Allen and Shari Anderson recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a luncheon and vow renewal ceremony with family and friends at the Sons of Norway Lodge in Bend, Oregon. They plan to travel on a Grand European River cruise and a trip to Outer Mongolia and China post pandemic. The couple was married on September 25, 1971 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Woodburn, Oregon.

They have two daughters; Heather Yunck, Salem, Or and Diana Anderson, Lebanon Or.

Allen is a Marine Corps veteran and served in Vietnam. While at IWU he was a member of Acacia Fraternity. He also attended Mount Angel College holding degrees in Behavioral Science and Real Estate. He was a Right-of-Way Agent in both public and private sectors for over 38 years. Allen was president of Sweetbriar Farm Homeowners’ Association, the City of Troutdale Planning Commission, and the Multnomah Cable Regulatory Commission, where he helped set up television cable services in the county.

After retirement in 1999, he began studying Chinese traveling to China five times and attending Dalian University of Technology. He enjoys tai chi, Zumba, cardio fitness, knitting and participating in poetry and haiku groups.

Shari was a special education teacher and elementary school teacher. She also served as a Senior Deputy Sheriff and is a certified Tai Chi instructor. She continues to volunteer in various activities.

They have lived in Central Oregon for 21 years.