LHS sweethearts celebrate 75th wedding anniversary

A testament to enduring love and steadfast devotion, the 75-year journey of Vernon A. “Bud” and Joan J. Smith began with a schoolroom seating chart and has blossomed into a lifetime of family, faith, hard work, and adventure.

The Loyal sweethearts have reached a milestone few couples ever achieve and grown a family reaching to 82 direct descendants — and counting! But when they started out, it was just the two of them. Both having Smith as their family name, but unrelated, Bud and Joan met when students were assigned in alphabetical order for homeroom in school. Their first “date” was when Bud brought Joan home from the Marshfield Fair in 1947. A romance grew, and they were married almost three years later in June of 1950, shortly after Joan graduated from high school.

The June wedding came about because Bud had heard an announcement about a contest on the radio when he was on his way to work. Couples were asked to tell why they would like to be married in June, and the winning couple would receive a complete wedding package from the radio station, including a wedding dress, cake, flowers, photographer, dinner, and honeymoon. Bud asked Joan to send in a jingle for the contest, which she did, and she won the contest, which required the wedding to be in June. They had previously planned to be married later in the year.

The July 6, 1950, Loyal Tribune recorded all the details of wedding ceremony.

“Joan J. Smith, daughter of James A. Smith [and his late wife, Verona], and Vernon A. Smith, son of James V. and Louise Smith, were united in marriage on Tuesday morning, June 27, 1950, at the Loyal Methodist church. Rev Lee Holmes officiated,” the Tribune stated.

“Miss LaVade Smith, Mrs. Edward Brown, and Miss Gail Colby were bridesmaids. Eldon Smith, Edward Brown, and Robert Bowen were attendants. Vern Garner and Roger Mathews were ushers.

“A buffet luncheon was held in the church basement. A candlelight dinner for the bridal party was held at 5:30 in Wausau. The wedding dance reception was held at the Silver Dome Ballroom with music by Howard Sturtz and his Swing Kings.”

After being married, Bud and Joan began to grow together as a couple and also grew their family as the years passed by. Bud and Joan are the parents of Sandra (Charlie) Bruesewitz of Colby, Susan (Richard) Druschke of Valders, Chris (Janis) Smith of Greenwood, Coni (Bob) Meyer of Loyal, Ken (Shari) Smith of Greenwood, Jim Smith of Athens, and Richard (Julie) Smith of Greenwood. They are also the very proud grandparents of 22 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, and a great-great-granddaughter.

Bud worked at Wuethrich Creamery for many years. In 1965, he and Joan plunged into their own business venture by purchasing a portable mobile feed mill for “on the farm” feed grinding. Joan did the bookkeeping and kept her family well cared for! On Sept. 1, 1977, O.W. Trindal Company was purchased. With a lot of learning by doing plus a determination to care for their family, their employees, and to give good service to their customers, the business succeeded. Upon retirement, Smith Feed Service and Smith Feed Transport were sold to VitaPlus.

Joan served as the Sunday school leader and a teacher at the Loyal United Methodist Church, which the couple still attends. She was also a 4-H leader while her children were growing up. Bud was on the church board and the finance committee for many years. He also served on the Clark County Fair Board numerous years. Both instilled in their family the need to participate and give back to their community. For years, they encouraged their family members to give gifts to the Loyal Food Pantry rather than gifts to them.

Their service to the community was formally recognized by the City of Loyal, Bud and Joan being the first recipients of the Citizen of the Year award.

Always up for an adventure, Bud and Joan traveled to all 50 states in their motorhome, as well as Canada and Mexico. Through business trips, they were able to walk the Great Wall of China and visit the Parthenon in Greece. They are grateful for all the wonderful years of travel memories.

With the help of family, the Smiths continue to live together in their home in Loyal.

For years, the Smiths have won the anniversary dance at family weddings, having the honor of being the longest-married couple on the dance floor. When asked to tell the bride and groom their secret, they usually say, “Marry your best friend” and “Say ‘I love you’ each day and never give up!”

The couple officially celebrated their diamond anniversary Saturday with a gathering at the Loyal American Legion Hall for their extended family.

The Smiths love receiving cards and would welcome any well wishes by mail, which can be sent to PO Box 308, Loyal.

Editor Valorie Brecht contributed to this report.