Mr. and Mrs. Merlin (Chris) Christiansen as they appear tody [Click to enlarge]

Mr. and Mrs. Merlin (Chris) Christiansen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary July 31.

Chris Christiansen married Jerry Richards in Moses Lake, Wash., on July 31, 1957.

Chris was enlisted in the Air Force, which took them to many places, including Spain, South Carolina, Vietnam, Korea, New Mexico and finally Mountain Home. After retirement he owned and operated a service station and car wash. Jerry worked at Mountain Home AFB in the Defense Finance and Accounting Office for 18 years.

and at the time of their wedding 50 years ago [Click to enlarge]

Chris and Jerry have lived in Mountain Home for the past 37 years. During the winter they travel south to Yuma, Ariz.

They have four sons and their wives, Rick and Margaret, Brad and Kelli, Scott and Patti and Gary and Barb, as well as 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.