Originally from Seattle, Doctor Ofstad received a Bachelors of Science degree in Physics from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. He continued on with his graduate education at Pacific University receiving his Doctor of Optometry Degree in 1971. He began practicing Optometry in Montana as a Commissioned Officer for the U.S. Public Health Service Indian Health Service shortly after.  He fell in love with Montana and in 1973 chose to put down roots in the Mission Valley with the opening of Ronan Eye Clinic.  

Ronan Eye Clinic has grown and prospered from its’ humble beginnings. Dr. Ofstad takes pride in the fact that it has become a state-of the-art clinic offering comprehensive eye care usually only conceivable in a large urban setting. 

Dr. Ofstad has been actively involved in his community and believes in giving back to the people who have so generously supported him through the years. He is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Polson and has served on the Board of Directors of the Montana Optometric Association, Big Brothers and Sisters of Lake County, the East Bay Landowners Association, and a member of various other groups and organizations.

Along with his wife, Debbie, Jim has raised three sons of whom he’s very proud. He says that family activities have brought him his greatest joy!

When not seeing patients, Dr. Ofstad also enjoys numerous outdoor activities (hunting, biking, skiing), woodworking and flute making, and exploring his artistic side through his paintings. 

Doctor Simonich grew up on the rolling plains of southeastern Montana, and he still enjoys the peace and solitude of the outdoors. After graduating from Colstrip High School in 2001, he immediately entered Carroll College's natural science program in Helena, Montana, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology in 2005. Fascinated by the sophistication of the human eye, he continued his graduate education at Pacific University College of Optometry in the fall of 2005 and received his Doctorate of Optometry Degree in 2009. Eager to return to Montana to begin his career, Dr. Simonich has joined the Ronan Eye Clinic and considers himself lucky to be working in such a unique area of the state with such a caring and efficient team. Doctor Simonich truly believes that his experience at the Ronan Eye Clinic will continue to sharpen his clinical skills in the areas of contact lens, pathology, and primary care optometry.
During his sophomore year at Carroll College, Marcus met the love of his life: Brittany. Brittany graduated along the side of Marcus in 2005 with a well deserved Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. Brittany just recently accepted a position at Cherry Valley Elementary in Polson, and she is very excited to begin making life-long relationships with her new students and colleagues. Grace, their daughter, is a busy bee and enjoys the new social atmosphere of preschool.
Besides caring for his family, doctor Simonich enjoys fly-fishing, writing, painting, and dabbling in his new hobby of blues harmonica. Most of all, Dr. Simonich and his family are very anxious to become more involved in the different communities and cultures of Lake County as a young family.

Dr. Clay Benkelman began seeing patients at Ronan Eye Clinic in 1996.  After a 10-year hiatus he returned in 2007 to continue offering quality eye care to our patients.  Dr. Benkelman is well known in the Mission Valley having been raised in Polson and graduating from Polson High School.  He attended Montana State University and University of Montana and can officially claim to be both a Grizzly and a Bobcat!

Dr. Benkelman received his Bachelor of Science degree from Pacific University and continued his education receiving his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University College of Optometry.

Dr. Benkelman lives in Bigfork and has been actively involved in the community.  He has served as past President and Secretary of the Bigfork Lions Club, is a member of the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the Board of Directors and been a member of the Montana Optometric Association.  In his spare time he enjoys his three grandchildren, photography, hunting, fishing and camping.

Dr. Furlong received his medical doctorate at the University of California San Francisco Medical School followed by his residency in ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute in Los Angeles, California.  His fellowship in Anterior Segment Surgery was performed at the University of Utah, Department of Ophthalmology in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dr. Furlong joined the staff at Rocky Mountain Eye Center in 1990 and specializes in glaucoma, anterior segment surgery and intraocular lens-related problems along with routine eye care and cataract implant surgery. Dr. Furlong has been coming to Ronan Eye Clinic for many years to provide specialized care for the residents of the Mission Valley. 

Dr. George Stern is a Board-certified ophthalmologist who has practiced in Montana since 1997, specializing in cataract and corneal and external eye diseases and surgery. Dr. Stern received a BS degree from the University of Michigan in 1969, his MD from UCLA in 1973, completed an internship at Los Angeles County Hospital in Torrance, California in 1974, residency training in ophthalmology at Northwestern University in Chicago in 1977, and a fellowship in corneal diseases and surgery at the University of California, San Francisco in 1978. Prior to moving to Montana, Dr. Stern was an assistant professor of ophthalmology at George Washington University, and then a full professor and Director of the Cataract and Corneal service at the University of Florida. He has served as an associate examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology. Dr. Stern has received numerous honors and awards, delivered over 100 presentations at medical meetings, and authored over 60 articles in medical journals. He has personally trained over 120 practicing ophthalmologists in cataract and corneal surgery. He is listed in publications such as "Best Doctors of America" and "America's Top Ophthalmologists".

Dr. Stern has practiced in Missoula since late 1997; he opened his own private practice, the Three Rivers Eye Care Center, in 2001. His practice emphasizes cataract surgery, corneal diseases and surgery, and glaucoma. He has been working with Dr. Ofstad in Ronan and doing cataract surgery at St. Luke's Hospital since 2007. Dr. Stern is married, has two grown sons in Portland, Oregon and Charlotte, NC, and two grandsons in Charlotte. In his free time, Dr. Stern enjoys golf, hunting, fly fishing, skiing, and visiting his children and grandchildren.

Arlene, who was born and raised in Ronan, is the Office Manager at Ronan Eye Clinic. She is sometimes referred to as "the glue that holds everything together". 

Arlene began her career with the clinic 32 years ago when she accepted a two-day a week, part-time job.  As the practice grew, so did Arlene's job responsibilities and her job slowly transitioned into a career.  When the in-house lab opened in 1985, Arlene became "self-taught" as a lab technician and took pride in that work for 17 years.  She also became a Board Certified Optician during this time period.  She says,  "making glasses was something I thoroughly enjoyed.  Now, as Office Manager, my duties have become more complex as the business has grown and it's necessary for me to understand many other aspects of managing a clinic – it's been an ongoing education!"  She attributes the fact that she turned a part-time job with the clinic into a career to the respect and admiration she has for Dr. Ofstad and the wonderful, personal care he gives to his patients and his employees.

When not at the clinic, Arlene enjoys her family, 2 sons, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, her many pets, and gardening.

Joyce is a Michigan native and received a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education from Concordia University in River Forest Illinois where she also played collegiate fast pitch softball.  After teaching in inner city St. Louis she relocated with her husband to Montana (via South Dakota) in 1986.  She began her career at Ronan Eye Clinic shortly after.  In 1987, Joyce earned her American Board of Optometry Certification.  She spent many years working in the Optical Lab for the clinic.

Joyce has many talents that she brings to Ronan Eye Clinic and she has knowledge in all areas of the business. As the clinic has grown, so have her responsibilities. Joyce is invaluable to us in the area of insurance and compliance and keeps everybody up to date with rapidly changing health care  - not an easy task!

Joyce lives in Ronan with her husband, Gordon (who is also employed by Ronan Eye Clinic). She has two daughters who recently completed graduate studies at the Uof M and are now pursuing careers. Joyce has been actively involved as a 4-H Leader and Barn Superintendant and says that she may be Montana’s biggest Detroit Red Wings fan! Joyce says, “I am so fortunate to work in such a beautiful place and fabulous environment. Dr. Ofstad has always placed the patient’s needs before all else and that is what makes Ronan Eye Clinic such a great place to work!

Besides being married to Dr. Ofstad, Debbie also helps in the management of Ronan Eye Clinic.

A Montana native, Debbie received her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education at the University of Montana. She taught second grade in Kalispell and later moved to Polson to begin family life in 1976. Nurturing a family became her primary focus, and although she never made it back to teaching, she has remained actively involved in the schools and the community.  Most recently, Debbie serves on the St. Luke Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors, is Vice-Moderator of the Presbyterian Church Flathead Lake Parish Council, serves on the School District 23 Superintendants Community Council and is an active member of P.E.O.

Like her husband, she enjoys her family and all the wonderful outdoor activities Montana has to offer.
 

Gordon Cummings is our finishing and dispensing optician.  Although his primary responsibilities are in the lab, he also offers customer service and a friendly face while helping customers choose just the right products for their individual needs. He has knowledge about all the latest frames, styles, lenses and coatings.

Gordon also hails  from Michigan.  He received a BA from Concordia, Ann Arbor, MI where he played collegiate tennis and a Master's Degree from Concordia, St Louis.  Gordon has been active in the community as 4-H leader, Lake County Fair Board Member, School District 30 Board Member, Ronan High School Freshman Volleyball Coach, and Ronan High School Tennis Coach.  Prior to joining Ronan Eye Clinic, Gordon gained optical experience as a sales rep for Charmant Eye Wear, traveling the states of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.  He joined Ronan Eye Clinic in  2000 .  Gordon's wife, Joyce, is also on staff here.

Tracee was born and raised in the Mission Valley and is a graduate of Polson High School.  She began working at Ronan Eye Clinic in 2004 and has brought an admirable work ethic to the team!

Tracee is trained in multiple areas of the clinic, however her primary responsibilities involve customer service in the front office.  She enjoys helping patients pick out a fun new frame to wear and tries to stay current with advances in styles and new products. She has become the clinics contact lens specialist and feels that helping patients have the best contact lens experience possible is very rewarding.  She says, "working at Ronan Eye Clinic is very exciting as every day is new and different (like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get!)

Tracee lives in Polson with her husband Bill, two Great Dane puppies and three cats that keep her very busy and happy.

Kim moved to Montana sixteen years ago from the Seattle area and says, "I absolutely love the Mission Valley with its strong sense of community and deep rooted commitment to the health and well being of the wonderful people who live here."

Kim has a background in healthcare and became a part of the Ronan Eye Clinic "family" two years ago as an Optometric Assistant. She performs the initial screening before a patient sees the doctor. Kim is a wonderful "people person" and has been a breath of fresh air for patients and co-workers alike. She has been a great addition to the team at Ronan Eye Clinic.  Kim says, " I consider it a blessing to work with such an amazing, fun loving staff who cater to young and old alike, using the most up to date technology available."

Kim spends most of her leisure time with her children, Cole (12) and Shaina (10).  "They are both very smart, athletic, and funny!" says Kim. Their family also has 5 dogs, 2 cats, and one old horse on 5 acres that overlook the beautiful Mission Mountains.

Peggy Owens began her career in the Optometric field in 1993, starting out as a receptionist and later becoming certified as an Ophthalmic Assistant. She worked at Ronan Eye Clinic from 1998-2004 in this capacity until her husband’s job with the Montana Highway Patrol made it necessary for her to move to Dillon.  What a loss for our clinic; Peggy was greatly missed.

After being away for four years, we were thrilled to have Peggy and her husband move back to the Mission Valley and we immediately lured her back to Ronan Eye Clinic as one of our highly respected and valued team members! Peggy says, “ I am happy to be back in the Mission Valley. I’m excited and proud to work in a clinic that continually strives to improve out service and stay up to date with the new, exciting and innovative changes in the medical field.

Peggy says she and her husband, Randy, have two incredible daughters, Heather and Lauren, and that after having an empty nest for a year, they now have the privilege of having their niece and nephew, Kristen and Richard living with them.