ANNIVERSARY

Lyle and Robin Bruce

50th Anniversary

Lyle and Robin Bruce, of Post Falls, will observe their golden wedding anniversary June 6, 2014. They were married at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Cheney, Washington, June 6. 1964.

Lyle is the son of the late Lawrence Bruce and Violet Bruce of Spokane Valley. Robin is the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Babb, formerly longtime farmers and ranchers near Cheney.

Lyle grew up on his parents' grain farm in the Palouse country near Farmington, Washington. He attended school through the eighth grade at Farmington and then transferred to Oakesdale High School, where he graduated in 1960. Lyle attended Washington State University (WSU) for two years before transferring to EWC (now EWU), Cheney, Washington, in 1962. Robin grew up on her parents' wheat and cattle ranch near Chapman Lake in Spokane County. She attended school in Cheney from Kindergarten through high school and she graduated from Cheney High School in 1964.

It was while Lyle was a student at EWU that he met Robin at a dance at the Plaza Grange Hall, where live bands always played. It was the first dance at Plaza that Robin ever attended. The next year (1963) Lyle and Robin were engaged. One week after Robin's High School graduation the couple were married. Their daughter Shannon was born in 1965 and their son John was born in 1969.

Lyle worked briefly in Spokane and then in Kalispell, Montana, before the Bruce's realized they missed their farming roots so much that they wanted to return to agriculture and farm life. They returned with their children to Farmington where Lyle commuted to WSU. In 1966 Lyle graduated from WSU with a B.S. degree in agricultural economics. The Bruce's raised potatoes at Farmington for 10 years before moving their potato operation to Post Falls in 1977, where the Rathdrum Prairie proved more conducive to potato culture than had the Palouse. Where once there were a number of potato growers in North Idaho, Lyle is now the only potato farmer left.

After moving to Post Falls, Robin attended North Idaho College (NIC), where she earned an A.A. degree in history in 1983. She then transferred to Gonzaga University in Spokane and earned a B.A. in history, summa cum laude, in 1985. Robin then began graduate studies at EWU. While still a student, Robin was hired as an historian by Archaeological and Historical Services (AHS), a Cultural Resources Management contracting branch of the university. Robin earned her M.A. in history from EWU in 1989. In 1992 Robin formed her own cultural resources management firm, Western Historical Services. In 1994 Robin resigned from AHS to devote her energies to her own consulting firm. She has operated Western Historical Services from her offices in Post Falls from 1994 to the present.

The Bruces will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary later in June in Post Falls with a private dinner hosted by their children and grandchildren. They are Shannon Bruce Drum, husband Don Drum, and their children Katie and Mason Drum; John Bruce and his fiancee, Alexa Young, and their children: Sydney Bruce and significant other Andrew Love, Zachery Bruce, and Ellie Bruce and Alexa's sons Dallas and Jackson Matuszek.

Lyle and Robin enjoy traveling, boating and fishing on their property at Skookum RV Park on the Pend O'Reille River. Most of all, they enjoy their family and following their seven grandchildren's many activities.

MILESTONE BIRTHDAYS

Eugene C. Austin

90th Birthday

The family of Eugene C. Austin proudly invites their friends to join them to celebrate his 90th birthday. The event will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7, 2014, at his daughter's house, 6464 N. Fourth St., Dalton Gardens.

Gene was born June 6, 1924, in Missoula, Montana. He served as an officer in the Army Air Corps during World War II, flying 91 missions over "The Hump" between China and India, including flying the few surviving Merrill's Marauders out of China. For this service he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, among several other citations.

After the war, while in the Air Force Reserves, he graduated from Montana State University with a degree in engineering physics. Recalled to active duty for the Korean War, he retired as a Major after 20 years, flying (and somehow surviving) the infamous nuclear bomber, the B-47. He then taught physics, math and calculus at Kellogg High School and North Idaho College, retiring in 1985. He continued to teach calculus to college students online into his late 80s.

He has been married for 66 years to the former Anna Jo Kelley and will be joined at the celebration by his six children, Tom (Chris) Austin, San Jose, California; Beth (Ed) Hatcher, Dalton Gardens; Dan (Linda) Austin, Spokane Valley; John (Deena) Austin, Medimont; Susan (Wayne) Morrison, Rathdrum and Patty (Jimmy) Morrison, Hayden. He also has 24 grandkids and 25 great-grandkids, many of whom will join us to celebrate his remarkable life.

Grace Whidden

90th Birthday

Grace Whidden, will be celebrating her 90th birthday on June 6, 2014. She was born in Mill City, Pennsylvania. She spent her growing up years in Pennsylvania, attended and graduated from Syracuse University, married and lived in New Jersey until her husband's transfer to Houston, Texas, in 1970. In 2009 she moved to Post Falls where she resides at Garden Plaza so she could be near her two daughters.

The photo shows Grace sitting in a chair with her two daughters, Barbara Hoffman and Joyce Kollaja behind her; her granddaughter, Amy Ford; Amy's four children; and her great-grandchildren, Emma, Bennett, Hudson and Mara Ford (in her lap).

BIRTHS

Daphne Rae Dehlbom was born at 8:49 p.m. May 18, 2014, to Cassandra Stephens and Christopher Dehlbom of Coeur d'Alene. She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Wendy and Dwight Brewer. Paternal grandparents are Scott and Lynelle Dehlbom.

Isla Elizabeth Moore was born at 7:56 a.m. May 22, 2014, to Jennifer and Joshua Moore of Coeur d'Alene. She weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Brother is Owen. Sister is Emily. Maternal grandparents are Sheri and Dan Scott. Paternal grandparents are Christi and Gary Moore.

Lucille (Lucy) Kate Hancock was born at 2:56 p.m. May 20, 2014, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene. Lucy weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces and was 21 inches long. Proud parents are Helo and Katy Hancock of Coeur d'Alene. Big brother is Cole Hancock. Maternal grandparents are Mike and Mary Lou Talbot of Montpelier. Paternal grandparents are Scott and Holly Hancock of Rigby. Lucy is named after her late great-grandmother Lucille Talbot of St. George, Utah.

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)

* Engagement announcements (1 photo accepted)

* Wedding announcements (1 photo accepted)

* Births (1 photo accepted)

* Milestone birthdays at age 70 and every fifth year thereafter or every year after age 90 (1 photo accepted)

* Academic honors and higher education accomplishments (1 photo accepted)

* Military announcements (1 photo accepted)

Deadline is 3 p.m. Tuesdays.