The Tree Lady

Local arborist and Billings native, Stephanie Ridl, loves small towns, family and trees. She lives in Sidney with her husband, Mike and their daughter, Katrina, 8.

I am a parks superintendent but since we dont have a community forestry department, or a city arborist, we have a need for it, Ridl said. I asked if I could take it over and they were very willing to let me.

Ridl began college at the University of Wyoming in Laramie with a focus in criminal justice before she decided to move back to Montana and peruse a degree in horticulture science.

I have always had an interest in criminal justice, even as a kid thats what I thought I would do, Ridl said. My dad has always been in landscaping and horticulture and I worked with him through high school. I know trees and I love trees. I felt more comfortable in that so I made the leap back to Montana.

After completing her bachelor of science degree in Bozeman, Ridl moved back to Billings and landed a job at a nursery center.

I just kind of missed the small town mentality and the small town folk, she said. Billings was already too big for me after Id been gone for six years.

Ridl met her now husband, Mike, who was pursuing custody of his daughter and the couple moved to Sidney so his daughter could live with them.

He has family here and so it worked, Ridl said. The jobs were good and it was a good spot to stay. We got married last year.

Ridl is a certified arborist and a certified plant professional, as well as a certified applicator. She said she loves everything about plants, but her real passion is trees.

I think one thing I really love about Sidney is that theres such a need for that right now, with the elm trees, Ridl said.

Read more here:
The Tree Lady