CYSK: Bennet & Kim Fallis
Kim and Bennet Fallis find love young and keep it for 27 years.
How did you meet?
Kim: We first met at eighth-grade cotillion. Bennet was a student a West Junior High, and I was at Jeff Junior High. Back then, you had a cotillion “dance card” you had to fill out to determine who your partner would be for each dance. Bennet asked me to sign his card multiple times!
How long have you been together?
K: Funny to think, but we’ve been together longer than we’ve been apart. We’re both in our mid- 40s and have been together for 27 years!
What was your first date?
Bennet: Our first official date was not until our senior year in high school. I asked her to the Rock Bridge High School homecoming dance. I’ll never forget — I passed her a note in Mrs. Ford’s sociology class to ask her. I got in trouble for passing the note, but it was worth it!
What is unique about your relationship?
B: I think it’s unusual to find your best friend in high school, stick it out through college, and still be best friends and soul mates all these years later.
What is the key to a lasting and healthy relationship?
K: Give yourself — to your family, your friends, your charities. Give your commitment and love unconditionally. Oh, and laugh a lot. It’s good for the soul!
What’s a story people don’t know about your spouse?
K: He’s a big Cubs fan, so we took some friends to Chicago for a Cardinals vs. Cubs game. Bennet found himself detained in “Cubs jail” for fulfilling one of his dad’s last wishes: spreading some of his ashes on the ivy wall in right field. We were frantically trying to figure out where he had been taken, only to find out he had been released and was sitting across the street at his dad’s favorite bar, Murphy’s, watching the rest of the game!
What is the best quality of your partner?
K: His integrity. His motto for our family is “Always do the right thing, even when no one is looking.” He is incredibly loyal too.
B: Her patience and her ability to handle any situation with grace. As my father-in-law says, she is unflappable. She’s the most patient person I know.
What makes you most proud of your partner?
K: His dedication to our family and his determination to succeed at whatever he does. He’s an overachiever who never wants to let anyone down.
B: She is the most selfless person I know, truly. She always thinks of everyone else first.
What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled together?
B: When we were in college, we studied abroad in London together and got to visit a bunch of amazing places. One of my favorites was our 10-day backpack trip through Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. We rode the train and stayed in youth hostels along the way. We learned so much during that trip — I hope our kids get to experience something similar someday!
Tell us about your family.
B: We have four amazing kids. Our oldest, Joseph, is 15, Madeline is 14, Andrew is 13, and Catherine is 11. For a short period, we had four kids under five years old — talk about crazy times! But we’re learning that the old cliché about kids growing up too quick really is true.
What has been your favorite project to work on together?
K: My favorite project-in-process is our four kids and watching them grow into young people with their own personalities and life goals. My favorite actual project was probably when we decided to wallpaper a very small bathroom in our home. My mother-in-law told us that if we could survive that, we could survive anything.