POCATELLO — This love story begins as many often do, with high school sweethearts that form a loving bond built on mutual respect, hard work and togetherness.

The ballad of Stanley and Louise Bullock has been warmly curated over their 75 years of dedicated marriage to each other and like any long-term relationship it was filled with ups and downs, hardship and prosperity.

The pair met in McCammon while they both attended high school. Stanley was a student body president and two years Louise’s senior, the couple sharing many interests including a mutual appreciation for music. Stanley played the drums and Louise performed on the saxophone, the duo performing in a five-piece orchestra for years alongside one another.

“We had classes together in school,” Louise said. “We were in the Glee Club. We were in the band and did a lot of activities and things. We were in the same classes and I guess we just kind of gradually got closer to each other.”

Part of their connection was a similarity in morals and values along with a general level of respect, allowing their budding relationship to blossom into something beautiful and everlasting.

Stanley patiently waited for Louise to graduate high school after which they were married at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Idaho Falls, beginning what would be the first of countless decades as best friends and lovers.

“He worked for the railroad and he traveled a lot,” Louise said. “But everywhere he went, I went. We took our little kids with us when we had to. We even lived for two years without any electricity. I had three little kids, but we made it work.”

Even through the tough years, their love endured and there were many positive and memorable moments that strengthened their bond, especially with their children. As many parents do, they tried to be intentional with their time together and support and raise them in an environment that fostered their wellbeing.

“We’re proud of our family,” Louise said. “We have one daughter and four sons. We’ve tried to be involved if it was sports, music, whatever. We tried to be there to support them.”

Louise continued, “Our oldest son was playing football and (Stanley) was working a lot of afternoon shifts. He couldn’t go to a lot of ballgames. But (our son) said he knew when his dad got there because they had a little saying between the two of them. When he heard ‘attaboy, Luther’ he knew his dad was there. It was a saying in our family that let our kids know we were behind them all the way.”

That consistent aspect of togetherness was a strong foundation that the Bullocks built their livelihoods upon as their family grew over the years.

“We had a little acreage, and we had some cows and chickens and pigs,” Louise said. “We had a big garden and raised some berries. We self-sustained our family, but our kids helped us with it. It was part of their project (as well) to be able to work together as a family to do these things.”

The couple also ensured to make time to travel together, spending time touring Peru when they visited the stunning South American continent to pick up their son who had just recently completed a mission in the area.

“We’ve taken a lot of trips together,” Louise said. “We’ve been to Peru. We’ve been clear across the United States, twice or so. We’ve been to Hawaii. Everywhere we went we went together.”

As the years came and went, the Bullocks service to everyone around them continued and their thoughts were always focused on their children, grandchildren and those they cared deeply for. The Bullocks live together at Brookdale Senior Living Facility in Pocatello.

“They moved us, our kids, because we got to where we couldn’t take care of ourselves,” Louise said. “I’ve told them time and time again; I don’t want to be a burden on you kids. Our oldest son said, mom, (you are) not a burden. This is payback time for all you’ve done for us.”

During their continual time together, the Bullocks have overcome many health risks like blood clots and cancer scares, enduring and living the best they can in their twilight years. Even in their 90s the couple wants to continue to be of service to their fellow man and set a positive example for all who enter their life.

“It really isn’t about us, it’s about us being involved in helping others who need help,” Stanley said. “We’ve been involved in things most of our lives that have something to do with helping others improve themselves, and still are. We try to be an example here (at the senior living facility), to those of our resident friends and think we are to quite a few of them.”

With so many years experiencing the fullness of what life has to offer, the Bullocks have a more intimate understanding of what the meaning of life truly is. They have earned their peace, paid it forward but still have a fervor for life to keep setting an example for generations to come.

“We very well earned where we’re at right now,” Stanley said. “We hope to enjoy our senior living here for a few more years. We’re getting close to the 100 (year) mark but that doesn’t really mean that much. Age doesn’t really mean that much. Whether you’re two years younger than one another, ten years older or whatever. You are melded into one. You’ve got to be one (in) everything.”

Stanley continued, “You may be right, or you may be wrong and that applies to each of us. We need to realize that everything is not going to be handed to us on a silver platter when we need to earn and develop what we inherit.”

For the Bullocks, the key to a successful and loving marriage is a diligent effort in service to everyone around you combined with a commitment to togetherness, to use the bonds of love as an immoveable foundation to create a union that is 75 years strong.