Yellowstone Co Commissioner Ostlund Killed in Plane Crash

Yellowstone County Commissioner John Ostlund (R) was killed in a plane crash south of Billings Thursday afternoon.

Once family had been notified, Commissioner Mark Morse confirmed the news shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon. He says Commissioner Ostlund was the sole occupant of the plane that crashed.

Local civic, business, and law enforcement leaders I have already been hearing from are devastated at the loss.

A heart for ag, and rosy cheeks to go with a smile ready to greet everyone. A tremendous loss for Billings, Yellowstone County, and the great state of Montana. What else do you say when you hear the news about the loss of such a great friend to the community?

Longtime Gazette photographer and pilot Larry Mayer captured the photo above which can be found here on the Billings Gazette's website.The Gazette reported that "the crash was several miles south of Billings in grassy hills alongside Wyman Creek. The airplane was a four-seat 1969 Cessna 172."

KTVQ-TV confirmed one person was killed in the crash around 4 p.m.

Commissioner Ostlund was well respected locally and nationally through his work with the Montana and the National Association of Counties.

As Q2 reports, "He has served as commission president multiple times and is also a previous president of the Montana Association of Counties. He and his wife, Kristie, have five adult children between them."

The Gazette added that Ostlund "was a long-time Republican and staunch conservative voice in Montana politics."

I would add that John Ostlund never gave up on this country. When everyone was getting nervous before the 2024 elections about what would happen, John Ostlund just smiled under his cowboy hat and told us how our country was gonna do great.

Our hearts go out to the Ostlund family and all of his friends in the community.