Meet the Board

Ron is a longtime Butte resident. He graduated from Butte Central High School and has a BA from Carroll College, Helena, MT. Ron and his wife, Mary, are the owner/operators of Shepperd’s Candies Inc., in Butte. They have one son, who is also a proud Maroon and Saint. Ron fondly remembers being on the Emerson school playground, watching Our Lady ascend up the East Ridge in 1985. Ron has been on the Our Lady of the Rockies board since 2000. He has served as Vice-President and as President beginning in 2025.

Julie was born and raised in Butte, Montana, and has dedicated much of her career to fostering economic development and making Butte a stronger, more vibrant community. She is extremely proud of the Butte community and excited about the Our Lady of the Rockies future. Julie has over 32 years of experience with strategic planning, management, financing, and project execution. She has worked in both the public and private sectors and can help facilitate hard conversations and get the right people to the table when needed. Since joining the Lady of the Rockies Board in 2020, she has served as the Treasurer and now Vice President. She has been instrumental in securing a grant to build new restrooms at the statue, as well as improving the gift store in the Butte Plaza Mall.

Andy Durkin was born and raised in Butte. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Montana State University and is a CPA. Andy serves as controller for a Montana highway contractor and owns a tax practice serving individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. His community involvement has included serving as treasurer for several nonprofits and supporting economic development efforts in Butte.

Andy met Bob O’Bill while serving as treasurer of the Butte Emergency Food Bank, where Bob was a dedicated volunteer who quietly went far beyond providing food to help people throughout the community. Because Andy was born after Our Lady was completed—and because Bob never sought recognition—Andy did not initially know of Bob’s role in starting the project. Learning that history years later deepened Andy’s appreciation for Bob’s example and inspired his own service to Our Lady.

Andy sees Our Lady and the proposed gondola as opportunities to attract more visitors, strengthen Butte’s economy, improve access to the mountain, and create new outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

Outside of work and volunteering, Andy enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Tristan, and his son, Finn, and can be found at nearly every Montana State Bobcat football game.

Ray is a Butte native and long-time restaurateur. In addition to owning and operating several restaurants across Montana, he purchased the famed M&M bar and grill, turned it around and sold it to an employee. Partnered with his brother, he bought the historic Metals Bank building and redeveloped it into residential and commercial condos.

Mike is an original member of the board, serving since 1979. He is a retired general foreman for Montana Resources, Mike was an integral part of the original team of volunteers who built Our Lady of the Rockies. He is featured in the 30-minute film On the Mountain.

Bob Leipheimer has been on the Our Lady of the Rockies board since 1986. He is a past president. Bob grew up in Butte and is a lifelong skier. He skied on the MSU ski team. He met his wife of 60 years, Yvonne, while at MSU. Together they operated the Outdoorsman for 49 years and the Days Inn for 24.

They have two sons, Rob and Levi. Levi raced in the Tour de France ten times, finishing third once. They have two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Bob has been a steadfast proponent of the Butte Community and the gondola project.

Pat Fleming is a lawyer in Butte, a second generation Board Member of Our Lady of the Rockies (his mother served on the Board), and a lifelong resident of Butte. He serves and has served on numerous Boards and considers the Our Lady of the Rockies Board one of the best. He has served since 2020.

Melissa is a dedicated community advocate and public servant. A wife and mother of two, Melissa balances her family life with a strong commitment to Butte and the surrounding areas. Her career spans impactful roles in Human Resources, Law Enforcement, Real Estate, and Court Security.

Melissa’s passion for community improvement is evident in her ongoing efforts to enhance housing, beautify neighborhoods and promote safety for all residents. She is a graduate of Oregon State University with a bachelor’s in Marketing Management and a minor in Behavioral Science. She has served since 2025.

Bridget got involved with Our Lady of the Rockies by baking pasties for the annual sale, and she is the newest member of the board this year. Bridget Miller is a tattoo artist working out of a private studio called High Life Tattoo in Butte, MT. Bridget began tattooing in 2013 and specializes in black work, focusing on natural elements. Bridget keeps her focus on the positive impacts that creativity has on both her and her clients.