Valentine’s Day often focuses on the whirlwind of new romance, but in Pemberton, the real highlight is a love that has weathered sixty-five years of seasons. Gary and Eleanor Lienke, fixtures of the community since 1973, are approaching a milestone few couples reach: their 65th wedding anniversary this coming October 28.
While this year marks their first holiday season apart—a temporary distance due to Gary nursing a leg injury–the story of how the Lienkes got here is one of hard work, family, and a healthy dose of humor.
The Lienkes are the definition of community servants. Gary, 85, spent his career in construction at Janesville Elevator for 39 years, followed by 15 years at Crystal Valley and a short stint as a bus driver for Palmer. He also served on the Pemberton Fire Department for 29 years. Eleanor, 83, was a stay-at-home mother to their five children before the couple opened the Pemberton Cafe. She later drove Palmer Bus for 23 years and served on the PFD as an EMT for over two decades.
Though they have been together for over six decades, the origin story of the Lienke’s isn’t exactly a storybook romance. Sparks didn’t immediately fly for the two lovebirds when they first met back in 1959. Eleanor was a high school junior working at the Lakeview Restaurant in Waseca while Gary was working at the gas station next door. During a particularly busy night at the restaurant, Gary offered to wash dishes; a sincere gesture, but he soon became somewhat of a nuisance to Eleanor, “He came over to help, but he just kept getting in my way,” Eleanor recalls with a laugh.
Despite the rocky start, Gary gave her a ride home that night. Though she initially turned down his requests for a date, Gary eventually won her over. Their first official date was a trip to the movies in Waseca; though the title of the feature film has long since faded from memory, the two recalled a newsreel and comedy show as a sort of predecessor. By 1960, Gary attended Eleanor’s senior prom. A year later, they were married.
Their wedding day on October 28, 1961, remains etched in their minds—a beautiful fall day at Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca. It wasn’t without drama; Eleanor accidentally slammed her hand in a door before the ceremony, and Gary arrived at the venue notoriously early. For their honeymoon, they drove north to Duluth. “We went to these real fancy restaurants with candles and extravagant meals,” Eleanor remembers. “But we were still hungry afterward! We ended up going through a drive-thru just to get some real food.”
Family has always been the anchor for the Lienkes. Their first daughter, Sharon, arrived in 1962, followed by siblings in ’63 and ’65. After an eight-year gap, they welcomed their fourth child in ’73 and their last in ’76. Today, the family has grown to include seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. “Kids always strengthen the marriage,” Eleanor says. Through lean financial years and the rocky patches that come with six decades of life, family and their faith in God have kept them grounded.
When they aren’t squabbling over things they “can’t remember the cause of,” the two have spent their lives enjoying the outdoors—camping in the Boundary Waters in everything from tents to campers. These days, Eleanor enjoys quilting while Gary focuses on woodworking and gardening, often with their dog and two cats nearby.
When asked for the secret to a 65-year bond, the couple is pragmatic. “Don’t give up on your marriage so soon,” Eleanor advises. “Keep working at it. Forgive and forget… it’s a push and pull.” Gary cherishes how Eleanor “keeps tabs” on him, while Eleanor points to Gary’s kindhearted, friendly nature as his best quality.
This Valentine’s Day, the celebration is quiet but meaningful. Eleanor has already gifted Gary an adorable plush red teddy bear, and Gary, ever the romantic, provides the roses. After 65 years, they don’t need grand gestures—just a card, a kind word, and the good memories of a life built together. “It sure doesn’t seem like 65 years,” they both declared. “It’s just been that good.”
