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WELCOME - It's a rarity becoming more rare: Seeing a couple who can hit those milestone anniversaries.

But Clarence and Velma Andersen are past the well-known milestones. Today they can say they've been married for 70 years.

"I really don't know; the time just went so fast," Clarence said when asked for the secret to making the marriage last. "There have been challenging years. We've had health problems, operations and we've survived them. No matter how bad it gets, there are always better days ahead. You have to have the faith to go on."

After so many years, there is some debate now about exactly how Clarence and Velma met and became a couple.

"The first time we met, I think was 4-H," Clarence said. "Then there was a double date. I do know it was in August 1937 that we started dating."

Velma was still in high school when they became engaged in the spring of 1938.

"First I bought her a bracelet, then it was a cedar chest, and then I got her the engagement ring," Clarence said.

The relationship wouldn't be without some serious tests. Velma grew up in Fairmont while Clarence was a farm boy. About four years after they married and lived in Fairmont, Clarence purchased the farm his parents lived on and ran.

"We had just gotten electricity there, but there was no running water," he said.

Which meant no indoor toilet.

"We did get running water in there, and then we remodeled," Clarence said of his compromise for his wife. "We still live on that farm today."

"You have to give and take," Velma said.

Velma ended up being a good sport about becoming a farm wife, milking cows and helping out with chores.

"We raised cows and hogs on the farm until about 1971," Clarence said. "We then bought additional land and started farming it. Our two grandsons have kind of taken over the farming now. I never really retired; I just slowly quit."

At 90, Clarence remains busy with the Fox Lake Township board, and the church board.

"You can still see him picking weeds out in the fields when he gets bored," said granddaughter Angie Scheff.

The Andersens had two children, Kay and Tom. They have seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

"Family means so much," Clarence said. "When you come down to it, that's really what you live for."

An open house celebration for the Andersens will be held 1-3 p.m. Sunday at United Church of Christ in Welcome.