North Idaho and South Georgia are about as far apart as it gets in the lower 48.

But that hasn't stopped two high school sweethearts from coming closer together after 70 years of not knowing what happened to each other.

World War II separated Coeur d'Alene 85-year-old Betty Hove and Tifton, Ga., 87-year-old resident John Grosh when Grosh joined the Navy.

The two lost touch until a curious Hove recently found out about a Jack Grosch on the Internet. Both Hove (pronounced Hove-y) and the John Grosh she discovered had lost their spouses.

After Hove fired off a Christmas card to see if it was the John Grosh who worked in a grocery store in Santa Monica, Calif., in the 1940s and used to walk her home, Grosh called her back to confirm on New Year's Day.

The new year was a new beginning for the two.

"They just don't make them like him anymore," Hove said. "He's special."

The two have been speaking - six to eight times each day - ever since, said Hove's daughter Kathy Pierce of Post Falls.

"It turns out that mom has always had a secret love story that I've never known about," Pierce said.

The reunion became stronger this week when Hove and Pierce flew to Tifton to see Grosh over Valentine's Day. Hove remembers Grosh as Jack.

"Jack is the same sweet person he was 70 years ago," Hove said on Monday from Georgia. "He's wonderful. He's a hero. Mine anyway. I can't believe this is real."

Grosh said he couldn't wait to see Hove after all those years.

"It's been a long time," he said. "She's just as sweet as she ever was. I'm glad she's down here. She's out of this world."

The two plan to have lunch together for Valentine's Day today at the senior living complex where Grosh lives.

So what comes next?

"We haven't got that worked out yet," Grosh said with a laugh.

Hove said the two are taking it one step at a time, but are having a ball reminiscing. Hove enjoyed looking at Grosh's scrapbook, including photos of his years in the military, on Monday.

"We're just learning to love each other all over again," she said. "I've got to go home in less than a week, but I don't have to stay there."

When Hove was recently asked by a friend if she was curious about anyone's whereabouts, Grosh came to her mind. Hove didn't have a clue if Grosh was even still alive, let alone where he was living, but an online search was on.

"I really thought he didn't come home from World War II," Hove said.

Pierce said her mom remains active with clubs, friends and keeping her own house on the Coeur d'Alene Golf Course, but she has noticed an extra pep since the two high school sweethearts re-connected.

"She hums when she walks around the house, and that's just not my mom," Pierce said. "I just want mom to be happy."

In addition to World War II, Grosh also served in the Korean War. He later became an air traffic controller and has enjoyed photography. Hove worked for a Fox Theater in Englewood, Calif., and later for the Northrop aircraft firm for 20 years before moving to Idaho in 1977.

Pierce said that while it's a little early to tell where things will go in the relationship, there are commonalities that are hard to overlook. Pierce's dad was named John, the same name as Grosh's, and Grosh also has a daughter named Kathy.

"I do believe this is a gift from God," Pierce said.

Hove said she has never forgotten about Grosh.

"He's always been tucked away in a corner of my heart," she said. "Everything has just fallen into place."