If you ask Lucille Dennison what it takes to make a marriage last, she'll tell you, "a lot of patience and love." That is what Hugh and Lucille Dennison have shared for the past 70 years. They will celebrate their 65 th wedding anniversary on Feb. 27, 2008. Although they fell in love quickly, they didn't marry for five years due to Hugh's home responsibilities at the time and his service in World War II.

Hugh was born on Christmas Eve in 1915, midway through World War I, in his home near downtown Denver. When Hugh was a young boy he and his six brothers played on the vacant land where the current U.S. Hwy 6 exists.

Hugh attended Lake Jr. High School and West High School and was a member of the National Honor Society. He graduated in 1933, one of the worst years of the Great Depression for families in the United States. Although Hugh was offered a scholarship to the University of Denver, the economic challenges of the times made him unable to go to college. Hugh's father died when he was 12 and his mother raised the seven boys alone. Hugh forfeited his academic dreams to join the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) in 1933. He spent two years in the CCC camp at Mesa Verde National Park helping to construct the museum and other buildings within the park. He was paid $30 per month, $5 for himself and $25 which was sent to his mother.

Hugh later worked in Denver for six years at the Merchant Biscuit Company while he studied at night at the University of Denver. He completed three years of his Bachelors studies before enlisting in the Army Air Corp on December 8, 1941 (the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked.) Hugh enrolled in the Officers Candidate School (OCS) and achieved the rank of Captain. He trained airmen for B -17 missions in Europe and later served in China. He returned to civilian life in 1946 where he was employed in the insurance business. Hugh continued to study at night at D.U. and attained his B. S. in Business Administration in 1947. He continued to work in the insurance business for 32 years, until he retired in 1978.

Lucille Kuster was also born during World War I in 1916 in Goldfield, CO, in the Cripple Creek mining district. Her father was a machinist who worked at the gold mines. Lucille's family (including four other siblings) moved to Denver when she was 13 years old. She attended Baker Jr. High and graduated from West High School in 1934 as valedictorian of her class with a 4.0 GPA. Lucille received a full scholarship to the University of Denver where she graduated with a B.S. in Commerce in 1938. During her studies at D.U., she was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, a Business scholastic honor fraternity (the same fraternity that her son, Kevin was inducted into in 1984.) Lucille also received a full scholarship to the Business Graduate Program at the University of Denver and graduated with an M.S. in Commerce in 1940, once again at the top of her class with a 4.0 GPA. She worked as an Administrator for the Denver Public Schools until she retired in 1978.

Hugh and Lucille first saw each other in a class they shared at West High School in Denver. She noticed him, but he didn't pay attention to her because he was always too serious to look at girls. They later met by chance at Lucille's college graduation party in 1938 when Hugh finally noticed the love of his life. They have been together ever since, for the past 70 years. Hugh and Lucille married in 1943 while he was stationed at a U.S. base during World War II. She lived on the base with him until he was sent to China during the war.

After the war, Hugh used the knowledge and skills he had learned in the CCC camps as well as the money he and Lucille had saved to build their home in Lakewood. He spent three years building the house with his own hands in the evenings and on the weekends when he wasn't at his job. Lucille helped with smaller jobs to get the house built. As a result, they never had a mortgage on their house. Hugh and Lucille moved into their home in 1950 and have lived there ever since. They raised their two sons, David and Kevin, in that house.

Hugh and Lucille were very devoted parents and outdoor enthusiasts. They climbed Longs Peak together in 1939 and accompanied their son, Kevin while he climbed all of Colorado's 55 14,000 foot peaks. Although the couple didn't summit each mountain with their son, they hiked in each area. Hugh did succeed in climbing to the top of Mt. Sherman (one of the 14ers) in 1998, when he was almost 83 years old.

The Dennison's have visited every U.S. mainland state while traveling in their 12 ft. travel trailer. They also traveled throughout Europe, in Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Latin America.

Today, at ages 92 and 91, Hugh and Lucille have lived in their house for 58 years. Their youngest son, Kevin left his life of 21 years in California to provide daily care for them in order that they can continue to reside in their Lakewood home.

Although age is taking a toll on their energy, they are still very devoted to each other. They sit side by side in their easy chairs in the living room or at the breakfast table, often holding hands and continuing to say how much they still love each other. They are never apart. Hugh still refers to Lucille as his "little girl from the mountains."