Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10
Introducing Haley Essenheimer
Haley is the Funeral Director at Axelson Funeral & Cremation Services in Butte, Montana. Haley has been interested in funeral directing from a young age. After high school, she began working toward a degree in human biology, which became the foundation for attending the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston, Texas. In 2020, she began her career working at a local funeral home in DeRidder, Louisiana, and graduated with her Mortuary Science degree in 2021. In 2022, she and her husband decided it was time to make the move to their dream location. They fell in love with Butte immediately, and knew it was the community they wanted to serve.
It was a long-term dream come true for Haley to begin working to help families at Axelson’s. Outside of the funeral home, she is still active in all the interests that brought her to funeral service in the first place. She loves to draw people and write about their stories. Haley is also a huge fan of film and literature.
Please take a moment to view the photos of Haley in the slider album below. We hope this brief collection of pictures helps our introduction be more complete.
Sending Your Condolences
When any of us suffer the loss of a friend or family member, we are compelled to express our sympathy to those closest to the loss, and at the same time express our own feelings.
Sometimes it’s easy to determine the one, or ones, who suffer the greatest loss. For example, when an elderly woman’s husband of 50 years passes away, she will almost surely be suffering the most from the loss. In that instance, others who may also be suffering great grief might include the children of the couple, and perhaps any siblings of the departed. Still, those who may have worked with the deceased or been a fishing buddy – or even just a casual friend – are likely feeling the loss at an appreciable level and have a genuine desire to express their condolences or feelings to, in this case, the widow.
Very, very few of us possess the ability to sit down and write a truly moving, heartfelt letter of condolence, which is what everyone believes is the way to properly express sympathies, along with their own feelings of loss or grief. We frequently get calls from folks looking for help composing such a letter or note. Below are a few suggestions and things to consider when tackling this very difficult, but very important, task.
- Less is usually better than more. Send a card, not a letter. If you’ve decided to send a letter, then your writing abilities most likely extend beyond the scope of this article
- Avoid clichés.
- Let a good card producer, such as Hallmark, do much of the heavy lifting. These cards have passed the test of time and come in offerings of an almost infinite array of beautifully written and sincere wishes and thoughts. Take some time picking the one you feel expresses your feelings and thoughts the best. Then add your brief handwritten note and signature.
- Using a first name only when signing a card is much more personal, but not always practical. If you have a very common first name, include your last name. The recipient will appreciate it.
- Handwrite the note AND hand address the card. No computer printouts or labels. If, because of disabilities, handwriting is not feasible, by all means type or have a friend handwrite your thoughts.
- In some very rare instances, consider a brief telephone message recording of your thoughts and feelings. In today’s world of text messages and recorded phone messages such things have become more socially acceptable. The voice, after all, is very capable of fully expressing sincerity and emotions.
- While some do disagree, and the consensus is changing, we do not recommend using text messaging to express condolences. That popular method of communication is still considered impersonal.
Of course, it’s impossible to cover all the options and nuances of this topic. That being said, we do hope this brief article helps you arrive at a decision and choice that’s best for you in your circumstance.
Christmas in August
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, Montana created a very special Christmas event as part of the final celebration for Marian R. (Coltrin) Niedge. After the service there was candlelight, and everyone sang Silent Night – Marian’s favorite song. Everyone in attendance was truly moved by the joining of voices for this beloved member of the community where she and her husband raised their three children. Here’s a brief excerpt from Marian’s obituary:
Marian Ruth (Coltrin) Niedge, age 88, of Miles City, Montana, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on August 9, 2024.
Marian was born October 1, 1935 in Miles City to Charles and Opal Coltrin and attended Miles City schools and graduated from Custer County High School in 1953. She then attended an airline stewardess school in St. Louis, Missouri.
Upon returning to Miles City, she met and married Donald L. Niedge, who was serving in the United States Army, on June 18, 1956. They lived in El Paso, Texas and Billings, Montana, but ultimately, settling in Miles City where they raised three children, Mark, Brian and Dawna Jo.
You can read the entire obituary HERE.
Below is a video compilation of photographs which allows us all the opportunity to share in a life lived well.
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 in Helena, Montana • 406-442-8520
Steve Pierce 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 • Steve Pierce Williston, North Dakota at 701.572.6329 • Mattie in Helena, Montana at 406-442-8520. 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.
Financial Assistance
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. Recently posted on the FEMA Covid-19 Funeral Assistance page: The COVID-19 incident period ended on May 11, 2023. FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025, to those who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic.
