While many will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with chocolates and red roses, one Pocatello couple has their eyes on a more important occasion four days later.

Feb. 18 will be a special day for Richard “Dick” and Donna Sagness as they celebrate 70 years since they first tied the knot and began a life of teamwork, humor and love.

The pair, who have made Pocatello their home, were high school sweethearts in Cherokee, Iowa, and knew early on they were each other’s soulmates. They married in 1956 when Donna was still finishing her senior year of high school and Dick had just started the first of three years he spent serving in the Army.

“We decided we wanted to get married and we did,” Donna, 88, laughed, adding their parents were fine with the quick union, though they did have to wed in South Dakota to avoid local newspapers from announcing their marriage and to prevent their school from finding out.

“We were together in high school. She was the love of my life then and she is the love of my life now,” said Dick, 89.

Their adventures began early and have never stopped. Once, when they were dating in high school, they drove 65 miles out of Cherokee to the resort area of Okoboji to satisfy a craving for the vacation spot’s caramel corn.

That night they rode the Ferris wheel — despite Dick being afraid of heights — took the wrong turn on the way home and nearly got lost, something they never admitted to their parents.

“We had a lot of laughs that night,” Donna said.

Over the years, the couple lived in several states including Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and South Dakota before eventually settling in Idaho. Along the way they had three daughters, all of whom are now married — Debbi Van Vooren, Becky Hardy and Beth Higbee.

While Donna raised their children, Dick worked, studied and earned a doctorate in science education from Ohio State University, which their daughters remember as being a team effort.

“Mom typed his papers for college and his doctoral dissertation,” Higbee said. “And that was back when the typewriters weren’t forgiving.”

Van Vooren said the process of writing a dissertation requires a lot of editing and changes along the way.

“My mom did the whole thing and that has always stuck with me because I remember in the meantime she’s raising three girls while (Dad) is working and getting his PhD,” Van Vooren said. “I’ve always just been really impressed thinking about the enormity of that, with my mom and dad and how they had to work together so closely to get that all accomplished over quite a long period of time…their teamwork is incredible.”

Talking about Donna’s efforts, Dick added, “She was an absolute jewel and she supported me like a pro.”

Donna said she never had much interest in attending college and worked as an elementary school secretary in South Dakota for about five years before they moved to Pocatello in 1979. Once in the Gem State she put her secretarial skills to work at Idaho State University and ISU Vocational Tech.

Dick became dean of the College of Education at ISU that same year, and in the early 1980s the pair also operated a Baskin-Robbins near Deleta Skating on Yellowstone Avenue in Pocatello.

After Dick retired he went on to become a Rotary district governor, serve on the local chamber of commerce board and serve as the official substitute in the Idaho State Senate for District 30 Senator Edgar Malepeai during the 2009 legislative session.

Though both have since retired they are still active in the community, with Dick involved in Rotary Club and Donna a member of the ISU Women’s Club and her local P.E.O. Chapter. She also plays bridge with several of her friends, and both have an affinity for golfing.

When asked what the secret is to a long marriage, they both agreed there wasn’t much they didn’t agree on and even when they bicker, they’re quick to forgive afterward.

“We’ve always been that way,” Donna said. “We’ve always agreed on just about everything.”

Higbee agreed, sharing that she’s noticed her parents have always had each other’s backs.

“No matter what happens, whether it’s fun or something horrible…when my other sister said they’re a team, they are,” Higbee said. “They are there to support each other or if something happens to somebody else, they’re very caring and help other people out. They have been a tremendous example to us kids.”

Hardy explained that after watching her parents over the years, their ability to enjoy life together through thick and thin has made a lasting impact on her own outlook on life.

“The cool thing about them is that they also have fun together,” Hardy said. “I know stories of when they were first married and didn’t have an extra cent to spare. Their entertainment was to play cards and so they did that every evening. And all my life they’ve played card games and board games and all kinds of things. They’ve passed that down to the kids and the grandkids. So I guess not only working together to make a family but playing together as well. And they both have a pretty good sense of humor, especially my dad in particular.”

For past anniversaries they have gone on cruises with family. For their 65th they received a “65 Reasons We Love You” wooden plaque from their family.

Engraved on it are personal sentiments and inside jokes such as “Special grandkid names” and “Badlands photo stops in 100 degree heat” and “Put your mind to it and do it, do it, do it!” It hangs above their dining table where they can see it every day.

To honor their parents’ milestone of 70 years, their daughters are hosting a celebration Feb. 21 at Juniper Hills Country Club from 1-3 p.m. Friends, family and community members are invited to attend.

In addition to their three daughters, they have been blessed with a budding family. This includes their sons-in-law — Van Vooren’s husband Wes, Hardy’s husband Matt and Higbee’s husband Terry. Grandchildren include Allison Molitor and her husband Anthony, Amber Van Vooren, Jayme Wier and her husband Tim, Jeff Hardy, Scott Hardy and his wife Selena, Doug Hardy and his wife Sarah, Ashlynn Higbee and Parker Higbee. Great-grandchildren include Kari Wier, Anna Wier, Gwenyth Molitor, Tucker Hardy, Brandon Wier, Noelle Molitor, Adelynn Hardy, Arbor Hardy, Kelsey Wier, Isabella Hardy, Daxter Hardy and Rachel Wier.