Renewing vows never old

A.E. Araiza

Jun. 25, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- It was not the first time around for Art and Virginia Engberg. It was not even their second or third.

The couple, who met during the halftime of an Iowa high school football game in 1938, renewed their wedding vows for the seventh time Saturday at their senior living community, Atria Campana del Rio, 1550 E. River Road.

"I turned to a cousin who went to the same school and said, 'I'm going to marry that blond girl down there,' " Art Engberg said, referring to Virginia, who was on the pep squad.

His cousin said to Engberg, "You don't even know her name."

"That doesn't make any difference, I'll find out," was his reply, he said.

They went steady for five years and have been married for 68.

Five couples in all, married from 64 to 74 years, renewed their vows Saturday at the assisted living facility, complete with two Eucharistic ministers who are also residents there.

Art, 90, married Virginia, 88, on Sept. 10, 1941. A couple months later, he gave up a good job working for the railroad and joined the Navy, fighting in the Pacific until the end of World War II.

"The best time (during the marriage) was when I got discharged from the Navy," he said, smiling and shaking his head.

It was their brightest hour.

Their worst and darkest hour came when they lost their daughter, Sherry Boyd, to breast cancer at age 39.

The couple had four children and have eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson.

"We never went to bed mad," Art said, talking about the success of their marriage. "If we had any problems, we'd talk them out, even if we had to talk until daylight."

Couples who renewed vows

--Art and Virginia Engberg, married 68 years.

--Les and Ernestine McQuary, 74 years.

--John and Katie Butler, 67 years.

--Porter and Jennie Williamson, 66 years.

--Paul and Trudy Harden, 64 years.

Source: Atria Campana del Rio

--Contact photographer A.E. Araiza at 573-4155 or araiza@azstarnet.com.

Newstex ID: 36000465