Mr. Dan Morgan:
Message/Memories from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC
Dear Mr. Morgan,
I so remember what a wonderful teacher you were. Of course, I had a bit of a crush on you at the time, but you probably knew that and handled it gracefully as you did so many other issues ….and teaching as a whole. Your ability to instill pride and an interest in learning were so important to those of us who were your students. Thank you Mr. Morgan.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Brenda Hoffman class of 1968
Mr. Dan Morgan:
Message/Memories From Aime Casavant (66): Jamestown, ND
I was sorry to hear about Dan Morgan’s illness. Although I did not
have him as a teacher, I did have one experience that to me, spoke to
the essence of his character. When his name was spoken by my younger
brothers and sisters, it was always with great respect.
My experience. Several of the Casavant’s served in Vietnam, the first
being my brother Joe. I was home on furlough in the summer of 1968
for several weeks before leaving for Vietnam. Visiting around
Dunseith with Lee Struck and several other friends, we went to the
( Dunseith Community Center? Legion?) to find some older person I
wanted to say “hi” to. I was 20 years old. We were stopped at the
door, asked to provide our ID’s and I explained I was not yet 21, did
not intend to drink anything, but only wanted to speak with an older
couple there. The person at the door, diligently doing his duty would
not let me in. Dan Morgan, by chance was close enough to observe this.
Dan Morgan knew several of the Casavant’s had served in Vietnam. He,
sprang up and quickly came to us and politely informed the door man –
“anyone who is serving his country has the right to socialize and have
a drink with the people he is protecting and any Vietnam Veteran can
have a drink here, I don’t care how old he is.” He sort of had that
natural, affirmative voice. Gee, I barely knew him, I was not 21 yet
and I had not yet served in Vietnam. Then he said ” And I want the
honor of buying him the first drink.” Wow! I did not have him for a
teacher but in that moment, I just felt very good and thought I had
just experienced the “essence” of this man that my brothers and
sisters spoke so highly of.
Thank you Dan- one does not always know when they provide one with
these positive, lifetime experiences. To me – it is in this, that
for life on earth, we live on forever. Although you were not my
teacher in the classroom, you left an impression that on several
occasions, I followed myself in life and the response was always the
same, a positive one , as it was that evening in Dunseith many years
ago.
Aime Casavant
Basketball games with the Canadian’s
Memories from Bob Lykins (Teather): Hutto, TX
Gary,
Referencing Dick Johnson’s comments about playing basketball against the Boissevain businessmen. I was a part of a few of those games. There would be two every year and would be held usually in the fall when the Boissevain fellows were getting into condition to hit the ice for their hockey season. They would come to Dunseith to play a game and we would go up there for a game. I remember one time we went to play in their gym that was so small the spectators were seated partially on the playing floor. Besides myself there was Gene Hepper, Bob Jury, Dennis Espe, and Dan Morgan from the faculty with Lowell Leonard and others from the community. As I recall, we almost lost that game as we could not buy a bucket and everything they threw up went in. It was a bit embarrassing but I must confess that the Boissevain boys were good athletes and had improved in their basketball skills a great deal by this time. All was forgotten after the game as we headed for the local “watering hole.” I don’t know what it is like today but, in those days, women were not allowed into the pub portion of the establishment. So, they had built a wall separating the pub from the restaurant side, where women were allowed, and ran the bar through a hole in the wall. The Canadians were such great hosts. No matter how quickly we cleared out of the gym by the time we got to the pub the Boissevain guys were already there seated around the tables leaving empty chairs between them so we had to sit between them and socialize. We always had great fun. Unfortunately, our evenings were always cut short in that we had to race for the border before 12:00 midnight as the port closed at that time and we did not wish to get trapped north of the line. Wonderful memories of wonderful times with great people.
Bob Lykins
Margaret Pigeon Fox being added to our Distribution:
Request from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI
Bobby Pigeon’s sister Margret (Pigeon) Fox would like to join the blog.
Her e-mail is
Dean, Ken, Curtis, Alva, Bob and Beverly graduated from DHS. Margret, Renee and Lori – the youngest three attended Rolette after district lines were redrawn in 1960. Before that all of Russell TWP. was part of the Dunseith district. I recall it was quite a battle. I think the only families that stayed at Dunseith were the Aamodts, Bae Pigeon, Neameyers, Roland Mongeon and the Casavants. They thought the distance on the bus to Rolette was too far.
Allen
Margaret, It’s my pleasure to add you to our distribution. What class were you with when you attended Dunseith? Also for our records, where are you living now? Gary
Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
To Bob Pigeon
I think it is worth mentioning that Bob Pigeon is also a twin and he could walk almost as well on his hands as on his arches. I could be wrong but I think Beverly was his twin and then came Alva.
We had a guy earlier than Bob Pigeon that was more of a Fonz than the real Fonz. His name was Floyd Hill, a pal to Carlye Nelson, only son of Bud Hill, cousin to Kenny Hill. He out Fonzed the Fonz. Floyd had one cool 57 Ford.
Larry Hackman if your mystery man wasn’t Big Iron Kalk, the only guy that I could image would fit that scene, might have been ROBARGE. I think you owe us a clue, sounds like he was before his time.
Gary Metcalfe
Christmas Card:
From Cecile Gouin Craig (61): Windsor, CO
Thank you Cecile for this lovely card. It actually arrived a week ago, but I just got down to the FPO office to pick it up. With “Oslo, Norway 7/09”, written on the card, I’m assuming you and Keith were on a trip to Norway? Gary
Craig & Cecile Gouin Craig
