FORTY-THREE YEARS. Three children. Three grandchildren. Three seems the focus number today, the date I married Randy 43 years ago.
It hardly seems possible that so many years, so many decades, have passed since the two of us exchanged vows at St. John’s Lutheran Church in my hometown of Vesta. On the Saturday afternoon of Minnesota’s 1982 weekend fishing opener, we gathered with family and friends in the church on the edge of town a half mile from my childhood family farm.
In hindsight, May was not the best month to choose for a wedding, especially when your dad and most of your paternal relatives are farmers. My parents never said a word about our chosen date of May 8. But my florist sister protested. That was Mother’s Day weekend and she firmly stated that she would not attend our wedding. So we changed the date to a week later. I should have called her bluff.
That aside, our May 15 wedding went on during spring planting season. Dad managed to take time away from the tractor to grill food for the groom’s dinner, to walk me down the aisle and to celebrate afterwards at the Vesta Community Hall. Some farmers missed our wedding to plant corn. And at least one angler opted to go fishing. Choices.
Life is all about choices. Randy and I chose to marry each other. And for that I am thankful. We’ve made a great team, facing life’s challenges and celebrating life’s joys together. I cannot imagine going through the difficult times alone, without Randy’s steady, calming presence. His laid-back, introverted personality balances my more extroverted emotional personality. Sometimes he frustrates me as I’m sure I do him. But it works, this balance.
Our similarities of background have proven a strength in our marriage. We both grew up on crop and dairy farms in families without much money, so we’ve always agreed on finances. At a young age, we were expected to pitch in and do farm chores. As the older among many siblings, we carried more responsibilities. We worked hard. We understood that our parents were counting on us. And when we talk about picking rock, we don’t need to ask, “What are you talking about?” I will say, though, that Randy picked a whole lot more rocks in rocky Morrison County than I did from my dad’s farm fields in Redwood County. But then again, Randy never worked an off-the-farm summer job detasseling corn.
Now here we are, 43 years later, Randy still working hard—full-time as an automotive machinist even though he supposedly retired several years ago. And me still writing and doing photography. But we make a conscious choice now to put our family before jobs. Or more like I “tell” Randy he needs to take off work so we can do whatever, such as travel four hours to Madison, Wisconsin, to see our four-month-old grandson. Oh, and Everett’s parents, too.
I love how Randy supports me in my writing, even attending the many poetry readings I’ve participated in through the years. I doubt my husband ever expected that he would be marrying a poet. Next week, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, I’m joining four other poets at Books on Central in Faribault to read poetry. Randy will be there in the chairs listening. I just need to “tell” him.
And I need to tell him this also. Happy 43rd anniversary, Randy! I love you! Thank you for being my partner in life.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
These are my favorite type of stories – about love, how it began, how it’s sustained, how partners and teammates support each other! Happy 43rd Anniversary Audrey and Randy!! ❤️❤️
Congrats on your poetry reading Audrey, that sounds like a wonderful event.
Thank you for your wishes, Rose. Randy and I were actually friends before we dated.
The poetry reading will focus on Becky Boling, a Northfield poet who recently had her first poetry anthology published. I reviewed it here about a month ago. She invited several other poets, including me, to read after her.
such a sweet and loving and celebratory post, Audrey. happy, happy anniversary to both you and randy and here’s to many more years together, filled with love and balance and acceptance of each other for each other exactly as you are.
like you, I love that first picture the best. the two of you, emerging from the church, fresh faced and lovely. having entered the church as two individuals with separate lives, leaving, now joined as one, with your whole married life ahead of you, the ups and downs, determined in love and spirit to see out your days together. not knowing the legacy of the beautiful family you would create. ❤
Beth, your heartfelt comment made me emotional, in a good way. What we didn’t know when we began this marriage journey…
Congratulations Audrey – and to Randy! The Vesta Hall – 1982? Wooo! That is recent (well comparatively) I was working at a Wing Headquarters and was recently assigned to go aboard ship! 1983 would see me in Beruit! Long way from San Diego, California. Fair winds and following seas!
Thank you, Gunny. I always appreciate hearing from you.
Congratulations!
Thank you, Michael.
Congratulations! Randy, poetry, and grandkids – you’ve got it all. 😃
Thank you. And, yes, so thankful to have all three of those and more.
Congratulations! God bless!
Hope the photographer got a bonus, 2 of the best wedding photos ever! Love the 80s glasses and I think male facial hair is back….again.
Gotta love those BIG 80s glasses, which seem to be back in style. Shoulda kept the frame. I’ve only seen Randy once without a mustache and beard and that was shortly after we were married. He looks best with facial hair. When he was younger, Randy’s beard was red and I loved the hue. Our son has the same red tint to his facial hair and I love it.
Happy anniversary week! Woo hoo! Thank you for the example you are setting!
Thank you for your wishes, dear friend.
❤️❤️
Love your love story! Beautiful couple!
Thank you, Lori, and welcome to Minnesota Prairie Roots. I’m happy to have you here.