Jim and Phyllis Valentino

Jim and Phyllis Valentino celebrated their 50th anniversary with an Alaskan cruise.

They were married in Glendale, California, on Sept. 10, 1967. They first met in September of 1963 when students at California State University-Los Angeles.

They were both educators in the Alhambra School District in Southern California for 35 years.

Jim was a teacher, baseball coach, department choir and administrator at Mark Keppel High School. He was also principal at Bigfork High School from 1986 to 1988.

Phyllis was a teacher for an alternative program for at-promise students and a special education teacher. She also served as department choir for the special education department.

Jim is an avid golfer and president of the 50-plus softball league in Kalispell. He also manages one of the six teams. Phyllis enjoys being a substitute teacher for the Bigfork School District.

The Valentinos have two children and four grandchildren. They both love living in Montana and have a number of special friends.