Ray L. Stephenson was born January 25, 1930, son of Raymond M. and Beulah Stephenson, in Murray, Iowa, a small town south of Des Moines. He attended public schools in Murray until his family moved to Omak, Washington, where he graduated from high school in 1948. Ray followed a general course of study at Wenatchee Valley College before going to work for National Bank of Commerce, Wenatchee in 1950.
Genevieve “Genny” Stephenson was born in South Dakota on March 30, 1936. Genny is the daughter of John and Marjorie Chytka. At the age of eleven, her family moved to Okanagon, Washington, where Genny went to school. Genny graduated from Beaverton High, after marrying at age 17.
Ray and Genny were married in Omak, Washington on June 10, 1953. In October 1953 they relocated to Beaverton, OR, and Ray began a nine-year stint with US National Bank. Genny finished high school in 1954 while working part time at an insurance agency.
Ray and Genny had three children: Rodney (1955), Larry (1956) and Tammie (1959). While the young ones were in school, Genny began a career of public relations in banking, welcoming new people to the community. In 1978, Genny and Ray moved to Corvallis when Ray took the position of Vice President of Citizens Bank. He was promoted to President two years later when Harris Rosendahl retired. Genny worked several years for the City of Corvallis, in the engineering department and fire department administration.