Ventana by Buckner, a Buckner senior living community in Dallas, often organizes special events and activities to engage their Members. On Friday, May 19, Members attended the Senior Prom - a night full of live music, dancing and great company! The luau theme added to the festive atmosphere with colorful decorations and tropical drinks. This was the second year Ventana by Buckner has hosted a senior prom.

One of the night’s highlights was the presence of Karl and Betty Anderson, a beloved Ventana couple who were high school sweethearts and attended their high school prom together. Betty and Karl met at a middle school dance and got married in November 1953. Betty was 14 and Karl was 17 years old. 

“At the ninth-grade graduation dance, sometimes the older boys would come over and crash the party,” Betty shared.  “He said, ‘Who is that girl?’ And he came over and tapped me on the shoulder and we danced. That was the start.”

The couple’s advice for a successful relationship was simple – love and respect for one another. 

“Things should be 50-50, don’t be domineering and have it your way all the time,” Betty continued. 

“We were very young, we didn’t know where we were going or what we were doing, we just knew we wanted to get married,” Karl shared. 
At the end of the night, Betty and Karl were crowned prom king and queen. As they danced to a tropical rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” it was clear the couple’s love for one another had only grown throughout their marriage.

“It’s important at all times of your life to have fun, to socialize and get together with friends. I think that is a vital part of everyone’s life,” said Holly Yates, director of lifestyle services at Ventana by Buckner, “Doing a prom brings up a lot of memories and brings them back to a time when they were a kid.” 

The prom was a huge success, bringing Members together to relive their youth while celebrating love, life and friendship. Members are already looking forward to next year’s prom.

See how a Buckner Senior Living community can inspire happiness in your loved ones' life today.