Willfords sing in 50 years of marriage

Joined by family, friends and other community members, long-time Saratoga residents Teense and Sandy Willford celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss Saturday.

The couple celebrated the event with an open house Saturday at the Platte Valley Community Center.

The story of Loren "Teense" and Sandy Willford goes back to the early 1960s, when they first met while singing in the choir of the First Presbyterian Church in Saratoga. After leaving the army in October 1963, Teense, who was born and raised in Saratoga, was back in town and on the prowl.

Sandy, who moved to Saratoga in the summer of '63, was working for Dr. Ray Corbett, Saratoga's town doctor at the time. She said her friend, Nancy Pennock, encouraged her to sing in the church choir. Before they met there, Teense said he recalls first hearing about Sandy from his mother.

"My mother said there's a nice good-looking girl working at Dr. Corbett's office, and she thought her name was Rusty instead of Sandy," he said. "I wanted to make some excuse to go to the doctor."

For their first date in November of '63, Sandy recalls going to Teense's house to have dinner with him and his family after church. Six months later, on May 17, 1964, they became Mr. and Mrs. Willford during a wedding held at the First Presbyterian Church.

The couple settled down together in Saratoga, and went on to raise three children. Throughout their marriage Teense had worked in ranching, and for 12 years, served on the Wyoming House of Representatives.

He also served as chairman for three different committees, and was the executive director of Saratoga's chamber of commerce for six years.

"I was also the first county chairman from Carbon County in more than 60 years, and there haven't been any others since," Teense said. "I have also been named Volunteer of the Year twice, and Sandy was with me the second time."

Teense's other numerous credits include being co-founder and chairman of the Platte Valley Legacy Foundation; past grandmaster of the Wyoming Masons; past worthy grand patron of the Wyoming Order of the Eastern Star; member of the Carbon County Counseling Board; chairman of the County Preschool Board; member of the Western Wyoming Outreach Board; and member of the Carbon Power and Light Board.

"I've also volunteered at the nursing home and senior center, and I have announced at several football games and parades," Teense said. "I have emceed at a lot of functions, and been asked to speak at a lot of events too. I have to stay active and I believe the community has been good to us, so I believe in giving back. Not enough people do that."

Teense said he also stays busy with his band "Wyoming Home Grown", playing gigs locally and across the country.

"I still have a band and I entertain all the time around town," he said. "I have toured Europe and did a concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. I also played at the Governor's Inaugural Ball. I've played all over the world."

Sandy volunteers at the Saratoga Museum, and was a deacon for the Presbyterian Church, secretary for the Republican Women, and past guardian and secretary of the Wyoming Order of the Eastern Star for 10 years.

Both Teense and Sandy agreed that solid, effective communication is what has kept them going strong for 50 years and counting.

"We've been married 50 years, and I still haven't won an argument yet," Teense joked.