Bill and Arlene Kocourek know a good thing when they see it.
“That’s Arlene on the cover,” Bill said, pointing to the cover of their college yearbook.
“Those were two fun years,” added Arlene.
They also knew it in 1954. That’s when Bill, a farmer, approached Arlene, a new teacher, at a school dance in Tyndall, South Dakota.
“I thought I was a pretty good dancer because I was nominated the best dancer in Tyndall High School,” Bill said. “Evidently, she thought I was all right, too.”
One thing led to another.
“I always said I’m never going marry a farmer,” Arlene chuckled. “Famous words, right?”
Seventy years, two children, five grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren later, Bill and Arlene have a laundry list of memories and a lifetime of love.
“I always thought she was good looking and she still is,” Bill said.
Bill and Arlene’s recipe for reaching 70 years of marital milestones sounds pretty simple.
“You give and take or take and give, whatever way you want to look at it,” Bill said.
They also learned to solve their problems at an early age.
“We had a few little tiffs along the way. Nothing serious, you know, just stupid things,” Arlene said.
Added Bill: “It’s always the little stuff. The big stuff we agree on.”
There is one other little secret.
“Give your wife all she wants when she wants it,” Bill said with a smile. “On our wedding night, I promised I’d build her a new home, and I got that done.”
New chapter with old friends
When life turned the page on another chapter nearly nine years ago, Bill and Arlene knew they found something good – with Good Samaritan in Tyndall.
“We enjoy LeAnn,” said Arlene. “She’s so good about getting everything done and it’s nice you don’t have to cook any meals.”
LeAnn Kniffen is the senior living operations manager for North Point Apartments, and a big reason why the Kocoureks felt right at home right away.
“Bill and Arlene are a great, amazing couple. They’re very social,” Kniffen said before hosting a trivia game with residents. “They’re some of my best advocates here. When I tell them that I’ve got a prospective client coming in for a tour, they say, ‘Bring ’em on down. We’ll show ’em around.’”
Over the years, some of those prospective residents have been friends of the Kocoureks who were ready for a new home.
“We’ve got a lot of friends here now, and we get together and play cards,” said Arlene.
“We’ve got two right across the hall and one door down the hall that were our best friends, and we talked them into coming,” Bill added as he and Arlene share a laugh.
‘Time flies when you’re having fun’
Those friends played their part for the happy couple’s 70th wedding anniversary in October.
“We’d been talking about it for probably a week leading up to their anniversary, so everybody knew it,” said LeAnn. “The other residents brought cards and congratulated them.”
The Kocoureks’ children also sent flowers for the occasion. Kniffen, camera in hand, knew exactly what to do.
“They stood in front of their bouquet, and we sent it off to the kids,” she said. “The kids really appreciate those pictures because then they can see what the flowers look like, and they can send those pictures onto their grandkids.”
Now in their 90s, Bill and Arlene continue to share their joy with others who call North Point home. The door to their apartment is covered in photos of birthdays and other memorable moments.
“It’s a nice place to live if you ever have to find another place,” said Arlene.
“Just make the best of each day and enjoy it,” Bill added.
And that’s something worth celebrating.
“Seventy years went actually pretty fast,” Arlene said.
Without missing a beat, Bill chimes in, “Time flies when you’re having fun.”
Learn more
- Dedicated husband, volunteer perks up long-term care center
- Nursing home sets scene for later-in-life love story
- Coping with aging and the transitions that come with it
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Posted In Community, Senior Services
