Lee and Barbara Huff (left) and Don and Betty Pierson celebrated 60 years of marriage on the same day.
(left) Lee and Barbara Huff were married June 17, 1956, in Decatur Church, Ill. (right) Don and Betty Pierson were married June 17, 1956, at Cedar Lake Academy, Mich.
by Barbara Huff
On June 17, 1956, two couples were married who now, sixty years later, are members and leaders of Port Charlotte Church.
Don and Betty Pierson and Lee and Barbara Huff lived in the Emmanuel Missionary College (EMC, now Andrews University) trailer court at the same time after they were first married. The couples had no significant contact with each other until they retired and moved to Port Charlotte, Fla., in 2000 where each couple’s married children and grandchildren were living.
Don Pierson and Betty Collins met in 1954 while attending EMC. They were married in the chapel at Cedar Lake Academy in Michigan. Lee Huff and Barbara Hogrewe met at Sunnydale Academy in Centralia, Mo., and were married in Decatur, Ill., in Barbara’s home church.
On June 17, 1956, two couples were married who now, sixty years later, are members and leaders of Port Charlotte Church.
Don and Betty Pierson and Lee and Barbara Huff lived in the Emmanuel Missionary College (EMC, now Andrews University) trailer court at the same time after they were first married. The couples had no significant contact with each other until they retired and moved to Port Charlotte, Fla., in 2000 where each couple’s married children and grandchildren were living.
Don Pierson and Betty Collins met in 1954 while attending EMC. They were married in the chapel at Cedar Lake Academy in Michigan. Lee Huff and Barbara Hogrewe met at Sunnydale Academy in Centralia, Mo., and were married in Decatur, Ill., in Barbara’s home church.
(left) Lee and Barbara Huff were married June 17, 1956, in Decatur Church, Ill. (right) Don and Betty Pierson were married June 17, 1956, at Cedar Lake Academy, Mich.
After college, Don worked in various business-related and treasury jobs for the denomination. His appointments included positions in Nigeria, Ghana, England, and the Ivory Coast. In 1982, he went to the retirement department of the North American Division (NAD) where he spent the last 18 years of his career. During their time in Africa, Betty served as the hospitality hostess to visitors, often cooking native foods from scratch. Besides other secretarial jobs through the years, she retired from NAD as a recording secretary.
After seminary training, the Huffs began their pastoral ministry in Michigan. They also pastored churches in Wisconsin, Texas, and Colorado. In 1986, Lee was called to serve as Minnesota Conference president. After conducting several evangelistic series in Ukraine, he became president of the Euro-Asia Division in Moscow, Russia. From this job, he retired.
While in Moscow, Barbara was an administrative assistant, concentrating on communication. In Minnesota Conference, she was communication director as well as the first women’s ministries director. For a few years after retiring in Port Charlotte, she worked as a reporter for the local daily newspaper.
Though retired, the two couples are active in Port Charlotte Church. Don has been church treasurer and a board member. Betty works in the Primary Sabbath School department. Lee is head elder and administrative board chairman. Barbara has been Sabbath School superintendent, newsletter editor, and vespers co-coordinator.
The Piersons have two children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The Huffs have one child and three grandchildren. Both couples have lost one adult child.
After seminary training, the Huffs began their pastoral ministry in Michigan. They also pastored churches in Wisconsin, Texas, and Colorado. In 1986, Lee was called to serve as Minnesota Conference president. After conducting several evangelistic series in Ukraine, he became president of the Euro-Asia Division in Moscow, Russia. From this job, he retired.
While in Moscow, Barbara was an administrative assistant, concentrating on communication. In Minnesota Conference, she was communication director as well as the first women’s ministries director. For a few years after retiring in Port Charlotte, she worked as a reporter for the local daily newspaper.
Though retired, the two couples are active in Port Charlotte Church. Don has been church treasurer and a board member. Betty works in the Primary Sabbath School department. Lee is head elder and administrative board chairman. Barbara has been Sabbath School superintendent, newsletter editor, and vespers co-coordinator.
The Piersons have two children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The Huffs have one child and three grandchildren. Both couples have lost one adult child.