Truth is the simple guide for couple's 63 years of marriage

Dannevirke's Bruce and Margaret Ransom, at Rahiri Care Home.

Being truthful is the secret to 63 years of contented marriage, Dannevirke's Margaret Ransom says.

Margaret, 84, and husband Bruce, 92, celebrated 63 years of marriage at Rahiri Care Home on Sunday.

"I can't believe all that time has gone," Margaret (nee Maloney) said.

The couple married in a Methodist church in Christchurch, the same church as Margaret's mother Kath.

"Bruce was very handsome," Margaret said.

Bruce was a police officer in Palmerston North when the couple married and they lived there before returning to his home town of Dannevirke, where he worked as a noxious weeds officer, undertook contracting work and bulldozing.

After some time in Dannevirke the family moved to Picton, leaving behind their Chamberlain St home.

The family were in Picton for eight years with Bruce operating a water mail and taxi service.

"I loved boats and I used to do a lot of work for what was then Post and Telegraph, carting their people around," he said.

However, after eight years the 24/7 nature of the work became too much and the family moved back to Dannevirke, but with one request from Margaret. She insisted Bruce build a sewing room on to their Chamberlain St home.

Bruce worked with Scrimshaw and Ransom for some years before becoming a shepherd for Bryce Ellingham at Waitahora. Margaret taught homecrafts, before completing her teacher's certificate while working at Dannevirke's St Joseph's School where she taught for nine years.

"I can remember Mum sitting on the front porch of our home studying for her exams," daughter Anne said.

The couple have four children, Sharon in Greymouth, Peter in Japan, Anne in Wellington and Graeme in Ashhurst. They have seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The Ransoms have recently moved into rooms at Rahiri after living in a villa at the complex.

"I loved that villa," Margaret said. "But Bruce had a fall and was in hospital, so being in rooms here is better for us. They are very good to us here."