Briese v. Montana Public Employees' Retirement Board

¶1 The Montana Public Employees’ Retirement Board (MPERB) denied death benefits1 to Petitioner Erene Briese (Erene) because her deceased husband, who had originally named her as his beneficiary under the Montana Sheriffs’ Retirement System (SRS), had later filed a new designation, dropping her as a beneficiary, while marital dissolution proceedings were pending. Erene appealed to the District *150Court, which affirmed the MPERB’s order. Erene now appeals the District Court’s order. We reverse.

¶2 We consider the following issues on appeal:

¶3 1. Did Erene’s application for and acceptance of…