Erling Landsverk’s book “My Dakota Years”

Folks, Dick and Brenda Johnson sent me a copy of Erling’s book. Last night my plans were to read a chapter or two, but before I knew it, I had read the whole book. Erling, being 21 years younger than you, I can still relate to a lot of what you talk about in your book. Your stories brought back a lot of my childhood memories too, but they were not quite to the severity of your times. I remember the no electricity days, the wood stoves, the one room schools, the dirt roods, etc. I remember a lot of the folks you talk about in your book too. To name a few, the Halvorson’s, the Hagen’s, the Johnson’s, the Lund’s, the Rispa’s, the Crawford’s and more. I got a letter a while back from Charles Hagen. He is living in VA. His wife passed away a few years ago. He recently remarried. Ole Rispa was 100 years old in 1982. He was in the 1982 Dunseith Centennial parade. I remember his wife speaking only Norwegian. Orvin Hagen, their Neighbor, could speak Norwegian, so he could talk to her. Albert, their son, lived with them too. How well I remember Johnny Crawford making his rounds around the hills selling garden seeds and other miscellaneous items. In my day Johnny Crawford lived next door to Leonard Lund on the west side of Long Lake. Johnny Crawford’s sister Eva was married to George Hiatt. They had 12 children. Many of their grandchildren are on our distribution list. Albert (deceased) was the oldest and lived a very short distance north of Herman/Charles Hagen’s in my day. One of their daughters, Leola Lagerquist, currently lives about a half mile north of the home place. Nick Lund lived to be 104 years old. His wife was a sister to my dads adopted mother.

I’ll never forget the year that the ND game and fish department killed off a lot of the fish in Long Lake. I don’t remember the reason for them doing that, but the dead fish all floated to the top of the water. We and a whole bunch of other folks used to go over to Leonard Lund’s recreational area on the west side of Long Lake on Sunday after afternoons. The women would visit, the men would play horse shoe and we kids would go swimming and also do a little fishing off of the dock. Johnny Crawford, who lived next door to Leonard, was a very conservative type of a guy and could never let anything go to waste. He always had a large garden space between his house and Leonard’s. This particular year he gathered up all the dead fish he could gather from the lake and lined them up sideways, not end to end, on his garden rows for fertilizer. Needless to say things smelled kind of ripe for awhile in that neighborhood. Gary

Zorn Family:

Reply from Susan Fassett Martin (65): Spearfish SD

I remember Bill Zorn as this very large, blond gentle man. He was head of the Sunday School at the Lutheran Church in Dunseith. Myron was in our class of 65 although he did not graduate with us. When we were in the 6th or 7th grade, Pam (Fassett) and I would ride our bikes to their farm south of town. Pam had a crush on Dennis at the time and I was quite infatuated with Myron. I still have a ring that he gave to me. I don’t know if any of them remember this, but it sticks out in my mind. I am truly sorry for the loss of Myron’s son, but know that strong faith in God helps get us through. Prayers and best wishes to all the family in this hard time. Susan

Dunseith Alumni Reunion 5/22/09:

Message from Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): Dunseith, ND.

Marian Berube’s obituary Provided by Eileen Brudwick: Fargo, ND.

Folks, With a little research I discovered that Marian’s father, Wilfred Cote from Bottineau was a brother to Alfred Cote from Dunseith. With that relationship, Marian was related to lots and lots of the Dunseith folks. Marian’s husband, Andre, was a brother to Mrs. Art (Eve) Seim, who is Margaret Seim Lawston’s (54) Mother. Gary

I recieved these next four postings after putting some of today’s blog together before going to bed last night. Gary

Reply from Margaret Seim Lawston (54): Citrus Heights, CA

Hi Gary, In reply to your inquiry, Marian Berube was my aunt married
to Andre Berube, brother to Fortune, Edward, Lawrence, Phillip and
Louis. She was a Cote girl from Willow City. Thanks for all the
blogs. I enjoy! Margaret Seim Lawston

Reply from Rachael Berube Franchuk (62): Bend, OR

Hi Gary, In response to Marian’s death. She was married to Andre Berube, brother to my Father Lawrence Berube, to Fortune and to Eva Sime, sister. There were in total 14 children in the Berube family of Arthur and Victorine who lived in Rolla during my childhood. Marion was also a neice of my Grandfather, Alfred Cote, Dunseith, and a first cousin to my Mother Fern Cote Berube.

Aunt Marian was a delightful lady! I remember her smile and laughter and that yummy glorified rice!

Rachael Berube Franchuk

Reply from Angela Berube Malget (65): Minneapolis, MN

Hi Gary and All,

Your assumptions were correct in that Eva Seim was a sister to Lawrence
and Fortune Berube. Their brother, Andre, married Marian Cote. She is
my mother’s (Fern Cote Berube Lagasse) first cousin. Her parents were
Flora and Wilfred Cote (my grandpa Alfred Cote’s brother). Marian and
my mother married brothers – Lawrence (my father) and Andre Berube.
They had five children: Stephen, Diane, Art, Rich, and Duane. Andre
died in 1994. I had posted a picture some time ago of Andre along with
my Uncle Urbain Cote (mom’s brother). This family history can
certainly become confusing after a while. With all you have going on
Gary, I’m amazed at how you keep everything straight! Sadly, I have no
uncles left and very few aunts. I guess that’s what happens when we
ourselves become seniors. The funeral services for Aunt Marian are on
Tuesday, November 24 at 10:00 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic
Church in Wolf Point, Montana. I don’t have a complete obituary yet.

Happy Thanksgiving wishes to everyone. For all those who are suffering
from illness and loss of loved ones, may you find comfort and healing in
the days ahead.

Thanks Gary for all you are doing for all of us and best wishes to you
and your family. Perhaps you can tell us how you will be celebrating
Thanksgiving on your side of the world.

Angela Berube Malget

Angela, with your reminder, I remembered that picture. I have posted it below. Gary

Reply from Eileen Brudwick: Fargo, ND.

Marian Lorraine Cote Berube

Visitation: will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday November 23, 2009 with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point, MT.

A Mass of Christian Burial: will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 24 at Immaculate Catholic Church in Wolf Point
Interment: to follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point.

Marian Lorraine Cote Berube, age 85, of Sidney, MT formerly of Wolf Point, MT passed away on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at Angel Avenue, Sidney Extended Care. Marian was born on August 8, 1924 in Bottineau, N.D. to Wilfred and Flora Cote. She was the 3^rd oldest of four boys and six girls. Marian married Andre Berube on April 29, 1946 and to this union four sons and one daughter were born. He passed away in 1994.

Marian enjoyed fishing, boating and camping, sewing, quilting and baking. She enjoyed the activities of her grandchildren; going to their basketball and baseball games. She was a member of the St. Catherine’s group of the Altar Society. Marian will be remembered by her family for always being there for them.

Marian is survived by all five granddaughter Christina (Rod) Gehring of her children, son Stephen (Rita) Berube of Glendive,MT and family: grandson Craig (Gretchen) Berube, Kyle and Ryan Berube all of Laurel, MT and Derek and Scott Berube of Billings, MT; daughter Diane (James) Maki of Maple Grove, MN; son Arthur (Shirley) Berube of Cedar Park, TX and family: granddaughter Grace (Wayne) Donovan and Isabella Donovan all of TX, granddaughter Andrea (Jeff) Crause and Madyson and Braden Crause all in the western US; and grandson Curtis Berube of Cedar Park, TX; sonRichard (Debbie) Berube and family: granddaughter Christina (Rod) Gehring and Shaelee, Tryegon, Kilyn Gehring all of KS and grandson Darren Gehring of TX; and son Duane (Nikki) Berube and granddaughter Lexi Berube of Sidney, MT; sisters and brothers: Florence McCann of Moorhead, MN, Rose Ann (Maurice) Knoepfle of Portland, OR, Yvonne (Gordon) Boucher of Rolette, ND, Gerald (Bernice) Cote of Seattle, WA and Emede (Olive) of Williston, ND.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Andre; two brothers, Ralph and Clarence Cote and one sister, Luella Vorhees.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday November 23, 2009 with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point, MT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 24 at Immaculate Catholic Church in Wolf Point with Fr. Anselm Odwith interment to follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point. Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Marian to a charity of ones choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at csmc@nemont.net or www.stevensonandsons.com . Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Picture previoulsy posted with message 87 on 4/29/08:

By Angela Berube Malget (65): Minneapolis, MN

Back row: Ydola Pigeon, Dorothy Strietzel Fassett , Betty Watshke, Urbain Cote.
Middle row: Howard Landsverk, Bernice Olson Johnson,
Bob Molgard, Shirley Sunderland
Front row: Patty McAtee, Andre Berube