Nothing worthwhile comes easy

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Correspondent 
 
A philosophy of working hard to maintain a marriage and never giving up — no matter how hard it gets — is what Ray and Linda Templeman credit for their 50 years of marriage … and counting. 
Ray and Linda met in Cheyenne a couple of years before they were married. Linda was attending beauty school, and Ray was stationed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. Linda admitted that her first impression of Ray wasn’t great, but Ray said he was quite taken with Linda, referring to her as a “pretty sharp dresser.”
“I couldn’t beat him off with a stick,” Linda joked. After they met, Ray kept calling her, so Linda finally went out with him about a week later. After that, they continued to date for a couple of years before they got married on Feb. 27, 1969. 
Ray and Linda welcomed their first child in the first year of marriage, and they have three children — two girls and one boy. 
“We just kept going,” Linda said, referring to rough times that the family dealt with. Life wasn’t always easy for the Templemans, and Linda said that Ray had to work two or three jobs to make ends meet. One of his jobs was serving on the Newcastle Police Department, and Linda worked as a beautician in different shops around town. Ray and Linda said they worked hard for their children to provide school supplies and other things they needed, and their children also dealt with medical problems that needed to be paid for. 
“We just didn’t do a lot; we had the family and that was enough,” Linda said when explaining the family dynamic that the couple and their kids shared. The Templemans were very family-centered, Linda said, and she and Ray did everything for their children. Supper time with the family was a time of no distractions, and they discussed what had happened throughout the day. 
“We never went anywhere without our kids,” Linda said. The family went camping together and even stuck together when they traveled to Rapid City on shopping errands. 
Diligence and a great deal of hard work plays a significant role in preserving a marriage, according to the couple. Linda said that working at it 24 hours a day was important, and Ray expressed the importance of having patience when making decisions as a couple. 
“Try to resolve problems,” Ray said. He and Linda always strive to work out issues before they go to bed. They told each other that they loved each other every night, until they had to move to different bedrooms because of Linda’s rheumatoid arthritis pain. Ray said that retaining a sense of humor was helpful. 
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without him (Ray). He’s my right-hand man,” Linda said. 
In reminiscing about the past, Ray said that a favorite memory was the day he and Linda were married. Their ceremony was held in Rapid City, and the drive back to Newcastle was treacherous due to a severe snowstorm, he said. At one point, Ray pulled over to wipe off the windshield wipers, but they went into the ditch instead. Another couple who had gotten married in Rapid City the same day stopped with a pickup and pulled them out before going on their way. Linda said she would love to know if the couple is still married to this day. 
Ray served as police chief in Newcastle for 15 years before going to work at the refinery. He retired nine years ago, and Linda stopped working as a beautician about 25 years ago. Ray has enjoyed his woodworking hobby for quite some time, and he’s made several beautiful art pieces. Linda enjoys crocheting, and she makes baby dresses and sweaters, among other items. She has sold some of her pieces at a booth at the county fair. Ray enjoys traveling and seeing the White House is on his bucket list, he said. 
Ray and Linda have five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Linda said she was grateful that both she and Ray are still here to enjoy their family and see their grandkids and great-grandkids. 
“We’re just a family that sticks together,” Linda said.