LOVE STORY: Jean and Maurie found their dance partners for life

Jean was born and raised in a small Idaho town. Maurie was a son of a farmer/small businessman who had moved the family around in southern Idaho. While at a fraternity dance at the University of Idaho, Maurie spotted Jean across the dance floor, liked what he saw, and asked her to dance.

To get conversation started with this beautiful reserved young woman, Maurie asked, "So where are you from?"

"Glenns Ferry," she says.

"No kidding, so am I," he said.

This was too much for Jean. "Listen buster, I was born and raised in that town, and you are not from Glenns Ferry."

Maurie had a little explaining to do. "Oh, well, I'm saying I'm from there, because my parents recently moved there to start a new business - I've been there on holidays, that's all. My folks are the Johnsons."

Jean remembered the name Johnson. She thought back to her first day on the job at Hansen's Cafe in Glenns Ferry. She was so nervous, she had served Mrs. Johnson, the new lady in town, a banana split with no banana in it. She realized then that Mrs. Johnson was Maurie's mother.

Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, they had a laugh over it and went on to dance many dances together, and eventually married, happily together for 64 years. The year was 1942, and Jean Anderberg and Maurie Johnson were my mom and dad.

Kathryn Etcheverria

Carson City