Irelands to celebrate No. 50

Dale and Martha (McKeeth) Ireland will celebrate 50 years of marriage, with an informal drop-in reception at Peninsula Evangelical Friends Church, 1291 N. Barr Road, Port Angeles, from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 28.

Dale Leon Ireland and Martha McKeeth were married May 28, 1966, in Boise, Idaho. In 1974, Dale graduated from Boise State University, their second child was born and the family moved to Gresham, Ore., where Dale began his career in the trucking industry. In 1979, a promotion prompted their move to Federal Way, where Martha resumed her writing career. In 1988, they relocated to the Carlsborg area west of Sequim, where they raise grass-fed beef. Dale is a licensed contractor specializing in small projects. Martha edited the Peninsula Business Journal from 1989-1995; served as a Clallam County commissioner from 1996-1999; wrote a weekly opinion column for the Peninsula Daily News for 12 years, is on the administrative staff of Serenity House and recently self-published a novel.

The Irelands have two children and four grandchildren. Their son and his family live in Port Angeles. Their daughter and her family live in New Zealand.