Article by Jennifer Miller | Photos by Nathan Satran

For Jeff and Kristen Yeley, the idea of raising their children under big skies with room to roam wasn’t always part of the plan, until it became so. The turning point came unexpectedly. One Saturday, they drove past a beautiful piece of land in Laurel. It sold almost immediately, and they returned to their recently renovated home, feeling content. But the very next weekend, family friends mentioned they might be selling their property.

THE VIEW THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Suddenly, the Yeleys could picture it: more land, a few animals, gardens, space for the kids to grow up in nature’s rhythm, without giving up the convenience of being near Billings and a good school district.

For Jeff, the connection ran even deeper. Years earlier, while working in landscaping, he’d imagined one day living along Canyon Creek. When he toured the 25 acres, he was stunned to find the creek winding right through the property. “I knew I had to get Kristen out there,” he says.

That Sunday after church, they made the drive together. Kristen stepped onto the property and felt an instant pull. Towering cottonwoods shaded the land, just like the trees on her grandparents’ farm in Lewistown. “Those trees were part of my childhood,” she says. “Seeing them here made it feel like home.”

The property itself was humble, an abandoned 1,200-square-foot farmhouse, and land once used as a feedlot. Rather than be deterred, the Yeleys embraced the challenge. They remodeled the farmhouse so they could sell their Lewis Avenue home and live on-site while building their dream house.

DESIGNING A HOME WITH HEART

Design has always been a shared passion, so they took the lead on everything. They drew the plans themselves, using a professional only to create the scaled version. Every choice, inside and out, was deliberate and personal.

From the beginning, they envisioned a home made for connection. The backyard was redesigned multiple times to perfectly frame the view that had first captured their hearts. The result is a warm, welcoming space where friends gather for summer barbecues, kids sprawl across the lawn, and the sound of the creek hums in the background. They chose timeless architecture; classic lines, traditional details, so the house will age gracefully.

Inside, the Yeleys blended new construction with old-soul charm. Exposed beams add warmth, built-in bookcases bring character, and Kristen’s dream of a cozy reading nook surrounded by books, straight

out of Beauty and the Beast, finally came to life.

“Hosting is something we both love,” Kristen says. “We wanted our home to feel comfortable for our kids’ friends, not just for us.” The original farmhouse now serves as a guest space, freeing the main house from a dedicated guest room and allowing more room for shared living areas.

Downstairs, they created a “kid central” hangout; a space where their three children and friends can play, watch movies, and just be kids. “We’ve never had separate spaces for them before,” Kristen says. “Now they have freedom, but they’re still part of the home.”

LIFE ALONG THE CREEK

One of the couple’s favorite features isn’t inside at all; it’s the view. From the backyard, they look out over land that will never be developed, a rarity in a growing community. The open vista shifts with the seasons: golden in autumn, glistening white in winter, lush and green in spring.

The land also brought them closer to the life they had imagined, raising animals, tending gardens, and teaching their children the rewards of hard work and responsibility. “We wanted them to understand the value of caring for something,” Jeff says. For Kristen, the garden and greenhouse are her favorite spaces, places where she can work with her hands and see the results of her care bloom and grow. Just as treasured are her early- morning walks with the dogs, when the grass is still wet with dew and the air feels new. “That’s my prayer time,” she says. “It’s when I reflect, before the day gets busy.”

Even with the house complete, the Yeleys see their property as an evolving project. They thrive on creating, whether landscaping, adding new features, or improving the land. “We’re happiest when we have a project,” Kristen admits.

Their love for design and hospitality has given the home a subtle “estate” feel; not formal, but intentional. You can imagine big holiday dinners in the glow of candlelight, long summer evenings on the porch, or slow mornings with coffee and a good book.

For the Yeleys, this place is more than a house; it’s a way of life. It’s a place where their children can grow up grounded in freedom and responsibility, where the creek marks time with its steady flow, and where friends and family always have a seat at the table.

As Kristen reflects on their journey to Canyon Creek, she smiles. “We feel so blessed to be here,” she says. “It’s everything we hoped it would be, and maybe even a little more.”

Originally printed in the October 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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