Julia Lillethun - Survivor Advocate

In this powerful episode, Julia Lillethun opens up about her courageous journey of survival and recovery after enduring a devastating attack by a serial rapist. Julia shares her story with raw honesty, discussing the physical and emotional trauma, the judgment and victim-blaming she faced, and the process of overcoming self-blame. She reflects on the challenges of reframing her narrative to focus on survival, resilience, and her choices to move forward. Julia sheds light on the far-reaching effects of trauma on her family and the struggles they faced together. She recounts the unexpected phone call that resolved her case, the complexities of the legal process, and her frustration with sentencing laws. Through her experiences, she advocates for a cultural shift to combat victim-blaming and reduce stigma for survivors. The conversation also explores Julia's transformative work with prison-based Victim Impact Panels, her empowerment in speaking to inmates, and the importance of listening to and believing survivors. Julia and Penny discuss creating safe spaces for victims, addressing gaps in victim support services, and actionable steps to enhance personal safety. This episode is a profound testament to resilience and the strength it takes to transform pain into empowerment.

To learn more about Victim Impact Panels, please visit the Montana Department of Corrections’ website HERE.  To learn more about Jane Doe No More, please visit their website HERE.

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning Writer: Penny Ronning Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe Editor: Ty Lowe Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov Graphic Design: Rae Clark Website: Justin Townsend

Julia Lillethun Bio

Julia Lillethun was born and raised in Montana. Her family consisted of her father, mother, and 2 brothers. While researching her family history, Julia discovered that she also had eight half-siblings and her father had an alias and was living two separate lives. 

Julia has two adult children and five grandchildren. She loves spending time with family and friends and enjoys the outdoors, fishing, and camping. She also enjoys quilting, sewing, string art, and other hobbies. 2024 marks her 27th year as the director of the Yellowstone County Spelling Bee in Montana. 

Julia’s childhood was filled with trauma at the hands of her alcoholic, abusive father. He could not hold down a job for long, so her family moved often. He was a ranch hand, and her mother was a nurse. Their family alternated from ranch to city life frequently. This made Julia learn to adapt quickly to survive. 

Julia is a cancer survivor as well as a survivor of a violent attack in 1999. Julia was raped, stabbed several times, and left for dead. She now uses her voice to help others and to try to change the stigma and narrative of sexual assault. Julia is a survivor speaker member for Jane Doe No More and a volunteer speaker for the Montana Department of Corrections, Victim Impact Panels. 

Another passion for Julia is working on legislation for survivors. “It is so fulfilling to help others see they don’t have to fight alone and that there is hope, love, acceptance, and support to assist them in healing, rising from the ashes, and emerging from the darkness.”