executive director
donor relations coordinator
administrative assistant
president
past president
vice president
secretary
treasurer
executive director
Amanda Yeoman Melro has served as Partners Hope Foundation’s Executive Director since 2022. Previously she volunteered on the Foundation’s marketing committee while serving in her role in marketing and development for Partners In Home Care, a nonprofit home health and hospice care service provider based in Missoula. Amanda began her nonprofit career at Partners In Home Care working 16 years for the organization. She has strong relationships with healthcare providers across the state including tribal services and nonprofits that provide hospice care and other important resources to community members. She holds a Master’s certificate in nonprofit administration at the University of Montana, where she also received her undergraduate degree. As a 5th-generation Montanan from Havre, Amanda is passionate about providing healthcare to rural populations.
Amanda enjoys spending time at home with her husband Francisco and their two cats. She loves to laugh and have fun with her friends while exploring Montana and will never say no to a day on the river.
donor relations coordinator
Bio coming soon…
administrative assistant
Phallon Arthun is a third-generation Montanan, raised on a farm in the state’s western region. She has a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Montana and a M.S. in Forensic Psychology from Arizona State University. She now owns her own interior design business in Missoula, where her work reflects a deep interest in human behavior, well-being and creating meaningful spaces. She performs a variety of administrative support tasks for Partners Hope foundation and supports the upkeep and maintenance of the building and grounds.
Her time studying in Japan and traveling in Norway shaped her outlook on life and death. These cultures, rooted in simplicity, beauty and respect for the natural cycle of life, continue to influence her approach to interior design and her belief in creating peaceful, meaningful spaces.
She enjoys spending time outdoors with her fiancé and dog, gardening, cooking and exploring Montana’s rivers and mountains.
president
Dr. Stan Seagraves is a retired internist and hospitalist who began his medical career in Missoula in 1989, when he joined the Western Montana Clinic. He practiced primary care internal medicine for 18 years before practicing inpatient medicine exclusively at St Patrick Hospital. Dr. Seagraves participated in a range of leadership roles at WMC and St Patrick’s Hospital, serving as chair of the physician recruitment committee and the Department of Medicine, as well as serving as President of the Medical Staff and Medical Director of St Patrick’s Hospitalist program from 2008 through his retirement in 2020. In both his primary care and hospitalist experiences, Dr. Seagraves gained an appreciation for the importance of improving care at the end of life and is honored to help Hope Hospice Center serve Montana and their families.
Dr. Seagraves and his wife, Janet, have five terrific children and three fabulous grandchildren. They travel as much as they can, and Stan is fortunate to have married a woman who, with some minor constraints, allows him to indulge in all manner of gardening and fly-fishing compulsions.
past president
Betsy Wackernagel Bach is a retired University of Montana faculty member, where she taught courses in organizational communication for almost four decades. Her most recent passion was teaching a course on communication in nonprofit organizations. Her dedication to hospice and palliative care came while she was on the faculty at Missoula’s Chalice of Repose project, a music thanatology program that was housed at Providence St Patrick Hospital. She has published over 40 books and articles about communication in organizations, served as president of the National Communication Association in 2009, and worked as assistant provost and dean of the Honors College at UM. She has volunteered her time on 13 nonprofit boards, including the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, the Montana Art Museum of Art and Culture, and the YWCA.
Betsy enjoys good wine and conversation. She likes to laugh, especially with her beautiful grandson.
vice president
Julie grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as an oncology registered nurse for 35+ years in many different roles, including working as a chemotherapy infusion nurse, radiation oncology nurse and an oncology care coordinator in multiple breast centers and oncology clinics. She obtained her oncology certifications in Oncology Nursing as well as Certified Breast Care Nursing. Her dedication to hospice and palliative care began when serving on the board of Good Shepherd Hospice in Florida. In retirement, she has volunteered as an RN with Camp Mak-A-Dream, International Needs in Ghana and Missoula City County Health Dept Covid vaccination team. Julie’s father resided with her at the end of his years in Missoula and received hospice care from Partners In Home Care. Letting go of a parent is never easy, but hospice bridged the gap, creating a peaceful, meaningful experience for Julie and her family. Julie was able to take off her nurse’s cap and simply be a daughter.
Julie enjoys her time with her husband Jeff at Flathead Lake, hiking and bicycling in Glacier National Park with family and friends, downhill skiing and mostly visiting with her three marvelous children and two special granddaughters.
secretary
Julie Brehm has worked extensively with the American Red Cross biomedical division. During her tenure with Red Cross, Julie was instrumental in growing blood collections in the Las Vegas market, coordinating efforts with MGM Resorts International and other key partners. Julie’s strategic planning skills have also assisted hydra Brands where she serves as Wholesale Sales Manager. The gift industry has faced significant challenges during the pandemic, but hydra Brands products are thriving under Julie’s strategic planning and process improvement skills.
Julie has seen firsthand the importance of life-saving blood products and continues to be a committed blood donor. She has a strong belief in end-of-life care.
Gayle Hudgins retired as a professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Director of Experiential Education in the University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy in 2017. After serving as the director of the Montana Geriatric Education Center and the Montana Geriatric Workforce Enhancement program from 2007 to 2017, she continued working with the project in the roles of pharmacy faculty and evaluator until 2024. She also continued to coordinate and teach in the Gerontology minor at UM. In her career as a pharmacy educator, Gayle provided consultant services in a variety of settings, including the original Hospice of Missoula, which became the Partners in Home Care hospice program. As a member of the hospice care team during those years, she had the pleasure of working with Ira Byock, MD, and many other dedicated professionals. Given her life’s work and family experience with her mother and mother-in-law receiving hospice care, Gayle is an ardent supporter of hospice services at the end of life.
Gayle and her husband, Tim Edwards, love to travel, especially to Washington, D.C., and Scotland to visit their children and grandchildren.
treasurer
Rosi Keller’s career with the University of Montana spanned more than 33 years. Her work began with the Internal Audit Department and led to ultimately serving as the vice president for Administration and Finance. In her work, she oversaw the issuance of over $500 million in revenue bonds for the construction and renovation of facilities, played a key role in transitioning the Montana University System worker compensation program from the State Fund to a self-insured program, was instrumental in creating a financially stable environment while state support declined, and led the development of a comprehensive Master Plan for the University. Rosi served as the chair of the University of Montana (all campuses) Debt Management Committee, member of the Strategic and Budget Planning Committee, and board of directors for US Bank.
Rosi is passionate about helping others and volunteers at an infant care center, tutors refugee children and helps to provide an environment for those at the end of life that embraces dignity, respect, comfort and compassion.
Dr. Melody Cunningham recently relocated to Missoula after 15 years as Medical Director of Threads of Care, Pediatric Palliative Care at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Prior, Melody served as Medical Director in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children’s Hospital. During her 24 years of caring for pediatric patients with serious illness, she realized that family and patient decisions at the end of life are intensely guided by personal values. She believes that listening and honoring these values and individual assessments of quality of life may facilitate healthy grieving and ultimately healing. Personal, sudden losses taught her early in life that the opportunity to say goodbye is a gift and has guided her in patient advocacy. In Montana, she sees the need for availability of hospice for children. Melody has received several awards including the FDA Pediatric Advisory Committee Service Award in 2021 and finalist for the prestigious Schwartz Center National compassionate Caregiver of the Year award in 2015. Melody has served as Fellowship Director for University of Tennessee Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship and Medical Director of the Thalassemia Program at Harvard Medical School.
In her free time Melody refills her vessel with cooking, hiking and star-gazing.
Dan Dixson, a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains, holds a Certificate in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Dan has served congregations in California, Idaho and Montana and has a long history of end-of-life bereavement. He has worked for the Missoula Demonstration Project — Quality at Life’s End and chaired the board for the Life’s End Institute. In 2009, Dan moved back to Missoula where he currently serves as the chaplain and bereavement specialist for Partners In Home Care.
Dan finds energy and purpose in leading workshops and retreats regionally and nationally in the areas of end of life and grief.
Tom France brings decades of leadership in policy, advocacy and stakeholder collaboration to the Partners Hope Foundation board. Tom is a current Montana legislator and longtime conservation leader, retiring in 2020 as the National Wildlife Federation’s Executive Director for the Northern Rockies, Prairies and Pacific Region.
Allan Frankl an engineer trained at Montana State University and grew up on a cattle ranch in the Flint Creek Valley near Phillipsburg. He began his career and continues to work with Dick Anderson Construction where he currently serves as vice president. Allan has been involved with a wide variety of projects including office buildings, hospitals, dental offices, research facilities, retail stores, restaurants, K-12 school buildings, university buildings, bridges, waste and water treatment plants, along with wind and solar energy facilities. Allan has served on several nonprofit boards and realizes the importance of giving back to the community. The most fulfilling project of his career was managing the construction of Peace Hospice Residential Facility in Great Falls.
Allan enjoys spending as much time as possible with his six-year-old daughter. When she is occupied, he enjoys rock climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, skiing, hunting and fishing.
Bob Heffner is currently a managing director at AdvantEdge Advisors LLC in Missoula. Bob’s expertise as a merger and acquisition advisor builds on his varied experience as a business owner in building construction and in retail foods, economic development chief at the Montana Department of Commerce, and commercial banker. At the Commerce Department, Bob started Montana’s Presidential Award-winning Microbusiness Finance Program and supervised the state’s foreign trade offices. As a commercial lender, he financed growth opportunities for hundreds of companies including AT&T Capital. He holds degrees in economics and architecture/urban planning. Attending to his mother’s decline and death in the spring of 2021 engendered Bob’s profound appreciation of hospice care. In Bob’s words, hospice transformed the experience from a struggle with symptoms, systems and providers to recognizing and engaging in the process of death with a beloved parent.
Bob “still grinds it out” on wilderness backpack trips with his sons and pursues skiing, grandchildren’s sports events and foreign travel with his wife Nancy.
Dan Jenko grew up in Helena and graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in accounting. He recently retired from the University of Montana after a 23-year career in Business Services. He began his time at UM as the accounting manager and was eventually promoted to the controller position, which he held until his retirement. Beginning in 2019, Dan also served as the director of the department. Dan’s responsibilities included preparation of the university’s consolidated financial statements as well as financial reporting for the public radio and TV stations. In addition, he was extensively involved in the university’s bond issuances for capital projects and debt restructurings. Earlier in his career, Dan spent 12 years with a regional CPA firm in Spokane, focusing on auditing and tax. His clients included several nonprofit organizations.
Dan and his family will be forever grateful for the professional and compassionate hospice care that his 96-year-old father received as he approached the end of his life. Dan sees retirement as a wonderful opportunity to “give back” by being involved in organizations that provide essential services to those in need in our community. Dan enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, camping and playing golf.
Brenda M. Meyer is currently employed by First Interstate Bank as a Private Banking Officer who assists local Corporations and private individuals in the community with Commercial and Consumer Financial needs. A large portion of her customers fall within the Health Care Sector. During her tenure with First Interstate Bank she has held the position of the Donation Committee Chair for Western Montana. This has allows her to be uniquely tied to the needs of the Western Montana.
Brenda is married and has two daughters one in high school and one attending Montana State University studying Dietetics. In her spare time she enjoys spending time running in the Mountains, as well as family time at Flathead Lake.
Linda May Pelo returned to Montana after 36 years living and working in Colorado, California, and Arizona. A native of Great Falls, she is a graduate of the University of Montana.
Driven by a strong commitment to the health and well-being of children and families. Linda has held key leadership roles in the nonprofit sector. She served as the Assistant Director and Telethon Coordinator for the Valley Children’s Hospital Foundation in Fresno, California, and Executive Director of a major Colorado public school district’s educational foundation.
Linda brings a diverse professional background that includes expertise in communications, fundraising and development, special event planning, marketing and promotions, and public, media, and community relations. Her experience spans both nonprofit and corporate environments, where she has held various management positions and contributed to strategic planning initiatives.
Her interest in hospice care is deeply personal. Inspired by her sister’s role in the establishment of Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Montana, as well as the compassionate hospice care her own family members have received. Linda is dedicated to sharing her expertise, passion and skills in the ongoing support of Hope Hospice Center.
Linda and her husband, Tom, are delighted to be back in Montana, enjoying the opportunity to live close to family and again embrace life in the Big Sky Country.
Nancy LeBuhn Pickhardt grew up in the Chicago area and received her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from the University of Colorado, Denver. While in school, she worked at Craig Hospital, a rehabilitation center for people with spinal cord and head injuries. She then worked for six years in the neurosurgery ICU at Denver General Hospital. Nancy came to Missoula in 1990, with her husband, Brad Pickhardt, MD, where they have raised their four now adult children, all of whom work in the service industry. She returned to nursing as a hospice nurse with Partners in Home Care 2014. As a hospice nurse, she had many deeply meaningful and remarkable experiences. Her greatest life achievements have been guiding family members through and being fully present at the deaths of her father, mother, younger sister and uncle, all of whom died on hospice. Realizing the profound need for an end-of-life center, she is one of the founding members and currently board president of Partners Hope Foundation. Believing that service is joy, Nancy has volunteered at local schools, the Missoula Food Bank, the Red Cross and her church.
Nancy’s deep satisfaction and balance in her life comes from time with family and friends on the trails and ski slopes around Missoula and her book club.
Kim Visser has roots deeply planted in Montana with a commitment to community and nonprofits. Kim’s vast board service includes Camp Mak-A-Dream as a founding board member, Community Medical Center, St. Patrick Hospital Foundation, Montana Eye Bank and the Missoula Children’s Theater. As well as serving on several boards outside Montana, Kim currently serves on the board of SPARK!, a Kennedy Center Arts Integration program, the board of the Phyllis J. Washington School of Education and the board of the Mansfield Center.
A great appreciation of hospice compassion and care is very close to Kim and her family. Her greatest joys are sharing time with family and friends at Camp Elmer on Flathead Lake.
