On June 25, 1942, Kent Stilson married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Humphrey. Then, 75 years later on Saturday, June 24, their family honored them with a celebration commemorating this occasion.
Both Kent and Ruth grew up in Orangeville and attended school together there. After graduation, Kent worked up on the Wasatch Front but came back home to marry his sweetheart. At the time, they didn’t have a car so they borrowed Uncle Harold Bell’s car and with Kent’s parents, Lester and Velma Stilson, started for Manti to be sealed in the temple. The car broke down so they spent the night before their wedding repairing it so they could continue on. When they reached the temple, they entered by themselves and the marriage was witnessed by temple ordinance workers.
Married when Kent was 19 and Ruth just shy of 18, the Stilsons are parents of five children, Royce, Ken (deceased), Louis, Valene and Camille. They are also proud of 26 grandchildren, 98 great-grandchildren (over 100 with their blended families) and one great-great-grandchild. Today, at ages 94 and 93, they have accomplished quite a remarkable feat: 75 years of marriage.
