Verne Darrel McCleary was born October 30, 1934, in Spencer , Iowa. Shortly after that his family moved to Minnesota. Verne graduated from Windom High School in 1952 and started a career in farming. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956.
Pearl Joy Martin was born to Esther and Palmer Vang on November 28, 1918 in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is preceded in death by her husband Herbert James Martin; son Herbert Peter Martin; sisters Ruby Snyder and Betty Cramer.