I decided I wanted to interview a couple who has been married a long time in honor of Valentine’s Day. I struggled to identify more than a handful of local people married over 50 years in this area. One of the first that came to mind was Gehard and Maryann Bakken of Santiago. Their daughter Sandy is married to my brother Roger.

 

I got to know the Bakken family while growing up. Sandy played softball with my older sisters and they worked together as waitresses at Tom Sextons cafe in Santiago. Sandy worked as a teller at the Santiago Bank and we got to know her when we went to the bank with mom and dad for the farm. My brother Roger also did his banking there for his livestock business (Erickson Trucking) and took an immediate liking to Sandy. 

 

In a way, I feel like I grew up with Sandy and her family, since I was just 10 years old when I got to know them. Sandy was a good sport when she visited my parents’  farm for the first time while dating Roger. My twin sister and I surprised her with a whoopee cushion on her chair when she sat down for supper!

 

My twin sister and I played softball with Sandy. I got out of milking cows when I played ball and it was fun. There was only room for one of our names on the roster and it was decided it would be Terri’s name. People could never figure out why I never listened to the base coaches when they called Terri’s name while I was running the bases. Good times.

 

We had never met a harder worker with such a great sense of humor. She has worked side by side milking the cows, doing the field work and raising three children with Roger. 

 

My parents always shared a bond with Gehard and Maryann since they share three grandchildren (Roger and Sandy’s three children and now eight great grandchildren)

 

Maryann was born and raised on a dairy farm north of Glendorado and attended country school in Foley. Gehard grew up on a dairy farm northeast of Santiago and attended country school in Princeton. Gehard explained how his family had one Guernsey cow out of their herd of 10 milk cows to raise the butterfat content when their milk was tested. He recalled how his dad would often bring the fresh cream over to their place as a treat on Sunday mornings, as it was the only day the butterfat wasn’t tested. Gehard had a twinkle in his eye as he thought about how delicious that cream tasted on his Wheaties. 

 

They met at Parkway in Foley at a dance because the Princeton boys had to go to Foley to find the good looking girls. The couple moved into their inviting country home nearly 60 years ago after they got married at Glendorado Lutheran Church October 13, 1956. Gehard was 21 and Maryann 19. The house is very much the same, although they have added on twice. Gehard worked for Johanson Construction for 13 years and then went to work for 31 years at Hoffman as a general laborer before his retirement. The Bakken kids were blessed by the fact that their mom (Maryann) was able to stay home and provide for their various needs growing up. Maryann reminisced how she would sometimes have to wait a couple hours for the kids to return on the bus from various sporting events in Princeton if the bus was running late.

 

Some of my siblings took gun training from Gehard through the Santiago Sportsman’s Club in the 1970’s. The Bakken family is very civic oriented. Gehard and Maryann are active in church and lifelong members of Glendorado Lutheran. Maryann told me she credits her faith in God for helping them to have such a fulfilling marriage. Maryann still quilts at church. One of Gehard’s hobbies is witching for water. He learned the art (locating underground water) from his father and has done it his entire life. I’ve seen him in action and it’s very intriguing. 

 

Gehard and Maryann are enjoying retirement, including 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. 

 

I shared many good laughs with Gehard and Maryann during our visit. Their daughter Sandy recently told me that growing up she only recalls one argument between her parents. Impressive! I asked Gehard and Maryann how they managed such a feat. Maryann said: “We’ve always gotten along great. A sense of humor is important. Never go to bed angry.” Gehard chimed in: “Almost 60 years. It really doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. 

 

If Gehard and Maryann share the amount of laughter on a regular basis as we did on the day of my visit, I can see why they have had such a rewarding marriage. As I’ve gotten older, I treasure memories with loved ones more with each passing year. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. 

 

Growing older with your spouse is a blessing.  God bless you and your family, Gehard and Maryann. Your marriage is an inspiration!