50th anniversary reunion

GOLDEN MEMORIES: From left, Larry and Terry Fredrickson own their meeting in 1959 to Don Yarber, who came all the way from Kentucky to see them.

Former assistant Shasta County Auditor Larry Fredrickson, now retired, and his wife, Terry, celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss on Saturday, Dec. 12.

And therein lies a tale, according to Don Yarber, 73, of Morganfield, Ky.

Yarber should know.

He helped to introduce the couple back in 1959 when he and Fredrickson were sharing a small apartment while attending classes at El Camino College in Torrance.

It was May of 1959 and Yarber was dating a young woman from Downey by the name of Patricia Taylor. When Yarber introduced his date to his roommate, Fredrickson immediately inquired as to whether Patti might have a friend who would be interested in dating.

Patricia Taylor introduced Fredrickson to her high school classmate, Terry Russell. Both women had graduated in 1956.

The two couples were all good friends and even went on several dates together.

But everyone could tell that Larry Fredrickson and Terry Russell were destined to be more than just good friends. They were married Dec. 12, 1959, and moved as a couple, first to San Jose and eventually to Shasta County, where Fredrickson established Anderson Business and Tax Service.

The Fredricksons purchased a comfortable home on Dersch Road near Anderson, and set about raising four daughters.

Meanwhile, Don Yarber and Patti Taylor drifted apart. Yarber returned to the bluegrass of Kentucky. And no one seems to know the current whereabouts of the former Miss Taylor.

Flash forward to 2008.

While relaxing at home, the Fredricksons received a phone call one evening. Without identifying himself, the caller said, "This is a voice out of your past."

Alas, too many years had passed and Larry Fredrickson had no idea who the caller might be, so after a minute, the caller identified himself as Don Yarber, Fredrickson's former college roommate.

During the next few months, several letters traded hands.

Then, in November 2009, the Fredrickson's youngest daughter, Karla, called Yarber on the phone and asked him to fly out and help celebrate her parents' 50th wedding anniversary.

Last week, Yarber flew to Sacramento where the Fredricksons were more than happy to meet his plane and provide taxi service back to Anderson.

Yarber and the Fredricksons stopped by the Valley Post on Friday to have their photograph taken, and to share their story of undying friendship with our readers.

Congratulations, Larry and Terry Fredrickson!

And many thanks to Don Yarber for telling the story.