Mike and Dixie Watkins will celebrate their 50th anniversary with an Open House from 4 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the home of Donna and Clark Rusco, 5121 Timber Creek Road in Great Bend. Hosts for the event will be their sons and families, Jeff and Heather Watkins of Lafayette, La. and Craig and Krystal Watkins of Topeka; sisters, Donna and Clark Rusco and Debbie Risley. The couple has six grandchildren, Evan, Lane, Jack and Emory of Louisiana and Devin and Cooper of Topeka.
Dixie Schenk and Mike Watkins were united in marriage on Oct. 8, 1963 at the First Christian Church in Great Bend. Mike was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. as a member of the Marksmanship Trap and Skeet Team. After serving three years in the United States Army, the couple returned to Great Bend for five years. Career opportunities took Mike and Dixie through the southern states of Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana over the next 17 years. In 1985, the couple returned to Great Bend where they currently reside.