Staff

Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.

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Tanya “T” Rae Ballensky, CFSP Owner/Operator

Certified in Grief Recovery and Equine Assisted Learning.

Tanya “T” Ballensky started her career in funeral service in 2000 as an embalmer in Denver, Colorado while attending mortuary school. She became Licensed in the state of Montana in 2002 after completing her internship with Bullis Mortuary in Hardin and Miles City. In 2008 Tanya purchased Cremation & Funeral Gallery where she had been employed since 2004 and in 2014 she opened Heights Family Funeral Home. In 2016 Tanya received her career designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner. The achievement signifies her commitment to raise and improve the professional standards of funeral service practice and pursue lifelong learning.

In 2013 Tanya became certified in grief and bereavement services and in 2016 she became certified as an Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator.

Tanya enjoys helping families and getting involved in community events. She is very passionate about helping others improve their quality of life. She loves being able to share her horses with the community by taking them to visit nursing homes and assisted living homes.

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Erik Stenberg Mortician/Funeral Director

Erik Stenberg has been a licensed Funeral Director /Embalmer in Montana since 1998.  He attended and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science In Wheeling, Illinois in 1998.  Following graduation he returned to his home town of Big Timber where he was employed by Lowry Funeral Home until 2000.  From 2000 to 2004 he worked at Cremation or Funeral Gallery in Billings, and in 2004 he decided to move back to Big Timber and start his own firm, Stenberg Funeral Home, which he owns and operates today.  In 2016 he rejoined the staff at Cremation & Funeral Gallery and Heights Family Funeral Home.

Erik was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Army as a SSgt and has been a member of American Legion Post #19 in Big Timber since 1993 and serves as a rifleman on the Honor Guard for veteran services. 

Erik and his wife Jolene have 2 sons and 4 grandchildren and when they have some free time they enjoy going to their cabin in the Bull Mountains and just relaxing.  Erik enjoys to hunt and fish and collecting   firearms.  He has hunted in the U.S., Canada and South Africa and has another safari scheduled in April 2023. 

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Jason Brister Funeral Home Assistant/Crematory Operator

Jason has lived in Billings for most of his life. Jason graduated from Skyview High school. He then went and studied some college credits at Rocky Mountain College and MSU of Billings. Jason plans on pursuing a mortuary science degree from Des Moines Area Community college.  Before starting with Cremation & Funeral Gallery, Jason worked at Target and Kohl’s in Billings. Jason started his career at Cremation & Funeral Gallery in 2009. Jason assists with everyday tasks at both locations, Cremation & Funeral Gallery and Heights Family Funeral Home.  He also holds a Crematory Operators license at both locations. Jason is involved with the Heights Exchange club. One of his favorite events to attend with the Heights Exchange club is Student of the Month.  In his spare time he enjoys riding his motorcycle and just keeping busy with household tasks.

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Kay McKittrick Administrative Assistant

Kay was born in Columbus, Montana, and has lived in Montana most of her life. She loves spending time with family and friends, and enjoys the outdoors, fishing, camping and river rafting.

 Kay worked at the MRM Women & Family Shelter for almost 18 years and as a caregiver for STEP and Consumer Direct. She has also worked retail at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Walgreens.

 

 

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Helen Brown Administrative Assistant

Helen was raised in Billings with her three siblings and graduated from Billings West High School.  She’s married to her best friend, Dave, whom she’s been with for nearly 40 years.  Family has always been very important to Helen and she treasures the time she gets to spend with them, especially her three grandchildren.  She has held several positions over the years but spent many years at a bakery that she owned with her mom.  Helen enjoys cooking (especially baking), reading and spending time in the country with her farm animals at her home outside of Park City.  She also enjoys traveling with her husband to shoe horses.  Helen is support staff at both Cremation & Funeral Gallery and Heights Family Funeral Home.

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Anna Domagala Administrative Assistant

Anna was born and raised in Bowman, ND. She received an Associate Degree from Dickinson State College, Dickinson, ND. Most of her adult life was spent in Bismarck, ND, working for the state in higher education. In 2012, she moved to Billings to be closer to family. Before starting with Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory in October 2019, she worked for six years at a legal firm. She enjoys watching TV and movies, reading, baking, and an occasional puzzle.

Tanya “T” Rae Ballensky, CFSP

Owner/Operator
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Certified in Grief Recovery and Equine Assisted Learning.

Tanya “T” Ballensky started her career in funeral service in 2000 as an embalmer in Denver, Colorado while attending mortuary school. She became Licensed in the state of Montana in 2002 after completing her internship with Bullis Mortuary in Hardin and Miles City. In 2008 Tanya purchased Cremation & Funeral Gallery where she had been employed since 2004 and in 2014 she opened Heights Family Funeral Home. In 2016 Tanya received her career designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner. The achievement signifies her commitment to raise and improve the professional standards of funeral service practice and pursue lifelong learning.

In 2013 Tanya became certified in grief and bereavement services and in 2016 she became certified as an Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator.

Tanya enjoys helping families and getting involved in community events. She is very passionate about helping others improve their quality of life. She loves being able to share her horses with the community by taking them to visit nursing homes and assisted living homes.

Erik Stenberg

Mortician/Funeral Director
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Erik Stenberg has been a licensed Funeral Director /Embalmer in Montana since 1998.  He attended and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science In Wheeling, Illinois in 1998.  Following graduation he returned to his home town of Big Timber where he was employed by Lowry Funeral Home until 2000.  From 2000 to 2004 he worked at Cremation or Funeral Gallery in Billings, and in 2004 he decided to move back to Big Timber and start his own firm, Stenberg Funeral Home, which he owns and operates today.  In 2016 he rejoined the staff at Cremation & Funeral Gallery and Heights Family Funeral Home.

Erik was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Army as a SSgt and has been a member of American Legion Post #19 in Big Timber since 1993 and serves as a rifleman on the Honor Guard for veteran services. 

Erik and his wife Jolene have 2 sons and 4 grandchildren and when they have some free time they enjoy going to their cabin in the Bull Mountains and just relaxing.  Erik enjoys to hunt and fish and collecting   firearms.  He has hunted in the U.S., Canada and South Africa and has another safari scheduled in April 2023. 

Jason Brister

Funeral Home Assistant/Crematory Operator
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Jason has lived in Billings for most of his life. Jason graduated from Skyview High school. He then went and studied some college credits at Rocky Mountain College and MSU of Billings. Jason plans on pursuing a mortuary science degree from Des Moines Area Community college.  Before starting with Cremation & Funeral Gallery, Jason worked at Target and Kohl’s in Billings. Jason started his career at Cremation & Funeral Gallery in 2009. Jason assists with everyday tasks at both locations, Cremation & Funeral Gallery and Heights Family Funeral Home.  He also holds a Crematory Operators license at both locations. Jason is involved with the Heights Exchange club. One of his favorite events to attend with the Heights Exchange club is Student of the Month.  In his spare time he enjoys riding his motorcycle and just keeping busy with household tasks.

Kay McKittrick

Administrative Assistant
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Kay was born in Columbus, Montana, and has lived in Montana most of her life. She loves spending time with family and friends, and enjoys the outdoors, fishing, camping and river rafting.

 Kay worked at the MRM Women & Family Shelter for almost 18 years and as a caregiver for STEP and Consumer Direct. She has also worked retail at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Walgreens.

 

 

Helen Brown

Administrative Assistant
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Helen was raised in Billings with her three siblings and graduated from Billings West High School.  She’s married to her best friend, Dave, whom she’s been with for nearly 40 years.  Family has always been very important to Helen and she treasures the time she gets to spend with them, especially her three grandchildren.  She has held several positions over the years but spent many years at a bakery that she owned with her mom.  Helen enjoys cooking (especially baking), reading and spending time in the country with her farm animals at her home outside of Park City.  She also enjoys traveling with her husband to shoe horses.  Helen is support staff at both Cremation & Funeral Gallery and Heights Family Funeral Home.

Anna Domagala

Administrative Assistant
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Anna was born and raised in Bowman, ND. She received an Associate Degree from Dickinson State College, Dickinson, ND. Most of her adult life was spent in Bismarck, ND, working for the state in higher education. In 2012, she moved to Billings to be closer to family. Before starting with Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory in October 2019, she worked for six years at a legal firm. She enjoys watching TV and movies, reading, baking, and an occasional puzzle.