Almost the wedding of the century

On Thursday, April 1, an unusual and amazing wedding took place at the First Baptist Church in Basin. Barbara Ellison Greene, the 90-year-old mother of Barbara Anne Greene, Tom Greene and Dianna Saboe, became the bride of 92-year-old Ira Sumner. 

The wedding was performed by First Baptist Pastor Aaron Gesch. The church, decorated by the bride’s niece Kristy Wyatt Dinan and granddaughter Danielle Lampman, was beautifully arrayed in the couple’s chosen colors of peach and pale blue. 

The bride in a beautiful peach ensemble and carrying a bouquet of peach roses and baby’s breath was walked down the aisle by her great grandson Gabe Keisel to the music of “Because” by Perry Como, played by Cathy Bayert. She met her groom and they were seated on the platform under an arch covered on peach and blue flowers. Flower girl Ella Keisel and ring bearer Kru Keisel, great grandchildren of the bride, flanked them. 

Dena Ray Thompson Lund dedicated and played the song “In This House” to Barbara and also accompanied the groom as he lovingly sang “I Love You Truly” to his bride. 

The couple met in the 1940s at the Baptist church youth group in Basin, attended events at Camp Bethel together and although they never dated, they were friends and kept in touch through the years. They both lost spouses to cancer and reconnected recently. 

After the ceremony the guests were treated to cake, ice cream and punch in the church fellowship hall. Sherri Williamson made the two-tiered cake. John Wyatt, Jamie Keisel and Kru Keisel served the cake and ice cream. The punch was provided by Dianna Saboe. 

Seventy-five friends and family of the bride and groom attended the wedding. Special out-of-town guests included the groom’s son and wife, Dale and Rose Sumner from Montana; the bride’s daughter and husband, Dianna and Rick Saboe of Powell; the bride’s sister and husband, Lynette and John Wyatt of Spearfish, S.D., and their daughter and family Kristy Jo, Jason, Joleen, and Jackie Dinan, also from Spearfish. Also in attendance were the bride’s great grandchildren Camryn and Ashtyn Chapman and son-in-law Mark Reno.

The bride and groom are at home south of Basin.