Our Staff

Ed & Carol Leach

Founders

The Daly-Leach Chapel was created in October of 1984. The current building was open for business in September of 1985.

In 1984 several local families encouraged Ed and Carol to stay in the Bitterroot Valley in order to provide quality services to the community. Ed and Carol were adamant that our business remain a family owned and operated business into the future.

Ed and Carol moved to the Bitterroot Valley in 1971 and worked for a local funeral home. They raised their family in the Bitterroot Valley, including opening their home to nine foreign exchange students over the years. They were very active in many local clubs and organizations, with MDM Hospice being very near and dear to their hearts.

Ed entered funeral service in 1958 in Boise, Idaho. He attended the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, graduating in 1967 earning his B. A. and a Mortuary Science Degree. Ed passed away in 2008 and Carol passed away in 2012.

Tom & Carron Grymes

Co-Owners

Carron is the daughter of our founders, Ed and Carol Leach. Carron graduated from Hamilton High School, attended the University of Montana and went on to attended Mount Hood Community College in Portland, Oregon receiving her Mortuary Science degree in 1990.

For over 20 years she has sung in the Bitterroot Valley Choir performing the Messiah. Carron has worked as a volunteer with the MDM Hospice of the Bitterroot and in the Ravalli County Relay For Life.  

Tom also graduated from Hamilton High School, attended the University of Montana and went on to attended Mount Hood Community College in Portland, Oregon, receiving his Mortuary Science degree in 1990.

Tom is a Past President of the Montana Funeral Directors, has twice served as the Western District Governor for the Association. He obtained his Certified Funeral Service Practitioner certificate in 2007. Tom served over 24 years in the Montana National Guard retiring as a Sergeant Major for the 163rd Combined Arms Battalion in Belgrade, MT. He is a member and Past President of Bitterroot Valley Kiwanis.  He is currently a member of the Bitterroot Health Hospital Foundation Board .  Tom serves our community in many different organizations.

Tom and Carron have worked as licensed morticians for the Daly-Leach Chapel since September 1990.

Bill & Judy Rothie

Co-Owners

Bill grew up in the Malta area, his wife Judy grew up in Helena. Bill attended Carroll College, Eastern Montana College and Kansas City Kansas Community College, receiving his Mortuary Science degree in 1994.

Bill has been with the Daly-Leach Chapel since 2003. He has been a licensed Mortician since 1994, and is a past president of the Montana Funeral Directors Association. Bill obtained his Certified Funeral Service Practitioner certificate in 2006. He is a member and Past President of Hamilton Rotary Club.  Bill is a member of many local organizations and clubs.

Judy attended Eastern Montana College and graduated from the St. Vincent Hospital Radiology Program. She is very active with St. Francis Catholic Church. She is currently employed at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital in Hamilton.

Tobi Heller

Office Professional

Tobi grew up in Eastern Montana and graduated from Custer County High School, in Miles City. She began working in the funeral industry in 2015.

After meeting her husband in Helena, they decided to return to his old stomping grounds of the Bitterroot. This gave her the opportunity to join the staff at Daly-Leach Chapel in September of 2019.

Tobi is the proud mama of a beautifully blended family of six children; her 3 boys and his 3 girls.

When not taking care of her family and friends, she is a crafting maniac and makes wonderful things for all to treasure.

Cheryl Tenold

Advanced Funeral Planner

Cheryl grew up in Alhambra, California, near where her father completed his 23 years of service in the US Marine Corps. Cheryl began her career in the funeral industry in 1995 at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. In 1998, she became a funeral director at Forest Lawn Memorial Park and worked at Cypress, Long Beach, and Covina Hills.

In 2006, Cheryl moved to Montana and had an alpaca ranch and ran an alpaca show company. In 2012, the opportunity arose for Cheryl to return to the career that she loves and started working with Daly- Leach Chapel as their Advance Funeral Planner.

When she’s not helping people plan their funerals, she’s volunteering with the Bitterroot Celtic Society and helping put on the Bitterroot Celtic Games & Gathering each August. She is also a member of Eastern Star Naomi Chapter #19.

Andrew Simkins

Funeral Assistant

Andrew, and his wife, Katie grew up in The Bitterroot Valley. Andrew graduated from Corvallis High School and is currently working towards earning his Mortician’s License.

Katie graduated from Hamilton High School. She is currently employed at Carroll Orthodontics, in Hamilton.

During the warmer months, Andrew enjoys spending his day on the golf course, or out on the lake with his family. Andrew joined the Daly-Leach Chapel team in 2022. 

Andrew Huggans

Funeral Assistant

Andrew grew up on a little ranch in Charlos Heights, just outside of Hamilton. He graduated from Hamilton High School and is currently working towards earning his Mortician’s License.

When he’s not working, he enjoys weightlifting and spending time at the lake with his friends and family. Andrew joined the Daly-Leach team in 2019.

Ron and Jane Hollibaugh

Reception Hosts (Retired)

Ron and Jane both graduated from Hamilton High School and attended Montana State University. Ron graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, and then was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force. Ron received a Master of Science degree in 1986, from Oklahoma State University. Ron and Jane spent 24 years on the move with the USAF living in Germany, Italy, and six different states before Ron retired as a Lt. Col. and moved back to the Bitterroot Valley. Ron has worked for the Daly-Leach Chapel as a funeral assistant since retiring in 1999.

In between moves and travels, Jane received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a Master of Education from Framingham State University, while living in Naples, Italy. She retired from teaching at Daly Elementary School in Hamilton in 2018.

Ron and Jane assist with Receptions and events in our Community Room.