Gebhardtes mark 65th anniversary

Frank and Peg Gebhardt recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Frank grew up in North Dakota and while on a job in the Midwest, met Peggy. They were married the year they met on Dec. 28, 1957, in Washington, Iowa.

Frank's job as an equipment installer for Automatic Electric, a manufacturer of telephone equipment, sent the growing family traveling across the lower 48 and Alaska. This wasn't the easiest of lifestyles but eventually, after Frank had acquired enough experience to qualify for a local position, they were able to settle in Kalispell in the ‘60s. They later started a successful telecommunications contracting company Alamon Telco in the early ‘70s that continues today to provide services across the United States.

Frank and Peg's successes as a couple and in life are firmly grounded in and through their faith. It can also be traced to the values and work ethics they learned growing up on farms in the 1930s and ‘40s. These experiences produced in them (and others of their generation) a perseverance to continue regardless how grim the outlook. Throughout their marriage both continue to trust and rely on each other and God, and never without an appreciation of humor in almost any situation.

Their seven children include John (Kristie), Fairbanks, Alaska; Denise (Bert Eickert), Kalispell; Matt (Cheryl), Kalispell; Meg (Jim Lippy), Kalispell; Michelle (Brad Cronk), Kalispell; Chris (Stephanie), Seattle, Washington; and Jen (Eric Shelton), Kalispell; 29 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.