Mr. Wankerl dries cars at a local carwash and helps with cleaning at Bethesda Day Break nursing home in Willmar; he also stocks shelves, a volunteer job, at Willmar’s Kandiyohi County Food Shelf. Ms. Marquardt works at the Unity Stamp Company in New London, Minn., packaging and mailing stamp orders.

Since early in their relationship, Tuesdays have been date nights. They cook together and watch a movie or a Twins game at Mr. Wankerl’s apartment. Sometimes, they take walks around the neighborhood or go to concerts in the park. Mr. Wankerl started thinking about asking Ms. Marquardt to marry him one of their first Tuesday nights.

He didn’t want to seem eager, though. “I decided to wait a little bit,” he said, so that Ms. Marquardt wouldn’t feel rushed. In November 2017, he felt ready. Once again, he turned to his mother to practice. She also came with him on a shopping trip to Paffrath and Son Jewelry.

Mr. Paffrath, who had been given a heads up about the visit, was happy to have one of his favorite players as a customer. “He came in and put his arms around me, because every time you see Eric it’s a big hug,” Mr. Paffrath said. “Then he said, ‘Coach Todd, I want to get Paige a ring.’ We sat down and I showed him a few things,” Mr. Paffrath said. “He had saved all his money from the carwash job, and he had done well with saving.”

Mr. Wankerl settled on a heart-shape diamond. “I bought it so Paige could have my heart,” he said. The night before Thanksgiving, Mr. Wankerl and Ms. Marquardt and their families had dinner together at Johnny O’Neil’s, a restaurant in Spicer.