Valentine sweethearts: Couple reflects on 60 years of love and life

Sixty years ago this September, Kathleen and Jim Ott got married in a small church in Ryegate, Montana.

Central Montana is home to the both of them. The pair met in their freshman year of high school in 1957 after they both came from small country schools in Central Montana, uniting in high school as two of 12 in their entire class. Ryegate is a small town — today the population is 283 — northwest of Billings.

They had a reception after the wedding, socializing with hors d'oeuvres and celebrating with family and friends. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a dance party — the reception hall was carpeted. But the night started a lifetime of opportunity to dance for the two.

“He’s my right hand man, and he’s done a wonderful job,” Kathleen said.

They have celebrated quite a few Valentine's Days in their time, Jim said. This year, Jim plans on picking Kathleen up from her assisted living community in Kalispell and taking her home for dinner, probably with some children and grandchildren in attendance. Kathleen used to be the cook of the family, she said, but Jim has done a pretty good job since she stopped.

“He is very faithful,” Kathleen said when asked what she loves about him. Faithfulness and trust, according to Kathleen, is essential to a lasting relationship.

“She’s always somebody I can rely on,” Jim said. He acknowledged that there will always be bad days, but you just have to push through them and never give up.

Recalling the beginning of their relationship recently for a visitor, they laughed looking at each other, not remembering whether he took her to the prom their sophomore or their junior year. They laughed with each other again, not remembering how or even if Jim proposed. But on Sep. 14, 1963, the couple started their journey together officially.

Things were tight after they got married. They owned cows and chickens and would get their eggs and milk from home. Jim raised beef cattle for years, although he did have an interest in forestry at some point. Kathleen thinks he liked dealing with cows more than trees.

They have four daughters: Janine, Kimberly, Jodi and Karyn. Growing up, the couple took their children to see Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, and other sights around Montana, home to most of their family still today.

After high school, Kathleen went to school in Bozeman to train as a medical technologist. She did not finish, but she appreciated the experience to see if there were “other fish in the sea,” however, it just reinstated that Jim was the one for her.

“He got in my way,” Kathleen laughed. Jim smiled at her in response.

Jim was never much of a traveler, but he remembers going to Mt. Denali with Kathleen in Alaska — beautiful, they both remembered.

Before their move to Northwest Montana, the couple sold their ranch to a young couple. They happily anticipate another family growing up on the land.

Now approaching their 80s, life looks a bit different. They moved to the Flathead Valley in 2015 to be closer to their youngest daughter, Karyn, and her two children. The Otts now have 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, of whom they have traveled to Mexico with when daughter Karyn renewed her vows.

Kathleen was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a few years back. With Jim being her main caretaker, the family decided three years ago that it was time for Kathleen to be somewhere where she can have easy access to more help. She has been at Prestige Assisted Living in Kalispell for around three years, and Jim does not live far away.

He visits at least every Tuesday and Friday before he plays cards at the senior center. He joined the Knights of Columbus, and according to Kathleen, he “blossomed” when they moved here. Kathleen has other residents whom she enjoys spending time with, and also loves taking naps and has a plethora of gummy candy on her bedside table in case of emergencies.

“It’s just like everybody’s else's life,” she said.

Things were different back in their day, they said. Marriage especially. But they are glad they had the experience they did.

“It's certainly a different life now,” Jim said. But through time, generations, newborns, disease, surgery, moves, and more, the couple now has six decades to look back on and appreciate.

Nearly 60 years after their wedding, Jim and Kathleen sit next to each other, holding hands, smiling. Jim helps Kathleen put her jewelry on and Kathleen makes Jim laugh.

Sixty Valentine’s Days later, love lives on.

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.