True love conquers most; commitment & kindness cover the rest W
in Bethel Assembly of God Church In 1932, I was born in May at my past 55 years, we have learned to depend upon the Lord’s promises in Jackson, Calif., and in walked folks’ farm home near Craigmont. to care for us and meet our needs. this band of Indians. In the middle In those days the doctor came to of this group of nine people was the the house for the birth. Leo’s moth- He has been faithful to do that. Our love has only grown deeper most beautiful girl I had ever seen. er came to help Dr. Collins with I asked my friend who she was. He for God and for one another as we my birth, bringing her two little told me her name was Sandi Heffaced trials together. children along; so Leo was there fington, who lived up next to the One thing we have learned the day I was born. Miwok reservation. I KNEW this about marriage is to trust God, Leo had a younger sister and “One is never prepared for the was the girl of my future. She was trust each other, pray for and care brother. I had an older brother loss of their soul mate; these are in eighth grade, and I was in ninth. for each other’s needs and make and younger sister. My brother my words for him: When I got back home that night, decisions together. and Leo’s sister liked each other, The first thoughts each morning, I told my sister to tell my current We have been blessed with a and Leo and I liked each other, so Instant tears of any memory, girlfriend she needed to kick me to good family, and now have three the four of us, as little children Many hours of thoughts at the the curb. I always felt it was better great-great-grandchildren. “played house” together in Leo’s end of each day, for the girl to be seen getting rid of We are truly grateful for the dad’s barn. One day when I was 5 You are always on my mind.” the boyfriend than the boy dumpmany loving years we have had and Leo was 8, he asked if I would ing the girl. To all who opened your hearts marry him when we grew up. I told together, which began when we My friend’s house was 50 miles were little children. Now, we look to share your heartfelt stories and him I would. We got to spend quite from my home. As I could not forward to celebrating our 70th pictures this Valentine’s month, a bit of our childhoods together. drive yet, I would try to get my anniversary Feb. 24. thank you. After a few years apart, when he — Alta Hill, Lewiston parents to take me there every Our lineup starts with a Lewiston was 21 and I was 18, we saw each weekend. I got along great with couple who will celebrate their 70th other at a dance, and he took me Sandi’s brothers and sisters. Her The next two submissions were wedding anniversary this month. home. That night, he again asked if mom wasn’t too sure about this shared by a couple who secretly I would marry him. Again, I said I would. So two and a half months lat- sent in separate stories in the hopes interloping white boy. Sandi and I started writing leter, we were married in a small cer- of surprising one another, accordters to one another. We wrote each ing to their daughter, Dovie Willey. emony with eight family members other almost every day. We still and three babies in attendance, plus have every letter we ever wrote to the pastor. ‘I knew I was going to marry each other while in school. At first, Leo was employed as an Indian maiden’ I graduated in 1971 and she a butcher in Craigmont, and then When I was a small boy, my in 1972. As no one in my family held various jobs over the followdad brought home a record titled, had ever been drafted, I enlisted ing 10 years until he began work“Don’t Go Near the Indians,” by during the Vietnam war. I was going for the State of Idaho TransRex Allen. Being the young romaning in the service in 1973 and was portation Department. He worked tic, when I heard that song, I knew scheduled to go to Southeast Asia there for 30 years until retirement. I was going to marry an Indian after training, so we decided to get Our first 15 years were growmaiden. The song just struck a married on Feb. 24, 1973. We have ing up years, learning how to live heart chord in me for some reason. every letter we wrote each other together. They were lean years, Then, 53 years ago, I was visiting while I was overseas, also. financially, with many ups and a friend who had moved into the How do we keep our relationdowns. But our love for one anothCalifornia foothills. We were sitting ship vibrant? First, we firmly beer never wavered, even though we had a lot of things to learn about a successful marriage. In 1966, we were living along Leo and Alta Hill Highway 12 by the Lochsa River in a state house. We were across the He was there from the very beginning river from the Three Rivers Resort, where there was a little counDuring the Great Depression of 1929, Leo was born in California on try Sunday school. A missionary March 31. His parents soon moved from Lewiston came once a month to share God’s word from the Bible. to Idaho, near where my parents lived. During those years, families During that time, we trusted Jesus Christ to be our savior and Lord. were there for each other, so our Through many challenging expetwo families became friends and riences and health problems these spent a lot of time together. Sandi and David Willey, then and now. G O L D E N T I M E S T U E S D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 2 , 2 0 2 1 10 hen we put out the call for love stories, this region’s romantics answered in a big way. Stories ranged from the funny to the heart-rending — including these poignant lines from one anonymous reader:
lieve in treating each other as the Bible dictates. We believe in Jesus Christ and what the Bible tells you on how to live your life. God tells you to love your spouse as Christ loved the church — He died for the Church (us). We have and still do, put the other first in all that we do and think. Something as simple as putting toothpaste on the other’s toothbrush. Sandi blessed me with two beautiful daughters. I look at and feel about Sandi as I did the first time she walked into the Bethel church. We still thoroughly enjoy each other’s company more than being with anyone else. Nothing and no one comes before my wife, except God. I will love her until God calls me home. — David Willey, Lewiston
He was her ‘handsome, blue-eyed, blond-haired knight’ God truly answered my prayer at an early age. At the age of 14, my handsome, blue-eyed, blondhaired knight came into my life. I asked God for a husband that was a lot of fun and didn’t work on cars (as my dad worked on cars a lot!). I’m thankful God picked the best man for me. It wasn’t by chance that Dave’s best friend moved to Jackson, Calif., and started attending my church; it was all in God’s plan. Even though Dave was 50 miles away, that didn’t separate us. We wrote letters daily to express our love for each other. After 52 years of knowing one another, we still have our treasured letters, a chest and a box full! During our high school years, Dave, even with being on the swim team, football team and having a part time job, would burn up the road in his ’64 Impala from Sacramento to Jackson regularly to see me. A distance of more than 50 miles one way, led to him putting more than 100,000 miles on his car in one year. Even if only for just 30 minutes, he would surprise me during lunch and then drive back for football practice. T U E S D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 2 , 2 0 2 1
He still loves to surprise me! On Feb. 24, 1973, we were married at the church we met in, and God has always been the center of our relationship and has blessed us with two beautiful daughters. Each year, we love planning a special time together on our anniversary, whether it’s getting away for a few days or a week. Putting one another first and showing unconditional love has been a blessing in our marriage. Dave’s truly a romantic. Many years ago, he surprised me with personalized plates for our car, with our anniversary date. Would he ever forget? Not on your life! I look forward to spending many more years together with my best friend. — Sandi Willey, Lewiston
doing that. I don’t think that I could treat her in this manner. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. The years rolled by at a fast pace, and we pretty much lost contact. In 1996, I visited family and friends here in Lewiston. I thought it would be a good idea to stop by Darlene’s business, the Anytime Tavern and Grill, and say hello. She was out of town, so I left a note with my
address and phone number. When I returned home, in California, I was pleased to find a letter from Darlene waiting for me. We exchanged letters, and in January 1997, I made a trip back to Lewiston. We had a few dates and have been together ever since. We recently celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. Not too bad for a couple of Orchards kids. — John Williams, Lewiston
Darlene Leachman and John Williams are shown as children growing up in the Orchards (below) and after they rekindled their friendship (above).
Vickie and Doug Mayer
‘A couple of Orchards kids’ find each other again In 1942, my family moved from Grangeville to the Lewiston Orchards. The Leachman family lived across the street. Darlene, the youngest of the Leachman family, and I became playmates. She says that I would play with her until my friend Joe Keatts arrived. She says that Joe and I would take off leaving her behind. I don’t remember
A clear case of ‘opposites attract’ Doug was 20 and from the small town of Genesee. He was from a large family of five siblings, 11 aunts, uncles and hundreds of cousins. He was in construction and was a devout Catholic, having gone through Catholic school. Vickie, on the other hand, was 16 and was born and raised in San Diego. She had one older sister and brother, and her parents were raised as only children, thus no aunts, uncles or cousins. Vickie was in high school and had her sights set on working at the San Diego Zoo when she graduated. She was Southern Baptist. So, it seems it would be unusual for these two opposites to meet and be attracted to each other. Fate would have it another way. In 1968, Vickie traveled with her
GOLDEN TIMES
See LOVE STORIES, Page 12 11
