Joel Krautter grew up in the small town of Deer Lodge, Montana, in a family with a strong tradition of service to others. His father, Martin, is a graduate of Eastern Montana College and spent 17 years as a special education teacher and involved with supporting Special Olympics before becoming a pastor. Joel’s mother, Lual, is a talented Montana artist and harpist. Joel’s younger brother Daniel is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in Huntsville, Alabama.

Joel learned the value of hard work and felt the call to a career of helping others at a young age and this has guided Joel throughout his life.

Joel graduated from Powell County High School in Deer Lodge. It was during high school that Joel became inspired to pursue a career in law and public service, as a way to help improve the lives of others, after attending a student trip to Washington, D.C. with the Close-Up organization and also attending the Montana American Legion’s Boys State.

Joel attended Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Virginia, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Government: Pre-Law. Joel then returned to Montana, where he graduated from the University of Montana School of Law with his Juris Doctor degree.

After graduating from law school in 2014, Joel started his legal career in eastern Montana with the Netzer Law Office, P.C. in Sidney. In 2018, Joel became a partner in the law firm. Joel is the president of the Northeast Montana Bar Association and a former Trustee of the State Bar of Montana.