Yellowstone County Commissioner John Ostlund Killed in Montana Plane Crash

Yellowstone County Commissioner John Ostlund, a long-serving Republican and respected conservative voice in Montana politics, died in a plane crash south of Billings involving a 1969 Cessna 172. Ostlund, who had served on the county commission since 2002 and was a former president of both the Yellowstone County Commission and the Montana Association of Counties, was the sole occupant of the aircraft. The crash occurred near Blue Creek Road and Wyman Creek, and the cause remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Ostlund was well-regarded locally and nationally for his dedication to public service, and he is survived by his wife Kristie and their five adult children. Local officials and community members have expressed deep condolences and grief over the loss of a knowledgeable and committed public servant. Emergency responders were on scene shortly after the crash, but no further details about additional passengers or injuries were reported.