‘The Beagle’ Leads to Lifetime Love for Young Lexington Couple

Noah and Carly (Holbrook) Converse had known each other their entire lives, but it was their work at the Orthman Community YMCA that cemented their relationship and led to their recent marriage.

Carly and Noah both grew up attending the Calvary Assembly of God Church in Lexington. They both were in the band at Lexington High School, and they both started working at the YMCA around the time they turned 16.

“Most of my family has worked at the YMCA,” Carly said. “It was just kind of a natural thing when you turn 16 to work at the YMCA.”

Noah is a year younger and had become connected to the YMCA through helping coach youth basketball. He was offered a job at the YMCA just before he turned 16.

They have both worked a variety of jobs at the YMCA from building monitor to child watch and front desk associate.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the YMCA at Gothenburg Health requested extra help to staff the childcare it was providing to nurses, doctors and essential workers. Carly and Noah both offered to help.

Several days a week, they would drive together from Lexington to Gothenburg in the YMCA’s Buick Regal, which was donated to the YMCA by former board member Gloria Erickson. The car has been nicknamed “The Regal Beagle” or “The Beagle” for short.

During their 30-minute drives to Gothenburg, Noah and Carly began to talk more. Then, they both worked at the Orthman Community YMCA’s Adventure Camp for four days. After that camp, Noah asked Carly out for their first date (after asking her dad’s permission). It was July 24, 2020, and they enjoyed their first official date together at Dairy Queen.

Noah and Carly married on Nov. 25, 2023, and the “Beagle” had a special place in their wedding as their escape car to get them to the reception.

Carly and Noah are studying to be teachers at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and they are both still working at the YMCA part-time while they finish school.