This February, three U.P. couples married for over 50 years shared their secrets to a happy marriage. There were many common threads between the couples, including gratitude, shared interests, communication and lots of give-and-take.

Claire (VanDamme) Burton and husband Charles (Chuck) celebrated 60 years of marriage on June 18, 2020. The couple has lived in Gladstone throughout their marriage. Claire worked for the Gladstone school system from 1983 to 2000, retiring after 17 years. Chuck worked at Harnischfeger Corporation after serving two years in the U.S. Army. He then worked for Mead Paper Company for 32 years before retiring. The couple raised three daughters.

Over the years, Claire said they spent regular time together in addition to each pursuing their own interests. Chuck used to bowl and play golf, and she played bingo with friends. Before the pandemic, Claire and Chuck also enjoyed playing cards with friends every week. They are fond of classic country music and watching television together.

“We watch T.V. together. He’ll watch whatever I want to watch. I watch what he wants to watch. We give-and-take with each other,” said Claire.

Above, Mary and Richard VanSipe are shown on their wedding day, March 25, 1950.

Though Claire and Chuck don’t always share chores, each contributes in their way. Claire does the cooking, dishes, and laundry.

“But he does the men’s stuff. Shovels, snow blows, cuts the grass. He’s very good about it,” Claire said.

Though she handles the finances, the couple makes big decisions together.

“I manage the money, but I always check with him. But he’s easy-going and usually agrees,” said Claire.

Claire believes the personality differences between she and Chuck help make the marriage work.

Claire (VanDamme) and Charles “Chuck” Burton

“He’s more quiet and I’m more talkative. Makes for a good mix,” she said.

For the most part, Claire and Chuck just plain get along. She credited his good attitude, saying he’s easy to get along with because things don’t upset him.

“We had maybe three fights. When I look back, I was at fault and he was right,” Claire said, adding, “I’ve had 60 good years, I can’t complain. Especially when you get to old age, it makes a difference when you get along.”

Ethel M. Swanson Blixt and Richard W. Blixt have some things in common with the Burtons. They married on the same day in 1960. Richard also worked for Harnischfeger after serving in the military, spending 27 years at the manufacturing company after four years in the U.S. Air Force.

Ethel also worked over the years, spending five years at Neisner’s Dime store after being laid off from Hiawatha Baptist Mission. She then spent six years working in daycare. Like the Burtons, Ethel and Richard have three daughters.

Ethel M. Swanson Blixt and Richard W. Blixt

When Harnischfeger closed in 1984, Richard took a job with Voith Paper Machine Corporation, moving the couple to Appleton, Wis. Richard retired ten years later, and he and Ethel moved back to Escanaba in 1995.

Of their similarities, the most important parallel between the couples is most likely their outlook on marriage.

“We made it to 60 with give-and-take. You can’t just be one-sided and be mad about it. A lot of young people today just walk away from it. They each go their own direction and it’s all over with,” said Richard.

Richard said when it comes to decisions, he and Ethel usually agree, though he’s more of the lead person.

“When I buy a car, I just buy it. Sometimes she gets a little bit huffy, but it blows over,” he admitted.

Over the years the couple spent time together going to movies, going to dinner on special occasions and camping. They also had their own interests, Richard said, pointing out that Ethel loved being a member of Loving Fingers Quilters at Central United Methodist Church.

Richard emphasized the importance of talking and being able to apologize. He also said that he and Ethel never had any big fights.

“It’s a long undertaking, 60 years, but I enjoyed them,” Richard said.

Richard VanSipe and his wife Mary (Havens) will celebrate their 71st anniversary on March 25. Richard spent his career as a Michigan State Policeman and commander at the Gladstone Post, retiring in 1975. Mary was a homemaker, taking care of the family, and also worked at State Wide Real Estate in Escanaba. They have two daughters and a son.

Like the Burtons and the Blixts, Richard and Mary enjoyed shared interests in addition to having their own. Mary has made hundreds of quilts over the years, and Richard likes gardening, puzzling, and is a devoted Detroit Tigers fan. They share a love of golf, bowling and traveling.

“We golfed together for 60 years and we bowled together for over a dozen years,” Richard said, adding that their bowling team won three championships between 1976 and 1977.

During their marriage, the couple’s travels took to them to Germany twice, in addition to visiting every major baseball stadium in the U.S.

In October of 2019, Richard and Mary headed to Florida for the winter, as was their yearly practice. When it came time to return in May 2020, however, the couple stayed in Cocoa Beach. Richard said they discussed the pandemic and decided not to head north. They remain in Florida to this day.

Richard points to talking through important decisions — such as whether to return to Escanaba during the pandemic — as one of the keys to a happy marriage. Communication has always been essential, he said, especially when their children were young.

“We made parenting decisions through discussion,” Richard said.

These days Richard and Mary like to watch T.V. together. Asked whether they ever disagree on what to watch, Richard says no.

“We don’t fight over the remote because they don’t have one,” said Richard, admitting he’s okay with Mary choosing the shows they watch.

Mary also makes many of the bigger decisions, though they agree on the important things — like Mary’s cooking.

“One thing I don’t do is cook. Whatever she fixes, I eat. I definitely tell her it’s good because I want to have another meal,” Richard said.