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ELDON -- Valentine’s Day is a day many consider to be the most romantic one of the year.

With that in mind, we spoke with some Mid-Missouri sweethearts about how they’ve made their love last a lifetime.

"I was really taken by her the first time I met her," Larry Evans said.

Larry Evans met Ventura Thompson at church and says it was love at first sight.

"I told my buddy, who was sitting beside me in church when I first saw her, I said wow, I’m going to marry that girl someday and he said, ‘you won't stand a chance with her,’" Larry said.

But a little more than four years later, in 1962, when a gallon of gas was about 28-cents and a dozen eggs went for a little more than three dimes, Larry Evans proved his friend wrong.

"I think I just asked her to marry me and I’m not even sure I got it completely out before she was saying yes," Larry said.

On July 21st 1962, in 102-degree King City, Missouri heat, Larry Evans, 20, married Ventura Thompson, 17.

"I remember his glasses sliding down off his nose and he was always having to push them back up," Ventura said.

Both Larry and Ventura said marriage hasn't always been easy.

During their nearly 50-years of matrimony, the Evans raised their seven children, mourned the loss of a child, and dealt with the everyday hardships of marriage.

"We’ve had our ups and we've had our downs, we've had our disagreements but we never left the house without saying at least I love you, even if we were unhappy with one another," Larry said.

But the couple said their trials and tribulations have only made them stronger together.

"I love him more now than I did then because of the things that we've been through," Ventura said.

To this day Ventura still makes Larry’s heart flutter.

"She has that way about her that can give me that smile, or that compliment or something and it still gives me goose bumps," Larry said.

I asked the Evans what their secret was to a successful marriage and their answers were simple.

"Love is taking care of one another," Larry said.

"Give your spouse a second chance, give them the opportunity to become more than what they are and stick with it, because it's really worth it," Ventura said.

The Evans are looking forward to celebrating their golden anniversary this summer with all of their family in Branson.

The couple also says faith has played a big role in keeping their marriage strong through their 50 years.