Clemens' celebrate 70 years together

Clifton and Dorothy Clemens are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this Thanksgiving.

"We were married on November 26, 1931," said Clifton. "That was Thanksgiving Day then so we kind of look at each Thanksgiving as our anniversary.

"We were married in the Presbyterian Church in Salem, Oregon. Dorothy had just graduated from Willamette and we decided to get married."

Asked about the secrets of success in being married 70 years, Clifton replied, "Living and sharing are important. The things we share are the ones we keep.

"When we were married, I told Dorothy I'd come 60 percent of the way on any matter. She said she would come 60 percent of the way also. That left us a buffer zone of 20 percent in any discussion. We never needed to use that buffer zone."

Dorothy was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1910 and Clifton was born in Doon, Iowa, in 1906.

After coming to Oregon, the couple had their first meeting at Hazel Green Park near Salem in 1930.

"I met Dorothy at the park and asked her for a date to spend Thanksgiving weekend at Mt. Hood with another couple and their parents," he recalled.

It must have been a nice weekend because Clifton bought an engagement ring on Monday and asked Dorothy to marry him.

After marriage, the couple moved to Corvallis.

"We had $450 and found a little place to buy for $350 in town. Dorothy already had a degree and I became a student at Oregon State majoring in Industrial Arts," said Clifton.

After graduating the couple moved to California and Clifton taught industrial arts at Wasco High School. Along the way they had three children, Douglas, David and Marilyn. Douglas is presently a site planner in Sun Valley, Idaho, David is a builder in the Sisters area and Marilyn is deceased.

The Clemens moved to Sisters in 1974 and purchased property by Sisters airport.

"It was flying in the smog in California that made our decision to move back to clean air in Oregon," he said.

"I've been taking care of the runway for 27 years and improving the 250 foot wide by 1,200 foot long airstrip," said Clifton. "The original new tractor I used now has over 5,800 hours on it."

Clemens has deeds from Brooks Resources and Indian Ford Ranch for ownership of the Sisters Airport.

"I started flying at age 64," Clemens said. "It was something I always wanted to do. Most recently I took a flight with Dorro Sokol a few weeks ago to view the new holding tanks at the Sisters sewer plant."

Clemens now has plans for developing a retirement community on 20 acres of land adjacent to the airstrip.

"It's one of the greatest needs in the Sisters area," he said. "I'd like to provide a place where people could age gracefully and enjoy life. This would stretch retirement days to expiration date as long as possible and provide quality of life living."