Lillian Houle, Bottineau, 91, Passed away:
Dear Gary and Friends from Dunseith,
On Sunday March 8 at 4:00 a.m. Lillian Houle passed away. The Wake will be held on Thursday, March 12, with the funeral Friday, March 13, at St. Marks Catholic Church in Bottineau. Lillian was born April 27, 1917. She married Aloysuis Houle in June of 1935. She had 12 children, 44 Grandchildren, 78 Great Grand Children and 10 Great Great Grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.
Bonnie and Keith Houle
To the Houle family, Our condolence are with you with the loss of Lillian. She was a wonderful human being. She became a very close friend of my folks through the senior citizens in Bottineau. We’d see Lillian, often, with each of our summer visits back to the area. One could always plan on Lillian volunteering her services for what ever the occasion may be without ever being asked. She was a true friend to those that knew her. My mother with her dementia, never forgot Lillian. My mother could be sitting with her back to the door at the senior center and instantly recognize Lillian’s walk when she came in the door. We saw Lillian, at the Good Samaritan home, in Bottineau, in 2007. We first met her in the hall in her motorized wheel chair and then again on our way out when we took her picture. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Gary & Bernadette Stokes.
Winifred Pritchard Eurich (37), Bottineau, not doing well.
From Wendy Strietzel (Grandaughter):Minot, ND
Gary,
This is Dorothy Eurich Strietzel’s daughter Wendy sending you this message. I just wanted to ask people to say a little prayer for my Grandma Winifred Pritchard Eurich. We believe she had a stroke early last week and on Friday her conditioned worsened. My mom and her sisters have been at her side since Friday afternoon. As of this afternoon Grandma was in and out of conciousness with her breathing getting worse. I do know they are doing everything they can to keep her comfortable. So if the folks in your newsletter will keep my grandma and our family in their thoughts and prayers it will be much appreciated. I am sure my mom and her sisters can use all of the support they can get during this stressful time.
Take care and God Bless.
Wendy Strietzel
Reply from Mel Kuhn (70): Saint John, ND
Howdy Gary,
In reply of Orville Sutton. I knew Orville for quite a few years and didn’t know until a few months ago that he had lived in Dunseith. He had a farm that was probably about 8-10 miles straight east of St. John and tight against the border. He also had an excavating operation that he ended up in with a fellow by the name of Brian Gatke. Dick Johnson and I had lunch an hour’s worth of bullshipping with Roger just a week or two ago. I had worked with Roger at the Farmers Union in Rolla back in the mid-80’s. Roger is quite a mechanic and welder and also did some excavating.
The North Dakota Video–I started to watch it and became irritated so I had to quit, so I better not comment.
Mel Kuhn
Reply (Erling Landsverk) from Bill Hosmer (47): Tucson, AZ & Lake Metigoshe, ND
I think Erling deserves a special award from the State of North Dakota for his brilliant and thorough treatment of this place held in such high regard by those of us who lived in our home state of North Dakota. Gary, maybe his masterful description and spirit of home we all feel deeply should be sent to the appropriate office or agency in the state government, where a higher level of recognition can be rendered on an official basis. I salute Erling for his articulation and his firm loyalty to a part of our land we all love. I will happily contribute to it’s being published in a local paper, or brought to the public’s attention in some other way. Count me in. Thanks, Erling for a heart stomping work of art and logic. It made me proud to have our common heritage. Bill Hosmer
Bill, I agree 100% with everything you have said.
Folks, how can we make this happen? Who or where can we go with this at the state level. Can any of you associated with the state government both past and present or any one else that may be in the know help us out with this one? Maybe if we get the states attention, it will grab the attention of the Readers Digest for publication.
Erling, you are a gifted writer. This article deserves attention. Gary
PS – I have reposted Erling’s letter at the very bottom of this message.
Bill’s follow up repy to Gary (Bill I wanted to share this reply with everyone – Gary):
Gary, I hope that can happen. I thought, also, about the ND Chamber of Commerce, or Visitor’s Bureau, or any other agency. It was a tremendous contribution, and hit me right square in the heart and brain. Thanks for the miracles that happen right before our very eyes on your classic communication circuit. Bill
Reply from Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN
I didn’t see the video Dick was talking about and by the sounds of it, I don’t want to. But it made me think of Art Rude (Jr)’s song: 40 Below Keeps the Riff Raff Out!!!
Paula Fassett
Paula, Art Rude gave me a copy of his CD when he visited us in Bottineau in 2007. It’s a great album and yes, 40 Below Keeps the Riff Raff Out, is a beautiful song.
Now about the ND Video that Bill Grimme posted. I think Bill did a wonderful job of generating a lot of good positive ND comments with the posting of that not so good video. Bill’s a brilliant guy and I think he was using a little reverse psychology with this one to get some reaction. Bill, it worked. You are a genius. Gary
Reply from Shirley Olson Warcup (49): Ivans, UT
Gary and all North Dakotans,
Those who spend time in North Dakota have decidedly different views of the state. Ron recently went to an orthopedic doctor in St. George (I went there with him). When Dr. Brad Root asked where we were from (almost all old people in this area have come from some other place); we said California, however, we were born and raised in North Dakota. He said he spent four years at the air base in Minot. We spent 30 minutes conversing about No. Dak. He loved the state. His main emphsis was on the quality of the people. He had gotten to know many of them and had nothing but praise for them. One of his nurses finally knocked on the door and reminded him there were several other patients waiting to see him. We’ve been back to see him a couple times and his greeting usually contains something about our being from North Dakota. I think we get special treatment because of where we’re from!!
Shirley Olson Warcup
Reply from Diane Larson Sjol (70): Minot, ND
Hi everyone..
Actually Bill, I thought the North Dakota video was quite funny…what
a bunch of idiots…I think ND is the best kept secret around and
frankly, I hope no one finds out how great it is to live here. You
know what Art Rude’s (Jr.) song said, “Forty below keeps the riff raff
out”…being an Army brat, in our travels I was surprised at the
number of people (kids mostly, in my school) who didn’t even know ND
was a state….well, we will just keep it that way. I have lived in
big cities and none of us want what they have. They are nice places
to visit, but we can always come home to good people who know what is
important…good friends….good food (it is always about the food)
and good fun. Take care all.
Diane Sjol
Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Dunseith, ND
Hi Gary,
I’m sure you remember Art Rude, Jr. has a song “Forty Below Keeps the Riff Raff Out”. I have both of Art’s cassettes–great/interesting songs. I was thinking Art wrote the song, but now I’m not so sure about that.
I also have a “Rendahl” cassette. This includes Art, Ole Bursinger, Jerry Olson, the Lund Family, Scotty and Thelma Thompson (Their daughter, Lu, lives in Willow City now.), a group I can’t remember, and most likely other I’m forgetting. I have one/two of Scotty and Thelma’s tape/tapes, too. I dubbed the last three tapes onto a 90 minute tape; it made a great tape. I haven’t listened to it for awhile now. When I bought the tapes/dubbed them, I listened to it every day for quite some time.
Neola
Reply from Dale Pritchard (63):Leesville, LA
Gary and Neola,
Thank you, Neola, for coming up with the newsletter on Mom. And Thank
you too, Gary, for distributing it. I didn’t learn about Mom and Dad’s
elopement until after he died in ’93. It rather amazed and amused me.
That would have put him at 22 and her at 20. I lived in the old
pictured until about 4 years old, although I don’t remember it at all.
My Dad burned the house down after one of our cattle pushed the door
open, went in, fell through the kitchen floor, and died before she was
found. I remember Dad looked for that missing animal quite a while
before he found her. In addition to the house, he had started building
a barn also but never finished it because they moved. We had several of
those old “dug” wells on the place, about 3 feet in diameter, with the
platform on top. One of our cattle fell through head first one time. I
remember helping fill all the old wells with rocks, both there and on
the farm where we lived later. One is covered by the drive leading in
from the road. I’m sure that was about the time we had our first well
“drilled.” Mom is a notorious “list keeper” and used to keep up almost
anything and everything. She has (or had) one list with almost
everyone’s birthday for miles around. I used to read it regularly but
after being gone so long I started losing track of who was who. As an
example, Gary, I know that your birthday and those of your parents and
brothers were listed in there. I know Clarence Hagen is no longer with
us, but I give my Thanks again to him for being there when Mom needed
help in the worst way. Thanks Gary! Keep this project going! Dale
Request from Jan Bergan Evans (66): MONTICELLO, MN
Hi Gary I would like a copy of the CD Tickled Pink Thanks for all your work in keeping Dunseith alive jan Evans 9519 95th St NE Monticello MN 55362
This is Erling’s letter & message that was posted yesterday. Gary
From Erling Landsverk (44): Portage, WI
HI GARY;
THIS MUST ABOUT THE THIRD TIME IN ONE YEAR THAT I HAVE LEARNED OF UNTRUTHS ABOUT MY FAVORITE STATE. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF A LETTER THAT I MAILED TO THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GROUP. I WAS GLAD I WROTE IT
ERLING LANDSVERK
TO:NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
1145 17TH ST. NW
WASHINGTON D C20036-4688
ATTN: EDITORIAL STAFF
MY FAMILY AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN AVID READERS AND SUBSCRIBERS TO THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FOR THE
`PAST 40 YEARS OR MORE. THAT BEING THE CASE I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND MORE THAN A LITTLE CHAGRINED AT THE ARTICLE THAT APPEARED ON PAGE 140, ENTITLED “THE EMTIED PRARIE”.
THE TONE OF THE ARTICLE IMPLIES THAT NORTH DAKOTA HAS BECOME AN EMPTY WASTELAND, ABANDONED BY THE EARLY SETTLERS DISAPPOINTED AT THE MEAGER EXISTENCE THAT COULD BE ATTAINED FROM AN UNFRIENDLY CLIMATE AND EXTREMELY POOR SOIL. AS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NORTH DAKOTA, I CAN SAY WITHOUT FEAR OF CONTRADICTION THAT THE PICTURE DRAWN BY THIS ARTICLE IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH, AND
IN NO WAY
REFLECTS THE CONDITIONS IN THAT GREAT STATE OR THE ATTITUDE OF THE CITIZENS LIVING THERE.
I EXPERIENCED THE DEPRESSION, DROUGHT AND DIFFICULT TIMES DURING THE THIRTIES AND EARLY FORTIES. OUR HOME WAS LOCATED IN THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER. A BEAUTIFUL AND SCENIC AREA FILLED WITH SMALL LAKES AND STREAMS,WITH FORESTS OF POPLAR, WHITE BIRCH, MOUNTAIN ASH, AND OAK. WILD GAME AND BERRIED FRUITS ABOUNDED EVERYWHERE IN THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS, A VIRTUAL PARADISE LOCATED AWAY FROM THE LARGE METROPOLITAN CENTERS, AND WAS THEREFORE OVERLOOKED OR SIMPLY IGNORED. ANYONE VISITING THE AREA TO THIS DAY WILL FIND THE COUNTRY MUCH THE SAME, AND AS BEAUTIFUL AS BEFORE. NATURALLY TINY HAMLETS IN SOME AREAS BECAME DESERTED, THE SAME COULD BE SAID ABOUT MANY STATES, INCLUDING WISCONSIN, WHERE I LIVE PRESENTLY. I CAN EASILY NAME A DOZEN SMALL HAMLETS THAT HAVE REGRESSED TO A FEW HOUSES OR LESS, BUT THE POPULATION IF FAR GREATER HERE AND THE AREA IS FILLED WITH HOMES AND SMALL FARMS INSTEAD, BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO LARGER CITIES. I SUGGEST THAT IF NORTH DAKOTA WAS LOCATED ABOUT A HUNDRED MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST, NEARER TO THE TWIN CITIES, THE STATE WOULD BE FILLED WITH PEOPLE, EVEN IN THE AREA THAT YOUR ARTICLE COVERS.
TO PUT NORTH DAKOTA IN A FAIR PERSPECTIBE, I WOULD LIKE TO LIST SOME POSITIVE COMMENTS.THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDEN LOCATED IN THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS, DEDICATED IN 1932, IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF SERIOUS ATTENTION TO FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION WITH OUR NEIGHBOR CANADA. ANYONE VISITING THIS LARGE AND BEAUTIFUL SYMBOL OF INTERNATIONAL UNITY WILL COME AWAY WITH A LASTING FEELING OF NATIONAL PRIDE, AND SECURITY. TO THE WEST LIE HUNDREDS OF OIL WELLS, STRETCHING FROM THE MONTANA BORDER TO BOTTINEAU. ONE OF OUR NATIONS WELL KEPT SECRETS AS TO OIL RESERVE. THEN THERE IS THE TWO LARGE MILITARY AIR FIELDS AT GRAND FORKS AND MINOT. ONE OF WHICH IS A MEMBER OF THE NORAD DEFENSE. NEXT THERE IS GRAND FORKS, HOSTING THE FIGHTING SIOUX, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HOCKEY PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA.NORTH DAKOTA CAN ALSO FEEL PROUD OF IT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ETHANOL PROGRAM BY THE WAY THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS HAVE BEGUN TO GROW CROPS OTHER THAN CORN TO PRODUCE ETHANOL.THE AREA AROUND DEVILS LAKE, AND MINOT (LAKE GARRISON) ARE BOTH KNOWN FAR AND WIDE FOR THE EXCELLENT FISHING AND LOCATIONS FOR WATER SPORTS.
I COULD GO ON, BUT I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BEGIN TO SOUND LIKE A PROMOTION COMPANY FOR ATTRACTING TOURISTS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET THAT NORTH DAKOTA HAS ARE ITS PEOPLE.DURING MY LAST VISIT THERE IN 2007, I FOUND THEM TO ALL BE THE SAME FRIENDLY, HARD WORKING, UNASSUMING, FAIRMINDED PEOPLE AS ALWAYS.GOD BLESS THEM ALL
ERLING LANDSVERK
P SI REALLY WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE PROVIDED ANYONE IN THE EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT WOULD TAKE TIME TO READ THIS LETTER.
