They have spent almost a lifetime together and credit their strong faith in God to their happiness.
And this strong belief has seen Mae (85) and Richard (88) Olfsen weather all storms and celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary.
The Primrose couple celebrated their milestone achievement on October 3 with a lunch out, as well as enjoying Week of the Aged activities organised by the Germiston Association of the Aged.
They will have a special family celebration when their children can all get together.
Richard grew up in Lyndhurst and Mae in Primrose Hill.
However, Mae’s family also moved to Lyndhurst at some stage and it was there the pair met.
“We stayed on a plot and my brother Chris was friends with Richard’s brothers, Eric and Theo, and they would come over to ride our horses,” Mae said.
“So we met through them.
“At that point, Richard was going to university and I was still at school.”
Richard asked if he could see Mae on a Friday night and she told him that if he wanted to he would have to come along to the YP (young people) gathering at her church, so he did and not only did his relationship with Mae start but he became involved with church work.
The couple dated for five years before tying the knot at the Troyville Baptist Church.
They married there as the church they belonged to namely the Wychwood Baptist Church did not have a building as yet.
Today Mae and Richard are the only two foundation members left at the church.
“We originally wanted to marry on my 21st birthday in February but one of the women in the typing pool I worked in refused to swop her weekend off with me, so we had to wait until the October,” Mae said.
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The couple lived in Wychwood Road, Primrose Hill for most of their married life and have three children Brenda Bartholomew, Glen and Richard.
They also have 10 grandchildren and four (soon to be five) great-grandchildren.
“We spend a lot of time with our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as other members of our family,” Mae said.
“We are blessed to have always had, and still to have, a happy family.”
The couple both taught Sunday school at their church for many years and Richard, who worked as a professional accountant for 44 years, before becoming a national service and admin manager for the company he worked for, was on the committee of the SA National Sunday School Association.
After 39 years of teaching Sunday school, Mae decided to turn her attention to working with the elderly and she continues to do so.
They have always been active and both played tennis for many years.
“I decided to stop playing when I was 80, as my friend took a tumble, and as I am a leader for the SA Senior Fitness Association I didn’t want to injure myself and not be able to give my classes,” Mae said.
She gives two classes a week at the Germiston Association of the Aged – one for frail care residents and one for more active senior citizens.
She also enjoys baking and cooking.
Richard was also an avid marathon runner.
He started running at the age of 58 and participated in 10 Comrades Marathons (completing eight, the last of which he finished at the age of 70) and 10 Two Oceans Marathons.
Richard was a member of the Bedfordview Athletics Club.
“We give all glory to God for allowing us to be so active and lead full lives,” Mae said.
“We believe that while you can do it you should do it as you never know what tomorrow may bring.”
Mae believes that a couple should work towards their goals together and she also told the GCN that a young woman should pray for the right husband.
“Don’t marry someone and then pray for them to change, rather pray for the right one to come to you,” she said.
“First commit to the Lord and he will guide and direct you toward who you should marry,” Richard said.
“The only way is by both serving the Lord together.
“Love the Lord with your heart, mind and soul and love your wife in the same way.”
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