Janice Metcalfe Poitra (71) passing

Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70): Dunseith, ND

Janice (Metcalfe) Poitra passed away at her home north of Dunseith,Sunday October 18, 2009, yesterday morning. She leaves behind her; her husband Raphael, son Jaime, daughter Kelly & son-in law Chris Olson, Grand children Kennedy and Joss, her sister Elaine, brother Travis & sister -in law Debbie, and Melissa, Morgan and Mike her nieces and nephew.

She will be dearly missed by,many Metcalfe and Oswell Cousins.
and Many friends including, Kelvin Patrons and folks who shopped at Wayne’s Jack and Jill years ago when Janice worked there.

Janice’s funeral Is Thursday 10 AM Peace Lutheran in Duseith.

Veiwing 12 noon Wednesday.

Vickie

Condolence’s to the Janice Poitra and Dorothy Robert Families

From Bernard & Robin Morin (76): Dunseith, ND

To the families of Janice Poitra and Dorothy Robert we offer our sincere condolences. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all in this time of sorrow.
Bernard & Robin Morin

Thanks. Bernard

Condolence to the Metcalfe/Poitra family

From Pete (62) & Verena Gillis: Dunseith, ND

Gary,
We are sending our condolences to the Metcalfe/Poitra family. If there is
anything I can do to help, please call me at 244-5249 ext. 122. Raphael is my cousin and Janice was a good friend of ours.

Verena & Pete Gillis

Memory of Janice Metcalfe Poitra (71) from Laverne Christianson:

Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

My sincere empathy to all who are related or friends of Janice
Poitra,who’s early death occured on October 18th.
Words always seem so futile at this time but may all reading this
E-mail be comforted knowing that she is ill no more, she is free of
any discomfort she experienced and that she loved all of you dearly.

She been taken far too soon but no doubt she has left a “Beautiful
Legacy” for all who knew her, to follow.

with love to all you,

Laverne Christianson, your Canadian cousin.

Condolences to Janice Metcalfe Poitra’s family

From Paula Fasset (71): North Branch, MN

It was a shock and I was very, very sad to read that Janice (Metcalfe) has passed. Janice was a great person – always friendly, always smiling. She was my classmate and I considered her my friend. I know she will be missed. My condolences to Raphael and her children – and her entire family. God bless.

Paula Fassett-Pfuhl

Condolence’s to the Metcalfe/Poitra and Allard Families

From Lynn Halvorson Otto (75): Seoul, Korea

To the Metcalfe family: I’m so sorry to here of Janice’s passing. I’m sure she’ll be missed terribly by her family and friends. May God give you some comfort during this difficult time. Lynn Halvorson Otto

To Duane Allard and family: I’m so shocked to hear of LaVonne’s passing away. I spoke with her and Duane at the all class reunion in 07. LaVonne and I worked together many long hours at the music camp when we were in high school. She was so fun to be with and I’m so sad to hear of her death. I’ll pray often for her family and friends. Very saddened, Lynn Halvorson Otto

Message to Vickie Metcalfe from Sally Knutson Metcalfe ( wife to Archie and Daughter of Mary Eurich Knutson):

Vickie, should we do flowers from the family ?
I am assuming arrangements will be made today so if you hear when the
funeral is let me know. I am going to make some potatoe salad and ham
but I thought I would take it over the day before the funeral.
I saw Raphaels car at the house and the place was all lit up this
morning. Looks like it might have been a hard night.
Let me know.Thanks

Arnold Zeiler Family memories

From Helen Metcalfe Barden (62): Fargo, ND.

What wonderful memories I have of Arnold Zeiler in my growing up years. We were neighbors about 1-1/2 miles apart. His daughter, Sandy, and I were classmates, starting in “town” school in our sixth grade, having gone to different country school our first five years. Arnold drove our bus and he loved it that we loved to sing on his bus, especially those 50s songs. He said it kept things peaceful. Arnold was like a second dad to me, always so good natured. Just as Lorna was a second Mom as Sandy and I would stay over with one another.

A fond memory was when they had TV before us and invited us over to watch professional wrestling. That was something!

Helen (Metcalfe) Barden

Note:

Gary, Our new address for our Class Directory Record is:

4336 37th Avenue S.

Fargo, ND 58104

San Haven Memories

From Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC

Even though I hadn’t lived at the San since 1969, I was devastated when the San closed in the early 80s. I couldn’t attend the auctions – I started crying whenever I thought of all of that history and beauty gone. Fortunately, Dad bought a few pieces for me – some Dining Room silverware, a tray and a chair. The first time I went back after the barbed wire went up, I tried closing the windows – so the snow and rain couldn’t destroy the buildings. The next time I toured, many of the roofs were gone. I don’t think I want to see it as Allen Richard recently described it. Thank you Allen for your political assessment of the San’s downfall. I didn’t know that part of the story.

Brenda 1968

Part two from Brenda Hoffman:

In 1952, both my Mom and I were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) and that’s why my family moved to San Haven. I was discharged in 1953 (at the age of three) and my Mom the following year. When I was in the hospital, someone gave me a nickel which I promptly swallowed and needed to be rushed to Minot wearing Jay Vanory’s clothes and being held by Cynthia Johnson, Dick Johnson’s Grandmother. I survived that incident as well as climbing the hospital wall pipes and “breaking out” of my crib so frequently that I was written up in the San Piper(I think that was the name), the San Haven patient newspaper. The hospital was filled when we were patients – 200 beds? and we were discharged so soon because of the discovery of the penicillin family of drugs shortly before WWII. My Dad had a cousin hospitalized at the San for 13 years – from the time she was 13. Prior to the discovery of the penicillin drugs, all sorts of odd treatments were provided including sun bathing nude on the lawns (men and women separated of course) to sleeping outside as the last phase of treatment before being sent home – those lucky winter patients – they were provided with a hot brick to place at their feet.

Mom’s first job following her discharge was babysitting the Chuck and Mona Johnson’s boys. Brian Johnson quickly became my best friend. Mom, Dad, Dale and I lived in the Children’s Building and shared bathroom facilities with the other people on our side of the hall. The building telephone was also in the hall and only provided service until ten o’clock at night. Charlene and Sharon Pearson lived in the Children’s Building Penthouse that had both bathroom and a kitchen. The Boguslowski’s (sp?) (Alice and Eddie, Allen and John) had the first television in the Building – maybe at the San and the kids would gather in their living room to watch those great cowboy shows. Carol Jasper and her family also lived in the Children’s Building. By this time, Dad had shifted from working in the hospital kitchens to the San Haven baker – the bakery was located in the basement of the Dining Room.

My family walked the block or so to the Dining Room for all of our meals. In the winter, we gratefully used the tunnels that ran throughout most of the San. Charlene and her family eventually moved to a large private house accessible by the tunnels – I still remember her answering the tunnel door to her house when I knocked (how odd is that!).

My brother, Dale, and Jay were playing with matches in the woods behind the Children’s Building one summer and nearly burned the San down. I don’t think that was a good day for either of them! But then, with Jeanne Nicholas, John and Allen, Brian, Charlene, Jay, the children of Dr. Laub – Karen and Robert and eventually the Caudrado’s, something was always going on. Roller skating (clip ons with a large metal key) and bike racing (always putting playing cards in the spokes for that special sound!) on the high and low sidewalks, croquet in the large open field beside Charlene’s house, wading in the fishpond (making Francis Baker the gardener crazy), anti-I-over (sp? over Charlene’s house seemingly always when her mom was trying to take a nap) and paper dolls. Charlene and I saved our money to buy the large Katy Keene paper dolls – I think they cost a dollar. And then of course the Kool-Aid stands strategically placed so that all of the hospital employees needed to walk by our stand BEFORE they arrived at the Commissary for their afternoon coffee. Jay, ever the businessman, brought extra stuffed animals to ensure that we caught the eyes of the workers.

Lorraine Pearson and Benny Frovarp ran the Commissary located in the basement of the Ad Building. Benny and Arlene Sand were responsible for the post office (zip code 58371) located in the room next to the Commissary. The third floor of the Ad Building had a number of empty, fully furnished apartments that were unlocked. Talk about having a great place to play house! Of course, we had to be extra quiet when we snuck in though – Mom was Executive Housekeeper by that time and was responsible for the apartments. Oh and the water balloon fights. Poor Benny F. We used the Post Office bathroom (always unlocked also!) to fill our water balloons and he had to clean up our mess.

Jeanne and her family lived in a large apartment above the Dining Room. On the second floor of the other Dining Room entrance was the movie theater that was used up until the early 50s I believe because TB patients were not allowed to interact with the public. We kids loved sneaking into the projector room and playing with the old equipment. I had my 16th birthday party in the theater room.

As Jean stated in an earlier blog, we had a pretty ideal environment. It was a bit like living in a country club – everything was done for you. San Haven staff planted our gardens, fixed our television set and delivered our Christmas trees.

Brenda Hoffman 1968

San Haven Reply

From Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, WY.

Thank you, Dick and Allan’
I was saddened to learn the outcome of San Haven. Like I said, it has been years since I was up in the Dunseith area. To me, one cant call that progress, it was greed and lack of interest from the government. There were many buildings like San Haven that had been remodeled, after all the asbestos was removed. That was another cop out by the feds! I also remember when you were in office Allan.
Dick, that building was called Old Main. I remember it will, since I had gone to MSU in 1989, only to leave Minot, in 1992; being transferred down to CSU in Fort Collins, Co. Old Main had been a day care for those who were going to MSU at the time. During my time there, they began rennovating all of MSU and it was an experience I will never forget.
Sybil Johnson

Dorothy Robert’s accident

Article from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

Ivy Eller Robert’s (74) reply:Everett, WA.

Yes, that is about Dorothy Robert. They couldn’t release her name until her family was notified. She was living there in Langdon with her sister Marlene.

Ivy

DOROTHY ROBERT, 76, Langdon, formerly of Rolette, died Sunday in a Langdon hospital. (Elick Funeral Home, Rolla)

Wesley Schneider Story

From by Vickie Metcalfe (70):Bottineau, ND

Gary, I go for a walk and I seek out friends when I’m sad
and today was one of those days.

The furbabies and I were on our quick walk this afternoon
when turning a right, Buie zipped up Ovidia and Wesley’s driveway.
I thought he was heading in that direction for one of Wes’ dog
treats. A quick rap , Ovidia opens the door and Buie hurriedly moved
around her into the Schneider sitting room. I soon realized that
Buie was clearly on a mission.
Yesterday, when Wes tried to entertain Buie with a little
stuffed orange pumpkin toy (about the size of a small basket ball)
which when turned on, rolls around and makes a buzzing sound. He
acted quite scared and decided he didn’t want to play with Wes’ new
toy anymore (fickle dog). But today, the little dog with some new
found courage took a most ferocious aim at the living room intent on
finding Wes’ pumpkin.
Once happy that he had faced down the dreaded enemy, he
strutted and turned his attention on Wes’ treats, dancing on two
feet and begging until he got his allotted one! We three do try
to be polite neighbors!

Settled down at the table with Wes scratching the dogs, I
prepared myself for a Wes Tale. I was not disappointed. I’ll
summarize it best as I can to share with you.

Years ago when Wes was a young lad, about 15, his dad gave
him a gun. Wes would take that gun out and move around the hill so
he would come in from the south of his favorite hunting place. He’d
lie on the ground on his stomach intent, patient, take aim and wait.
Fire. Oft times the impact of the firing gun would send him back a
few feet. But he loved the feeling of being able to sometimes hit
what he intended.
Often, a well known Dunseith store keeper, would come out to
the Schneider farm because he too enjoyed hunting. One day, the
guy pulls up his rifle and says to young Wesley, “Take off your hat
and throw it up in the air and I will shoot it.” Wes says to the
store keeper , “You show me how….you go first, throw your hat up in
the air.”
So the guy did and BOOM with one shot, Wes hit the hat
before it hit the ground! Well the guy says to Wes. Now it’s my
turn.” So worriedly Wes takes off his old hat, his only hat, and
throws it up high into the air. High into the air it sails….The
storekeepers gun fires… boom, miss, the hat glides down and lands
in the dirt without a mark.
Disgruntled. The store keeper stomps over to the hat …
“BOOM, BOom, boom…. Wes’ hat destroyed.” And there he was Hatless
and unhappy Wes. Nothing more was said.
A few days later… Hatless Wes goes to town and into the
store. The storekeeper had seen Wes coming, and from under the
counter pulls out and gives Wes a…….. fine new hat.
And that is a tale of K.C.Sine and young Wesley Schneider.
Later. Vickie

Message from Vickie Metcalfe

Gary,
Yes I stayed up and here it is in print……the Minot Daily.
What a thing denial is. For me, news has to be in newsprint to be
true.
My little dogs do not think I should be up in the middle of
the night and keep prowling around my feet, pacing back and forth to
the bedroom. Those little Westies,are good mood sensors,which I
call my Pair- of -Dice. Sven, the cockatiel has been making
sounds like he’s fighting some creature in his cage. We four…. a
molting…motley grieving crew.
While I wind down I’ll tell you of my latest crawl space adventure.
This summer I purchased an antique oak buffet, really
neat, except it seems to have brought with it an unsavory smell. In
a discussion with friends, one advised charcoal placed in an egg
carton would extinguish the smell. It was a miracle Wal-mart
yesterday bags of charcoal were on sale at 1.00!
Great Scot! What a bargain! Suddenly I had a flashing
brilliant idea….would charcoal take care of the musty smell in my
crawl space? So, I haul out 15 bags, packed them in my car…drove
home and threw them down that wretched smelly space, then crawled
around opening and placing them.
However, nothing in Bottineau goes unnoticed. This morning
as I was reading the Sunday paper at our local bakery, the cook comes
out of the kitchen and commences to comment that he witnessed me
with so many bags of charcoal. He says to me, “What are you doing
with so much charcoall, Vickie are having a barbecue?”
I told him I’m winterizing my crawl space and for 15.00 I am
using the charcoal, instead of air freshners. The guy has to be
more Scot than me because he replies. Oh, that will work and you
can haul them up the spring and barbecue then…… Hmmm. Now that’s
an idea!
Wound down. Vickie