Harold and Evelyn Nilsen reached a milestone in their marriage recently when they celebrated their 65th anniversary.

With that milestone comes the reality of Alzheimer's disease. Evelyn is now living at a facility in Magnolia that specializes in caring for Alzheimer's patients.

Harold lives in an apartment at the Norse Home that the couple had shared for the last six years until two weeks ago.

Even without his wife at Harold's side, the reminders of their marriage are all over the Nilsen's apartment with pictures everywhere of their life together.

"We have had a fantastic marriage. We were meant for each other," said Harold in his apartment overlooking the Woodland Park Zoo.

Harold was born in 1917 in Astoria, Ore. His parents had emigrated from Norway two years earlier. The family eventually moved to Seattle where Harold's father worked as a fisherman.

Harold graduated from Ballard High School in 1936. He already had a job at a small Safeway store that he described as a 'small mom and pop" operation without a meat department. The store was located at Northwest 77th Street and 3rd Avenue Northwest.

One of his duties was to deliver groceries while pulling a wood Red Flyer wagon to homes in Ballard.

He saved enough money to buy his first automobile, a 1937 Chevy. "It was a nice car in those days," said Harold.

With a brand new ride, Harold went to a friend's house to show it off. Evelyn was visiting the home and Harold met her.

"She was there, two days later I asked her to ride in it," said Harold.

They got married in 1941. That same year, Harold opened his own business he called Nilsen's Food Liner at 6300 32nd Ave. N.W. Evelyn worked closely with her new husband.

"We did good business at the store," said Harold.

Nilsen's Food Liner was an innovative operation.

During one promotion in 1957, Harold held a sale with a circus theme, bringing in an ape, elephant and clowns.

Nilsen's Food Liner was the first store north of San Francisco to sell packaged meats.

Harold called it "self service meats," and it was a popular new concept that is a standard in the grocery business today.

"Customers liked it. They could pick out (the meat) themselves. I had to add more butchers," said Harold. The store purchased regular advertisements in the Ballard News.

An advertisement in 1951 read "Get in the swing with these spring food specials."

Mayonnaise was 69 cents a quart. Green onions were three for a 14 cents. Sweet and juicy oranges from California were seven cents a pound.

"I did well with the grocery store. It was hard work," Harold said. The store was later renamed Food Town.

The couple spent New Year's day in 1960, watching the Washington Huskies play in the rose bowl. Then they went on a ten day trip to Acapulco.

The trips inspired Harold to get into the travel business. They sold Food Town and opened Holiday House Cruises and Travel in Queen Anne.

The business was located in an old mansion built by a successful lumberman and at its height, employed 23 people.

Harold and Evelyn organized annual trips to Hawaii for groups like the Ballard Elks. They also took groups to Europe and Norway.

Harold says he has been to Hawaii 72 times.

"I've seen a lot of the world. I've taken lots of groups to Europe. I see people today, that thank me," Harold said.

The trips to Scandinavian countries were especially popular with Ballardites and the repeat business was good.

"I like people, I'm good at it. One good trip makes five more satisfied people," said Harold.

The Nilsen's took their three daughters Nancy, Beverly and Patty on many trips.

"The best part of being married was family life, taking the girls all over. It makes for a good marriage and family," said Harold.

The couple lived in Ballard and Blue Ridge. Their Blue Ridge home was featured as the Seattle Times Home of the Year in 1956.

One of the Nilsen's favorite memories was the day in 1966 when Harold bought a new Alpha Romeo Spider. He took the car on the German Autobahn and drove over 100 miles an hour.

"Evelyn was sitting next to me. She trusted me with everything," Harold said.

When he is not visiting Evelyn in the Alzheimer's home, Harold volunteers as a gardener at the Leif Erikson Lodge where he has been a member of nearly 70 years.

Harold is also a long time member of the Ballard Elks Club Lodge No. 827.

He will be 89 years old in November. Evelyn will be 92.

"Evelyn would say it was a good marriage. I don't want to brag, but it has been a marvelous marriage," said Harold.