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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Keenan Chapman Funeral Assistant

Keenan is a Billings native who became familiar with funeral service through his grandparents, who for
several years were talented makers of ceramic urns out of the Butte area. He also has experienced the
loss of loved ones which he feels have helped him adapt to his profession along with his faith in God and
desire to serve the community. He feels that helping families during their time of grief is a calling for
him.


He is serving in the Montana Air National Guard and his hobbies include hiking, fishing, scuba diving and
spending time with his family. Keenan also enjoys going to church groups and events to keep his faith
strong.

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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, Billings Cremation & Burial Services 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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Patrick Margheim Funeral Assistant/Crematory Operator

Patrick has been working at the funeral homes since he was a teenager.  He graduated from Skyview High School in 2015 and received his bachelor's degree in Psychology from MSUB in 2023.  He enjoys helping families and enjoys most aspects of funeral service, but rather than follow in his mom's (Tanya's) footsteps and become a funeral director/mortician, he decided to pursue his master's degree in Psychology with plans of becoming a counselor.  When Patrick isn't at work or working on his studies, he enjoys bowling, softball, fishing and hunting.  He also enjoys gaming and movies.

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.

Keenan Chapman

Funeral Assistant
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Keenan is a Billings native who became familiar with funeral service through his grandparents, who for
several years were talented makers of ceramic urns out of the Butte area. He also has experienced the
loss of loved ones which he feels have helped him adapt to his profession along with his faith in God and
desire to serve the community. He feels that helping families during their time of grief is a calling for
him.


He is serving in the Montana Air National Guard and his hobbies include hiking, fishing, scuba diving and
spending time with his family. Keenan also enjoys going to church groups and events to keep his faith
strong.

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, Billings Cremation & Burial Services 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.

Patrick Margheim

Funeral Assistant/Crematory Operator
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Patrick has been working at the funeral homes since he was a teenager.  He graduated from Skyview High School in 2015 and received his bachelor's degree in Psychology from MSUB in 2023.  He enjoys helping families and enjoys most aspects of funeral service, but rather than follow in his mom's (Tanya's) footsteps and become a funeral director/mortician, he decided to pursue his master's degree in Psychology with plans of becoming a counselor.  When Patrick isn't at work or working on his studies, he enjoys bowling, softball, fishing and hunting.  He also enjoys gaming and movies.