Lindsey Klebenow

Nomination Story

"Lindsey Klebenow’s story doesn’t begin with a title or an award—it begins with a little girl, just nine years old, learning how to care for her grandmother on a remote island where help didn’t exist. There were no resources, no guidance—just love, resilience, and a determination to figure things out together. That experience didn’t just shape her childhood; it quietly built the foundation for the woman she would become. Years later, Lindsey carried that same determination with her to Montana, where she attended Montana State University. While earning her bachelor’s degree in Community Health with a minor in Gerontology, she didn’t just study caregiving—she lived it. She became a CNA and an EMT, working hands-on in assisted living, memory care, and eventually home care. It was never just a job to her; it was a calling that had started long before she even knew what to call it. But Lindsey didn’t stop there. While continuing her work in home care, she took a leap that few would dare—she became a business owner. At the same time, she was accepted into the prestigious USC School of Gerontology. Over the next three years, she balanced running a company, completing her master’s degree, and welcoming a new baby into her life. Where most would feel overwhelmed, Lindsey pressed forward with quiet strength and unwavering purpose. After graduating, she saw a gap in care that needed to be filled—and she acted. She purchased a commercial building and created something Montana had never seen before: the state’s first standalone adult day center. Not only that, she worked to pave the way for the VA to authorize adult day services separately from respite care, opening doors for countless families. Today, that vision is thriving. And still, she wasn’t finished. Lindsey went on to found the Montana Gerontology Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support for elderly individuals living with disabilities and dementia across the state. In true Lindsey fashion, she didn’t think small—she organized a major benefit concert featuring country artist Jay Allen to raise funds and awareness, turning compassion into action on a grand scale. Yet, through all of this, Lindsey remains grounded in what matters most. She is, above all, an incredible mother and a devoted wife. Her love and unwavering support for her husband, who lives with a traumatic brain injury, reflect the same compassion she brings to every part of her life. No matter how much she takes on, she never wavers in her commitment to her family. Despite everything she has accomplished, Lindsey remains humble, kind, and deeply empathetic. She carries herself with integrity that is rare—honest, genuine, and as solid as a Montana handshake. She may be constantly balancing more than most people could imagine, but she does it with grace and heart. Lindsey Klebenow doesn’t just lead—she inspires. And she is more than deserving of every bit of recognition that comes her way."