Happy Birthday Eleanor Stickland (DHS ’47): Mandan, ND
Email exchanges between Dwight Lang and Dick Johnson
Posted by Dick Johnson (’68): Dunseith, ND
Hi Dick,
Been enjoying your stories thru Gary. While I was never a big car type guy, those tails are good too. But I especially enjoyed the Hiatt’s horse story. How many times Howard and Grandpa talked me into taking the buck out of a mustang they just got from Montana or elsewhere, I never know.
In looking at your pictures, the Welsh pony you got from my Step Granny, Hazel, is a fine looking horse with the blaze face and white socks. I hope Johnny Meyer’s did her well. The second picture must be the colt. You appear a bit older and bigger too.
While you were a bit on the young side, I remember you and your parents. Your mother was so pretty, I would blush whenever she served me at the bank. But never failed to make sure it was her window I went to. I don’t remember your dad that well except he was always too neatly dressed for Dunseith. Of course I was prejudiced by my crush on your Mom.
Time goes by and I find myself way to damn old. But Gary’s mail sure brings back some memories. Thanks again for your additions.
Yours truly;
Dwight Lang
Dwight
Great to hear from you! I do really enjoy remembering the old days of
growing up in Dunseith! For some reason, I seem to be able to remember
so many good times and funny things from those days. People say they had
forgotten certain things but my memory jars theirs and then it all comes
back. This is what I try to do with these stories, get others to
remember and then tell their stories of the event. It seems to be
working! My parents and grandparents took hundreds of pictures over the
years and I have kept and studied every one of them for all these years!
We can keep this going for years with these pictures and the stories
that go with them if folks continue to be interested.
I have one memory of you that has stuck in my mind since the early 60s.
I think you went to college in Bottineau after you graduated from DHS.
At least you were in the basement of Old Main one evening when I was
there, at about 11 or 12 years old, and you and some other guys were
playing a guitar in the student lounge. You were wearing a leather
fringe jacket that I believe had some Indian designs on it. I must have
been there for a ballgame or some concert or something. I don’t remember
that but I do remember you guys, and I listened for a while from out in
the hall. Do you remember doing that?
Dick
Dick,
Man, you got a good memory. Loved that leather jacket. I think Howard Hiatt found it in Canada. It traveled with me many miles and many years. But finally I wore it out to pieces and it had to go. Sorry to say my favorite black guitar got stolen from the back of a U-haul van somewhere in Oklahoma.
I joined the National Guard while still in high school. The unit got activated and sent to Fort Lewis (the year of the World’s Fair there). Kenny Reed (originally from Mylo) got me into the guitar to cord with him in the barracks. At the Forestry a few of us made up a band called the Blue Notes. Johnny, Howard and Tom Tom Fredericks and Teddy Edwardson were in the band as well. We played many dances and proms around the area. I still remember playing Wipe Out on the guitar with Tom Tom on the drums. My slow favorite was “Wonderland by Night” on the trumpet. I think Don Darling was the band director in Dunseith at the time. But I remember playing a solo with the band using that song. Later at UND I was bar tending at the Elks club when Don Darling was there having a cool one and he told the Elks band director that he had one of the best trumpet players in the state working behind the bar. I ended up playing with the Elks band being paid bar tender wages — what a great deal!
Music, sports, horses and chasing girls. Life was good in those days. Thanks for jogging my memory. Take care, young fellow.
Dwight
Dunseith News
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
