Boise couple to celebrate 75 years of marriage

Clyde and Maxine Stroup have known each other since childhood.

Sometimes, in class, she would drop her pencil (not quite on accident) because she knew he would always come to pick it up for her. When they were teenagers, he ran a paper route, and would bring her the paper. They were set up on a blind date in high school, and have been together ever since. Marriage, for them, felt inevitable, Maxine said.

Now, 75 years after they gave their wedding vows, they’re celebrating another anniversary, she said.

“It’s been a very happy marriage,” said Maxine.

Maxine, 93, and Clyde, 96, grew up in Redlands, California. Maxine’s first job was packaging oranges for $3 a day, and Clyde was a chauffeur. But shortly after they were married and had their first baby, Clyde was drafted into the service. He then worked in the Navy for 30 years.

The couple moved around the country throughout their life: sometimes taking trips across the country for six months at a time, she said. They have had two children, Barry and Brenda. When their son moved to Boise, they moved to the Treasure Valley too. Now they’re set up at Morningstar and plan to spend the rest of their lives here.

Barry, following in his parents’ footsteps, has been married for 47 years, in a relationship that started the way his parents’ did: on a blind date, set up by Maxine.

“She always says she got to chose her daughter-in-law,” he said.

The Stroups all agree the key to a good marriage is good living, compromise and respect.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 7:35 PM with the headline "Boise couple to celebrate 75 years of marriage."