Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service & Crematory is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral service by the Green Burial Council (GBC); a nonprofit organization working to encourage environmental sustainability in the field of funeral service. Dokken-Nelson received its certification, along with a Three Leaf rating—the highest available from the GBC.
When green burial is selected, all aspects of burial remain as “natural” as possible—including non-formaldehyde-based care and cleansing products, natural fiber caskets and shrouds, and no vault to facilitate a quicker return to the elements. Green burial limits the environmental impact by using products made of renewable resources.
Green burial funeral service options are similar to a traditional funeral service. The primary difference is the selection of fluids used for sanitation and preservation. Options for a green burial service include:
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No vis
itation, no services (direct burial) -
Private family visitation (usually no embalming required)
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Public visitation, utilizing embalming with formaldehyde-free fluids
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Home vigil
While there are no official “green” cemeteries in the state of Montana, the Gallatin Valley has several cemeteries that do not require the use of a vault: Sunset Hills Cemetery; Reese Creek Cemetery; Fir Ridge Cemetery (West Yellowstone); and Dry Creek Cemetery. With green burial, grave markers that don’t intrude on the landscape are typically selected—such as shrubs and trees, or an engraved flat stone native to the area. The available marker options vary by cemetery.