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Kenrose Medlang:
Reply from Bonnie Smith Kohler: Mountain Iron, MN.
Thank you to you and Vickie Metcalf for the reminder for Kenrose. I am sure she was thrilled with all the cards she received from well wishers. Wow to be 90 years old hey?
Bonnie
Message/Pictures from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
When reviewing some older entries of the blog, I noted the aerial photo of the GN Railroad Yard posted by Dick Johnson. I rushed a query to Gary asking if an expanded view of that area might show the Round House. Dad bought that structure in 1952! Total surprise to me. George tells me that Dale harvested a bumper crop of Flax, probably in 1952. Floyd Richard said indeed 20 bushels to the acre was a great crop at that time. I checked some grain history and found that Flax sold for $6.21/b in 1947. Anyhow, the Flax sale bought the Round House. Dale proceeded to have it deconstructed by foreman Paul and his brother, Big Mose Morin. George thought there were at least three Belgards who completed the team. It took over 6 weeks to draw all the nails [six 2×6 drums] and store the huge beams and lengths of lumber. George said that the claw hammer designed for nail removal had a special lever that Mose frequently broke – after several solder repairs, Dad was begging Mose to take it easy. The men made $1.00 an hour! So bad. As an RN, my first job 1961 paid $2.39/hr – some progress.
Please note George Gottbreht’s Smithy; this became Dad’s first gas and motel stop 1951/52. I have a postcard of the original shop sent by Evelyn Gaudette Gottbreht to her aunt Maude Tennancour Paulson, the post date was August 1915. The sign above the door reads General Blacksmithing. Dad’s conversion of the shop to a thriving small business was a start, and his survival of the tipped tractor accident lead to the Flax harvest and eventually to much of the lumber for our new home and the expanded Dale’s finished in 1954/55. Uncle Roland said the traction was bad for the steep hill and Dale raised the drill bar to reduce drag and over it went. Dad was protected by two steel rods and managed to crawl out from under – and Uncle then said “…but we got her finished.” And then he added, “Dale died too young, he was just getting started.” Gary will attach some remarks by Dick Johnson and I thank them and so many for the feast of new insights found at Gary’s table. Sharron
FRIENDS VS NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS From Phyllis McKay (65): Auburn, WA
FRIENDS: Never ask for food. NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Always bring the food.
FRIENDS: Will say ‘hello’. NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.
FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs. NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Call your parents Mom and Dad.
FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry. NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Cry with you.
FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave. NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, playing dominoes or cards and just being together.
FRIENDS: Know a few things about you. NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that’s what the crowd is doing. NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds’ back-ends that left you.
FRIENDS: Would knock on your door. NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, ‘I’m home!’.
FRIENDS: will visit you in the hospital when you’re sick NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: will cut your grass and clean your house then come spend the night with you in the hospital and cook for you when you come home
FRIENDS: have you on speed dial NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: have your number memorized.
FRIENDS: Are for a while. NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Are for life.
FRIENDS: Might ignore this. NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Will forward this to all their North Dakota Friends and those who once lived in North Dakota. |
11/30/2009
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Myron (65) & JoAnn Zorn Family: From Marlys Zorn Bryan (69): Fairbury, Nebraska
To everyone who has been writing to Myron Zorn and his family,
We all appreciate you so very much. This has been an incredibly hard time for Myron and JoAnn. But at the family gathering in the chapel the night before the funeral, JoAnn stood up and thanked everyone, saying “We have been held up by prayer. We know it.”
So thank you all so much for what you have been doing for them; you have made a difference.
Ryan was a great man.
Marlys (Zorn) Bryan, (Myron’s sister)
Florence Pladson Sime (62) – Update following her car accident:
From Tina Pladson Bullinger (78): Bottineau, ND.
Gary,
We have so much to be thankful for this day!! Florence got to go home yesterday!! She will be taking out-patient therapy in Minot for her hand and arm, but is doing so well, even the doctors are amazed at her progress. We just want to say thanks for all the prayers, cards, phone calls, and visits. Thanks you all and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Tina Bullinger
Reply from Tom Hagen (51): Mesa, AZ & Williston, ND
Gary, yes Della was the mother of the Hermanson boys and Marvel was in
my grade . Lindstrom’s lived east of the school , not sure which farm. It has been too long ago but Orvin would know . and yes Clem Helgeson attended with us at Loon Lake # 2 but as a high school correspondence student. Also Amsbaughs,Ted Pladsons , Knutsons , Martin Rudes, Ingolf Fulsebakke, Ole Hagens, Ritzmans, Christiansons, Cliff Halvorsons, Tom Hagens, Clyde Satrang, Olsons, over the years I attended there and I may have forgotten some families!!! We love E-mail letters, Love Tom and Dot
Sept. 1970 – Not sure of the occasion
Dean Lamb and Joanne Millang both 1970
 A Horsetale story from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND.
A Horsetale
The Louis Bergan family and William (#1) Metcalfe family were friends and neighbors in Hillside Township for many years from the early 1900’s-1935.
Emil Metcalfe and Clayton Bergan were about the same age,attended Bergan School, and enjoyed an easy and life long-lasting friendship. Quiet, gentle Emil (Cliff fondly called him ‘Joes’ or ‘Joesy’) allowed Cliff who was younger by about three years tag along on his ventures with Clayton. One sunny Sunday, summer afternoon adventure, in the early 30’s, could have quickly turned to be almost fatal disaster. Three “boys”, were left to their own devices. (William)Bill Metcalfe had a yearling colt which was broke to lead but someday, he planned to break to drive. Clayton and ‘Joes’ were “Boys will be boys”, who want to prove their worth as men,and convinced each other. They had seen horses broke by men and they were big enough to do the job! After catching the green broke gelding,Cliff hung onto the halter, while the other two managed to collar and pull on a harness. The horse shied, was nervous, sidestepping round and around. With much effort and team work, he was finally quiet and hooked up to a single tree, to the wagon. The boys were quite certain the hard part done, now, was the easy part. Just climb up in the wagon and go for a Sunday drive. Then, return to the farm with the horse pulling the wagon. ‘Joesy’ crawled up on the wagon seat, and in his broad capable hands,took up the reins. Clayton, a slender, gangly, young fellow, climbed up to next to ‘Joesy’ to ride shot gun and specifically give advice on how to accomplish the job. Cliff let go of the horse, moved quickly as not to be left behind, jumped into the box to stand behind the seated older boys. The horse with a sudden snort, squeal, then mighty leap, burst into a mad trot then gallop. An immediate runaway! The wagon _ took off bouncing up and down, to and fro over and across the trail! NO brake! Three boys hanging for dear life onto the careening seat! Try with all his might, there was no easy way ‘Joes’ could slow the horse down. A bright idea! Clayton pointed toward two lone trees,and stutteringly yelled, “P-p-put him–wite– be-tween d–d–does too tw—ees…..!” ‘Joesy’ putting his strength into both arms steered. Clayton and Cliff hung on as the horse leapt between the two trees, snapping the harness, next the single tree, off and away went the horse on a dead gallop, reins trailing along behind.
The wagon bluntly jarred to a Sudden. Complete. Stop. Stuck right-between- the two solid trees. Three boys sailed out and over the wagon onto ……..
…………………………………………………………HOT, HOt. hot sun overhead.
The next thing Cliff recalled, he woke up, walking, slinking along in the shady shadow of the tired, sweaty horse, holding his throbbing head. ‘Joes’ groaned and moaned as he led the horse, the other hand clenched against his ribs. And, Clayton? Clayton with nary a scratch, un harmed, took off briskly in direction of home. When they were together years later recalling experiences of horse breaking, Emil said, he’d landed on his chest on a big boulder where Cliff had landed squarely on his head quite unconscious. Clayton had dropped and rolled. Emil and Clayton then caught the horse and got Cliff up and walking.
The moral of this story told to me often, probably could be, from another saying, more often quoted by the storyteller, my dad,Cliff Metcalfe. “One boy half a man. Three boys ain’t worth a______.” Metcalfe boys were careful to never complain about injuries. Nor could they recall being punished for a broken wagon. William Metcalfe was a man who somehow knew the boys had learned their lesson that Sunday afternoon. Years later, a doctor told Emil, he had broken his ribs sometime and another asked Cliff, when he had a severe concussion. They chuckled heartily, as they remembered the day when three boys discovered they were not yet men. And they, The Boys of Hillside….always enjoyed their life long friendship.
This is story told to me by my dad, I’ve told to my nieces and nephews and I tell them it’s a tale from their Grandpa Cliff. Vickie Metcalfe/November 2009
Post card post marked 1939
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11/26/2009
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Condolence to the Ryan Zorn family:
From Esther Murray Fleming (65): Flint, MI
I just wanted to send our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of Myron Zorn. I was so sorry to hear about Ryan. I did not know him but I know his dad from high school. May God be with you at a time like this.
Later
Esther Murray (Fleming)
Dunseith Alumni Reunion:
Dorothy Hiatt Swanson (46): Moorehead, MN.
Folks, I received a phone call last night from Dorothy Hiatt Swanson. We had a wonderful visit. We both grew up in the Ackworth community, so we had lots of things to talk about. She was enquiring about the date of the Alumni Reunion. She had seen our publication in the Bottineau paper. For some reason the Date got dropped when it was published in their paper. When I asked her if she’d like for me to add her to our list of those attending, she said “YES”. Dorothy does not have email. Dorothy is a sister to Eleanor Fauske, Charlotte Lang, Florence Dahl, Howard Hiatt and that family. Gary
Dunseith Alumni Reunion – 5/22/09 – Bingo Barn:
From Verena Gillis: Dunseith, ND.
Gary,
Please add Gaillord and his wife Rene Peltier to the reunion list. Also Shannon (Gillis) LaVallie and her husband Stacy LaVallie-Devils Lake, ND Unsure as to where Gaillord is right now but will find out. Also, thank you to Vickie Metcalfe for the wonderful pumpkin donuts, they We are going to need to do a survey on food, I am currently getting
Reply from Tom Hagen (51): Mesa, AZ & Williston, ND
Hi, Gary Just a quick correction as my mother, Agnes maiden name was
Melhus which most people spelled Melhouse. Her father Peter Melhus came from Indiroy, Norway , when he was 5 and they landed in Minn. where he met our grandmother Helen Halvorson, (not related to Henry ) but her sister was married to Hans Satrang so we are related to them. Clyde went to school with us at Loon Lake #2 and also Irene Lindstrom, at first Aanon Torgerson ‘s lived north of the school and Lorraine went to school with us. Then Don and Marv Hermanson who moved there. We love E-mail letters, Love Tom and Dot
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70: Bottineau, ND.
Ryan Zorn was the son of Myron (65) and JoAnn (Soland) Zorn.
Fallen soldier honored as person who worked to make a differenceWRIGHT — Staff Sgt. Ryan Zorn gave a simple answer when his father once asked him to consider leaving the military. “Dad, I’m making a difference,” he said. Zorn, who died last week in Iraq, was remembered Tuesday at his funeral as a model soldier who gave his life for a cause he passionately believed in. “He had an undying loyalty to his country, to his family and to his God,” said classmate Jeri Gibson, one of more than 300 people who packed Wright Baptist Church for the service. Zorn, 35, died Nov. 16 when his armored vehicle overturned near the city of Tal Afar in northwestern Iraq. The Wright resident had been helping Iraqis develop communications and intelligence operations as part of the 311th Military Intelligence Unit of the 101st Airborne Division. In his 16 years in the U.S. Army, Zorn served tours in Saudi Arabia, Korea, Germany and Iraq. He was a battle-hardened officer who embodied Army values, said Brig. Gen. Tom Cole, who addressed mourners during the 75-minute service. “Ryan was not a complainer,” Cole said, standing near Zorn’s flag-draped casket. “He would just say a simple ‘Roger.’ That was his hallmark.” Cole presented Zorn’s mother, JoAnn, with a Bronze Star earned by her son. “It’s not just our soldiers who sacrifice so much for our freedoms,” the general told mourners. “Families give so much.” While stationed in Iraq, Zorn made sure the soldiers under his command received care packages. A deeply religious man, when back in Wyoming he’d ask his pastor to pray for his men’s safety. “He was proud of what he did, and he died doing what he believed in,” said his father, Myron. Zorn never married, explaining that he didn’t want to find a wife only to be sent back to war. But he had a close relationship with his parents and other family members, said the Rev. Clay Alexander, who officiated the service. Alexander read from two letters written by Zorn’s nieces. In one, Paige Zorn called her uncle a hero. “He’s a little chubby and had short, spiky hair,” she wrote. “He is really cool.” Mourners — including Gov. Dave Freudenthal and Sen. Mike Enzi — watched a video that showed Zorn grow from a skinny, blond boy into a burly soldier, posing with other troops in front of a mural of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The video also included footage of the scene in Gillette on Sunday, when thousands of people lined the streets to watch a hearse take Zorn’s casket from the airport to a funeral home. Dusty McClintock attended that procession and made the 50-minute drive to Wright for the funeral. “We just wanted to come out and show our support,” said McClintock, who traveled with a group of about 10 motorcyclists. Zorn was born in North Dakota but moved shortly after his birth to Upton, in northeastern Wyoming. His schoolmates described him as a big-hearted person with a constant smile. He didn’t have a single enemy, said Hidie Bland, who traveled to the funeral from Sheridan. “Not one,” she said. “I don’t think I ever saw him raise his voice.” Friends said Zorn was soft-spoken but had a hearty laugh. He enjoyed athletics and possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of sports that some claimed rivaled the ESPN staff’s. Upton High School Principal Gary Glodt recalled Zorn as a quiet, family-oriented student who enjoyed helping others. “He had a distinct laugh,” Glodt said. “Everybody knew it was Ryan when they heard it.” Even after Zorn joined the military, Glodt maintained contact with his former student. The educator remembered the pride Zorn had for the military’s mission in Iraq. “He kept telling all of us that we were over there for a reason and helping out the Iraqi people,” Glodt said. “He was proud to be part of it.” Contact Joshua Wolfson at josh.wolfson@trib.com or 307-266-0582.
Message/Pictures from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA. The only Thanksgiving Day that stands out in memory must have been about 1949. It was very cold, lots of snow and Dad’s car would not start. He arranged transport via Dunseith taxi service; Mr Lilliby no doubt. I believe Grandma Evelyn was back from Seattle and working for Rosie McCoy at the Crystal Cafe and served up a fine meal in a small separate dining room. Mom and Dad had light duty on very few Thanksgiving Days; both would give the turkey their expert attension. Mogen David was for toasting, but I remember Dale splashing some on the turkey, Thanksgiving 1954 in our new home at The Corner. Main Street Dunseith looked much the same as in 1949 as in the picture attached plus snow over a paved roadway. Of my old photo collection, those from Evelyn Gaudette Gottbreht are the only ones dated! And always in her beautiful script. Arla Gottbreht and Mary Evans [daughter of Celia Gottbreht and Ole Evans] were 6 going on 7 years old. Is anyone surprised to see the barber poles in the Fassett and Gottbreht Hardware window? It was 1932 that Main Street was paved in preparation for the crowds that would arrive to attend the dedication of the Peace Gardens. It must have been Floyd Richard or Oville Grenier who told me that Gr Grand Wm Gottbreht would sit out front of the Hardware Store and converse with the visiting locals in his last years [1859-1945]. In 1927, all of the children of Wm and Mary Ann Gottbreht retuned to the family home to celebrate Thanksgiving. Only Joe Gottbreht traveled the great distance from Superior, WI where he and Murtle Marie Duffy lived after his harbor/port service in WWI. Their mother was in poor health and passed the following February. Corrections welcome. Thank you Gary, Sharron Standing: Frederick, John, George, Joseph, James [Teddy], Wm Jr
Arla Gottbreht and Mary Evans [daughter of Celia Gottbreht and Ole Evans]
Thanksgiving:
From Vickie Metcalfe (70: Bottineau, ND.
Gary, One month from today will be Christmas. My principal sent me this fwd. It has some things to reflect on for THANKSGIVNG. May you and Bernadette have a HAPPY one. Vickie
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11/21/2009
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Posting from Bev Morinville Azure’s Carringbridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bevazure
Shanda Azure Campbell (94): Minot, ND.
To All that have sent words of different treatments thank you so much I know I have been very private with what is going on with my mom and yes she does have squamous cell carcinoma and it is the same cancer that was in her tongue however this cancer has moved it is now all over her body I am not gonna go into details cause some may not want to know . However if you do want to know you are welcome to call my brother Cody or myself are numbers are a few posts down….I will tell you all this our mother and my fathers wife is one strong lady (not that we didn’t know this) !! However as it was spoken the other night sometimes when we know it is our time we know and she says she knows it is her time and as much as that pains me I also find a warm comfort in that she is ready to go home to our LORD …. So friends and family instead of feeling the pain and grief as I know we all will feel please hold on to the happy times and remember that Bev Azure is one tough women!!!!!
Shonda Thank you Verena Gillis:
From Ann Boppre Perry (72): Dunseith, ND.
Dear Gary and all,
First, I want to extend a PUBLIC big thanks to Verena Gillis for heading Second, I did get to see Bev yesterday and as always she said tell Thanks to Gary for this wonderful site………. W4 (US Army Retired) Ron Longie (65)
Reply from Marge Longie Wilcox (56): Vancouver, Wa
Gary,
I do agree with you that Ron Longie should be saluted for his many years of active duty in the guards and service in the Guard.
Not only is he my brother… but I am proud of Ron for his service for our country.
Marge wilcox
Marian Berube Passed away:
SIDNEY – Marion L. Berube, 85, of Sidney, formerly of Wolf Point, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at Sidney Health Center.
Ryan Zorn, Son of Myron (65) and JoAnn Zorn was killed in Iraq:
Thank you Vickie Metcalfe (70), Eileen Brudwick & Neola Kofoid Garbe for providing this article:
Wyoming soldier killed in Iraq
CHEYENNE — Whenever Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Zorn could lend a hand, he didn’t hesitate. “Anybody who needed any kind of help, he’d help them,” said Laura Oliver, who knew Zorn since he was a student in her church youth group. “No matter what it was — starting a car, or whatever the case may be. Ryan was a dependable person, I can tell you that.” Zorn, 35, was killed Monday near the city of Talifar in northwestern Iraq when his armored vehicle overturned. A resident of Wright who grew up in Upton, he was the 25th serviceman with ties to Wyoming to be killed in Iraq since 2003. A communications expert with the 311th Military Intelligence Unit of the 101st Airborne Division, Zorn had been helping Iraqis to develop their own communications and intelligence operations, said his mother, JoAnn Zorn. He was serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. “He loved his country, and he loved serving his country, and that’s what he lived for,” said JoAnn Zorn. That included acting as Santa Claus for others in his unit. In December 2005, during his second tour in Iraq, he called his parents after noticing some of the service members he worked with weren’t receiving Christmas presents or mail from back home. “He asked his dad (Myron) and I to take money out of his savings account and buy gifts,” JoAnn Zorn said. “He didn’t want them to know it was coming from him — he wanted us to put our names on it. And that way, they would have a gift to open on Christmas.” When Ryan’s parents mentioned his request to friends, six families volunteered to each “adopt” a serviceman in his unit, and shipped care packages with movies, candy, baby wipes, clothes, baked goods and Christmas hats. “They kept sending all these boxes over to Iraq, and (Ryan’s) commander finally said, ‘You got to get to opening some of these, Ryan.’ Because he didn’t have any room to hardly crawl into his bed,” JoAnn Zorn said. “And then that’s when Ryan said, ‘They’re not for me. These kids have been adopted out, and it’s all for the soldiers over there,’ ” she said. Many who knew Zorn said both his family and his Christian faith were very important to him. When deployed, he would rarely go for long periods without calling his mother. And when he returned home, he would play with his two nieces, giving them presents and telling them stories about his experiences overseas. Kay Johnson, a neighbor and friend of Zorn’s, said she never saw him lose his temper when home. He was always open and friendly, she said, with a broad smile and a great sense of humor. “For me he was still a little boy,” she said. “He just was excited about stuff. He always showed me pictures of the new vehicles that the Army had.” Born in North Dakota, Zorn graduated from Upton High School before joining the Army. He is survived by his parents and a brother, Todd, all of whom live in Wright. Despite the hopes of his family and friends, Zorn never married, saying he didn’t want to find a wife only to be redeployed to a war zone, Johnson said. “We just wanted Ryan to meet a nice, wonderful, young lady and have some babies,” she said. “But that’s not a possibility now.”
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11/20/2009
General information
Folks, I am a really healthy guy and plan to live past a 100, but one never knows their fate. It would be a shame to loose all the history and stories that you folks have provided the past several years to include all the lists and files that I have created. For your information, I periodically give Bill Grimme and Dick Johnson updated copies of all my files. I have also given them access rights to my master email files and the Dunseith Alumni WEB site. December 26th will be the 2 year mark for this daily Dunseith letter. Without all of your contributions, this would have never been a success. Gary
Reply from Mary Eurich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND.
Hi Gary
Just wanted to let you know that I too REALLY enjoy all the interesting articles and pictures that are posted to your blogs. I have especially enjoyed the articles about the older folks from the Dunseith area that I have heard my folks talk about. I have been able to put faces to names of people they knew i.e. Baileys, Andersons, etc. It’s fun to see the connection the area people had to each other. I can’t believe the people that are related. I sure wish I hadn’t talked so much all my life. Ha. I see where Tommy Hagen had Donny’s name added to the blog. I think Donny is about 10 days older than me. In my “baby book” it is recorde that my first outing was the day of Helen Nelson’s funeral. My folks took me to town and left me with Gertrude Awalt while they attended the funeral. I found it kind of ironic that on the same day you received the request to add Donny & Sharon to your list that Bonnie Awalt Houle had also sent a letter . This is what sets one to thinking back of the close connections that folks had years ago. I have a picture that my Mom gave me when I left home. It is a lamb laying in the snow and a dog standing beside the lamb howling. Ma said that when we would go to Awalts, when I was very small, that that picture was hanging on their wall and I would stand and stare at the picture till finally one day Gertrude took it down and gave it to me. It hung on Ma’s wall till I got married. After I was married Ma took the picture down and told me where it came from and how it came to mine and it’s been hanging in my house ever since. It is still my favorite.
I sure do feel bad about Myron Zorn losing his son. Nobody deserves that. He’s lucky he’s got a big close family for him in this time of need. Mary Knutson
Mary, As you know, Lloyd Awalt was a good friend of my folks. When I first met Lloyd, at the Bottineau Bowling Alley Cafe, in as I remember, in about the mid 80’s, he told me he had first met my folks, in the 40’s, at Corbin Pritchard’s farm. Corbin’s farmstead was within rock throwing distance of the Canadian fire break located several miles north of our place. The buildings were still there in my childhood days. It wasn’t until with the comradery of these daily messages that I realized the connection your mother, Winifred Pritchard Eurich (37), had with the Awalt’s, with her staying with them when she went to HS. They had a close relationship that lasted well beyond her HS days. I often wondered how Lloyd ended up being good friends with Corbin, being at his place, back in those days. Now I know. Gary
Pete Gillis (65):
Reply from Ron Longie (65): Yakima WA
Gary,
I to salute Pete not only for the person he is but, also for being a person I am proud to call friend. Tho Pete is going through a rough time now I am sure he will prevail his character is strong and he has Verena by his side. I wish
only the very best for my old friend, and I also salute you for your service to our great country.
Ron Longie
P.S. Maybe this summer
Ron, You are the guy we need to be saluteing with your 40 years of combined active duty and National Guard service to our country. Gary
Gene Bender – Former Teacher:
From LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND
Gary, Thoughts and prayers are needed for Mr. Gene Bender who taught science at Dunseith High for many years. For just the last few years he has taught Physics and Chemistry at the “Forestry” (Dakota College at Bottineau). A couple of days ago he collapsed in his classroom. He had dismissed class and a couple students came back to the classroom and found him. Apparently, it was a stroke and he has been airlifted to Rochester. We heard he will have some surgery, but I don’t know any details.
LeaRae Parrill Espe ’67
Requesting addresses of current soldiers serving in the US military:
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
Hi Gary,
When I was making caramels now, a “bright idea” came to me. Some of your newsletter readers have a child/brother/etc. in serving in Iraq/Afghanistan/etc. If they will send a mailing address for these loved ones, to me, I’ll do my very best to get a couple of pounds, or so, caramels sent to them. I will use flat-rate envelopes. They cost $4.95 to mail (until January) so that’s quite inexpensive. I can usually get about three pounds in one envelope. I can’t guarantee I will get this done, but as I stated earlier, I’ll certainly do my very best to get it done. Addresses should be sent immediately so the packages get in the mail ASAP. I pay for the caramel and the postage; this is FREE for the families. This is one way I can contribute to our precious military members. 
What do you think about this idea?
Thanks, Gary.
Neola
Neola, This is big commitment on your part. Other than for that, I think this is a great Idea.Thank you so much Neola for this great gesture. You are such a wonderful caring person. Gary
Bev Morinville Azure Benefit:
Organized by Verena Gillis: Dunseith, ND
Gary,
Just wanted to post this on the blog…if anyone would like to donate
merchandise towards the bingo (within the vacinity of course) they may
drop it off to me at the High School by Friday or bring it to the Garden
Tap.
Just wanted to post this on the blog…if anyone would like to donate
merchandise towards the bingo (within the vacinity of course) they may
drop it off to me at the High School by Friday or bring it to the Garden
Tap.
Janice and Vincent Azure have been a godsend during times like this by
allowing us to hold these activities in their establishment.
Verena
11/19/2009
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11/18/2009
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Myron Zorn’s (65) son was killed in Iraq:
From Sharon Zorn Gerdes (62): Windsor, CO
Gary, I don’t know how many people remember my brother Myron Zorn. He graduated from Bottineau, not Dunseith, but did attend Dunseith. He and his wife Joann had two boys. His son Ryan was killed in Iraq yesterday. Thanks , Sharon Zorn Gerdes
Birthday card shower for Kenrose Medlang who will be 90 on Thanksgiving day.
The Tale of Red Rabbit and the Sunday school teacher.
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND.
Hi Gary and friends,
This morning,while on a pumpkin doughnut run to the Family Bakery, I met Bob Lagerquist coming out the door. Bobnin his red chevy car, drives down #43 and county line, from the hills of Little Prairie with KenRose weekly to do laundry here in Bottineau. Today, KenRose’s chestnut brown curly hair, with just a hint…just a wee bit of minor strands of silver looked especially nice. She said, she’d just been to the local beauty shop early this morning. …….. We girls feel so good when we can sit back relaxed and someone else pampers us by washing our hair!
It is always a pleasant visit with the pair of them, whom I’m very fond of. Our families “went visiting” back and forth with KenRose’s family years ago when I was in early elementary school. Odin was so handy with mechanical things and always willing to help out my dad who was not a “motor head”. Oft times in the summer, their family would come down, Odin and Dad would meet under the old red gas barrel, with pieces of machinery and tools,we kids would race around the yard playing games like tag, kick the can, Mom and KenRose would “visit” and put together a little lunch and coffee.
And, those years ago, between springs work and haying, Odin spent Sunday afternoons building a pontoon. I thought it a grand adventure one sunny summer day when our family packed a lunch and went to it’s launching at Pelican Lake. It seems to me, he was a welder too. I recall, him with used parts of an airplane jet engines? and oil barrels. He’d sometimes combine our crops in the fall. He also had one of the first small hay balers and would do custom work. The summer of the big rains, the Seim-Metcalfe bales floated back and forth over the road Art Seim and my dad could tell which ones belonged to each of them as Art used twine and Odin’s were wire.
At her house, those “visiting times” , KenRose alway’s looked trim in her dresses serving cookies and a special drink. What a treat, cool water drawn from the well, ice cubes from the refrigerator and red kool aide! My first Sunday School teacher was KenRose. Our little circle, Joanne, Marlys and myself, would sit on those blonde-slated-wood folding chairs behind the altar gathered around KenRose. The beautiful Jesus painting from behind the circular oak altar now graces the hospitality room of Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith. I believe the baptismal font at Peace was also an original from Little Prairie Lutheran.
This little family lived on Little Prairie; Odin, KenRose, Obert and Marlys. I admit, I was always a little jealous of Marlys. Marlys had a mom who let her daughter keep a live animal in the farm house. Something no other mother I knew allowed. NO. Not a dog. Not a cat. Marlys’ pet was an exceptionally clean long eared animal with is own litter box and cozy bed. His name? His name was “Big Red.” Red was a beautiful big red rabbit, who lived behind KenRoses combination wood-electric range in her kitchen!. And while she was tending to making lunch he’d hop around her feet!
The Medlang farm thermometer usually dips degrees below others. This morning, Bob said, “The coldest at Little Prairie was -6 below just once this past week.”
Bob and KenRose usually end their errand run with a visit to the Family Bakery for coffee, and a little lunch. Before heading home to the prairie, north- north east,Bob purchases some bakery treats for coffee time and takes them out to the car. Then as Bob helped KenRose to step out, down the curb, and opened the door he said to me. Vickie, She’s going to be 90 years old next week on Thanksgiving.
I’m requesting, you all to join me in a birthday card shower for KenRose next week on her big day. Her walking,vision and hearing are slowing down a bit but she’s still KenRose soon to be 90 years young.
P.S. Just for you all to know! I’m jealous no longer, I grew up and now usually have 2 white Westies usually, around my feet when I make lunch!.
ThankYou all. Vickie Metcalfe
Pete Gillis (65):
Reply from Bill Hosmer (48): Tucson, AZ & Lake Metigoshe, ND.
 Gary, I just wanted to include my sincere message to Pete about his current challenge. Hopefully, my good golfing friend, you continue to combat the enemy messing with you now as you did when the other one you faced was shooting at you in Vietnam. You returned from that war with honor, and my belief is that you will face this enemy with the same valor and success you did before. I stand at attention and salute you during these days of concern. God Bless, Bill Hosmer
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11/17/2009
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11/13/2009
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11/12/2009
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Lovaas Family memories
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
Gary,
Tis the Season…Ah memories, going outside,breathing and seeing the cold air, crisp and crunching, snow angels, walking up the hill to fetch the mail. Then with warm wooly mittens, carefully,carrying the treasured mail down hill to mom. When we were small children, many familiar names arrived on the much anticipated Christmas cards.
We’d gaze at the beautiful cards. Asking our mother, “Who was this card from?” She’d explain it was from this aunt or that friend, the wife of the pastor who officiated at her wedding in 1947. “A lady, who was very good, kind and sweet.”
Years later,while working in Montana, I attended an intense, week long summer session, at Rimrock Foundation in Billings. One of the sessions was led by a counselor….. a familiar name from mom’s card list from long, long ago. When time permitted, I inquired, “Your name is very familiar to me, as the pastor who officiated at my parents wedding in Dunseith, North Dakota had the same name. My mother exchanged cards with her for years.” …… We had a nice visit and the classes continued……..After that week, I headed for the hills of home, arriving back at our family farm I told mom about my class and that one of the leaders I met was a son of Mrs.Grace Lovaas.
Vickie
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
Gary and friends,
It is a lovely “fall” morning here, the leaves are gone from the trees, most of them have been raked and swept clean from the lawns around town. The Westies enjoyed our walk, wind, rain and snow free. Blue skies and sunshiny day.
The Red, White and Blue Flags are swaying ever so gently in the light breeze over highway # 5 , from the west end bowling alley, to the east end WalMart, and down Main street Bottineau.
Isn’t it great to walk free!
THANK YOU VETERANS!
Vickie
Dad (Bob Stokes) & Lloyd Awalt carrying “Old Glory”
 Correction
Folks,
I screwed up yesterday and labeled this article 1980. Wayne (61) & Rosemary Smith celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2008, not 1980.
Gary
2008
 Folks, This is a recent picture that I captured of David Slyter from Facebook. It’s kind of faded, but at least we can see the David Slyter today, that we all knew back in our younger days. David, you are looking great! It’s been nearly 45 year since I’ve seen you. You have changed some, so I don’t think I would have recognized you walking down the street. Gary.
David Slyter (70) Fargo, ND
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11/11/2009
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San Haven Memories
From Shirley LaRocqueWendt (59): Tukwila, WA
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11/10/2009
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11/09/2009
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Dr. Loeb & Erling’s Book
Reply from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC
Dear Gary,
My Mom and Dad still talk about Dr. Loeb’s brilliance. They contend that if Dr. Loeb had not been our doctor at the San, mom and I would have been hospitalized much longer. Dr. Loeb’s high expectations encouraged San Haven employees to perform just a bit better. In the ‘its a small world category,’ one of Dave’s periodontal patients in St. Cloud, MN was a next door neighbor of the Loeb family and I was able to take a letter from her to Hannah Loeb at our last Dunseith reunion. Our patient also talked about Dr. Loeb’s expertise.
And then of course, I just finished Erling Landsverk’s book My Dakota Years ( which I loved -I asked him to write another!) and via our emails found out that he and his sister were in the carriage with Hannah Loeb at the reunion. I so wanted to talk to Hannah and tell her how grateful I was for all that she and Dr. Loeb did for me that I chased the carriage for a few blocks (running all the way!). The carriage driver and passengers (if I remember correctly!) thought is was kind of a silly sight to see me running as fast as I could in the back streets of Dunseith.
Brenda Hoffman class of 1968
Loeb’s & Erling
Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44): Bottineau, ND.
Hi Gary just some answers to some of writers. Karen Loeb Mhyre that was a very nice article about your dad. I worked at the San when I was about 15 I lived across the street from your mother Hannah I grew up in Dunseith. I’m glad to hear that Hannah is doing fine. Erling that was a good article about the dirty 30s. I grew up then and it was a hard time. reading the Dunseith blog it is very interesting I know most every one that writes knew your folks better . keep up the good work Gary.
Reply to Karen Loeb Mhyre
From Gary Morgan (54): GARRISON, ND
Thank you for your prompt response. I was right! it is interesting and enlightening.
That Intern Program during WW II is a dark chapter in our country’s history. Apparently, there were actually cases where the younger generation gave their lives fighting for their country while their country thanked them by confiscating all of their parent’s property and relocating them to prison camps. Gary Morgan ’54
Danny Lovass
Reply from Shirley Olson Warcup (49): Ivans, UT.
Here is a little information on Danny Lovaas: Danny’s younger brother, Paul, and I kept in touch until his death about 6 years ago. We talked on the phone a few times a year and I remember once he mentioned that one of Danny’s daughters had come to Nebraska to see him. I believe he said Danny lived in Louisiana and that he had 3 daughters. I could be wrong about both state and number of children. I don’t think Paul ever named the city in La. I wish now I had written down some of that information. Paul was pretty much confined to his apartment by this time–he used a wheel chair to get around. He apparently had regular communication with this niece and appreciated her visit. A former co-worker of Paul’s called me after his death. He might know something about Danny, but I didn’t write down his name or phone number and can no longer remember either. Both Ron, my husband, and I appreciated Paul’s calls–if I wasn’t home Paul gave Ron a run-down on things and they always had a good visit. I wish I had more information!!
Shirley Olson Warcup
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Kathy L Lovaas
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Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
Hey Bonnie, Thanks for the memories….you would have found someone else already sitting in the car if I had not found a dead furrow and a couple of shadows on the way out of harms way! What memories!
Sue and I have just returned from a Caribbean Cruise to the Bahamas on Norweigan Cruise Line, Sky. (Same as our Alaska Cruise Line). All fun and relaxation. Many of the crew was from the Phillipines and some even from Cebu. After talking to several young people we were diffinitely of the opinion that the natives of the Phillipines appreciate having families like Gary and Bernadette retire in the area. They told of how some of their very own neighbors were US born married to Phillipine natives and help out the neighborhood so much with social events that go on at church or community. We are already looking forward to the 2012 cruise! Gary Metcalfe
Gary M, Yes, the Filipino people are very receptive of us being here and yes we do our share of community service. At the moment one of our spare bedrooms is loaded with Christmas packages, many of which are for some of the neighbor kids. We don’t spend a lot of money on each, but with the numbers, it adds up. Many of these folks are very poor. Some of the kids have few clothes, so we concentrate on giving clothes. I told Bernadette that we have to draw a line. There is only so much we can do. Gary S.
Reply from Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC
Hi Gary,
It’s a beautiful Sunday morning here in the Carolinas,with the leaves at peak fall colors,against a clear blue sky,and a crisp cool in the air that makes a person happy to have a church family to go worship with,good friends to go out to lunch with,and get together to watch the Carolina Panthers beat the New Orleans Saints…Go Panthers!!!! And those of you who follow football, that statement about the Panthers beating the Saints is not one of those “LOL” moments….And I am so serious….Even though the Saints are undefeated,and the Panthers are every thing but….I still believe todays game, is “OURS”….Guess by the time everyone reads this,we will know for sure,now won’t we!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! PANTHERS!!!!!
Gary,what I really e-mailed you about is that I’m not sure if I e-mailed these last couple names to you to add to the list,they are as follows…Mel & Kathy Khun—Bill Krause—-And yes Del Enno is the lady you asked about.
You also asked about my brothers…All I know is that, Joe ,Gerald and Rene and Jimmy had a great time at the last reunion,and that Aime and Bobby, expressed,kinda like…”Darn I wish I would of went”, all of them are on your blog I believe,and as a rule are kinda the spur of the moment kinda guys,so that’s all I can tell you… Guess will see…I sure hope so….
Well gotta go Gary,gotta go get my Panther Jersey on,and get ready for the “Show Down” in “Gumbo City”…. Thanks Gary! Ms. Aggie
Aggie, in several days we will publish an updated list of those planning to attend the Dunseith Alumni Reunion in May. Gary
11/08/2009
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11/07/2009
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