Family and friends make quite a fuss over couples who reach their 50th year of marriage. But, as much as that golden anniversary is something to be cherished, it’s not nearly so rare as the 75th.

A man and woman who have traveled down life’s path together for three quarters of a century deserve very special recognition. For one thing, to simply get that far, they must have been very good to and for one another.

Kenneth and Frances Shenk seem to fit that description to a T.

At 95 and 92 years of age, respectively, Kenny, as he likes to be called, and Frances, have been retired since 1977. But it wasn’t until just a few months ago that they moved into the Valley View Retirement Village southwest of McMinnville.

She sits by his side, listening attentively as he talks about their life. After all these years, there’s probably not much she hasn’t heard him say, but he’s one heck of a storyteller.

In fact, he’s written a book about his life experiences, titled “Go Ahead On ‘er: The Life and Times of Kenneth M. Shenk.” This chronological collection of short stories, 365 of them in all, and 370 pages in length, spans 76 years, from 1912 to 1998.

It’s an interesting and revealing read, filled with an astounding amount of specific recollections about happenings decades ago. The astute, richly detailed observations attest to Shenk’s keen memory and seemingly insatiable curiosity.

He’s also possessed of a good-natured wit embellished by a touch of irony and a dollop of facetiousness, as this classic comment about his writings attests: “I never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”

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Whether or not facts may sometimes be embellished, the veracity of basic ones needn’t be called into question.

Kenneth Shenk and Frances Kilmer met in Sheridan. The year was 1929. The place was the Mennonite Church, where their families worshiped together. He was 16 and she was 13 at the time.

According to Kenny, the time was fitting and proper for a young man to start thinking about a relationship, but they didn’t rush into anything. The period of getting serious lasted four years before they decided to marry in the fall of 1933.

The date was Nov. 19. He would turn 21 on Dec. 30 and she would reach her 18th birthday on June 18, 1934. It was the middle of the Great Depression, yet within a year the newlyweds somehow managed to buy their own place.

That “place” consisted of 103 acres up Gooseneck Creek Road eight miles south of Sheridan. They moved out to the country in the fall of 1934 and called it home until 1977, raising six children there, all of whom were born within a span of five years.
Now this may sound like pretty fast work for even the most prolific among us. But there’s a reason.

Eldest son, Wilbert, was born in 1935. Second son, Russell, was born in 1936. Twin sons Myron and Byron were born in 1938, and twin sister and brother, Donna and David, were born in 1939.

To put food on the table for eight family members, Kenny worked most of his life as a logger in the forests of the Coast Range where his employers included W. W. Harris Lumber Company and Willamina Lumber Mills.

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Shenk particularly valued his friendship with L. M. “Bud” Hampton, who founded one of the nation’s largest privately owned forest product companies, now known as Hampton Affiliates, and bought the Willamina operation in 1942.

In his book, he said of Hampton, “Looking back, I know Bud Hampton had a great bearing on my life. He had wonderful principles and kept them in focus and never let me down. I feel enriched and blessed from my association with Bud.”

Later in his career, Shenk’s knowledge of the industry led him to make a number of timber investments that paid off nicely. The couple retired in 1977 and moved to Canada, where he could pursue his true passion full time.

When Kenny wasn’t workin’, he was huntin’ and fishin’, and, after the move, that was pretty much what he did for the next 13 years. From what he wrote, there could be few better places than the one he chose.

The Village of Clinton, British Columbia, calls itself the Gateway to the Cariboo, one of the most remote and rugged regions in western Canada. Shenk seemed at his most content there, amid the beauty of nature little touched by man.

Tracking big game or reeling in a prize fish may have been a part of it, but he obviously reveled in the sheer physicality of the great outdoors, meeting the test of personal stamina into his late 70s.

That close connection with the natural world, along with steadfast religious beliefs and an informed world view, made for a fulfilling life that has kept him active, alert and able to articulately express his opinions to this day.

It probably wouldn’t have turned out quite that way without the unselfish support of his wife, Frances. As their daughter, Donna, said, she made it possible for him to live out his dream.

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Raising six children so close in age occupied most of her energy during the earlier years of their marriage. She did find time to be active in the Mennonite Church and, by all accounts, became a whiz in the kitchen.

According to her husband, “Anybody who has ever put their feet underneath Frances’ table will attest to the fact that she is one of the best cooks ever.” What is it they say about the fastest way to a man’s heart?

The six Shenk siblings shared the enthusiasm for their mother’s cooking as well as for strong family ties. Collectively, they had 17 of their own children. Those children had a combined 62 children.

Kenny and Frances recently became great-great grandparents for the first time, with many more undoubtedly to come.

Perhaps one of the most tragic things that can happen to a parent is the death of a child. As much as the Shenks admit to having been blessed in many ways, the losses of Russell, in 1991 and David, in 1999, were extremely difficult to endure.

“It was the saddest day of my life,” Kenny said, when speaking of the day his son, Russell, died of complications brought on by the unsuccessful effort to treat his liver cancer.

Through it all, however, the couple have continued to give and receive in return the love and support of their immediate family, now four generations and more than 100 strong.

The Shenk family extends an open invitation to all who would like to attend Kenneth and Frances’ 75th anniversary reception. Saturday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. at First Mennonite Church, 903 Cedarwood, St. McMinnville.