| Veronica's quilt: names of friends spark memories By Rhonda Westfall
That's the true beauty of the squares that each contain the embroidered names of four friends. The squares that form the 'Jacob's Ladder' design are a patchwork of local history - that was 64 years in the making. The St. Johns lady began the quilting project back in 1937, "Before Edwin and I were married," Veronica says of her husband. The pair lived in Bengal Township for many years before moving to St. Johns. "I don't remember exactly what gave me the idea to have names embroidered on the squares - maybe I saw it in a magazine or something," Veronica says, adding that the friends she gave the squares to in most cases embroidered their names themselves.
"There's my brother, Andy Galvach, and his wife," Veronica says, pointing to a pair of names etched in blue thread on a white, quilted square. Many of the embroidered signatures of ladies on the quilt are of their maiden names. "Here's Edith Luecht (Light)," Veronica says of one of the "Luecht girls" from neighboring Riley Township who were acquaintances at St. Peter Lutheran Church where the quilt was on display Easter Sunday. Like a number of names on the quilt, Edith's has red embroidery floss tied next to it - signifying her passing. The individuals may be gone, but their names and memories of good times are alive in Veronica's quilt. The names of members from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fowler are also prevalent on the quilt - Leona and Marie Tiedt, and even Pastor Beyer. Although the squares were finished a number of years ago, the 'quilting lady' didn't get around to putting it together until this past winter. "I had it stored in a metal popcorn can all these years," Veronica says. "Every now and then I'd get it out and think about putting it together - then back in the popcorn can it went." When she finally buckled down to the task, it took five weeks to put together - and now, it has a place of honor on the Boettger's "spare" bed. "It brings back a lot of memories, looking at the names of people," she says. |
There's a person behind every name - and a story attached
to each person - on Veronica Boettger's hand-made quilt.
Along with friends and acquaintances from the late 1930s and
early '40s, the names of Veronica's brothers and sisters and other relatives of the couple
also appear on the quilt.