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Howard and Doris Sigurdson will both agree it was pretty much love at first sight.

She was 15 and he was 17 when they went on their first date after Doris’s brother and his girlfriend were going to a movie in New Richland, and his girlfriend wanted Doris to come along. Her brother then brought up the idea of stopping to get Howard — and the rest is history.

Seven years later, at the ages of 22 and 24, Howard and Doris got married, and on Wednesday, at the ages of 97 and 99, they will celebrate 75 years of marriage.

Doris said she and Howard met in parochial school and credits her brother for helping get them together. She said her brother would come to her and tell her that Howard liked her, and then he’d turn around and tell Howard the same thing about her.

They got engaged in 1944, and after six years — including two years in the service for Howard — they were married on April 16, 1950, at Hartland Lutheran Church.

Doris said she remembers they got married on a Sunday, which was pretty common for that time period, which was a day of rest for farmers and their horses. It also rained.

She said Howard gave her pearl earrings as a wedding gift, which she still has in her apartment.

They went on to have three children and now have nine grandchildren and two step-grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren, who are spread out all over the country.

Howard worked at the Ford dealership under four different owners for 35 years, first washing cars, then selling them. For a time, he also worked in parts at the dealership.

Doris stayed home with the children in their younger years, before going on to work at Miami Margarine. She also worked at Munsingwear and throughout the years offered sewing services.

After they first got married, they lived in a house on Ulstad Avenue, where they rented part of the home. They later went on to buy a house near Ginkel Park and then ultimately moved a few doors down to a bigger home to accommodate their growing family. They lived in that house for 62 years.

More recently, they have lived in St. John’s Lutheran Community’s independent living for six years before coming to Thorne Crest for the last three. Doris currently lives in the assisted living portion of the senior living facility, while Howard lives in the skilled care part of the care center.

Doris recalled fun memories dancing and traveling over the years, and when asked how she thinks they were able to reach the 75-year milestone, she responded, “You pray together, you stay together.”

She said she has always liked her husband’s honesty and how he has always liked to take good care of her.

Howard said his wife was a hard worker and has had a lot of energy through the years.

Diane Sigurdson said though this is the first time her parents have been living separately, she noted how her father’s face lights up when his wife comes into his room.

The family will celebrate the anniversary with a private party in early May.