I Do! I Did… over 80 years ago!

Results released by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a Christian marriage enrichment group based in San Bernardino, California, for the 2013 longest USA married couple reveal that John and Ann Betar of Fairfield, Connecticut hold that honor, having over 80 years of wedded bliss under their aging belts.

 The couple's secret to so many happy years together: compromise and don't hold a grudge. "We are very fortunate. It can be repeated and repeated," Ann, 97, said at the time. "It is unconditional love and understanding. We have had that. We consider it a blessing." Mr. Betar is 101 and together he and Ann have five children, 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Nominations ran between October 15, 2012 through January 10, 2013 (with several states submitting no nominations)

  “We realize there could be couples married longer, but we did not receive their nominations from friends or family during the nominating period,” the WME group stated.

 -Two months tied for having the most longest married couples: April & June, with seven couples each. The month with the lowest was January, with only one couple.

The list of the 2013 state winners and their hometowns and wedding dates are as follows:
 

Arkansas - Bernie & Helen Kremer 71 years
Fort Smith, AR - November 17, 1941

California - Scott & Thelma Dowell 78 years
McCloud, CA - March 6, 1934

Colorado – John & Delores Siran 65 years
Colorado Springs, CO - October 11, 1947

Connecticut – John and Ann Betar 80 years
Fairfield, CT - November 25, 1932

Delaware – Bill & Ginny Miller 70 years
Dover, DE - August 7, 1942

Florida – Raymond & Valentine Cassagnol 69 years
Oviedo, FL - December, 23, 1943

Georgia – Bill & Jacque Dean 70 years
Acworth, GA - May 16, 1942

Hawaii – Joseph & Helen Vierra 75 years
Waimanalo, HI - August 28, 1937

Idaho - Norman & Edith Warren 79 years
Weiser, ID - April 7, 1933

Illinois –Phil & Kay Bail Sr. 71 years
Chicago, IL - September 9, 1941

Indiana – Bob & June McAfee 65 years
Fort Wayne, IN - June 7, 1947

Iowa – Leander & Odelia Cremer 72 years
Calmar, IA - February 5, 1940

Kansas – Stewart & Joyce Boone 64 years
Garden City, KS - August 15, 1948

Louisiana – Henry & Ida Smith 60 years
Gonzales, LA - March 10, 1952

Maryland – Dante & Olga Petrolini 74 years
Baltimore, MD - June 2, 1938

Massachusetts – Constanty & Anne Raccis 70 years
East Longmeadow, MA - August 1, 1942

Michigan - Ben & Ella Hensel 74 years
Linwood, MI - April 30, 1938

Minnesota – Severin & Lorraine Haus 69 years
St. Cloud, MN - September 23, 1943

Mississippi – Kimble & Virgie Wallace 72 years
Monticello, MS - April 13, 1940

Missouri – Dean & Naomi Jackson 65 years
North Kansas City, MO - January 12, 1947

Montana - Joe & Faye Donley 75 years
Forsyth, MT - June 5, 1937

Nebraska – Rudge and Dottie Vifquain 70 years
Lincoln, NE - November 8, 1942

New Jersey – Giacomo & Antonia DiRienzo 74 years
Burlington, NJ - June 12, 1938

New York – Walter & Anna Patrick 75 years
Troy, NY - May 1, 1937

North Carolina - Robert & Virginia Gerald 79 years
Goldsboro, NC - April 12, 1933

North Dakota - Wally & Ila Billing 70 years
Enderlin, ND - July 5, 1942

Ohio - Perry & Olive Daub 75 years
Columbus Grove, OH - December 24, 1937

Oregon – Willis & Iola Hinkle 77 years
Mt. Angel, OR - July 3, 1935

Pennsylvania – Clayton & Beatrice Herb 79 years
Schuylkill Haven, PA - June 29, 1933

Rhode Island – Eric & Doris Houston 65 years
Coventry, RI - April 26, 1947

South Carolina - Bob & Ethel Hirsch 66 years
Myrtle Beach, SC - June 29, 1946

South Dakota – Russ & Ann Lynn Graham 53 years
Beresford, SD - March 6, 1959

Tennessee – Grady & Flossie Bailey 72 years
Flag Pond, TN - November 23, 1940

Texas – Edwin & Gladys Chumchal 67 years
Shiner, TX - February 12, 1945

Virginia – Hubert & Marie Breeding 74 years
Wise, VA - May 3, 1938

West Virginia - John & Katherine Zinkus 70 years
New Martinsville, WV - April 27, 1942

Wisconsin – Roger & Rosella Feiten 78 years
New Auburn, WI - April 10th, 1934

Wyoming - Dan & Marcella Herrin 72 years
Greybull, WY - October 12, 1940