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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Coby K. Swindlehurst Funeral Director

 

Coby grew up in Southern Utah. He served his internship in 1997 and later went to mortuary school in Nashville, TN.  After school he worked at a mortuary in Tooele, UT. February of 2005 he opened Swindlehurst Funeral Home in Beaver and Cedar City, UT. After 11 years he wanted something different. He sold the mortuaries and worked for a firm in Salt Lake City, UT.  He decided with his sweetheart and son to move to Montana.  Coby is happy to be in Billings with the Heights Family Funeral Home and Billings Cremation and Burial Service.

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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.

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Rikkie Jager Administrative Assistant

Rikkie Jager is a Montana girl through and through.  She was raised in Laurel, MT  and then moved to Billings, MT.

Rikkie is married and has raised 7 children, but is "mom" to many more.  She is very family-oriented and as a family they love and support each other's endeavors.  They have crafters, musicians, piercest and everything in between.  She is always willing to help out.

As a family they have a small business where they hand craft branded merchandise for local businesses.

In her free time, she runs the crafting business.  She enjoys this and has been doing craft shows since 2004.

Rikkie and her family love camping, fishing and taking pictures on their nature walks.

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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.

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Kenzie Beesley Office/Funeral Assistant

Kenzie is a Utah native and will always love her home state but is now venturing around Montana and finding her place here.

 

She was drawn to the funeral industry when she lost multiple loved ones unexpectedly in a short amount of time. This taught her a deeper understanding of grief and how meaningful it is to have truly caring people to guide and support through it. She has worked at several mortuaries in the past few years and has plans to pursue a degree in mortuary science to become a licensed funeral director. 

 

Outside of work she loves to bike, go to concerts, shop vintage and be out in the woods. She loves a good story and always has books and films she’s getting lost in. She currently lives in Billings with her two cute cats!

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.

Coby K. Swindlehurst

Funeral Director
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Coby grew up in Southern Utah. He served his internship in 1997 and later went to mortuary school in Nashville, TN.  After school he worked at a mortuary in Tooele, UT. February of 2005 he opened Swindlehurst Funeral Home in Beaver and Cedar City, UT. After 11 years he wanted something different. He sold the mortuaries and worked for a firm in Salt Lake City, UT.  He decided with his sweetheart and son to move to Montana.  Coby is happy to be in Billings with the Heights Family Funeral Home and Billings Cremation and Burial Service.

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.

Rikkie Jager

Administrative Assistant
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Rikkie Jager is a Montana girl through and through.  She was raised in Laurel, MT  and then moved to Billings, MT.

Rikkie is married and has raised 7 children, but is "mom" to many more.  She is very family-oriented and as a family they love and support each other's endeavors.  They have crafters, musicians, piercest and everything in between.  She is always willing to help out.

As a family they have a small business where they hand craft branded merchandise for local businesses.

In her free time, she runs the crafting business.  She enjoys this and has been doing craft shows since 2004.

Rikkie and her family love camping, fishing and taking pictures on their nature walks.

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.

Kenzie Beesley

Office/Funeral Assistant
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Kenzie is a Utah native and will always love her home state but is now venturing around Montana and finding her place here.

 

She was drawn to the funeral industry when she lost multiple loved ones unexpectedly in a short amount of time. This taught her a deeper understanding of grief and how meaningful it is to have truly caring people to guide and support through it. She has worked at several mortuaries in the past few years and has plans to pursue a degree in mortuary science to become a licensed funeral director. 

 

Outside of work she loves to bike, go to concerts, shop vintage and be out in the woods. She loves a good story and always has books and films she’s getting lost in. She currently lives in Billings with her two cute cats!