On April 15, 2006, Earl and Mary Louise Olson will celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary. Their love story began shortly after WWII. Earl had just finished college and was sent from MN to the state of SC.

“I hadn’t been living here for very long, and I really didn’t know too many people yet,” Olson said.

Little did Olson know all of that was about to change. One day Olson was leaving church and getting into his car, when a friend of his from the army wanted to introduce him to a few people including Mary Louise Johns. The two began dating, and two years later they were married at Incarnation Lutheran Church in Columbia, the church where they met.

Earl traveled a lot because of his job, and Mary Louise enjoyed her job as a teacher. “She was very popular with her students. She has always gotten along well with people,” Olson said.

In June of 1955 the couple bought their first and only home together. They also expanded the family with the birth of two daughters; Kathy, who currently lives in Atlanta, GA, and Jean, who lives in Davidson, NC, and has two daughters of her own.

Several years ago, Mary Louise was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. For a couple of years she continued to live in the couple’s home where Earl was her primary caregiver. About three years ago, Earl took Mary Louise to The Haven in the Summit. Earl says she has adjusted well, and the staff is very good to her.

“She doesn’t know her recent life, and doesn’t recognize me. She does remember her childhood, mother, and father; things like that,” Olson said.

Even though Mary Louise doesn’t recognize her husband, he still visits her every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Earl says Mary Louise has been sleeping a lot lately, but that doesn’t stop him from simply spending time with her. The couple’s daughters come to visit whenever they can.

“It has taken several years, but I’m finally accepting it,” Olson said.