Besta has been gone now for 25 years. Some of these mementos came to me after she died and some I’ve had much longer as gifts she made for me. I am keeping a few things still, but I am ready to hand off the items pictured in this blog to someone else to enjoy. Please take a look and let me know if you would like to have any of them. I’ll find a good home for anything not claimed.
P.S. See the instructions at the right for how this will work.
As the oldest girl, Ann gets Besta’s diamond engagement ring if she wants it. Lorma had several other rings she wanted to pass on to the girls, so if all the girls want a ring, I think we can arrange for each one to get one. (Sorry, Adam. You can have first choice on something else).
Besta’s watch has several very tiny diamonds set into either side of the wristband.
The locket contains photos of Daryl and Eugene. One time Besta took me on a shopping trip to Spencer. She gave me her locket to play with in the car, and somewhere along the way it disappeared. Years later, she was still telling the story of the lost locket. I don’t think she ever completely forgave me for losing it. So I was surprised to see this locket when it came my way after she died. It must have been a replacement for the one I lost.
An etched glass medallion commemorating Fred and Margaret’s 70th wedding anniversary. About 4″ x 6″.
The label attached to the upper right corner of the center placemat says “Hand Knit by Margaret Bebernes.”
Here are a few pieces from Besta’s jewelry box.
(1) Gold chain
(2) String of purple plastic beads
(3) Mother of pearl pin
This afghan was made by Besta for me. It’s quite striking.
“God Jul” – Danish for Merry Christmas (literally, “Good Christmas”). Besta made this.
Another afghan made for me by Besta.
Besta was quite proud of her cross-stitched handiwork on this beauty of a bedspread. She kept it on the bed in her guest room. It was made for a double bed but is big enough to work as a top over a bed skirt on a queen bed. (It has a few brownish areas from age).
These are various hand-made pieces. I don’t think all of them were made by Besta. Some may have been gifts given to her.
(1) Handkerchief with blue tatted edges and embroidered flower
(2) Painted swatch
(3) Small gold embroidered mat (folded in half in picture)
(4) Hardanger embroidery sample
(5) Cross-stitched pillow cases
(6) Painted scene on dishtowel
(7) Handkerchief with purple variegated tatted edges
I’m quite sure Besta made these little cuties.
This pair of ceramic chickens lived on the room divider that formed the entryway to Besta and Papa’s house in Estherville. Each one is about 4-1/2″ long and 3″ high.
This is a small bud vase. It must have sat on one of Besta’s curio shelves. It looks familiar but I don’t remember any stories about it.
This beribboned doll has a cross-stitched dress and bonnet. I think Besta made this doll.
I don’t know if Besta made any of these. They aren’t typical of the kind of work she did, so I’m guessing they were purchases or gifts. Each one is about 10″ in diameter.
Your great-great-uncle Rudolph (Papa’s brother) had lots of neckties. Rudie’s wife Thelma made pillows out of them after he died. I think this one must have been given to Papa and Besta by her.
Six short and eleven tall stemmed dessert dishes that belonged to Besta.
