Pella’s Tulip Queens & Courts 1980-89
Queen Monica May Newendorp (1980)
Court Members
Andrea Busker VanWyk, Renee DeBoef Simon, Patti Monsma Nieuwsma , Norma Stursma Kuiper
Flower Girls
Jonquil Terpstra Turner, Heidi Rumer Watkins
Royal Pages
Lynn Veldhuizen, Kim Duven Bandstra
Queen Kathleen Lucas Nikkel (1981)
Court Members
Sandy DeZwarte Schippers, Valerie Newendorp Sutphen, Laura Roozeboom, Lori Vroom
Queen Nancy Thies VanFarowe (1982)
Court Members
LeeAnn DeReus, Lori VanderLeest, Rosie VanWyk, Ann Vermeer
Queen Brenda Boomsma VanHouweling (1983)
Court Members
Christi Koopman VanderVoort, Amber Terpstra Dugger, Lucia VandeKamp VanMannen, Lisa VanRheenen Ruiter
Flower Girls
Heidi Vermeer Quist, Teresa VanZee
Queen Beth Boomsma Fitzgerald (1984)
Court Members
Patti Beintema, Julie DeReus, Carol Roorda, Julie VanderWilt
Queen Geselle Mulder Steenhoek (1985)
Court Members
Sandy Gosselink Hundt, Kelli Kredit, Stephanie TeRonde, Glenda VanderWal
Queen LeAnn VanderHart Bouwkamp (1986)
Court Members
Christy Blom VandeHaar, Jodi DenAdel, Kim Duven Bandstra, Kendra VanDalen
Queen Patti DeNooy Johnson (1987)
Court Members
Julie Bogaards, Paula Malin, Leslie Quade, Jill VanZee VanderWeerdt
Flower Girls
Lyndsay DeNooy, Melanie DeNooy
Royal Pages
Theresa Zylstra, Jill Verhey Anderson
Queen Tonya VanWyk Headlee (1988)
Court Members
Jennifer Brandl, Jaci Ryken Mrosko , Elizabeth Smiley Taylor, Kim VanDalen Westerfield
Flower Girls
Jessica Vint, Jeanna Redman Hoekstra
Memories from Queen Tonya:
I was 17 when I was chosen to be Pella’s Tulip Queen. The town voted for 28 nominees, which were then pictured in the Pella Chronicle. Voting by the general public narrowed it down to the top twelve. Finalists were interviewed and judged at the November Queen’s Announcement Party at the Pella High School. The queen and court were announced at the end of the party. My court members were Kim Van Dalen Westerfield, Jaci Ryken Mrosko, Jennifer Brandl and Liz Smiley Taylor. My flower girls were Jessica Vint and Jeanna Redman (1997 Queen) and Pages were Shelly Brand and Lisa Brass.
My costume represented the province of Gelderland. My Sunday costume was entirely black, with the exception of a white bonnet. Court members wore the Everyday costume, which was black with a blue apron and white hat.
We promoted Tulip Time throughout the year. Our travels included the Sports Shows at the Unidome and Vets Auditorium where we passed out cookies and sang songs. We went to many local groups, as well as the Capitol, Blank Hospital, Drake Relays, Veisha Parade, “Van and Connie” show and appeared on television on KCCI TV and also in Kirksville, MO. During our promotions, we got to meet Vice President George Bush, when he came to Pella on his campaign trail! Most of our transportation was provided by Jerome & Hilma Schakel in their motor home – it was so much fun!. Our presentation was on the Klokkenspel. We sang a few Dutch songs, too, but I was glad that the other gals on the court were much better singers than me!
For Tulip Time, we were picked up every day in an old-time convertibles, and we were brought to the Pella National Bank where we met for pictures every day. I was crowned on the first afternoon of Tulip Time by Burgemeister Orville Dunkin. During Tulip Time, we were presented on the Tulip Tower before the start of every parade and then rode in horse-drawn carriages. We also sat at a viewing stand at the end. It was sunny and hot all three days and we could have not asked for prettier tulips or more beautiful weather
I’m so happy to share this experience with my sister-in-law, Heather Heiting Van Wyk, who was queen in 1990.
Queen Sophie Falcon Cordero (1989)
Court Members
Angela Dieleman, Tricia Steenhoek, Julie VanderPloeg, Heather Wegter
Pella Tulip Queens 