Vision Care Associates has its roots in family eye care and has developed around this idea that patients become family. Initially, in 1977 Dr. Paul Bell and his son Dr. Gordon Bell partnered their practice of Bell & Bell with Dr. James Olson to form Vision Care Center. Then in 1982, Dr. James Ruch merged with this trio to form the first Vision Care Associates. The first offices were in Aberdeen and Britton, but Mobridge was soon to follow. From there, with the philosophy of bringing exceptional healthcare to rural South Dakota, several other locations were opened around northeastern South Dakota.