About Billings Family Eye Care

Devin Despain was born in Bozeman Montana and raised in Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park where his father worked as a researcher. He attended Gardiner High School and then the University of Wyoming where he graduated with a degree in Health Science and a minor in Spanish. He interrupted his undergraduate studies to serve a two year church mission in Mexico City.

After completing his undergraduate education, Devin attended Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Oregon. As a student, Devin went on two humanitarian trips to Mexico and Belize doing free eye exams and giving away donated eyewear. He was a member of the school’s humanitarian service organization board and class president. Dr. Despain completed internships in a private practice, an Indian Health Service center, a Lasik surgery center and the college’s own clinics.

Dr. Despain is married to fellow Montana native Susan Despain and together they have five children. They have been in Billings since 2008 when Devin started working for Dr. Michael Hansen and then took over the practice in 2012.

Jennifer Cross was born and raised in Cody, Wyoming. She graduated from Cody High School and then attended the University of Wyoming where she graduated with a degree in Exercise Physiology. She became interested in optometry at a young age and it was her local optometrist in Cody that solidified her decision to pursue a career in optometry.

After graduation from UW, she attended Southern California College of Optometry. Dr. Cross completed clinical internships at an Indian health service, VA Tucson and Maricopa County Hospital in Phoenix. She was a member of VOSH and served on a humanitarian mission to Mexico.

She joined Billings Family Eyecare in 2023 after working the previous seventeen years at an ophthalmology clinic where she co-managed an array of ocular diseases including glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes and keratoconus.

When not in the office, she and her husband enjoy spending time outdoors with their three children. Her hobbies include hiking, camping, boating, skiing and running

Dr Carrington-Hellier joined Billings Family Eyecare in September 2017. She received her Doctorate from Michigan college of Optometry in 2003 and received her bachelors degree from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1999. Go Huskers!

Before coming to Montana, she practiced for 12 years in an ophthalmology and retinal practice in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  She managed ocular disease including cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, & diabetes.  She also spent 1.5 years working at LensCrafters in Duluth, Minnesota.

Dr Carrington-Hellier is a member of the Montana Optometric Association and previously the Michigan & Wisconsin Optometric Associations.  She is a long standing member of the American Optometric Association.  She received the Top Performer award for Excellence in health care in 2017.  She volunteered while in Optometry school on an eyeglass mission trip with VOSH to Dominica in 2002. She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa in 1995-1997.  She tutored math & chemistry at her community college she attended.  She earned her Girl Scout Gold & Silver Awards in high school.

Outside of the office, Dr Carrington-Hellier enjoys spending time with her husband & daughter.  She enjoys the outdoors, nature, participating in community walks, her church, reading, coloring, and jigsaw puzzles.

Stephanie Shoults was born in St. Louis Missouri but moved frequently while growing up. Some of the places she lived included New Hampshire, Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands and Alabama but she considered New Hampshire home. After graduating high school, she attended Butler University in Indiana where she swam Division 1 for two years. She graduated with her degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry.

Dr. Shoults knew from the time she was a Freshman in high school that she wanted to pursue Optometry as a career. After completing her undergraduate degree she attended The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Dr. Shoults completed clinical internships at the VA in White River Junction VT as well as several outreach clinics in Columbus, OH. She also went on two medical missions trips to Jamaica (with Fellowship of Christian Optometrists) and to Mexico (with OneSight). She was also honored as a member of the Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society for her commitment to leadership, ethics and professionalism among her peers.

She joined Billings Family Eyecare in 2023 but has been serving and providing eyecare in Montana since 2019. She met her husband, a Montana Native when she moved to Billings. She and her husband Daniel enjoy golfing, hiking and exploring Montana with friends and family. They have a dog Franklin, who loves long walks and fetch. Dr. Shoults enjoys lifting and yoga when she isn’t reading a good book or baking treats for friends and family.

Michael Hansen was born in Billings, Montana and attended Billings West H.S. where he was an honor student as well as an outstanding athlete, lettering in several sports. He graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman in 1973, and then graduated from Pacific University College of Optometry, with distinction, in 1977.

Following graduation Dr. Hansen opened the first optometric office in the Billings Heights in 1978. Mike and his wife, Krystel, were married in 1985. He took on Dr. Despain in 2008 and slowly diminished his work schedule over the years until fully retiring in 2016. Allowing more time for Mike and Krystal for hiking, fishing, golfing and traveling together.