Klassens struggled to juggle family and military life

SWAN VALLEY – Edward and Heidi Klassen met and began a relationship aboard the USS John Stennis. Both ended up serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy and ultimately getting married. But maintaining a relationship while both partners were in the service was not easy. It was even more complicated with children involved.

Edward, who had three daughters from a first marriage and later one son and a daughter with Heidi said, "The hardest part about going on deployments is you have to find arrangements for your kids or family. And if you have visitation – that all gets put on hold. And the people back ho...