Seventy-five years may have passed since they said, “I do,” but Albert and Marilyn Decker are as much in love, if not more, than they were on their wedding day that June 16, 1948.

An open house celebration for the couple will take place from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at Bethesda Church in Huron. Those who wish may send memories to 370 20th SE in Huron.

“I remember the first time I saw you was at the Yale school play,” Albert said, glancing at his wife. “I had just gotten out of the Air Corps in World War II, and I thought, what a beautiful lady. I had to know her.”

Albert, 95, who grew up on a farm in Spink County, was helping his sister and her husband on their farm near Yale. “They went to this play in Yale, and I went along,” he added, a decision he has never regretted.

Nine months after a mutual friend had formally introduced them, Albert asked Marilyn to be his bride, and nine months later they were married, he said.

For Marilyn, 93, her marriage was the proverbial topping on the cake for milestones she experienced as an 18-year-old in 1948.

“I graduated from high school, accepted the Lord as my Savior and I was baptized,” Marilyn said. “Of all those things, the most important one was the fact that I accepted the Lord as my Savior.

“Our faith in God is very important to us,” she said. “It got us over the tough spots,” Albert added. “God takes first place in our marriage.”

The couple farmed for 30 years near Yale and Huron, raising six children, cattle, sheep, hogs and chickens, Albert remembered.

Marilyn remembers getting a pattern and teaching herself to sew using her mother’s treadle sewing machine, so she could provide clothes for her family.

“I made all our clothing, and I’ve made 150 quilts and lap robes,” she said. She also made two quilts using pieces cut from two of her favorite wool dresses. “I could never bear to get rid them,” Marilyn added.

The couple were also founders of Double D Western Wear. Prior to the store opening, Albert would load up his pickup and trailer with various horse tack and farm supplies and travel to trade shows, rodeos and stock shows to sell animal health and small animal equipment.

“It grew to include western apparel,” Marilyn said “People found out we had it in our garage and if they needed anything, they would come around to see if we had it. That’s how Double D got started.”

They sold the business in 2006 when they retired.

Their daughter, Kathie Peyton, fourth of six children, remembers growing up on their farm northeast of Huron.

“They always had a good marriage,” Kathie said. “What I learned from my parents is you stick to it and work it out. Mom is also known for her prayers,” she added.

“You know, it’s one thing I can still do,” quipped Marliyn.

“Mom taught us everything we needed to do to run a house, and dad taught us outside chores – chicken-plucking parties and canning with mom,” Kathie added. “I do remember thinking when I grew up I’d not work after supper. They worked hard.”

The first television to find a place in their home flickered to life in 1970, when Kathie was a junior in high school.

“We played a lot of table games,” Kathie said. “Dad might join in on hide-and-seek outside, and he liked playing kick the can.”

Marilyn said that in 1948, average life expectancy was between 60 to 65 years. “The next thing I know, we were married 65 years,” she said.

One fun tradition that has been followed faithfully every Sunday for many years is going out for lunch after church. They have been members of Bethesda Church since the early 1950s.

“She shouldn’t have to cook on Sundays,” Albert explained. “Who could argue with that,” asked Marilyn, laughing.

Besides Kathie Peyton and her husband, Tom, of Huron, their children are Twyla and Larry Miller and Jeffrey and Sheri Decker of Huron, Carol and Jim Harlbert of Iroquois, Lee Decker in Arizona, and Valerie and Doug Roberts of Montana. They also have 15 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.