William D. Nelson and Betty T. Nelson (Schmidt) are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary!
“Now at the age of 95 for Bill and 92 for Betty their commitment to each other is stronger than ever”.
In the summer of 1951, Betty and two friends left her hometown of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, heading to California for jobs as nurses. She met Bill in Los Angeles, because one of her friends was Bill’s cousin. Bill had served on a submarine in WWII, gotten out of the Navy, gone to college, and was working in an office when he met Betty. Soon he knew she was the one for him, and within months had asked Betty to marry him. After a few times, Betty said “Yes!” and they were engaged.
They were married on August 27th 1952 at St. Francis Catholic church in Betty’s hometown of Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
After their honeymoon on Mackinac Island in Michigan they settled in Bill’s hometown, Los Angeles, California. From there they purchased a house in a small suburb called West Covina. Bill started out in the moving business and later switched to the insurance business. In the beginning of their marriage Betty worked as a registered nurse for the American Red Cross. When their children came along she was able to stay home with them. They had eight children in nine years! She was quite an amazing mother with all the little ones so close in age. When the youngest was three, she went back to work, part time at Queen of the Valley hospital in West Covina. She remained there for the next 28 years.
After living in West Covina for 37 years they moved to their current home in Vista, California where they have resided for the past 28 years. Most of their children and grandchildren live close by. Bill and Betty attend St. Thomas More Catholic church in Oceanside. Their religion has always been very important to them.
Bill and Betty are an inspiration to their 8 children and their spouses, along with 14 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
A party to celebrate Bill and Betty’s love and commitment together for 70 years has been planned at the home of their eldest daughter Karen and her husband, Bill Tussy of Carlsbad.
