"It might not look like it, but we are having a lot of fun," Charlie Koelling said while holding Bettie's hand. Bettie and Charlie got married at the ages of 18 and 19. Charlie said that the secret to happy married life is “Yes, dear!”
75 Years of Togetherness
"I don't cook, I don't clean. I am not like my mother." This was Bettie's reply to Charlie's marriage proposal. Although Charlie admired Bettie from a very young age, it wasn't until 1946 that they started dating. In a few months, the dating transitioned to marriage.
However, before they started dating, Bettie was engaged to marry Charlie's best friend. "They are not best friends anymore," Bettie said. "He was a good man but did not have an ambition. Charlie was very smart and charming." Bettie smiles.
It's been 75 years since Bettie said "Yes" to Charlie's proposal, but it seems like nothing has changed. Underneath their weathering bodies, their sprites remain young.