Grand Rapids brothers and sisters married a total of 600 years

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - A Grand Rapids family credits their parents' good example for 11 successful marriages.

"We saw in our parents a tremendous love for their family," says Ben Boersma. "As we watched them, [we decided] that's the way we wanted our children and our families to grow up."

There are seven men and four women in the Boersma family. All of them, including the oldest brother who passed away, were married more than 50 years ago. Some have been married more than 60 years. But none of them have divorced.

The siblings say love and commitment have kept their marriages strong.

"When we were married we vowed before our friends and family and the Lord we were committed to this marriage for life," says Cleo Boersma.

Added together, the Boersma brothers and sisters have been married for over 600 years. They have 45 grandchildren and about 115 "greats", what they call their great grand children.

To help educate future generations in the values they hold so highly, the family has established a Boersma scholarship at Kuyper College in Grand Rapids in the memory of their parents.