Dorthey Johnson was 12 or 13 years old when she met the man she would marry. She and Don Thompson were both students at what was then North Everett School.
The two junior high students got on well together. They didn’t date at that time but became friends. They would meet at games or Don would come by Dorthey’s house.
The couple had the same interests and both came from strong family backgrounds.
“We seemed to hit it off,” Dorthey said. “He was always fun and had a smile.”
After high school, Don went into the Marine Corps. When he returned after two years, he headed for junior college to get his GED. He graduated the same year as Dorthey, 1947.
One Saturday afternoon when the couple was uptown for something, they stopped in at Burnett Brothers Jewelers and picked out Dorthey’s engagement ring. She was 17. A few months later, she was a married woman.
Don and Dorthey Thompson of Everett will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today.
They were married April 3, 1948, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Everett.
The couple have two children and two grandchildren.
Dorthey and Don continued to live in Everett after they were married. Don became an upholsterer and then went to work at the old Providence Hospital as a carpenter. He retired from that job.
Dorthey was a homemaker throughout their 60 years of marriage, most of which have been great without any major problems, she said.
Their songs were “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and “Always,” which they had sung at their wedding.
Dorthey advises those people starting out on in marriage to be a friend to your partner and always be able to laugh. She and Don have lived by those principles throughout their union.
Of his wife, Don says it’s hard to train another one. Dorthey says the same about her husband. The couple is still active in Trinity Lutheran Church and Don likes to go fishing with their son and grandson.
Dorthey says that it is amazing to her how fast the 60 years have gone by.
“And how,” she said.
She’s has always had a good, trustworthy friend in her husband whose word is always good.
“I can’t imagine being without him all these years,” Dorthey said. “He’s always been my rock.”
For information on Love Story and free Celebration announcements in The Herald, please contact Christina Harper at 425-339-3491 or email harper@heraldnet.com.
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