The secret to staying married for 60 years, according to Roger and Rosemary Enfield, is kids.

“Have so many that you are too tired to fight,” Rosemary jokes.

The Lakewood couple practiced what they preached. Saturday they celebrated six decades of marriage with their 12 children, all but one of whom still lives in the area.

How they met: The Army brought Roger, who is from Minnesota, to Fort Lewis. He’d served as a medic in World War II and was working as a nurse’s aide at Puget Sound Hospital. Rosemary Palmer was born and raised in Tacoma and was operating an elevator in the hospital at the time.

Rosemary: “I made sure to go to the ice machine at the same time as him so I could say ‘hi’ because he was cute. I was afraid he had a girlfriend.”

Roger: “I was afraid she was too young.”

Starting out: Early dates were to ice and roller rinks, the movies and soda fountain shops for root beers.

The first date, at an ice skating rink, was a little awkward. Rosemary told Roger she loved to skate but really didn’t know how. Their families were both very accepting of their relationship.

Roger: “My family accepted her wholeheartedly because she was Catholic.”

Rosemary: “My mother thought he was great, even wonderful. But she didn’t like me driving with him, but I told her he was so careful: He stopped even at yellow lights. Later on, I found out he was colorblind and couldn’t tell what color they were.”

Marriage: After dating for 18 months, they were married Sept. 27, 1947, at Holy Rosary Church in Tacoma. There were some hard times, particularly when Roger’s home building career went flat. One of the major events of their marriage came when Rosemary found out she was adopted.

Rosemary: “I used to be Irish, Dutch and German, then I found I was all Danish. It was very exciting and wonderful.”

Roger: “At one time, I had three mother-in-laws. Her life is a story. I’ve written it up, too.”

The best part: Their greatest accomplishment together is their children, they say. Both are proud their kids grew up to find good careers and never landed in jail or got hooked on drugs and drinking. Their children, who range in age from 34 to 59, are in and out of the house all the time. With 24 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, the Enfields say any day of the week can turn into a party.

Roger: “I tell everybody I’m a gambler. I couldn’t quit having children when I was winning.”

Rosemary: “God has been very good to us.”