Audrey and Grant Winckler Engagement Announcement

Audrey Gall, daughter of Gary & Pam Gall of Whitewood, SD, has become engaged to Grant Winckler, son of Craig & Dorene Winckler of Scotland, SD.

Saturday, July 6th 2019

Proposal

Grant and I were planning to take a few days off of work around the 4th of July to go fishing, camping, hiking, etc. Grant had put the bug in my ear a few weeks prior that we should hike up to Harney Peak on this mini vacation. We've never hiked up it together so we thought it would be something fun to do!

We set off on our hike up a trail called “Cathedral Spires” that is a little shorter than the main trail to the top Harney Peak, but instead it actually ended up being way more of a strenuous incline hike instead. After hiking a couple hours and stopping numerous times to let our legs gain feeling again, we finally had made it to the top. At this point, my legs felt like jello and all I wanted to do was to sit down and take in this beautiful scenery with Grant. Grant kept insisting though that we go down to a more flat area on the rocks below us and have our picnic there. I was arguing that we were fine right where we were because I didn't think I would be able to walk another step after the hike we just had. Grant kept insisting so I gave in and we moved to find another spot more “flat”. 

After moving to about 5 different areas, Grant was finally content with a spot. I was just relieved to be able to sit for a moment! Grant suddenly grabbed my hands and looked me in the eyes and began telling me how he was happy that my legs didn't fall off like I kept saying was going to happen. Then he said how great it felt to “be on top of the world” right now with me and how he always feels that way when he's with me. I was caught off guard by everything that was happening that I was just looking around still at the view and not really putting anything together about what was about to happen. Before I knew it he got down on his knee and he asked me to spend forever with him. I blurted out “YES!” and gave him a great big hug and of course began shedding multiple tears. I'm not even sure what he all really said after he got down on his knee because I in complete shock.

The whole way down the mountain I was skipping, laughing, and grinning ear to ear. Grant was worried I was going to trip and tumble down the trail! I still can't believe how clueless I was about everything and I couldn't have imagined that day any other way! Now we get to share our big day with the same day we got engaged- July 6th!

How They Met

NERVOUS. Grant is two years older than me so I never really knew him that well until he and his younger brother Logan began working with me for Lonetree Outfitters cleaning birds. It was 2010, I was a sophomore and Grant was a senior, and one day Grant and I were the only two around to clean birds. It probably took us a couple hours to get through them all, and during that time I think we hardly said two words to each other. I remember we would sing along to the radio as we worked but really never said a word to each other otherwise. I remember feeling so nervous because there was this older cute guy with me and I kept thinking about how I needed to focus and not make a fool of myself! 

A few weeks later after being around each other more, I built up the courage to ask him to go with me to a going-away dance for my friend Anna. Well the same thing happened… we hardly said two words to each other the whole night but we did manage to awkwardly dance without making much eye contact. Although we didn't say much to each other that night, I still remember going home with a big smile on my face.

Flash forward a couple more weeks and it was prom time. Grant didn't have a date yet so I asked Grant if he'd like me to at least walk through the Grand March with him. Grant and I shared a dance together that night and this time we actually said more than two words to each other. I guess the third time was a charm and we actually talked during the whole song. It wasn't more than a week later and Grant and I began talking and messaging each other non-stop.

About a month after prom, Grant FINALLY asked me to go out on a date with him! The thing to do on a first date in high school was to go to dinner and a movie. We were both dying to go on a date but the movie selection wasn't the best. We ended up choosing a movie that ended up being terrible but it was fun making fun of it afterwards. We ate at Pizza Hut for dinner and I didn't want to show Grant how picky of a eater I actually was. Grant ordered a pizza with tomatoes on it. Which at the time I thought was super gross! So I had to hide how I really felt about this pizza and just chewed through the pain. After the movie, we headed back to his house and we sat and talked and watched part of a another movie together. As we sat there, Grant turned and looked at me and said “I really want to kiss you right now but I really don't know how to go about it!” 

And the rest is history. <3