BioM: Van Gorden, Bonita Anne (1956)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Van Gorden, Selk, Wasserberger, Happe, Hughes, Tanner, Smith, Belbusti, Gress, West, Lindner, Albrecht, Milleville  
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) March 8, 1956 
 

Van Gorden, Bonita Anne (Marriage - 3 March 1956) 
 

Grace Lutheran Church of Nasonville was the scene Saturday of the wedding of Bonita Anne Van Gorden and James D. Selk. 
 

The Rev. E. Milleville officiated at 7:30 p.m. candlelight ceremony before an altar banked with white gladioli and palms.  Candelabra formed the background.  The pews were marked with pew candles with satin bow markers. 
 

Following the ceremony a reception for 100 guests were held in the church dining room.  
 

Parents of the young couple are Mr. and Mrs. K. S. Van Gorden and Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Selk, all of Neillsville. 
 

For her wedding the bride chose a ballerina length gown of ice blue Chantilly lace fashioned with a sweetheart neckline and long tapered sleeves.  The bodice came to a point at the waist where it joined the full skirt. The bottom of the skirt was edged with scalloped seed pearls.  Her Berton sailor cap of matching blue lace trimmed with seed pearls held her waist length veil. She carried a crescent cascade of Easter Lilies tied with a white satin ribbon. 
 

The father of the bride gave his daughter in marriage. 
 

Her attendants were her two sisters.  Mrs. Charles Wasserberger served as matron of honor, and Miss Nellie Van Gorden was her bridesmaid.  They wore chiffon gowns in ballerina length, which were basically blue with a cumberbund of deep blue that formed a wide panel down the back of the skirt. The neckline of the gowns was a draped bateau. They carried baskets of blue and white carnations. 
 

Attending the groom were Charles Wasserberger as bestman, and Ronald Happe, a cousin of the groom, as groomsman. Archie Hughes of West Bend and Frank Wasserberger of Neillsville were ushers.  The men wore midnight blue tuxedo suits with white carnation boutonnieres. 
 

Little Miss Debbie Wasserberger, a niece of the bride, was flower girl.  She wore a blue organdy dress trimmed in lace and carried an arm basket of blue and white flowers. 
 

Ring bearer, Tommy Tanner of Eau Clarie, wore a navy blue suit with a white carnation boutonniere.  He carried the rings on a white satin pillow. 
 

After March 5 Mr. and Mrs. James Selk will be at home at 1324 West Dayton, Madison  
 

The bride is a graduate of Neillsville High School, Minnesota School of Business at Minneapolis, and the McConnell Airline School of Minneapolis. 
 

The groom is a graduate of Neillsville High School, attended Miami University at Miami, Fla., and at present is attending the University of Wisconsin where he enrolled in a journalism course. 
 

At the reception Miss Corrine Smith of West Bend served punch; Miss Rosa Belbusti of Chicago poured coffee, and Mrs. Arthur Gress of Neillsville served the wedding cake.  Miss Janice West of Menomonie was in charge of the guest book and gifts. 
 

The bride’s two grandmothers, Mrs. Harry Van Gorden and Mrs. Anna Lindner, and the groom’s two grandmothers, Mrs. Minnie Selk and Mrs. Susan Albrecht, attended. 
 

Friday evening, before rehearsal, the groom’s parents entertained the wedding party at the Charles Hotel in Marshfield, where the bride presented her attendants with single strands of pearls, and the bridegroom gave a gift to each of his attendants. 
 

Mrs. Archie Hughes of West Bend, a cousin of the bride, sang "Two Dreams in One United," and "The Lord’s Prayer."  She was accompanied by Mrs. E. Milleville, who also played the wedding music.