Gilbert and Elsie Buehner have celebrated more than 60 years of Valentines together.
This year they celebrated with the rest of the Touchmark residents in Sioux Falls at the annual Valentine's Day Celebration of Love at Any Age. The Buehner's life story can certainly attest to the ability to love someone through the ages.
"Do you want to go from the very beginning, from the first time I ever saw her," said Gilbert.
Gilbert Buehner, 81, caught his first glimpse of Elsie playing with her sister on their family farm outside Canistota some 70 years ago.
"Little did I realize at the time that I was going to marry one of those girls and I would spend a life time living on that very same farm," said Gilbert.
After their wedding in 1952, the couple farmed together for nearly 40 years.
"We used the binder and I drove the tractor and he drove the binder, didn't you. That was quite a few years ago when you stop to think about it," said Elsie.
Through those 60 years, the Buehners raised three daughters.
"I grew up in a family of all boys and there was a time when I thought girls, they was just kind of weird, best left alone; and I end up with a wife and three daughters," laughed Gilbert.
It didn't take him long to figure out how to deal with women.
"I remember making her a little heart out of wood I think, I did that a couple of times," said Gilbert.
But he'll be the first to tell you, spending a lifetime with one person takes some work.
"It's a lot of give and take…it's not all roses so to speak," said Gilbert.
After sharing a lifetime of joys, trials and triumphs together, the Buehners are still constant companions, traveling through the rest of their years together.
"It's kind of difficult to remember when I wasn't spending time with him, I was only, what, 19 and 3 quarters I guess," said Elsie.
"I mean, we practically grew up together. After a lifetime of being together, I can't image any other way," said Gilbert.
