BROOKINGS – “We are providing warmth and comfort to those in need, whether it be abroad or within our community,” said Debbie Pederson, a member of the Mission Interest Quilters of First Lutheran Church in Brookings.
Behind those Christian words of mission are some pretty impressive numbers.
On June 3, the quilters celebrated the 50th anniversary of their group, begun in 1968 by Ethel Milda and Olive Sevig. Over the half-century since its founding, 91 women have put together about 10,090 quilts. As some quilters retired others came forward to replace them.
From an annual low of 70 quilts to an annual high of 364 quilts, they averaged 217 quilts a year. Via Lutheran World Relief, quilts have been distributed around the globe to nations that include Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Haiti and many African countries.
Closer to home, quilts have been given to agencies and organizations that include Flandreau Indian School, The Banquet in Sioux Falls, Harvest Table in Brookings, Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter, Teen Challenge of the Dakotas, Prison Connection in Sioux Falls, and Brookings area veterans. And since 1999, quilts have been given to Brookings High School graduates who are members of the congregation.
In a church bulletin celebrating their half-century, the quilters noted that to many recipients, especially in poor nations, “A quilt becomes a very versatile possession. At night they spread it on the ground and wrap up in it for warmth. In the morning they wear it as a shawl over their heads and shoulders. As the day grows warmer, the quilt is wrapped around the waist and becomes a sort of skirt. The quilts have also been used as shrouds when their owners pass away.”
Two groups, team effort
“Many hands make light work,” says a proverb of the Haya people of Tanzania. That approach certainly applies to the First Lutheran quilters, who work in two different groups: One meets on Monday evenings. The other group meets at 9 a.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month.
Four of the oldest and most stalwart members are in the Tuesday group: Carol Laabs, Signe Anderson, Marian Voelker and Lillian Osvog. Three of the four women are nonagenarians; the other is a year behind.
“I like sewing,” said Laabs, 93, a 3M retiree who has been in the Lutheran quilters about 30 years. “I learned to sew when I was a kid. My mom sewed a lot.”
“We tied quilts when we were little, too,” she added, laughing. “We had to tie knots in those quilts that mom made.”
She does most of the final sewing of the quilts and does about 10 at each meeting. That means about 20 a month.
“It keeps you busy,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when I retire from sewing.”
Marian Voelker, 89, and a 28-year veteran of the quilters, retired from working as a baker at Brookings High School.
“I sewed all my life since I was a little child,” she said, echoing Laabs. “My mother went to quilting bees in the neighborhood. I just loved it.” She makes most of the quilt backings and sometimes works at home cuting blocks, the patchwork squares that give each quilt its unique individuality.”
“I decided that when I retired, I was going to do something for somebody,” explained Anderson, 95, who has been quilting with the church group for about 29 years. “So it turned out to be missions, because that was something that I could do and there were others that wanted to do it, too.”
She’s retired from a career that included teaching in Brookings schools. “I started out in third grade and then I went to remedial reading,” she added. “I have done many, many years of private tutoring.”
Along the way she got married and raised six children. During that time she did private tutoring.
“It was at a time when there weren’t any of these specialized teachers,” Anderson explained. “It was before that time. Mothers would take children out of school and bring them to my house.”
“I am the very oldest; I’m 96 1/2,” said Lillian Osvog, a group quilter for about 10 years. “I feel that it’s service to the Lord.”
“We all do the same things, just at different stages,” explained Julie Bell, addressing the teamwork needed as both groups combine their efforts to make a quilt, which takes about eight hours.
“Once you get your fabric, then you have to cut your squares,” she added. “Then you have to sew all your squares (patchwork pieces) together. Then a back has to be put on and then the filler added. Finally, the outside edges have to be hemmed.” The materials needed for the quilters are either purchased or donated.
The key to the continuing success of the Mission Interest Quilters is that stepping up to fill the spots left open as older and more experienced quilters step down. Debbie Pederson is one of those relative newcomers.
“it just sounded interesting,” she said of her joining the group. “I hadn’t sewed for years and I really admire the women who sew the quilts and where they go. I just wanted to be part of that.”
Contact John Kubal at jkubal@brookingsregister.com.
Register photos:
Above, Marian Voelker, left, and Signe Anderson put their skills to work on a patchwork quilt on Tuesday morning in Fellowship Hall at First Lutheran Church in Brookings.
Below, on Monday evening in Fellowship Hall at First Lutheran Church in Brookings, from left, Jean Gentry, Debbie Pederson, Dee Shanley, Brenda Hayne and Mary Moeller proudly show off some of quilting work done by the Mission Interest Quilters.
