Dr. Elizabeth Ellender is a native South Dakotan, born and raised in Winner, South Dakota. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD in 1991 and then attended the University of Houston College of Optometry where she graduated in 1995. After completing her doctorate, she practiced optometry in Ft. Worth, TX for 6 years where she developed a special interest in Pediatric Optometry. In December 2001, she and her husband returned to South Dakota after purchasing Budget Optical in Rapid City. Dr. Elizabeth participates in the Vision USA and Infantsee programs.

Dr. Elizabeth is passionate about family and enjoys spending time with her husband, Dr. Scott Ellender, and their three children, Savannah, Ethan, and Shea. She is a member of Canyon Lake United Methodist Church where she enjoys playing drums in the praise team and assisting with the Youth Strings group.  Dr. Elizabeth also enjoys running, working with horses, snow skiing, boating, camping, hiking, and spending time with her three amazing children.

Dr. Scott Ellender was born and raised in Louisiana.  For the first two years of his life, Dr. Scott lived in San Antonio, TX where his father was serving as an optometrist in the United States Air Force.  He graduated from Barbe High school in Lake Charles, Louisiana and then received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1990 from McNeese State University.  Following in his father’s footsteps, he attended University of Houston College of Optometry where he received his Doctorate in Optometry in 1995. He then practiced Optometry in Ft. Worth, TX for 6 years, where he developed a special interest in Specialty Contact Lenses and Lasik Co-Management. In December 2001, he and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Ellender, purchased Budget Optical in Rapid City, South Dakota. Dr. Scott participates in the Vision USA and Infantsee programs.  He and his family have been members of Canyon Lake United Methodist Church since 2001.

Dr. Scott loves spending time with his wife, Elizabeth and their three children exploring all of the activities the Black Hills of South Dakota have to offer.  They enjoy camping, snowmobiling, snow skiing, ATV riding, boating, and hiking together as a family.  

Dr. Ice has been in practice for 41 years, graduating from the University of Houston College of Optometry. He moved to Rapid City in 1983. 

Dr. Ice is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Sports Vision Section, and the South Dakota Optometric Society.   Dr. Ice is certified in Ocular Pharmaceutical Therapeutics. 

Dr Ice and his wife have two children. Their daughter Gelea followed in her father’s footsteps and is an Optometrist in Seattle, Washington. Their son Brandon went to South Dakota State University and works for Beka Ditching Corp. in Rapid City. 

Dr. Ice enjoys hunting, fishing, boating, snow-skiing, and pottery (with an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from South Dakota State University). Dr. Ice and his wife also spend time together biking, gardening, boating, and hiking. They are both strong supporters of many area arts and educational projects.

Dr. Moriarty earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1986 from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. In 1990, he then graduated from Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove OR. After graduation Dr. Moriarty worked in an eye surgery practice in California before starting private practice here in Rapid City in 1991. Dr. Moriarty is a member of the American Optometric Association, South Dakota Optometric Society, Black Hills Optometric Society and Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity. He also participates in the Vision USA and Infantsee programs.

Dr. Moriarty passed in 2024. We are so honored to have worked alongside him, and thankful for his time with us and the patients he helped. 

Jen grew up here in Rapid City and joined our staff in 2010. She enjoys assisting our patients with preliminary testing and selecting frames and lenses for their eyeglasses. Jen also instructs new contact lens wearers on how to wear and care for their contact lenses and assists in the lab making glasses.  

Jen enjoys spending time with her husband and three children and likes to shop and camp. 

Lisa joined the VisualEyes team in 2021.  She was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and graduated from O’Gorman High School.  She then attended Northern State University where she played collegiate volleyball, softball, and track.  Lisa began her career life in banking and has spent the past 19 years in the field of wireless communications.  One of her passions is volunteering with the Oglala Pet Project where she works to rescue unwanted or abandoned animals from the Pine Ridge Reservation.  Currently, she has fostered close to 100 animals.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Jamie and two daughters Haley and Brooke in the hills hiking, biking, and boating.  Lisa brings years of customer service experience to VisualEyes and looks forward to providing excellent patient care.  

Makayla is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and moved to Rapid City with her husband, who is enlisted in the USAF, in 2020.  She joined Dr. Ice and his staff in 2021 and then the VisualEyes Eye Clinic team in 2022.  She enjoys doing preliminary testing and assisting patients in finding the perfect pair of glasses.  

Makayla is currently pursuing her BSN RN at SDSU College of Nursing. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, photography, music, gardening and spending time with her husband and their dogs, Dawn and Norbert.  

Andrea grew up in Nebraska, but always dreamed of living in the Black Hills.  This dream came true when she joined Dr. Ice and his staff in 2020 and then the VisualEyes Eye Clinic team in 2022.  She has been an optician since 2016 and is excited to bring her experience to help all of the patients she assists.  In her free time Andrea enjoys hiking and learning local history with her family.  

Rebekah is a Michigan born native and received her BSN in nursing from Grand Valley State University. She has worked in the health field as a Registered Nurse for over 5 years, specifically working with infants, pediatrics, and geriatrics. Her favorite part of being a nurse is combining her passion for people with medicine and teaching them new aspects of self care.  Her husband, who is in the USAF, has provided them the opportunity to move throughout the United States and her family is currently based in Rapid City.  While working here at VisualEyes, she also teaches music at a local elementary school. Rebekah enjoys spending time outdoors, chasing her two toddlers, exercising, running in local races, and playing piano on the worship team at her church.