It's her pleasant disposition that's the secret to 70 years of wedded bliss, said 95-year-old Ben Primus about his wife, Marie.
"And I wouldn't want to be with anyone else," added Marie, almost 86, as Ben reached to hold her hand.
It sounds simple and it is for this couple whose anniversary is June 19.
The happy couple, who are nine years apart in age, will celebrate with family on Saturday, which also happens to be Marie's birthday.
"We sat together just like we are now and he told me that we would be married by this time next year," said Marie, sitting snugly beside her husband on their living room couch. "And I said 'What?"
Marie was sweet 16 when she married 25-year-old Ben the very next year, just like he told her.
Ben, the only son, had six sisters and Marie was one of nine children, including seven brothers and an older sister. All were musically inclined and that brought the families together.
They moved from Calgary, where they grew up, and were stationed in Ontario and Saskatchewan as Ben had joined the army for a short time. But a heart murmur put an end to his service.
Ben and Marie moved to Prince George in 1965 to raise their family.
Ben and Marie have children currently ranging in age from 51 to 69 years old. There are nine boys - Grandpa's baseball team is the joke - and three girls. All are alive and well. There are 35 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren. Four of Ben's and Marie's children live in Prince George and the rest are spread throughout the province.
During their time in Prince George raising the family, Ben worked in the logging industry as a skidder operator, and Marie worked as a cashier in the pharmacy at Woodward's for 11 years. During summer holidays Marie would take the family camping and they would go to visit family in Alberta, too.
"When we would travel on the train, the conductor would say 'you have such a peaceful family,'" said Marie.
"That's because I wasn't there," Ben piped up.
After all the children moved out, the couple decided to move to Vernon during their retirement for about 15 years, only to return to Prince George seven years ago to live with family.
Any words of wisdom for those looking to have a long and happy marriage?
"Accept the Lord and put him first in your heart," said Ben.
"Talk things over all the time and be at peace with one another," said Marie.
