Portales Couple Celebrates 65th Anniversary

H.V. and Ida Cade reflect on their decades-long marriage in New Mexico

Mar. 18, 2026 at 12:00am

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H.V. and Ida Cade, residents of Portales, New Mexico, recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. The couple first met in Kerrville, Texas when Ida was 15 years old and H.V. was serving barbecue at a dinner. They married a year later and moved to the Portales area in 1931, where they have lived ever since.

Why it matters

This story highlights the enduring power of love and commitment, as the Cades have maintained their marriage for over six decades despite the changes and challenges that life brings. Their story provides inspiration and encouragement for couples seeking to build lasting relationships.

The details

H.V. Cade, now 86 years old, and Ida Cade, 81, described their early courtship, noting that "young people did most of their courting on foot those days" and that it "wasn't long till we were walking to church together." The couple married a year after their first meeting and lived in a log house on the banks of the Guadalupe River before moving to the Portales area in 1931.

  • H.V. and Ida Cade recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

The players

H.V. Cade

An 86-year-old resident of Portales, New Mexico who recently celebrated his 65th wedding anniversary with his wife, Ida.

Ida Cade

An 81-year-old resident of Portales, New Mexico who recently celebrated her 65th wedding anniversary with her husband, H.V.

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What they’re saying

“Young people did most of their courting on foot those days, and it wasn't long till we were walking to church together.”

— H.V. Cade

“He was serving barbecue at a dinner, and I looked him over and decided he must be that new boy whose folks had just moved into a house across the river.”

— Ida Cade

The takeaway

The Cades' enduring 65-year marriage serves as a heartwarming example of the power of love, commitment, and perseverance in building a lasting relationship, even through the changes and challenges that life brings over the decades.