MUSCATINE, Iowa — It all began with a single letter sent to the wrong town.

After 58 years, Muscatine native Mary Faulkner Yocom, a former secretary at West Middle School, and Ruth Peters Boeser, of St. Morgan, Ill., are still the best of friends.

“They have been up (to visit), we have been down and we practically raised our kids together,” Yocom said.

When Yocom was 14, the National High School Poetry Association chose a poem she wrote to be published in an anthology by young authors. Boeser also had a poem in the book and her work caught Yocom’s eye.

Yocom, who had “gobs of pen pals” back then, decided to write to Boeser. However, the book listed only Boeser’s name and her rural Illinois school, which was in Carlyle, Ill. Boeser actually lived in nearby Beckemeyer, Ill., about 30 miles from St. Louis.

Still, Yocom’s first letter, addressed simply to Ruth Peters, Carlyle, Ill., found its way and a lifelong friendship blossomed.

“Ruth and I hit it off so well I couldn’t stop writing to her,” Yocom said.

Yocom said it is hard to remember what they wrote about in the early days, but she suspects boys, band, school and poetry.

“I should have kept those letters,” she said.

Still, with each letter, their friendship grew.

“It was really a beautiful relationship,” Boeser said.

When they reached adulthood, Yocom married Don Yocom, who is now a retired Muscatine firefighter. They had six children together. Boeser married Francis Boeser, a farmer, and they had nine children.

“We never had much money raising our kids and my husband’s idea of a vacation was to go down and see them,” Yocom said. “We used to kid [Boeser] because every time she came up to Muscatine she got pregnant.”

Their children enjoyed the visits, too, Boeser said. Her children loved visiting Muscatine and getting a taste of life in the “city.”

Walking to the park with its swings was an important part of any trip to Muscatine.

“My kids really enjoyed them,” Boeser said.

Yocom’s children were enthralled with Boeser’s family farm and walking down the road to see the cows.

Today, Yocom, 72, and Boeser, 74, are more likely to call than write, but they chat most weekends and still regularly exchange visits. In fact, the Boesers came to Muscatine this past summer.

Despite 58 years of friendship, the two women never run out of things to say.

“It’s constant talking,” Yocom said. “We just do a lot of catching up.“

Boeser added, “I’m very proud of her and very proud that we kept up that much.”