A local family is passing on a tradition of love, laughter and sticking together through the good times and bad.
On Dec. 15, Dolores and Lloyd Wickes celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary, and their accomplishments throughout those years, including eight children, 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
The couple met in 1950 when Lloyd and his brother came in to eat at the restaurant where Dolores worked.
"I thought his brother was cute," she said with a laugh.
"Now she tells me," Lloyd retorted.
They married in 1951 after dating for a year and stayed in Prince George until 1980 when they decided to give coastal living a try.
"The commuting was the worst," said Lloyd, which led them to move back to Prince George two years ago.
"We don't miss all the rain and darkness," said Dolores.
"Plus this is where all your family is. Especially all of your joy-makers," added daughter, Allison Crick, referring to the family's whopping 34 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The Wickes say they didn't set out to have such a big family but Lloyd blames Dolores's good looks for all the kids.
"She was kinda sexy," he laughed.
It's not uncommon for the family to have 50 people at the table for Christmas dinner.
"We like the chaos," said Crick.
The anniversary was a night out to dinner and then a family gathering to witness Lloyd give his bride a diamond ring.
"He just gave me this huge diamond!" said Dolores. "I said 'Now that I have this ring, I can't possibly do anything around the house.'"
Crick and her husband Lyle also understand what it takes to make a marriage work.
They will be celebrating 30 years in March.
When the Cricks were dating, Allison worked at a local gas station and was held at gunpoint by an attacker.
When Lyle found out that happened, he started sleeping in the back room at the station to make sure nothing else happened.
That's when she knew she'd found a good man.
"Coming from parents that have been together for so long gives you a sense of stability. As you can see they are both a barrel of laughs even through the hard times. The family is everything to these guys, it's unconditional love," Crick said through tears.
The couple haven't always had it easy, they lost a son who was three years old when he succumbed to spinal meningitis on Christmas Eve of 1959.
But both couples agree it's important to "give 100 per cent and get 100 per cent back in return."
And both couples agree laughter is the best medicine - and with 90 years of marriage between them, they should know.
