One Illinois couple has a major milestone to celebrate today: 77 years of marriage. But that's not all. In a few months Vera and John Peterson of Freeport, Illinois, will be blowing out birthday candles for John's 100 birthday.

"I met this tall, handsome guy and you know, it took a while," Vera Peterson, 100, told ABC News. "It has been wonderful. I'm not saying that everything was all roses. There was a few thorns as always, and I think everyone has that. It can't be perfect, but we have to have give and take."

The Petersons were married on Sept. 28, 1939.



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Together, Vera and John, 99, have seven children, 18 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and three great, great-grandchildren.

Randall Peterson, 76, the eldest child of the couple, said his father was a farmer most of his life before becoming a carpenter.

Vera was a stay-at-home mom until her children were grown up. She later worked at a nursing home for 20 years.







"It's amazing feat, especially this day in age," Peterson of Chadwick, Illinois, told ABC News of his parents' anniversary. "Mom's 100 and Dad's going to be 100 in March, which is also amazing. They have their own sense of humor, which we enjoy."

Pam Queckboerner describes her grandparents as genuine people with a spiritual connection.

"They care for each other from the bottom of their hearts," she said. "They live and breathe each other, so I think that has kept them going. They are very caring, loving and giving."







For their anniversary, the Petersons are having a low key, celebratory dinner with family.

As for their secret to a long marriage, John Peterson credits his favorite saying: "Yes dear!"