Anchorage Daily News

JUNE 15, 1968

Sally and George Hronkin

Sally and George Hronkin of Palmer will celebrate 40 years of marriage this summer. They met in Crystal Falls, Mich., when Sally stopped for gas at the station where George was working. It was love at first sight, and they were married in Alpha, Mich., on June 15, 1968.

They drove their VW "Bug" to Alaska in summer 1970 and fell in love with the natural beauty but returned to Michigan, where they worked in teaching and school administration and had their four children. In 1989, they made it back to Alaska, first living in the Glennallen area and now in Palmer.

Their out-of-state children include Jennifer, 37, who lives in Colorado with her husband and two children, Magnolia, 4, and Josef, 2; and Melissa, 35, who lives in Michigan with her husband. Two of their children live in Palmer: Jesse, 30, wife Carrie and children Hunter, 5, Blaze, 3, and Brooke, almost 1; and Christy, 28, husband Larry and son Rocco, 1.

All the families toasted Sally and George's 40 years of marriage at New Year's with the gift of a trip to Rome, which they took in May.

MARCH 15, 2008

Amy and Corey Hunt

Amy Fischer and Corey Hunt of Seattle were married March 15 in Seattle at the historic Stimson-Green Mansion.

Amy is the daughter of John and Theresa Fischer, and the late Jennie Hedges. Amy has four children, Autumn, Jerry, Oliver and Lucas. She is an executive assistant for the City of Mill Creek and is pursuing a degree in English. Amy enjoys creative writing, painting, organic gardening, caring for a diverse menagerie of pets and her children.

Corey is the son of Ann and Charlie Laurence of Anchorage. His father and stepmother are Jim and Cathy Hunt of Austin, Texas. Corey graduated from Service High School in 1987. Upon this graduation, he received senatorial nominations to West Point and the Air Force Academy. He obtained an associate's degree in math from Sheldon College and plans to graduate from the University of Washington in June with degrees in math, physics and engineering.

While in Alaska, Corey enjoyed downhill ski racing, hockey, ice skating, fishing and boating. His interests also include information technology programming, reading and his children.

Janet Seavey officiated the ceremony. Lela Keith was matron of honor, and bridesmaids were Sarah Bovee, Leah Griffiths and Shannon Keechi, all sisters of the bride. Junior attendants were Jerry and Autumn Butler, children of the bride. Jerry was ring bearer, and Autumn was flower maiden. Jack Chamberlain was best man, and groomsmen were Joe Singleton, Jeff Sever and Mike Keith.

A unique component of this ceremony was inviting the children to join the bridal couple and take vows of "I do" to support and love this new family.

Amy wore an heirloom ecru poi de soi chapel gown accompanied by a delicate silk veil more than 20 feet long. Bridal attendants wore chocolate-brown long gowns and carried pink bouquets. The bridegroom's party was dressed in formal tuxedos with brown silk vest, white silk ties and pink boutineers.

A full dinner was served to the 150 guests. Friends and family traveled from Germany, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Chicago, Phoenix, Texas, Oklahoma, California and Alaska to attend.

The couple spent their wedding night at the boutique hotel The Sorrento. The next morning, they flew to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for their honeymoon.

MAY 25, 1958

Evelyn and Robert R.W. Dickens

Robert R.W. Dickens and Evelyn Mae Dickens celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 25.

It was love at first sight, and they married just three weeks after they met. Robert and Evelyn were married May 25, 1958, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

The Air Force in 1975 brought them to Alaska, which they still call home.

Evelyn enjoyed a long and happy career with Teamsters Local 959 from 1975 until her retirement in 1999. After Robert retired from the Air Force in 1981, he began his second career with the University of Alaska Anchorage, retiring in 1991.

They are enjoying retirement, traveling the Lower 48 in their RV with their dog-children, Thelma and Louise. They plan to permanently relocate to the Lower 48 next year to be closer to family.

Evelyn and Robert have three children and six grandchildren.

JUNE 13, 1958

Lela and Ray Bond

Ray and Lela Bond of Willow will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary June 13 at their home on Long Lake. They were married in San Pablo, Calif., in 1958, and despite the fact that they were married on Friday the 13th, they have enjoyed a blessed life together.

Their children will be hosting a party on June 14 with an Alaska garden party theme. Guests from out of town include Lela's sister, Wilma Miller, and her husband, Joe Sousa.

Ray and Lela lived in San Pablo until 1970, when they loaded their belongings in a truck and family car and headed north to Alaska, looking for a better place to raise their family. It seems there was only so much room on the truck, and the kids opted for bicylcles instead of beds. And there is an ugly rumor about Lela's driving that includes her traveling alone in the car, with all of the kids piled in the truck with Dad.

The Bonds' children include Rhonda and Mark Littrell, Sue and Craig Floyd, Pam and Bob Drake, Dan and Marty Seidel-Bond, and Dave and Jennifer Bond. They have been blessed with 12 grandchildren -- Jeff, Robin, Hannah, Sara, Garrett, Scott, Amber, Jillian, Raymond, MacKenzie, Megan and Dale -- and a great-grandson, Samuel.

They started R & R Scafolding Erectors in the early 1970s and ran it until their retirement in 2005. Ray and Lela have been active in church their entire married life, including at First Baptist and Rabbit Creek Community churches in Anchorage and First Baptist Church in Willow. Their service and love for God and his work have been their legacies to their children and grandchildren.

They are enjoying serving in their church and lake living as well as time on the road in their RV.

SEPT. 8, 2009

Belinda Whitehouse and Dave Shew

Belinda Whitehouse and Dave Shew will marry Sept. 8, 2009.

"Love wandered into Dave and Belinda's lives in the fall of 2006," Belinda wrote. They met on Emerald Isle, N.C., and were engaged on Alaska's Russian River in September 2007.

Belinda is the daughter of the late Thomas Whitehouse and her mother, Carolyn. She lives in Pensacola, Fla. Belinda is a cell biologist and medical-legal consultant. She has a daughter, Alexandra, of Anchorage.

Dave is the son of Dave Shew Sr. and Amelia Shew, both of Anchorage. Dave is self-employed in construction, building unique-design homes and managing small- and large-scale commercial work. He is the father of two adventurous children, David and Alexis of Anchorage.

JUNE 21, 2008

Abigale Nelms and Blake Kron

Abigale Nelms and Blake Kron will marry June 21, 2008, at the Alaska Centennial Rose Garden in downtown Anchorage. They both live in Anchorage.

Abigale is the daughter of Al and Rebecca Nelms of Anchorage. She graduated from Dimond High School in 2003 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in interior design in 2007. Abigale is an interior designer for Design Collaborative.

Blake is the son of Rob and Laurie Kron of Anchorage. He graduated from Service High School in 2002 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in network technology in 2007. Blake is a system administrator for the University of Alaska Anchorage.

How to submit a Together announcement

The Daily News publishes engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements every Monday at adn.com and in the Life & Style section. We have teamed with Legacy.com to offer guest books and photo galleries to accompany all announcements. Those placing an engagement announcement also have a convenient online gift registry. Couples are encouraged to personalize these new enhancements. After a submission is made to the Daily News, Legacy.com will contact the submitter with an e-mail that contains a link to the extra features.

We accept all anniversaries, for couples married just one year or 60. We accept submissions from former residents who did not grow up in Alaska. We have extended the deadline to submit weddings and anniversaries from three months to six.

Engagements start at $55 for up to 200 words. Wedding announcements start at $5 for up to 70 words. Anniversary announcements start at $10 for up to 70 words. Couples celebrating their 40th anniversary or beyond can place a free announcement of up to 200 words; 201 to 350 words is $75. More words costs extra.

No engagement, wedding or anniversary announcement may exceed 700 words. Our electronic forms count words as they are typed. The forms allow for photo uploads and secure payment. See our forms at adn.com/help. Our online forms help us process submissions as quickly and accurately as possible. A $15 service fee will be added for announcements that are e-mailed, dropped off at or mailed to the Daily News.

Please submit wedding and anniversary announcements no later than six months after the event. Engagement announcements should be submitted at least one month before the wedding day.

We continue to edit announcements for clarity and news style. All announcements become the property of the Anchorage Daily News and may be republished in any format.

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