Hometown dentists promote family and community

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Reporter
 
Family and community often go hand in hand. Both require love and support and always having one another’s back. Both community and family are important to Seth and Kristine Rhoades — exemplified by their hard work to raise their family and give back to their community, and for this reason they have been chosen as the 2021 Person(s) of the Year.
Seth and Kristine operate Black Hills Dental in Newcastle, serving as dentists for the people of Weston County. 
Seth grew up in Newcastle, graduating from Newcastle High School in 2000. His step-dad, Richard Ratts, ran Black Hills Dental, taking over from Ron Custis, from 1978 to 2014, when Seth took over. Seth started working with Ratts at Black Hills Dental in 2011. He and Kristine lived in Custer at the time. Kristine joined the team in 2014, when the couple moved to Newcastle. 
The Rhoades volunteer often in the community, and Seth has been part of the Newcastle Booster Club board, RPM Days board and other organizations. Both Seth and Kristine also volunteer as basketball and soccer coaches for small children. 
Esther James, office manager at the dental office, said the couple is very quick to donate to anyone who comes in the door to raise funds. 
“They don’t turn anyone down. Wherever they can help in the community, they definitely will,” James said. 
As a veteran, one thing that’s close to Kristine’s heart is the free dental services they offer to veterans on Veterans Day. 
“We see veterans in the office, and a lot of times they need a lot of dental work and can’t afford it. And being a veteran myself, … I like to help those who have served,” Kristine said. 
Black Hills Dental has offered the Veterans Day free services for the past two years, Kristine said, and when they first presented the idea, the whole staff quickly jumped on board. 
The service means a lot to the veterans in the community. Tom Ralls, a veteran, said that he feels very grateful to the dentists for their generosity. 
“It did mean a lot, and I appreciate them,” Ralls said. “It was real nice of them to do it.”
Black Hills Dental employees attest to the couple’s character and kindness as employers. Marcia Williams said that she’s “known Seth since the day he was born.” She worked for Ratts before he retired and now works with Seth and Kristine. 
“It’s been pretty incredible. They’re pretty great employers,” Williams said. “They care about their patients and their practice.” 
Gina Lax, dental assistant, has also known Seth for many years. She said that the way he and Kristine treat their patients sets a good precedent at the office. 
“They’re just wonderful people, and I look up to them. They’re good role models,” Lax said. 
James has also been with the dental office since before the couple took over, and she said Seth and Kristine each bring a unique talent to the team with their different approaches. Kristine is always quick to jump in and do what needs to be done and will even clean the office after working all day. Seth has a way with kids and the elderly, James said, and they all just love him. 
“It’s been awesome to watch them grow as dentists. … What they bring to the team is a sense of family and growth. … This is probably the best place I’ve ever worked, just because of the sense of family and community,” James said. 
Both Ratts and Teena Ratts, Seth’s mother, say they are proud of the dentists Seth and Kristine have become and are happy to see their growth in the business. Seth, along with his sisters, always helped out with various jobs at the dental office when they were young, and now to see him take over means a lot to Ratts and Teena. 
“They took it to a much higher level. … They’ve done very well, and I’m proud of that,” Ratts said. 
The community of Newcastle means so much to the Rhoades, they said, and they can’t imagine not being involved in any way they can. 
“This community gives a lot to us, and we’re just trying to find ways that we can give back by donating our time. … Everything we’ve got is from the community,” Seth said. 
“You got to water the grass where you’re living to help it be what you want it to be. … Newcastle is a special place. … In order to actually, I don’t know, feel like you belong, you have to make yourself be involved. … Everybody knows your family, everybody is watching out for you, and it just is a big family that, if you’re not involved in it, then you don’t get as much out of it,” Kristine added. 
Both say they are humbled to be nominated for Person of the Year, Kristine said, and they feel that there are so many other people who do a lot in the community who deserve to be honored as well. 
“We’re pretty humbled to be nominated. There’s so many other people that do so much that I feel like we should have nominated somebody else. We’re very grateful and humble,” Kristine said.