“Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:9
Nebraska Family Alliance (NFA) recognized a couple married 75 years ago as one of Nebraska’s longest-married couples. Mr. and Mrs. John (Bob) Johnston of Scottsbluff were nominated to NFA’s Nebraska Marriage Hall of Fame during National Marriage Week in February by their daughter, Shirley Fiester.
“A state is only as strong as its families, and in order for a society to thrive, we need God-honoring marriages,” said Karen Bowling, Executive Director of Nebraska Family Alliance. “Healthy marriages produce secure families, provide a loving, stable environment to raise productive children, and influence the offspring and families that come from this lifelong union.”
The Johnstons are the fourth couple to be inducted into NFA’s Nebraska Marriage Hall of Fame. They recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary surrounded by their family and close friends. Bob and Shirley eloped to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where they were married on March 8, 1949. They lived in Sutherland and Big Springs before settling in Scottsbluff in 1965.
Their journey together has not been without challenges. In 1993, Bob suffered a brainstem stroke and was given little hope of survival. However, he became one of the first patients to receive a treatment now commonly known as a blood clot buster. Bob made an incredible recovery, allowing him and Shirley to continue building a lifetime of cherished memories with their growing family.
The couple has been blessed with three daughters, one son, seven grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. In just a couple of years, their two eldest daughters will be celebrating their own 50th wedding anniversaries, continuing the family legacy of lifelong commitment.
Nebraska Family Alliance established the Nebraska Marriage Hall of Fame in 2021 to honor the institution of marriage and the men and women who have faithfully committed to each other. The Nebraska Marriage Hall of Fame encourages lifelong commitment, reiterates cultural support for the institution of marriage, and serves as a reminder that strong marriages benefit everyone.
Nominations are accepted during the month of February for couples who have been married 60 years or more. Six other Nebraska couples received honorable mention in the Nebraska Marriage Hall of Fame this spring.
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