Love and marriage: 75 years and counting for loving couple, Bugs and Rainy Hill, of Trout Lake

“We started going together when we were juniors,” explained Rainy, “about a year and a half [dating].” After getting the OK from parents the couple then decided to get married in November of their senior year of high school.

“We got their permission… they OK’ed it in other words,” said Bugs. Rainy elaborated, “I think they kind of figured, there was no point in fighting it so…and of course the school didn’t know what to do with us.” Both laughed at the memory. After the couple was married they lived with Bugs’ parents for the rest of the school year.

At the time the school board was debating whether the couple should be separated, but in the end the school board allowed for the couple to remain in the same class as a marrieds. “It was just unheard of,” said Rainy when talking about getting married senior year.

“We were married three years when our daughter was born, and then Dennis three years later, and we just spent our life on the mountain…” said Rainy. “Outdoor, that’s what we’ve done all our lives, is a lot of outdoor.”

The couple lives in Trout Lake near Mt. Adams and has hiked the approximate 45 miles around the mountain three times during their time together. “The mountain was our life,” noted Bugs.

Their Friday wedding in November 1940 started by the pair skipping school. “We were married at noon, at the Methodist parsonage so that some of our friends from high school could come over, and so all our parents could all be there because they worked. So we were married during their lunch,” Rainy laughed as she explained.

After a post-wedding celebration at Rainy’s parents’ home the newlyweds honeymooned in Portland, Ore., at the Old Washington Hotel before returning back to school on Tuesday. “We took Monday off,” said Rainy.

The pair say they don’t have a secret to their relationship’s longevity, other than not arguing with each other.

“We just enjoy being together,” Rainy said.

Bugs said, “I listen and do what I’m told,” which sparked a laugh out of Rainy. When asked if they dole advice to their son and grandchildren Bugs explained that they just let them figure things out on their own.

For Saturday’s festivities Rainy plans to wear the wedding dress their late daughter made for their 50th wedding anniversary. “It still fits!” Rainy said.

Neither knows what to expect for the celebration on Saturday. Their son hasn’t told them what’s being planned: “you’ll just have to come and find out,” said Rainy.

“I think one of the biggest things in our life is our get-togethers, for Easter and everything else. We always have about fifty people for our parties, our get-togethers,” said Bugs.

“We can’t seem to have a party with less than fifty people,” noted Rainy with a laugh.

The couple are already looking forward to the next big celebration for their 80th anniversary.