ANNIVERSARIES

Evan and Muriel Granrud

65th Anniversary

Evan and Muriel Granrud, residing at Legacy House Assisted Living, 1136 E. Mullan Ave., Post Falls, will be honored in a 65-year wedding anniversary celebration at 1:30 p.m. today, Sept. 25, 2011, at that same location.

Married in Plentywood, Mont., on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1946, the Granruds were originally from North Dakota. They were active musicians, playing with the Montana Plainsmen with Vince Bingham throughout eastern Montana during the 1930s and '40s. Muriel "Myrt" states that she probably sang Kitty Well's "Release Me" to audiences more than 500 times, with Evan backing her up on fiddle or keyboard never taking that song to heart!

The Granruds spent most of their adult lives in Opheim, Mont., population 111. After he retired from Opheim Radar station in 1979, Evan and Myrt worked together to build a successful business, the Granrud's Lefsa Shack, employing almost 20 percent of the community. Evan created a device that allowed for mass production of lefsa and Myrt used her mother's lefsa recipe, resulting in export of their product nationally and internationally. Granrud's is still in business today, exporting traditionally made lefsa.

Evan and Myrt moved to Post Falls in September 2010 to be closer to their daughters, Sandy Stellflug of Post Falls and Julie Davey of Meridian. In addition to their daughters they have six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

When asked the secret to their happy marriage Evan states the old saying "a bad start makes for a good ending, with Muriel chiming in, "it's not over yet!"

Wally and Ardie Birchmier

50th Anniversary

Wally and Ardie (Harris) Birchmier of Coeur d'Alene celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, Sept. 23, 2011. They were high school sweethearts and were married at the United Methodist Church in Kellogg.

They are celebrating today, Sept. 25, 2011, with a gathering of family and friends given by their daughters, Carrie Hamilton of Post Falls and Tracy Birchmier of Coeur d'Alene; grandchildren Alysa and Shayne Hamilton, Jake Birchmier and great-granddaughter Jordyn Hamilton.

The "50th" cake topper placed on their cake has been passed down through three generations of Birchmiers.

Special guests are Ardie's mother, Ruby Harris, and Wally's mother, Marjorie Birchmier, both of Coeur d'Alene.

Art and Anita Longo

50th Anniversary

Anita (Ornelas) and Arthur C. Longo will be celebrating their 50th golden wedding anniversary on Oct. 15, 2011. They were married Oct. 28, 1961, at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church in Los Angeles, Calif.

The couple moved to Post Falls in 2004 from Lake Arrowhead, Calif.

Anita worked for many years in the jewelry trade industry as an operations manager for jewelry trade organizations. Art worked as a police officer for the state of California, having retired in 1992 after 30 years of service as a detective sergeant. He served in the Vietnam War in 1966-1968 and achieved the rank of sergeant.

They have one child, son Scott Longo of Van Nuys, Calif., and one grandchild, Sage Longo.

A private dinner celebration will be held Oct. 15, 2011.

ENGAGEMENTS

Cummings-Cornwell

Phillip and Sherry Cummings of Rathdrum are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jaime Lee Cummings, to Jayson Lloyd Cornwell, both of Post Falls, son of Jay and Jill Cornwell of Priest River.

Jaime is a 2004 Lakeland High School graduate and attended North Idaho College. She is a stay-at-home mom to 5-month old daughter Aurora.

Jayson is a 2003 graduate of Priest River Lamanna High School. He graduated from the Community College of the Air Force with an Associate of Science degree in 2010, an A.S. degree from North Idaho College in 2011, a bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho in 2011 and is currently attending Gonzaga University for his master's degree. He worked for the Air Force Special Forces in 2003 and is a Spokane County Sheriff's Deputy.

The couple planned to wed at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, at the Coeur d'Alene Wedding Chapel.

Sasser-Suggs

Mr. Daniel H. Sasser and the late Mrs. Shari L. Sasser of Coeur d'Alene announce the upcoming wedding of their daughter, D. Ashleigh Sasser to Phillip C. Suggs, son of Mr. Johns D. Suggs of Edgewater, Fla., and Ms. Lynda F. Walker of Gainesville, Fla.

Both are currently students at North Idaho College and plan to attend the University of Idaho in the spring semester of 2012. Ashleigh is a psychology major and Phillip is an environmental engineering major.

The ceremony and reception will be held in November 2011 at The Davenport Hotel in Spokane.

MILESTONE BIRTHDAYS

Orville Benjamin

100th Birthday

Orville Benjamin, a Coeur d'Alene resident for more than 85 years, celebrated his 100th birthday with 100 relatives and friends on Sept. 11, 2011, at the Coeur d'Alene Center.

(Pictured on, left Jessica Johnson, granddaughter; Orville Benjamin (middle) and wife Ann on the right.)

Happy 100th Birthday, Dad!

Svend Koustrup

90th Birthday

Family and friends celebrated the Sept. 1 90th birthday of Svend Koustrup with a private party held at the Coeur d'Alene Shrine Club Center on Sept. 10, 2011.

In attendance were the four generations pictured: Svend and Anne Koustrup surrounded by daughters, Jette Koustrup Noble of Post Falls and Helle Koustrup Berry of Wisconsin; grandson Ryan Koustrup Noble; and great-grandchildren, Jenna, Aubrey, Tyler and Leah Noble, all of Colorado.

BIRTHS

Leila Alexis Mosher was born at 10:43 a.m. Sept. 7, 2011, to Jessica Jones and John Mosher of Coeur d'Alene. She weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Greg and Lei Jones. Paternal grandparents are Brad and Melodee Watt.

Austynn Annette Hall was born at 7:07 p.m. Sept. 8, 2011, to Jo Broesch and Dan Hall of Hayden. She weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. and was 22 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Tim and Robin Broesch. Paternal grandparents are Brian Hall and Karen Karns.

Submit your milestones to hmain@cdapress.com or in person at the Coeur d'Alene Press, 201 Second St., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

Listings include:

• Wedding anniversaries for couples married 25 years and every fifth year thereafter (2 photos accepted)

• Wedding engagement announcements

• Births (no photos)

• Milestone birthdays at age 70 and every fifth year thereafter or every year after age 90

Deadline is 3 p.m. Tuesdays.