The couple met at Home Depot in 2019 after Sam went to the store near tears asking for a job. Del took pity and hired her (woohoo!) and they were able to form a friendship over the years of working together. They spent a lot of time working on projects together for the store- all while joking around and having fun. After Sam left Home Depot and prepared to move to Springfield for graduate school, she invited Del out to a day of kayaking out on the lake. That was the beginning of their life as a couple <3. Sam moved to Springfield shortly after but the two kept in touch and continued their relationship. When the pandemic got worse, Sam was able to move back to Kirksville since all of her school was online. The two were able to live together while Del worked and Sam went to school online. As pandemic restrictions lifted, the two moved to Springfield together to pursue their careers - Sam finishing up graduate school and Del working as an assistant manager at Home Depot. In October of 2023 the two attended the Night Lights Lantern Festival in St Louis which had become a yearly tradition. Del invited the couples' closest friends to witness the surprise proposal. As the sun set and the lanterns lit up the sky, Del got on one knee and asked Sam to marry him. She choked out a yes and the two have been eagerly awaiting for October 12th, 2024 ever since!