Those who know them will tell you that Frances and Mary McCarthy are in love. Mary often steals kisses from Frances, also known as “Mac,” while Mac has often said that he doesn’t know what he would do without his wife. While Mac and Mary, known as “The Wild Pair,” may sound like newly weds, they just recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Now residents of Aragon, Mac and Mary’s story together begins in North Dakota.

According to Mac, 94, he and Mary, 88, met while he was doing work at Mary’s sister’s house. Mary, who worked at a hospital and helped farmwomen with housework, agreed to go to a dance with Mac.

The rest, as they say, is history.

“It was a cool, sunny beautiful day,” Mary said of her wedding day, Sept. 25, 1935. “It was just family, but it was a double wedding. Esther and Donald, friends and neighbors who I grew up with, also got married.”

While their wedding day was beautiful, Mac explained that their first home in Beach, N.D., was anything but.

“We lived in a one room abandoned school house. It was very cold because it was winter! It was about three blocks from the coal mine where I worked.”

After awhile, the couple made a move to Crystal Springs, Ill, where Mac said the mortgage on their small house was $500 at $15 per month.

“I moved the house to the front of the lot and built on as the family grew,” he said.

The add-ons to the home would prove to be valuable, as the McCarthy’s added eleven little ones to the family.

“It gave me a sense of responsibility that I never had before – staring me in the face. But I love it. It was fun,” Mac said of his children.

The McCarthy’s eventually headed down south, where they now live near their first son, Jerry. Mary said she enjoyed the warm weather and long growing season for her garden.

“It was a wonderful experience,” Mac said on the couple’s move to the south. “I retired at 70, but I still had a lot of work to do. I love work. Cleared trees and shrubs just for the garden.”

After being married for 70 years, the McCarthy’s said they have learned a few secrets about how to stay together.

“When something touchy comes up, make believe that you are hard of hearing,” Mac joked. “Try not to get on each other’s nerves. Stay busy and never be afraid of work.”

“Communication. Patience. Don’t take life so seriously…less worry and more living. Always be grateful for every day and never stop counting your blessings,” Mary said.

On Sept. 24, the McCarthy’s celebrated their 70th anniversary with a party at the American Legion Post #86.

The party was attended by 67 family members and friends.

The McCarthy family would like to thank the American Legion Post #86 for their hospitality during the party.