Roland Mongeon Walked Evie Gottbreht down the Aisle
Message/Picture from Evie Gottbreht Pilkington (65): Irvine, CA
Hi Gary and Friends,
Just wanted to share this picture of my Uncle Roland and me on my wedding day (12/17/66).
At the time ofAuntie Cora’s sudden death in January of 1966 I was planning to make a change from Minot State to somewhere…my bags were packed and school transfer plans were in the works so it was easy for me to move to Uncle Roland’s farm and help him through the winter.We shared so many memories during the months I was with him and by spring he said he would pay for a year of school anywhere I wanted to go if I stayed and helped on the farm until September….sounded like a plan.I started making applications for fall and decided on University of Denver when I was accepted there.Bob and Lee Hosmer invited me on a trip to Colorado Springs so I could visit the University and see Colette and Nancy.Nancy introduced me to her next door neighbor, Jerry Pilkington.Jerry and I decided to spend our lives together very quickly and I soon had a diamond ring.
Uncle Roland and my mom were so nervous about this new fellow in my life that the minute I got back to Dunseith, Uncle Roland and Mom had planned an immediate return trip to Colorado Springs to meet Jerry – after a week they fell in love with him too.Mom and Uncle Roland gave their approval and we were married the following December.
What I remember most about Uncle Roland is that he was so faithful to God, family and friends.I never heard a disparaging word about anyone ever – he loved life and loved people and prayed more than once a day.I had a conversation with his daughter Joan and we both agreed that he was best described as a server.What a great legacy!
Over the years we always retold the stories of being snowbound in the “great storm” of March 1966.Uncle and I were in route to Grand Forks the day of the storm.We had a wonderful weekend feasting and playing cards at my Uncle Ernie and Aunt Elizabeth Boucher’s home.Approximately 32 inches of snow fell and the drifts were up to the second story of many houses and the kids at UND were having a great time jumping from roofs of frat houses into snow banks.
The tractor story we also laughed about many times over the years. One day in the Spring Uncle Roland came to get me to help move the trucks and tractor from one field to another….he said if I get stuck with the truck don’t follow me into the mud.He got stuck in the mud….I didn’t follow him in – I just drove to what look dry beside him in the field and got stuck there!!!!Uncle very quietly got out of the truck and walked I am sure over a mile to get the tractor and then came back to pull the truck and car out of the mud.He asked me if I could get home from where I was and I was sure I could but shortly I found myself on top of the railroad tracks looking at water at the other side….lots of mud behind me that I had just barely maneuvered through so I decide to go down the side of the rail road tracks.Soon the car was almost tipping over horizontal so I stopped ….looked over my shoulder to access my situation and I saw Uncle coming very fast through the mud on the tractor to rescue me….I think to rescue his new car. =) He saved the day, didn’t yell or reprimand and we laughed about this event over and over again.Uncle didn’t get much work done that day!
Roland Mongeon was a blessing and joy in the lives of all the children in the Dale Gottbreht family
Carl Melgaard had a brain tumor removed:
Message from Mary Eurich (62): Dunseith, nd
Hi Gary
Just thought I’d drop a quick note. I was over to visit Shirley and Carl the other night. He had a brain tumor removed. He seems to be doing fine. Quite a scar on his noggin tho.
Things are quieting down now so hopefully I’ll be able to send some more pictures. I really enjoy reading the blog everyday. Mary
Thanks Mary for the update on Carl.
Folks, Carl is married to Shirley Knutson. Shirley, Bud (Leroy) and Norris were siblings. Bud, deceased, was married to Mary. Carl and Shirley live a half mile east of the Willow Lake road just north of Willow Lake and a mile south of highway 43. I worked for Carl and Shirley the summer between my junior and senior year.
Mary, we love your pictures. As you find the time, please keep them coming. Gary
Reply from Joe Johnson (77): Lindstrom, MN
Gary,
Again, my Mom’s maiden name was Velma Anna Grenier. Two or three years after college, Velma married Joseph “Warren” Johnson (Dunseith HS 42?), this is Chuck Johnson’s brother (Chuck and Mona Dionne Johnson (48) Chuck, managed the San Haven Laundry for many years.). Velma and Warren were married for 30 to 31 years and then divorced. Later, early eighties, Mom married Milton Millang and moved from Dunseith to the Millang homestead place, which is the first farm on the North side of Hwy 43 when you take 43 west, towards Lake Metigoshe, from US 281 North. So a long answer to your question, Velma Millang’s middle name was “Anna”.
Thanks for sending a good link to the guest book; however, I also found a good guest book link last night by going to Nero Funeral Home’s web site.
Sorry, can’t help id folks in the photos Sharon sent, I was just a little tike then.
Thanks, Joe
Man Joe, I really learned something new. I had no idea that your mother, Velma, was married to Milton Millang. That is why I was confused. This all happened after I left the country. You are getting up into my neck of the woods now. At the time I realized that Milton got married, but also at that time I did not know you guys, so now I can put it all together. There are two Velma Millang’s that were married to brothers, Cliff and Milton. I have known Velma Brennan Millang and her family my entire life. We were together a lot with 4-H and other social activities in our growing up days. Cliff, Milton and your mother all left us at such early ages too. When we looked out our kitchen window to the east we had a great view, 4 miles to the east, of Little Prairie Church and the Art Millang farmstead across the road where your mother moved to when she and Milton were married. Agnes (Cliff) Salmonson, Stan and Kathy’s mother, was a sister to Milton and Cliff too.
Reply to Picture
From Sharon Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA
Dick is right about the date: July 1958. My first impression, before cropping, was Margery Kester. There is less definition with the enlargement, it looks less like Margery although it must be someone of her height.
My mother was 5’3″; I’m 5’3″ and shrinking. Look at me next the younger Ernestine! Ernest and Lucille always plied the waifs at their door with good things to eat. When George G, Joe Link, John Morgan and Lowell Leonard appeared at the door of Ernest and Lucille Daily in Bremerton, Ernest immediately lit the charcoals – called Duaine and said bring on the cold cuts, we have visitors. That World Fair in Seattle, 1962, will always be a best memory for George Gottbreht.
Sharron
Reply toPicture
Hi Gary–
Gary and I heard from Doreen (Houle) Deschene that in the picture second from the bottom both Doreen Houle and Joanne Houle are correctly labeled.
Gary and Roberta Houle
Hello Gary and Doreen, It is so nice to hear from you guys and see your names appear on our blog. I remember both of you very well from my school days, but like a whole lot of us, I have not seen either of you since you graduated from HS. That’s been 46/47 years respectively.Thank you so much for the confirmation of this being you Doreen with Joanne in this picture. All we need to do now is figure out for sure who the person on the far left is who appears to be the leader. Also, is that Sharon Eurich?
Thank you Sharron Gottbreht Shen for sharing this picture. It’s fun to collectively identify those in these pictures.
Folks, please post anymore of these old pictures that you may have.
Margery Kester, Denise Quillinan, Doreen Houle, Sharon Eurich, Joanne Houle,
Angela Berube, Darlene Quillinan
