At Wisconsin Family Action, we believe that strong marriages that last a lifetime are the bedrock for a strong Wisconsin. That’s why, during the month of February, we celebrate and honor marriage with National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-Feb. 14) and highlight some of Wisconsin’s longest-married couples with WFC’s Marriage Hall of Fame. Four years ago, we began this program as a way to honor the institution of marriage and individual marriages that have gone the distance in our state. Over the past four years, we have recognized 63 couples, with the longest marriage recorded at 79 years! Praise God for these incredible examples of the enduring importance of traditional marriage.

Any couple can apply to share their story and marriage advice if they live in Wisconsin, are both still alive and have been married for more than 60 years. Click here to submit your story. Applications are open through February 22, 2025.

We have already received quite a few responses from couples around the state, and we wanted to highlight one story in particular this week – Larry & Nancy Larson, who were married on June 5, 1960! Nancy shares their story below:

In August 1958, we met at the "400 Club" Dance Pavilion outside of Menomonie, WI, which is now Rassbach's Furniture store. Both of us were there with our own friends. We met and danced with one another and sparks flew and here we are 64 years later! (Nancy’s daughter-in-law notes that family lore has it that Nancy thought Larry was cute and "accidentally" stepped on his toe as she was dancing out on the floor to get his attention.) One week later, we had our first date. It was my very first date with a guy, my parents had not allowed me to date prior to this, I was 18! We were married on June 5, 1960, in Menomonie, WI. Larry went into partnership with his father running the family dairy farm in Woodville, where we raised four children – Greg, Terry, Suzanne, & Mark.

How do you get through 64 years of marriage? Be established in your faith as a couple, and keep God at the center of your relationship. Express your love to one another every day. Always show respect. Forgive. Pray daily for each other. Establish a weekly date night. Take some weekend vacations together. When you have children: attend worship together, take your children to Sunday school, and teach your children to pray. Raise your family together, share the chores and discipline. Don't interrupt when the other is speaking. Always show respect to your in-laws. The bottom line is LOVE!

Stories like these are the reason we continue running the Marriage Hall of Fame year after year. As our modern-day culture degrades the meaning of marriage and promotes divorce, we believe the response should be to uplift the incredible couples who have committed their lives to pursuing God’s design for marriage and family. These are the examples our young people should look up to. We’re honored these couples share their stories and wisdom with us!

If you know a couple in Wisconsin who has been married for more than 60 years, please forward them details about our Marriage Hall of Fame and encourage them to apply! In March, we will issue a statewide press release announcing the inductees and highlighting the longest-married couples. Click here to apply!