Benjamin Pieper, DMD
Dr. Benjamin Pieper was raised as the oldest of nine children in a small Wyoming town. Prior to finishing college, he spent 2 years in Peru as a missionary for his Church. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Wyoming and his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.
Before purchasing Riverstone Family Dental in Arkansas City, Dr. Pieper was an associate in a bustling Tulsa practice and Managing Clinical Director in Enid, gaining specific skills working with patients of all ages and in prosthodontics.
Dr. Pieper strives to provide the best possible care for his patients and is committed to advancing his knowledge in the dental field. His passion is in continuing to learn and grow as a dental professional. You can rest assured he will always be on the leading edge of dental treatment. It is an absolute with Dr. Pieper that he will treat you like family.
Dr. Pieper and his wife, Jamie, have five children ages 14 to 3 years old. They enjoy family time exploring, hiking, running, traveling and trying anything new!
Dr. Pieper also enjoys spending his extra time volunteering in the schools and coaching youth soccer in the local recreation league.
Dr. Pieper looks forward to helping you reach or maintain optimal oral health and providing you with the quality dental care you have come to expect.
Kelly Bay, Office Manager
Kelly was raised in Illinois and moved to the Oklahoma/Kansas area after graduation. She has extensive experience in healthcare, including cosmetology, although she found her real passion in dentistry over 16 years ago.
Kelly worked as a dental assistant for most of that time, and began working as an office manager when Dr. Pieper purchased Riverstone Family Dental.
Kelly has been married to her husband Alan for the last 31 years, and they have 2 grown children, Cheyanne and Colton, and a granddaughter, Libby.
Kelly enjoys doing crafts and spending time with family. She is an awesome part of the Riverstone Team!
Julie Lewis, Dental Hygienist
Julie graduated from Wichita State University in 1994 with an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene.
Julie has been with Riverstone Family Dental since 2000. She was raised in Ark City and chose Ark City as the place where she wanted to raise her family. She is married to Chad who works at General Electric. They have 3 daughers, Alyssa, Caitlyn, and Hannah.
Julie enjoys spending time with her family outdoors. They enjoy fishing and being on their airboat.
Julie and her family love going to basketball games and cheering on their WSU Shockers basketball team!
Valerie Rush, Dental Hygienist
Val has been working in the current office since 1986 with the previous owner. She graduated from WSU in 1979 with a Bachelor of Health Science in Dental Hygiene. Professionally, she has been involved in the Local, State, and National Associations, serving as the President of the Kansas Dental Hygiene Association in 1992, and four years as a National Delegate.
Locally, Val is a member and officer of PEO Chapter ER, a philanthropic educational organization helping women, a Rotarian and active member of Rotary of Arkansas City, a part of Rotary International.
Val is married to Rick and they were blessed with one daughter, Elizabeth Marie “Betsy”, who passed in November 2018 due to a double lung transplant complication due to Cystic Fibrosis.
Val and her husband are members of the Redeemer Lutheran Church where Val is an active member of the Lutheran Women's Mission League.
Debbie Smith, Lead Assistant
Debbie Smith is the lead dental assistant at Riverstone Family Dental. She has over 17 years of experience in the dental profession. Debbie knows how important it is to have a beautiful, healthy smile and works hard to make sure you have a great experience here at our office, treating you just like family. When Debbie isn’t helping her patients with their smiles, she is smiling with her family, including her two sons and their families, with 5 grandkids!