My cousin Jack Wifladt from Edmonton, Alberta Canada visited us here in Cebu. He arrived on January 15th and left last night. Jack’s mother and my Dad were twins. We truly enjoyed his visit. Lots of fun. With his visit I missed posting the last three blogs, so this is a catch up.
Gary
Message from Ginger LaRocque Poitra (’65): Belcourt, ND
I have been wondering how you are.
Thinking of you and Bernadette, how much you have done for everyone.
Bernadette was always so helpful when we had a class reunion and so graciously giving of her expertise.
Gary you have made everyone so much more aware of their families and friends around the community. I feel that everyone is closer, those who weren’t in days of old.
I for one, know more people who were around me all those years in school and never knowing who they were. Now I at least know them some what better than I did back then. For that I am so very grateful. All because of you and the time you took from your wonderful family to bring a bigger family together.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing us all so much closer than we were as kids.
May God bless you and keep your heart as big as it is and has been, forever and always.
Bless you my friend and classmate,
Ginger (LaRocque) Poitra our class of 1965
Gary’s Reply
Thank you ginger for this wonderful eulogy. I must say that I too have learned to know many folks whom as kids I really only knew who they were, some of whom I had never even seen or talked to. I think that was so true of so many in many of the smaller rural communities of our days too. The common tread being that we are a close knit community with common ties that we can all relate to.
Lillian Thompson Bergstrom (’36): Superior, WI.
Reply from her Granddaughter Bev Rochon:
Good Morning,
I am the eldest grand daughter of Lillian Thompson.
I stumbled onto your website by accident when I typed my grandmothers name into the “search”.
Grandma has quite a few relatives on Face Book and I was wondering if it is possible to share your site. All of her grandkids, and some great grandchildren are members too.
If you have any pictures of grandma, class photo’s etc..
I would love to see them.
Thank you,
Bev Rochon.
Lillian’s first grandchild and grand daughter
Gary’s Reply,
Thank you Bev for this reply. Lillian to our knowledge is the oldest living to have ever graduated from Dunseith High School. Lillian’s mother was a sister to my my Grandfather, Frank Stokes. Lillian and my dad were first cousins. Ella Pladson was also a sister of Lillian’s.
Radom acts of Kindness
Reply from Aggie Casavant (’69): Fort Mill, SC
In this day and age of rapid change in which we live, I find it more and more difficult to find anything that really impresses me anymore,others than random acts of kindness, like the guy on the New York subway last week that literally gave this homeless man the shirt off his back, and his wool knit cap in freezing weather….. I couldn’t watch it enough times….I was so totally impressed,and it seemed like so was the rest of the world. Today while reading the Dunseith blog I came across the picture of the USS New York made out of the salvage of the World Trade Center that Alden Allard sent in……totally impressed….thanks for taking the time to share that Alden, it is so interesting to look at, and very impressive. Thanks again for sharing. God Bless Aggie.
Seim school picture in the late 30’s: Need to identify
From Vickie Metcalfe (’70): Bottineau, ND
Gary and Friends,
I am on a mission to help a long ago neighbor of the hills.
I received this photograph just this past Monday, January 19, 2016, from Ursella; Carroll Carlson’s younger sister.
She seeks help identifying former schoolmates from her country school days. (She didn’t not say the year, I wonder late ? 1930’s ? early 1940’s?)
It is a photograph of Oakes Country School a.k.a. Seim Country School; on the front steps facing West, Teacher, older Youth and several children
This school was located on the dirt road about one mile south of the John & Ingrid //Arthur & Eva Seim Farm///Peter & Christina Carlson Farm.
- The school would have been located, one mile North of Henry & Josephine Birkland farm site; a wee bit shy where David and Eva Eurich once lived on a farm.
Ursella said the teacher, was a Ms. Brennan.
Ursella is standing by the teachers husband in this photo.
The teacher was probably the photographer,
(I do not know if the teacher would be Mrs. Hazel Brennan i.e. Mrs. Ross Brennan or a sister of Ross, Ray & John Brennan)
Some of the older girls are Ursella Carlson, and friends Emilie Birkland, and Bette Eurich.
Ursella also said there were ‘a lot’ Peterson children in the photo. (Max and Mary Awalt Peterson)
Thank you all so much on this endeavor!
Vickie L. Metcalfe
Seim School in the late 30’s
Need to identify
North Dakota’s Six pack
From Vickie Metcalfe (’70): Bottineau, ND
http://www.agweek.com/news/north-dakota/3867264-six-pack-rodeo-members-be-recognized-nfr
Gary and Friends,
Today’s January 18, 2016, Minot Daily News front page was interesting. An article and photograph of North Dakota’s Six Pack.
I was fortunate to have met good people who knew, were in awe of, and respected the Six Pack. I also had the opportunity to work with
one of their wives who was a reading teacher.
Before I went to work in Sidney, I knew very little about Eastern Montana.
Moving to Sidney was a rare educational experience.
The first few weeks, I met children of dry land farmers, irrigation Beet farmers, people who owned oil wells, Cowboys and Ranchers,
descendants of Migrant workers, Sheep ranchers, Dane’s who came to work annually in the Yellowstone Valley, and rig workers.
The first day, I also quickly found out how to respond when asked what kind of rig I had.
Then, came a learning experience in true cowboy culture and the “Cowboy Way”.
The people in ranch country of rural western ND and Eastern Montana hold good cowboys with high esteem and respect.
One friend who I often rode horseback with lived just over the Yellowstone in North Dakota.
Her husband saddled up his horse Pepsi for me to ride and we’d ride in the shadows of the bluffs.
I was leary and chicken about rattlesnakes, I’d watch Pepsi’s ears believing in the horse sense.
The first spring I was invited to come to their ranch for branding.
She said “branding” is the neighborly event!
“Sure”, I said, “How do I find where to go” in the big cattle pasture?
She gave me general directions then added, “If you get in the general area and see a butte;
Stop,look and listen. I did,
It was a hot, dry, spring, midday when finally, I saw dust and smelled burning hair… I knew I was close!
I drove over another cattle guard and grassy knoll. There on the open range was the cattle herd.
Cowhands of every age (5-75) from the area were riding and roping. One guy stood holding the branding iron.
The younger guys were wrestling calves.
And a cacophony of loud bellering!
A hundred feet away from that action tables covered with cloths, laden with every kind of potluck salad brought by the ladies; hot bbq beans and roasters full of
warm slices of roast beef, homemade buns and cold beer and soda provided by the owner.
Soon everyone stopped, ate discussed when and whom was having the next branding.
There would be several of these events within a month.
My friend once told me, anyone can enjoy Montana mountains but true Beauty, Eastern Montana, isn’t just seen with the eye, it’s felt in the heart.
And I hold Eastern Montana fondly………
(Sorry folks I know its winter but I’m thinking spring)
Later,Vickie Metcalfe
Condolences to the Leonard Delorme Family
From Vickie Metcalfe (’70):Bottineau, ND
Gary and Dunseith Friends,
My sincere sympathy to the family and extended family of Leonard Delorme on his passing.
His cousin, Shirley (Hunt) shared her sorrow of his passing .
I recalled when ‘Lennie’ as a youngster, came to our farm with his dad, Leonard and uncle Tom Belgarde to haul hay bales.
Those guys worked hard in unison in the summer sun.
Dad was most appreciative to have the hay brought to the home place stored and ready for the sheep, cattle and horses.
Vickie Metcalfe
http://www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1736208
Leonard David Delorme Lenny
October 24, 1961 – January 20, 2016
Leonard David “Lenny” Delorme, age 54 of Grand Forks, ND, passed
away on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at the University of Minnesota
Medical Center Fairview.
Lenny Delorme was born October 24, 1961 in Rigby, ID, the son of
Amanda Poitra and the late Leonard Delorme. He grew up and attended
school in Dunseith, ND and later attended the North Dakota State College
of Science in Wahpeton where he graduated with a degree in business
management. Following his education, he began working for Automated
Maintenance Services in Fargo. He later started his own window cleaning
business and worked for various meat packaging plants including Greater
Omaha where he was the Manager of Engineering. He was united in
marriage to Lisa Peterson in 1986 in St. Cloud, MN. The couple moved to
Grafton in 2002 where he continued his window cleaning business and
later in Grand Forks in 2010. His health forced him to retire in 2012.
Lenny had a passion for motorcycles and riding horses. He was a people
person and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He
wasn’t just a brother to his siblings, but also like a father.
He is survived by the love of his life, Lisa Delorme, Grand Forks, ND,
children: Reannen (Kevin) Blake, Omaha, NE, and Karly Delorme, Ryan
Delorme, Danielle Delorme, and Leonard Delorme Jr., all of Grand
Forks, 12 grandchildren: Riley Hanson, Kyler & Khloe Blake, Jordan
Johnson & Grant Galloway, Caitlyn, Myah, Alivia, Ryan Jr., Ryder, &
Rydn Delorme, and McKenzie Pederson, mother Amanda Poitra, West
Fargo, ND, siblings: Denise (John) Lettow, Robert (Debbie) Delorme,
both of West Fargo, ND, Deanna (Patrick) Devine, Grand Forks, ND, and
Gary (Heidi) Delorme, West Fargo, ND. Several nieces nephews, and
friends also survive. He was preceded in death by his father and sister
Sandra Delorme-Peltier.
Born: October 24, 1961
Place of Birth: Rigby, ID
Death: January 20, 2016
Place of Death: Minneapolis, MN
Message from Lee Stickland (’64): lDickinson, ND
Y’ALL
This morning in a Care Conference I was informed that my health was too good to warrant my continued staying at
St Luke’s Home.
I was admitted on August 22, 2014 when the hospitalist @ our local St Joseph’s Hospital determined that I could no
longer safely live alone. I was repeatedly falling flat on my face. ( A TRUE faint/loss of consciousness is always
forward. ) { [seizures, from 1965 head injury] decreased blood pressure, heart stoppage>>>???}
My last fall at home was the fourth (4th) for the day, by 11 am. I was standing in my apartment’s bathroom and ended up with my face on the new carpet in the hallway; blood all over. When I fell, I kicked the seat off
from the toilet, and broke other surrounding items. In spite of my years of EMT training and experience with the ambulance, I failed to know enough to just put pressure on the cut; I kept trying to staunch the blood flow.
Don’t know how long I lay but when I woke I was not able to use my cell phone until finally remembering that I had
an app that allowed me to press a button for the first name of a friend. He quickly sent his two (2) sons over. I thought
they could maybe discover a towel that was not full of blood and use it to apply pressure and get me to the emergency
room. NOPE—ambulance time.
9 stitches and 8 days later I was fortunate to gain my bed in room number 110 here at St Luke’s. My seizures are now
in control, I have went through a battle with cancer of the prostate; beginning with a PSA # of 96.0 and being able to
get it down to 0.10 in just 6 months. Dr. says my A1C, which measure my diabetes,is wonderfully stable.
THEREFORE: I no longer require skilled nursing care and can safely move to the Evergreen Care Cntr. where Dad was for 4 and 1/2 years. I will be interviewed by two (2) ladies on Monday whom I know well. One is the administrator and one is the front office person; each who have been with Evergreen for many years. I look forward to new horizons, even though new curves in the road will present themselves.
The 88 year old gentleman who sits across from me at meals learned last week that he would be going to Evergreen on the 25th. Nice that each of us can get better together and move about the same time. He likes to play cards and I like to read and write and work with the computer so all should “go just OK”
Don’t know what there may be for furniture at the Evergreen. I may be sleeping on the floor. As I recall, there is a lot
larger area for hanging up clothes, so that will be convenient.
” When A New River Presents Itself, I Will Just Have To Construct A New Bridge” LEE s 12:am MST 1/23/16
Yours, as always:::Dad, Dad Lee, Grampa, Classmate, (A) brother, Uncle, 1st cousin, 4th cousin, friend
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
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Blog (411) posted on March 29, 2009
Posted on March 29, 2009
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From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND Gary, My niece, Justene Rae Metcalfe is a senior at Moorhead State University. Her parents are Shanon Clifford Metcalfe ,DHS class of 1982 and Debbie (Salmonson) Metcalfe. Justene is a young women with a broad depth of character traits. Justene is one of those college students that stayed behind to help sandbag Fargo this past week. Auntie Vickie wanted her to come home to the hills to be dry. Quoting her; “Justene said, she feels like it’s a cop-out to leave when you don’t need to and so many other people need your help… ” Her mom Deb said,” gotta be proud of her, even though we would really rather have her at home”. Gary, If you please, I’d like to share a bit of Justene’s poetry (2008) with all your Dunseith readers. Many Thanks. From Lee Stickland (64): Dickinson, ND
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