LANES, A.V. PIONEERS, MARK 67 YEARS AS PAIR.

Byline: Bettie Rencoret Senior columnist

QUARTZ HILL - Frank and Vonnie Lane have been married 67 years and are as much a part of Antelope Valley history as any two people can be.

Both members of pioneering Antelope Valley families, they have lived here all their lives, raised three children here and actively participated in community affairs. They've been involved in building roads and buildings, the preservation of landmarks and ranching.

At their Quartz Hill ranch, they have often entertained politicians and celebrities, including actor Donald O'Connor and his family, state Sen. Newt Russell, Los Angeles County Supervisor Warren Dorn and California Lt. Gov. Ed Reineke.

When the Lanes were wed in Los Angeles on Feb. 23, 1939, it came after no whirlwind courtship. Their families were neighbors when they were children. Frank, six years Vonnie's senior, used to cart her and her sister around in his wagon.

Frank thought his obligation to be ``nice'' to the two little girls was a real pain. But then they all grew up. When he and Vonnie met again one night at a dance in Rosamond, he discovered she had turned out to be a real beauty - not a pain at all.

``I met her again and that was it,'' he said.

They honeymooned in Tijuana, where they each bought a pair of spurs for $5, then wound up lunching on bologna because it was all they could afford after splurging like that.

``He wooed her and won her, and 67 years later, here they are,'' said their oldest daughter, Frances. ``You have to admit not many people stay married to each other 67 years these days.

``They've slowed down some,'' said Frances. ``For years, they worked really hard for their organizations. They're still interested in how things are going with them, but now they're ready to sit back and let younger volunteers do the work.''

Frank's father, George W. Lane, after whom the Quartz Hill park is named, came to the Antelope Valley from Morristown, N.J., in 1908 for his health.

Olga Straubinger, Frank's mother, came from Calabasas to Lancaster the same year and worked at the Western Hotel, now Lancaster's oldest surviving building and a city museum. Myrtie Webber, co-owner of the hotel, thought the two needed to meet, so she arranged it.

George and Olga were married in 1913 and when son Frank was born Dec. 2, 1916, it was at home, assisted by Lancaster midwife ``Mom'' Everett. Their house was on the west side of what is now Sierra Highway, between Lancaster Boulevard and Avenue I.

Two siblings, Robert and Roberta, died in infancy, and Frank was raised alone.

George Lane made his living hauling freight with 20-mule teams and later used teams of mules and horses to clear and grade land for many local ranches and roads. He earned enough money to put a down payment on some ranch land at 45th Street West and Avenue K.

His property purchases continued as opportunities presented themselves.

In the late 1950s, as the Quartz Hill area began to grow, George Lane donated 15 acres of land on 55th Street West to Los Angeles County for the park that is named for him.

He also donated the land on 10th Street West, north of Lancaster Boulevard, for the early Lancaster Chamber of Commerce office. That land was sold after several years, when the chamber moved to another building on Lowtree Avenue.

Frank and Vonnie bought their Lane Ranch from his parents and raised their family there.

Olga Lane lost her life in an automobile accident in 1956 and George died years later at the age of 85.

Vonnie, born Yvonne Beery, is the daughter of Lloyd Beery, granddaughter of the late Mike and Rosa Beery, another pioneer family, who lived next door to George and Olga Lane.

Frank went to Cedar Avenue Elementary School and graduated in 1935 from Antelope Valley High School. One of his classmates was Virginia Gumm, older sister of Judy Garland.

He was still in high school when he started working with a scoop shovel on a project in Littlerock; that was the beginning of his entry into the building construction and materials trade. Frank Lane is among the few remaining local residents who actually participated in the valley's jackrabbit-clubbing hunts, and who can attest to the reality of pronghorn Antelope roaming the area.

Frank has served as a Westside Union School District trustee as well as being on the board of Antelope Valley Union High School District, and has been a director of the Antelope Valley Fair.

Vonnie has always kept a low profile, preferring to let Frank take the limelight. But until recently, she has always taken a major working role in the Old Timers Association, which puts on an annual barbecue and in which she served several years as treasurer.

Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster and Palmdale have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk, for a suggested donation of $2.

Monday: Hot turkey sandwich, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, marinated beets, gelatin with fruit.

Tuesday: Braised beef and noodles, vegetable soup, zucchini squash, tossed salad, citrus cup.

Wednesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, three-bean salad, tomato juice, lemon pudding.

Thursday: Creole chicken, rice pilaf, chicken soup, Normandy vegetables, cottage cheese, cookies.

Friday: Ham slice, sweet potatoes, egg-drop soup, stewed tomatoes, coleslaw, banana.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Vonnie and Frank Lane, members of pioneer families, marked their 67th anniversary Feb. 23.

(2) Vonnie and Frank Lane were newlyweds in 1939.

Bettie Rencoret/Daily News