Matters of the Heart: Claire and Linda Risner, 51 years side by side and on the move

The secret to Claire and Linda Risner’s 51-year marriage? “Have different interests,” Claire chuckles. “And dual controls on the electric blanket.” Photo credit: Patrice Johnson

by Patrice Johnson

July 15, 1967, with less than full-throated parental support, Linda Butler and Claire Risner stepped up to a little brick church on the corner of Stillson Road and Dexter Trail to be married. Fifty-one years later, the two are still sharing gentle quips and loving glances.

How did this couple weather the bumps that a marriage inevitably encounters? “We just decided we were going to make it,” Linda said, “and that was that.”

Linda grew up in Potterville, Mich., and in 1964 met Stockbridge native Claire Risner at a teen dance in Mason. Two years after their wedding, they came to settle in the Stockbridge area.

“I was a school bus driver for 38 years,” Linda explained, “and Claire worked at Kelsey Hayes in Jackson for 32 years.”

When asked about children, Linda’s face brightened. “We have two daughters, Leanne and Cyndi, and we have two grandsons that we adore.”

Throughout their busy lives, each has made time to give back to their community. For the past 8 years, Linda has delivered Meals on Wheels to senior citizens in the area. Jo Mayer, the new chair of the Stockbridge Wellness Center, pointed out the Risners’ quiet generosity.

“Claire and Linda were very instrumental in the renovation of the Wellness Center,” Mayer said, and she described how the two pitched in to help from the beginning, back in 2010.

What’s the secret to a happy marriage? “Have different interests,” Claire chuckled. “And dual controls on the electric blanket.”

Since Claire’s retirement in 1996, he has “run more half marathons than we can count,” Linda said proudly, “and 5 full marathons of 26.2 miles each.” Claire currently runs 5 miles a day, 5 days a week. His favorite past time is cutting wood to heat their house.

“It’s good exercise,” Claire said. “I like working outside and the steadiness of wood heat.”

Early mornings, Linda may be seen walking Lakelands Trail with friend Sue Lindemer. Three days a week for the past 12 years, the women have traversed the township. When snow is deep? No problem. They slip into their snowshoes and tramp through the winter wonderland.

“And I love to go to estate sales,” Linda said.

Claire and Linda share hobbies together, too. Almost every year for the past half century, they have headed east to backpack a section of the Appalachian Trail, camping backcountry in their tent.

We’ve also hiked in Arizona, and all the trails in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I think,” Claire said. Then his expression turned serious. “Carrying the stove slows Linda down.”

She grinned and formed a small circle with her thumbs and index fingers, signifying a backpacker’s ultra-light camp stove.

“Oh yes,” she mentioned in passing, “I broke my neck one year, and the doctor told me I couldn’t hike the Appalachian Trail that summer.”

Clearly, a hearty vein of resilience and optimism runs through this couple’s relationship.

Linda smiled. “We’ve had a very good life.”