BioM: Melvin, Bonnie Mary (1969)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Beecher, Melvin, Ward, Hodnik, Strathman, Weber, Damm, Schoenki, Geary, Skutley, Meunier, Siemsen

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 18 Dec 1969

Melvin, Bonnie Mary (6 DEC 1969)

Mr. and Mrs. John Beecher are now at home at 2544 Fourth Ave., Huntington, West Virginia, following a skiing honeymoon in northern Minnesota.

Miss Bonnie Mary Melvin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Melvin of Abbotsford, and John Francis Beecher of West Virginia, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Beecher of Madison, were united in marriage on Saturday, December 6, 1969. The double ring ceremony took place at 2 o'clock at the First Presbyterian Church of Abbotsford, with the Rev. Elmon Ward of the First Presbyterian Church of Eau Claire, and Rev. Emil Hodnik of St. Bernard's Catholic Church of Abbotsford officiating. Mrs. Eugene Strathman of Abbotsford was organist, and John Weber of Dorchester and Doug Damm of Stetsonville were vocalists.

The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, was attired in a Camelot style gown of white velvet and Venice lace, with chapel train. A large flower of Venice lace with a pearl center held her three tiered veil of silk illusion, which billowed to the elbows. She carried a cascade arrangement of Amazon lilies and red roses.

Foer her attendants, the bride chosee two college friends, Miss Sue Geary of Madison, as her maid of honor, and Mrs. Steve Schoenki of Glen Burnie, Maryland, as brides matron.

They wore red velvet floor length gowns in empire styling, and white rabbit fur pillbox hats with short white veils. A red rose corsage was attached to the white fur muffs which they wore.

Miss Tammy Melvin and Jeffrey Melvin of Dorchester served their aunt as flower girl and ring bearer, respectively. The flower girls was also dressed in red velvet with fur hat and muff.

Jim Melvin of Whitewater, a brother of the bride, was best man, and Mark Skutley of Eau Claire was the groomsman. Ken Meunier of Eau Claire and Tim Simsen of Trego seated the guests at the church.

Festivities of the wedding day included a reception at the Abbotsford City Hall and a 5 o'clock dinner at the church dining room.

Mrs. Beecher was graduated in 1969 from Wisconsin State University, Eau Claire, and was a medical technologist at St. Joseph's Hospital at Marshfield.

Her husband was graduated from the same university in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, and is engaged in personnel work for the U.S. Government.