Falkenburg Family Ryken, Joy and Nancy
JOY FALKENBURG, M. D.
I have been caring for the people of Custer for over 20 years. I was raised on the Nebraska – Wyoming – South Dakota border alongside my four siblings and parents. Growing up, we drove 30 miles to school, often on gravel roads, and those experiences gave me a unique perspective on the personalities, expectations, and challenges of people living in this rural area. The tri-state region will always be my home and hold my heart.
I helped create, curate, and maintain The Healing and Wellness Garden, a project that reflects my passion for nurturing both people and spaces. Within the community, I enjoy being involved in initiatives such as rebuilding and filling West Dam and supporting the reopening of the Nursing Home to ensure quality care for our elders. Gardening and caring for my family are also central to my life. With a large extended family in the area, I take pride in being a matriarch, keeping our family connected and supported.
One of my greatest joys has been mentoring students, residents, and young physicians. I work with the state to organize SCRUBS Camp for high school students interested in healthcare careers. As a clinical professor through the University of South Dakota School of Medicine, I have the privilege of inspiring medical students and helping resident physicians grow in their training.
I also love recruiting talented individuals to join my team and become partners in caring for the wonderful people of Custer and the surrounding region— from Chadron, Nebraska, to Rapid City, South Dakota, and extending toward Lusk, Wyoming, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
I am the owner and operator of Dr. Mama Joy, a company that manages VRBO and Airbnb short- and long-term rentals, as well as Fresh Air and Iodine Farms.
My family is a tremendous source of pride. My son, Lincoln, is attending lineman school in Alliance, Nebraska, through Western Nebraska Community College. Nancy is completing her bachelor’ s degree in Holistic Medicine at Vermont State University and is applying to medical school at USD. Ryken is a student at Black Hills State University and is preparing to apply for PA school at USD. My husband, Matt, continues his work in Rapid City as a judge in the 7th Circuit.
JAMIE RODER, MSN, RN, APRN, NP-C, AGACNP-BC
Jamie grew up in Hanley Falls, MN, a small town of about 200 residents. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing( BSN) from South Dakota State University( SDSU) in Brookings in 1999. Driven to expand her clinical expertise, she returned to SDSU to complete her Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner( FNP) in 2017, followed by a post-graduate certification as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner( AGACNP) in 2024.
Jamie’ s passion for medicine and rural health began in high school through a summer externship at her local critical access hospital in Granite Falls, MN. She pursued nursing at South Dakota State University( SDSU), graduating in 1999, and began her career in Virginia be-
Jamie Roder fore discovering a love for emergency medicine. Her journey took her through Washington State, Alaska, and ultimately South Dakota, where she worked in various ER and pre-op roles.
Motivated to deepen her role in patient care,
Jamie earned her master’ s in nursing from SDSU in 2017 and became a nurse practitioner. She worked in the ICU during the COVID pandemic, later transitioning to a hospitalist role. In 2021, while assisting in Custer’ s same-day clinic, she reconnected with her passion for rural healthcare. In October 2022, Jamie joined the Custer hospital full-time as a hospitalist NP, where she now manages inpatient care and occasionally supports the ER team.
When Jamie isn’ t working with the Custer team, she enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and paddleboarding, drinking coffee, reading psychological thrillers, and is eager to learn pickleball. Her faith and passion for caregiving are nurtured through church and Bible studies. She treasures time with her husband of 25 years, their two grown children, her nearby parents, and close friends. Her home life also includes two dogs, three cats, and a large flock of chickens.
AVERY SIDES, M. D., LT. COL, SGP USAF ANG
Dr. Avery Sides grew up on her family’ s farm in rural Nebraska, where hard work, resilience, and a strong sense of community were cornerstones of daily life. From a young age, she felt called to medicine— a passion that only deepened as she matured.
She pursued her undergraduate studies in Human
Sides Family
Gaige, Braxton, Jack, Avery, Ryker
Biology at Chadron State College graduating with honors, where she was selected as an INBRE scholar, engaging in biomedical research. During college, she met her future husband, Jack. While they were on the track team, he would bike her long distance runs with her and she would be in the stands cheering him on at the NCAA Nationals numerous times watching him break and continue to hold the high jump record at Chardon State. Married after college graduation, they moved to Omaha and navigated the rigorous journey through medical school and residency at the University of Nebraska.
Compelled by a strong desire to serve others,
Dr. Sides joined the Air National Guard during medical school, marking the start of a distinguished career of service to both country and community. She began with the 155th Medical Group and later earned her wings as a flight surgeon, joining the 173rd Flying Squadron. Despite having no family background in medicine or the military, she blazed her own trail, proving that heart and determination can chart a powerful path forward.
During residency, Dr. Sides and her family worked weekends for Docs Who Care, a program providing critical coverage for rural and underserved healthcare facilities, allowing local physicians to take time with their families while ensuring patients continued to receive quality care.
In 2014, the Sides family returned to the Midwest, settling near the family ranch. Dr. Sides initially worked with Fall River Health, while Jack transferred to Rapid City with the U. S. Department of Justice. In 2020, she joined Monument Health in Custer, continuing her passion and commitment to rural healthcare.
Today, she serves as a Lieutenant Colonel and Chief of Aerospace Medicine and Deputy State Air Surgeon with the 114th Fighter Wing in Sioux Falls. Her military service has included deployments overseas and critical support during hurricane relief missions— experiences that underscore her dedication to both national service and humanitarian care. myblackshillscountry. com Down Country Roads
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