‘For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health’

 Abe, Myrtle Schultz are strong together through 70 years of marriage

 

 

 

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Abe Schultz and Myrtle Fast grew up on farm places just four miles apart – but it took almost a quarter century before they really noticed one another.

For those first 25 years, that four miles could have been 40, 400 or 4,000; their paths did not cross.

In the most prevalent social circles for young men and women of the area in the early 1940s – school and church events – the two never met. They each attended a different Cottonwood County country school. Even in the same high school, the two never connected, as they were in different grades. They worshiped at different churches – Myrtle at Immanuel Mennonite Church in Delft and Abe at the Bruderthaler, or Valley Church, later the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren (EMB) Church and today, Cornerstone Bible Church. As well, as per tradition for farm families of that time, each was needed to help on a long list of farm crop and animal chores, allowing for little free time for young folks on different trajectories to meet up and mingle.

As young adults, Abe and Myrtle were actually dating others; Abe, a woman with plans to become a missionary and Myrtle, a man who became a soldier during World War II. Life roads heading in different directions eventually led to each relationship drifting apart, with the couples breaking up.

Jumping to the end of the story before sharing how Abe and Myrtle met, fell in love and married is necessary in order to note that, despite moving in different circles, their marriage was something that was “meant to be” (according to Abe). And, it has taken them, both now in their mid-90s, to their 70th wedding anniversary on Thursday, October 13.

But, before that celebration could be held, Abe had a little research work to do.

One day, as Abe was looking through the pages of school books with photos of students, “I spied a sweet girl, right in front,” and he took a giant next step and leap of faith. “I wrote her a letter asking if I could call on her.

“I waited, and waited and waited, and a week letter, I finally got a letter back from her. She told me . . .”

“Yes,” interjects Myrtle.

The pair’s first date was to a Sunday evening Christian Endeavor (C. E.) program at the rural Mountain Lake EMB Church.

From that point on, the bond was set.

After Abe had asked Myrtle to be his wife, he still had “the hardest thing I’ve had to do,” recalls Abe – ask Myrtle’s parents for her hand in marriage. “It was in the front hall of their house. They said ‘yes’ too. Whew! I had always tried to make a good impression with them. I had her in by midnight. I had to, because at that time, the house lights went out.”

Abe, then age 24, and 26-year-old Myrtle were married on Saturday, October 13, 1946, at the Immanuel Mennonite Church in Delft.

Following a couple of years as “city slickers” living in Mountain Lake, the couple moved to a farmsite northwest of Mountain Lake. Although there were some difficult years, when money was scarce, they stuck together and stuck it out. Interjects Myrtle,”Living on a farm had many advantages in that case. There was always work to do. In addition to raising corn and soybeans as cash crops, we had a large garden, chickens for eggs and butchering, pigs and steers to either sell or use for meat, a cow for milk, even some guineas, horses and sheep.” As well, Myrtle’s parents had a well-stocked orchard of plum, pear and apple trees, along with mulberry and grape bushes. Canning veggies and fruit jams and jellies for the winter pantry took center stage in late summer.

They made the farm their home from 1948 until 1972, when they retired into Mountain Lake. Even in “retirement,” Abe was kept busy with odd jobs and serving as a tour guide at Heritage Village until the age of 91. Abe and Myrtle are now tenants at Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake-The Lodge.

They raised six children – Delmar, Bernice, Willmar, Homer, Marilyn and David; and have seven grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren – with two on the way. And, were together for support, along with their family, when their son, Homer, passed away.

After seven decades of marriage, the twosome does have a few words of advice for newlyweds when pressed for marriage tips. By consensus, Abe and Myrtle agree that it is so important to, “Talk it through to be able to make it work,” and, adds Abe, with a smile, “One has to give in during an argument. Then, the other doesn’t know what to do anymore; for sure they can’t still be mad.”

Admitting that indeed, their marriage has been “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health” – each just could not picture a world without the other.

There will be a 70th anniversary open house celebration for the couple on Saturday, October 15, from 1:30 p.m. to 3;30 p.m., at the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake Chapel Dining Hall. The Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake is located at 745 Basinger Memorial Drive.

Anniversary cards can also reach the pair at:

Abe and Myrtle Schultz

603 7th Avenue, Apartment 103

Mountain Lake, MN 56159

 

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ABE SCHULTZ, LEFT and Myrtle Fast, right on their wedding day on October 13, 1946.
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SEVENTY YEARS LATER, Abe and Myrtle Schultz in October 2016, sporting matching Hawaiian shirts.
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