Congressman Ike Skelton, 76, is engaged. He planned to propose to longtime friend Patty Martin while celebrating her birthday in New Orleans, but Mother Nature changed his plans.

"Well a hurricane came along and I was unable to take her to dinner in New Orleans as I had wanted, so we went to Kansas City and I gave her a birthday present, an engagement ring," he said.

Skelton picked out the ring himself and said Martin was quite pleased with his selection. He said he doesn’t remember much of the meal after the proposal.

"But it was nice," Skelton said. "She’s an absolute sweetheart. It’s a real thrill."

Skelton’s first wife, Susie, died in 2005. They were married for 44 years. Martin is also a widow.

"I’ve known Patty for many, many years she’s a Lexington resident and has lived there since the early 1970’s," Skelton said. "I’ve known her and her family and her late husband all well through the years and she’s been a longtime friend."

The pair has not yet set a date.

"She just took the ring," he said. "We’ve not talked much beyond that."