Milestone Announcements
ANNIVERSARIES
Arnold and Mina Mittelstaedt — 70th Anniversary
Arnold and Mina Mittelstaedt celebrated an extraordinary milestone June 27 with an open house honoring their 70th wedding anniversary.
Their story began when Mina was a student at Pacific Lutheran College (PLC) in Tacoma, Wash., and Arnold was serving overseas as a young soldier stationed in Korea. Arnold's sister was also attending PLC and connected them, and what started as a simple exchange of letters quickly grew into a heartfelt correspondence.
They met for the first time in early May, shortly after Arnold returned from his Army tour. Not long after, Mina left for Stockton, Calif., to begin her first teaching job determined to honor the contract she had signed. The couple continued writing faithfully, and Arnold made several trips to visit her.
When Mina returned home for Thanksgiving, Arnold proposed with a diamond ring. They were married the following summer June 30, 1956, in Salem, Ore.
The Mittelstaedts spent 50 years farming near Reardan, Wash., before retiring to Post Falls, where they still live independently in their home.
They are the proud parents of four children, grandparents to eight and great-grandparents to six.
Greg and Donna Nearpass — 70th Anniversary
On June 24, 2026, Greg and Donna Nearpass celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
In 1950, Greg moved to the Coeur d’Alene area on a ranch south of town. Some neighbors had told Greg and his dad a story about a girl his age who had been out rounding up her parents' cattle when a bear attacked and killed her little dog. That story stuck with Greg. On the first day of school, Greg was on the school bus when a young girl boarded and walked past him. Greg thought, "Wow,” and still does to this day. That girl was Donna, and he later found out that she was the girl whose dog had been killed by the bear.
From the age of 14, these two dated on and off, according to Donna. Greg graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1954 and then attended school at Oregon State College (now OSU). Donna graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1955. After graduating from high school, Donna moved to Spokane and worked at Bennions, where they recycled paper. During the spring break of Greg’s second year at college, it hit him that he missed Donna and needed to fix it. With the ring in his pocket, he asked Donna’s dad for permission to ask her to marry him. Greg and Donna were married June 24, 1956, in the Methodist Church in downtown Coeur d’Alene. They returned to Corvallis, Ore., for Greg to complete his college degree. Greg graduated with an Agricultural Engineering degree, and Donna was awarded a PHT (Pushed Hubby Through) from Oregon State.
The couple then returned to Coeur d’Alene, living on the ranch in Loff’s Bay. Greg worked at Washington Testing Labs in Spokane, where he got to blow things up, test many types of materials, perform radiological testing and more. Donna took care of the home, milked the cows and tended to the rest of the animals. In 1963, Greg was contacted by R.L. Schaertl, the BLM manager, to lay out the Mineral Ridge Scenic Trail and Viewpoints. Together, Greg and Donna laid out the trail by running a traverse of it with a 100-foot steel surveyor’s tape or “chain” and an Ainsworth pocket transit.
In 1964, the couple welcomed their first child, Keith. Their second son, Kevin, was born in 1967. Then the couple suffered a heartbreaking loss, their first son, Keith, passed away. Greg and Donna adopted their daughter, Brenda, in 1970.
Greg had started his business, Nearpass Excavation, around 1965. You could find the couple working together on jobs with the kids, laying pipe and filling ditches. The 1970's Scottish Festival and Tattoo was an iconic event held in Coeur d’Alene City Park. Greg and Donna became members, and Greg was the lead for at least one year. Greg also became PTA president at Winton Elementary and was on the school board while their children attended school. Donna ran the elections at Mica Grange Hall for many years. The couple has traveled to Guatemala twice for Work and Witness trips, and once to Bolivia with The Church of the Nazarene.
Still in love after all these years, Greg and Donna can be found traveling around the Coeur d’Alene area, enjoying their golden years together and huckleberry shakes wherever they can find them.
Rick and Val Martin — 50th Anniversary
Rick and Val were married June 26, 2026, in Claremont, Calif. They met in 1968 when Rick was serving on the USS Schofield, stationed in Long Beach, Calif. Val had come aboard for a Family Day visit — her brother-in-law worked with Rick. At the time, she was just starting her teaching career in Placentia Unified School District. They dated and began the foundation of their relationship.
Rick began his professional Civil Engineering career in Chicago, Ill., after his active duty service. He continued with the Navy as a SeaBee in the Reserves (1975 - 2001). Val and Rick kept in touch and finally reunited in 1975, again, thanks to the Navy. Its training assignments brought Rick back to California. Val continued refining and growing her skills as an educator. They were engaged fall of ’75. Rick relocated to California just before the wedding in May 1976.
Rick and Val moved to Oregon in 1979, each continuing in their work careers. Rick worked at a large engineering firm in Portland and Val taught in Lake Oswego. She retired in 2004 after a 36-year career. They relocated to Coeur d’Alene in 2006 for retirement (Rick in 2008). Over the 20 years in Coeur d’Alene, they have been active in their church and with friends. They each enjoy creative hobbies: Rick model trains, Val various hand crafts, reading and writing. Travel is a primary shared delight. For 50 years they have traveled and explored the West, the Northwest, the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Europe by trains, planes and automobiles — camping, roadtrips, walking tours and cruising. They share the delight of discovering new places, meeting people, finding their roots, visiting family and favorite places. They always will!
GRADUATIONS
Allie Bailey — Boise State University
Allie Bailey, daughter of Mike and Jenna Bailey of Coeur d’Alene, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boise State University on May 9, 2026, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She also successfully passed the national nursing examination, marking the beginning of a promising and compassionate career in healthcare.
Throughout her years at Boise State, Allie balanced academic excellence with a life of service and leadership. She was actively involved in her church community and participated in Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU), where she built lasting friendships and strengthened her faith.
Alongside her studies, Allie worked diligently and even managed a coffee stand, demonstrating her remarkable work ethic and passion for life. Allie is a 2022 graduate of Classical Christian Academy in Post Falls, where her dedication to learning and service first took root.
She accepted a nursing position at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, where she looks forward to caring for patients and serving her community with skill, compassion and integrity.
Her parents, Mike and Jenna Bailey, and her sister, Grace Freeze, along with the rest of her extended family, are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and celebrate this milestone with joy and gratitude.
Alyza Handley — Maryville College
Alyza Handley of Smelterville, Idaho, was one of more than 200 seniors who took part in the Maryville College Commencement ceremony, held Saturday, May 9. The institution is located in Maryville, Tenn., 20 minutes south of Knoxville. Handley graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and now joins the ranks of thousands of MC alumni around the world who have gone on to “do good on the largest possible scale.”
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Submit your milestones to [email protected] or in person at the Coeur d’Alene Press, 215 Second St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
Listings include:
• Wedding anniversaries for couples married 25 years and every fifth year thereafter (2 photos accepted)
• Engagement announcements (1 photo accepted)
• Wedding announcements (1 photo accepted)
• Births (1 photo accepted)
• Milestone birthdays at age 70 and every fifth year thereafter or every year after age 90 (1 photo accepted)
• Generations (1 photo accepted)
• Higher education graduates (1 photo accepted)
• Military announcements (1 photo accepted)
Deadline is 3 p.m. Tuesdays.
Arnold and Mina Mittelstaedt, 2026
Greg and Donna Nearpass, 1956
Rick & Val Martin
Allie Bailey