Anchorage Daily News

NOV. 25, 1972

Elisabeth and Michael Ballard

Elisabeth "Libby" and Michael Ballard celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with a quiet family Thanksgiving dinner. They are planning a trip to Hawaii in April after the hockey season. The Ballards were married Nov. 25, 1972, in La Grande, Ore.

Libby and Mike met in Beaverton, Ore., where both worked for General Telephone. "Mike bribed a friend to bring Libby to a party so he could ask her out, and the rest is history," the couple wrote. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Boise, Idaho, where they lived for 20 years. They made many friends, enjoyed many memories, and raised their daughter, Penny.

The Ballards moved to Anchorage in 1996 with their daughter, Penny, and their granddaughter, Taylor. While in Alaska, Mike worked for Norcon, Veco and CH2MHill. Libby owns My Sister Quilts. Their biggest joy is their family and watching their granddaughters Taylor and Caela grow. They enjoy helping with youth hockey, traveling and sharing new adventures.

OCT. 27, 1947

Irene and Fred Ashcraft

Irene and Fred Ashcraft celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Their children arranged to treat them to a western Caribbean cruise after visiting family and friends in Texas. Irene and Fred were married Oct. 27, 1947, in Tijuana, Mexico. At that time, they could not read the legal documents they were given since they were written in Spanish, the couple said. At their 50th wedding anniversary, a friend translated the papers in detail even though the couple knew they were officially married.

Fred served in the U.S. Navy in the submarine fleet, aboard the USS Segundo SS398. Irene was a waitress in San Diego. "Their courtship was less than three weeks," the couple said. One of those weeks, Fred was restricted to (ship quarters) for returning late on pass. Everyone agreed their marriage would not last. Fred was discharged from the Navy 1949. They moved around the U.S. a lot looking for work. The car they owned at the time, for nine years, was licensed in seven different states."

Fred apprenticed in the ceramic tile trade. In 1964, after the earthquake, he moved to Alaska to help rebuild. He worked for Midnight Sun Tile. Irene stayed in Issaquah, Wash., so that the children could finish the school year. In June 1964, Irene and the children drove the Alaska Highway. At the Alaska border, the road conditions worsened due to frost heave and earthquake damage. The car was a Nash Rambler. "The kids kept busy chewing gum to patch the holes in the gas tank," the couple said. "The patches only lasted from gas station to gas station." Fred eventually went into business for himself as Ashcraft Tile. He did mostly commercial work, both in Anchorage and the Bush. He traveled throughout Alaska doing tile work until he retired in 1991.

After retiring, Irene and Fred traveled around Alaska and the Lower 48 in a motor home, visiting family and friends along the way. In 1997, they were treated to a 50th wedding anniversary party at the Northside Seventh-day Adventist Church. They renewed their vows in English. "The Tijuana wedding papers caused much laughter and jokes," the couple said.

The Ashcrafts have two sons and daughters-in-law, Ted and Dee Ashcraft and Don and Robin Ashcraft, all of Anchorage; a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Jack Mize of Soldotna; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

OCT. 6, 2007

Rebecca and Jason Hopkins

Rebecca Brothers and Jason Hopkins were married Oct. 6 on Panama City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico.

Rebecca and Jason met at work, "where he quite literally rolled into her life, and she knocked him off his feet with one smile and toss of her hair," the couple wrote.

Rebecca, the daughter of the Rev. Carl Brothers and his wife, Donna, grew up all over the Lower 48 (and Canada). She migrated to Alaska in 2004 to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage theater program. Rebecca is an administrative assistant for SLR International.

Jason, the son of David Hopkins and Connie and Chris Tofteberg, was born and raised in La Porte City, Iowa. He also migrated to Alaska in 2004 for the sole purpose of meeting his soul mate, though he wasn't aware of it at the time, Rebecca wrote. Jason enjoys his job as plant clerk for Contech Industries.

The couple have a daughter, Violet Lynn.

The wedding was officiated by the bride's father. Friends and family attended. The bridal party consisted of Rebecca's sisters, Bethany, Mandie and Leah. The bridegroom's party consisted of the bride's brothers, Jon and Mason, and the bridegroom's stepfather, Chris.

NOV. 12, 2007

Betsy and Rusty Madsen

Betsy Smart and Rusty Madsen were married Nov. 12 on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.

They met while students at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

Rusty is the son of Butch and Kim Madsen. He graduated from Dimond High School in 2000 and received a bachelor's degree in business management from EWU in 2004. Rusty recently moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., where he is an operations manager for Garden of the Gods Bank.

Betsy is the daughter of Jerry and the late Susanne Smart. She graduated from Oakesdale High School in 2001 and from Spokane Community College in the field of noninvasive cardiovascular technology in 2007. Betsy also moved to Colorado Springs and works for Memorial Hospital as a registered cardiac sonographer.

Rusty's brother, Craig Madsen, was best man, and Betsy's sister, Molly Smart, was matron of honor. After the wedding, the family and guests enjoyed a luau at the Sheraton. The reception was in Spokane, Wash., the following weekend. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii and will live in their new home in Colorado with their pug, Frankie.

JAN. 12, 2008

Sean Reynolds and Christopher Lee

Sean Yseult Reynolds and Christopher Dominic Lim Chee Lee will marry Jan. 12 at Preservation Hall in New Orleans.

Sean is the daughter of Ann Reynolds and Michael Shane Reynolds of Raleigh, N.C. She is a designer and president of her company, Yseult Designs, and better known as Sean Yseult, bass player for the multi-platinum metal band, White Zombie. The Grammy-nominated band formed in New York's Lower East Side while Sean earned a design degree and graduated magna cum laude from Parsons School of Design in New York City.

Christopher is the son of Freddie Sue Lee and Dominic Shi Fong Lee of Anchorage. He is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the hard rock band, Supagroup. Besides co-owning The Saint bar in New Orleans with Sean, he also is a screenwriter. Christopher earned a master's degree in cellular and molecular biology from Tulane University in New Orleans.

The couple met at a rock show in the French Quarter. They live in New Orleans and New York.

JAN. 12, 2008

Jessica Lord and Christopher Moreno

Jessica Lord and Christopher Moreno will marry Jan. 12 in Ruidoso, N.M.

Jessica, a Langdon High School and University of North Dakota graduate, resides in Anchorage. She is membership services and events coordinator for the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.

Chris, a native of Lubbock, Texas, is active duty military and stationed in Anchorage with the U.S. Army. He recently returned from Iraq after serving 14 months overseas with the 4-25 Airborne Brigade.

MAY 17, 2008

Shannon Baker and Colin Koenig

Shannon Rose Baker and Colin Peter Koenig will marry May 17 at Montana Creek Baptist Church in Talkeetna.

Shannon is the daughter of Nancy and Marvin Baker, both of Anchorage. She graduated from East High School and attends the University of Alaska Anchorage. Shannon is employed with Standard Register Co.

Colin is the son of Trista and Al Koenig, both of Chugiak. He graduated from East High School and is employed with Sunrise Bakery.

Shannon and Colin met in 1998 while attending East High School and have been inseparable ever since. Both enjoy snowboarding, riding motocross and the Alaska outdoors.

The couple wrote: "Their bond and love for one another has deepened over the last nine years, so they are looking forward to making their union official, purchasing a larger home and starting a family in the near future."

JULY 11, 2008

Ariel Compton Smart and Jereme Monteau

Ariel Compton Smart of Santa Fe, N.M., and Jereme Richard Monteau of Anchorage will marry July 11 in Tilden Park in Berkeley, Calif.

Ariel is the daughter of KC Compton of Lawrence, Kan., and Dan Smart and stepmom Trudy Knowles of Westfield, Mass. She graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1995 and received a master's degree in nursing from San Francisco State University in 2004. Ariel is a labor and delivery nurse at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley.

Jereme is the son of Richard and Paulette Monteau, both of Anchorage. He graduated from Steller Alternative in 1996 and attended Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, where he studied computer science. Jereme works in San Francisco as a programmer at Graphic Language, a web design firm.

Ariel and Jereme met while climbing at the Berkeley rock climbing gym and have climbed and surfed together for the past six years. He proposed with his grandmother's ring while on a hike in the hills high above their favorite beach.

FEB. 24, 2009

Renee LaJuett and Jeremy Lemke

Renee LaJuett and Jeremy Lemke plan a Caribbean destination cruise wedding with family and friends. The ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2009, on Grand Cayman.

Renee is the daughter of Rose and Robert Bustamante of Rochester, N.Y. She received a degree in air traffic control from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2006 and is attending Federal Aviation Administration training in Oklahoma City. Renee is an avid adventurer and outdoor enthusiast, touring around the world this past spring.

Jeremy is the son of Sandra and Jim Lemke of Anchorage. He is a 1999 graduate of Service High School and a 2003 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., where he earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical science and a double minor in meteorology and business. Jeremy also holds a commercial pilot's license, instrument and multi-engine ratings. He is employed by United Parcel Service as an air ramp supervisor at the Anchorage gateway.

Both enjoy hiking, camping, boating, fishing and flying.

Jeremy proposed to Renee on Aug. 7 on a grated waterfall walkway hundreds of feet above Yellowstone Falls in Yellowstone National Park. On Oct. 6, they were escorted by Renee's parents to a surprise engagement dinner party at Valicia's Ristorante in Rochester.

SUMMER 2009

Sara Vernia and Alec Duncan

Sara Margaret Vernia Beelman and Alec Steven Duncan will marry during the summer of 2009 in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, at the home of Alec's paternal grandparents, Roger and Mary Duncan.

Sara is the daughter of Joyce Beelman of Fairbanks and Santiago Vernia Martinez of Valencia, Spain. She is a 1996 graduate of West Valley High School in Fairbanks and earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She has worked three years as a design engineer at ASCG Inc. in Anchorage and is studying architecture in Seattle.

Alec is the son of Lucinda and Robert Duncan of Concord, Mass. He graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School in 1997 and received a bachelor's degree in geology from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., in 2001 and a master's degree in geology from UAF in 2007. He works for BP as a geologist in Anchorage.

Sara and Alec met at UAF. They became engaged while sailing the family friendship sloop, the Eastward, three miles off shore of Boothbay Harbor. Besides sailing, they enjoy playing ice hockey.

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