Condolences to the Clarence Hagen family from Lynette Halvorson Otto (75):

To the Clarence Hagen family:  My condolences to you all upon your husband and fathers death.  I graduated with Arlan and I will always remember the 4H days at your farm home.  May God give you comfort in your grief.  Lynette Halvorson Otto (75).

Happy Birthday Greg Larson from the class of 1970:

I got a message telling that Greg Larson has a birthday today, November 30th.  To verify it was our Greg Larson from the class of 70, I ran his name in a program I have and it stated that Gregory Larson from Bismarck was born in November 1952.

Greg, we wish the best with your birthday today, enjoy.  Judging from your email address, I’m guessing you are probably a lawyer.  I think I remember you telling me that too.  I think I need to improve my memory skills, if there is a way of doing that.  Gary

Email Address change for Joyce Boardman Smith (53):

Hi Gary:

Thanks for all you are doing to keep us all in touch with friends.

Please note change of e-mail address for Joyce (Boardman) Smith:

Keep up the good work.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Joyce

Reply from Bill Hosmer (48):

Gary Stokes and Gary Morgan.  It comes to mind that after I left the team, another team came by Dunseith in 1963. Two of them were on during my tour.  They came to town, and had called my mother to let her know of the approximate time and date.  When they got there, the right wingman, Bill Higginbotham spotted a large group of cars all close together, and they thought that everyone went out northeast of the town where there was a yard full of car bodies.  My mother  wrote to me in Okinawa that they had come to town but flew quite a distance from main street.  That may be the time Gary Morgan was going to the bank, and explain the confusion. Cheers, Bill Hosmer

Reply from Kenny Nerpel (65):

Gary, Just a little note about the spit wads that are in the discussion lately. I’m not sure (CRS) what year this was but I think I may have been a Freshman.  I think we were still in the old school the year before the High School moved into the new building on the South edge of town.   Anyway there was this really tough study hall, the study hall from hell, that I think was the last period of the day.  I liked to use this study hall to get my homework done so I didn’t have to take any of it home but was often impeded by the full scale warfare, involving spit wads, erasers and seemingly anything else that could become airborne, that was taking place in the room.  This day, after taking a few good shots in the back of the head, I decided to give up on the homework and just take some time to catch up on the news in the Turtle Mountain Star.  I turned the direction that I thought the fire was coming from, put up the paper in front of my face and commenced to reading.  After a few minutes a spit wad slammed into the paper, tore a huge hole in it and fell harmlessly into my lap.  What are you going to do?  I immediately got up went to where the papers were kept, and picked up a Minot Daily News.  The news wasn’t anymore interesting but the paper was quite a bit thicker and served as a much better shield for the rest of the day.  Ha! Kenny

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends, My wifes family all gathered at her sister’s home in Bismarck for Thanksgiving. They flew in for all over the country and had a good time. I made contact with Larry Hackman, who also lives there, and we met for coffee on Friday afternoon. Mel Kuhn was also in Bismarck cooking a big holiday meal for his two sons and daughter and extended families. He sneaked out for the coffee meeting with Larry and we had a couple hours of reminiscing and laughing about our years of growing up in Dunseith. Larry is a guy with a wealth of memories. It was a blast! He spoke of a few things that jarred old dusty memories in my mind and consequently gave me some more ‘ammo’ for this blog. There may be many who have had enough of my memories though! Thanks Gary! Dick

Dick, I think I can speak for most. We love your memories and will never get tired of them. Keep them coming.  The same goes for all the rest of you. Being a smaller community, most all of us can relate to most everyone’s memories.  If nothing else, the folks in them.  We all walked the same turf, just at different times is all.  Gary

Reply from Bob Hosmer (56):

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the personal note.  I have had no trouble receiving the messages.  And Katrine and I will be attending the Alumni Reunion with all of you in July.  I’ll be sending a check soon for the dinner.

We live in Lynnwood, WA and are just  few minutes drive to the Best Western Hotel.

Thanks for this tremendous service you’re providing.  It’s so unique.

Looking forward to seeing you and your wife.

take care,

Bob

Clarence Hagen’s death notice – from Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

CLARENCE HAGEN, 93, Bottineau, formerly of Dunseith, died Thursday in a Bottineau hospital. (Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau)

Mary Ann, Susan, Karen Ellen, Art, Arlan & Henry; My sincere sympathy goes out to all of you with the loss of your husband and dad. Clarence was a highly respected man in my book.  Being the close neighbors that we were, I have known your family my entire life and you kids your entire life’s.  I say that, because you are all younger than me. Your dad was a great father and husband.  You dad was firm, but very fare with all of you kids and some of the rest of us too in your and our growing up days.  I have always respected you dad, highly,  for being the guy that he was.  He will be missed dearly.  My condolences are with you now, with his passing.  Gary

Message from Lloyd Awalt (44): 

Gary,  Bless you for the wonderful memories,  I pray that everyone will keep sending in these Memories Past and Present because they mean a lot to many of us.

Gary I first met your Dad out and Pritchards.  Since that time your Dad and I have done a lot together.  To me the most important has been the work we have done with the VFW putting up the flags honoring all the men from the Bottineau area that have served our country in the Armed Services.  So far we have 404 Flags flying in their honor.

Shirley Olson Warcup:  When I arrived home from the Navy, I remember there being a lot of kids around but I had no idea who they were.  I’m glad to know that you were there.  When I stop to think about it, that was a long time ago!  Thanks for being there.

I don’t personally know a lot of the people that are writing in but I sure remember their parents.  Especially Francis and Joe Morinville, Joe and I worked together at the creamery before Joe bought the store.  Bev’s e-mails make me think of her parents.

How many people remember the hail storm that hit Dunseith?  It was about 1945 or maybe a little later.  It hit right at noon.  The hail was so large that almost every window in town was broken out.  Our living room faced the west the direction the storm came, it hit breaking every window in the living room sending a flood of water washing through the living room, dining room, and kitchen.  In the wash of the storm the water that came with it washed Dad and Oliver Handelands hats through the house and right out the kitchen door into the back yard.  We had been eating dinner and the glass from the shattered windows covered the table, making it necessary to throw all the food out.

Dick Johnson:  Thanks Dick for thinking that I wrote the articles entered in my name.  Actually, I come up with the ideas, put forth the facts and my secretary puts together the story in readable form.  My secretary is my sister Bonnie.  Little sisters are so used to being told what to do that even when they become adults they still follow the same pattern.  (As long as Lloyd has ideas I will send them in for him.)

Lloyd Awalt (1944)

Lloyd, How well I remember you telling me you first met my folks at the Pritchard’s.  Yes, you and my dad were great friends for years, right up until the time of his death.  You guys along with several others were and you continue to be,  the primary leaders of the Veteran’s affairs in Bottineau.  My dad lived and breathed the freedoms he fought for in WW II.  Other than for the almighty above, there was nothing more sacred to him than the American flag and what it stands for.  As I’ve said before Lloyd, Dad was at peace of mind, at his burial, knowing you were the one folding and presenting the American flag to us, his family, that draped his coffin. It was his request that you be the one to do that. Long before he died, he had all the details of his burial worked out with Bill Nero, the undertaker. Bill and dad were good friends.  Thank you Lloyd.  Gary

PS – Bonnie, you are a great secretary.  Keep up the good work and Lloyd’s memories coming and yours too.

Geri Metcalfe Munro’s (59) reply to Gary asking about the Seattle letters: 

Gary,

I FOUND the two letters you sent; I thought I had marked them unread and they were still in my inbox; usually I transfer Stokes mail to Dunseith Reunion.  I am making reservations today.

My husband, Chuck, has been undergoing many tests and then had open heart surgery on October 27th, four bypasses and a mitral valve replacement.  I guess I let some of the Dunseith emails slide.

Geri Metcalfe Munro ’59

Geri, I hope you don’t mind that I added Chuck’s surgery from another message that you sent.  I am hoping that Chuck is recovering well from his open heart bypass surgery.  Often times folks feel so much better, with the restored blood flow, following these bypass surgeries.  I hope that is the case with him.  Gary

Reply from Allen Richard (65): 

Reply to Dick

Regarding the escalation in the size of squirt guns—to quote the great “self anointed American Hero” —–Jesse Ventura—- My definition of gun control is hittin what you aim at.”  I stuck with the Wee Gees. LOL

aLLEN rICHARD

Reply from Gary Morgan (54): 

Gary & All,
The summer of 1961 I was a summer seasonal Customs Inspector at Noyes, Minnesota.  The Summer of 1962 I was a summer seasonal at Dunseith.  I must have dreamt I saw the Thunderbirds that morning when I went to the bank.

Gary Morgan

Gary, The Thunderbird show was talked about so much that even for those of us that did not see the show or the jets, have visions of the whole event of how it was, in our minds, as though we were there. It’s amazing how that works.  Gary

FromMarlene Lilleby-Palmquist/Larsen (53):

Gary

Your E-mail letters are most interesting and I look forward to reading them each day.  Although

my family moved to Wash. State when I was going into 7th grade  (1947) It’s still amazing how many people I recognize  that drop you notes.  The Leonard’s were cousins and I have a lot of memories of my Aunt Edna and most of the family. My parents were Louis and Margaret Lilleby and another Aunt and Uncle were Arnold and Hattie Lilleby- I still remember when my Uncle Arnold let me set pins at the bowling alley to be able to have some free games. Lois’s daughter Cami and her family live in the same town as we do (Ephrata, Wa.) She came just out of college to be a deaf Ed. teacher and met her husband who is a dairy farmer there.

The Burchams were also relatives on my mothers side and after Don Burcham passed away , his wife Betty Smith Burcham (who now lives in Kennewick Wa. near her daughter Cindy), and I have taken several cruises together. I have taken the Alaska inside passage 2 times and it is a wonderful trip. You will all have a great time.

My brother Ray and his wife live in Issaquah, Wa. He is retired and she is still working at Fred Hutchinson Cancer research center.  My sister Judy and her husband have the Holiday Express hotel in Moses Lake, Wa.

I retired from selling Real Estate a few years ago and now my husband Arlan Larsen and I live in Ephrata 1/2 of the year and the other 1/2 in Yuma Az.

The best of both worlds!

Your notes bring back so many memories of Dunseith. Hosmers great store and Shelvers Drug store with the good ole fountain. The Red Owl and Casey Simes store.  Our neighbors on the farm ,The Richards and Cooney McKays and Simon Grieners (sorry if I miss spelled your name),the ride to Russell school on a horse pulled wagon.  Wow—does that go back a long way.

& how  great it was to move into town to the new house (with a real bathroom!!!!)

Thanks again for including us in your newsy letter each day and

Happy Holidays  and many blessings to all my old friends and family

from Dunseith.

Marlene Lilleby-Palmquist/Larsen

Folks, with personal correspondence with Marlene, she told me she did not receive the message I put out several days ago announcing the “Dunseith Alumni Reunion” in Seattle.  It appears that message and the Seattle hotel accommodation message did not get delivered to all the recipients.  Please let me know if you did not receive either of those two messages. I feel it’s important that everyone be informed of this event so that all Dunseith folks, everywhere, have the opportunity to participate if they so wish.

Reply from Bill Hosmer (48): 

Gary, Dick and Dunseith People.   The year was 1961, Dick.  And we were in Florida doing air shows when the Cuban Crisis was in 62.  I believe Gary Morgan thought it was 62.  Dick, I’ve always felt bad about the fear factor which some of our friends experienced.  There were several. Bill Hosmer

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Bill Grimme, I do remember the blow tube shooters you mentioned. And
your mention of being the only kid ‘dumb’ enough to fall for a
trick—not! One of the older Boguslawski boys, Tom or Phillip maybe,
was sitting on the heater in the grade school, holding a big picture
book of some kind. He said, “Hey come here, did you ever see anything
like this”? I was in about the 5th grade and went over and stood right
in front of him and looked at the book. He had his other hand under the
book—with a squirt gun–and soaked the whole front of my pants, before
I felt anything. He and his buddies had a big laugh, but for me it was
an emotional disaster. I told what happened, but everyone said, “Oh
yeah, right, ha ha ha”!  It was definitely a turning point in my
education–as in, don’t trust older guys not to pull  crap  on you!

One spring when the squirt guns became the rage, things began to
‘escalate’. Bigger squirt guns, then bigger, then dish soap bottles,
water balloons, and finally bread sacks full of water and tied to the
end of a rope so they could be swung in a circle and thrown! It was all
it fun–cars full of kids with every kind of water device pulling up
along side another car and blasting everyone at once! We were all in
John Hill’s new 1966 Chevy pickup, with Tim at the wheel, when some kid
let fly with a bread sack on a rope—and busted the windshield in
pieces–bad deal!

Another time just a few years ago, I was circle track racing at Thunder
Mountain Speedway, north of Bottineau when we were bunched up for the
start of a race and coming into turn four and the green flag–all at
once liquid sprayed across my face shield and on my fire suit. There is
NOTHING more dangerous to a race car driver than fire, and the first
thing that crossed my mind was GAS! I couldn’t bail out because I was
penned in the inside lane–then it happened again, and I looked to my
right and saw one of my race buddies squirting me with a squirt gun and
laughing his butt off! He knew I was in a near panic!! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Reply from Sybil Johnson: 

Yes, I remember those pea shooters. My brothers use to play with them and I felt those peas, personally. Sybil Johnson

Folks, You’ve heard the old saying  “The check is in the mail”.  Well, my check is in the mail to Bill Grimme for two chicken breast dinners. We love chicken breast, so that is what we ordered for the Dunseith Alumni reunion being held in Seattle. I also mailed 30 letters to those that don’t have email, informing them of the Reunion in Seattle, that live in the Puget Sound/Washington/Oregon areas.

Another concern:  Because of the volume of email I’ve sent,  the last two days I’ve had to use my local email provider, globelines, for sending the daily blog.  Often times all messages do not get delivered when using globelines. Please let me know if you did not receive messages 293 & 294.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  Today is the day.  Bernadette and I are going to a buffet dinner at the Marco Polo hotel with some American and English friends this evening.   Then on Tuesday, we are headed to Hong Kong for a few days.  We will be celebrating 30 years of marriage on December 3rd.  Gary

From Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59):

My dad, Dale Gottbreht, thought Louis Armstrong was the best; called Louis “top drawer”. Hope this attachment from my brother-in-law can be shared. Dad would have graduated with the class of ’36 but his dad had more pressing need and Dale left DHS his sophomore year, incomplete. Happened to many back then. He cooked a “mean” turkey! My very best Thanksgiving was cooking for my son Ivan and his friends in NYC 2001; the smell of burnt metal still present a mile from ground zero. Bought the groceries near his apt on LaGuardia Place. Although the turkey I selected was not the listed special, the register clerk held up the line so the manager could march up and give the lady, me, a free turkey because I had spent $75.00. New Yorkers, not famous for cordiality, were patient to a fault. Cashier was having a great time and brought home the importance of savoring the moment of everyday, everywhere for everyone. I am so touched and thankful for the numerous mailings from Dunseith folks, Gary. Happy Thanksgiving. Sharron

Sharron, The attachment you sent me “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong is a beautiful video. Being a little over 4,000KB, may be a bit large for group mailing.  I’m not sure how many folks have PowerPoint either.

Folks, For those of you that would like this wonderful video, please zap Sharron a message.  I know she will gladly forward it to you.  Gary

Email address change from Don & Colleen Conroy (58)  Martel:

We have switched email providers.  Our new email address is:   marteldc@, please disregard all others.  This switch is affective 11/26/08.

Don & Colleen Martel

From Bob Hosmer (56):

Hi Gary and all Dunseithers,

I’ve enjoyed the comments about my brother Bill–and his comments as well.  I’m his youngest brother.  I’d like to add my comments that most of you don’t know about but adds to his out-standing character that you all do know about.

When I was still something of a brat, just entering my teens, Bill was at West Point.  I wrote him a letter asking a very ridiculous question: “Why don’t we harness the electricity lightning produces to provide cheep power?”

To my surprise and glee, in the midst of a heavy study schedule and other time-consuming demands, he wrote me a very serious response to that question.  I have never forgotten that incident.  He considered me important enough in his life to take precious time to write not just a note but a letter of more than a few pages–a very treasured memory.

Also, in 1962 while he was still flying left wing in the Thunderbird Diamond.  He came to Seattle area and did a show at Payne Field.  I was engaged to my wife at the time and we invited him to Katrine’s home for a dinner and to bring a friend.  He and one of the solo pilots came.  Jerry, I think was his name.  He and Jerry honored us with their presence, when they could have been part of something bigger and more important than being in a private setting.  Then next day at the show he took Katrine’s nine year old nephew, Philip and put him in the cockpit of his plane prior to the show.  Philip is running his own business today, but has never forgotten the privilege Bill gave him.

Just one more incident,  A few years ago he and Pat came to our home for a visit on their way back from Metigoshe to Tuscan.  The visit covered the time when he would have a birthday.  My kids and their spouses planned and put together a surprise birthday bash for him.  Pat knew what was going on but Bill didn’t.

When the day arrived, he had a shirt on that was striking.  Katrine and I commented on it.  He said something like, “Well, it’s my birthday today” in something like a mock offence. Like nobody noticed so I’m going to celebrate this way.

Was he ever surprised when we went to our oldest daughter’s home and he encountered a lively group wishing him a happy birthday.

What fun for me to have a brother so open, generous, thoughtful and fun to be with and even tease a bit.

Bob Hosmer (56)

Thunderbird reply from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Bill Hosmer and Friends,  Hey Bill, I have a question. Someone said you guys flew over Dunseith in the summer of ’62 and I thought it was in ’61. It really isn’t an issue, I just want to keep the years right. Wasn’t it about the same time as the Cuban Missile Crisis? I was at the farm and remember how you guys pulled up to clear the hills and then rolled over to head back south. Bill, as an eleven year old kid and worried about nuclear war etc., those birds scared the devil out of me! I still remember thinking, “Here we go”! I didn’t get to see the maneuvers over main street but the low altitude turns were fantastic. Had I known it wasn’t strategic action, I might not have been shaking so badly!! When you are a kid, the world seems small and anything that wild and low just has to be bad! I still remember how the ground shook under my feet! Years later when I stood close to the runway at an air show, an F-15 did a low level flyover and then pulled vertical and added power until he was out of sight. It brought back thoughts of that day back at the farm and nearly brought tears to my eyes. I’m sure glad we had you guys on our side!  Looking back, it certainly was a day to remember, no matter whether it was ’61 or ’62! Thanks Bill! Dick

Reply from Bill Grimme (65):

Gary,

Reply to Dick Johnson’s note below:

Dick,

I remember the shooters you mentioned. Made many of them. Shot bb’s in those, though, if I remember right. The peashooters I was talking about were like little blowguns-plastic tubes just slightly bigger than a regular drinking straw and a little sturdier. You actually shot dried peas. After a little practice, you could load up peas in your mouth next to your cheek and you had a semi-auto blowgun. Now, about the tapioca.  It was relatively round, not quite as big as a dry pea, but, it looked suitable. So, I loaded up my mouth and looked for a victim. Unfortunately, tapioca, although it starts out hard, dissolves and turns into a starchy, kind of tasteless mush after it has been in your mouth a little while.

So, who remembers the pea shooters?

Thinking about the tapioca reminded me of another prank. I think Myron Zorn may have pulled this on me, but, I might be wrong. Remember the old “Open your mouth and close your eyes and I’ll give you a big surprise”? Well, Myron (or whoever it may have been) finally convinced me to do that. What he gave me was a big spoon full of powdered milk-the old kind that didn’t dissolve well-not the Carnation with the instant crystals. Well, that stuff sets up like concrete on all the moist areas of your mouth and is nearly impossible to get out for several agonizing minutes. Great games we played! I saw a similar effect years later when I gave my dog a spoon full of peanut butter. It stuck to the roof of her mouth and she spent a good half hour trying to lick it completely out! It was actually hilarious. I am not usually so cruel to animals, but, I had spent a lifetime trying to figure out how to get even on that powdered milk trick. The dog was the best I could do. No one else had ever been dumb enough for me to trick. The dog liked the peanut butter, though. Every time I made a sandwich, she begged for peanut butter.

Bill

Reply from Allen Richard (65):

I never got into pea shooters that much, but spit wads through a straw were pretty common.

Then there were the squirt guns– remember the “Wee Gee?”  It was the kids version of the old west Derringer — tiny, easy to conceal and had great range.  Hitting somebody in the ear from two rows away was pretty common.  I carried mine where a strip search would be required for discovery.  Only time I ever got on confiscated was the time I was dared to shoot Hepper as he wrote on the board ( The dare probably came from John Awalt or Kenny. )   –I didn’t do it,  but he didn’t find the wet spots on the board next to either shoulder very amusing.  Lost my very best WEE GEE that day!  Think it cost me 5,000 words too.

Then there were the rubber bands and the paper wads.  Did a few of those, but quit when a few hard core types switched from paper to paper clips——————

Well— speaking of rubber bands—— there was the memorable incident when Earl Hiatt, Myron Zorn and I came up with an eraser launcher from a bicycle inner tube.  We tested it in Jury’s study hall.  Our success was registered on Andy Patenaude’s forehead.  The red mark was there for a couple days as I recall

My penmanship should really be better than it is–considering the practice I got —————————————

And then there was the forward rolls through the open window in POD class when Hep was at track meets–and we had a sub.  That would be John Awalt and me –  with his 55 Chevy strategically parked.  Jerstad found that amusing— but I think I had to work on my penmanship again.  L.J.  (our term of endearment for Mr. Jerstad ) explained that it would be a cold day in —- before i graduated if I maintained my level of goofing off.  He was right — as I recalled there was about 2 inches of snow on the hood of my care when I left graduation.  Then off to the graduation party —- I’ll let Kenny, John A. and Rene fill in the blanks here — but it all ended up cooling in the creek by the slaughter house the next morning —————- Error! Filename not specified.

I’ll stop now– Kenny has already expressed concerns about the details registered in my memory——-

Folks, I personally reply to or post all messages that I receive from you folks.  If you have not received a reply from me or have not seen a message posted that you have sent to me, then I have not received it. I have a system I use where I don’t remove the original message from my in box until I’ve posted it or replied. Today I noticed a message that I had gotten from Tom Hagen several days ago still in my in box that I had not posted. It’s there today though.  Please let me know if a message has gotten lost.  On the other hand, please let me know of any of these daily messages you do not receive, by keeping track of the numbers. Periodically there are some that do not get delivered.  This is not a perfect system, but it works well.  Gary

Reply from Carol Thompson Gilje (67):

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to wish “you and yours” a very happy Thanksgiving feast, blessed with family and friends.

I enjoy reading all your stories of growing up in Dunseith.   I realize that I missed out on a lot of the fun, with working either with the family or at the library.    I  have been a real estate agent with Century 21 in Kingman AZ for the past 18 years.   If you get tired of the cold winters “up there,”  it’s a good time to buy a winter place in Kingman.  Good place to live with nice year round climate. Close to Laughlin and Vegas and lakes for fishing. (No ice fishing though, hah)     Take care everyone & stop by & see me

Carol Gilje

Century 21 Barbara Ricca Realty

4005 Stockton Hill Road

Kingman, Arizona 86409

(928) 757 – 2100 Ext. 227

Cell (928) 715 – 4754

Reply from Aime Casavant (66):

Gary, Although we will not be going on the cruise, have you considered setting up your own travel agency?  I think you would be rather good at it.  Or perhaps, retirement is much better. My wife and I recently took this very similar cruise with the Norwegian – leaving from Seattle – returning to B.C. Canada.  When my wife suggested it I thought “Alaska?  for a cruise? I was doubtful.  In fact it was very enjoyable –  looking out at the mountains and northern woods from the ship.  Sometimes I was up at 6:00AM (unusual for me on a cruise or vacation) out on the deck ( with only a few others amongst the 3,000 or so), it was just a unique, tranquil experience.  Knowing in the silence and scenery of the morning, that within a few hours the bustle of activity on the ship would begin for another day of fun. I thought about it but we have been planning a trip to visit our foreign exchange student in the Netherlands and our daughter in-law’s family in Sweden. Best regards, hope you all have a great time, Aime

Reply from Marshal Awalt (51):

Gary

I want to thank you and Bill Hosmer for all the info.I got my book on order today.It’s like they say ask and you will receive.This web site is the best thing since sliced bread.You do good work.

Marshall

Reply from Tom Hagen (51):

Hi, Gary just a note after reading your latest material.   Another Winthrop Smith daughter was Betty .   She was older than I but we attended DHS at the same time.  She married Don Burcham.    My brother, Leland, and I lived at the same house as Betty my freshman year (Lloyd and Annie Hill) in the old Mossie (Sp}  house next to Habberstad’s Trailer Court.   I think Fontanes  lived there later.   Floyd Hill and Alice Metcalfe roomed there. We love E-mail letters,  Love Tom and Dot

Reply to ‘pea Shooter’ fom Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends, Bill Grimme’s story about ‘pea shooters’ sure had me remembering how we made them! We used two different kinds of clothes pins–one straight one and one with the spring–and then had to file the groove deeper to hold the spring back. If I get a chance, I’m going to make one just to see if I still can! Bill, I never tried tapioca as ammo—is there something you aren’t telling us? Maybe you end up with pudding in your pea shooter?!?! Thanks to Bill for the memory and thanks Gary! Dick

Folks, there is a lot to this message today.  Please read all the way to the bottom so as not to miss anything.  Gary

In reference to the 1956 band picture. I got a message from Neola.  With a second look she was inclined to think that the Smith girl standing between Dave Shelver and DuWayne Lang is Beverley and not Lois.  I called Lois today.  She is inclined to think that it is her in that picture.  She and Beverley only attended school one year in Dunseith and that was in 1956 after their mother died in 1955. Lois does not have email, but her kids do.  I gave her my email address, so she can have one of her children send me a message so I can send a copy of that picture and the other Smith girls to her.  Gary

Ronald LaRocque has cancer – message from Ginger LaRocque Poitra (65): 

I haven’t read all the e-mails, so maybe you already know that Ronald

LaRocque, my cousin, he was born in 1949, has pancreatic cancer, he just
found out a few weeks ago.  It is the fast growing type, he will have
surgery in Minneapolis on Wednesday the 26th, the day before Thanksgiving,
so they celebrated their Thanksgiving this past weekend.  It would be nice
to have prayers for him.  He has always been a hard worker.  He lives in
Center ND. he works in the coal mines there in Falkirk I think.  He and
his wife’s plans are to move to Bismarck after he retires. He is married
to his second wife Mary Jo Malaterre from Belcourt.

I need to run now. You can send me e-mails here.

Talk to you later.
Ginger (65)
Pea Shooters from Bill Grimme (65): 

Gary,

Those mentions of KC in the past few posts got me to thinking that you just can’t buy pea shooters anymore. They were kind of a seasonal thing, it seems. One time I got into my mother’s cupboard for “ammo” and decided that tapioca would work. Try that some time-it’s quite an experience.

Kids don’t know what they are missing.

Bill

Request from Marshal Awalt (51):

Gary

Thanks for keeping everyone in touch.You get everybody’s day started off right.Yesterday Diane Larson Sjol gave us the name of the book the birds were silver then.I’ve tried to find it on google and books a million with no luck and the web site my computer says no such address so I am hoping that some one came up with a location and can help me find a copy.They were in the sky and we were on the ground everyone doing their thing.I sure would love to read that book.

Thanks again

Marshall

Marshall, your request has been answered with Bill Hosmers reply below.  Gary

Reply from Bill Hosmer (48):

Gary,  I am infoing my two wonderful cousins who blasted you with all those words of kindness about my younger days.  The book which Diane mentioned is about the men in our squadron and some of our experiences in the early days of the Vietnam War. If anyone is interested in purchasing the book, it would make the author happy because his living room is still full of books.  This is not a marketing ploy, just a continuation of Diane’s input. He was the flight surgeon of our squadron when we were flying  missions out of Korat Thailand in the mid 60s

The author is Lowell Peterson, a practicing cardiologist.  To order a book which costs $25.00 plus $2.50 for mailing.  Send your address to his address. He does not use a credit card capability, so the check is the quickest way.   His address is: PETERSON HOUSE   2627 BEECHWOOD   APPLETON, WI 54911.

Now the hot sauce that Diane mentioned is unusually distinctive and not overpowering hot. It has a distinct flavor with which to enhance sandwiches, omelets, stews, chile, bloody marys  ad infinitum.  In regard to the mailing by Diane, the gentleman who produces this delicious stuff was not a Thunderbird pilot, but he is a close friend of about 45 years with whom I got qualified in the F-105 fighter right after I left the team. Then I went to Okinawa and he went to another base in Japan. Then we both got involved in the Vietnam War. The email address Diane gave for the milehighhotsauce.com is valid, and Mike Cooper will accept credit card orders. His phone number for that will also provide the credit card order capability, which is:866 264 5344.  Orders can be by the case 12 bottles, or by lots of three bottles. There is 10oz in each bottle.  I buy mine by the case. .

Gary, I don’t think all of this has to be in your next issue of Dunseith Contacting, but the address, cost etc will be helpful to him and appreciated by me.  Now, Gary, one more thing.  I am going to send you a copy of the book as a gift of appreciation for every word, thought, and gesture you have gifted us with.  On top of that , I’m ordering a pack of three of the sauce for you for the same reason.  I expect no objection to this idea,  I really want to do this.

The only thing I request is that you please give me your mailing address for getting these items to you and your family and friends.  The refrigeration of unopened sauce is not necessary, so this is practical,and tops in my agenda.  If you have included your address earlier, my recovery capability is limited and it would be easier to get it from you.  A direct mailing to hozndaz7@yahoo.com will do the trick.

Lastly, but not conclusively,  I wish you and your beautiful bride, and all of your offspring, and your good friends my wishes for a Happy Celebration of All The Holidays coming up.  One more thing, Gary. When I was a Plebe(Freshman)at West Point I played soccer. An upper classman who also played soccer, introduced himself to me and shook my hand which meant that I could call him by his first name instead of “sir”. He graduated in 1950.  I never saw him after that, but his. name was Ramos, and he became the President of The Philippines  and I read about him with pride and remembered I could call him Fidel.  Cheers and gratitude, Bill Hosmer

Bill, Thank you so much for the nice gesture, with the book and sauce.  It is absolutely not necessary for you for to do this. Bernadette and I really appreciate your kind gesture.  From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.  If what I’m doing brings pleasure to others, that in turn brings pleasure to me. I hope you realize the cost of postage to mail stuff to us here in the Philippines.

Bill, You have another fan, your cousin Nancy, with her message below.  Gary

Reply from Nancy Hosmer Baldwin (62): 

Hi Gary and all,
I was out of town for a few days so just now read all the
emails regarding our local hero and my cousin, Thunderbird
Bill, and can’t help reminiscing. Way back in early 70′s I
was dating my future husband, Mike Baldwin, and on our way to a
Thunderbird air-show, I mentioned that my cousin, Bill, had
been a Thunderbird pilot. Mike was a true aviation enthusiast.
He lived, breathed and dreamed jets and even though he had a
private pilot’s license, he was in awe when it came to jet
pilots. It’s not that he didn’t believe me but after the show,
he couldn’t wait to ask the Thunderbird pilots if they knew
Bill Hosmer. The four he got close enough to ask, either knew
Bill or knew of him which impressed Mike to no end. I always
had a sneaking suspicion that Mike proposed soon after just to
get close to Bill. Eventually that day came and over the years
they had several great visits. Mike passed away in 1999 but I
think he was pretty close to being Bill’s number one fan, even
telling the story about the Thunderbird’s impromptu Dunseith
flyover as many times as I did. You’d think he’d had been there
himself. Anyway, cousin Bill, you’re so darn charming, Mike
would have loved you even if you hadn’t been a pilot..

One more note.. Diane Sjol mentioned Col. Cooper’s Mile High
Hot Sauce. I’m on my second “case”. It’s delicious!!
Nancy

Thunderbird story from Gary Morgan (54): 

Gary & All,

In reply to Diane Larson Sjol…thank you for putting us on to “The Birds Were Silver Then”. I immediately went on line and ordered a copy for my brother, Dick, for Christmas.  It’s available through Barnes & Noble.  Incidently, the year The Thunderbirds buzzed Dunseith was 1962.  I was working as a summer seasonal Customs Inspector at Dunseith that summer and had just gotten off the mid – 8 shift.  It must have been about 9: AM because I was waiting for the bank to open to deposit my paycheck and had just gotten out of my car when these planes came swooping down main street.   I then went home and changed my shorts before I went to the bank.  You may remember we lived in the basement apartment below you that summer.
A note to Patty & Terry.  As a rule there were three people assigned to the port at Dunseith, Bill Yuill, Kenny Shirk & Al Koenig.  When they went to 24 hour service during the summer they would add one summer seasonal so 4 of us covered the port 24/7.  As you can guess, we worked alone most of the time.  Sundays we would add a 10 AM – 6 PM shift to supplement the other 3 eight hour shifts so we could have two lanes of traffic open when the band concerts at the Peace Garden got out.  A far cry from today.

Gary Morgan

Thunderbird reply from Dale Pritchard (63):  

Gary,  Here’s a little more input on the Thunderbirds.  In the Spring of
’73′, while stationed at Forbes AFB, Topeka, KS, I was selected as one
of the crew members to provide Air Force C-130 support for the
Thunderbirds.  This lasted nine weeks with only two returns to Forbes to
switch out airplanes and go again.  We were required to attend every
show so we wouldn’t lose any time in going for replacement
parts/equipment if needed.  If I remember right, we covered shows in 23
states during this period.  I never tired of watching the shows.  The
pure professionalism of everything they do is awesome to see.  On the
downside, in the Fall of ’79′ I was at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas as a
maintenance superintendent for two weeks with three of my own C-130s and
three from Germany.  We watched the Thunderbirds taxi out one day and
they didn’t come back.  All six had crashed during a training session.
That was truly a sad day and time, not only for the temporary loss of an
American tradition, but also for the loss of sons, husbands, and
fathers.

Dale

Question from Evie Gottbreht Pilkington (65): 

Evie, your mystery person has been solved.  Please see my comments at the bottom.  Gary

Hi Gary,

I am wondering if I should know this person, is it a Dunseith person????? ) my brain is not what it use to be…..Hope I didn’t go to prom with him……lol

That is a private joke that Connie Halvorson and I share…..we are close friends and when I don’t know someone, we always say…did we go to prom with them…..it is that senior moment thing.

We are approaching my favorite time of year….I love the Holidays!!!!!!!!

Thanks Gary for all you do ….everyone really enjoys the emails.

emp

From: Pat Meidinger [mailto:prm@drtel.net]
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 11:15 PM
To: empilkington@yahoo.com
Cc: larryn@westriv.com
Subject: Days Gone By

Evie,

Do you know me?  I think I know you.

Nagel’sEducated Prairie Dogs

LarryNagel

8650 43rd  Ave.

Shields, ND 58569

Phone: 701-597-3730

Email:

Mystery solved:

Larry, Evie Gottbreht Pilkington is part of the class of 65. She lives in Irvine, CA.  How did you come across Evie’s email address?  This is interesting.  Gary

Evie,  Larry Nagel is a prior Dunseith High School teacher. The book has him listed as being hired in 1967.  Larry came into the school system after our day.  Gary

Former teacher memories from Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): 

Mike (Chip) Johnson (73) is in the Dunseith area – message from Rod Hiatt (69):

Gary

Just a quick note to let the ones in the Dunseith area know that
Mike(Little Chip) Johnson is back in the area for the next 6-7 days. He
and his wife, Vickie, came up to stay with my brother Rick and his wife,
Susan who is a sister to Vickie.
Chip was telling us that now in Nebraska, a part of highway 83 between
North Platte and Valentine is now toll road. The toll is different from
any I have been on, as at 65 mph you don’t pay anything but at 78 mph
you have to pay $119 toll. Can anyone give Chip directions for a cheaper
road back to Denver?

Reply from Bill Hosmer (47):

Gary, and my Dunseith Friends,  I am overcome with your comments from the past.  My ego has been fed enough to last for the rest of my life. All of you have demonstrated that tremendous Dunseith generosity and support. Anything I accomplished in my past was due to a certain spirit and tons of encouragement by the likes of you, your parents, and grandparents experienced during  my terrific days as a Dunseith guy. Blessings and Cheers to you with gratitude and affection.  Bill Hosmer

Reply From Bill Grimme (65): 

Gary,

This is a great re-run! Brought back all the memories of the fun and pride Bill Hosmer and his team brought to Dunseith.

Those were good times. Plenty left ahead with your daily emails, too.

Last year’s reunion and these daily emails have really kept a spark going. I know when I went back to Dunseith last September, it was almost as good a trip as the reunion the year before. I’m really looking forward to the cruise. I think it is shaping up nicely.

Cold here in Birmingham tonight – should have a low of about 27. It got down to 24 last night. I know that doesn’t get the attention of the folks in Dunseith, but, down here, people start getting excited in the 20′s. Folks sell firewood out of pickup trucks on a lot of corners. We do get the single digits occasionally, but not often. A little snow now and then, too. In 1993, I had 18″ on the level in my yard. Drifts up to 2 or 3 feet. Shut the town down for 4 or 5 days. No snow removal equipment and a lot of hills here. My wife had me shoveling a square IN THE BACK YARD!!! We had three small dogs and they needed a little help for the necessities. The poor little guys would come in with snowballs hanging on their bellies. It would take about a half hour to get them all melted.

Looks like we’ll get a little warmup by Turkey day.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Bill

Reply from Colette Hosmer (64): 

Thanks, Gary, for gathering together these “Thunderbird” accounts.  Bill has always been a great source of pride to the family and I am especially proud as I have the honor of being his favorite cousin.  (Just kidding, I assume several of his other cousins are reading this and I take great pleasure in putting him on the spot).    Colette

Reply (Thunderbirds)  from Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Great newsletter, Gary.  I enjoyed it as much/maybe more than I did the first time it was sent.  You do a great job of organizing the info for your newsletter.  I remember KC; I bought several neat pairs of earrings from him in about 1954. The story about him is precious.

Neola

Reply from Diane Larson Sjol (70): 

To all,
Do any of you remember what year it was that Bill over
Dunseith…seems we lived there then.  I think my dad was in Germany
at the time and we lived in the old Art Rude house across the street
from the school.  I remember being a little scared and excited at the
same time when I heard those jets and told everyone, “That was my
cousin Bill Hosmer!”  We aren’t actually cousins but since my mother
and Lee Hosmer were sisters and I am a first cousin to the Hosmer
girls, Bill’s folks were always “Uncle Jack and Aunt Inie” so Bill was
always my cousin and still is!  It was a very proud moment for me and
I have told the story many many times.  By the way, a fellow
Thunderbird pilot of Bill’s makes and sells the most wonderful
hotsauce.  Bill introduced it to Nancy (Hosmer) Baldwin and she
introduced it to me….I order it by the case.  Col. Cooper as he is
known, is quite a character and will answer any email you send
him…..if anyone is interested, it is calle Mile High Hot Sauce…the
website is www.milehighhotsauce.com.  One other thing….for those of
you who are interested in reading a very fine book of essays and
stories of the Vietnam Air War edited by Lowell Peterson entitled “The
Birds Were Silver Then”  the book is composed of first hand interviews
and stories by the pilots themselves and Bill Hosmer is featured
throughout the book as well as on the back cover.  We all know what a
descriptive and eloquent writer he is so it’s great to be given
another opportunity to “hear” his stories.  I begged him for a copy of
this book and he was kind enough to give me a signed copy.  I
recommend it highly….Diane Larson Sjol

Reply from Bonnie Awalt Houle (56): 

Hi Gary,

In answer to the comment by Gary Metcalfe about Dunseith Teacher’s from the 50′s.  Of Course Conroy and Jerstad were always on the end of  our tongue when it came to classes but what about Ms. Shurr???  She could certainly keep a class in line, with just a look the dungeon could go from rowdy to silence.  I didn’t appreciate what she was teaching me at the time but when I entered college one of my professors told me that I must have had a great English teacher because my grammar was excellent.

Ms. Shurr also taught Current Events, Janice Leonard, Mickey Haagenson and I would always get the very front desk for current events.  Then we could wink at the boys or make faces when they were trying to give their current events.  The boys would get really flustered and mess up and what was so great was that Ms. Shurr couldn’t see what we were doing.  Most of the time Mickey’s face was more red then the boys.  Lots of fun.

Next was Mr. Erickson, Civics, Band and Choir.  We were able to travel all over with the marching band because he pushed us to learn, and perfect.  In Civics, well I guess that Band and Choir were definitely Erickson’s best suit.

What about Mr. Starks and drivers education, you boys knew more about the inside of a car then he did, one afternoon he took the entire class out to his car to explain to us how to change oil, DuWayne Lang, Gary Metcalfe, Gary Cota, just kept pointing at things under the hood and naming them off finally Mr. Starks dismissed the class.  I still can’t tell you a thing about much under the hood of a car.  My husband has taught me the most important thing about cars, “The only thing you can safely run out of in a car is gas, everything else causes damage.”  Starks must have taught something else but I can’t remember what.

I don’t remember any other teacher from that time, surely someone out there has something to offer.

Bonnie Awalt Houle 56

Reply to the 1956 band picture from Gary Metcalfe (57): 

Reply to Bonnie:  Good job Bonnie, I agree, that is Lois, the pictures do not do her justice. What was her older sisters’ name?  There was one of them in school with us.  Windy Smith lived out near Lords Lake, probably a neighbor of Keith.  When the mother died, Windy moved to Bottineau with his girls.  Doris Smith married Corbin Pritchard (shoe store).

Hey Bonnie, how come I thought there were only two teachers in Dunseith, Conroy and Jerstad???  Gary Metcalfe

Reply to the 1956 band picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Hi Gary,

Thanks for another interesting newsletter.  As you know, I stay up late, so I usually read your newsletter before I “hit the hay”.  I always check the computer for your newsletter before I go to bed, IF I haven’t read it earlier.

The Lois Smith picture resembles Winthrop Smith’s daughter, Lois.  As you know, Lois’ sister, Doris was Corbin Pritchard’s second wife.  This Lois Smith graduated from Bottineau High School in 1958.  Her sister, Beverly, graduated from Bottineau in 1957.  I don’t know when Winthrop moved to Bottineau, but I’m guessing it was 1955/56, as it states in the Centennial Book the family lived on the farm until Winthrop’s wife, Edna, died in September 1955.  I think you have the Centennial Book.  Winthrop/Edna are on page 619.  See how you interpret their write-up.  I would send Lois’ graduation picture, but my annuals are in Bottineau.

Neola

Follow up reply from Neola:

Gary,

The Lois Smith I was talking about is married to Homer Yates.   They live at:

10450 Willoughby Cr.

Keithville, LA 71047

318-925-6932

As far as I know, they don’t have a computer.

Beverly Smith, Class of ’57, is deceased.

Neola

Folks, Neola is from both of the Bottineau High School classes of 57 & 58. She had some medical complications in her High School days that held her back a year.  Neola is the primary spokes person for both of her classes and is the primary organizer of their reunions.  Gary

Gary.  I need to “correct” one item; I don’t do much for the Class of ’58′s reunions.  My good friend, Cherrille Bergeron McLean, is the “head honcho” for that one.   Ardell Willard (originally from Omemee) Grimm (Richard)and I co-chair the Class of ’57′s reunions. 

Neola

Folks, I believe we now have everyone identified correctly in this photo.  This photo has sure generated a lot of interest.  It was a lot of fun with all the replies we got from all of you identifying those that you knew. This was definitely a picture that was not totally identifiable by any one person. It was with the combined efforts, with all your replies, that we were able get everyone identified.  You guys have great recall.  You realize this picture is 52 years old.  Gary Metcalfe, you did a wonderful job policing the replies for being correct. Thank you Dick Johnson for providing this picture.  Gary

Picture L to R:  1956 DHS Band

Front row: Gayle Bedard, Caroleen Lider, Janice Lacroix, Marjorie Landsverk, Lowell Williams, Lois Hiatt.

Row two: Karen Woodford, Colleen Conroy, Gerald Lamoureux, Marlene Schneider, Duane  Woodford, Mick Kester, Shirley LaRocque, Susan Brew, Connie Bedard, Joanne Kester.

Back row: Charlie Ericson, Ernest Kundart, Charlotte LaCroix,Barbara Bott, Ronnie Link, Lowell Leonard, Dwight Lang, Curt Halvorson?, Don Conroy, Neva Haagenson?, John Morgan, Ellen Graff, BIG DAVE SHELVER, Lois Smith,DuWayne Lang

Minot Daily News article/picture of Dick & Brenda Johnson provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

This clipping was in today’s Minot Daily.  It is the second part of the article.  I had planned to attend the jam session, but I became so involved in all I’m trying to get accomplished in this week I’m in Minot that I completely forgot about it until I read this morning’s paper.

Neola

Reply from Tom Hagen (51): 

Hi, Gary, a big shout back to Susan Brew Roussin.   Yes, I well remember living with your Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Kathryn Demo in the old Gilbert House (reputed to be the oldest structure in Dunsieth) now gone.

Do you remember that a family named Presnall lived on the other side?
Well, she was a distant relative of mine and just died in Tioga ND at
age 97 (Verna Torgerson Presnall) and of course the kids attended the
Dunseith school ,   The only one I know of is Max who lives in Tioga.
Remember when Dot and I visited you south of San Haven.   Where is your
sister Lorna???

We love E-mail letters,  Love Tom and Dot

Bill Hosmer and the famous Air Force Thunderbirds: 

Folks,  This deserves a re-run. Many of you have been added to our distribution list since this was run last January.

Seeing Bill Hosmer’s name, with his message yesterday, brings back a lot of memories of him and the famous Air Force Thunderbirds.  As most of you know, Bill was a pilot with the Thunderbirds back in the 60′s. He, along with the Thunderbird team, performed many air shows around the world, with Dunseith being one of them.

The following was posted last January, 2008.  Bill’s reply, with his side of the story, follows everyone’s story of their remembrance of that famous day, in Dunseith, when the Thunderbirds, unexpectedly, came to town.  Some of the older generation thought the Russian’s were attacking

Bill, this is one event that will never be wiped from the history of Dunseith.  We are proud to have you  as one of our own.

Gary

Bill Hosmer,

I thought I’d share with you and the Dunseith Alumni some of the memories that folks have of you and the famous Thunderbirds.  I’ve attached a few messages that our class of 65 generated this last April , 2007, when our subject of discussion for the day was you and those planes performing over Dunseith.  Last winter our class members had, almost live discussions, on various topics and this was one of them.

Gary

The first message I received yesterday from Ron Longie also from our class of 65.  All the other messages down to Deb Morinville’s were generated last April.

Ron Longie’s (65) reply to Bill Hosmer:
Gary,
I truly enjoyed reading Bill Hosmers email, the memories came flooding back about the old skating rink sitting in the warm up shed retying skates, warming hands and feet what a memory. I thank you Bill for the trip down memory lane, and I also like Bill Grimme remember the pass over of the jets what a day. Thanks again for all the names of people that I had forgotten.

                                                                   Ron Longie

Colette Hosmer’s (64) reply:
Gary and Larry,Great memories.  Actually, Bill was my cousin — my Uncle Jack Hosmer’s oldest son.  Bill and his wife, Pat, have a cabin at Lake Metigoshe and have spent the summers there for years now.  Bill still tells great stories about those days. One was that Uncle Jack had to walk down to Casey Sine’s store the next morning to offer an apology. Casey got skinned up when he “hit the asphalt” as the jets thundered down main street at the end of their performance.
Larry – I also like the idea of the arched street lights.
Colette

On 4/23/07, Gary Stokes  wrote:
Larry, Again you are a wonderful writer and story teller.
Colette, I think your Uncle Bill Hosmer was part of these Thunderbird  shows that Larry is talking about.
Wonderful story from Larry Hackman (66)

Gary & Bill (Grimme) & Paul

Did you read about the Blue Angle pilot crashing yesterday and getting
killed at a flight demonstration. That brought back a memory when the
Thunderbirds would come and fly over Dunseith.  They would fly over and  do a
few maneuvers usually about once a summer or when ever they were in the
area.  I remember they would come right down main street what seemed as low
as tree top high.  The street lights would start rattling and the next  thing
that happened was there was five jets following each other right down main
street. It really made you stop what ever you were doing and pay
attention.  If I remember correctly is that they would even break the
sound
berrier a few times just to make sure that everyone would come out of their
houses to watch the show.  That was still legal in them days,(You know,  way
back when). Mostly I think it was to get the Hosmer families
attention. Colette’s uncle was one of the pilots if I remember correctly.
Then for the closing of their demonstration they would come flying down main
from the north end of town. They would come so low and so fast that the  top
of street light poles would be sucked in and touch, creating arches from  one
end of main to the other end.  They would have to have the fire dept. go  out
the next day with the ladder truck to streighten the poles back out.  I
always thought the town  would have looked better with the arches, and
really would have looked good at Christmas.  You know with the arches
decorated with Christmas lights and such. It really would have created a
amazing sight in the dark of night. If you can emagine.  You know, that  is a
helluva idea for the street dance during the reunion. You can just  emagine
everyone doing the snake dance (or is that crack the whip) down main  under
the arches.  Maybe someone ought to pass that idea onto someone.  But I
think Colette’s uncle retired. Its really to bad about that Blue Angel
Pilot.  We must all say a prayer for the well being of his family.
You all take care and smile,

larry

Allen Richard’s (65) Reply:

Bill Hosmer, one of Jack Hosmer’s older sons was a pilot with the Air Force Thunderbirds in the 60′s.  They were performing at the Minot Air Base and did an impromptu short show above Dunseith Min street.  I was mowing hay in a road ditch along Highway 3– Getting buzzed by an F-100  (yeah that is what they flew back then)  at 500 mph is a true religious experience.

By the way, after Bill Hosmer left the he did some test pilot work and demonstrations for Cessna–Great guy and fun to talk with.  Last I saw him he was living @Lake Metigoshe  God — been gone so long I forgot how to spell it!  Anyway Collette or Jess might know his whereabouts.

Bill Grimme’s (65) reply:

Great stuff! The Thunderbirds were a big part of our younger days. I
remember hearing rumors that there might be a flyover (I’m sure an official
announcement would not have been allowed). Seems like it always corresponded
with some event at Minot AFB. We would wait in anticipation on the day and
still be surprised when the Thunderbirds made the first pass. Cakes fell,
kids and adults ran outside, Brownie cameras were pointed to the sky (doubt
that the pictures turned out) and, as Colette has shared, Dunseith citizens
skinning their knees when they hit the deck. What a day!

Here is a good link to the Thunderbird history. Colette’s cousin is
prominent in the article.

Bill
http://www.usafthunderbirds.com/history.html

Colette Hosmer’s (64) reply:

Hey Bill,

I replied to the Thunderbird story before I read your e-mail.
So….one real live account of a “man” actually hitting the deck.
Another one was Jimmy McKoy.  He was up on the roof of the Crystal
Cafe to get a better view of the show.  He swore, that when the planes
came down main street, if he wouldn’t have flattened out he would have been hit!

Colette

Susan Fassett’s (65) reply:

The story I remember is that a lot of the older folks in town thought we were being attacked by the Russians when the planes came flying so low over the town.  I remember standing in the alley behind our house and you could see the pilots in the planes very clearly,  as low as they were.  It was a real treat for us small town kids.   Susan

Message  from Deb Morinville Marmon (70):

Dear Gary,

Merry Christmas!! Are you overwhelmed yet? My goodness, this list is taking on a life of it’s own!

My mom, Frances Morinville used to tell this story of the day the “Thunderbirds” came to town (pretty much unannounced)

Back in those days the big threat to the USA was the USSR.  Everyone talked about the “communists”. Mom and Dad talked about them so much I came to think I could identify one if they walked down the street kind of like a Martian or other alien. Anyway, Mom said that one of the jets came really low right over main street.  The door opened at the store and an elderly woman came in, white as a sheet.  Mom got her sat down in the chair by the window and after she could catch her breath she said “I think the communists are attacking!”  Mom told that story for years, she got such a kick out of it. I also remember forming a caravan to the Minot Air Base to watch the air show. It was one of the thrills of my childhood years.  Thanks Bill, for the joy of those days and also for your service to our country.

Merry Christmas to all my old “homies”

Deb Morinville Marmon

Bill Hosmer’s comments & Reply: Thunderbirds

Gary Stokes, Ron Longie, Cousin Colette Hosmer, Larry Hackman, Allen
Richard, Bill Grimme and to  Deb  Morinville (whose address I did not
have).

Thank you for taking the time to comment on that brief period of
time in a long life.   The flattery I’m experiencing is a gift from
you all, and that is important to me.  By the way I answered a
direct mailing from Susan Fassett, so she was not included in this
series of observations and impressions response.

Just to clarify a couple of impressions, we did not do any
supersonic maneuvers.  The explosive sound that was heard was in all
likelihood, the afterburner which is a loud and sudden explosive
acceleration which that engine incorporated.  The solo pilots used
it more than us working guys in the formation, although it’s
possible anytime.  On one of the South American shows we did in 1961
the President of Paraguay asked our lead to do a supersonic pass.
He explained that the shock wave might possibly break many windows
in the air terminal.  The president said, “This is my country, and
those are my windows”. So the leader had the solo to open the show
with a boom.  No windows were broken, but they had alot of tape
helping to withstand the shock.

What caused KC Sine to fall was not in the plan, but it happened
like this:   As lead headed us toward Minot, I asked him permission
to do a slow pass down main street. I wanted to see if my folks
were at our store on main street.  I was low and very slow with my
landing gear down. Unknown to me the other wing man pulled out of
the formation, got behind me a good distance then lit the
afterburner, accelerated to nearly 500knots, flew UNDER me as we
passed the bank on the corner.  KC explained to me when Dad and I
went to apologize, he had that masterful fast paced dialogue with a
little swearing going on, telling me, that fast one was going to
kill him  right in front of his store,etc, etc, then he ended his
tirade, he said, “hey kid, wanna banana?”  I’d heard that many
years before that Sept day in 1961. What a piece of work that man
was.

There are Thunderbird reunions every other year in Las Vegas where
we get together with us oldtimers, and all the teams before and
after us, and are treated to a private air show by the current
team in their beautiful F-16 aircraft at Nellis AFB.  This year it
was last month. The number of attendees from our earlier teams are
less and less, but it is like being in Dunseith at our famous
100th and125th Celebrations to see all the generations in
attendance, to give the heart a tug, and the mind a blast of
afterburner.

I did eject from the airplane I flew to ND about two weeks after
we had been there.  It was not at a show, but during our arrival
maneuvers at a Navy Base in Rhode Island, I had the engine quit
running, tried some emergency airstarts, tried to position the
bird to make a dead stick (engine out) pattern, but was too low,
so ejected without injury, and flew the spare airplane in the show
the next day. The other one exploded in an empty field with no
damage to anything on the ground, except the dirt.   I landed in a
tree and I was not as good a tree climber as I was down at Willow
Creek, but shoot.

I’m hoping someone can figure out the best way to get us in
computer contact on a regular basis.  I can contribute $$, but my
brain power is limited.

Cheers and Happy New Year to you all, and thank you from my
heart. Bill Hosmer

Colette Hosmer’s (64) comments and reply:

Bill, I began this e-mail (below) this morning but had to leave for an appointment so saved it to send later.  I just got back and read the Thunderbird account from your point of view.  Guess we’re working on mental telepathy now….

Hi Gary and Cousin Bill,

Loved reading your Christmas Day letter, Bill.   So many people exchanged their memories of your Dunseith Thunderbird Show….maybe someday you’ll tell us your side of the story (?)

Although I don’t know anything about building or maintaining a website (I traded art and paid a professional for mine) I will add my 2 cents to the equation.  I agree with Gary that we should stick with e-mail for our initial communication — especially since he’s so generous in acting as the clearing house for these thousands of messages.  However, I would imagine that information could be organized very effectively on a website.  And, photographs would be an important addition to the history.

I also agree that if this effort is made, it should be top rate, easy to maneuver and with plenty of room to add info indefinitely.

Colette

Larry Hackman’s (66) message to Bill Hosmer:

Bill

Just to let you know and to pump up your pumper more,  I want to let you
know that I have related the story of the Thunderbirds buzzing small town,
USA,  Dunseith, ND  many times over the years.  That one short moment in
time has meant a lot and apparently not only to me.  We did not have much
growing up in Dunseith but we did have a pilot that flew with the
Thunderbirds,  Not many towns can make that claim.  New Rockford, ND. is
real proud to have a astronaut,  but I’ll bet he never buzzed main street
and created the memories that you have for all of us.  Thank you.  Now if I
can figure out a way to get Gary to stop confusing me with Carmen Myer and
Santa Claus I’ll be doing great.  By the way, I think I did meet you and
visit with you for a short time at the Althea Theatre (Senior Citizen
Center)  at the Dunseith Reunion. Did you say you were living or staying in
a cabin up at Long Lake or am I confused.  Bill, you have a great day and
thank you again, for the memory.
larry

Request from Rene Casavant (65): 

Hi Gina           This is Rene Casavant with the Dunseith Alumni Cruise. I just got the message that Dwight Lang is canceling. I still want to go, however with the downturn of my 401k I have to be more frugal so I will have to at minimum find a new cabinmate and downgrade our cabin selection. Gary you can post this for anyone who is interested. I’m easy to get along with, so I’m told.

Folks, For any of you guys wishing to join us on our cruise, in need of a cabin mate, please let us know.  Rene truly is a very nice guy and very easy to get along with. Coming from a family of 16 siblings, all still living, he can not be anything else but.

Reply from Kathy Casavant Ellingson (74): 

Gary, My husband Larry had Mrs. Potratz for a teacher at Bisbee in grades 1st, 2nd & 7th. He said they lived on a farm near Perth,her husband farmed & she was a school teacher.

Reply from Susan Brew Roussin (59): 

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

I would like to say thanks to Lloyd Awalt for his very interesting story
on his service during WW II. It was a very close up and personal account
from one of our own. Lloyd had mentioned to me that he wasn’t good on
the typewriter so hadn’t written yet. I think he did a great job! I said
many of us are two finger typists—just go for it! He certainly did a
fine job! Thanks for the story and thanks Lloyd for doing your part in
‘The Big One’!

Dick

Reply/Pictures from Bonnie Awalt Houle (56):

Dear Gary,

Your “Snatches from the Past” make my day.  Thank you so much.

I am attaching a picture of the girl that matches the girl in the band picture.  I thought she was a Smith girl, maybe Lois Smith.  Hopefully someone can tell us for sure.  (She signed the picture for me but she wrote so tiny I can no longer make out the name.)

The picture of the Ladies was taken in the little home that Mae Cota lived in beside Bertha and Earl Myers.  She had a wonderful crab apple tree in her back yard I think many kids tried to get apples from her tree without permission.

Thanks again for all your hard work, it must be like a full time job!!!

Bonnie Awalt Houle 56

Bonnie,  This job is as full time as I choose to make it.  It gives me something to look forward to each and every morning when I get up. In retirement, one has to have something to do and I have chosen to do this.  It keeps me connected to the states and most of all to all of you.  To be honest, when I retired I missed the office atmosphere with a computer on my desk for a purpose.  I now have that.  With my job at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, in Bremerton, Washington, I communicated schedules and other data for various projects that our yard had going on throughout the world. In a sense, I’m doing the same thing now, but with the Dunseith Alumni. It’s fun. Gary

Bonnie, This looks like the same girl standing between Dave Shelver and DuWayne Lang in that 1956 band photo.

Folks, Is this girl familiar to any of you? Bonnie is thinking her name may be Lois Smith. Does that name ring a bell?

Lois Smith??

Cropped view of the 1956 band picture.
Lois Smith standing in center ????
Mae Cota, Myrtle Anderson & Nealy Rasmussen 

Folks, I just talked with Marsha Getzlaff Bakken. She just got back from Colorado, visiting her daughter and her family.  She will be sending information and identities of her Dad, Darrel’s, family that are in the Getzlaff family photo that I posted several days ago.  She wants to talk to her dad first, to make sure she gets everything correct. Marsha lives in Anchorage, Alaska. I will be posting all the replies that you folks sent along with what I get from Marsha. I will be posting the picture again too. Gary

Message from Minnie Mary McKay Merrill (48): 

This is my first response to the very enjoyable “memories” of my

Dunseith days.
I taught school at the Lockhart rural school north of Dunseith.  The
school house was 1 mile south of the Canadian line.  This was about 1950
and 1951.  One pleasant memory was walking to Tommy Hagen’s school to
play ball.  What a “field trip!”  Curt Millang, Dennis Espe, Curt Kavlie
were my heavy hitters.
Cheering for Lockhart were the first graders because I think we had to
have everyone on the team to make a go of it. That had to be Sandra
Zeiler and maybe Garrett Myers.  What a bunch of good kids I had.  There
were 6 Millang kids, 2 Zeilers, 3 Handlands, 1 Kavlie, 2 Salmonsons, 2
Espes and 1 Myers.  I most likely have the two years mixed up but then
that was over 50 years ago.
I live in Renton, WA and have been here for about 35 years.  Most
of my family of the McKays live in North Dakota so I do go “home”  to
visit.  My sister, Phyllis, lives in Auburn, WA.
Thanks to you, Gary, for this unusual connection for all of us on
the receiving end.
Minnie Mary McKay Merrill

Reply from Tom Hagen (51): 

Hi, Gary, another of my pupils at the Wetherault School I noted had

written with the cowboy serial  (Warren Anderson)   Tom Hagen

We love E-mail letters,  Love Tom and Dot

Tom, Warren is part of the class of 65, along with me and all the others. Warren and his wife Cora are living in Rolette.  Gary

Message from Vickie Metcalfe (70): 

Gary and friends,

In the  Minot Daily News today,November 20, 2008
LAURA POTRATZ, 99, Rugby, died Wednesday in a Rugby hospital. (Elick
Funeral Home, Rolla)

Mrs. Potratz was formerly “Miss Olson”.  My  Dad Cliff, and Aunt
Leona (Metcalfe) were very fond of her.And spoke highly of  Miss
Olson as a their HillSide country school teacher in the late 1920′s
and early 1930′s.

As an adult, my dad plastered her farm house and they renewed their
acquaintance as dad’s favorite teacher.
When Aunt  Leona (Metcalfe) Oswell and  son Ron came back to ND in
June 2000 they had dinner at the Dunseith Senior Center.  “Miss
Olson”  ie. Mrs. Potratz came because it was put in the Dunseith news
that Leona would having dinner there, renewing friendships ,they had
a very lengthy visit.

When,  Leona came back to my house that afternoon, she brought school
pictures of herself that Mrs. Potraz had kept all those years and
gave to Leona. My Aunt Leona was absolutely delighted about this
visit at Dunseith Senor Citizens, especially with comments by “Miss
Olson” that she recalled  Leona was one of her  “brightest and most
intelligent students” .  Leona was like a little school girl. again
tickled and …. awed that Miss Olsen would say  that.
Mrs.Laura (Olson)  Potraz taught  at many Rolette and Bottineau
County rural schools.  Maybe some of you recall her?
A side note, she and her husband donated monies to decorate one of
the rooms at Metigoshe Lutheran Christian Center. It seems to me it
was a room with a “schoolhouse” motif.
–
Vickie L. Metcalfe

Follow up message from Vickie Metcalfe (70): 

Gary and etal, I notified my cousins this am of Mrs. Potratz passing….thought you might be interested in what Geri and Chuck Munro wrote.   I then realized it was HillSide School (Bergan) not Hilltop School.   My dad used to sing..”.HillSide will shine to night,  Hillside will shine” . etc  Thank you!………….. |-O Vickie
X-EduTech-MailScanner-From:

Geri here—I had Miss Laura Olson for a teacher at our little Hilltop Country School–she was excellent and told me she had taught Leona and Cliff and others–maybe at Hillside??  Vickie, we’ve shared pics from Hillside when relatives went there.  Chuck had her in 4th grade in Rolla; and she started him playing the bass drum in Grade 4-5 Rhythm Band–his introduction to playing the drums  He, too, felt she was an excellent teacher–no one seemed to forget that she had been their teacher.  She was a CLASSIC.  We visited with her a few times after she married Bill Potratz.

Reply from Shirley Olson Warcup (49): 

A message for Lloyd Awalt.

You probably didn’t know this, but a small contingent of freshman girls (myself included) spent a few hours awaiting your arrival in Dunseith the day you arrived home from military service.  We had heard you were coming home that day and we waited in the Drug Store–intermittently going out to see if we could see your Dad’s car coming .  I’m not sure how long we waited , but we did catch a glimpse of you as you  came down main street.  We were too shy to wave and cheer–but you were silently and happily welcomed home that day!!  Belated thanks for your service to the country and to all of us!

Shirley Olson Warcup

Reply from Mel Kuhn (70):

Howdy Gary,

Great story from Lloyd Awalt. Thank you Lloyd for sharing it with us.

Mel Kuhn[70]

Picture provide by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Folks, The three guys standing in the back are Emil Hazeldahl, John Kofoid & Bob Stokes.  Lillian Houle is the lady with a red top in the front. John Kofoid is Neola’s Dad.  He owned the Corner Stone Garage, in Dunseith, in the 50′s/60′s.  Lillian is the mother of Allen Houle and all the Houle children that attended Dunseith in the 60′s/70′s.  Emil Hazeldahl was married to my dad’s sister Olga. Olga was first married to Bert Hanson, brother to Francis Morinville.  She married Emil a few years after Bert’s death.

Service history/pictures from Lloyd Awalt (44): 

Lloyd, I had you listed with the class of 46. I have now corrected that error.

This is a great story. Thank you so much for sharing.  Gary

Dear Gary,

More of the Dunseith History.  I believe a lot of people will remember the Awalt’s.  My Dad John was born on the place where Dick Johnson lives now.  My Grandpa sold the farm to Han’s Johnson and moved back to Missouri.  My Parent, John and Gertrude went to Missouri with them and that is where I and Eleanor were born.  We all moved back to North Dakota when the Banks went belly-up in 1929.  We lived on the Peterson Place across the road from Cliff Metcalf’s.  In the Spring of 1930 we moved into Dunseith as Dad went to work in the Gottbreht Mill.  We lived in the house that Bill Fassett’s later lived in.  Dad later bought the Dray Line from Clarence Berg.  The Dray Line hauled anything and everything.  We met the train every evening hauling anything that came in, delivered coal to homes, and supplies to the stores.  In 1941 Dad sold the Dray line to Leo Vandal.

In 1943 I enlisted in the Navy.  (I would have graduated with the class of 1944 with Urbain Cote and that bunch). My Dad had to sign for me to join.  My first training was at Ft. Snelling in Minneapolis, Mn. and then was sent to Farrugt, Idaho for 8 weeks training and next onto an air base in California, where I underwent a great deal of training to prepare for the war.  Most of the training was centered around aircraft support.  I was also sent to gunnery school, which was real important to me later on.  In the summer of 1944, along with thousand of other me I boarded an aircraft carrier, the USS Kalinin Bay, for the trip to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The trip took two weeks, and we were worried about Japanese’s submarines, but at the same time we were pretty comforted by the sheer size of the aircraft carrier.  From Pearl Harbor I was assigned to the U.S. Naval Air Facility on Johnston Island, located about 750 miles southwest of Hawaii.  The Island is only about a quarter mile wide and one mile long.  There was nothing on the Island except the airstrip and 1,500 military personnel.  Our primary mission was to provide air coverage for our ships going to and from Pearl Harbor.  The Naval Air Facility at Johnston Island flew the Dauntless Dive Bomber.  This workhorse airplane had fought most of the air and naval battles in the Pacific during the early years of the war.  The Dauntless had a range of about 400 miles, so we would  provide air coverage to the end of our range, and then turn the air coverage over to someone else.  The air facility also flew reconnaissance patrols.  I was a plane captain, responsible for making sure my airplane was flight ready, that meant I worked on the planes and on the airfield, and took my turn at guard duty.  My gunnery training came in handy, too, as I sometimes served as the gunner in the Dauntless Dive Bomber, manning the twin ..30-caliber machine guns in the rear of the two-seat dive bomber.  The pilots had a rule:  Whoever worked on the plane had to fly with the pilot to make sure the plane was safe.  One time after replacing a wing, the pilot took me up to about 9,000 feet and then told me he wanted to see, “How well the plane would hold up,” putting the dive bomber into a steep dive all the way back down!  The ocean sure came up fast.  Much of the work we did was tedious.  The Pacific Islands were hot, (120 degrees in the shade if you could find any.) There were no trees.  Off duty we played a lot of baseball and softball, went fishing and swimming.  We were the stop off for planes returning to Pearl Harbor with wounded or prisoners of war.  Planes would refuel or change pilots before continuing on to Pearl Harbor.  I saw a lot of wounded men who had seen the worst of the fighting.  When the war ended we celebrated, with 3.2 beer, and a big sigh of relief.  From there I was sent to the mainland and Washington State where I refurbished airplanes.  In March of 1946 I was mustered out of the service.

I don’t have any pictures of the Blizzard of 1948-49 when the Army came in to dig Dunseith out.  They stayed about 6 weeks.  There were 4 ways to get out of town and the farthest you could get was 4 miles North of Town.

Winifred Pritchard stayed with my Parents when she was going to High School.  We became very close to Winifred and her family.  I got to know her Dad “Will” because Winifred would take me home with her on week-ends.

My sister Eleanor went to work in Shelvers Drug store when she was in High School, she said it was a wonderful place to work.

My Dad worked for PV Elevator for a few years and then went into carpenter work, something he’d always wanted to do.  A lot of his work is still there.  He built the PostOffice, the Bank, many barn up in the hills, the Boarder Station at the Peace Garden, the Peace Chapel, and the float that is in many Dunseith Parades.  John Awalt loved the Stone Church in Dunseith and along with Fred Michaelson did many hours of free carpentry work on the church.

Lloyd Awalt Class of !944

Reply from Marylyn Diebold (Willow City): 

Thank you so much for the information. I’ve heard a lot of positive things concerning your blog. Keep up the good work!

Incidentally I did find out that the sheds on our property that were purchased from San Haven were more than likely goat sheds. I spoke to a gentleman whose last name, I believe, was Awalt, or something close to that. He worked for many years at San Haven and it was so interesting to me. Never realized before that the complex was like a little city. My down-syndrome cousin who is now 49, was moved to San Haven from Grafton. I forget the year that took place.

Thanks again for sending me the information!

Marylyn Diebold

Folks, Marylyn is the lady that is using the material from old buildings, for making crafts, that were moved to her place from San Haven. Do any of you remember anything about these goat sheds that were up at San Haven?

Marylyn, I believe the guy you talked to was Lloyd Awalt. He lives in Bottineau on the corner of Main street an #5. He would know a lot of the history of San Haven.

From Dave Slyter (70): 

Gary, Paul, and Warren:

Just to send a big thank you for the memories in the two video’s this morning.  Pauls was hilarious and Warrens was just great.  Funny how you can forget an actor and as soon as you see their faces again you remember watching them way back when.   Just means we are getting just a little older.

Thanks fella’s for sharing the video’s.

Dave Slyter (70)

Reply from Angela Berube Malget (65): 

Hi Gary and Everyone,

I am responding to Neola’s question in the #284 posting about the
wedding photo of Sharon Berube and Dave Kelly.  Sharon is the daughter
of Edward and Evelyn Berube of Belcourt.  She would be a first cousin to
Jim, Tom, Cecile and Bill Berube and also to me and my family.  Dave
Kelly lived in Minneapolis and would not be related to Randy Kelly’s
family.  Sure is interesting to see all these pictures.

Angela Berube Malget (65)

Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Hi Gary,

When people visit Mrs. Pritchard at St. Andrew’s in Bottineau, they might like to also visit my aunt, Alvina Brudwick Christianson.  She lives in Room 107; phone number 701-228-9308.

Neola

Folks, Alvina is Lois Christianson Roland’s mother.  They lived in the Willow Lake community west of the Halvorson’s, in Bottineau county. Lois graduated in 1965 from Bottineau HS. She is married to Dickie Roland, also from the BHS class of 65.

Winifred Pritchard Eurich (37) is also a resident at St. Andrew’s. I was reading in the Dunseith news where Sylvia Bergan recently celebrated her 96th birthday. She too is a resident at St. Andrew’s.  She is a great aunt to all the Bergan siblings from Dunseith. She was a close family friend of ours in my growing up days. When I talked to her a while back, she remembered me well and was asking about my brothers.  When Sylvia celebrated her 90th, she did not look a day over 60. Gary

From Cecile (Carbonneau) Marchand (51): 

Dear Gary:

Thanks you so much for adding me to your website. I have enjoyed trying to recognize some of the people but I do recognize lots of names. I was talking to my sister Rita (Carbonneau) Anderson last night. She lives in Fargo and I am here in Wisconsin. She reminded me that when she and her husband Edgar Anderson owned the Gamble store they were the first ones to have TV in Dunseith and after school the kids would come over and sit on paint cans in the aisle and watch TV until their parents would call them home for Supper. Boy, that seems like a long time ago now. We will be leaving for Florida after Thanksgiving for the winter.

Cecile (Carbonneau) Marchand
Folks, Tom Hagen recently mentioned Cecile as having been one of their class mates in the class of 51, so I did a search and found her. Cecile and I had a nice visit.  She is such a friendly person and let me know that she was very happy I contacted her.  Tom also mentioned a guy buy the name of Peter Richard as having been in their class.  I believe I have located him living in Snohomish, WA, but no one has been home when I’ve called.  I’ll keep trying.  He too, may be a snowbird and went south for the winter?  Gary

From Rod Hiatt (69): 

Hello Gary

Just wanted to share with you about a terrific evening I enjoyed last
week. All of the Fauske girls were home and I had the pleasure of
spending the evening with them at Brian’s home. I think that it was
probably Elwood and Stubby’s 50th when they were all home at the same
time (at least thats the last time I saw them all) It was really great to
see them all again as when we were growing up we were a very close
family, Lindy and I were like brother and sister rather than just cousins.
Lindy (Arlinda) is still just as tall as she always was (stands on a
Chicago phone book to make the 5 foot mark) but still has that twinkle
in her eye and that warm and friendly smile. Beth, well Beth looks the
same as she did when she graduated. I don’t think that she has aged a
day. Carol, I believe is one of the few Grandmothers that could pose for
a fashion magazine as a model and  Connie is the picture of high society
and sophistication. But you get them all together for that evening and
it was nothing but memories, stories and lots of laughter.(sounded like
a bunch of cackling hens )
We talked about the old hunting days, the school bus, DHS days when
Lindy could get away with anything with Auntie Charlotte and it seemed
that I was always in trouble and I think her favorite words were ” I’m
going to tell your Dad” which she did and well it just wasn’t good.
Something was brought up about Brian and his motorcycles and some how I
think maybe Bud Stokes, Victor Pladson and a bike were in some of that
memory or when Russel tipped his motorcycle in Dunseith with Beth as a
passenger and first thing he did was check out the bike before seeing if
Beth was ok.
Lots of names were mentioned that evening, like Norman and his hunting
antics, the Lagerquist boys and that could be a whole book it self. One
story was Rodney on his 450 Yamaha coming over the hill into Elwoods
yard at about 70 with a damn fool passenger (Me) just as the cows were
let out of the barn. We slid and weaved down through the whole herd, not
touching a single one, but there was s__t flying every where and I’m not
sure that what was on the seat of that bike was all from cows (thats the
last time I rode behind Badger) Stories of the Sylters, Pladsons,
Hagens, and all the other neighbors and friends filled the evening. Oh
did I forget to mention the Stokes, well I will send those another day
and Gary I hope that we don’t do any editing of them. One doesn’t know
how fortunate you really are until you are surrounded by Family that you
haven’t seen in a long time and the good old days seem to appear out of
no where.

Gary’s reply 

Rod, I would have really loved to have spent that wonderful evening with you and all the Fauske’s.  What a precious evening that must have been.  We were close neighbors with the Fauske’s. Actually the Stokes’ and the Hiatt’s were very close for many years, encompassing a few generations back to our great grandfathers.  We attended a lot of the Hiatt reunions.  You guys seemed to have one each summer over at the Peace Garden, in my growing up days.  Other than for the motorcycle days, I think I could have probably related to most all your stories.  I’ll bet you guys had some good ones too. The Motorcycles came into being about the time I left the country.  I remember your aunt Charlotte Lang coming down the halls of the high school, several times, looking for Carrole, being a little upset with something she had seen.  I remember one time it had something to do with a car Carrole was riding in or on. I don’t remember the details.  I think the car may have been over loaded. Anyway, Carrole got a sermon. Being her nieces and nephews, Charlotte kept a close eye on all of you guys. She was your mother away from home. Those were the good old days.  I promise I won’t edit what ever you send. Actually my policy is to not edit or alter anything anyone sends.  I just copy and paste. Sometimes if I see a spelling error, I’ll run spell check and let it do the correcting and not me.  If for some reason I see something questionable that I think maybe should be edited out or changed, I will contact that person first before doing that.  I never ever change anything anyone sends me without their approval. Gary

   Charlotte Hiatt Lang

From Vickie Metcalfe (70):

Gary, I am so very proud of my niece Justene Metcalfe, daughter of Shanon (82) and Deb (Salmonson) Metcalfe, who recently did very well in a barrel racing activity in Texas. She and her mom & “a horse named Jade” went to Texas in early November and came back in a new truck!  Justene  in her 4th year of college at Moorhead State University, is also on the NDSU rodeo team.  Her parents both attended Dunseith School.  Justene is a 3rd generation Metcalfe on the family farm  north of Dunseith, started by her grandparents Cliff and Lottie (Lamb) Metcalfe.

Click this link to see Justene in her NEW TROPHY TRUCK!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42679&l=14a15&id=505083555

Vickie L. Metcalfe

Vickie, You have every right to be proud and her parents too! That’s a beautiful truck that Justene won.  I don’t remember your brother Shanon, but I know Debbie through my dad. She was one of his favorite persons and he always took me up to the Bottineau First National Bank to see her with each of our trips back to ND. Debbie took over as their lead insurance agent when Merle Severtson retired back in the 90′s.  Debbie often mentioned her horses and all the events they attended with them.  Gary

Reply from Bev Morinville Azure: (72): 

Bob   what great photos  thanks for sharing them  you have   very  nice lookinh  kids.   thanks again  for all you do.  I had a  check up on  Friday everything  looks  good  so  far.   Debbie  is coming along  its  slow  she is about  to  go to Billings  and  then they say she  will really take off.  I  will keep you all  updated  been  busy painting the  inside of  my house    what a job  lol   Bev

  GOD  BLESS YOU …………BEV

Bev, I think you were thinking of my dad when you wrote “Bob”,  but that is perfectly OK. It’s telling me folks do remember him.  The name “Bob Stokes” was much more common than “Gary Stokes” in the Dunseith/Bottineau communities. He lived in the community for 85 years where I was only there for 19 years.  Through my dad though, with our annual visits back to the area, I managed to keep up with the community and a lot of the people over the years.  Gary

Reply from David Slyter (70): 

Morning Gary:

Thanks so much for sharing the pictures of your family.  Was great to see the pictures of your folks and Orvin Hagen.   You have two really great looking kids also.  I am sure you will be connecting with them next summer when you go on the cruise.   Congrats on all of your successes.

To Dick:  I do remember a little bit of the hill at the home just south of Dunseith.  The only thing I remember about that place was the big pasture we had for our horses and the creek full of tadpoles. The one thing I do remember was when you and your parents would come and pick us up to go to the lake for a day.  It was always in that big ole black cadillac.  We thought we were pretty special to get into that car.  ha  We always had so much fun at the lakes trying to ski and water board.   Thanks for the memories.

Dave Slyter (70)

Reply from Tom Hagen (51): 

HI, Gary, thanks for the pictures of your family and Orvin.

We love E-mail letters,  Love Tom and Dot

From Bobby Slyter (70):

To dick Johnson: who could forget those days when we lived south of Dunseith, those dern wagons could really fly couldn’t they? like you I am surprised that we did not get hurt in some way, those where the good old days huh, we always had so much fun when you and your parents visited where ever we lived, oh to be young and that care free again

To Gary: those are wonderful pictures, you should be very proud of you children, thanks for all that you do for us on this blog, it is great

JUST LITTLE OLE  ME FROM KANSAS

Getzlaff family picture privided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Hi Gary

I’m quite sure your readers know Gloria Getzlaff Hagen.  I think the Getzlaff family is from the Willow City area, or am I wrong about that?

Neola

Gary’s Comment
Neola, The Getzlaff family does come from Willow City. The only one I recognize is Gloria Getzlaff Hagen standing in the back.

Marsha Getzlaff Bakken (74), I’m thinking this is your Grandparents along with your father and all of his siblings.

Folks, I will repost this photo with names.  Please provide. Thanks,  Gary

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Freddie and Margaret Hiatt and their kids lived south of Dunseith along
the creek in the early 60s. We were out to their place a  lot. One
memory I have is of the hill behind their house and what we used to do
there. We would take their wagon and my wagon, the ‘Radio Flyer’ kind,
and start about 20 feet apart at the top and then crash into each other
at the bottom and tip over, head over heels! It’s amazing we didn’t cut
our fingers off, between the wagon boxes, or knock our teeth out! We
must have gone down the hill a hundred times and as far as I remember,
no one was ever hurt. We didn’t tell our folks what we were doing–Mom
always asked,” Why do you need to haul that old wagon out there anyway”?
I can’t remember what lame excuse I used, but it must have worked!  I
bet this story will stir the memories of the Slyter boys! How about it
guys?? Thanks Gary!

Dick

Folks, I had a little extra room today, so thought I’d throw in a few family pictures.  Some of you have seen these before, but many of you have not.  Gary

This picture was taken at a Petterson/Kofoid family reunion inJuly 2000. Bernadette was unable to make it back to ND that year.

L to R:
Standing: Kristin, Nathan, Debby, Darrel (Bud) & Gary Stokes
Sitting, Bob & Elaine Stokes

This pictureand the family picture above were taken in late July 2000, about 3 weeks before dad’s death.  He just went to bed one day and never woke up.

Bob & Elaine Stokesat the Senior Center in Bottineau

Our kids,Sheryl & Bernie.  This picture was taken at Bernie’s HS graduation in 1990.  Sheryl was 10 years old and Bernie 19 at the time.  Bernie was born right here in Cebu, Philippines. He was part of the package when I got married to Bernadette.  He was seven years old when going to the states and could speak hardly a word of English.  Today he knows nothing but English. Bernie is still single.  He is having a problem finding that perfect girl.  He is a perfectionist. In HS he never put on a pair of pants or a shirt without first ironing them.  Bernie lives in Bellevue, WA. He worked for Microsoft for a number years, but has recently moved to another company.  Sheryl is currently living in Bremerton, WA. Following HS she attended the University of Washington and got a speech communications degree.  Unlike me, she is one hell of speech communicator. Sheryl is married with two children, Tyler & Nevaeh (Heaven spelled backwards).

Sheryl & Bernie Stokes

Bernadette Stokes & Orvin Hagen – July 13, 2007

Gary Stokes & Orvin Hagen – July 13, 2007

Dunseith news provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

For some of you old timers and also not so old timers too.
Turn up the volume and sit back & enjoy!

Click here: Message

From Martha Lamb Schepp (68): 

Hi Gary,

Lynn and I have just returned from the funeral of our sister in laws brother who was shot by a stray bullet 1 1/2 hours into deer season in the Lisbon, ND area. Dick you made our day when I read the story of my Dad and Norman Hiatt. I can just hear my Dad’s full belly laugh as he tricked Norman. The Hiatt’s were always dear to our family . When my Mom taught at Ackworth school Norman’s parents were gracious enough to open their home up for Mom to stay with them. When I was born Norman’s Dad bought me a yellow dress because he loved my name. I want to think that it was because they really liked my Mom. By the way I still have the dress in the cedar chest. Thanks again! This blog makes my day. Must get busy, Lynn turned 60 yesterday, he has gone outside for a bit. Our family is coming for dinner tomorrow and I’m trying to do this without him knowing anything about it. The chicken is fried and the gravy is made so that helps.
Martha

Congratulations to Lynn on his 60th.  Martha, you are not quite there yet.  Gary

Richard Slyter’s (67) 2nd Heart Attack – message from Dick Johnson (68):

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

When we lived in Dunseith, our neighbors to the south were  the
Leonards. I remember how Ed Leonard almost always wore a white shirt and
a white cowboy hat. He was in the Crystal Cafe one day when I went in to
have lunch, so I sat down on the stool next to him. I was probably about
10 years old at the time, and very impressionable. I didn’t know at the
time, the waitress was in on the ‘fake’ sarcasm and they were just
kidding. Ed ordered a ham sandwich. The waitress asked what he wanted to
drink–milk? Ed said, “I don’t drink that, I know where it comes from”!
She told him it wasn’t like the old days, now it’s pasteurized,
homogenized, and refrigerated! Ed winked at me and said, “I don’t like
cow s__t even if it’s cooked”! He had water. When his sandwich came, he
opened it to put salt and pepper on it and looked at me and shook his
head. He showed me how thin the meat was and then said to the waitress,
“You know, I took a thicker piece of ham off a pig’s ass with a whip
than this, GO GET ME SOME HAM”! I thought, boy he’s really mad,–then he
winked at me again! It was just Ed being Ed! Thanks Gary!

Dick

The 1956 band picture was one of the ones that belonged to my folk’s.
You were asking of it’s origin on the site and I just thought I would
let you know that I sent it. Thanks1

Dick

Luella Burcham Obituary:

Note: Luella was married to Roddy Burcham from the class of 65.  Roddy pasted away this past January.

DUNSEITH Luella A. Burcham, 59, died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008, in a Minot hospital.

She was born Jan. 7, 1949, to Alex and Alice Vivier in Dunseith. She married Roddy Burcham Oct. 22, 1965, in Minot.

Survivors: daughters, Dawnna and Lori, both Dunseith; sons, Roddy Jr., James and Willard, all Dunseith; foster sons, John and Daniel Greatwalker; foster daughters, Kim, Shelly and Krystal Greatwalker; 12 grandchildren; brothers, Louie, Belcourt, Raymond, Las Lunas, N.M., Ronald, Chaska, Neb.; sisters, Geraldine Wilson, Lancaster, Calif., Shirley Jensen, Lincoln, Neb., Donna Price, Yuma, Ariz., Carol James, Minneapolis.

Funeral: Today, 9 a.m., Peace Lutheran Church. Dunseith.

Burial: Riverside Cemetery, rural Dunseith.

Visitation: Today (11/15/08), one hour prior to the service in the church. (Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau)

From Mel Kuhn (70):

This one was around a couple of years ago, but maybe some of your readers haven’t seen it. I thought I could read pretty fast but I couldn’t keep up to it. Reminisce away.

Mel

          Take Me Back To The Sixties
Dunseith News provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Pictures provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Folks, I am quite sure that the folks in these photo’s have Dunseith roots.

Please identify if you can. Gary
Thereare folks with the name Gooden and Goodon that have graduated from  DHS

DavidKelly & Sharon Berube – June 24, 1967.

Is Sharon related to any of the Berube families from Dunseith/Rolette?

Is David Kelly related to Randy Kelly’s family?

Are these folks related to the Dunseith Fontaine’s?

Is this little girl related to any of the Dunseith Watkins families?

Reply from Edna (Susie) Knox Millang (60): 

-+Gary-Thank you for the daily messages.  They are my daily fix.  Just a reply to Tom Hagen  I remember the barefoot walks to school.  It was 2 1/2 miles to school from our house to the school.  I would meet Shirley Anderson Doan about half way and we would continue on together.  I also remember the great soft ball games we would have at noon hour.  There were 20 some of us attending school at Wetherault School then. Edna (Susie) Millang class of 60.

From Patti Metcalfe Woods (67): 

Gary,

So fun to get these emails.

I got the pictures forwarded from Crystal Fassett. Crystal Fassett Andersen (70):

Crystal’s son, Tyler Gunderson, worked at Dunseith Port with me for the last five years.

He has accepted a job transfer with Customs and Border Protection at Savannah, Georgia.

Wishing him good luck in his new job!!!

“Grandma Kate” Fassett sewed cheering outfits.  We would go to her house for fittings/alterations.

It was always a fun time.

Tom Hagen’s story of Wetherault School reminded me of my days at HillTop school.

Clarice Hackman, Jane Millang, Harvey Nerpel, and I were the first graders.

Mrs. Elma Halvorson was our teacher.

Dwight Lang’s mother, Charlotte, was our sixth grade teacher years later at Dunseith Public.

Patti

Patti, I know Terry Espe (64) is the head guy in charge of the Dunseith port and several other ports too. Someone told me you are a supervisor there as well.  You guys have worked there for quite sometime. I know you guys have had some major changes and I think have added more folks as a result of 9/11.  Gary

Reply from Sonda Azure Campbell (94): 

Picture from Mel Kuhn (70): 

Gary,

Just thought I’d hook on a picture of a frosty sunshiny morning in the backyard in good old North Dakota for those of you living in the warmer climates.

From Neola Kofoid Garbe:
RequestingSan Haven information

Hi Gary,

My table is now ready for the craft sale tomorrow.  When I was finished, I wandered around and looked at some of the other tables.  One of the vendors is selling “signs” like you see on the paper I’m enclosing (Her table was ready to go, and she had left.).  I looked at her signs/liked them/wondered what the one I liked, cost.  I saw a stack of papers lying on the table beside her signs, so I read the top one.  When I saw what it was about, I thought perhaps you/your readers can help her with the pictures/information she would like to have.

Thanks, Gary.

Neola

Question from Gary Metcalfe (57): 

Correction from Ellen Graff Myrick (58): emyrick@gra.midco.net

Gary,

Gary Metcalfe’s question reminded me that another name is incorrect on the 1956 Band Picture.  I am pasting in Janice LaCroix Kester’s response to the name of the trumpet player beside Duane Woodford.  “From Jan LaCroix Kester (59):

Hi Gary!  Our network was down for about a month so have a lot of catching up to do.  I came to #156 – regarding whether this is Mick Kester or Jackie Spaeth.  That is Mick Kester, definitely!

Jan LaCroix Kester?

Cell #:  701-238-5657    Home Phone:  701-237-6385″

That is another one that should be changed while you’re correcting the names on the picture.  Also David Shelver may remember the name of the trombone player beside him.

Thanks again for your hard work.

Ellen Graff Myrick (58)

Ellen, Thank you so much for catching  this error.  I thought I had corrected that and changed Jack Spaeth to Mick Kester, but I did not. I have corrected it now though.  Gary

Picture L to R:  1956 DHS Band

Front row: Gayle Bedard, Caroleen Lider, Janice Lacroix, Marjorie Landsverk, Lowell Williams, Lois Hiatt.

Row two: Karen Woodford, Colleen Conroy, Gerald Lamoureux, Marlene Schneider, Duane  Woodford, Mick Kester, Shirley LaRocque, Susan Brew, Connie Bedard, Joanne Kester.

Back row: Charlie Ericson, Ernest Kundart, Charlotte LaCroix,Barbara Bott, Ronnie Link, Lowell Leonard, Dwight Lang, Curt Halvorson?, Don Conroy, Neva Haagenson?, John Morgan, Ellen Graff, BIG DAVE SHELVER, Jean Lake?, DuWayne Lang

Folks, I just got a message from Dwight Lang telling us he is unable to make the cruise with us next July.  Dwight and Rene Casavant are paired up with a cabin.  Rene needs a cabin mate.  Please let us know if any of you are interested or know of anyone that may be interested in taking Dwight’s place on our cruise.  Rene is a really easy going gentleman type of a guy.  Thanks, Gary

Reply from Tom Hagen (51): 

Seeing the picture of Susie and Glenn  and the letter from Carmen Richard, I had to write a few lines..    Susie, do you remember when I was your teacher at Wetherault  School in the summer of l955  and you were in about the 4th or 5th grade.   We had quite the rainstorms that summer and you and the other kids would come to school barefoot through the puddles and mud.   When it got too hot we would go outside and have school by the side of the building.

Carmen, when I taught at Cleveland I had your brothers in 4H and
we also used to visit some with you and Floyd.   It has been a long time
ago.
Gary, I can’t express how much I enjoy being included and
hearing from so many friends in the past.    Julie Knox Seier’s husband
is my 2nd cousin , his mom is Vivian Hagen Seier from Long Lake.

We love E-mail letters,  Love Tom and Dot

Request from Deb Morinville’s (70) Daughter Klista:
Deb is recovering from a Stroke.

I am going thru my mom’s email and asking that no forwards come through. She gets a lot of email! If she recovers enough to do email, I will remind her to let everyone know. Thank you!

Klista

From Dick Johnson (70): 

Gary and Friends,

Back in the 60s everyone wanted a faster car than the next guy. The car
manufacturers led the way with bigger and faster cars each year. One
test of a cars performance was to see how fast it would accelerate in
the quarter mile. Drag racing is what they called it in California–in
Dunseith, we said, “What will it do to the radar”? Only the guys from
Dunseith will have a clue what that meant! From the corner of Hiways 3
and 5 at Dales, almost exactly a quarter mile west, stood a sign that
said ‘Speed Checked by Radar’. It was our quarter mile! I suppose it is
a bit ironic that we would use THAT sign for our speed check! Most of
the better cars could crank about 80 to 90 MPH. The Mustangs, GTOs, etc,
could do much better so we were outclassed in our old cars by the
factory produced muscle cars! Move up or move over!! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Allen Richard’s (65) reply to Dave Wurgler (64) – Cars:

Dave– That is cool  If it can be well tuned and checked — I wonder if he will ever be able to put out 1/6 th the “ponypower” and “twirk” ———–

Allen

Message/Pictures from Crystal Fassett Andersen (70): 

Gary I couldn’t resist sending a couple of pictures . The first one is Dick Johnson’s grandpa Hans and me,Crystal Fassett on Thanksgiving Day 1955,reading. My Aunt Dorothy Fassett is Dick’s Aunt,so our families had lots of holidays and get togethers,at each others homes. The next picture is of Dick and the Fassett girls at Grandma Kate and Grandpa “Pappy” Fassetts house. It’s Susan.Kathy, Dick, Crystal, Pam on couch, Paula, Patty & Kim on floor. And the last picture I send was in reference to Vicki’s letter about Mrs. Hansen. She and our Mom Irene were good friends and the girls were at all of our birthday parties.This party was for our cousin Norma Fassett, who had flown from South America to spend the summer with us in Dunseith. She was only 6 at the time and accompanied by flight attendants. The girls in the picture are: Crystal Fassett, Pennie Kester,Heidi Hansen,Norma Fassett, Becky Hansen, Kim Fassett, Paula Fassett and Cheryl Kester.


Folks, I thought I’d through in some memory pictures. These pictures were taken somewhere in the Rolette/Bottineau county areas. I forgot who sent them to me.  Gary

Update on Richard Slyter (67), from his wife Ele Dietrich Slyter (69), following his heart attack:

This is almost beyond comprehension.  Unbelievable.  This man has talents bordering on the supernatural. This goes beyond what most of us can only dream about. And he did it all on a Bridgeport milling machine. Sureal.

After viewing all of the pictures, be sure to catch both of the film clips of it actually running.

Subj: Hand made 1/6 scale chevy 327 engine

Moyer Made – Projects: 1/6th Scale Chevrolet V8

Question from Gary Metcalfe (57): 

Reply to picture, from Vickie Metcalfe (70):

GARY AND MARK,  Thanks for the memories of this photo!

THIS WAS OUR SECOND GRADE CLASS.  OUR TEACHER WAS MRS. HANSEN.  OUR CLASSROOM WAS A COMBINATION ROOM WITH 1ST GRADERS,SOME WITH 2ND GRADE SIBLINGS.  ie MARK AND REID SCHIMETZ, & ALAN AND  TERRY FUGERE.  THAT CLASSROOM WAS LOCATED ON THE STAGE. THE UPPER CLASSMEN WERE IN THE GYM.  AH….BABY BOOMERS, ARRIVED IN DUNSEITH!……AND THE SCHOOL SWELLED!  AT NOON HOUR THE PLAYGROUND WAS FLOODED WITH KIDS IN GRADES  1ST -12. I DON’T RECALL ANY TEACHERS OUTSIDE SUPERVISING THE  PLAYGROUND. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD TO BUILD. AND SOMETIME, THAT YEAR I BELIEVE THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MOVED TO THE NEW BUILDING.

ONCE A WEEK, WE’D WALK DOWN TO MRS.MILDRED PARRILL’S ROOM IN THE BIG WHITE SCHOOL HOUSE FOR MUSIC WITH THE OTHER SECOND GRADERS. I THINK THE 1ST GRADERS WENT IN WITH  MRS. EVA SEIM  WHO HAD ALL THE OTHER 1ST GRADERS.  DAVY CROCKETT AND BLUE BIRD  WERE FAVORED SONGS.

SINCE WE 9, WERE GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED FROM THE OTHER 1ST AND 2ND GRADERS OUR LITTLE GROUP HAD TO PLAY TOGETHER. WE KIND OF BECAME A LITTLE FAMILY.  WE’D  USE THE BACK DOOR AT RECESS  AND ALSO PLAY UNDER THE STAIRCASE, PRETEND WITCHES ETC.

MANY AFTERNOONS, WE’D BE VISITED BY THE TWO BEAUTIFUL LITTLE SISTERS OF MARK AND REID.  KATHY AND KIM SCHIMETZ, EACH HAD LONG BROWN HAIR IN RINGLETTE CURLS. THEIR MOM, STELLA DRESSED THEM LIKE DOLLS.

IT WAS IN THAT  2ND GRADE CLASS  I LEARNED A LIFE  LESSON.  OFTEN,  MRS. HANSEN WOULD HAVE OUR GROUP OF 9 LINE UP AT HER DESK AND CHECK OVER OUR WORK.  ONE DAY WHILE STANDING BEHIND GORDIE NERPEL I NOTICED HIS PHONICS ANSWERS AND MINE WERE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.  I WAS CERTAIN I MINE WERE WRONG.  PANICING I ERASED AND CHANGED ALL MY ANSWERS AND COPYED HIS.  WHEN MY TURN CAME FOR WORK TO BE CHECKED, MRS. HANSEN JUST QUIETLY TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO MY DESK, ERASE MY ANSWERS AND DO MY WORK OVER.  SHE DID NOT SHAME ME, JUST QUIETLY SAID, DO NOT DO THAT AGAIN.

As a teacher/counselor I share that tale of woe with my students. I tell them how I learned the lesson of not cheating in second grade  from Mrs. Hansen and I honestly recall that strong feeling of shame.

WE WERE THE CLASS OF ’70.  Oft TIMES OUR NUMBERS SOARED TO APPROXIMATELY 90 STUDENTS IN 7TH GRADE.   There was 7A, 7B, and 7C, MOSTLY GROWING, WITH THE INFLUX OF STUDENTS FROM THE DAY SCHOOL. THE CLASS OF ’70 STILL CAN BOAST AS BEING THE LARGEST GRADUATION CLASS!

MRS. HANSON TAUGHT IN DUNSEITH THEN WENT TO WILLOW CITY AND AFTER MANY YEARS RETIRED THERE. SHE, AND HER HUSBAND LIVE ON A FARM OUT OF WILLOW CITY. THEIR DAUGHTER IS CURRENTLY THE BOTTINEAU SCHOOL LIBRARIAN.

Picture – Class of 70 folks from Mark Schimetz:

Top row: Mark Schimetz, Dean Lamb, Gordon Nerpel, Alan Fugere & Vicky Medcalf
Bottom: Janice Allard, David Striker, Maryls Medland, and Joann Millang.

I am not sure what grade we are in here, Maybe 2nd grade. Vicki will probably know.

Message/Pictures from Karen Loeb Mhyre (65): 

Hi Gary,

Jim and I also have a new granddaughter born on Thursday, October 30th!!   Our son Andrew and his wife, Jennifer welcomed Katelyn Elise Mhyre.  She was born at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, Wa.  They live in Kenmore, WA and are both scientists.  They are both PhD researchers  in the biotech industry.

We also have a three year old granddaughter, Fiona, who lives with her folks in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  We will all be together here for Christmas!!  Such a fun time.

Karen

Katelyn with her Grandma, Karen Loeb Mhyre(65)

Katelyn with her Great Grandmother – Hannah Loeb Higgins (39)

The Little Family’s First Halloween
Andrew, Jeniffer & Katelyn Mhyre

Request/message from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): 

Gary,

Calling several Vets today starting with brother Ernie; want to introduce my
cousin, Don Sharratt, ndakotado@aol.com to the web crowd. He is known to many from Rollette
County and Dunseith. He lodged with George and Anna Richard when attending 3
years HS in Dunseith. Don and I have missed many mailings and I plan to
forward from 244 onward. Thanks.

Sharron

Don Sharratt, It is our pleasure to add you to our distribution list. What HS class were you with when attending Dunseith?  Gary

Reply from Diane Larson Sjol (70): 

Wayne Smith..
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the fifties and sixties car
video…it was great. I highly suggest everyone check it out.  As a
kid, I remember my cousin either Nancy or Colette Hosmer singing
Thunder Road to us while on a road trip….Colette will say it was
Nancy and Nancy will say it was Colette….haha…it was fun listening
to Robert Mitchum singing that song..brought back some great memories.
Thanks again Wayne.

Diane Sjol

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

One time many years ago, Floyd Lamb told me a cute story about Norman
Hiatt. Norman was an agent for AAA insurance and was trying to make
contact with as many people in the neighborhood as possible. Floyd said
that Norman wanted to talk to Gus and Bill Hackman, but was afraid of
their dogs so he asked Floyd to go along down to their place, along
Highway 43. Floyd said there were no dogs in the yard when they climbed
over the gate and walked toward the house, but just before they got the
the house about 5 or 6 dogs heard them and came on the run around the
corner. Norman let out a yell and dived into the house without knocking.
Floyd said the dogs were just friendly and wagged their tails but Norman
wasn’t taking any chances! When they were done with business and ready
to leave, Norman peeked out the door and after seeing no dogs quickly
headed for the gate. Floyd walked behind and as little short legged
Norman was trying to swing his leg over the fence for the third or
fourth time, Floyd reached down and growled and grabbed the back of
Norman’s leg. He said Norman threw his briefcase and completely cleared
the fence! Floyd said he shouldn’t have done it but couldn’t resist.
Norman didn’t ask him to help after that! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Dick, As you well know, Norman/Irene and family lived one mile east of us.  We were very close neighbors with them and also his folks Margie & Willie.  We were back and forth a lot.  I remember one time we were butchering pigs and for some reason Norman was at our house. After shooting the pigs, they loaded them onto a trailer and were taking them to the Johnnie Hiatt farm to butcher.  I believe that is when Ernest and Lydia LaCroix were living there. Norman told us kids to get up on the trailer with the dead pigs for the ride up to the Johnnie Hiatt farm. When our mother saw us sitting their with those dead pigs, she wasn’t happy and told us to get down. When Norman came back, he told us again to get back up on the trailer with those dead pigs, of which we did. Needless to say our mother was highly upset the second time around telling us to get off that trailer, but we had the pleasure of telling her Norman said it was OK to ride with those dead pigs.  I don’t remember for sure, but I think we got off that trailer.  Mom had a bark and a bite that we kids well respected.  Gary
Folks, The messages from here to the picture of Lorraine Handeland and Linda Millang are replies to their picture that I posted yesterday.  Gary

Reply from Julie Knox Seier (82): j

Gary,
Those two ladies are aunts of mine…Lorraine (Handeland) and
Linda (Millang) Bostic. Linda just became Grandma for the first
time on October 30. Her son Arthur and his wife Amy had a baby
boy that they named Spencer Michael Bostic. They live in
Minnesota in a Minneaplois suburb.
Julie (Knox) Seier

Reply from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): 

The two ladies are Lorraine Handeland Millang, she was married to Curt who passed away several years ago and Linda Millang Bostic who just lost her husband Mike this year.  Mike Bostic taught in Dunseith and that is where they met.  Linda and Mike had one son Arthur and I understand Linda just became a grandmother.

Reply fromEle Dietrich Slyter (69): 

On the left is Lorraine (Handeland) Millang and on the right is Linda Millang…don’t remember the married name…Lorraine was Curt Millang’s wife and Linda also lost her husband this past year…I believe he taught school in Dunseith.

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary,

Two gals at the Peace Garden are Lorraine Handeland Millang and Linda
Millang Bostic.

Dick
Reply from Evon Lagerquist (77):

The ladies in the picture are Lorraine Handeland Millang and Linda Millang Bostic.

Reply from Martha Lamb Schepp (68):

The two ladies are Lorraine Handeland Millang and I believe Linda Millang

Martha Lamb Schepp

Folks, I have had this picture sitting in my pictures folder since last July. To be honest, I didn’t expect these two ladies to be Dunseith folks.  There are a lot of folks that pass through the Peace Garden, everyday, so they could have been from most anywhere. When our friend, Dianne, from Bremerton, Washington sent me this picture telling me these ladies knew me, I kind of just brushed it off, because I didn’t recognize them.  Yesterday, I thought what to heck, I’ll send this out and see if any of you know them.  I’m sure glad I did.  I know them both.  I remember Linda, well, from my childhood days.  I don’t remember Lorraine as well.  She was a little older. Now that I know who they are, I recognize Linda.  Putting these class lists together, I have spoken with both Lorraine & Linda, several times, in the past months.  I don’t think either of them have email, so I’m hoping some of you can show this picture to them if they happen to visit any of you.  This is a beautiful picture.  Gary

         Lorraine Handeland Millang (61) and Linda Millang (63)

Pictures provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Hi Gary,

I just returned home from and meeting and Wal-Mart.  The first thing I did was sit down and read your Alumni news email–beautiful picture of Salem Church.  When I read Glenn Millang’s name, I knew this picture was on the table near my computer.  I thought I had scanned/sent it to you, but when I checked my “courthouse pictures” folder, I didn’t see it.  If you can use it, fine; if not, fine.

Neola

Neola, there is not a doubt in my mind that we can use this photo. Glenn (deceased), Susie (Knox) and the boys are very well known in the Dunseith community.

Susie,  In this photo, there’s not doubt you and Minnie are sisters.  Gary

Elmer (56) & Joanne Kester (58) Boucher Family – Elmer/Joanne have a Rolette address

Folks, I have reposted Neola’s message and the poster for the Craft show in Bottineau this week-end to include Carmen Richard. In my mind I’m kind of thinking there will be other Dunseith Alumni Vendors there as well. I know of several others that do this sort of thing.  This will be a good opportunity for you folks to meet Neola and Carmen. Gary

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: n

Hi Gary,

I received the following from Carmen Richard.  I think your readers would be interested in hearing she’ll be participating in the craft sale/Winter Wonderland in Bottineau on Saturday, too.  This would be a good opportunity for people to buy her daughter-in-law’s book–I’m anxious to see the book, too.

Neola

Carmen’s reply to Neola:

I am also going to the Bottineau craft show. I am selling some stocking caps that I have made. I call them winter survival gear. and also I will be selling my daughter-in-law Lanette Richard’s book Tommy and Sarah’s Country Adventures.
Hi Gary,

I know you don’t usually put “plugs” in your Alumni newsletter, so I won’t feel bad if you don’t feel comfortable including this poster.  However, if you think people might be interested in seeing it (and attending the event), I’d appreciate if you would include it and mention I’ll be selling caramels.  I think some of your readers have bought caramels from me in the past.  Again, I don’t know if you want to include this, but people are welcome to order from me at neolag@min.midco.net, and I’ll mail caramels to them.  Postage would be between $5.00-$9.00, depending on the size of the order.

Thanks, Gary

Neola

Picture provided by Jeff Skjelver (Glen Shelver’s grandson): 

Hello Mr. Stokes,

Here is a photo of the Salem Lutheran Church I snapped today while driving up to Lake Metigoshe.  It was a beautiful day up in the hills today.

Jeff Skjelver
Rugby, ND

Jeff, Thank you so much for this beautiful winter scene of Salem church.  This church brings back a lot of childhood memories for me and also for a lot of our readers.  My name, with a lot of others, is still posted on the Sunday School attendance roster in the back of the church.  Salem Church is and always has been part of the Metigoshe Lutheran churches.

Folks, Salem church is located about 2 1/2 miles west of the Rolette/Bottineau county line on #43 also known as the Peace Garden or Metigoshe road. It is open to the public in the summer months.  Glen Rude has the keys and is kind of the caretaker. He lives on the Albert Rude Home place located about 1/8 of a mile east and on the south side of the road from the church.  Gary

Do any of you recognize either of these two ladies?  A friend of ours from Bremerton WA. was visiting the Peace Garden last summer when she met these two ladies.  They knew me, so she took their picture.  She lost the paper with their names. Like I mentioned before, most of us change over the years and I just don’t recognize these gals.  Gary

Reply from Almo Pladson (72):

Thanks to everyone for their kind words and thoughts about mom. She was a very special lady and touched the hearts on everyone. We miss her very much.

Reply from Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): 

Happy Belated Birthday – Margaret Metcalfe Leonard (65): 

Margaret, I was talking to Cecile Berube Reynolds (65) today and she told me you had a birthday on November 5th. She said you guys are going to celebrate when you return from your school trip in Minneapolis this weekend.  I think she told me this celebration will take place on Tuesday.  Cecile also told me she retired this year from teaching. She said she had nearly 30 years of service.   I assume most of this time was in Minot.  “Happy Birthday” and enjoy your celebration with Cecile.  Gary

Request from Leland Hagen (50): 

Hi  Gary,

I really look forward to the news letters that you compile and send
every day. It’s the first Email  I read.

Brother Tom (51) would like to be added to your list of rcipients. His email is:

Thanks,

Leland Hagen (50)

Folks, Tom & Leland are bothers to Orvin Hagen and Joyce Evans. I know many of you know Orvin & Joyce.  Orvin was the head gardener at the peace garden for many years . Joyce was married to Joe Evans (Deceased).

From Wayne Smith (61): 

Gary,

This came to me from a friend, and I thought that many on the Dunseith blog would enjoy reliving the 50′s & 60′s through cars and music.

Regards

Wayne Smith (’61)

To those of us that were teens in the fifties.. this will make you smile from ear to ear..and even tho our teen yrs had some ills and strife…we should be grateful that we got to be a kid in those wonderful days of good clean fun and wonderful comraderie..now to relive just part of that special time…

Someone did an awesome job putting this together and with sound to boot. At the very end of the video you’ll hear the song ‘ Thunder Road ‘ sung by the star of the movie for which it was the theme! Not uncommon except this is the one and only song ever recorded, for publication, sung by Robert Mitchum!

http://thefiftiesandsixties.com/CarsWeDrove.htm

From Sybil Johnson:

Gary and all,

I remember those storm blizzards, the 20yrs I lived in Minot. The last one I remember mostly was the one in the spring of 1984 (same year Kelly was killed), maybe

that’s why I remember it so well. All the kids in the neighborhood were out making money, shoveling the sidewalks of others who couldn’t get out. My youngest,

DJ, came home with over $40.00 for his efforts.

So far, all we have had here in Cheyenne, is that blasted wind, for the past 2 days. Winds gusting up to 70 mph and blowing over everything in its path. Take care

everyone.  Sybil Johnson

Correction to yesterday’s message from Neola Kofoid Garbe: n

Brodey Awalt’s dad’s name is Rick, not Todd.

I’m not feeling well today, so not on computer

Neola

Reply to the Cote sister’s picture from Mel Kuhn (70): 

Gary,

Boy, you put a lot on to an old CRS guy, but here goes. Standing left is Lillian [Bill]Allard, they lived in Overly for many years. Lillian is the youngest of the 5 sisters. Standing center is my mom, Alice[Marvin]Kuhn. Standing right is Evelyn[Phillip]Seneshal, they farmed and lived in the Overly area for many years. Evelyn is the oldest of the 5 sisters. Sitting left is Adeline[Fred]Allard, she is Alden and Merle’s mom, I believe you would know them. Sitting right is Olivine[John]Allard, again using names you would know she is Carol and Larry’s mom. If I provide very little information it leaves less room for error. Carol could give a lot better history then I can. Maybe we could talk her into doing so?

We’ve just had the first of this winter’s blizzards. It looks like 8-10 inches of snow here, and as Dick said some lovely 40 mph winds. The electricity is still out in many places. I got called in to Park View where I had to scrounge up a couple of generators to get some light and heat going for the old folks. The powers that be who built the place decided that it was more important that they eat off of $3000.00 solid oak tables then to have a standby power plant. It was a good thing that I had the heat all up in the floor. That will hold at a comfortable temp for many hours for people like us, but not for old folks. If it gets under 75 they start complaining. When I came home from work last night volunteers were busy at work trying to clean the snow off the football field in St. John. We are supposed to play a game today[Sat] to see who moves along to play for first place in State. It could be interesting. Later.

Mel

Standing: Lillian Allard, Alice Kuhn & Evelyn Seneshal
Sittiing: Adeline Allard & Olivine Allard

Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Allen, I’m thinking this cute little girl is probably one of your Daughter’s?  Gary

Folks, This is as far as I’ve gone, to date, assembling class lists. I have up-to-date lists for all the classes from 1930 thru 1977. I plan to continue with the class of 78 working my way to the present. It may take some time, but in time, I will eventually get there.  Gary

                                 Dunseith High School Class of 1977

ND Blizzard conditions tonight (11/6/08) from Dick Johnson: 

Gary and Friends,

If you folks would like to see a genuine North Dakota blizzard, tonight
is the night! We have sustained winds that must be 40-50 MPH and blowing
snow that is causing white out conditions. It wasn’t too bad earlier
today, but now the snow has really started coming down. It rained first
and the trees got heavy so with these winds, trees are going down all
over. Just like old times!

Thanks to Ron Longie for the name of his cousin, Della. After I read her
name, I remembered— that was her name! I hope her injury was one she
recovered fully from as it was quite nasty. Thanks Ron and Gary!

Dick

Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

It seems so strange to receive an email this time of the night, and the email says (paraphrasing), “The newsletter is early today.  We have doctor’s appointments.”  Also, when I read it, I pictured the two of you in this wonderfully warm climate, walking with no coats on, the sun shining, beautiful day, and here I am sitting where it’s dark outside, the weather is nasty, no travel around Minot–same time, such different weather/time of day.  The internet is absolutely amazing/wonderful. 

Neola

Neola, what you imagined was pretty much right on with our weather and time of day. We never ever have to wear a coat. Today’s high was 90F. I had to turn the windshield wiper on several times today to wipe the condensation of off the outside of the windshield caused from the Air Conditioning inside the car.  I know those of you from the southern states have probably experienced that. I know I did when I was TDY for 6 months in Florida in 2002.  Gary

Picture (Devils Lake, ND) & comments from Kenny Nerpel (65):

Gary,

The Philippines is starting to look more and more inviting.  I’m
tired of this stuff already.

Kenny

Reply from  LoisLilleby fielding (51): 

To Marshall Awalt:   Marshall, I tried to e-mail you, but it didn’t go through.  I woll look through old photos in case I have one of your car.    Best regads,    Lois

Reply from Randy Flynn (70): 

In answer to Gary Metcalfe’s question about Mr. Woodford and Mr. Cheney.  I am guessing they both used a shotgun as a communication tool to locate a buddy.

Memories of the Bakery/Martinson’s/baseball from Rob Olson (79):

The Bakery was one of my favorite places in town, the others being Campell’s, Malaterre’s and anywhere we could playball.  I seriously do  not know how Hilda Malaterre put up with the pounding of rubber balls hitting the side of the house every five seconds.  At the Campbell’s we played against Granmma Campbell’s garage and we would play all day, go to the Bakery and a bunch of us would pile in the back room where Herman, Terry, Tim and Tara worked their magic. They always let us eat the ends of the bread loafs that were sliced off. What a treat!  We would always try to get there in time to help Tim or Terry load up the pick-up for the trip to the peace Garden and maybe we could catch a ride.

Tara was always so nice. Like Lyle said Tim was an oustanding catcher.  I can still see in my mind like it was yesterday the way he threw the ball to second base, he had a litttle double clutch but WHAT an arm.   Not many tried to steal on him. I can also see Herman sitting directly behind home plate at every home game. He did not say much but when he did you could hear it through the crowd.  And those teams in the late 60′s early 70′s drew crowds.  I learned a lot of baseball from Herman talking with him at the bakery which I did until I left in 1979.  Even when  I came home I would stop by to see him.   That man knew what I was doing 200 miles away in Mayville-even the things I shouldn’t have been doing!  Herman had a knack for making a person feel important even at 10 years old. I miss him.

Terry was a free spirit and had a twinkle in his eye everytime I saw hime.  One time in, I think 1969 or 70, the legion team was playing in Wolford. Terry was driving around and I was riding my bike home when he stopped and asked me if I wanted to go to the baseball game. (OK I begged him if he would take me.) I took my bike home and changed my shirt.  I remember he had a 2 door car green one I think, it was already full of people but I could not say who was in it. I road on the center counsel in front with him. I really thought I was cool. It wasn’t until we got there that he asked me if my mom knew where I was. I said she was working and I did not have time to tell her. I can remember he was not happy with me and told me that I need to be responsible and let her know. After being mad at me he smiled and said, don’t worry I’ll tell her you were with me and it will be fine.  I don’t know what he said to her but she never said a word about it to me. The Martinsons were nuts about baseball.  Years later I was playing in Cando with the Rolla legion team (Dunseith did not have a Legion team in 1978 or 79) and I was up to bat when I heard “come on Robbie get a rip” I looked up in the stands and here was Terry, bushy beard, hair all wild, farmers pants and a huge smile on his face. His smile could light up a room for miles. I am gald I told him how much his friendship and kindness meant to me before he passed.

As for the charging rolls at the bakery.  Herman knew what he was doing.  Bismarcks were a nickel and by the end of one week, one of many, I owed him a dollar-my whole allowance.  That happened for years!

The Bakery, good times, great people, whole lotta love and kindness came out of that place. Thank you to the Martinsons.

Rob Olson

Story/memory from Rob Olson (79):

I was hopping someone else would tell this story but nobody has.  So I thought I would-as best as I can remember The names are not changed because the statute of limitations has run out for trespassing.

Back in the early 70’s there was swimming hole out by the old slaughterhouse.   To get to there we walked across the wheat field just west of the baseball field, went under a barbed wire fence (or over it if you were bigger) and then walked a ways.  The older boys had made a dam so the water was fairly deep. (We typically did not go there when the older boys were there because they liked to dunks us, thow us in with our clothes and generally be mean) We went there after baseball practice was over so about 3:00 p.m. or so. I was not in Babe Ruth at the time but I always hung around during baseball practice shagging balls with the others.  One day I believe it was me, Jeff Campbell, Gordon Malaterre, Clark Malaterre, David Hagel , Keith Fettig, probably Gene and Sylvester Parisien, and likely others that I don’t remember now, were down at the swimming hole having fun.  Most of us did not have swimming trunks so we usually went without.    Someone heard a noise and Clark sneaked up the bank to see who it was. We had been warned by the older boys not to get caught there.   Clark turned and said we have to get out of here fast.  Nancy Bedard and Gail Lamoureux were out riding horses and were coming toward the swimming hole.  We  had left our clothes on the side of the bank that they were coming from so we had to hustle over, grab our clothes, cross the creek and try to put them on while we were running, not a an easy thing to do.  I am not a fast runner. Clark looking out for me like he did was helping me get dressed as we were running. The ladies on their horses were faster and soon were close by and yelling at us to stop running.  Clark and I stopped while the other were about 20 yards ahead in the trees. Clark turned and answered, I think Nancy’s, questions about what we were doing there.  The others kind of hovered around not wanting to get too close. I did not want to say anything because Gail would tell my mom and that would not have been good! After scolding us, both Nancy and Gail looked at each other with a little grin when Gail said “Clark you should zip up your zipper.”  Clark had been too busy helping me that he forgot put his underwear on or zip his fly.  Clark looked down, tucked himself in then looked up at the ladies and calmly said “thank you.”

I still think of that and is one of my best memories when I think of Clark-which is often. Of course we were back there the next day.

Rob Olson

Diane Larson Sjol’s (70) memories: 

Allen’s reminiscing brought back my own memories of Dunseith and my
favorite stops.  I loved going to the drug store and sitting at the
counter with Debbie Morinville and sipping on a coke float….buying
sticks of pink gum that had powdered sugar on it and looking through
all the makeup waiting for the day when we could wear it.  I used to
sneak in my cousins’ room (Janet, Nancy and Colette Hosmer) and put
their make up on….thought I was pretty darn cute.  We stayed in
Dunseith when my dad, Norman Larson, was stationed overseas so we went
to school during our elementary years in Dunseith….making my
childhood a wonderful one.  My mom, Verdellis, used to love to sleep
in on Sat. morning.  Knowing that, my sister and I would wake her and
ask if we could have some money to go to Casey Seim’s and she would
tell us there was some in her purse and to go ahead.  We knew she was
probably still asleep but convinced ourselves we had permission so
would take a few coins and off we would march…uptown.  She would
wake up an hour later and there we would be, watching cartoons eating
a bagful of candy.  Needless to say, we got away with it about twice.

One thing I remember about the Hermann’s bakery was him of course, and
his wonderful Bismarcks and date bars.  I could have eaten my weight
in date bars and at that time I was pretty chubby….Francis
Morinville used to work at the Crystal Cafe and Debbie and I would
wander in through the back and Francis would give us a treat….they
had the best tomato soup!  Remember the school cafeteria and that huge
pile of butter bread sandwiches cut in half….

Playing at the creek and catching tadpoles was great fun too.  We
managed to keep a batch alive until they grew legs and were hopping
all over my room.  My mom had a fit. From then on she later confessed
that when they grew legs, she flushed them down the toilet and told us
they had died so she had to get rid of them…..

I could go on and on ….we are snowed in in Minot today…roads
closed from here to Bismarck…pretty bad all over most of the central
and eastern part of the state, disappointing many deer hunters since
today is opening day…my husband is still trying to figure out how he
can go…

Hope you all have a great day…Diane Larson Sjol

Paula Fassett’s (71) reply to the confirmation picture: 

I love the confirmation photo!!!  In the back: Alan Strong, Greg Hill, Dale Lagerquist – front:  Myra Henning & Shelly Fulsebakke!

If anyone has a photo of the confirmation class from a year prior to this one, it would be fun if you would share it!  The class consisted of those of us who eventually graduated in 1970 & 1971 – Me, Cheryl Haagenson, my sister Crystal, Brenda Hill, Larry Tooke, Larrett Peterson…….to name a few.  For some reason, there had been a year of no confirmation, so the 2 classes were combined.  Pastor Curt Rotto was our pastor/teacher – we all adored him (many of us still do…..).  We had the largest class that was ever confirmed at Peace Lutheran.  Because of the great number of us, we were actually confirmed in the high school gym, as there wasn’t enough room in the church!  I don’t remember for sure, but I’m thinking that perhaps the new church wasn’t finished yet then?  I’ve been communicating too much with Mel Kuhn, his CRS is rubbing off……….

Paula Fassett

Evon Lagerquist’s (77) reply to the confirmation picture: 

In the confirmation picture with Pastor Bakken is Alan Strong, Greg Hill, Dale Lagerquist, Myra Henning , Shelly Fulsabakke.

Lynn Halvorson Otto’s (75) reply to the confirmation picture: 

Hi Gary, the picture of confirmation students:  Alan Strong, Greg Hill and Dale Lagerquist, Myra Henning and Shelly Fulsebakke (sp).  I think I’m correct on the names.  Lynn Otto I think this 1969 Rendahl Confirmation class was part of the Dunseith 1969 class or am I wrong? Message/Picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Hi Gary, This is Lloyd Awalt’s grandson, Brody (Todd and Tracy Baynes Awalt’s son).  There were several pictures of/comments made by people after the election under “Varying opinions of residents mirrors rest of U.S.”  Brody’s comments are in a separate email.  Todd/Tracy live in Minot.  She/I taught at Bel Air School for several years; I retired, she’s still teaching there.  Todd is a CPA in Minot. I remember when Todd/Tracy’s children were born.  I visited Tracy at Trinity when her/Todd’s first son, Brock, was born.  Besides the two boys, Todd and Tracy have a daughter, Drew.  John Bayne, Tracy’s father, was a barber in Bottineau for many years.  I THINK he’s retired. Tracy’s mother, Virginia, worked at Trutna’s. Neola From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Hi Gary, I know you don’t usually put “plugs” in your Alumni newsletter, so I won’t feel bad if you don’t feel comfortable including this poster.  However, if you think people might be interested in seeing it (and attending the event), I’d appreciate if you would include it and mention I’ll be selling caramels.  I think some of your readers have bought caramels from me in the past.  Again, I don’t know if you want to include this, but people are welcome to order from me at neolag@min.midco.net, and I’ll mail caramels to them.  Postage would be between $5.00-$9.00, depending on the size of the order. Thanks, Gary. Neola Neola, I will gladly post this.  We have a number of Bottineau folks on our distribution list.  Bottineau is right next door to Dunseith and I’m sure some of those folks and others in the surrounding area will enjoy attending this event.  I’m pretty sure there will be other Dunseith Alumni Vendors there as well.  This gives folks the opportunity to try your famous caramels and meet you too.  Gary.

Folks, I’m sending this a bit early today.  Bernadette and I have doctors appointments this morning and probably won’t be home until later this afternoon.  Gary

Tribute/Condolence – Evelyn Pladson family – From Erling Landsverk (44): t

GARY:

WE LEARNED OF EVELYNS DEATH ON SUNDAY WHEN SHARON CALLED US.  AS YOU KNOW,  EVELYNS WAS OUR COUSIN, AND I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF KNOWING HER SINCE SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL.  I REMEMBER  HOW KIND AND HELPFUL SHE WAS TO HER MOM AND DAD WHEN I STAYED OVER WHILE VISITING THEIR HOME DURING HARVEST IN 1944 SHORTLY BEFORE I LEFT TO JOIN THE SERVICE.  SHE WAS ALWAYS CHEERFUL, AND KIND TO EVERYONE.  SHE GREW UP DURING THE DIFFICULT DEPRESSION YEARS, AND HARD WORK WAS NO STRANGER TO HER.  I BELIEVE IT  TEMPERED HER SPIRIT INTO BECOMING AN OUTSTANDING LADY, AND MOTHER AS WELL AS A SIBLING  THAT HER BROTHERS AND HER SISTERS WERE PROUD OF.

WE ALL LOVED EVELYN AND EXTEND OUR MOST SINCERE SYMPATHIES TO HER CHILDREN, AND GRANDCHILDREN. AS WELL AS HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

AS FOR ME I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH HER MEMORY, AND AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE KNOWN HER.

ERLING

Reply from Rod Hiatt (69): 

Hello Gary
I do remember the Awalt Anniversary and the duet. Vonnie played the
piano and I was on the accordion. I don’t think I was asked to be on
Laurence Welk Show after that either. Seems like my musical talent was
mainly in my mind and not in the ears of the audience.
Yes Vonnie was a big part of the auction business as she was no doubt
the best clerk that you could ever want. In all the years that she
worked with me, I don’t recall having to repeat the selling price or a
bidders number to her. She did that as well as caught bids at the same time.
She was also the best part of Hiatts Western Shop, as she could sell ice
cubes to an Eskimo without trying. At Christmas, the men would come in
looking for something for their wife, having no idea of size, colors or
style and Vonnie would put together an outfit, boots and accessories,
wrap it up and it was surprising how many wives would come back saying
how happy and thrilled that their husbands took the time, new the right
size and had such good taste. Vonnie just smiled and never said any
different.
It was 5 years ago last month that we lost her, but little things like
your newspaper clipping bring back the good memories and all the fun and
laughter that she brought into our lives She is dearly missed but Never
Forgotten

Ron Longie’s (65) reply to his family picture (Message 266) posted with all the comments: 

Gary,

Thanks for the memories!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  of a great town to grow up in, the life long friends made to this day, for the values, and quality of life I believe we took with us for that I’ll always say Thanks ..

Ron Longie

Ron Longie’s reply to Dick Johnson’s question (Message 271): 

Gary,

In regards to Dick’s question about the girl injured while skating, that was my cousin Della Mae she and her family had come up from Arkansas. Patti was to little then she would have been about 9 or 10 years old.

Ron

Reply/memories from Allen Richard (65):

Reply to Lyle Olson

Herman Martinson and Glen Shelver were the true essence of what humanity should be.  Their character crossed several generations.  I think the bakery was the unofficial headquarters for the guys form the class of ’65.  3 Bismarks for a quarter.  I wonder why I had zits. In our high school years I , along with a number of the guys from the classes of ’65-’66 would have lunch at the bakery and go to the pool hall.  I had to take a time out from the pool hall because of a ball somebody knocked off the table, so we played ping pong at the stone garage, which was operated by Dale Fugere, Darrel Fugere’s twin.  Heck of a mechanic!

I was very young when Glen shut down the soda fountain at the drugstore.  I think he had two or three booths.  Edna Leonard would be considered a celebrity chef today with what she could do to a banana split!  Edna was very protective of the comic books we used to read–maybe had to do with the toppings on our fingers.  Glen was more than a druggist.  He was an advisor on all things medical, with amazing skills in the area of veterinary medicine.  All you needed to do was go in and say my cow is (pick a symptom – any symptom) and you went home with a fix.  I think he stitched up more than a few kids and adults that needed a little patchwork.  Probably worked a little overtime when the Snake Pit had an unusually busy night!

And the Crystal Cafe.  When I first got to Dunseith School in 2nd grade, until we had hot lunches, it was either a lunch box, or if the weather was tolerable–warmer than -20, I had my daily grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup while sitting at the counter with the grown ups.  You don’t find food like they cooked at the Crystal these days.  Other than French Fries, I think the deep fryer was unemployed.

My cholesterol is out of whack anyway, but it was worth it!

aLLEN rICHARD

Dunseith History from Gary Metcalfe (57): 

Pictures provided by Noela Kofoid Garbe: 

Cote Sisters

Mel Kuhn, I think one of these ladies is your mother. That would make the other four your aunts.

Can you identify each of these ladies for us with their married names and husbands with a little

history of each.  You mentioned once before that all 5 sisters were at Good Sam.  You also provided

a little history at that time too, but we didn’t have the picture to related it to.  Thanks, Gary

I believe this is pastor Bakken. Who are the one’s being confirmed?

Can anyone idenify this solidier?

                                     Dunseith High School Class of 1976

Obituary provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

EVELYN PLADSON

May 3, 1928-Nov. 2, 2008

DUNSEITH Evelyn Grace Pladson, 80, Bottineau, formerly of Dunseith, died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, in a Minot hospital.

She was born May 3, 1928, to Edwin and Gertie Nelson in the Turtle Mountains and was raised by her mother and her stepfather, Nels Landsverk. She married Arthur Pladson Oct. 16, 1948, in Rolla.

Survivors: sons, Allen, Dunseith, Wallace, Cavalier, Almo, Ontario, Calif.; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Elwood Landsverk and Virgil Landsverk, both Minot, Bruce Landsverk, Dunseith, Roger Landsverk, David Landsverk and Leland Landsverk, all Bottineau, Kenneth Landsverk, Salinas, Calif.; sisters, Sharon Beckman and Barb Lawrence, both Bottineau,

Funeral: Today, 2 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, Dunseith.

Burial: Rendahl Cemetery, near Dunseith.

Visitation: Today, 9 a.m. to noon, Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau.

From Erling Landsverk (44):

GARY!

THANK YOU FOR THE SPEEDY REPLY AND HELP WITH THE INFO.  I NEVER FAIL TO BE AMAZED AT HOW SIMPLE  THE TECHNICAL ASPECT OF COMMUNICATION HAS BECOME.  WHILE READING ONE OF YOUR LAST E MAILS, I READ ABOUT THE OLD UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER.   FOR US AT THAT TIME, THAT WAS A PRETTY DARNED MODERN  WAY TO TYPE LETTERS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS.  INCIDENTALLY, I TOOK TYPING FOR TWO YEARS, AND NOW I AM HAPPY I DID.

THANKS AGAIN GARY FOR YOUR HELP.  IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED

ERLING LANDSVERK

Erling, I’m not sure how many of our readers realize that your are blind.  If I understood you correctly with what you told me before, you independently read your email with Audible software and of coarse reply with the excellent typing skills that you posses.  You are to be commended for the skills you have developed, enabling you to communicate with all of the well written beautiful messages you send. Gary

Reply from Sharon Longie Dana (73): 

Folks, David Skarr has been on the Jeopardy show.  He is Wayne Smith’s (61) Nephew.

That David Skarr is a smart fellow. We have been watching him on the show!!!

Sharon Longie Dana(73)

Memories from Gary Metcalfe (57): 

Memories from Lyle Olson (75):

Gary and all:

Hanging out at the Snow White Bakery is a favorite memory of mine.  I am certain that many other Dunseith Alumni remember doing so.

Herman Martinson was a kind man, and a good example to many kids.  He never had all that much to say, but when he did say something, it had meaning and it stuck with you for awhile.  He was one of the hardest working people I have ever met, up at 3:00 a.m., and up all day long til the bakery would close for the day.

Kids in the 70′s used to hang out at the bakery to look at the girls walking up and down main street, and eat Bismarcks by the half dozen.  I remember I used to get $2.00 for allowance.  I would go to the Crystal Café and get a Jumbo Burger for a $1.00 and then top off the meal with a few Bismarcks from Herman.  If I had money left over, Glen Shelver’s store was the next stop for a few candy bars.  These bad eating habits have served me well over the years as anyone who has seen me lately can certainly attest.

In any event, one of the greatest highlights of hanging out at Herman’s during the summer was getting a chance to ride with Tim Martinson up to the Peace Garden for deliveries to Minnie Flynn’s store and to the music camp.  Those trips always led to some good girl sightseeing, and if lucky, we would even talk to some girls and make plans to meet them at the lookout or the lodge.  Fun times to be sure.  Tim also used to pack several kids in the back of the pickup for trips to Lake Williams so that we could go swimming.

Tim used to coach baseball in Dunseith.  He was an excellent catcher in his day, and even a better coach.  I remember that either he or his brother Terry put me in to catch batting practice one day.  A foul ball found a most delicate spot and I was taught by the Martinson brothers how to do the bicycle.  Terry asked me why I wasn’t wearing a cup and I had no answer because I had yet to catch my breath long enough to speak.  Well, Tim, perhaps sensing that I wasn’t going to be a catcher after all, hit ground balls to me for over a half hour.  I was quite afraid of the ball and that coaching strategy only enhanced my fear.  Today, I realize he was making a valiant attempt to make a better ball player and person out of me by forcing me to face my fears.

Herman also often taught lessons that you did not know were lessons until well after the event.  I remember being short of money once and I asked Herman if I could charge a few Bismarcks.  To my surprise he said no!  He said he was sure that I did not “need” the Bismarcks but that I only “wanted” the Bismarcks.  He told me to be sure that if you “wanted” versus “needed” something, then you should save money for it.  Now that is advice to live by.  He later let me charge Bismarcks after I learned he had let my younger brother Rob charge a few – his heart was too big to do otherwise, but I did learn a valuable lesson.

Herman was like a father to many kids, especially kids like Marvin Kalk, Donald Malaterre, Clark Malaterre and many others who worked for him over the years.  I already told people about the heat stroke incident after playing basketball at Campbell’s.  There was another time when my instincts told me to go to Herman because he would know what to do.  Many of us kids were ice skating and I, somehow or another, stepped on Shelley Hagel’s hand with my ice skate.  Well, the blood started pumping immediately and I just knew she was going to die if I did not do something.  I grabbed her other hand and dragged her from the ice skating rink south of the old police station through the back door of Herman’s, blood following all along the way.  Herman grabbed a towel and wrapped Shelly’s hand and then calmly told me to drag her to the clinic.  He never said a word about why I felt the need to drag Shelley through his spotless working area.  I am happy to say that Shelley survived and she and I are friends to this day; however, I do not think Ray or Lois Hagel were too impressed with my heroics.

Many of us realize as we get older just how much of an influence people like Herman have had on our lives.  I think those of us who grew up in Dunseith in the 1970′s can thank our lucky stars for people like Herman  – I know I do.

Lyle, those of us from the 60′s have fond memories of Herman and the bakery too.  Every lunch period, I’d top off my school cafeteria meal with 3 glazed donuts at Herman’s bakery. They were three for a dime.  Herman would just let us put our money on the counter and help our selves.  Those were the best donuts ever.  Gary

Memories from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Thanks to Sharon Longie Dana for the quick reply! I wish I could
remember the girl’s name, but it’s gone. Thanks for trying to fill in
the gap! We spent lots of evenings skating and goofing around at the old
skating rink. George Aitcheson was the city employee who always flooded
the rink on the first really cold night–sometimes 20 degrees below! The
ice froze quickly and made a smooth rink. Mel and I were talking about
the homemade scraper that we had to use to clean the snow off the ice
after it snowed. We both remembered that it was about 4 feet wide and
had a two man handle. I used it because I wanted to—Mel said something
about a debt he owed to society, or something like that! I’m quite sure
Mel didn’t intend for me to put that on this blog, so I will!! Thanks Gary!

Dick

This Article should bring back a few memories.

Folks, I had seen this article before and remembered Vonnie Hiatt was in it, so I queried the system using her name to locate this article.  That is why her name and the Hiatt names are highlighted.

Rod; Vonnie left us way to early in life. I know that she was a big part of your actioneering business and that your family misses her dearly. She was a neighbor and very close friend of my Brother Darrel, his wife Debby and their children, Kristin & Nathan.  Your brother Earl was in our class of 65 too.  I knew him well and was extreemley shocked when I heard he was killed in that accident in the winter of 65/66 on #3 south of Rolette. Leland Stickland was with him.

Gary

Turtle Mountain Star – July 22, 1965
Mr. & Mrs. John Awalt Celebrate 40 years of Marriage
 

Folks, I still have class lists for the classes of 76 & 77 to post.  I will be posting those in the next day or two. Gary

Evelyn Pladson’s death notice/funeral provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

EVELYN PLADSON, 80, Dunseith, died Sunday in a Minot hospital. Funeral Wednesday, 2 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, Dunseith. Visitation today, 1 to 7 p.m., and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to noon, in Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau.

Condolences to the Pladson family from Paula Fassett (71): 

Gary and all:

I was very sad to read that Evelyn Pladson has passed away.  Years ago, I worked with her at Hosmer’s Dry Goods (when Lawrence Struck was owner).  She was a very hardworking lady, but one who never complained about it.  I remember her as a very kind and cheerful lady – she had a laugh that would just make you laugh along!  She loved her boys and loved life.  I always figured between Evelyn and my great Aunt Helen Nelson, who also worked at Hosmer’s for MANY years, they probably knew everyone in the TurtleMountains – and more than likely were related to about 50% of them!!!

My condolences to her family.

Paula Fassett

Message from Ron Longie (65): 

Gary,

I just got back from Elk hunting, and started catching up on my back Emails I especially like your Email with Mr & Mrs Medrud. I remember as a kid spending a considerable amount of time at their house for they were our next door neighbors. The memories are to many to list good, good memories ..  Thanks

From Kenny Nerpel (65):

Gary,

Lyle Olson’s contributions trigger some more memories:

I have to agree with Lyle that the reasons he listed are pretty
much why a lot of people choose not to contribute.  Another
reason is the CRS issue brought up by Mel Kuhn.  Most people, I
think, just do not clearly remember “stuff” from that long ago
and if you happen to get it wrong you risk offending others.
We don’t want to do that, do we.

Being many years older than Lyle, I never really got to know him
in his high school years but I do remember him pretty well from
earlier days.  I remember that our families used to try to get
together back then at our Grandparent’s home on Thanksgiving Day.
Later when everyone became more scattered we would get together
at our Uncle Larry Metcalfe’s home in Devils Lake and later
Carrington.  When I was about 13 and Lyle was about 3 we were
sitting around our Grandparent’s living room, probably on
Thanksgiving Day, watching their black and white TV and a
Folger’s Coffee commercial came on.  Maybe a lot of you will
remember the one about a cup and a half of flavor being in each
cup of coffee.  Well anyway they would start pouring the coffee
and it would continue to fill the cup well past the top.  Lyle’s
eyes got big and he looked at me and said “they can’t fool me,
that’s ‘wubber’.”

In 1972 when I was enrolled in college at NDSU, the Dunseith High
School basketball team made it into the State Tournament.  I
remember that they were huge favorites in the first round against
I think it was Berthhold.  I was sitting in a Tavern in Fargo
with some friends and I would go out to my car about every 15
minutes to check on the score.  After doing this a number of
times I found that I was about 3 beers behind and decided that
being it was the third Quarter and they were still up by 15
points that I would just check the paper the next day to get the
score and see how Don had done and if they won by enough that
maybe Lyle might have gotten into the game.  Imagine my surprise
when i saw the score the next day.  A classic example of the
“choke” or maybe just overdoing the prevent defense?

I think it is tough to compare teams of different years because
circumstances vary.  Another team that I remember well was the
team of 1987 that also qualified for the state tournament.  I
remember them so well because I was following the Starkweather
team that
year that also made it to state and they met Dunseith in the
losers bracket. It went much like i thought it would.  Men
against boys.  I had seen the Dunseith team earlier that year
against Belcourt, who that year was a real good class A team and
Dunseith handled them with ease.  But they also choked in the
state tournament’s first round losing to Leeds, a team that
Starkweather had handled quite easily during the regular season.
The Starkweather team that year had 4 of their starters from
the little community of Webster and I knew all of them quite well.

Dunseith’s class of 1965 team did quite well under the
circumstances.  We had a number of kids who probably would have
been starters who decided not to play, I guess partly because
they chose to concentrate on academics instead.  We ended up
winning about 10 games with players who might not have started
and a couple of younger kids who weren’t quite ready to play
against seniors.  I remember one of them, Alan Houle, was
probably one of the finest pure shooters that ever played at
Dunseith High School.  Anything over the half line was considered
a good shot for Alan.  What a field day he would have had in the
era of the 3-pointer.

Kenny

Reply from Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

Gary,
Almo Pladson was my classmate  and  a  very good friend , I am  sorry to hear about his mom  I wrote him a  personal  e mail.  But   has  anyone heard  when the  funeral will be.  thanks   gary for all u do  Bev
  GOD  BLESS YOU …………BEV

Reply from Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

Thank you Cecile uncle alpie lived  with us when  he returned  from Colorado. I took  care of him  till he had a  stroke and then he wanted to  go to the  nursing  home. He  said I had enough   with  my dad and Shonda.  He  was  always   so kind  to me  everyday when  Shonda and I walked to the  mail we would go  and visit  great  uncle  Alpie, Shonda  got very  close to him .  Uncle Art  was my  godfather and  was a  very  quiet man and a  very kind man also.  Thank  for   sending  this  picture  to  me  I will also cherish   it.  Bev

Message/Picture from Orissa Horsman Dion (41): 

Pictures from Allen Richard (65):

I’m enclosing a few pictures of relative I had the chance to connect with.

Me with cousins Laurel Ann and Beverly, Daughters of Art and Irene Richard Lagasse.

(Irene was Dad’s older sister–and sister of Stella Schimetz)  (Art Lagasse was the

older brother of Xenon Lagasse who is the late husband of Fern Berube, Angela’s mother.)
   

And of course Greg and Angela Malget–We had a wonderful dinner at the Mall of America Sunday night on my way home.  If you play it right you can get a 4-5 hour layoverinMinneapolis — time enough to visit the Mall for shopping and especially for connecting with loved ones.

(I really did attend the conference—REALLY I did!  )
 

Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Reply from Edith Struck Lampman (73): 

Edith, With your parents purchase of  Hosmer’s, in the mid 60′s, your family and parents were well known in the Dunseith community. Having known your mother and your family, I know a lot of folks will be interested to see this picture of your Grandmother.  Gary

Hi Gary,

The picture that you posted was our mom, Eva’s mother. Her name was Elma Adnette Knudsen born November 8, 1890.  She married our grandfather, mom’s dad, Archibald Edward McNair.  They lived on the southern plains of Saskatchewan.

Mom took the original picture of her mother to Wondrasek’s to have copies made.  I have one with the date of 1974 stamped on it with Wondrasek’s name and address.

thanks Gary for knitting a small community together with memories and history that is a part of all of us.  I don’t always get each day’s entry read, but I revel in the chance each time I do.

Also, I have responded to individuals as they post, which has been fun to reconnect that way.  You are a hero in my book!

Edith Struck Lampman

Elam Adnette Knudsen McNair – Eva Strucks Mother.

From Vickie Metcalfe (70): 

EVELYN PLADSON, 80, Dunseith, died Sunday in a Minot hospital. (Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau)

Gary,

Several teachers  including  LeaRae (Parrill) Espe and myself went
to Minot yesterday to see Letaine Brandt who had  heart attacks again
on Saturday remains in very critical  condition.

While in the intensive care waiting room we also visited the Pladson
and Landsverk families.  Evelyn (Landsverk) Pladson passed away
surrounded by family on Sunday.
Evelyn is the mom of Alan, Wally, and Almo, who all attended Dunseith School.
I am certain  many folks have fond remembrances of Evelyn as a
quiet, kind, hardworking lady.
Vickie
–
Vickie L. Metcalfe

Vickie, Almo is on our Distribution list. 

Almo, Our condolences are with you and your family with the loss of your mother.  It’s tough loosing a parent. We will post her Obituary when it is published.  Gary

Reply from Bob Lykins (Teacher):

That’s very funny, Margaret.  Yes, Gary, I do remember, very well, those days of teaching typing at Dunseith HS.  Ah, the sound of those bells ringing the end of the line and returning carriages.  It is true what you say about spell check.  I also remember tearing apart one of the old manuals to see how they worked.  The repair man only came around once or twice a year and the students needed to have their machines repaired now and not later.  So I went out and bought small screw drivers and sharp-nose plyers.  Along with key chains, itty-bitty screws, rubber bands, and light-weight sewing machine oil I managed to keep most of the machines up and running.   I remember we had this old Underwood that had to have been manufactured in the 1930s.  It had no casing and was open all the way around.  It was the best machine we had for durability but was hard to type on because the key pressure could not be adjusted.  I believe one of the Cassavant boys had that machine.  I wonder if he still has fat fingers from pounding on that thing every day.

Bob

Additional comments from Mr. Lykins:

Gary,

I read with great interest your comments on All Saints Day in the PI.  It brought back memories of when I was TDY to Subic Bay during that time of the year.  In the evening we took a boat out into the Bay just off the main Olongapo/Subic City cemetary.  The cemetery stretched from the highway alongside the bay up the side of a large hill.  That night the people flocked to the cemetary and the only light one could see from the bay were the thousands of candles dotting the hillside.  It was very spectacular.  We docked the boat and went up into the cemetery.  It was all very festive with bands playing and roaming vendors selling all kinds of food and wares.  I stopped to chat with more than one interesting family group.  The families had gathered around their family burial plots which were, more often than not, marked by a large stone grave marker or alter with the family name on it.  Everyone in a family of about 30 or so people, including the little ones, wore ball caps with the name of their dead ancestor stitched on the front.  As I recall it was not a name one would normally associate with a family from the Philippines but rather a good Irish name like O’Neill. So I asked one of the older people about it.  It seems an American sailor, not long after the Subic Bay Naval Station had been established, decided to stay and start his own family there.  O’Neills now number well into the thousands in the PI.  As I meandered through the cemetery I noticed more than a few “foreign” names on the grave stones.  They were and are a lasting testament to the American presence in that part of the world.  When I left the Pacific area in 1979 for Germany we had over 9,000 American military and civilian retirees who were living around Clark Air Base.  I don’t know how many retirees there were around Subic and other installations but I am sure it was/is well into the thousands.  No doubt that has fallen of f since our closing of the bases in the PI.  It is a beautiful country and an American can live like a king on a small pension.  I must confess that the thought of retiring there did cross my mind more than once.

Take care and my best to Bernadette.

Bob Lykins

Mr. Lykins, What you said about the cemeteries is so true.  We live in Cebu, located about 400 miles south of Manila and Subic Bay. The cost of living here is somewhat less than back in the states, but overall with the extra’s that we have and living to American standard’s, it averages out about the same. The average Filipino family lives very sub to our standards. A family of 5 can live comfortably, in their society, on less than $200 per month. Bernadette and I have gotten spoiled with the very inexpensive domestic help.  Several months ago we took a few of the local children down to McDonald’s. We ordered happy meal chicken nuggets for all of them.  The one little by would not eat any of his food, including the fries, because this food was new to him and he did not like it. He wanted his dried fish and rice.  For price comparison, a McDonald’s quarter Pound deal, with cheese, costs $2.50. Ice cream sundae’s cost $.60.

Rod Hiatt’s (69) Reply to Gary:
Please see my question to Rod below.  Gary

Hello Gary
The email address is right and the year is 73 for Little Chip
Rick and Chip are married to Fairweather sisters. There Dad, Renolds, is
from North of Souris, but while in the service he married a gal from
Georgia and thats where the kids were raised until probably into junior
high, when they moved up here and he worked for the elevator.
I have my coffee every morning enjoying the stories and memories of
everyone around Dunseith. You made my Mom’s day when you called her a
while back. Thanks and keep up all the good work.
Rod

Rod, I too enjoyed visiting with your mother, Vida. I have known her my entire life and your dad too. I had a really nice visit with your folks, at the bowling alley, in Bottineau, the summer before your dad, Howard, passed on. They are great folks.  Gary

Gary Stokes wrote:

Rod,

I have a Mike Johnson listed in the class of 63 and one in the class
of 73 each with the same email address
Which one is correct?  I’m thinking the one I have listed for 73 is
correct. I only have an email address for both listings with  no
mailing address or phone.

What is Rick and Mike’s wife’s maiden name?  Are they from the
Rolette/Bottineau county areas?

Sounds like you guys had a whirl wind of a trip, but fun.

I’ll post this tomorrow.  Thanks for sharing.

Gary

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Reading the stories from Marshall Awalt and others about traveling
through blizzards, reminded me of a similar story Dad told me. He said
the boys basketball team was riding with Glen Shelver and others on the
way to Bisbee or Cando for a game, when they came upon a Model A Ford
that had gone off the road into the ditch full of snow. Glen had the
boys push the light car back up on the road as no one was around. Dad
said they had only gone on a short distance when they met a team of
horses and a sleigh with the owner of the car riding with the farmer.
Glen Shelver laughed out loud, when they went met the team, and said, “I
wonder how that poor guy is going to explain to the farmer why his car
is sitting on the road and not in the ditch”? Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Cecile Gouin Craig (61): 

As November 11, will be here soon, thought this maybe of interest to the
Dunseith folks. Wilmer Dion was Floyd and Derald’s Father All five of these
brave men were uncles to the Morinvilles, my Mother Jean, brother Morris,
and my self. Father and four uncles to Floyd and Derald. Joe Morinville’s
Mother Eva Dion, Morrinville, Peat and my Grandmother Rena Dion, Daoust were
sisters this pictures is of their brothers.
As always thanks Gary for all you do. Cecile

Picture provided by LaRose Ketterling (46):

From Marshall Awalt (51):

Lois yes I remember that crazy incident well when the geese chased us that night.It was a long walk and if memoir serves me right it was very late when we did get back to Dunseith.In those days I don’t think there was much planning ahead everything seemed spur of the moment some one came up with an idea and away we went.Life seemed so care free and everything so much fun.The car I had at the time was a 1932 Cheverlot coup with a rumble seat plus a spare tire in each front fender (which some nights we used both before getting home).We used to pack four people up front and lord only knows how many squeezed in the back.Most nights we just drove up to the San Haven where the road was a y in those days turned around then kicked it out of gear on the way down the hill to see if we could coast all the way down main street.Other times it was swing through the San Haven and down lovers lane to see who was there.

After reading your story I went looking for a picture of that old car but can’t find one.I was wondering if you might have one?I know we used that car in our freshman initiation.

Traveling to basketball games back in those days was an adventure as the weather in North Dakota could be bad and there was a caravan of cars to carry all the players and cheer leaders plus the fans.I don’t remember them ever canceling a game because of weather. one year during the tournament we had to stay in Rolette over night as a blizzard came up.No school buses in those just the good people like Glen Shelver.

Thanks for the memoirs

Marshall

Message from Rosemary (Wayne) Smith: Folks, this message leads into the one that follows.

From Dick Johnson (68): djcars@srt.com

Gary and Friends,

I’m sure most readers can remember the city skating rink on the south side of the old police station. We had a warming room on the south side of the fire hall with a plank floor and benches where we could put on our skates. I remember it was heated by a small propane heater and was fairly warm, especially compared to the below zero temps outside. A couple days back, we had a picture of the Bill Longie family posted on this site. One memory I have of the skating rink also includes a girl who was a Longie or a relative of the Longies. We were all skating one evening when she lost her balance near the ‘chain link’ fence that surrounded the rink. She reached for the pipe at the top of the fence just as she fell and missed the pipe but stuck the heavy wire fence top deep into her inner wrist! I remember her hanging there and screaming for help. We helped her up off the wire and got her shoes on so she could go home. It was a nasty injury and needed attention. I  wondered if this could have been the girl now identified as ‘Patty’ in the Longie photo? Ron Longie or Sharon Longie Dana, can you shed light on this one. The girl was about 15 when this happened in the 63-64 time frame. If I remember correctly, she was in Dunseith visiting family at Christmas. Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Dean Stickland (73):

Hi Gary,

I sure do appreciate your sustained efforts in providing this wonderful service to all of us.  I keep pretty quiet but enjoy the daily email.

There is one small correction I’d like you to make on the class list of ’73.  You have me listed as Stickland Dean/Roberta – my wife’s name is actually Marion.  I believe Deane Striker’s wife is Roberta, so you can just move her up the list a line.

Deane and I are cousins – his paternal grandfather (Doug’s dad) was Ermin Striker – a brother to my dad’s mother, May Striker Stickland (later Hughes).  Deane is one day older than I and neither of our mothers knew the other was in the hospital at the same time giving us similar names. We went through 12 grades of school together, fished and hunted together and in later years have shared a few phone calls around birthday time.

Like others, I enjoy reading stories of so many folks from the Dunseith area.  I suppose many of us could fill a book with short stories of our growing up years there.  There’s so many fond memories, like days with Dad on the mail route, summer days down at the “crick”, working at the Red Owl store, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling all over the hills . . . the list would get quite long.

Thanks to those who have a clear recollection of our younger days and are able and willing to share them with the rest of us.

Dean Stickland ’73

From Rod Hiatt (69): 

Good day Gary When I seen Dicks story about Little Chip, I had to tell you about our trip last week. Rick(my younger brother) and his wife and I left here with a load of colts heading for Tuscon on Thursday morning. We went to the edge of Denver and met up with Little Chip(Mike Johnson) and traded Ricks wife for him(Chip and Ricks wives are sisters) and headed south for Tuscon. Chip had already been up for about 20 hours but was completely wired for this trip. We drove all through the night, one guy sleeping and one guy was suppose to stay awake and keep the driver company.  Chip was looking like a bobble head doll with a broken recorder that worked part time, when his head would bang against the window he would wake up talking and seconds later he was back to the bobble head again. When daylight came it was Chips turn to drive and pulling 32 feet of trailer with livestock was something Chip hadn’t done much of the last 20 years as a Denver City Boy. If this were a test, the starting slow and stopping easy would have been failures, but the in between part was passing.(He still knows how to cuss out drivers who don’t drive to his liking)  He was Ricks extra eyes when the directions that were given were wrong(some people blamed me for that) and getting that big rig turned around in private drives, or doing a U-e on a busy Tuscon 4 lane road. We finally found our destination and unloaded half the colts there, rested 2 hours and headed to Las Vegas with the remainder. Just north of Tuscon it was Chips turn to drive again and Rick was sleeping, so there for it was my turn as co pilot and map reader. I am almost positive that I told Chip left, but anyway it was nice touring that little town before we found somewhere to turn around and go Northeast instead of Southwest. We made it to the west edge of Vegas at 2 a.m. unloaded, ate and slept until 6 before we headed back to Denver. Chip did remind us that a breakfast Burrito in New Mexico and 2 a.m. supper in Vegas just wasn’t exactly what he would consider a well balance diet. We thought that he was just a cheap date. As we got into the heavy Denver traffic that night, again Chip was the direction man and just about the time we were coming to a split, he falls to sleep and Rick goes left instead of right.  Well he finally got us steered the right direction and we did get 8 good hours of sleep at his house. The next morning Rick, his wife Susan and I headed back to Bottineau and with only 1 minor mistake, I’m sure that the atlas I was reading had mistakes, as the highway we were on was not suppose to take us to the main terminal of Denver International. People sure stared as we came zinging through with 32 feet of trailer. Sometimes wished I didn’t have Hiatt Farms plastered on the trailer. Anyway we traveled 4050 miles, went through 9 states, did it 4 days and Chip called and wanted to know when the next run would be. He either is lacking company from back home or he banged his head on the window harder than we thought. One thing was sure, having him on this trip was a real blast as he hasn’t changed a bit from when he left here over 20 years ago and I don’t know if we could have done it without him. So if you go through Denver you need to give Chip a call, and he will show you small town hospitality in the big city.

Rod, I found a Dunseith article in one of the 1965 “Turtle Mountain Star” achieves, on line, that will be of interest to many.  In that article you are listed several or more times as Roddy.  I did not realize that you went by Roddy back then. In this article you played the part of the father and your sister Vonnie the part of a bride in a skit you guys put on.  Does that ring any bells or bring back any memories to you or anyone else? You and Vonnie also played a duet. I will be posting that article in a few days.  Gary

Provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

ALLEN MORIN, 54, Dunseith, died Oct. 30 in his home. Funeral Thursday, 10 a.m., St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Belcourt. Visitation Wednesday, 6 p.m., with a rosary service at 8 p.m., both in the church. (Elick Funeral Home, Rolla)

RAYMOND POITRA, 70, St. John, died Tuesday in a St. Paul, Minn., hospital. Funeral Monday, 10 a.m., St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Belcourt. Visitation Sunday, 6 p.m., with a rosary service at 8 p.m., both in the church. (Elick Funeral Home, Rolla)

Picture provided byLaRose Ketterling (46):

                                   Dunseith High School Class of 1975

Reply from Orissa Horsman Dion (41): 

Hi Gary

Thank you so much for the pictures. I had never seen it before.what you are doing is so interesting. I don’t know the other lady. Wonder if you can send some of the stuff from my class?? The things you are working on now is too new, don’t know any of them.

I hope you can read this, I don’t type and my vision is very poor.   A couple days ago I had a phone call from Blanche Wicks, she got my number from your information. That was fun, we used to pal around in 4th grade. Thank you again, will be looking for more.

Orissa

Folks, Orissa is replying to the picture that Susan Fassett Martin provided of Orissa, when she was a baby, with her mother, in message (267).  Orissa is married to Charles Dion (39), brother to Floyd.  They have dial up service and have requested to only receive selected blogs because of their slow connection.  I know they’d love to hear from you folks though, so feel free to send them messages.  Gary

From Ardys Bakken Horner (Teacher): 

Greetings to the class of l973, you all survived 8th grade English from a very green teacher.
I really enjoyed having you in class and nice to know so many of you have had sucessful careers.
My favorite memories were of those competitive HS Basketball games and going to the state BB tournament
in Minot when  Larry Haugen was coach.  Ardys Bakken Horner

From Margaret Metcalfe Leonard (65): 

Hi Gary

As a Business teacher I thought this was way funny (please see Attachment).  Those of you
who learned keyboarding on the old Royal typewriters might enjoy this as
well.  I will never forget my brother, Gary, hauling that heavy typewriter
home on the bus so he could practice his typing skills.  My old typewriter
was sitting on a table for display and one curious student asked, “how do
you plug this in?”  They don’t remember life before computers.

On the lighter side,
Margaret
Margaret, How well I remember those old manual typewriters. That’s what a whole bunch of us learned to type on and for many of us, in Mr. Lykins class.  I think the modern day keyboarding and computers have allowed a few of us to become a little sloppy with our typing knowing we can easily correct mistakes by back spacing and with spell check.

Mr. Lykins, does this bring back memories?  Gary

Message/Picture from LaRose Ketterling (46): 

Gary

Now we have 2 mystery girls.

The girl who is not Lois Hiatt is not Dorothy Hiatt.  Dorothy was in my class and is on the 1945-46 picture. Someone must know who those 2 girls are.

It is interesting to note that the girls are wearing either dresses or shirts- Slacks/jeans/pants for school was not the trend.

LaRose
                       Dunseith High School Class of 1974
 

Don’t forget to set your clocks back tonight (Sunday 2:00 AM)

Folks,  I remember as a kid going to Lake Metigoshe on the 4th of July.  There were lots and lots of people with picnic lunches just enjoying the day with fun and games.  Well the same kind of thing happens here in the Philippines on “All Saints Day” and “All Souls Day” (Nov. 1 & 2), only in the cemeteries.  Today the cemeteries are packed with folks visiting there relatives that have passed on.  Each cemetery looks like the Bottineau fair grounds during fair time with all the people and activity.  People have their tent covers set up with lots of food, drinks, games and music. Many will spend the night there.  We set up 2 tent covers over Bernadette’s fathers grave yesterday. She and her help are currently preparing food that we will be taking to the cemetery in a few hours. Some of her relatives will spend the night there tonight as well.  These folks take the spirits of the dead seriously.  90% of the population here are Catholic.  Gary

Message from Allen Richard (65): 

Sister Albert passed away a little while back.  Lots of us Catholics had her in first grade.

Am in Seattle– will send pix of Aunt Louise Pigeon Horsman and family.  Also hooking up with Angela Berube Malget on Sunday in Minneapolis– If you play it right you can get a nearly 5 hour lay over there –time to hook up with folks

Later

aLLEN rICHARD

Allen, Enjoy your trip in the Puget Sound area. Please send pictures of your Aunt Louise and of Angela too.  Gary

From from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

In the summer of 1968, after graduating from DHS, I got a job working at
Dunseith Sand and Gravel. This was a summer job and I was the scale man,
weighing trucks. They also gave me odd jobs like painting equipment,
hauling junk, doing bookwork, all the stuff no one else wanted to do. It
was a job. One day Mike ‘Little Chip’ Johnson and Curt Berg rode their
bikes out to the pit and asked if there were any beer cans they could
have, to sell for aluminum? I showed them where Alex Forbes, the forman,
threw his cans over the bank and told them to have at it. The first day
they each filled a grain sack. The second day they each had two sacks. A
few days later they were jumping up and down so I went over to see what
they were doing. They were all red faced from smashing cans and I asked
what the heck they were doing? Curt said, “If we don’t smash these cans,
we’re NEVER going to get done”. They had been hauling cans for several
days but hardly made a dent in Alex Forbe’s pile of Hamm’s cans. I
looked over the bank and there were still cans several feet deep. I
wonder if Hamm’s had to layoff people when old Alex quit drinking?!?

Dick

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

The person identified as Lois Hiatt isn’t Lois. She graduated in 56 and
this picture is about 43 or 44 as Thelma Hagen Johnson is in the group
and she graduated in 44. I don’t know who the two girls are, but Lois
would only have been in the first grade at the time. LaRose, thank you
very much for sending the pictures and please post some of the stories
you have about your class and friends. When we visited at the reunions,
you told a few and I would sure like to here more about the events of
the class of 46 which included you and both my parents. I still have the
Christmas stocking you made for me when I was just a toddler! Thanks to
LaRose and Gary!

Dick

Folks,  I’m wondering if that could be Dorothy Hiatt Swanson instead of Lois Hiatt.  Dorothy graduated in 1946.  Gary

Picture provided by LaRose Ketterling (46):
Can anyone identify the (Mystery) person in the middle row?

                                   Dunseith High School Class of 1973