Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Phyllis Irene Hefenieder, a beautiful German girl and Samuel Reed Hampton of Scottish and Chickasaw Indian decent and were united in marriage 60 years ago on Aug. 21, 1955, in Oregon City, Ore. However, that is not when their story began. Their love story launched many years before along the quiet country road called "Washakie Ten" in Worland.

Sam was born the youngest and only son to Carl and Wanda Hardwick Hampton on June 10, 1935. Phyllis was born a year later, the oldest child and only daughter, on Aug. 24, 1936, to John and Ann Lass Hefenieder. At an early age, their families became fast friends and business associates as Phyllis' father worked the land belonging to the Hamptons, planting, hoeing and harvesting sugar beets.

Sam nearly put any future romance in jeopardy one summer day after riding his paint pony Bugs, down the road to his friendly neighbors. Ann Hefenieder invited him to "come on in" for lunch and Sam, often riding the grub line, didn't hesitate to accept the kind offer. Scooting up to the table, he was soon engrossed in the banquet before him, complete with little green peas, fresh from the garden. He would carefully scoop them onto his knife and then skillfully open his mouth to munch the peas down. Watching with growing concern, Ann Hefenieder soon interrupted his meal and admonished Sam that balancing the vegetables on his dinner knife "was not the proper way to eat peas."

Being "a little rough around the edges," as Sam laughingly remembered, his immediate response was a string of profanity directed at Mrs. Hefenieder that probably curled her hair. "I should turn you in to Sheriff John Nicola to be taken to the boy's school!" was her retort.

Something must have changed Sam that day as he never cussed at Mrs. Hefenieder again.

Sam and Phyllis started school one year apart at the Watson Building on North Tenth Street. However, as the work and toil of farming increased, Phyllis' father decided that "there had to be something else besides breaking your back in the beet fields." John and Ann Hefenieder decided to move their little family to Oregon, near Ann's family. So at 9 years of age, Phyllis and her family moved to Portland, Ore.

During those growing up years two things were constant; one - that Sam's photo sat on Phyllis' bedroom dresser with a smaller one in her wallet. On Sam's dresser sat a framed photo of Phyllis with another one in his billfold. The second constant was that Phyllis' family returned to Worland to visit as often as possible. Between their sophomore and junior year of high school Sam and Phyllis went on their first date, a double date with cousin Pete Palmer and Mary Lou Thorton.

They were both popular and leaders with their peers, Phyllis being a cheerleader for the West Linn Lions, and also taking the lead in her senior class play. Sam was a right end for the Worland Warrior football team, place kicking footballs for two state championships in 1953 and 1954 during his high school years.

Dating long distance didn't work well for Sam and Phyllis. After only nine official dates, they were committed enough, with the foundation of a lifetime of friendship for Sam to make his way to Phyllis' home in Oregon to ask for her hand in marriage. They were married on Aug. 21, 1955, in a Lutheran church in Oregon City.

Their oldest son Dan, born in 1957 relates the words he remembers his mother often saying, "I don't want any left overs, pass it around again, take a little more." Daughter Janna, born in 1960 mused of her father, "He cannot sit still, even at the age of 80, he is still a goer."

Sam relates that his lovely wife has shown him great patience throughout their life and has "put up with a lot when I have lost my temper – because I still have it!"

Steve, born in 1962 shared his memory of the trips to Oregon that the family would make. "We looked forward to the Oregon coast and picking cherries when we went to visit Granny Annie, Grandpa John, Uncle Dave and cousins."

Justin was born in 1971 and completed the Hampton family. As they celebrated Phyllis' birthday and the 60th anniversary of Sam's and Phyllis' marriage, it was clear the legacy that has been built by this "unselfish, caring, loving and generous" couple as son Justin put it. "There are few people that have shown the kind of bigheartedness toward others, as have my parents," he related.

They are a family of four children - two married, nine grandchildren with granddaughter Joslyn deceased and three great-grandsons.

Sam lastly shared the Hampton philosophy from Charlie Wells, Carl Hampton's partner, who said, "If you want good, good neighbors, first you must be one." Something Phyllis and Sam live by. When anyone stops by for a visit and as the Hamptons wave goodbye, Sam will cheerfully call, "Take your time going, and hurry back!"