Longtime Aberdeen residents Kathy Sue (Smathers) and Steven Arthur Beck are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary today.

The couple met in 1970 while attending Grays Harbor College where they were both members of the hiking and skiing clubs. On a hike to Big Creek, Kathy caught Steve’s eye in her cable knit sweater, peddle pushers and white Keds. And Kathy thought Steve was pretty darn cute, too. Their first official date was to see “The Boston Strangler.”

They were married Feb. 6, 1971, at the courthouse in Ellensburg with Steve’s brother John as their witness.

Steve worked for Olympic Candy Company, a local service station, made baking supply deliveries to local bakeries, managing the local movie theaters for several years and began his lifelong career the day after graduation when he went to work at ITT Rayonier. He became a journeyman millwright and was the maintenance supervisor for Grays Harbor Paper. Kathy worked for years at Hoquiam High School, feeding hungry teenagers, later running a home daycare, at Privatsky’s and eventually serving as a caregiver at Channel Point Village in Hoquiam.

Through the 50 years they have enjoyed many activities including square dancing, hiking, family camping trips, gardening, local theater and mission work. They’ve been members of the United Methodist Church for over 40 years.

Steve and Kathy have two daughters: Kimberly Beck Fuchs of Olympia and Debra Ann Taylor of Hoquiam; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.