Woman Married 82 Years Has a Very Special Disney-Themed 100th Birthday Party

As of October 2024, Elton and Betty Denner have been married for 82 years. Soon after, Betty turned 100, and their family gave her an amazing Disney-themed 100th birthday party. The two had a fantastic time dressing up and enjoying time with each other and other family members.

Elton and Betty met during a dance at Santa Ana High School in California and began dating soon after. During their courtship, they would dance at the Palladium in Los Angeles to the music of Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and others.

World War II Brought Challenges

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World War II brought extra challenges when Elton enlisted in the Army Air Corps Pilot training program in 1943. The two married in October 1942, right before he left. Once the war was over, the two moved to Corona del Mar, California, and started a family, having two daughters and a son.

Elton became an architectural draftsman and started his own business. Betty was mainly a stay-at-home mom who worked in medical offices and a junior high cafeteria. Once they retired in 1980, the couple moved to Oregon, then back to California to be near family, and then back to Newberg, OR.

The two now have 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. “We’ve been blessed in countless ways,” Betty shared with PEOPLE.

They Celebrated With a Four Day Disney Event

For Betty’s 100th birthday, the family organized a four-day Disney-themed event. The pair can no longer go to the beloved amusement park, so the family brought a little of it to them. The best part of the party was Elton’s dancing.

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“My great-grandpa wanted to dance with her on her birthday,” their great-granddaughter Macey shared with PEOPLE. “They were actually able to find a sort of dancing/standing walker in order to allow him to dance to one of their favorite songs, 'Moonlight Serenade' by Glenn Miller.”

Elton dressed up as Prince Charming, Betty as Cinderella, and others dressed up as other Disney characters, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Elton surprised his wife of 82 years with a dance using his special walker. 

WATCH: Couple Married 82 Years Dancing at Birthday Party

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Married 82 Years, They Have Simple Advice On Making It

You might be wondering what their secret is. “Their advice for a loving relationship is simple: patience. Don’t win an argument, do things together and with each other and the Lord,” Macey explains. “Most people don’t even have a chance to live for 82 years, and they’ve had a chance to be married for that long, so it’s crazy.”

Macey recently got married herself, and Elton and Betty’s love has inspired her. “I've learned the importance of not taking life too seriously, always finding time to dance and laugh together, valuing family as the most precious gift we have and practicing patience with each other,” their great-granddaughter shared.

We wish this couple many blessings as they enjoy these golden years together.

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“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” - Genesis 2:24

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h/t: PEOPLE

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