Bible Verse of the Month
Now the God of hope
fill you with
all joy and peace
in believing,
that ye may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13
A Thank You note sent to the Miles City Staff
To the entire Stevenson crew,
It obviously takes more than one or two people to do what you do day after day. Our community is so very blessed to have you all caring for us and carrying our burdens, heavy hearts in our most vulnerable time of need. There are no words to express our thankfulness, gratitude and appreciation for all of you. You made an intolerable situation bearable. We pray that our heavenly Father will keep you all in his care. Thank you again for everything.
Jim & Geneal, Clay, Brianne, Corbin, Cade, Hannah, Nora
Sherry Berger Retiring From Bell Mortuary in Glasgow, Montana
Sherry Berger announces her retirement. Sherry began her career at Bell Mortuary as an Office Administrator on October 23, 2017, after nearly 27 years as an EMT on the Glasgow Ambulance Service.
Sherry’s tireless service at Bell included office administration and creating photo boards and slideshows for the families Bell is privileged to serve. With an extensive knowledge of PhotoShop, and a professional background in photography, Sherry was a true asset to Bell and will be greatly missed.
Sherry and her husband Clay have relocated to Brockway, Montana and are enjoying soaking up the beautiful landscapes and all the wildlife that Eastern Montana offers. She’s looking forward to traveling, seeing her family much more and kicking her feet up a bit!
Burial and Cremation Vaults
Burial and cremation vaults (see the photos at the end of this article) are lined units that enclose the casket when it is placed at the gravesite. They are designed to prevent the weight of soil and heavy equipment from damaging the casket. There are no laws that require the use of burial or cremation vaults, however, cemeteries often require their use as it reduces the chance that soil over the grave will settle. Hence, they help with general gravesite maintenance and the overall appearance of the cemetery. Most Montana cemeteries now require the use of burial and cremation vaults.
Graves are no longer opened by hand using a shovel. Today, the backhoe, which often weighs in excess of six tons, is the machine used for creating most grave openings. The weight of the backhoe, the daily grind of cemetery landscaping and grounds maintenance equipment and the constant forces of the soil pressure reinforce the need for casket or urn protection. The burial vault is designed and constructed to withstand the forces that would otherwise act upon the casket, thus avoiding ground shifting and damage to the casket.
Burial and cremation vaults are available in a variety of finishes and materials including fiberglass and concrete.
Financial Assistance
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020…
If you lost a loved one due to Covid-19, you may qualify for financial assistance for your family’s funeral expenses. Click here to find out more information.
Grief Support
Many people do not have the time to locate a proper grief counselor. Others do not live in an area where there are any grief counselors available. And finally, many people are not prepared to pay a professional for grief counseling. Fortunately, the internet provides some solutions for those who wish to seek grief counseling or to interact with groups of people who are also coping with grief. Many such services exist, as do professional counselors who will assist people privately on line, hence eliminating the need for travel. Not all services are the same, nor are all chat rooms/groups. You should research what you are interested in and follow-up on the leads you believe will be most helpful to your personal situation until you locate exactly what works best for you. In your search engine look for terms like “grief chat rooms” “bereavement support groups” “professional grief counseling” or “grief management.” Good research is the path to successfully linking up with what, or who, will work the best for you. Another option would be to start your search at the Mental Health American website. Lots of information, and many places to research groups, centers and more.
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 (https://stevensonandsons.com/news/sign-up/). It’s a great way to lend your support to a friend or a family member.
