Marriage is supposed to last a lifetime. That’s why traditional vows include the words, “until death do us part.”
However, we all know that far too many unions dissolve early. And sometimes the couples that do hold on until the end find themselves feeling isolated from and irritated by their spouses.
Still, despite their ups and downs, the lives of some couples end so beautifully that they become a romantic ideal, something for all of us to strive for.
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Helen and Rudy Sloup had an inspiring marriage that lasted 63 years.
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According to the Omaha World-Herald, they shared their first date at the tender ages of 14 and 17.
They attended a wedding dance and Helen later told her son that Rudy “was a really good-looking man.”
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Rudy ended up working for Wahoo Oil, but even during his professional career, he found time to help the community. He would help keep the automobiles of elderly women in working condition.
Helen found a way to improve the lives of others as well while working for a bridal store.
Their son, Bob Sloup, said, “People liked that Mom would just say exactly what she was thinking. If she was helping a bride, she might stop and say, ‘That’s not for you,’ and grab a different dress.”
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The couple raised their six sons to have a similar approach to life.
“We learned to work hard and take care of ourselves and take care of our family,” their eldest son continued. “If someone else needs help, you give them a hand. That’s just what good neighbors do.”
Sadly, on April 11, Helen passed away from heart disease at the age of 81
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“When Mom died, Dad just couldn’t bring himself to go in the bedroom because he didn’t want to remember her that way,” Bob said.
“One day of not being with her was enough. He just didn’t like it.”
Thirty-six hours after his wife’s death, Bob also passed, leaving their six children, 21 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren to remember their legacy and how much they loved each other.
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