Meet Our Staff
Kelsey Thelen
Kelsey joined our firm in June 2012 as an assistant in the Bankruptcy Department. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in English from MSU-Bozeman in 2010 and her Paralegal Certificate from MSU-Billings in 2012. In 2018, Kelsey became our firm’s Office Manager.
Sue Furstenberg
Sue joined our firm October, 2005 as a Receptionist and assistant to everyone in the firm. Sue has over 30 years of office and customer service experience.
Athena Bermudez
Athena joined the firm in 2022 as a legal assistant. Before joining our firm, Athena grew up in San Francisco, California. In 2019 she moved to Montana and began working at AVA Law Group. At the AVA Law Group she was part of a three member team that prepared and managed their own in house cases, as well as cases with co-counsel. Athena is the firm's client intake and administrative assistant.
Amanda Bruton
Amanda joined the firm in August of 2022 as an assistant and paralegal to Molly S. Considine. She obtained her Bachelor Degree in Psychology from the University of Wyoming followed by a Paralegal Certificate. Prior to joining the firm, Amanda had 5 years of experience in personal injury law and case management services for disabled adults contracted through the state of Montana. She is a current member of Montana Association of Legal Assistants.
Alejandra Martinez
Alejandra graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2018. In 2021, she made the move to Montana. Alejandra joined our firm in 2021 as the billing specialist and is the legal assistant to Andy Patten.
April Boucher
April joined our firm in September, 1995 as a Paralegal for James A. Patten in the bankruptcy department. She has over 18 years in bankruptcy as well as commercial litigation, collections, and real estate law. April earned an Associates Degree from North Dakota College of Science and received her Paralegal Certificate from the Interstate Business College in Fargo, North Dakota. She is currently a member of the Montana Association of Legal Assistants.
Susan Malmstrom
Susan was born and raised in Billings. She graduated from Eastern Montana College with a degree in Business. After graduating, she worked as a legal assistant for 47 years. Susan enjoys spending times with her horses and dogs and compete in state and national competitions with her horses. She is a lifetime member of the Billings Saddle Club. Susan joined our firm in March of 2022 as the legal assistant to Morgan Tuss.
Jennifer Brockman
Jennifer began working in the legal field in 1997 and has worked with attorneys in Montana and Connecticut. She worked full-time and ran the household while her husband served in the US Navy. Once her husband retired from the military, they moved back home to Billings to be close to family and the slower pace of life in Montana. Jennifer joined our firm in August 2021 as the legal assistant to Bruce Bekkedahl and now works as Morgan Tuss' paralegal.
Lauren Brunmeier
Lauren joined our firm in October 2023 as a legal assistant to Bruce Bekkedahl. Previously, Lauren worked in banking as a Loan Processor. In 2017 she received her Paralegal Certificate from MSU-Billings.
Diane Kephart
Diane is a Paralegal and began with us in 1999 after majoring in accounting and graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from MSU-Bozeman in 1976. Diane works with Bruce Bekkedahl in the areas of estate and trust administration, fiduciary accounting, preparation of estate, gift and fiduciary income tax returns. Prior to working for PPBG, Diane had over twenty years' experience with public, private and governmental accounting entities.
Leonor Oliveira
Leonor attended Law School of the Catholic University of Pernambuco in Brazil, and became a Member of The Brazilian Bar Association in September, 1999. In May, 2004, she completed her LL.M. (Masters of Law for International Lawyers) at Temple University, Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Leonor joined us in November, 2012, and works as a Probate Assistant with Bruce Bekkedahl and his staff.
Danielle Jordan
Danielle joined our firm in June of 2019 as a paralegal to Scott Green in the departments of collections, civil litigation, general business, corporate and tax court. Prior to working for PPBG, Danielle had over 14 years of experience in the areas of estate planning, business planning, real estate transactions, and probate/trust administration. She is currently a member of the Montana Association of Legal Assistants (MALA).
Betty Jo Bochy
Betty Jo joined our firm in 2021 as a paralegal to Scott Green and Morgan Tuss. She works primarily in the areas of civil litigation, collections, business law, estate planning, and probate/trust administration. Betty Jo received a Certificate in Paralegal Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from MSU. Before she began working in the legal field, Betty Jo worked as a Purchasing Agent in the computer industry, as an Operation's Manager in the shipping industry, and helped raise a family.
