Henrettys recognized as Sterling Town’s oldest married couple

STERLING— Thomas and Ava Henretty have spent decades building lives rooted in the values that have long defined Sterling: hard work, family and service to their community.

The couple, who married Dec. 12, 2012, were recently recognized as Sterling’s oldest married couple. While their marriage began nearly 14 years ago, their story together stretches back much further.

Ava Henretty first met Thomas in the early 1990s after she and her first husband moved to Manti to manage the Manti Country Village Motel. At the time, they needed a place to park a trailer they had brought from Spanish Fork. Thomas, who worked in property development and management, helped them find a space and assisted with other projects around town.

“He got that for us,” Ava recalled, remembering how Thomas also secured a workspace behind the Manti post office where she painted decorative window displays.

Years later, after life brought them together again, the two married on Dec. 12, 2012, and made their home in Sterling.

For many years, the Henrettys have watched the small Sanpete County community evolve while preserving the close-knit character that has defined it since its founding in the 1870s. They have seen generations of families grow, neighbors become lifelong friends and the town maintain its agricultural heritage and strong sense of community.

Those who know the Henrettys often describe them not by accolades, but by the example they have set through lives of steady work, kindness and commitment to their neighbors. Their story reflects the values that have shaped rural Sanpete County for generations.

Asked what advice they would offer for a long life, Thomas answered without hesitation.

“Get out of bed and get going,” he said.

Ava’s answer was just as simple.

“Just hang in there,” she said. “Stay working.”

Their words echo the approach they have taken throughout their lives by remaining active, continuing to work and finding purpose in the everyday tasks that help sustain a family, a home and a community.

Over the years, the Henrettys have helped write a small part of Sterling’s history. Their legacy is found in the relationships they have built and the steady presence they have maintained in the community they call home.