When Adele Krantz reflects on her career, she doesn’t just talk about ledgers, vehicle titles, or tax notices. She talks about people: the residents standing at the counter, the school districts whose funds she safeguards, and the dedicated colleagues she affectionately calls her "work family."
As Adele prepares to retire, she closes a 35-year chapter with Flathead County, including over two decades serving as our elected County Treasurer, Assessor, and Public Administrator.
Her journey began in 1991 when she and her husband moved to Kalispell. Raised in Ronan with deep Montana roots, Adele started in the property tax office, moved to the motor vehicle department, and was appointed County Treasurer in 2004 when her predecessor stepped down midterm. The voters retained her two years later, kicking off an era marked by historic population growth, major technological modernization, and steady financial stewardship.
The Treasurer’s Office touches nearly every resident, but the full breadth of Adele’s portfolio has always been far broader than most realize. Managing property tax collections and overseeing the high-volume Motor Vehicle Division (MVD)—enforcing Montana Department of Justice directives while keeping customer service first—required tireless resolve. She and staff remember years of working through Saturdays just to keep processing moving forward. Today, thanks to persistent upgrades, IT collaboration, and the rollout of streamlined digital and online systems, taxpayers can renew vehicle registrations and pay bills with a few clicks from home.
Behind the scenes, Adele’s impact as the county’s Chief Investment Officer has quietly delivered millions back to our communities. Serving as the ex-officio investor for the Flathead County Investment Pool, Adele manages and invests idle cash not only for the county, but for all local school districts, fire departments, and special districts. Working alongside an advisory investment committee and expert brokers, her pool balances safety, liquidity, and yield—distributing accrued interest monthly while charging a minimal administrative fee of just one-half of one percent. While schools have the legal option to opt out of the county pool, Flathead County districts have consistently chosen to stay, a testament to her steady stewardship and fiscal transparency.
Her responsibilities also extended into profoundly personal spaces as Public Administrator. Finalizing estates for deceased residents without a will or local heirs often meant spending late nights and weekends cataloging belongings, settling lingering debts, and sifting through decades of paperwork. Finding and reconnecting long-lost relatives to deliver closure (and family heirlooms), remain some of the cherished and gratifying memories of her career. Recognizing the intense demands of the job, county commissioners recently voted to separate the Public Administrator role into an appointed position, allowing the incoming Treasurer to focus solely on finance, tax, and motor vehicle operations. Adele is the last leader who will wear all of those hats at once.
Through record tax shifts, legislative evolutions, and endless lines, Adele points right back to her crew. "Staff is my work family—they keep me going," she shares, expressing gratitude for the clerks, deputies, and colleagues across county departments who shared the trenches.
Retirement will bring a well-earned change of pace. Adele looks forward to "being really good at doing nothing for a while," spending time with her 10 grandchildren, hunting for antiques, tackling DIY projects, and potentially lending a hand as "ranch assistant" on the family’s Angus cattle operation here in Kalispell and in Ronan.
For 35 years, Adele Krantz treated every taxpayer as her boss and approached public office with humility, grit, and heart. Flathead County extends its deepest gratitude for her extensive service, leadership, and enduring mark on our community.