Cottles celebrate 60th anniversary

Benny Cottle and Marlene (Jensen) Cottle were married 60 years ago in Wasilla on Feb. 9, 1952. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in Maui, Hawaii with their children: son, Bert, and his wife, Cathy; daughter, Janet Stannard and her husband, Bill; and son, Henry and his wife, Claudia.

Benny and Marlene met while attending school in Wasilla. Marlene came to Alaska from Minnesota with her Colonist parents at 6 months of age. Benny was 13 when he came to Alaska with his parents from Pennsylvania and they homesteaded on Fairview Loop Road.

After the couple was married, they went into business with Benny’s brother, Jerry, and his wife, June, running a Texaco gas station and trucking company — Cottles’ Fuel and Trucking — for 25 years in Wasilla. After selling that business, they ran a self-service Texaco gas station in Wasilla and had several rental properties until retirement.

Benny has volunteered with the Wasilla fire department for more than 50 years, something he still enjoys doing. Their greatest pleasure is spending time with their children and grandchildren. They have six grandchildren: Benjaman, Derek, Kelsey and Vincent Cottle, Jennie Weber and Billy Stannard. They also have two great-grandchildren, Adam and Andrew Weber.