Bev Morinville’s (72) reply to Tim Martinson (69) & Bonnie Awalt (56)
Tim and Bonnie, after reading your memories of growing up in Dunseith I really feel you two could write a book. You had me glued from the first sentence. Bev Azure (Morinville)
Mel Kuhn’s (70) reply to Dave Slyter (70), Tim Martinson (69), Bonnie Awalt (56) and comments:
Gary,
A Howdy to Dave Slyter if he remembers me. Isn’t it a blast to remember the dancing of Duane and Lorraine Peterson. I believe they are still going around and dancing as they still have some oldtime dances yet at the hall here in St. John. My uncle Jimmy & aunt Ruby Birkland still attend and dance up a storm, but back in the day when Duane and Lorraine were dancing uncle Jimmy was more than likely one of the guys playing the fiddle. Him and the likes of Jack & Lorraine Metcalfe, Ole Bursinger and many more great old players and singers whose names elude me now. I grew up with it as a child and kind of moved away from it in the teens, instead listening to the likes of the Beatles & CCR and others but secretly loving the old fiddle. I’m getting back with it now with the likes of Dick Johnson who is playing with some friends of his and keeping that good old music alive. I love getting together with him and crew when they come and play in St. John. They even allow me to help haul the equipment and run the sound system for them. Ha.
A thanks to Tim & Bonnie for their wonderful memories and ways of writing them. I remember the big snow storm I believe in the winter of 68. I remember me and Russel Robert jumping off of their dad’s Mobil station and shoveling down to find the door to get in.
Mel Kuhn [70]
Bonnie Awalt Houle’s (56) letter:
Good Morning Gary,
Keith didn’t go to Dunseith, he went to the Academy at Willow City. He graduated in 1954.
The class of 1956 consisted of: Bonnie Awalt, Gayl Bedard, Elmer Boucher, Gary Cota, Don Conroy, Dennis Espe, Neva Haagenson, Kenneth Hill, Lois Hiatt, Janice Leonard, Curtis Pigeon, Kenneth Pigeon, Bruce Poeppel, Caroleen Williams.
Bobby Hosmer had been in our class until his Sophomore year and then he went to Fargo to school. (Hope that is correct)
I remember going up to Butte St. Paul with Neva and Bobby in Bobby’s Dads Jeep. Bobby kept telling us there was nothing to fear because you couldn’t get a jeep stuck. What he didn’t tell us is that you could get a jeep “hung up” on some of those big rocks out there in the fields. I don’t remember who rescued us but we had to do some walking first.
Does anyone remember when we first started the marching band in Dunseith? Seems the director was from Rolla. One memory from it was practicing marching down the street doing our routine. I threw my baton up in the air and it came down in a hole that Mr.Axel Johnson was working in fixing the city water. The baton hit Axel on the head. (Very embarrassing.) Spring 1955
Bonnie Houle
Colette Hosmer’s (64) reply to Tim Martinson (69) and Cecile Gouin (61)
Tim,
Blood sausage and head cheese….our parents and grandparents didn’t waste much. Like they say in China today, everything is eaten but the oink. Processing pigs brings up a memory of when Evie Gottbreht and I went to St. Joseph’s Academy in Crookston, Minnesota (1963). It was a poor Catholic boarding school and it wasn’t unusual for a parent to pay tuition with a pig or two. We were all assigned jobs….I was taking my turn in the kitchen when one of these pigs came in. I remember the cook wielding her knife — a tall, agile nun — the sleeves of her black habit rolled up past her elbows, big white apron covering the full, floor-length skirt. When blood sausage showed up on our plates a few days later I took great pleasure in describing it’s source to the other girls at the table.
I like the added imagery of birds falling out of the trees when the Thunderbirds buzzed mainstreet. You’re a good writer…I hope you share more down the line. And, thanks for the kind words although I certainly can’t remember ever being drooled over (you must have me confused with your father’s bismarcks).
Cecile,
Nice to read your e-mail, Cecile. It would be great if you could find more photos of Deerheart Lodge!
My sister, Janet, was at the Air Force Academy for the first graduating class, but it was for another cousin, Brad Hosmer. His dad, Clark (my dad, Bob’s, younger brother) left for West Point after growing up in Dunseith so Brad never went to school with any of us. The family visited us often however, and Clark’s kids — Brad, Gay and Phil loved the town.
Brad was the top graduate of the first Air Force Academy class (1959). He returned to the academy as it’s Superintendent (1990 -94).
Colette
Randy Flynn’s (70) reply to Gary Stokes (65)
Gary,
When you wrote about New Year’s Eve in the Philippines, I had to
wonder if you are having a pig roast. Excuse the indelicacy of
my words if that is not an appropriate description. I have
only been to one Filipino party but the food was great. I will
always remember the fine hospitality and great singing. My
host was a devote Catholic and entertained us with many
seasonal hymns. The feast was like a church supper in North
Dakota but liquor was served.
wonder if you are having a pig roast. Excuse the indelicacy of
my words if that is not an appropriate description. I have
only been to one Filipino party but the food was great. I will
always remember the fine hospitality and great singing. My
host was a devote Catholic and entertained us with many
seasonal hymns. The feast was like a church supper in North
Dakota but liquor was served.
Randy
Gary’s reply to Randy:
Randy,
Bernadette ordered a Lechon and had it delivered for our New Years Eve Party. Lechon is a whole roasted pig, eye balls and all. The only thing missing are the guts. They run a pole length wise through the pig and then roast it over open coals. The one we ordered for our party was about 70 lbs. These Filipino’s go nuts for this stuff. They love the skin. For them that’s the best part. It’s nice and crisp. When the party was over the Lechon was gone.
A short time after we arrived here, we had a big party for all of Bernadette’s relatives and friends, which number many. We went out and bought two 6 month old pigs and brought them home the day before the party. Bernadette hired a butcher to come in and butcher these pigs the next morning. He arrived about 4:00 AM and proceeded to butcher these pigs. By 7:00 AM these pigs were in many pots, over open fires, in the yard, being cooked. We had lots of help. They prepared many different dishes using this pork. By 2:00 PM there was absolutely nothing left anywhere of these two pigs. It was like they evaporated. We have now developed our place, so we don’t really have an area to do this any more.
Bernadette is one of the finest cooks ever. She loves to cook and everything she cooks or bakes turns out absolutely wonderful. Most of these folks are good cooks too, but they can not hold a candle to Bernadette’s abilities in that department. It sure shows on me too. Here she has help, in the states it was just her.
Gary
Bev Morinville’s (72) correction to her relationship to the Gouin’s
I made a mistake their grandma was my grandma sister could u correct it for me. Thanks Gary. Not thinking to clear these days just found out I have cancer of the tongue. please keep me in your prayers. Thanks for all u are doing it is so important. Love Bev
Bev, So sorry to hear about your cancer. Please keep us posted. Our prayers are with you. Gary