Mike and Mary (Bronson) Benz, of Redmond, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last June.

The couple were married June 1, 1968, in Lebanon at St. Edward Catholic Church. They have two children, Michael John (and Giulia), of Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Chad (and Danielle), of Bend, and seven grandchildren.

Mr. Benz was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1968 and left for boot camp 17 days after the wedding. He served 14 months in the Demilitarized Zone, Korea, in military explosives and earned the rank of Sergeant E5. Mr. Benz started an electrical apprenticeship in 1972 and became a journeyman in 1976. In 1992 he opened and ran Benz Electric until closing in 2010. He is now semi-retired and works for Reinwald Electric when needed. He is a member of the NRA, VFW, RMEF and USCCA. His hobbies include archery, hunting, hiking, fishing, kayaking and working on automobiles including a 1955 GMC pickup he and his wife are waiting to restore.

Mrs. Benz retired from Benz Electric in 2010. She has played volleyball in the city league for over 50 years. She hopes to learn pickleball when she retires from volleyball. She enjoys gardening, counted cross stitch and attending her grandchildren’s many activities and functions.

The couple were childhood sweethearts and have known each other since the 7th grade.

They have lived in Redmond for 40 years.