Husband and wife married 63 years die 20 minutes apart

PLATTE, S.D. -- A husband and wife died within 20 minutes of one another side-by-side in a South Dakota nursing home after 63 years of marriage.

KSFY-TV reports Henry and Jeanette De Lange died July 31 at Platte Care Center.

The couple's son, Lee De Lange, says his 87-year-old mother suffered from Alzheimer's and had been in a nursing home since 2011. He says his 86-year-old father visited her daily before recently entering the same nursing home.

Lee De Lange says after his mother died peacefully, he told his father, "mom's gone to heaven. You don't have to fight anymore, you can go too if you want." He says his father looked at his wife, closed his eyes and died minutes after.

The couple's joint funeral was to be held Monday.