McNamaras spend 60th Anniversary in unlikely place

Richard and Lewellyn McNamara have lived their entire married life in Malta so it was only fitting that they would spend their 60th Wedding Anniversary in the town they have spent so much time in.

Little did the couple know, but as the big day approached last week – with plans for a night out and dinner at the Great Northern – that plans would change and the Diamond Celebration would take place at an unlikely location.

"We celebrated our 60th at the Phillips County Hospital," Lewellyn said. "They served us chicken breasts and 'better than sex cake' so we got everything we needed."

Lewellyn was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday and Richard joined her on Thursday.

"We are doing fine now," Lewellyn said. "I'm going home today and they don't know what is wrong with him...I think he just got tired of being home alone."

Richard said that he is somewhat better though his temperature isn't staying constant.

Lewellyn, who grew up on a farm in Wagner, and Richard, who is from Dodson, met and became high school sweethearts while attending Dodson High School. In 1955, the couple married and started a family that would grow to three children (Dale, Debbie and Michael), eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

"He was tall and attractive," Lewellyn said of what attracted her to would-be husband. "He was a great basketball player and a wonderful track star. And I was a cheerleader for the Dodson Coyotes."

"You forgot football," added Richard with a smile. "We took second in the state way back in 1948 and third in basketball."

Richard answer to what attracted him to his future wife was also straight to the point.

"I just liked her all over," he said. "She gave me a hard time in school and I figured I had better marry her and help straighten her out."

Richard admitted that his plan worked out in the exact opposite way he had hoped, but added that "we are still talking so something must have worked."

Before he retired, Richard owned and operated Malta Transfer and Storage and Lewellyn worked at Montana-Dakota Utilities for almost 13 years and then The First State Bank for another 33 years before retiring.

The McNamaras said that the date for thier wedding anniversary dinner at the Great Northern will happen and that family and friends have been dropping by during their stay at the hospital, which has kept them in good spirits. Though it wasn't the ideal spot for celebrating a monumental occasion, the McNamaras said that they couldn't have asked for better service at the hospital during their stay.

"We are lucky to have a facility like this," said Lewellyn. "They really cater to you and do a good job. If we didn't have this here in Malta we would be lost."

"They spoiled me so bad that I am going to stay sick," Richard added.