VIRGINIA- Laurie and Betty Ann Laakso will hit a milestone that is certainly worth bragging about. This weekend, the couple will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary. They aren’t opting for anything spectacular, just a small reception at their church, Gethsemane Lutheran in Virginia.
Betty Ann Crayne grew up in Embarrass, and Laurie Laakso in Tower-Soudan. The two met through mutual friends and were married at the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Embarrass on June 23, 1951. The church building is now owned and maintained by Sisu Heritage, as part of the history of Embarrass. The wedding reception was held at the Embarrass School, which has since been demolished.
The couple moved to Virginia after marriage. Laurie worked as an accountant and then an industrial engineer for U.S. Steel, and the couple moved around the country, but ended up back in Virginia. In their early years, Betty Ann worked as a dental assistant and also at the Peabody Shirt Factory, before settling in to raise her family.
The couple had three children, Lynn, Lani, and Lee. They have three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The couple has always stayed busy.
“Their favorite pastimes are doing jigsaw puzzles, playing gin rummy, listening to music, and going to church,” said Lisa Laakso, who is married to Lee. These two, who are both now retired, have been married for 40 years.
“They also love holding each other’s hands,” Lisa said. “They have a deep love for each other and never want to be apart.”
The couple was able to visit the Apostolic Church in Embarrass last year for a concert sponsored by Sisu Heritage, and they were surprised to see one of the photographs from their wedding in 1951 on the wall.
At 98 (Laurie) and 93 (Betty Ann), safety at home was a concern.
“It was not safe for them to be taking sauna in the basement,” Lisa said.
Laurie and Betty Ann recently moved to Edgewood Vista assisted living in Virginia.
The decision to move was difficult for them,” Lisa said, noting Laurie had always insisted he wanted to stay in their home until his death.
But life at home, with all the cooking and cleaning, was getting too hard for Betty Ann, so the couple did decide to move.
“Betty Ann is a beautiful seamstress,” Lisa said, “and a quilter for the church.” She wanted to bring her sewing machine and supplies with her, but in the end, the couple decided on a one-bedroom unit, which meant there wouldn’t be room. “Betty Ann is staying very active at Edgewood,” Lisa said. “She participates in exercise classes, happy hours, and enjoys the live music.” Laurie is trying to keep up with his more youthful bride, Lisa said, but he is slowly getting used to his new home. They are both able to move around on their own two feet.
With so many chapters in their lives, their love continues to deepen, she added.