'King of Valentine's Day' transforms Logan candy store for wife of 30 years

LOGAN — A candy shop in Logan was transformed in the name of love Thursday, for a couple who many have dubbed the "king and queen of Valentine's Day."

Lonnie Anderson and Anne Bolger Witherspoon of Albuquerque, New Mexico, have been married for 30 years, with all 30 Valentine's Days being spent in major celebration. The celebrations have all been initiated by Anderson, who promised himself a long time ago that he would always make the people around him feel loved.

"My life was very complicated growing up," Anderson said. "I was left in an orphanage in Denver as a baby. I was in foster care and was later adopted and raised in some violence. I was able to work my way through that. I still struggle with it every day, but I truly believe that love is what guides me through it."

He also recalled a time as a child when he was at the store with his grandma on Valentine's Day. He said he watched as young ladies got gifts, and he noticed that his grandmother didn't get anything from her husband. He said he only vaguely remembers the moment because he was so young, but it has been recounted to him several times by his mom and grandma.

"I apparently got so upset when I saw that," he recalled. "I said to (my grandma), 'When I get married, that will never happen to my wife.'"

Some of Anderson's expressions of love to his wife over the years have included setting up a carousel in his front yard, hanging a 100-pound piñata with his wife's name on it, and spelling out a poem in rocks that could only be viewed from a helicopter. He said that some years have definitely been bigger than others, but he always tries to keep within a modest budget, often enlisting the help of friends and family.

This year, he flew with his wife to Utah, where he often visited family as a child. With the help of longtime friend Michael Bingham's nonprofit art studio Jump The Moon, along with Bluebird Candy Co. in Logan, the candy shop was transformed to showcase Anderson's unwavering love for his wife.

"Instead of giving Anne a box of candy, I gave her the entire store," Anderson said. "The candy store owner custom-made Anne her own box of candy with her name on all the pieces of candy. The Jump The Moon artists made a massive window display with thousands of jelly beans. So many in the Logan community came together to make hearts with their loved ones' names for the window display.

"A representative from Logan city was also there, and they even made a giant trophy out of candy that was given as a gift to the city of Logan, representing acts of love in the community."

Bolger Witherspoon said that each year, she knows something big is coming, and she makes sure to "stay in the moment," and be "genuinely surprised," adding that over the years, her husband's gestures have turned into something much more than showing love for her.

"I'm grateful," she said. "My life would not be as deep and rich if I didn't know Lonnie's wild and over-the-top love. How wonderfully deep is my life that I can say 'yes' to traveling and meeting a group of strangers who will equally remember a shared experience around love. It's because Lonnie loves me that I've had some pretty phenomenal experiences.

"One of the messages Lonnie wants to get around is to use what you have," she continued. "If you have time, use the time. Instead of having to feel guilty or getting wrapped up into hundreds of dollars of flowers, do what you can do."

Anderson acknowledged that there have been times over the years when he has "forgotten birthdays or anniversaries," but the thing he's really good at is making a valentine because "it stands for love."

"Today, Anne and I got to tell this whole room that we love them," Anderson said. "Anne was telling strangers how thankful she was for them and how amazing and beautiful they were. I wish the whole world could have been in that room."

Anderson said that if there's one thing he wants to be remembered for, it's that he loved his wife.

"You think about all the things people work so hard for. Some focus on their jobs and want to be remembered as the best chef of car dealer. I want to be remembered as someone who loved," he said.

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