A Providential Love Story: Bruce and Rayna Lee

Some love stories begin with chance encounters. Others start with years of friendship. But for Bruce and Rayna Lee, their journey began on day one—quite literally—at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center more than five decades ago. 

Bruce had recently returned from 18 months of military service in Vietnam. At 25, he was beginning a new chapter in his career as a licensed practical nurse. Rayna, 23 at the time, had spent the past year in a medical lab and was continuing her phlebotomy career. 

The two first crossed paths during orientation on their very first day of work in February 1970. Rayna showed up ready to learn—focused, intent, and glowing, as Bruce would later describe her. 

“I looked across the room and thought, 'That is a really beautiful lady,'” he recalled. “She was so focused. I was maybe looking a little more than I should’ve been.” 

That very evening, he went home and told his father, “I think I met my wife today.” 

In the early days, Bruce kept his distance. Rayna was dating a 6’5” high school friend at the time—“He scared me away,” Bruce admitted with a laugh. 

But the distance didn’t last long. 

Rayna had noticed him too. Whenever she passed him in the hospital halls, she would stick out her tongue playfully. 

“Just being silly,” she said. 

An Unforgettable First Date 

Their first official date included Bruce’s entire family. 

“Oh, it was a disaster,” Rayna said with a laugh.  

“Great time!” Bruce insisted. 

During a single evening he stepped on her toes while dancing, spilled coffee on her, and managed to fling his salad across the room. Somehow, Rayna agreed to a second date anyway—and that is when the real magic happened. They went to a movie and talked through the entire film. 

They have been talking—and walking side by side—ever since. 

A Ring, a Weekend, and a Wedding 

One afternoon not long after, Rayna pointed at a ring she liked in a shop window. Bruce quietly returned later and bought it. Shortly afterward, the two were engaged. 

Gas was expensive then for the pair, who lived on opposite ends of town. Rent was high, too. And when you know, you know. 

After a brief engagement, they realized their next four-day weekend was coming up—in just four short weeks. Right then and there, they decided that would be their wedding weekend. 

On June 2, 2026, the couple will celebrate 53 years of marriage. 

Building a Life at Providence 

Bruce and Rayna’s love story grew in the same place it began. They spent nearly 42 years working at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, building careers, friendships, and a community that still surrounds them.  They both retired in 2011. 

“I didn’t realize at the time how much working with those people meant,” Bruce said. “You relied on each other so much. We had an unspoken understanding. The people you work with become your family.” 

A group of former employees—now close friends—still meet every few months for breakfast. Others meet monthly at a neighborhood favorite just steps from the hospital. 

Rayna, who loved working in pediatrics, was once recognized by a mother while getting her car serviced. 

“You worked with my son,” the woman said. “He was terrified of getting his blood drawn, and you helped him so much.” 

Rayna’s signature sparkly nail polish—beloved by young patients—was hard to forget. 

Bruce, too, built deep connections. A woodcarver once gifted him a heart-transplant sculpture. Years later, Bruce learned the artist’s mother lived in the same retirement community where he and Rayna now reside. 

“It’s funny how life circles back,” he said. 

Still in Love, Still Laughing 

From sticking her tongue out in the hallways to spending decades side by side at Providence, Bruce and Rayna Lee’s love story is woven into the history of Sacred Heart Medical Center. 

Their marriage has grown to 52 years and counting. Their careers spanned more than four decades. And their Providence family continues to be part of their lives every day. 

“We find that we are connected—in relationships, in community, and at work,” Bruce said. “Providence gave us that.” 

This Valentine’s Day, we honor Bruce and Rayna Lee—and all the extraordinary connections that make Providence not just a workplace, but a family.