Ed. note: The Yukon Order of Pioneers has nominated Neille (Bucky) Buckway Keobke and his wife, Shirley, as Mr. and Mrs. Yukon for the annual Sourdough Rendezvous festival.

Here, Neille writes about the couple's life history.

I was born in Drumheller, Alta., in June 1930, the first of five children.

We lived on the homestead north of Athabasca, Alta., until we moved to Whitehorse in 1935.

We moved to Mayo in the spring of 1937. We lived in the Binet house, which is now the museum.

Moved back to Whitehorse in 1943. Graduated from Whitehorse High School in 1947. Spent two years at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

First job with N.C.Co. (Northern Commercial Company) in Mayo after school, then in Whitehorse. Numerous jobs, while attending school, worked on the boats for two summers and in the BYN shipyards mess hall, on a survey crew, in BYN Highway Divisions shop as mechanic's helper, and then drove truck until 1953.

Partnered in a service station 1955 to 1958, and went on to another partnership in a service station and Volkswagen dealership from 1958 to 1963.

Worked for B/A Oil Co, bulk plant operator, mechanic, and truck driver 1963-1970. Worked for Russell Transport, dispatcher, mechanic, truck driver, foreman 1970-1981.

Last job was with Northern Canada Power Commission, general maintenance and mechanical maintenance supervisor, 1981 to 1986, became Yukon Electrical employee when that company took over the operation of NCPC for the Yukon territorial government, 1986 to 1995.

Retired June 1995 to our place at Marsh Lake.

I was involved with Boy Scouts in Mayo and Whitehorse. Became Scout Master, then Cub Master, Commissioner of Cubs.

I joined the Canadian Army (Reserve) in 1953 to 1965, attained the rank of first lieutenant. I am an active member in the Yukon Order of Pioneers, Marsh Lake Community Society, and a member of the Atlinto Lodge.

I met Shirley Wilene Lawrence in 1952 when she arrived in the Yukon. Shirley was born in Drumheller in October, 1933, the ninth child into a family of 11 children.

Her father was the maintenance supervisor for the school in East Coulee, so as each child started school, so did their job learning to sweep the school floors every day after school and during the summer, painting and polishing every desk and wall.

The school is now the East Coulee School Museum, and has a number of Lawrence artifacts on display.

Shirley's first job was at Campbell's Drug Store/Soda Fountain, the only one in the small coal mining town of East Coulee.

She worked there part-time while attending school, then full-time until she came to the Yukon for the summer in 1952, with plans to return to Calgary Business College, in the fall, which never happened!!

Shirley and I were married in East Coulee in May 1953.

We returned to the Yukon to make our home. We have four children: Lawrence, Debra, Gerald and Wanda.

The two youngest still live in the Yukon. The two oldest live in Alberta. We have nine grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Shirley worked in Hougen's Photo shop on arrival to Whitehorse and then to N.C.Co. in the office of the department store, later at the White Pass and Yukon Route in the highway division.

Shirley stayed home with the children when they were small. Went back to work for the army in the office at 17 works.

Our youngest daughter was born in 1962, and Shirley chose to stay home with her. She went to work at Riverside Grocery for a short time, and also worked part time as hostess on the MV Schwatka for two years.

Her last job before retirement in 1995 was with the City of Whitehorse, bylaw enforcement department, as a clerk, then to office supervisor from 1972 to 1995.

Shirley is also a very active member of the Marsh Lake Community Association.