All aboard for love: Demuths find love at End-O-Line (2024)

SLAYTON — When Nicholas Demuth and Korin Koch Demuth met in 2018 while working as seasonal summer employees at End-O-Line Railroad Park and Museum in Currie, the engines of love were rapidly ignited.

And the rest is history.

“My grandma, Kathy Koch, sent me the job listing,” said Korin, daughter of Steve and Lori Koch. “She likes to think of herself as the matchmaker.”

“I was in college at Emporia (Kansas) State University, living at home with my parents (in rural Slayton) for the summer, and I needed some work.

“Part of the job was giving tours and welcoming guests personably, and because I’d worked as a nanny for a few years in high school and at an entertainment company being Cinderella or Aurora at ‘princess parties’ for little kids, she thought it might fit my skill set.”

Contributed / Nicholas and Korin Demuth

Korin was on the right track to true love.

There, on Korin’s first day at End-O-Line, was Nicholas Demuth — who Korin adorably mistook for the museum director.

Nicholas, starting his second summer at the Murray County tourist attraction, was a 2015 Worthington High School graduate. A history major at University of South Dakota, the son of Pat and Lynette Demuth found the railroad museum perfectly in line with his interests — and so, as it turns out, was Korin.

“I walked in and asked, ‘Are you Jacob?’” recalled Korin.

“I really wanted to say yes, but I didn’t,” said Nicholas.

Korin characterizes herself the more outgoing of the two; as the cute but quiet Nicholas trained her in, she quickly laid a plan.

“I thought I’d have to pester him a little until he became my friend, so I peppered him with questions and he begrudgingly answered,” said Korin. “Along the way, I started liking his answers, and we learned we had a lot in common.”

Nicholas concurred.

Contributed / Nicholas and Korin Demuth

“That’s exactly how it went,” he said, recalling she’d inquired about his favorite color.

“He got flustered and alternated between saying red and blue,” said Korin.

“I settled on purple,” laughed Nicholas.

So successful was their banter that on June 30, 2018, they went to Round Lake Vineyards & Winery for a first date. Several dates followed, including one to a drive-in theater in the area, and by summer’s end when the pair was parting for their respective colleges, continuing the relationship wasn’t really a question.

“I thought we’d need a big conversation about it but Nicholas said, ‘Of course we’ll continue; it’s no big deal, we’ll only be seven hours apart,’” laughed Korin.

The following spring, Korin completed her undergraduate degree in education and accepted a teaching position at Canby, while Nicholas began his history-oriented career as collections manager for Stevens County in Morris following his own graduation.

That shortened their long-distance relationship considerably.

“We saw each other most weekends,” said Nicholas. “An hour and a half felt very easy, not like a heartbreaking distance.”

By April 2022, Nicholas was hired as site coordinator at End-O-Line — the place where their romance started chugging.

“I asked Korin if she would help with school tours in late May and when everyone left, I asked her to marry me,” said Nicholas.

“It was actually quite romantic,” corrected Korin. “We’re not supposed to climb on the trains, but we had our first kiss on the caboose and on May 26, 2022, he asked me up there to reminisce with him — and to close my eyes.”

When presented with a box containing a written token for a favor she’d given him during their first summer together, followed by a choice of two rings (Korin kept both, using one as her engagement ring and the other as her wedding ring), her answer to his query, “Would you do me the mega favor of marrying me?” was an unequivocal “yes.”

On Aug. 19, 2023, the pair married on a 95-degree afternoon in an outdoor ceremony on property owned by Korin’s parents and grandparents near Lake Shetek.

Korin, resplendent in an ivory satin V-neck gown from David’s Bridal, carried a bouquet of white roses and lilies. Nicholas wore a burgundy suit from Mister Cool’s Clothing of Marshall.

Contributed / Nicholas and Korin Demuth

The Rev. Jeanette McCormick of Worthington’s First Lutheran Church officiated, and the 200 guests enjoyed a meal catered by Blue Stem of Luverne, topped with white-frosted cupcakes from Hy-Vee.

Nicholas is now museums director of Murray County, and Korin, having earned a master’s degree in English from Minnesota State University Mankato, teaches language arts at Marshall High School.

They’re happily at home in Garvin, along with cats Coco and Fefe. Household duties suit their talents; Korin takes care of the yard work while Nicholas handles most of the cooking and baking.

“Nick constantly surprises me,” said Korin. “He’s kind, interesting, compassionate, thoughtful and smart.”

“I fell in love with how much Korin cares about other people,” said Nicholas.

And that’s love at the End-O-Line.