Wheatland’s own Louis and Mary Lou Montoya’s 70-year marriage will be recognized this weekend by Worldwide Marriage Encounters.
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WHEATLAND – In an era when long marriages are not the norm, Wheatland’s own Louis and Mary Lou Montoya’s 70-year marriage will be recognized this weekend by Worldwide Marriage Encounters. This Catholic organization that fosters strong marriages recognizes a couple for wedded longevity from each state. This year, the Montoyas are representing Wyoming.
Louis came to Platte County from New Mexico when he was two; Mary Lou was born and raised here. Not only have they been married that long but have known each other since going to Ayers School together when he teased and chased her around. “I did not like him [Louis/Lou]. He pestered me all the time. When Lawrence Swallow drove our bus in junior high, he told me, “You know, hate is akin to love; some day you’re going to marry him.” He was right!
Both of their families (Louis’ had five girls and five boys; Mary Lou’s five boys and four girls) worked as tenant farmers for Bill Ayers. The two dated “not too much” then married, Louis at 23 and Mary Lou at 21. “I was raised by a widowed mother and my older brothers,” said Mary Lou. “When we decided we wanted to get married…” Louis chimed in, “My dad and mom went to the Rodriguez house to asked her mother if she could marry me. That’s the way it was done in those days. Her mother really didn’t want her to get married but she agreed since Mary Lou said she wanted to marry me.”
“I had a white satin dress with a full train, a crown with a three-fourths length veil and carried a rose bouquet,” Mary Lou described. “The flowers came from Windom Florist where the pocket park is now. We were married in the little St. Patrick’s Church where the parking lot is for the present St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.”
“And I had a new black suit,” Louis added. “I was kind of scared [about getting married]. I had opened my mouth one too many times! It was going to be different. I was going to have to adjust to someone else and I was used to being single.”