Albany couple will celebrate diamond anniversary Saturday

After almost 75 years of marriage, Erma and Erman Johnston are still going strong.

“I love him more now then I did 75 years ago,” Erma said.

Both native to Albany, they met when they were young. Erman, now 96, was a delivery truck driver who would pass by the junior high about the time Erma, now 93, would get out for the day. He would drive her home from school. They went together for six years before they were married. Erma received her engagement ring as a Christmas gift one year.

On Aug. 23, 1933, the couple was married in the Interdenominational Church at Fourth and Ferry in downtown Albany.

Many things have changed since then. Erman remembers when the price of gas was $0.15 a gallon. He also remembers living on Geary Street before it was paved. He helped pave it. Erma, who worked for the Albany School District, helped start Calapooia Middle School.

“There has been a complete change,” Erman said.

They’ve traveled together to many places all around the world, including Europe, Mexico and Canada. They have also circled the United States with a group from Monroe. The trip took them about 21/2 months and they were able to see most of the 48 continental states.

For 25 years of their lives they wintered in Yuma, Ariz., but in 2000 they stopped doing that because there were too many people and too much traffic.

During their travels Erman, a rock hound, collected rocks, several of which are displayed throughout the house. The garage is full of them, too.

“We are known as the rock grandma and grandpa,” Erma said. “Our grandkids come over and play with the rocks we have sitting around.”

Erma enjoys knitting and Japanese stitchery. Her work is displayed around the house as well.

The couple lives at the Mennonite Home — they were among the first people to move in, and will mark 28 years there in October.

They do everything and go everywhere together. They even have their special routines.

“I get a kiss every morning and every night and even in between,” Erma said.

They even think alike. When they go out to eat they order the same things without realizing it.

Now they are just enjoying life and being with each other.

They have three sons: Ken and wife Betty, Gary and wife Janet, and Steve and wife Darlynn; nine grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

They will celebrate their anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Lakeside Center in the Mennonite Village. Friends and relatives are invited, but the couple requests no gifts.