JOE ZEMBA
La Junta Tribune-Democrat
William “Bill” Tanner knew from the first moment he saw his future wife Betty that she was the one.
“I was in the first grade at Columbian Elementary School when Betty and her family moved to town; they lived in the country,” Tanner recalled as he retold the story Wednesday afternoon at the Gobin Building in Rocky Ford as part of the Silver King and Queen contest. “I saw Betty on the playground. When I saw her, I said, ‘That’s my girl. I’m adopting her.’
“We were in first grade. She was on one side of the carousel and I was on the other,” he said. “She ran away from me, so I followed her and chased her around the carousel. From then on, I followed her. I chased her for 17 years until he said ‘yes,'” he laughed.
“When Betty was once asked what she thought about ‘that boy’ chasing her, she said, ‘I ran as fast as I could around the carousel. I didn’t want him to catch me,'” Tanner recalled.
“We would have been married 69 years this month,” he said, tears welling up in his eyes. “She died in June.”
Among other male candidates vying for the same crown, including contestants from Crowley County Nursing Center in Ordway and Pioneer Healthcare Center in Rocky Ford, both of whom exhibited artwork, it was Tanner’s remembrance of his and Betty’s love story that catapulted the Bent County Healthcare Center resident into silver royalty.
Tanner, an Air Force veteran, recalled his youth in more detail, saying, “I grew up in a great home. I’m the oldest of four boys, and my parents were strict. We didn’t do anything bad because my parents interfered in what we did. They made sure we did the right thing.”
Tanner said, “When I was younger, I worked in the fields. I harvested onions, I harvested chilies, I harvested corn. I drove a truck before I was old enough to drive a truck while the women picked the corn and threw it in the back. When the women were picking tomatoes, they would bend down to pick a tomato, my friends and I would hit them in the butt with a tomato,” he laughed. “Because I was young, the women who worked in the fields took responsibility for me so I had a job.”
Tanner worked his entire life as a federal mining inspector and supervisor and is the father of four children, one girl and three boys. He has nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and twelve great-great-grandchildren.
Tanner’s advice to young children is: “Go to school. Learn everything you can. When you go to work, learn how the job works and get an education. Take care of yourself so you don’t get hurt or killed.”
In closing, Tanner told the judges that he had been to every state in the United States. “Whether on vacation or for work, the places I went, the things I saw and the people I met were all different and unique. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot from it.”
George Morgan of Crowley County Nursing Center took second place for the silver medal. Morgan, who is legally blind, exhibited paintings and stained glass artwork Wednesday afternoon.
Stacy Holms, who represents Pioneer Healthcare Center and is legally blind herself, showed the jurors paintings.
Frances Lopez, 93, a lifelong Rocky Ford resident who represents Cottonwood Ridge in Rocky Ford, wrote her life story, shared it with the judges and, like Tanner, captured the hearts of the crowds, becoming the 2024 Arkansas Valley Silver Queen to the applause of a large group of supporters in attendance.
“I went to Park School (La Junta) until sixth grade, then I worked in the fields, cutting onions and picking tomatoes,” she said. “That’s where I met my husband, Louie Lopez. I was 14 and he was 15. He was his father’s water carrier. We got engaged when I turned 18 and had eight children.”
Lopez has worked as a teacher’s aide at Child Development Services and as a foster mother her entire adult life. She has participated in a project at the Arkansas Valley Fair every year since 1962, winning many awards.
Lopez says she enjoys crafting, going to church, playing bingo, gardening, walking, dancing, listening to Mexican music, and attending all the local fairs.
Lopez’s advice to young children is: “Stay in school and get an education to get a good job. Live every day as if it were your last. Don’t take anything for granted.”
Pioneer’s Mary Saenz took second place in the Silver Queen award and brought smiles to everyone’s faces with her stirring dance routine to “Boot, Scott ‘n Boogie” with her partner, Pioneer Healthcare Center Activities Director Kathleen Brum.
“Be careful, stay calm, but always dance!” said Saenz about her life motto.
Other contestants vying for Silver Queen were Sue Alleshunas of Bent County and Delpha Melton of Crowley County.
Tanner and Lopez participated in the annual Arkansas Valley Fair Parade on Friday morning.
