10/07/2009 | Dunseith Alumni

Folks, at the moment there is another storm passing through the PI. They are predicting Typhoon level. So far the only affects that we have had of this storm here in Cebu are dark cloudy sky’s with a few light sprinkles of rain with about 20 MPH winds. The brunt of most of these storms pass to the north of us and hammer Manila. Gary

Reply from Margaret Seim Lawston (54) Citrus Heights, CA

Hi Gary. I’m reading the blogs every day. About Doris Honsey, She
and I were in the first grade together at Hilltop school.My folks
lived on the Micklemyer place for one year . My Grandfather John
died and my Dad went back to the farm to farm for Grandma Ingrid. So
only one year at Hilltop. I recall Doris was burned very badly and
her Mom was gone with the car and her brothers got her to my Dad’s
and he drove her to Bottineau to the hospital. Dad said the trip was
terrible because she was in great pain. Yes she was beautiful and had
no scares on her face. We were the only first graders and Mrs Perry
was our teacher. The communication with all of you N.D. people is
truly a treasure. Thanks all. Margaret Seim Lawstoon {maybe it
wasn’t the MIcklemyer place . It s the place where Carmen Myer lives
now. I’ve been gone 49 years so I may have things mixed up!!!!!

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

Mel– On Thursday, Ron was having trouble with hearing in his right
ear so asked us to switch sides so he could hear me better to sing
harmony. It was a bit odd but it went fine. We played eight times during
the four days and I saw quite a few ‘repeat offenders’ from the earlier
shows so it must have been OK for some folks anyway. Maybe they just
came back to hear our Norwegian jokes! I really felt like I had gone
back to my roots, with the thousands of blond haired and blue eyed
Scandinavians who were there. I saw a cute bumper sticker— ‘ Just Give
Me The Lutefisk and Nobody Gets Hurt!’ I understand!!!!!

Aggie and Gary–I would think it would be fun to have a ‘low key’
gathering for DHS folks. Just getting together for visiting without the
rigors of the reunion routine would interest me more than a full blown
deal. I think that ‘Highway 43’ bunch could probably come up with a few
beer drinking songs for us. At one time I thought our class should just
meet and have a steak fry and hash over the last 40 years or so—not
much planning or expense with that. Plan on!

Neola–Where in the world did you find that clipping? Gary said you
save a lot of stuff—-holy smokes those people look young! I remember
the Sherwood guys were planning to really mess up my car while the
wedding was going on. I knew they would probably get carried away and I
had just bought the car and was worried they might do something that
couldn’t be fixed. That morning I hid my car out at Brenda’s
grandparent’s farm, in a locked garage. We had a guy pull up in front of
the church and we jumped in and got a ride out to my car. I KNEW those
guys would be bad—couldn’t take the chance! That week it had rained
for several days– and inches– and the streets were being rebuilt. The
street in front of the church was–MUD–MUD–MUD. We went down to the
elevator and borrowed a bunch of grain doors for the boxcars and made
sidewalks so people could at least get into the church. I guess I could
say things went without a hitch—but then that wouldn’t be right!
Thanks Guys!

Dick

Reply from Rita Anderson (Former Gamble store owner): Fargo, ND

Henry Sunderland was responsible for getting Heston to the Peace Garden. Heston flew from Minot to Dunseith, and Edger Anderson picked him up. Heston changed clothes at the Gamble store then he and Sunderland drove him to the Peace Garden. Upon their return, they had coffee at the cafe next door, then Edger drove him back to his plane to return to Minot. I don’t remember of any band being there. This was in 1957.

Rita Anderson

Reply from Don Lamoureux (75): Bethel, MN

Regarding Charleton Heston’s visit, I always remember being told the Crystal Cafe’s claim to fame was “Heston ate here”.

Don Lamoureux (75)

Reply From Evon Lagerquist (77): Dunseith, ND

Hi Gary,

Besides Faye and Doris, Arla had 3 sons: Glen, Harvey, and Leonard. Glen passed away a few years ago, Leonard lives in Seattle, WA., and I’m not sure if Harvey is still living or not. The last I heard(at Glen’s funeral), he was not very well. He also lived in Seattle, I think.. Hope this is helpful.

Evon

Message from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO

I hate to lose the old stories I heard from my dad every time one of his brothers came to the house. Art Sime was a good one, he went back a couple years further and all the defectors that came back from Seattle and talked old times.

Stories like the Swede Boys. They were guys that could grab a 180 lbs. hog by one ear and swing him up into a triple wagon box. They had the corner on putting one foot on the ceiling, at their house parties. Granted, some of those houses had low ceilings in those days. Old George Gottbrecht pulling a chamber pot across the stage with the help of a long piece of piano wire in one of his plays at City Hall. Emil Morin was another one, close that one eye and laugh until the tears came. Maybe we had a weird sense of humor, but I don’t see too many people these days reminiscing like that and I miss it.

One thing future generations might be interested in is how we took for granted six full meals a day during haying time, which was from 4th of July to freeze up. Thrashing required eight to ten men. Meal schedule was before daylight breakfast; mid morning lunch in the field; noon back at the house for dinner (as we called it); afternoon lunch in the field; dark was suppertime and I don’t know about others, but we had a quart of peaches or pears plus more before “hitting the hay” as my dad called it.

Those old team of horses would stick their noses in the water tank half way to their eyes and drink in the evening before going to the barn for oats.

We all drank from the same long handled metal dipper. Water never tasted that good since. No refrigerator or electric lights either. Remember when we had to go pick juneberries for tomorrow’s meal, Olinda Eurich?

With the blog, some little piece of information that I did not know keeps coming up and I will take a new look at why they did what they did. Yes, the blog should be enjoyable for future generations. I think everyone has at least one hero that we may not be hearing about…..but you are not done yet Stokes!!! You ROCK.

Gary Metcalfe