Lona and Harvey Grose are shown in a photo with their great-grandchildren - photo by Colton McKee

By Charles Lefebvre

Milestone celebration

Redcliff couple celebrate 70th wedding anniversary

Nov 12, 2019 | 5:26 PM

REDCLIFF, AB — Harvey and Lona Grose are an example of love conquering all.

The couple in Redcliff celebrated their 70^th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, surrounded by family.

Their story began in Drumheller in 1947, while Lona was babysitting for one of Harvey’s brothers.

“When we met, he was quite shy, but that changed,” she said with a laugh.

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“She’s nice, and easy to look at,” Harvey said. “I think she’s a good-looking lady.”

After a brief courtship, the couple were married in Drumheller on November 12, 1949.

“We were married in the Baptist church, and the reception was just at my parent’s house,” said Lona. “I don’t even know if there were halls to rent then.”

“It was a beautiful day,” said Harvey. “I walked to the church with my suit coat under my arms, me and my brother. It was just a fantastic day.”

Through their 70 years of marriage, the couple has been able to travel together (California was a place Harvey recalled fondly), enjoy their favourite activities, and eventually settle down in Redcliff, where they’ve lived since 1981.

While the couple has said their marriage has been largely a happy one, there were some challenges.

“It wasn’t all roses you know,” said Harvey. “There was a lot of times it was pretty tough, but we happened to work through it.”

“We help each other,” said Lona. “We live for each other, actually.”

Lona added, “You can lose so much in your lifetime. We’re there for each other.”

So how have they kept their marriage going strongly for so long?

“Don’t go to bed mad,” said Lona. “And don’t sweat the small stuff.”

“You have to smile every day,” said Harvey. “And laugh. Don’t make too many jokes though, because they turn out not to be very funny.”

The couple received multiple letters of congratulations for their anniversary, including letters from Redcliff Mayor Dwight Kilpatrick, Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP Glen Motz, Premier Jason Kenney, Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell and Governor General Julie Payette. They also received a congratulatory letter from Queen Elizabeth II.

But, Harvey and Lona derive their greatest joy from family, and staying close to their children, grandchildren (they have 10) and great-grandchildren (14).

“We can call on just about anybody in the family, and they’ll be right here,” Lona said.