Dr. Butler Dr. Johnson Dr. Downs Dr. Kidman
Dr. Fred A. Butler:
Dr. Butler, our optometrist with the longest tenure, joined the practice of Drs. Sheridan and Berglund in 1977 as Dr. Berglund approached retirement. Dr. Butler graduated with distinction from Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Oregon and moved to Rochester fresh out of optometry school.
A native Minnesotan, he grew up on a small farm near Dayton, Minnesota, and attended Anoka High School where he was active in sports. He attended the university of Minnesota for his undergraduate studies before moving to Oregon for four years of optometry school.
Dr. Butler still enjoys sports, although the "less active" ones now, such as golf or fishing. The reigning super bowl champ of his fantasy football team, he enjoys that endeavor as well as rooting for the Minnesota sports teams.
Dr. Butler and Leah, his wife of 34 years, have a son, a daughter, and six grandchildren. They enjoy the times they can get together, especially at their cabin in the Hayward, Wisconsin area.
Dr. Bryan L. Johnson O.D.:
Dr. Johnson grew up on a farm near Trimont in Southern Minnesota. He attended college at Mankato State
University for two years until receiving his draft notice in 1972. Dr. Johnson joined the Army and received training as an optical laboratory technician. He went on to serve on active duty for eight years with assignments in Colorado, Hawaii, and Texas. After leaving the Army, he attended college again in Mankato before going on to Pacific College of Optometry in Oregon. Dr. Johnson earned his doctorate degree "with distinction" from Pacific in 1986 and then served on active duty in the Navy for three years in Illinois. After leaving active duty, he continued serving as a reservist and went on to retire as a Lieutenant Commander. He joined the current group in Rochester in 1989 with the purchase of Dr. Robert Sheridan's practice.
Dr. Johnson is married with four grown children and two grandchildren. Mrs. Johnson (Leah) is a family nurse practitioner at Rochester Family Medicine Clinic specializing in women's health. The Johnsons enjoy their grandchildren, camping, walking, traveling, and yard work. Dr. Johnson especially likes water and snow skiing. Each fall you will usually find him returning to the family farm for a few days running a tractor, combine, or semi.
Dr. Johnson enjoys all aspects of optometry especially the patient contact. He finds the profession both rewarding and interesting by helping to solve vision problems along with having a friendly visit with his patients. Dr. Johnson credits the experienced staff of Rochester Family Eye Clinic for enhancing the service provided.
Dr. Melissa K. Downs O.D.:
Dr. Downs grew up on a hobby farm in Northern Wisconsin. She enjoyed music and playing the flute even into college. She graduated magne cum laude from St. Cloud State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biomedical Science. She then went on to receive her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Ohio State University in 1996.
Dr. Downs has interests in Family Practice, contact lenses, treatment and management of eye disease, as well as low vision which is the use of Magnifiers to improve reduced vision. She has given eye related presentations to different nursing homes in the area as well as school presentations. She participates in the local Optometry Association meetings.
With three young children and the sports activities that go along with them, life is never dull. For fun she can usually be found digging in her flower garden or experimenting in photography.
Dr. Mark A. Kidman O.D.:
Dr. Kidman grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he spent his youth climbing mountains, skiing, and just about everything else the great outdoors provided. He attended Baylor University in Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and a Master of Science degree in Geophysics. He also competed at the collegiate level in both soccer and swimming. Dr. Kidman began his professional life as an exploration Geophysicist for Amoco Corporation, where he spent his days developing oil and gas drilling sites and engineering seismic processing software. After 10 years in that industry, Dr. Kidman felt the pull toward Optometry and attended the University of Houston College of Optometry. He was a member of Beta Sigma Kappa Honor society and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists. Dr. Kidman has special interests in primary eye care, diagnosis and treatment of eye disease, and fitting of contact lenses.
When away from work, Dr. Kidman stays busy with his wife and three girls. He is active in church leadership, but saves plenty of time for hunting and fishing on the weekends.
