Monthly allowance to widows or widowers of pensioners.

When any teacher, drawing pension under s. 238.171, shall die leaving surviving a widow or widower to whom such pensioner has been married for a continuous period of at least 10 years immediately prior to his or her death, and from whom no dissolution of marriage is obtained, such widow or widower, upon proof of marriage to and continuation of marriage for the minimum period with, and death of, said pensioner, shall be granted a pension payable from the date of the death of said pensioner, and at the same time and rate as other pensions paid under s. 238.171. The Chief Financial Officer is authorized and directed to draw his or her warrants in payment of such pensions so long as such widow or widower shall remain unmarried and continue to be a resident of the state; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to allow such pension to be paid to any widow or widower where such widow or widower of a deceased pensioner under this section receives a like pension in his or her own right as a retired school teacher.