Love stories: Happy, fortunate life together

When Jack and Margaret Johnson met in 1940, they were at a dance, but not with each other.

“I was there with another gal, and she was with an acquaintance of mine,” Jack recalled, “She was flirting with me.”

“Oh, I was not,” said Margaret, 86.

However it began, it has been long-lasting.

“People figured it wouldn’t last, but we’ve outlasted them all,” said Jack, 84. “I was kind of a nitwit back then, and she was good.” By nitwit, Jack might have been referring to the fact that some people considered him a ladies’ man.

“He had a lot of girlfriends,” said Margaret.

“Oh, I did not,” replied Jack.

After their initial meeting, the relationship progressed. “She grew on me,” said Jack. Margaret thinks it was her mother’s cooking that attracted him while she was attracted to his sense of humor.

A marriage proposal was inevitable.

“I can’t even remember how he proposed,” Margaret said. “It was just an automatic thing. It was a given that we would be married.”

They wed on Sept. 4, 1942 at Margaret’s mother’s house in Spokane Valley.

Jack was in the Army Air Corps, and he spent 20 more years in uniform. He flew 29 missions over Korea. After leaving the service he worked for Washington’s state parks system. Margaret stayed at home, raising their three children. “She’s been an awful good wife and mother, very able and intelligent. She took care of everything,” Jack said.

They inherited Margaret’s family home in the 1960s that they still own today, and they settled into wedded bliss.

“Life was pretty serious in our days. We always had nice get-togethers,” Margaret said. “Times were simple. There have been no big hurdles. We’ve been fortunate.”

They understood each other, and their disagreements never lasted long as they were firm believers of “never go to bed angry.”

Jack enjoyed flying and, even though Margaret did not like the “paper airplane,” he bought a 1946 Commonwealth Sky Ranger. “When I was buying it, I called her and asked, ‘Do you object?’ She asked, ‘Would it do me any good?’ and I said, ‘Probably not.’ ”

She tolerated the plane because she knew he loved it.

Together they walked, rode bikes, had picnics, spent time at the lake and went camping. Once they were chased off the Sullivan Lake campground at 3 a.m. by what might have been a family of hungry bears, an event fondly recalled by Margaret as a memorable episode in their young lives.

For the past six years Jack has resided at Spokane Valley Good Samaritan. Margaret visits every day and, as always, they enjoy each other’s company.

Jack wore a brightly colored shirt and sat in a wheelchair while Margaret sat close to him. “I’ve had a wonderful life,” she said. Jack concurred, “Our life has been free of disease and accidents. Getting laid up has been the worst thing but we’re still plugging along. I’m doing the best I can, trying to be healthy and happy. We’ve always weathered the storm, and we’ll do that now.”

Their lifetime ideals help them get by. They include: Look on the bright side of life; listen and try to understand one another; and support each other.

As they talk, their words flow in agreement.

“If you love one another enough, you can overcome anything,” he said.

“He supported me, he was always there when I needed him,” she said.

“She raised our kids well … He was a great father … I’m proud of her. If I had all of this to do over, I wouldn’t change a thing.”