are left to handle the arrangements are very well recognized and appreciated. To accommodate the growing need for professional pre-planning support, we provide highly trained and experienced Pre-Need Counselors at Stevenson & Sons:
Lynn Anderson in Miles City, Montana • 406-232-4457
Natalie Boey in Helena, Montana • 406-442-8520
Shera Konen in Butte, Montana • 406-494-4264
Steve Pearce in Williston, North Dakota • 701-572-6329
Some of the benefits of prearranging are:
Pre-planning allows you to express your own wishes • It means that your loved ones will not have to make a number of important decisions during a time of mourning • Your funeral plan is transferable, in case you move away • It relieves your family of the financial burden • It allows your loved ones to spend their time comforting each other during a time of grief, instead of concerning themselves with the specifics of the arrangements • When pre-planning, there are both guaranteed and non-guaranteed plans available to choose from • It allows you the opportunity to discuss your final arrangements with family members to ensure clarity, and to ensure that those responsible are comfortable with all of your decisions.
If you’d like to know more, we recommend visiting: https://www.whypreplan.org/
Funeral Planning Aid
We frequently receive questions regarding what the person responsible for making funeral arrangements should expect. Since we’ve received so many requests for this information, we are placing a link which allows our newsletter subscribers to download a complete copy of our Funeral Planning Aid. The informative article is presented as a PDF – simply click the PDF Button below to access it. That way, if you wish, you may keep it on your computer for future reference or sharing with others. If after you read the article, you have any questions, please contact one of our pre-planning professionals: Lynn Anderson in Miles City, Montana at 406-232-4457 • Natalie Boey in Helena, Montana at 406-442-8520 • Shera Konen, Butte, Montana at 406-494-4264 • Steve Pearce Williston, North Dakota at 701-572-6329. To download the Funeral Planning aid PDF CLICK HERE.
Who’s eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
- Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
- Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
How to establish veteran eligibility
Submit the DD Form 214. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filing a completed Standard Form 180 with: National Personnel Records Center(NPRC) • 9700 Page Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63132. The Standard Form 180 may be obtained from: http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf
Headstones for Veterans
For complete information and ordering, please visit: Legislative Changes Concerning Eligibility for Headstones, Markers and Medallions – National Cemetery Administration (va.gov)
Supporting Others
If you know someone who would benefit from the uplifting messages and support information we provide in these monthly newsletters, they can sign up to receive their own copy here. It’s a great way to lend your support to a friend or a family member.
