by Madison Evans
This is a love story that started in the winter of 1960. Ron Hurd, a lifelong Sartell resident, had just graduated from Tech High School in St. Cloud. He was at the Granite City Coliseum, a popular dance hall located in Waite Park. Sandy Frie, a senior at Cathedral High School, was also there. She and Hurd were acquaintances at the time, and then they shared a dance.
During an interview with the Newsleaders, as Sandy continued to tell the story, her eyes lit up and a smile flickered at the corners of her mouth as she remembered the next part vividly.
“Ron asked me if I wanted a ride home,” she said. “On the way home, he took me to Lee’s Lanes and we went bowling (there) at around one in the morning! At the end of the night, Ron said his friend, Bob DeZurik, was having a house party on New Year’s Eve and he asked if I would like to go with him.”
On that New Year’s Eve, the night of their first date, no one knew that couple would spend the next 60-plus years together as well-respected area residents who would have a lasting impact on the city of Sartell. Although the humble couple will likely never take credit for their work, Sartell is lucky to have them here.
The couple dated for three months before Hurd went into the military for six months. Their love was bigger than the miles that separated them and they ended up marrying in September 1962.
During the Newsleaders interview, the Hurds enjoyed reminiscing about their wedding. As they shared the details, they often looked at each other lovingly, finished each other’s sentences and laughed about how different things were way back when.
They were married at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. After the ceremony, the wedding party and close family members went across the river to the Commodore Club for dinner. Sandy remembered feeling sad for the wedding guests who were not invited for dinner, but that was a tradition at that time.
Their reception was held at the Sartell Village Hall. Friends of the mother of the bride and groom happily prepared food for guests.
As they prepared to leave for their honeymoon, they realized their carefully hidden car narrowly escaped being festooned with tin cans. In line with tradition at the time, Sandy changed out of her wedding dress into a nice dress along with nylons and nice shoes, and she wore a beautiful orchid corsage given to her by a family friend. The couple drove off, waving goodbye to friends as they headed to the Black Hills in South Dakota for their honeymoon.
Despite each having their own career and a young family, the couple devoted themselves to volunteering and community activism. They were instrumental in the development of the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. Ron, a history buff, is passionate about keeping Sartell’s stories alive so it’s no surprise he serves on the board of directors for the Sartell Historical Society in addition to serving on the boards of several other local organizations. He was a firefighter who still remains active in retirement.
Sandy is a member of Fun Singers, a women’s group that sings for nursing-home residents, and she also hand-makes wheelchair bags for those in need.
Ron is a member of the Sartell American Legion.
Both of the Hurds also enjoy spending time with the Sartell Senior Connection group at the Sartell Community Center.
When asked about their favorite memory as a married couple, they said it was in the 1990s when the Hurd family grew again, and they welcomed two grandchildren, Aaron and Molly. They beamed with pride just saying their names.
Once again, with a burning desire to make a better life for the children in Sartell, they added the goal of building a new hockey arena to their do list. They acknowledge they had a personal interest in getting a hockey arena in town. Their grandson, Aaron, was a pee-wee hockey player. There was no high school hockey in Sartell at the time, so they seized the opportunity and were influential in helping get the initial hockey rink in Sartell. Ron volunteered thousands of hours helping build the arena and Sandy dedicated 14 years as a ticket seller.
How did this busy couple find time for romance? According to them, the trick is doing all of this and doing it together. Their love for each other is rooted in making a positive impact on Sartell residents. Their hearts swell with joy when they hear someone say they moved here for the strong school system that they helped start. They smile when new mini-mites step on the ice that Ron helped build with his own “sweat equity.” They grin from ear to ear when they can share a bit of Sartell history with school children.
The happy couple shared a few other tips for keeping love alive for 63 years. They both said that after all those years they are still having fun – a quality that is essential in a good relationship. That likely isn’t a surprise for a couple who spent one of their first nights together spontaneously bowling at 1 a.m. Respect and strong communication form the foundation of their marriage.
Ron joked that his best tip for a successful marriage is silence and a mutual understanding that Sandy is always right.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, you may be wondering how Ron and Sandy Hurd celebrate. The National Retail Federation estimates U.S. consumers spend a whopping $26 billion on Valentine’s Day. More than half (52 percent) of consumers celebrate by spending an average of about $190 per person on dinner, jewelry and other Valentine’s Day gifts. As for the Hurds, they don’t celebrate that day.
So, if you are now fence-sitting, unsure of your Valentine’s Day plans, you may want to skip the flashy gift and – like the Hurds –focus on helping to improve the Sartell area.
Ron and Sandy Hurd enjoy a lunch together.
Ron and Sandy Hurd were married in September 1962 in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud.
This photo was taken of the Hurd family during a long-ago Christmas – Ron and Sandy Hurd with their two boys, Eric (left) and Bryan.
