Dr. Miner completed his undergraduate studies with a degree in exercise science and a minor in chemistry before attending medical school at A. T. Still University / Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri. He was drawn to the school’ s holistic approach to medicine, which emphasizes treating the whole person— mind, body, and spirit. As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine( D. O.), he trained in the full spectrum of traditional medical education, while also learning hands-on osteopathic techniques to support the body’ s natural ability to heal and function.
Today, Dr. Miner practices full-spectrum family medicine at Monument Health Custer, where he cares for patients of all ages— from birth to end of life. He values the opportunity to build lasting relationships with individuals and families in the community, and he finds great purpose in serving others through compassionate and comprehensive medical care.
Dr. Miner and his wife, Michaela, moved to Custer with one child and have since grown their family to include four children— Brixton( 6), Bridger( 5), Wesley( 4), and Wrenley( 4 months). Michaela is a South Dakota native, originally from Hermosa. She attended Brigham Young University for a year before serving a mission in Hungary for their church. Afterward, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Brigham Young University – Idaho. She recently certified as a personal trainer and enjoys an active lifestyle. Together, they enjoy raising their family in the Black Hills and are grateful to be part of such a welcoming community.
Outside of work and family life, Dr. Miner enjoys a variety of outdoor and athletic pursuits, including hiking, biking, rock climbing, hunting, fishing, weight lifting, basketball, and other sports. He values an active lifestyle and believes it plays a vital role in overall wellbeing.
Dr. Miner is proud to be part of the Monument Health team in Custer and looks forward to continuing to serve the community with skilled, compassionate, and whole-person care.
DIANE WILKEN Diane Wilken, MSN, APRN, CNP, is a Family Nurse Practitioner serving both family practice and the same-day clinic at Monument Health in Custer, South Dakota. Originally from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Diane began her career in service by joining the U. S. Air Force
Melody, Diane, Deb
Wilken Family right out of high school.
After completing her active-duty enlistment, she continued in the USAF Reserves, where she trained as a medic and discovered her passion for healthcare. Eventually, she became commissioned as a nurse in the USAF reserves. Once earning her nursing degree, she spent 17 years as a registered nurse primarily in the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire before completing her Master of Science in Nursing at Frontier Nursing University. Since becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner, Diane has continued working in a high-volume urgent care clinic at Mayo.
Diane has deep family ties to the Black Hills and knew from the first time she visited Custer as a child that the area held a special place in her heart. After many years of visiting family here, she made the move permanent, bringing with her a deep appreciation for nature, community, and holistic care.
She looks forward to practicing in a tightly knit community and building meaningful relationships with her patients.
Diane lives with her partner, Deb, along with her pets— Australian Shepherds Violet and Clutch, and cats Mr. Mittens and Taco. Her son, Owen, just graduated high school and will begin college this fall. Diane enjoys mountain biking, paddling her solo canoe, stand-up paddleboarding, and hiking the trails of the Black Hills. She is excited to be part of the Monument Health team and to serve the Custer community with compassionate, patient-centered care.
JEFF STEPHENS
I grew up around medicine in the Metro Detroit area. My dad was an orthopedic surgeon and my mom a scrub nurse. I decided to rebel and took a different path, at first. I was drawn to the natural world and completed a master’ s in Ecosystems Ecology and a Ph D. in Wildlife Disease. As I neared the end of my Ph D., though, I realized I wanted to work more directly with people and make a difference in their lives, just as my father and mother did. That led me to medical school at Wayne State, where I graduated with AOA honors in 2019. I started out in orthopedic surgery at Harbor-UCLA in Los Angeles and completed two grueling years there.
Stephens Family Maria, Jeff, Sandy
But deep down, I knew it wasn’ t the right fit for me. After a lot of soulsearching, I made the decision to switch to rural family medicine. And I’ ve never looked back.
I bring an unconventional background to medicine, and I consider that one of my biggest strengths. Thinking like a scientist— especially an ecologist— gives me a different lens through which to understand health, systems, and patient care.
I finished my training through the Wray Rural Training Track with North Colorado Family Medicine, and I’ m truly grateful to now be caring for the Custer community. Practicing full-spectrum family medicine in Custer feels like coming home.
Along the way, I met my beautiful wife Maria while living in Los Angeles. She’ s been my strongest supporter and truly the reason I was able to finish residency. We now live in the Hills with our Australian Shepherd, Sandy, who keeps us busy and entertained with endless energy. Outside of the hospital you may find me with Maria in my garden, on the golf course, in the kitchen, or on the bike. Additionally forest health and invasive species management is a big interest of mine which was the focus of some of my past academic work.
In my medical practice, I’ m especially passionate about non-operative orthopedics and preventative care. I take pride in providing high-quality, evidence-based fracture care, casting and splinting thousands of injuries over the course of my training. One of the greatest joys for me in medicine is sparing someone surgery because of excellent fracture reduction and a perfect cast. I believe that excellent non-surgical musculoskeletal care is a vital part of rural medicine. I’ m also deeply committed to preventative medicine and understanding how our environment influences human health. You can’ t have healthy people without a healthy environment. I strive to bring that perspective into every patient interaction.
Diane is passionate about treating the whole person and values the strong connection between life circumstances and physical well-being.
22 Down Country Roads September / October 2025