Married For 68 Years, This Husband Does This Simple Sweet Thing For His Wife Every Night

CBS News’s Steve Hartman went “On the Road” recently to get relationship advice from a South Dakota couple who’ve been married for 68 years. Their simple nightly ritual is at least one secret to their very long and happy marriage! Don, 94, and 93-year-old Marilyn Barnett of Sioux Falls say that their success is as simple as a song!

Before bed each night, Don serenades his beautiful wife. Don told Steve that he always asks Marilyn if she wants a song, and she unfailingly says, “Sure.” According to the couple’s son, Doug, they’ve been keeping this routine for about 50 years.

The Couple Benefited Greatly By His Singing

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Don shared what he’s learned along the way regarding their harmonious habit, “And I discovered a couple of things. First of all, it pleased her. And secondly, it calmed us. And if we had a disagreement or something before, it was gone by the time we went to sleep.”

For Marilyn’s part, she said, “I just look forward to it. And he has a beautiful voice.”

Doug told Steve that his parents never miss their romantic ritual—whether they’re at home, in a hotel room, or even in a hospital. When Marilyn fell and broke her hip in January, they remained consistent. Don was beside Marilyn singing before bed. What beautiful devotion they share for one another!

Volumes have been written about the secrets of building and maintaining a healthy, vibrant marriage, but Don and Marilyn have found their special ingredient without a lot of work and research. Don stated, “It's very simple. It's very easy to do.”

They Couldn’t Go to Sleep Without Singing

And while it may be simple, their shared nightly song is tremendously important to this admirable couple. Marilyn added, “We wouldn't go to sleep without that.”

Don and Marilyn provide a beautiful example of marriage for their friends, family, and community. Now, their story impacts many more. Commenters were inspired by their story, user@brookewillerton8779 writing, “Wonderful people. Too bad all marriages in the world can't be like this. I can only hope to live and be married half as long as they have. That is great. What good examples they are to everyone.and their union has been a blessing.”

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“Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” Song-of-Solomon 8:7

WATCH: Married For 68 Years, This Husband Does This Simple Sweet Thing For His Wife Every Night

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h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/CBS Evening News

Hally is a freelance writer, blogger, and mental health advocate. A former school counselor, Hally works for a nonprofit that distributes tax dollars to mental health and prevention education providers that serve her county's kids and families. She's a contributor to a devotional and two essay collectives, and she shares resources and wisdom regarding parenting teens, mental health, faith, adoption, and more at https://www.hallyjwells.com where she strives to "Dig Deep and Reach High." She and her husband have three adult children and one rascally beagle pup. Hally loves travel, her book club sisters, personality tests, and a great glass of iced tea.