How did your love story begin?

I was engaged to someone else when we met. Mark’s younger sister and I became friends, and I began to spend a lot of time at their house. The more time I spent there, the more I got to know Mark. He was so funny, and I started to develop feelings for him. I quickly understood that I couldn’t continue my engagement when I had feelings for someone else. So I broke up with the fiancée, and two weeks later asked Mark on a date. We went on a hike in the beautiful Black Hills and had a picnic.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

I already knew Mark was going to propose as we were already in planning mode. But he had arranged for the gates to remain open at a Norwegian church in Rapid City, the Stav Kirke. It was late at night, and dark. He’d hidden the ring in a hole in the stone wall, and walked me all around the church to discuss wedding plans. There was a cat sitting on the wall, and he didn’t want to let us stay there without lots of “loves.” So he became a part of the proposal.

What would you do with $20,000?

Our kids have both “flown the coop” recently, and we are figuring life out as empty nesters. We decided to sell the house we’ve lived in for 22 years, and move back to the Black Hills of South Dakota, where we met and fell in love. The $20,000 would go a long way to help us as we figure out this new chapter in our lives. Moving, career changes, and a new path forward are very expensive propositions!