05/24/2011

Posted on by
Memories from the 40’s

From Erling Landsverk (44): Portage, WI
 
 

Hi Gary and Everyone:

 

I have enjoyed the many stories and accounts of experiences others had growing up in the hills and Dunseith. For the most part, I am too old to recognize many of you, but in a majority of the stories, I can certainly remember the parents and grand parents of many of you younger Hill folks.Recently the stories about snowmobiles reminded me of an experience that really got my attention. During the winter of the mid 1930s, my Father and I stopped at Arnold Lillebeys station, and on the main street between Emil Hassen’s Store and Ike Bergs House was a big sled with a moter and an airplane propeller attached. on the front sled bunk were attached a large and heavy pair of skis. The motor of this machine was idling and I noticed a fellow striding towards it. He waved at Dad and I , moved the throttle lever down and shot down the road like he was shot out of a cannon. At that time there was no Dale’s out a ways, only lots of prarie. My Dad told me it was Oscar Wensted trying out his new invention.It must have been some kind of forerunner to the artic air sleds. Dick johnson’s reference to Johnny Crawford and to Leonard Lund brought back some great memories.. Johnny Crawford was indeed a garden seed sales person, but he brought along his mandolin which he kept in a flour bag I think. I remember him coming to our home and after choosing some seeds from his selection , Mother invited him to stay for supper. Johnny accepted and after supper he pulled out his mandolin and began to pick a few tunes. My Dad took out his violin and my uncle Al had a banjo, and of course soon the house was alive with all kinds of music. Johnny however, had the habit of making faces as he picked certain notes, and the faster they played the more faces he made. My Uncle faced Johnny and he could not contain himself and broke into laughter untill tears were streaming down his face. Johnny was unaware of why my uncle was laughing and only played faster and louder. fortunately Dad wasn’t paying attention and couldn’t figure out what all the levity was about. at any rate it all ended up well and Johnnyi trooped off into the winter night. I remember Leonard Lund wellas well as his brother obert and Engrum who attended Loon Lake School at the same time I did, There were two girls named Margaret, and Evelyn. I believe their mother was a sister to Mrs Aanun Torgeson. I would like to know if any of the Lunds are still around or the Torgesons as well. I can Remember Alma, Lewlyn and Alvin torgeson.

Finally, Do any of you remember playing Pin Stick? And Paulette Lacroix description of Anti I Over. As my sister Borg and I stood on what was left of the school porch. I thought of how many times we would throw a ball over the roof of the barn, someone would catch it on the other side, run around to the opposite side to tag one of the opposing team. this would continuue untill one side had all the players The reason for Anti I Over was that we did not have a ball bat. and sometimes we did not have a soft ball either. School funding was strictly limited to a few text books and some work books if we were lucky.I still remember the globe on the table and the many maps above the blackboard. The maps were on rolls and could be pulled down one at a time for geography class. I truly believe we had a better grip on the location of countries than some of our students do now.

 

Thanks for listening to an old codger remembering the good old days?

Thank you Gary for the magnificent job you do. What a way to bring folks back together..

 

Erling Landsverk

Erling, We all enjoy your memories so very much. It is always a pleasure getting messages from you.
 
For you new folks recently added to our distribution. Erling is totally blind. Despite his handicap he is a man of many talents. With audio he independently reads/listens to and replies to all of his email correspondence. Erling has written books and records music. He is an amazing guy and an inspiration to us all.
 
Erling, How well I remember playing “Anti I Over”. We threw many balls over the roof of the Ackworth school. Gary
 
 
 
Posted by Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): Dunseith, ND
 
Devin Millang with his Grandmother Susie Knox Millang (60)
 
 
 

 

Happy’s Lake Metigoshe tour boat

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

 

Gary and Friends,

Neola’s story about Happy’s landing was right on. The tour boat
he had held quite a few people and was made of wood. In the mid 1990’s,
Metigoshe lost a lot of water and the shoreline went way out into the
lake. I had to add another 32′ extension and a couple 8′ pieces of
plywood to my 32′ dock just to get the boat and pontoon into water where
they wouldn’t turn up mud. The reason I brought this up is that during
this low water period, Happy’s old tour boat showed up where it had sunk
years before. Someone from the Courant came up and put the picture of
the ‘shipwreck’ in the paper where I saw it. Basically only the wooden
ribs and a bit of the bottom remain. The name of the boat was the
‘Neptune’. I noticed in Neola’s picture that the water was way out
then, too, exposing lots of shoreline. Usually there is water up to the
rocks on the high water line. Thanks Neola and Gary!

Dick

The low water at Lake Metigoshe brought out a joke that floated around.
The Game and Fish was contemplating a rule that no one could use a boat
motor larger than 10 HP because anything bigger would create too much dust.

 

 

 

Picture posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND

 

Folks,

 

Loren Johnson is the son of Lester and Marion. The Johnson’s lived several miles west of us. The Johnson siblings attended Dunseith for a few years. They used to ride our bus. Lester would bring them over to our house to catch the bus. Loren is the oldest and he is about 4 years younger than me. I’m guessing he was with the class of 69. He transferred to Bottineau though. Loren is the founder of the Johnson’s sports shop in Bottineau. Sylvia is a sister to Loren’s dad Lester.

 

Gary

 

Sylvia Johnson Gronnevberg and Loren Johnson

 

 

 

Admiral Rickover – Father of the Nuclear Navy.

 

Folks,

 

My good friend and former co-worker, Ken Spurling, posted this today on facebook. Many of you former Navy folks have probably heard of Admiral Rickover. With our yard being one of the lead Nuclear yards of the US Navy, Admiral Rickover frequently visited. He was very unpredictable with what ship or yard facility he would choose to visit and take a tour of. His visits always made newspaper front page headlines. His unpredictable behavior always had our senior yard managers on pins and needles. With one of his visits there was a community event in his honor in Silverdale. This was a well publicized meeting so the demonstrators were many. On his way to Silverdale, from Bremerton, he had his driver stop his car where the folks were demonstrating. He confronted the demonstrators and asked the lead demonstrator to be his guest at the community event and offered to give him a ride. This guy hopped in Rickover’s car and was seated at his side during the whole event and dinner. He was a class act and one that few dared cross.

 

Gary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posting of the day

from Bob Lykins (Teacher): Hutto, TX

 

Gary, I believe the Dunseith folks (especially the women) will appreciate the following:

 
Oil Change instructions for Women:

1. Pull up to GM Dealership when the mileage reaches 3,000 miles since the last oil change.

2. Drink a cup of coffee.

3. 15 minutes later, scan debit card and leave, driving a properly maintained vehicle.

Money spent:

Oil Change:$24.00

Coffee: Complementary

TOTAL: $24.00


Oil Change instructions for Men:

1. Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree; use your debit card for $50.00.

2. Stop by Beer Store and buy a case of beer, (debit $24), drive home.

3. Open a beer and drink it.

4. Jack truck up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.

5. Find jack stands under kid’s pedal car.

6. In frustration, open another beer and drink it.

7. Place drain pan under engine.

8. Look for 9/16 box end wrench.

9. Give up and use crescent wrench.

10. Unscrew drain plug.

11. Drop drain plug in pan of
hot oil: splash hot oil on you in process. Cuss.

12. Crawl out from under truck to wipe hot oil off of face and arms.. Throw kitty litter on spilled oil.

13. Have another beer while watching oil drain.

14. Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench.

15. Give up; crawl under truck and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off..

16. Crawl out from under truck with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Cleverly hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties. Drink a beer.

17. Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.

18. Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.

19. Remember drain plug from step 11.

20. Hurry to find drain plug in drain
pan.

21. Drink beer.

22. Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor. Throw kitty litter on oil spill.

23. Get drain plug back in with only a minor spill. Drink beer.

24. Crawl under truck getting kitty litter into eyes. Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug. Slip with stupid crescent wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame removing any excess skin between knuckles and frame.

25. Begin cussing fit.

26. Throw stupid crescent wrench.

27. Cuss for additional 5 minutes because wrench hit truck and left dent.

28. Beer.

29. Clean up hands and bandage as required to stop blood flow.

30. Beer.

31. Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.

32.
Beer.

33. Lower truck from jack stands.

34. Move truck back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during any missed steps.

35. Beer.

36. Test drive truck.

37. Get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence.

38. truck gets impounded.

39. Call loving wife, make bail.

40. 12 hours later, get truck from impound yard.

Money spent:

Parts: $50.00

DUI: $2,500.00

Impound fee: $75.00

Bail: $1,500.00