Couples: December 17, 2007
Anniversary: Van Sickle
Tom and Betty Van Sickle of Emporia will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a family dinner celebration Saturday. Attending will be their sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffrey and Janice Van Sickle of Wichita and Greggory and Carey Ann Van Sickle of Topeka. Also attending will be their grandchildren: Jason Van Sickle of Wichita; Josh and Jeana Van Sickle Best of Kansas City; Brad and Jill Van Sickle Harrison of Dallas, Texas; John Van Sickle of Cambridge, Mass.; Andrew Van Sickle of Buffalo, N.Y.; and Kelley Van Sickle of Bronx, N.Y.; and great-grandchildren, Taylor and Alexandria Van Sickle of Wichita.
Tom Van Sickle and Betty Hartenbower met as students at Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. They were married in 1947 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, where they are longtime members.
The couple were in the retail television and appliance business from 1958 through 1982.
Anniversary: Larson
Reg and Bette “Jo” Larson will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Emporia Country Club. At 7 p.m., the couple will renew their marriage vows. Those planning to attend are to RSVP to Amy or Jeff Larson at 343-6338.
Hosts will be their children, Judge Jeff Larson and his wife, Amy Larson, Dawn Larson and the Rev. Matt Larson. There are nine grandchildren.
The couple request no gifts.
Bette “Jo” Messick and Reg Larson were married Dec. 28, 1957, at the First Assembly of God Church in Fort Collins, Colo. The bride’s father, the Rev. Lewis Messick, officiated at the ceremony.
Reg Larson graduated from North Cental University in Minneapolis, Minn., with a bachelor’s degree in pastoral studies, from Emporia State University with a master’s degree in counseling and from UMKC-Kansas City, Mo., and with an Ed.S degree in counseling and psychology. He was ordained in 1963 with the Assemblies of God.
The Larsons served as pastors for eight years in Golden Colo.; 16 years in Emporia; 2 1/2 years in Kansas City, Mo.; 17 years in Grandview, Mo.; and 2 1/2 years at Sandwich, Ill. They recently retired and returned to Emporia, where he serves as teaching/counseling pastor at Life Church.
Bette “Jo” Larson worked 10 years, in the 1970s, in the Lyon/Chase County court system and four years in Emporia law offices. She retired in February 2005 from Kansas Legal Services in Kansas City, Kan., after 17 years of service.
During the 1970s, Reg Larson was chaplain for the city of Emporia and Lyon County Sheriff’s Office. He was named “Man of the Week” by The Emporia Gazette in the early 1970s.
Anniversary: Duncan
Wayne and Mary Duncan, 1038 Road L, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a family dinner on Saturday.
Their children are David and Bobbie Duncan and Derrick and Sheila Duncan of Emporia and Darin and Annette Duncan of Olsburg. The grandchildren are Tyler and Heather Duncan, KaCie and Jeremiah Duncan and Matthew and Jenna Duncan.
Mary Banister of Hartford and Wayne Duncan of Bushong were married Dec. 22, 1957, at the First Congregational Church. The Rev. Stephen Williams officiated at the ceremony.
Wayne Duncan worked for Didde Graphics for 34 years before he retired. Mary Duncan drove a school bus for USD 252 for 16 years before she retired. They have lived at their address for most of their married life.
Anniversary: Stolfus
Lee R. Jr., and Joyce Stolfus of Emporia celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at a surprise family dinner on Nov. 3, 2007, at the Emporia Country Club.
Family members who attended were David and Connie Morris of Glendale, Ariz.; Robin and Peggy Buerge of Tulsa, Okla.; Dylan Morris and Molly Kennedy of Gathersburg, Md; Diana Goll and Bob Chilson of Topeka; Alisha Lyon of Manhattan; and Greg and Teresa Lyon of Emporia.
Joyce Mardis and Lee Roy Stolfus Jr., were married Oct. 31, 1967, at the First Congregational Church.
Anniversary: Williams
Ernest and Evalee Williams, 939 Road 140, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday. In place of a reception, the children are asking for a card shower for the couple.
Their children are Larry and Gayle Milroy, Dan and Petra Williams and Joel and Chrysann Phipps. The grandchildren are Jeremy Milroy, Kari Milroy, Logan Williams, Morgan Williams, Kannon Phipps and Rhys Phipps.
Evalee Jernigan and Ernest Williams were married Dec. 22, 1957, at the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Clyde S. Clark of the First Methodist Church officiated at the ceremony.
Ernest Williams farmed and was a rancher until he retired in 2002. Evalee Williams worked at Bluestem Farm & Ranch Supply for 22 years as a cashier before she retired in 2000.