There are lots of people out there giving love advice, but probably none as wise as John and Ann Betar. The couple has been married a whopping 85 years and is America’s longest-married couple.
The couple was married in 1932, against Ann’s father’s wishes. No, they weren’t supposed to marry–Ann’s father had originally planned for her to wed a much older man, but the two eloped without his permission. Now John and Ann have teamed up with home services company Handy to answer all sorts of questions about love and marriage, and making both last.
“We struggled in the beginning, but, luckily, we were content with what we had. It’s just important to be content with what you have,” is John’s advice. “You have to like a person before you love them. We were good friends,” said Ann.
“Everyone was hopping mad, and my wife’s aunt consoled my father-in-law by telling him not to worry, the marriage won’t last,” said John. Now the couple are great-grandparents who are now 106 and 102 years old!
Some of their advice included how to keep love alive for so long. Ann says, “It’s a lifelong thing. How do you define love? Through actions, understanding, little things…He loves the whole world. He doesn’t think about disliking anybody. I don’t either.” John said, “I wish I knew! It’s natural. An understanding.”
At their most recent anniversary celebration, their family surprised them with a ride in the same model car they drove in on their first date, a Ford Roadster. “Like old times,” John said to Ann before he kissed her.
Ann also has advice. “Listen to one another no matter what the situation is,” she said. “We’re not arguing, we’re listening and we’ve always listened.” The couple has 16 grandchildren and another dozen grandchildren to dote on, and they plan on never parting. “We’ll be together forever,” said John. Ann added, “Somewhere we will be.”
