Bob and Ruth have been married for 67 years! Bob was 23 when they got married and Ruth was 22. In this special Valetine’s Day blog, they’ll tell us about the last (almost) seven decades together and advice they’d give for a happy marriage!
How did you meet?
“As a young man, I liked women, so I dated a lot of them. I had known Ruth but was dating another woman at the time. When I brought this other woman back to her house I said, “goodnight, Ruth.” And that girl was done with me. I knew in that moment that Ruth was the one.”
Tell us about your wedding day…
“We dated for about a year before getting married. Our wedding was at Grace Bible Church in Grandville. We were actually the first couple married in that church by a wonderful pastor whose family we were close with. Our friends from school made up our wedding party – we all attended Grand Rapids School of Bible & Music. After our wedding, we had a small reception with homemade cake. It was a wonderful day spent celebrating with friends and family!”
Talk about the early days of marriage…
“We were married for about a year before welcoming our first child, a son. In those early marriage days, we were saving money to build a house, so we rented an apartment above a laundromat in Grandville off Chicago Dr. The trains would shake the apartment so badly, but the rent was good at just $40 per month and allowed us to save up to build our dream home in Jenison.
When we first built our house, Ruth’s dad asked us: “What are you doing building a house way out in the sticks?” At the time, the “way out in the sticks” location he was referring to was in Jenison off of Baldwin. While that might seem impossible to imagine now, I recall flying a plane with a friend over our farmhouse – there was nothing between our house and 28th street, so it truly was out in the sticks!”
Talk about the years spent raising children…
“Ruth stayed at home with our children – we both agreed that was very important for our family. We have three incredible children, two boys and a girl. Our children were raised in the church and are all still active in their own churches to this day – this is such a blessing to us and we give God ALL the glory for how he has molded our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It was nothing we did, it was all the Lord.”
While Ruth stayed home with the children, Bob worked to provide for the family financially. “We both did what God intended us to do. I found a good job and Ruth raised the kids. I always admired how good she was with our children – the late-night feedings, the diaper changes, all of it – to this day, Ruth is still an incredible mother.”
Ruth talking about the years raising children…
“I stayed home with our kids while Bob worked. The days were busy and overwhelming at times, especially when our two oldest were very young and we were still living above the laundromat in our small apartment, but I would not have changed being a stay-at-home mom for anything. Our children went to Jenison from the time they were old enough to start at Sandy Hill until they graduated high school.”
Talk about the years after your children were grown…
“We loved to travel. One of our favorite places to go to in our retirement was Tennessee. We would try to go there at least once a year – it’s just so beautiful and peaceful there.
We traveled to China when two of our grandchildren were adopted from there. That trip is one we’ll always remember – it was so special to be part of bringing those children home.
Another thing we love in our retirement is Michigan summers, specifically blueberry season. During blueberry season, you can find us at Crossroads Blueberry Farm, where we love to go together to enjoy fresh blueberry muffins and coffee.”
What got you through hardships in your marriage?
“The Lord got us through. He puts hardships in all of our lives on purpose and how we get through them is a test. Similar to how they test gold when they put it under pressure and then what is left is pure. We got through hardships and our marriage was stronger, but we got through those hardships, because God has always been the foundation of our marriage.”
Tell us about some of the best memories you have as a married couple…
“Our family trip to Hawaii was one of our favorites. My sister lived in Hawaii with her husband, who was in the Coast Guard. They invited us out for a vacation, because he was going to be restationed to a different state. We weren’t entirely sure how we were going to make it work, but God always provides. I was reading the newspaper and there was a special on flights to Hawaii – roundtrip for $500. We decided to book the tickets, and it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. Because my sister lived there, she was able to be our tour guide and show us what a lot of tourists never even see. We spent three weeks in Hawaii – we had dinner on one of the Coast Guard ships my brother-in-law worked on, we were able to see Pearl Harbor and the Hawaii Omega Station while it was still operational, we drove around the island just enjoying the scenery. It was the best trip that we all still talk about to this day!”
What is something you love about your spouse?
Ruth: “I love the time we spend together. We’ve always shared a lot of the same interests and in our retirement, we’ve been able to make a lot of memories together. Whether we’re going on a day trip or doing puzzles or word searches together, we always have a great time just enjoying one another. He is such a gentleman and will not allow me to drive – that is okay with me though, because we’re both wanting to go to the same places anyway, so he can drive us.”
Bob: “I love the time we spend together too. After being married for 67 years most couples would be sick of each other or run out of things to talk about, but it does not feel like that to me. It’s a great blessing from the Lord to have such a strong marriage.”
What advice would you give to a younger married couple about maintaining a long and happy marriage?
“The Lord should be at the foundation of your marriage. Make time to attend church with your spouse, so you can grow in your faith together. Find a church with a good children’s program – we were blessed to attend a church that saw the importance of discipling children. Last piece of advice: give all the glory to God! He will be there during the trials and celebrations of life and remember that God is good in ALL seasons.”
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