In sickness and in health

The love between Dennis and Marla Crabbe really does know no bounds.

The North Idaho couple met in college, when a shy Dennis was rushing to class and stopped in his tracks as a beautiful young woman said "Hello!" to him.

"I came to a screeching halt and I had to get a look at this girl who greeted me, and oh, she was beautiful," Dennis said Thursday afternoon. "I said, 'Hi,' ran off to class, and then I was determined to ask her out on a date."

He had to act fast.

"Ever since the moment I saw her I was stricken with her, and I was nervous about asking her for a date. I got up the courage and went over and asked her before I could lose my courage," he recalled. "I just wanted her to go eat with me in the cafeteria on campus, and from that day forward we had breakfast, lunch and supper together each day."

Dennis and Marla dated for three years before they married. They have four children "scattered all over the United States and Canada," as Dennis says, and they just celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on June 15.

Like all relationships, the good came with the bad. Marla became afflicted with a rare life-limiting disease that confined her to a wheelchair, and after eight years of caring for her and his own health being affected, Dennis had to make the most difficult decision to place her in assisted living in December.

"That has been very hard on both of us," Dennis said, a low note in his tone. "Two people who love one another and when they have to part under those circumstances, it's very hard to experience."

Marla is also a Hospice of North Idaho patient, so getting out in the community isn't that easy.

But these physical setbacks didn't stop Dennis from enjoying a beautiful afternoon with his wife on a sunny day the week after their anniversary.

"Being able to take her for a stroll down by the lake meant a great deal. Marla said she was going on a date," Dennis said. "We were able to enjoy the sunshine and the fresh air together and look at the lake, which was so beautiful.

"That's something we used to do, we used to enjoy going down there and looking at the boats," he continued. "We love the boats and we love the water, but we just enjoyed being able to sit there on the bench and look out at the lake and eat together. I had to feed her, but I enjoy doing that."

The couple picnicked in the shade of a tree at Independence Point, where passersby complimented them and gave them space to enjoy their time together.

What made their day extra special was a kind gesture on the part of Lake City Transportation driver Al Pena, who offered to transport Marla and her wheelchair in a disability-friendly van free of charge.

"She was so happy. She just bubbled over looking forward to that, it meant so much to her. She was so excited when I arrived to pick her up, it was like me picking her up for a date," he said. "The staff told me that she seemed to be living for that day, like it meant a great deal to her."

Marla's nurse, Tanya Aman, RN, has been with Hospice a year and a half and has cared for Marla since she enrolled in Hospice care. She said the Crabbes are incredibly devoted to each other’s happiness and comfort.

"She wanted to do the date because she knew it would make Dennis happy, too," Aman said. "Marla is the most giving and the most kind woman I've ever met. She's going through this with so much grace."

Dennis and their Pomeranian mix, Cubby, visit Marla every day. As young Dennis was once determined to go on a date with Marla, the older Dennis is determined to be with his wife and let her know how much he loves her as long as he can.

"She always took care of me and babied me until the roles switched when she became ill," Dennis said. "I think God just wanted me to learn that role."