90-year-olds tie the knot at retirement home

ALBERT LEA — It’s never too late to fall in love.

That’s what two residents living in the senior apartments at Thorne Crest Retirement Community in Albert Lea proved Saturday as they married in front of a small group of family and friends.

Standing hand in hand in the Thorne Crest chapel, Larry McGill, 93, and Maurine Larson, 90, became Mr. and Mrs. Larry McGill. Then they sealed the ceremony with a kiss, a tight hug and smiles.

“It doesn’t happen very often where people of that age get married,” said Karen Anderson, sales and marketing director at Thorne Crest. “The residents have been so excited.”

Anderson said Larry and Maurine came into her office to tell her about their engagement about a month ago, and in the time since, they’ve been busy preparing.

“Everyone was very surprised and happy for them,” she said.

Larry and Maurine, both widows, met in the 1990s at Lake Chapeau condominiums, where they would go on double dates with their spouses, who have since passed away.

The couple became reacquainted in the last year at Thorne Crest. About six months ago, they said they started developing romantic feelings for each other.

It wasn’t until about a month ago, however, that the couple decided to get married. They said one day they both had a dream of what they described as a beautiful wedding and took that as a sign.

Larry tells the story of his first marriage license costing him $2.50 in 1940. This time he paid $115.

The couple is planning a honeymoon cruise.

Maurine has two living daughters and one son, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Larry has one son, four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.