Jane Kollmeyer

A native of East Lansing, Michigan, Jane is the oldest of two children. As the daughter of a forester and schoolteacher she has a love of the outdoors and a passion for life-long learning. Jane graduated in 1976 from the University of Michigan with a degree in Forestry. Her dream since she was quite young was to “move out west” and live in the mountains. To her good fortune, her first job out of college was with the Forest Service in western Oregon. Jane’s 30-year Forest Service career included working in Oregon, Idaho, California and Montana. Her career was primarily in leadership roles beginning in her early years of leading Young Adult Conservation Corps and Youth Conservation Corps programs. She worked as a Natural Resource Program Leader, District Ranger, Deputy Forest Supervisor, and Supervisor of the Sawtooth National Forest. She retired in 2010. 

With her husband Terry, she returned to Montana after her retirement, where she dedicates her time and skills to increasing the Nate Chute Foundation’s effectiveness and services, an organization she and Terry founded in 1999. Jane served as the NCF Secretary and Treasurer from its founding until 2019. In addition to serving as a director on the NCF Board, Jane serves on the Lewis and Clark County-Helena Open Lands Advisory Board and volunteers at the local food bank during their winter visits to southern Arizona. 

Jane and Terry lived in Whitefish from 1993-2003 and maintained a home there until 2021. They currently spend their time in Helena, Whitefish and southern Arizona. When she is not volunteering, Jane spends her time reading, gardening, camping and traveling with Terry and their dog, Ellie. She enjoys spending time with her many wonderful friends and loves hiking, cooking, birding, and working with clay.