Given the nature of their relationship, The Washington Post describes Karen as her husband's "gut check and shield." The vice president has said she is "the best part of my life," telling the IndyStar, "Everything we do in public life, we do together. I can't imagine it any other way."
Source: Washington Post, Mic, IndyStar
Trump has since praised the Pences' relationship, saying they have "one hell of a good marriage going," according to Business Insider.
Source: Business Insider
Because Karen is one of Mike's most formidable advisors, the Washington Post reported Trump personally apologized to her after the bombshell Access Hollywood scandal.
Source: Washington Post
Karen previously told The Republic that she's had a major say in some of her husband's biggest career decisions: "We've always approached it that way. It would be difficult to do this separately."
Source: The Republic
Now that they've moved to DC, the Pences have been spotted attending service at Sanibel Community Church in Florida and the Anglican Falls Church in Virginia.
Source: Religion News, Free Republic
At some point during their marriage, the Pences left the Catholic Church and became evangelical Christians. Mike's former colleague Mark Bailey told the New York Times Karen was a huge part of her husband's "faith journey" and that he often referred to her as the family's "prayer warrior."
Source: The New York Times
Pence does not attend events with booze without Karen. He also does not dine alone with other women. Some have criticized this rule as sexist.
Source: Washington Post
The couple frequently exercises together, even going on lengthy cycling trips.
Source: Washington Post
However, the couple did go on to have three children. The eldest, Michael Pence Jr., is a Marine. Middle child Charlotte is training to be an agent at United Talent Agency. Audrey, the youngest of the Pence siblings, is studying law at Yale.
Source: USA Today, SMH, The DePaulia, Us Magazine, The Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun
During the first six years of their marriage, the Pences dealt with infertility. "We didn’t tell anybody we were struggling," Karen told The Federalist. "... It's hard because people who don't go through infertility, I really don't think they can really feel what it feels like when you just want that baby more than anything, and it just isn't happening."
Source: The Federalist
The Catholic Church does not recognize civil divorces, so Karen's first marriage may have been annulled. Either way, the newlyweds' reception was held at the Midway Motor Lodge, and they planned to travel to Nassau for their honeymoon, according to The Columbus Herald.
Source: Death and Taxes Magazine, Newspapers.com
In 1985, the couple was married at St. Christopher's Roman Catholic Church in Speedway, Indiana. The Indiana University registrar who'd given Mike Karen's sister's phone number was in attendance, too.
Source: Death and Taxes Magazine
Karen was able to give Mike her golden cross about a month later, along a canal in Indianapolis where the couple often strolled and fed ducks. Mike had hollowed out two loaves of bread, stowing a bottle of champagne into one and the ring in the other. The Washington Post reported the Pences later shellacked the bread to save as a keepsake.
Source: The Washington Post
After eight months of dating, Karen had the word "yes" engraved on a gold cross. She carried it around in her purse, in anticipation of Mike's marriage proposal, according to the Washington Post.
Source: The Washington Post
But, for Mike and Karen, the budding relationship took a backseat to one thing. The Second Lady has told CBN that her then-boyfriend encouraged her to always put God before him.
Source: Business Insider, CBN
Karen said she thought the first date went well, too. "When I first met Mike Pence, it was love at first sight," she later said, in a 2012 gubernatorial campaign ad.
Source: CNN
Mike did end up calling again. Karen told him to come over for a taco salad dinner and asked him to go ice-skating. The IndyStar reported Mike, Karen, and her niece and nephew went skating at the Pepsi Coliseum a few days later. Afterwards, Karen's niece made a $1 bet that Mike would marry her aunt.
Source: IndyStar
The registrar eventually gave Mike the digits, but the first date almost didn't happen. Karen was at her sister's house, babysitting her niece and nephew. When she answered the phone, Mike panicked and hung up.
Source: IndyStar
At the time, Karen was teaching shop at a local school, while Mike was studying law at Indiana University, along with one of Karen's sisters. According to the IndyStar, after their first meet-up at church, Mike begged the school's registrar for Karen's sister's number.
Source: IndyStar
Mike and Karen first met in 1983, in the parking lot outside of Indianapolis' St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Karen played the guitar there during Mass, according to the Republic.
Source: The Republic, Indianapolis Monthly
Before she met Mike, the future Second Lady was married to her high school sweetheart, Dr. John Steven Whitaker. The Washington Post reported Karen's first marriage ended in divorce, partly due to the couple's youth and Whitaker's intense medical school schedule.
Source: The Washington Post
Source: Business Insider India