March 22, 2019

 

Gareld and Barbara Krieg

Local education advocates named Friends of MSU Billings

 

Contact:

Tiffini Gallant, Alumni/Foundation Marketing Coordinator at MSU Billings Foundation, (406) 657-2252, tiffini.gallant@msubillings.edu

 

MSU BILLINGS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWS—Billings locals Gareld and Barbara Krieg were named Friends of MSU Billings today during a surprise announcement at the annual Outstanding Alumni Awards Luncheon.


The Friend of MSU Billings award, which was added to the program in 2018, honors a non-graduate of Montana State University Billings who clearly demonstrates a commitment to the university through distinguished service or leadership, while influencing the university’s growth and improvement, and inspiring others to support MSUB. This year’s recipients were unaware of the honor until the announcement at the awards ceremony.

Gareld and Barbara Krieg
The Kriegs are long-time advocates of education, and Barbara (Barney) Krieg is an alumna of the institution, which was then Eastern Montana College of Education. Barbara promoted literacy among women as the national president of PEO, a philanthropic organization motivating women, celebrating their advancement, and educating them through scholarships and other programs. She has also been active with Tumbleweed and Junior League of Billings.


Gareld Krieg believes in the expansion of science education in Billings. He served on the board of trustees for Rocky Mountain College in the 1980s, and the boards of Yellowstone Art Museum and Billings Symphony. Born and raised in Billings, Gareld practiced law at what is now Crowley Fleck, and he assisted with the merger of Billings Clinic with Deaconess Hospital in 1993.


The Kriegs were married in 1965 and had their daughter, Shelly (Krieg) Castles, who is now a physician, and son, Gary Krieg, a film producer in New York City. Their son-in-law, Dr. Carl Castles, is a professor at MSU Billings, and their granddaughter, Camille, studies business at the university. During the MSU Billings Foundation’s Yellowstone Science and Allied Health Building campaign, Barbara and Gareld asked President and CEO Bill Kennedy what they could do to encourage their community to support the project.


“Gareld and Barbara saw the Yellowstone Science and Allied health building as more than a project – they saw it as something the community needed to get behind,” Kennedy said. “They have deep roots here in Billings, and they’re inspired to help make it a better place, especially through education. They’re generous and humble, and we couldn’t think of a couple more deserving of this year’s Friend of MSU Billings award.”
Seven other Billings locals were honored during the awards ceremony at Northern Hotel. The other honorees and award descriptions are online at msubfoundation.com/alumni-awards/.

For more information about the Outstanding Alumni Awards, contact Gillette Vaira, director of Alumni Relations, at (406) 657-2253 or gillette.vaira@msubillings.edu.   

About the MSU Billings Alumni Association
The MSU Billings Alumni Association is a department of the Montana State University Billings Foundation, an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Alumni Association serves as a liaison between Montana State University Billings and the more than 31,000 alumni in the U.S. and in 34 countries worldwide.

Each year, the MSU Billings Alumni Association recognizes alumni who are making exceptional contributions to their fields, their communities, and their alma mater with the Outstanding Alumni Awards. More than 200 graduates and friends of the university have been recognized since the first awards program in 1982.