ALAN LOHOF
Alan Lohof, son of Armand and Arle Lohof, was born in Billings Mt. and joined Scouting as a Cub Scout with his father as the Cubmaster. He earned his Arrow of Light and joined Troop 23 with Armand moving forward as Scoutmaster.
Alan joined the Order of the Arrow, was elected Lodge Chief for Apoxky Aio Lodge, and earned the Vigil honor. During his time in the troop, he earned the Eagle Scout rank and attended a National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill and a World Jamboree in Canada.
Alan graduated from Boston University, returned to Billings and became a Paramedic for Deaconess Billings Clinic. He was then hired by the Billings Fire Department in 1995 and in 2022 retired as a Captain after a 27-year career. Alan served as Fire Science program director at Montana State University Billings City College and continues to educate future firefighters.
Alan is currently the Scoutmaster of Troop 23 in Billings (Black Otter District), Chapter Advisor for the Order of the Arrow, and Camp Director for the Black Otter District Spring Camporee. He earned his Woodbadge beads, go Bears, and has staffed Woodbadge as Troop Guide and Senior Patrol Leader.
Alan is married to Jennifer, a photography teacher at the Billings Public Schools Career Center. They have two children. Kelsey – a junior at the University of Washington interested in Medicine. Trevor – a freshman at the University of Montana interested in Law. Like his father, Trevor also earned his Eagle Scout rank with Troop 23.
Alan enjoys traveling and backpacking and will attempt the Thorofare trail in Yellowstone National Park this August.
Thank you, Alan, for all you do for Scouting.
FABIENNE WAVRANT
Fabie’s Scouting career began in France, where she was born and raised, and she learned to love the outdoors during her eight years as a Scout. Summer camp in France was a month long and Fabie enjoyed building pioneering structures with stakes and lashings. “This is when I got the bug and I was hooked on Scouting,” she said.
In 1996, Fabie moved to Florida to work on her doctorate, where she met her husband, Bret Gardner, in rowing club. After working at the National Institute of Health in Maryland, they moved to Montana in 2011. Fabie has three children – Nolan (18), Méline (15), and Liam (11) – who are all involved in Scouting.
Fabie has been an active volunteer and leader in Mullan Trail District, serving as a den leader, assistant den leader, and committee member. She helped launch Troop 1919 in Missoula, servings as Scoutmaster and later helped form Troop 1114 in the Bitterroot, where she is Scoutmaster in the Mullan Trail District.
Fabie is also a patrol advisor, Order of the Arrow Chapter Female Affairs Committee Adviser and a district member at large. She is active in district events and has pursued many training opportunities. As Fabie puts it, this is “So I can really learn the American way of Scouting.” Fabie received her Woodbadge beads in 2017 and believes Wood Badge training was a pivotal moment in her life as a leader.
Fabie staffed Woodbadge in 2019 and the 2021 NYLT course and served as the director for the 2022 NYLT course, where she earned her fourth bead. “This was another crucial moment in my scouting life as it showed me the amazing potential of young Scouts.” She said.
Of Scouting, Fabie said “I love to watch the kids working together, learning as a team, and growing as future leaders. Scouting is very gratifying to me and very beneficial to my family.”
Thank you Fabie for all you do for Scouting!
BILL RUTTEN
Bill was a Cub and Webelos Scout before joining the local Sheriff’s Department Explorer Program. Bill and his wife Deanna have two grown children, Kyle 23, and Katelyn 19, both of whom are very proud of him. Kyle is an Eagle Scout, class of 2014.
Bill retired in 2020, after serving 31 years in Federal Law Enforcement. While his career sent him to serve in many US cities and parts of the middle east, he and his family always returned to Great Falls.
Bill became a Scouter in his son’s pack while serving in Washington, DC. Bill continued as a Scouter in Lewis and Clark District after returning to Great Falls in 2008. Bill has served in numerous Scouter roles in Lewis and Clark including Cubmaster of Pack 28; Scoutmaster of Troop 28, District Chair and District Commissioner. In 2015, he served as a member of the International Service Team at the 2015 World Scout Jamboree in Japan. He also had the opportunity to serve as the Committee Chair for an overseas Troop in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he again temporarily resides as a contractor for the Department of State.
Bill learned the value of servant leadership through an ILST course and continues to serve his community as a volunteer EMT/Firefighter; Red Cross Transportation Specialist; and a High School Football Referee.
The pinnacle of Bill’s Scouter career came in 2022 when he served as the Operations Chair for the Montana International Scout Expo in Great Falls.
Bill believes America needs the Scouting program now more than ever. As the BSA mission and vision states, “It is vitally important to prepare every youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader by preparing them to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”
Bill (Lewis & Clark District) would like to thank all his BSA mentors, friends, and his family for their continued support. He is humbled and honored to be a Silver Beaver recipient.
Thank you Bill for all you do for Scouting!
