Crocheting in cemeteries supports the Youth Program

So what do you do when your husband is an avid German-Russian researcher and you’re not? You take up crocheting to pass the time while he’s prowling through cemeteries!

Debbie Kilwien’s interest in crocheting is actually part of her own family history. Twenty years ago, an 80-year-old aunt got her started, teaching her the basic stitches and how to read the crochet patterns her mom hadn’t been able to help her with.

And now she’s using her expertise to help the GRHS Youth Program by donating an afghan to be raffled off during the Rapid City convention. “I believe in the youth program,” Debbie says. “That’s where your new members will come from.”

She also saw this as a way to get involved and participate in GRHS activities, alongside husband David’s in-depth involvement. But this is only one of the projects she participates in. She’s become a regular volunteer at the convention registration desk. And she’s a tremendous support to the Dale Wahl Collection Project as she cheerfully hosts a full team of weekend guests every couple months, keeping them fed while they work to organize Dale’s big collection.

One year she even became the impromptu tour director on a bus tour to Strasburg and Hague, North Dakota (the day before a Bismarck convention) – making sure the churches to be toured were opened and the food got served promptly. That role was a bit of a challenge, though. “Have you ever tried to herd a bus of Germans around? They don’t listen!”

Now Debbie’s an active participant at conventions; her favorite part being greeting people during registration and reconnecting with the friends she’s made over the years. But her first convention wasn’t such a positive experience.

At that first convention, she couldn’t get a hello or even a smile out of the GRHS people in the hallways and elevators. “Even the nuns [from another convention] were friendlier!”

But once she put on her “Debbie Kilwien” name tag, people recognized her as “one of us” and began to smile and speak to her. Perhaps that shows just how clannish we German-Russians can be!

The afghan that will be raffled off is a rich burgundy color, created using a two-strand crocheting technique in an exotic shell pattern. Raffle tickets will be available from the Youth booth at the convention for $2 (or 3 tickets for $5). The winning ticket will be drawn during the dinner on Saturday night of the convention.

The more tickets you buy, the better chance you have to win! And the more support you provide for the GRHS Youth Program. This year we had 38 entries in our essay contest (from 16 states and from Chile), the most we have ever had!