Comprehensive veterinary care for companion animals , equine and livestock.
Veterinarians
Shannon Witt, DVM
Dr. Witt grew up raising cattle on a farm in Kingston, Washington. She fell in love with Montana while attending Carroll College. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in both Biology and Classical Studies from Carroll. Shannon then graduated from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. GO COUGS!
Shannon is proud to call the Deer Lodge Valley home and to raise her children, dogs, horses, and cattle here. Shannon enjoys spending time with her family, horseback riding, gardening, fishing, and hiking. She is committed to carrying on the tradition of great customer service and quality patient care that has been the cornerstone of the Clark Fork Veterinary Clinic since it was established in 1961.
Betsy Price, DVM
Dr. Price is originally from Seeley Lake, MT where she grew up riding horses in 4-H, drill team, competing in rodeo (barrels, pole bending and goat tying) and riding on trails with her parents. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Carroll College and then graduated from Washington State University with her DVM in 2016. She started at Clark Fork Veterinary Clinic in 2016 after graduation. She loves practicing in the tri-county area and getting to know her clients and patients.
Betsy, her husband and 2 kids call Avon home, where they have 4 dogs, 6 horses and a cattle herd. In her free time, Betsy enjoys riding her horses, moving cows, quilting, scrapbooking, reading and spending quality time with friends and family. She is always game for a new adventure.
Samantha Thomas, DVM
Dr. Thomas is a born and raised Deer Lodge native, who graduated from PCHS in 2007. She then attended the University of Montana Western in Dillon, graduating in 2011 as the top female graduate of her class. She received her DVM degree from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2015 and started practicing full-time in Missoula as well as working part time at several other southwestern Montana practices. During this time, Dr. Thomas gained a vast knowledge in primary care, emergency/critical care, and surgery, as well as expanding her exotic animal knowledge (rodents, reptiles, etc.).
After working with us part-time for nearly 2 years, Sami joined our practice as our 3rd full-time veterinarian in May of 2017. Since then, Sami has thoroughly enjoyed serving her community as a part of the clinic. She is Human-Animal Bond certified and enjoys honoring that bond while helping the pets and people of this community. She is also certified to do PennHIP evaluations, is AVMA Wellbeing certified, and is currently working toward certification in hospice and palliative care through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC). When not at work you can find Sami skiing, mountain biking, or spending time with a good book, her dog, Juniper, and her partner, Travis.
Chelsea Heims, DVM
Dr. Heims is from Northeast Montana (Saco) where her family owns and operates a primarily Black Angus/Simmental ranch, they also have a small herd of sheep and working horses. Chelsea grew up playing basketball and volleyball as well as showing animals in 4-H. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology from Montana State University- Northern in 2017 and graduated with her DVM from the WIMU program at Washington State University as a Montana student in May 2021.
Dr. Heims has a passion for large animal work and is also a Certified Mixed Animal Veterinary Acupuncturist. She started working at Clark Fork Veterinary Clinic in June of 2021. Chelsea met her husband, Brendan, in undergrad at Northern and they were married in June of 2019, together they have a corgi named, Hallie. On days off, you are most likely to find Chelsea woodworking, gardening, kayaking, fly fishing, or simply spending time with family and friends. Both Chelsea and Brendan are very excited for the next chapter in their lives back in Montana!
Morgan Potton, DVM
Dr. Potton was born and raised in the Bitterroot valley on a ranch with cattle, horses and pigs and actively participated in both 4-H and FFA. She received her Bachelors in Veterinary sciences, and minors in Philosophy and Pre-Health from the University of Idaho in 2019. She then received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Business Management Associate certificate from Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2024. While in school, Morgan specialized in small ruminant medicine, advanced equine dentistry, equine sports medicine and critical care, small animal primary care and surgery and both large and small animal reproduction. She started at Clark Fork Veterinary Clinic in 2024 after graduation
Morgan’s interests primarily include advanced equine dentistry, small ruminant medicine and her passions primarily include livestock medicine.
When not at work you can find Morgan spending time with her husband, Aaron, who she met in FFA in high school, and her dog Millie. She enjoys riding her horse, skiing, hiking, kayaking, fishing, reading and helping her family on the ranch.
Practice Manager
Lauretta Kolbeck, CVA
Lauretta has been with the Clark Fork Veterinary Clinic since 2013. She is the Practice Manager as well as one of the Certified Veterinary Assistants. She grew up in Dillon Montana on and around her grandparents' ranches. She graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman with a degree in Agricultural Education. Lauretta enjoys spending time with her husband, Travis and daughter, Kyla working cattle, hunting, and exploring Montana. She loves being involved in veterinary medicine and using her teaching background to help grow teams. Facilitating great people to do great things as a part of a great team is a career that she could not have predicted. Lauretta is dedicated to learning more each day and with each team to create a workplace and culture that is empowering, growth oriented, and focused on building the team and the individual for what is next.
Office Manager
Sasha Mullen, CVA
Sasha landed in the Deer Lodge Valley and into Veterinary Medicine in 2018. Starting as a veterinary assistant, she is now the Office Manager and handles the majority of the inventory management and monitoring. She is most proud of the connections she has been able to make in the community, and to be there for CFVC's clients on some of their worst days, as well as some of their happiest days. As much as she loves animals of all shapes and sizes, humans are what keep her drawn to vet med, especially as the industry works to address social and mental health issues that affect all of us, clients and co-workers alike. When not at work, Sasha spends time reading, traveling, riding, spending time outdoors, and consuming music in most forms. She is often joined by any combination of her three dogs and one saucy haflinger mare.
Veterinary Assistants
Bailee Johnson, CVA
Bailee grew up in Washington and her and her family moved to Montana her freshman year of high school. She is very involved in the local 4-H program and the community. She is currently raising her own stock which includes: horses, sheep, cows, goats, and pigs. She enjoys going to rodeos, horse events, and showing livestock with her family in her free time. She has been at CFVC since 2017.
Jessica Danforth, CVA
Jessie has lived around Deer Lodge her whole life. Enjoying the ranch life has inspired her to pursue this medical career. She recently graduated from Pima Medical Institute as a Veterinary Assistant in April 2021. She continues her journey by working towards being a Licensed Veterinary Technician and joining the Clark Fork Veterinary Team. In her spare time, she enjoys cross stitching, outdoor activities and playing with her dog and 2 cats.
Kiersten Thommen, CVA
Kiersten has been raised in Montana for most of her life and moved to Drummond in 2019. She enjoys all animals and every aspect of veterinary medicine. She began working at the clinic in July of 2020 to continue learning about her passions. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and pets, while pursuing her photography skills as much as possible, and being outdoors. After taking a summer to explore across Montana, Kiersten has rejoined the staff in November of 2022 and is overjoyed to be able to be back doing what she loves.
Crystal Wolff
Crystal is a fifth generation Montana resident, who grew up in western Montana living and loving all that this wonderful state has to offer; from fishing and hunting to rockhounding and wild crafting. From a young age through various family members she was instilled with a love of animals in all their forms and functions. She raises small livestock animals and enjoys learning new things about animals. This makes her excited to join a team of individuals who will help facilitate her learning and growth in a career she hopes to enjoy for years to come.
Hannah Yost, CVA
Hannah is originally from a very small town in Northern California, where she grew up riding horses, competing in rodeo, and being very active in her high school’s FFA chapter. In 2019, she moved to Montana to continue her education at Montana State University. She began working in veterinary medicine in 2021 and became very passionate for the industry.
She recently moved to the Deer Lodge Valley and is very happy to be here. She is excited to get involved in the community. When not at work, she is spending time with family and friends, outside with her critters, or riding horses. She recently joined CFVC in March of 2023!
Anna Schilling, CVA
Anna grew up in Montana. She started working on a friend's cattle ranch at a young age. She loves working with cattle and riding horses. She has a passion for all animals, large and small. She recently graduated from Ashworth College as a veterinary assistant in January 2023. In her free time, she can be found helping on the ranch, hanging out with friends, and spending time with her dog and cats. She joined CFVC in April 2023!!
Kate Hardman, CVA
Kate was born and raised in Alaska before settling in Montana with her family in 2014. Her love for the outdoors was nurtured by these wild places, and she is happy to now call Butte her home. Next to adventuring, Kate’s nature is driven by her love for animals. If she could, Kate would fill her home with any animal in need - no matter the size. She is currently momma to four dogs, a large cat, four mules, and a flock of chickens. Kate’s love for animals led her to pursue her dream career as a Veterinary Technician, and she is currently completing her coursework with Penn Foster. She looks forward to a career helping animals. During her free time, Kate enjoys the company of her husband, three daughters, fur babies, and a stack of books.
Audrey Murphy
Audrey was born in MN then moved to MT for college and fell in love with the area and called it home. She has a passion for dog training and behavior, she has been training dogs since she was 12. She has several AKC obedience and rally titles, trained two service dogs, and rehabbed reactive aggressive dogs.
She started riding horses before she could walk and went to college for a degree in Natural Horsemanship with a focus in equine management and a minor in business. She has done a little bit of everything, show jumping, cross country, dressage, hunt seat, trail riding, western pleasure/equitation, and colt starting.
She took an interest in vet med in college during her equine science classes. She liked the opportunity to help animals as they have helped her tremendously. She is also interested in the science side of vet med and understanding the how and why behind what we do. She started with CFVC in July of 2024.
Brianna Lambert
Brianna was born and raised in Western Washington and joined the United States Army as a Combat Veteran in 2009. She has had a lifelong passion for animals, nurtured by a variety of family pets, including snakes, lizards, dogs, cats, and even tarantulas. She continued to pursue this passion in the military, working alongside Military Working Dogs and veterinarians in diverse and challenging environments. In 2020, she landed in Montana, after many years of adventure, travel, and deployments. In 2024 she settled in Deer Lodge with her partner and three dogs, Jaye, Winnie, and Frankie. In her spare time, Brianna can be found fishing, camping, reading, sewing, spending time with her dogs, or working toward completing her Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology and Ecology from Arizona State University.
Brianna is excited to start a career in this new chapter and eager to build bonds within the workplace and community. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow and looks forward to contributing to the professional, compassionate, and engaging team at CFVC.
Veterinary Care Coordinators
Jaycee Wood, CVA, VCC
Jaycee has been with CFVC since 2012, starting as receptionist and kennel assistant. She is now one of our full time Certified Veterinary Assistants. She grew up in the Deer Lodge Valley. She enjoys volunteering her time fostering and encouraging pet adoptions. She and her two children love any outdoor activity where their dogs (Callie Jo & Benny) can tag along. They enjoy photography, camping and hiking.
Lisa Hamilton, VCC
Lisa was born and raised in the midwest. She has always had a passion for animals and thankfully her parents supported this passion. She had a myriad of animals growing up including, dogs, cats, horses and rabbits. She moved to California and pursued a career in the veterinary field where she worked for 35 years. During her time in California, she founded and is still President of the Board for a 501C3 California non profit called Last Chance at Life All Breed Rescue and Adoptions. She retired and moved to Deer Lodge in 2019 to be closer to her daughter and grandkids. She recently decided it was time to get back into the veterinary field and is thrilled to join the team at Clark Fork Veterinary Clinic.
Christine Anderson, VCC
Christine Anderson was born and raised in the Deer Lodge Valley. She was fortunate enough to return to this beautiful valley and community, after thirty years. Her greatest source of joy in life is her amazing husband, Steve, and her incredible family. With nine siblings, which includes two sets of twins, there is never a shortage of family adventures. She enjoys most outdoor activities, including golfing, fishing, 4-wheeling and flower gardens. Christine looks forward to serving her hometown community and their pets. She truly believes our pets help make us a better people. Which means, she cannot leave out her new best buddy, a previous resident of Pintler Pets. Christine now enjoys the company of Bella the wonder dog, and her life has already changed for the better in many ways.
Racheal Harnist, VCC
Racheal is a wife, mother and grandma. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest. She fell in love with Montana and made it her home 12 years ago. She loves to paddleboard, fish, hunt, and hike. She loves all animals, but Sugar Gliders are her favorite; she has 5! She joined the Clark Fork Team in December 2023.
Carrie Ball, VCC
Carrie grew up in Utah with horses and dogs, she was very active in the 4-H program and rodeo in high school. Carrie and her husband, Sherman raised their son in Denver, Colorado. Here she obtained her degree to be a veterinary technician.
Falling in love with the community, they recently bought their home in Deer Lodge. Carrie has 2 dogs (Boomer and Annie) who enjoy going kayaking and walking around the neighborhood. Before moving to Deer Lodge, Carrie and her husband spent 7 years in the trucking business. They got to see the entire country, which they will cherish forever in pictures.
PCHS Internship
Lexi Lunceford
Lexi was born and raised in Deer Lodge and is currently a senior at Powell County High School. She is a member of 4-H, FFA, FCCLA, National Honor Society, Working Ranch Horse, and the PCHS Varsity Wrestling and Track Teams. Inside school, she enjoys reading, math, science, and her agriculture classes. Outside of school, she enjoys raising and showing livestock, riding horses, hunting and fishing, working out, and spending time with friends and family.
Lexi is hoping to grow her knowledge in livestock and animal sciences through the Veterinary Internship. She looks forward to bettering her understanding of animal systems, animal pharmaceuticals, dentistry, and the keeping of animal medical records. She hopes to learn more of the circulatory system to the reproductive system. This knowledge would help her better the care of her own livestock, as well as learn the difference between each animal and how they work differently!