Carla Olson Johnson (75) has stage 3 cancer
Posted by Julie Knox Seier (82): Bottineau, ND
There will be a benefit pancake & sausage breakfast for Carla
(Olson) Johnson on Sunday, April 19th 8:00 am- 1:00 pm at the
Multipurpose room at the Bottineau Hight School. Proceeds will
go to help with medical expenses.
Carla is the daughter of Willard and Laurene (Millang) Olson of
Dunseith. She grauated from Dunseith High School in 1975. She is
married to Ron Johnson of Bottineau who is the son of Llyod and
Mabel Johnson (Mabel is deceased).
Carla was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ductal and Inflammatory breast
cancer in February. She has been undergoing chemotherapy
treatments and when finished with those will under go a
mastectomy followed by radiation.
If you are unable to attend the benefit and would like to make a
donation you can send it to:
Luann Soland
1471 Highway 43
Bottineau ND 58318
Please keep Carla and her family in your thoughts and prayers
From Erling Landsverk (44): Portage, WI
Hi Gary:
For the past 2 weeks or more, we have been receiving news of the flooding in Fargo and bismarck. Of course I can’t see the desparate situation for obvious reasons, but I can listen, and my favorite listening device is the Public radio station. I want to make it clear right off the bat that i am not pandering the folks in North Dakota, but rather making an honest observation of a people that stand head and shoulders above many in ghis great land of ours. I listened to what the people were doing out there, They simply began to sand bag in preparation of the expected flooding, This effort grew as hundreds of volunteers arrived from the beautiful high country. Their good neighbor, Canada, sent down two large machines for filling sand bags, no fan fare, they thought it was the right thing to do. Next, over one thousands from the University at Grand Forks, came down to help where ever they could and to carry furniture and other valuable household items in homes to upper floors. While this was going on, Mother Nature decided to run another test on those great North Dakota citizens. A howling blizzard followed a period of freezing rain, with snow falls nearing twelve inches, temperatures fell to nearly zero or perhaps below. Still there was no out cry, wailing or panic. They simply continued to work quietly and efficiently in the bitter cold, wet conditions with one aim in mind. That aim was to protect their homes, and make sure that everyone was safe, while helping each other. When local and state officials made any comments, it was in calm measured tones giving strong assurance that the flooding would be controlled.The ice jams at Bismarck and Mandan were promptly dispatched by cool and sensible men. .
What is so striking is the quiet and strong defense of their property, and the national media was pretty much ignored. I have a feeling the North Dakota folks were too busy for silly questions. Their determination and dedication for the survival of their community from the ravages of the flooding river stands out as a tribute to people who have always faced adversity that way. It makes me proud to have been a resident in that great land although it was a long time ago when we faced the drought and depression instead of the flood. I salute those great people and to their success in containing the flood and the preservation of their homes.
Erling Landsverk
Posted by both:
Ellen Graff Myrick (58): Grand Forks, ND
Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
Here’s a very interesting blog that gives all of the fellow sandbaggers (and friends) a glimpse into exactly what was achieved over the last week and a half.
http://blog.concept3d.com/?p=433
Reply to message 415 from Bob Lykins (DHS Teacher mid 60’s): Germany & Hutto, TX
Gary,
My favorite photo of the floods is number 30, of young Zack who is saying it all by the look on his face…….sheer determination. It’s like I tell everybody who jokes about the Northland, it’s people, and it’s weather, “It takes a very special kind of person to live there and not everybody has the will to do it.”
Bob Lykins
Email address correction to Master email list from Betty Hackman Schmidt (68): Mesa, AZ
Hi Gary
Love what you are doing. read the emails all the time.
You have left out part of my email address.
I am Class of 1968
Thanks Betty Hackman-Schmidt
Address correction to Master Class list from Alden Allard (59):
| Alden Allard address po box 1291 Garrison, ND 58540 phone 701-463-2041 |
|
Master Class list corrections from Lee Stickland (64): Dickinson, ND
GARY.
I have only the cell phone now, land line was costing $21 per month for about 4 calls or +$5 per call , nada.
My cell remains as 701-290-9593
Dad could now be shown as deceased, guess with the blue-haze over the entry..
LEE
|
Posted by Bill Grimme (65): Birmingham, AL
Message from Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, Wyoming
While the people of North Dakota is fighting the flooding, we in Wyoming is now fighting our Spring snows. Its now 22 degrees and we already have over a foot of snow, with more coming. But, of course this is nothing new for North Dakota. This is suppose to continue all weekend. No traveling! Take care everyone! Sybil Johnson (
great_grandma2007@live.com)
Message/Pictures from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
Lately we have heard much of the volunteer work of folks trying to
sandbag to save Fargo and neighboring towns. They don’t ask, “What’s in
it for me?” They just show up and dig in! Old folks, kids of all ages,
Army and Guardsmen, all working together for a purpose. It’s the North
Dakota way! I too, didn’t hear of a single soul standing by the road
with a sign saying, ‘Help me’, like we saw during Katrina. It’s help
yourself and help your neighbor up here in the Midwest! This has been
the way it has been forever. Back in the early 80’s, I started to have
health problems that continued to get worse and the doctors were at a
loss as to what was going on. I was in and out of clinics and hospitals
over and over and still continued to lose weight and get weaker. I had
crops nearly ready to harvest and was so sick I could barely walk to a
combine, let alone put in a day harvesting. I did manage to get most of
the early crops off and just had a quarter (160 acres) of durum left.
One Saturday morning people started to show up at my place with trucks
and augers and soon the combines were rolling in. I was totally
overwhelmed. Nearly all my neighbors just dropped whatever they were
doing and came to help. I would challenge anyone, anywhere, to find
better neighbors than we have here! In a few hours, and with older
equipment, ( that’s common here also) they ripped off that total field
and had it in my bins! I will be forever grateful. I later was diagnosed
with a disorder in my mast cells that causes major symptoms. Mast cells
produce histamine and mine were dumping into my body when triggered by
most foods and by certain exercise. I eventually was sent to Vanderbilt
University Hospital in Nashville where they figured out how to ‘fix’ the
problem, with just several antihistamines, and now for many years, life
is good! OK, I’m starting to sound like the old steer who only wanted to
talk about his operation. The pictures attached show the neighbors and
some of their kids, to whom I owe a great deal. The guy with the
cowboy hat is Jay Vanorny. Standing by him is Darrel Abrahamson. Others
were Jack Peterson, Duane Peterson, Bill Peterson, Keith Smith, Howard
Abrahamson, my son David, and others yet whom I may have missed. Also
many of the kids drove trucks and helped unload grain. It still humbles
me when I think about it. Thanks Gary!
Dick
