Lorane and Willy McGregor have never exchanged cards or gifts for Valentine's, but have led a successful marriage for 63 years.
The couple met at a dance at Iron River hall in the 1940's.
“He came out of the army looking for a girl,” says Lorane of her husband.
And was it love at first sight?
“Oh, I don't know ... never thought about it. I didn't, I don't know what he thought,” laughs Lorane.
Lorane was born in Iron River and Willy's family was living in Sandy Rapids at the time, although he was born in Ireland.
“He had to come to Canada to meet me,” says Lorane.
The couple dated for about two and a half years before Willy proposed, although the couple laughs at their fuzzy recollection of Willy proposing.
“I guess so. Must've,” laughs Willy. “Don't remember that part.”
The McGregors were wed on April 1, 1948 at the United Church in St. Paul.
“My aunt says ‘You can't do that,' and I says ‘Why not?' and she says, ‘Well, it's April Fool's Day' and I said didn't matter to me what day,” explains Lorane.
Luckily no one played any tricks at their wedding.
The couple travelled by a team of horses and sleigh because there was so much snow on the ground that day.
Once married, they farmed in Iron River for decades before moving to Bonnyville in 1990.
Lorane says farming was good for the couple because they always worked together. She says some couples today work in separate places and don't want to hear each other's problems when they come home.
“It's harder for people nowadays I think in towns and cities. But out in the country … you work together and play together,” she explains.
But did all the time together make them sick of each other?
“Never,” says Lorane. “Get sick of me?” she asks Willy.
“No,” he laughs. “We never fight or argued.”
Lorane says they talk things out.
But then the truth comes out.
“What she says I go along with,” laughs Willy.
“He's always right ‘til proven wrong,” laughs Lorane. “If I can't prove it, well he's still right.”
Besides working together and communicating, Lorane says couples should just have fun together.
When asked what his favourite thing about his wife is, Willy replies laughingly, “Just say her good looks.”
“She's always happy,” he adds, and “she's a quilter so I've got lots of warm quilts to put on the bed.”
When asked the same, Lorane laughs and says, “he always says yes.”
Both McGregors agree it's hard to put into words, but after 63 years, it's pretty safe to say they've been doing something right.
