Their parents weren't keen on them getting married, so Erma and Loren decided to elope. On December 30, 1945 they took off for Carson City, Nevada, where they were married in a Presbyterian parsonage. The minister's wife, daughter and grandson were their witnesses. They only had a one-night honeymoon in Reno before returning to their respective homes where they kept theft marriage a secret. When their parents found out about the wedding a month later, they "weren't all that happy" but, finally, three months after the wedding, Erma's family had a shower for them where they passed out wedding announcements to the guests in attendance.
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Throughout theft 50 years of married life they struggled along, raising eight children, theft times very difficult at first as they lived with rationed tires, gasoline, sugar, meat and shoes, something many of you reading this chapter know all about. Loren held many positions through the years: school bus driver, carpenter, contractor and, most recently, as owner of the Capital Door Sales Company. Erma worked for the National Can Company, as well as the Census Bureau; she also helped in the family business as secretary and bookkeeper.
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They lost one of their children, their dear daughter, Nancy Lea Smith, when she died in a single automobile accident in 1984, but their remaining seven children, plus their 21 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and other family members and friends honored them with a lovely 50th wedding anniversary celebration on December 30, 1995. There were 200 guests present to witness the reaffirmation of their vows. Five of their daughters and one granddaughter served as bridesmaids; two sons and two grandsons as groomsmen and the rest of their grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family members served in many ways, as wellas flower girls, musicians, vocalists, readers, guest
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