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.
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.
Dwight Cushman is a dedicated funeral professional whose career path began unexpectedly with a college project: the development of a digital guided tour of Arlington National Cemetery. Through interviews with funeral directors, clergy, military officers, and others,
Dwight discovered a profound calling to assist families with end-of-life matters. This experience prompted a career change, and he began his work in the funeral profession in 2008 while attending mortuary school.
Dwight's expertise extends across the spectrum of funeral and cemetery services. He is a licensed life insurance agent, a certified crematory operator, and has experience in preneed funeral and cemetery sales.
For Dwight, his work is not about focusing on morbidity, but on helping people see death is a powerful call to action—a reminder to live each day to its fullest. Outside of his professional life, he finds joy and beauty through his love of drawing and painting and cherishes time spent with his family.
Stephanie is a Funeral Assistant new to the profession, bringing compassion and a genuine desire to support families during their most difficult moments. Having lived in Billings for 15 years after growing up in Southern California, she values community, connection, and the importance of being present for others. Stephanie is committed to learning and growing in her role, offering thoughtful and caring service that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of the families she serves.
A proud mom of two daughters, Stephanie loves sharing adventures with her girls, whether it’s hiking through the mountains, horseback riding, or exploring the outdoors with their dogs. She cherishes family, connection, and the opportunity to bring comfort, support, and a kind presence to those who need it most.
Danielle is excited to be growing in a new career as a funeral assistant, bringing support to families during life's most challenging moments. Born and raised in Billings, MT Danielle values both connections and lending a helping hand to those in need.
A mother of two, she finds joy in life being with family and friends. Her favorite outdoor activities include boating, camping and cheering on the kids as they ride dirt bikes and compete in hill climbs. Danielle's contagious laugh and smile light up any room helping her create an atmosphere of reassurance for the families she serves.
Committed to growing in her career, Danielle's friendliness and wanting to help others makes her a valued presence in both her career and personal life.
Brenda was born and raised in Chicago, IL along with her six siblings. Brenda began her career in Funeral Service in 2019 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Mortuary Science and Funeral service. She completed a brief internship with Jackson Funeral home located several miles from SIUC campus and graduated in 2023. Brenda joined Memorial Mortuary and Cemeteries in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2024, where she obtained licensure. Brenda was delighted to explore and learn more in the Funeral Industry therefore she relocated to Billings, Montana.
Pursuing a career as a Funeral Director has been a childhood dream of mine and I am truly honored to contribute to the Funeral Industry. I enjoy caring for families during such a difficult time with compassion, understanding, empathy, and integrity.
When I am not working, I enjoy listening to music, reading a book, decorating, shopping, and spending time with the ones I love.
''You can't truly heal from a loss until you allow yourself to really feel the loss.''
A proud Montana native, Ashley grew up on a farm in the scenic South Valley near Fort Smith. When she's not working, she enjoys cheering on her son Wyatt at baseball games, as well as spending time outdoors fishing, camping, and attending concerts.
Ashley has experienced deep personal loss with the passing of her oldest son, Jake, in 2013. This life-altering experience has given her a unique and compassionate perspective, allowing her to serve grieving families with empathy, care, and understanding.
She is grateful for the opportunity to be part of each family’s journey and looks forward to continuing her growth and learning in the funeral profession.
Lora Ramirez recently relocated here from Colorado Springs, Colorado to be closer to her family. She brings previous funeral service experience and considers this her most rewarding role yet. Having recently experienced the loss of a loved one herself, she understands firsthand how important compassionate care is during difficult times.
Lora is dedicated to guiding families with respect, helping them honor their loved ones with meaningful, personal services.
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 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. 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.