August 26, 1950, is the date that Roger and Lois Mickelson tied the knot. They met the first time at a roller rink in Brandon, MN.
They started a family and moved to Silver Bay in 1955. At the time, Reserve Mining began the planned community to provide housing for its employees at the first taconite processing facility of its kind in North America.
Roger worked at the taconite plant until his retirement. Lois served as a substitute teacher while raising their kids, then taught at Mary MacDonald Elementary School full-time for 20 years. They successfully raised three children, Kevin Mickelson, Keith Mickelson, and Lori Gilbertson.
Both Mickelsons were not just active, but instrumental in the church and the community, leaving a lasting impact on Silver Bay.
Asked about the key to 75 years of marriage, Lois said, “Endurance and patience.”
Roger and Lois, both in their 90s, are not just vibrant and warmhearted, but also a beacon of positivity. Three years ago, they moved to the Edgewood Senior Living Facility in Hermantown. Roger joked, “I gave up my Buick for a walker”.
The milestone of a 75th wedding anniversary is not just rare, but a testament to the enduring love of the Mickelsons. Some reports estimate that there are only about 1,000 couples in the United States who have reached their 75th anniversary at any given time. A report from the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University states that only 0.01% of all currently married people in the U.S. have been married for 75 years or more.
Roger and Lois are a pleasant couple without major health issues. They enjoy the comfort and security that Edgewood offers. And Lois signed off saying, “We’re still going strong.”
The Northshore Journal joins the entire community in congratulating these two pioneers of Silver Bay on this special anniversary. Happy 75th.
