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  Family - World Marriage Day

Longest married couple in Alliance, Nebraska

Press Release - Author Unknown

Bernard & Mildred Nye have been named 2007’s longest married couple in Alliance, Nebraska. The Nyes were married Nov. 29, 1935 in Gering, Nebraska and are in their 72nd year of marriage.

Bernard & Mildred Nye

Mildred said the two first met at a barn north of Carhenge. Bernard said it was a case of "love at first sight." Three months after that meeting, the two were married. "I just knew he was the one," Mildred said.

The wedding day, Mildred said, was the day after Thanksgiving. "We just went over to Gering with my sister and her husband, and my mom," she said, "found a courthouse, got married and went home."

The secrets to making a marriage last as long as the Nyes, Mildred said, are love, faith and prayer. She added that marriage is a give and take relationship. Talking is an important part as well, she said. "We always talk things out. It wasn't all roses, but we talked it out."

They have both lived in and around Alliance all of their lives. They have five children, 12 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

About 60 people attended the reception for the 16 nominated couples at the Alliance Learning Center. Pastor Walt Cline of the First Christian Church, where the Nyes are members, gave the opening prayer and vow renewal ceremony for all married couples in attendance.

Couples from the local Worldwide Marriage Encounter Share Group also participated in the program, which ended with a balloon release.

The Nyes received several gifts including a $50 gift certificate to Pryor’s Heritage House, flowers from Alliance Floral Hoffhaus and a gift basket from BF Food Pride.

All nominees received gift bags filled with candy, Dairy Queen coins, and marriage prayers.

In addition to the Nyes, the list of nominees included: Ruth & Virgil Hatch, Don & June Magnuson, Eunice & Bernard Bauer, Wayne & Ketty Hillman, Pat & Dale Borg, George & Dorothy McDonald, Doug & Jean Thomas, Jack & Marybelle Smaha, Bill & Betty Russel, Mary & Roger Olson, Harley & Doris Doyle, Art & Opal Johnson, Robert & LaVeta Cole, Keith & Jeri Lyster and Lester & Virginia Jesse.

The WWME Share Group would like to thank all of its business sponsors for their generous donations, including Angel Patch, who donated the balloons for the release, and Harris Sales, who donated cookies for the reception.

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