02/28/2009

Posted on February 28, 2009 by Gary

Bob Stickland passed away – Lee (Leland) Stickland (64): Dickinson, ND

GARY,

Wanted to let YOU know that my Dad, BOB, passed away on Wed evening about 9 pm.

Dad suffered from many maladies that could have contributed to this final exit.

My girl friend, Gloria, and I were at the local Perkins sharing a bran muffin when I received the call that Dad’s vital signs were upside down. The ambulance was summoned but he was gone a few moment later.

Dad was 87, born on July 6, 1921, ‘near Dunseith ND’.

His parents were Edward Lee Stickland and May Striker Stickland. They lived near the Beaver Dam school, below the hill and to the north of; down the lane from Iver Larson.

My brothers, Darrel (Doc) and Dean will arrive FR for the Sat funeral here in Dickinson. Mom passed away in April of 2002; now Dad and she will be beside one another. again.

It is one thing to have had a career in nursing homes where I witnessed many deaths but YOUR own Dad passing is much more striking.

Dad and I had good visits about the mail route, the roads, the snow, the people on the route and the such.

-21 degree wind chill here right now. 3-5 inches of snow forecast for FR by pm.

Thanks, I read and enjoy each entry by all. Lee

Stickland	Darrel	3242 90th Curv NE	Blaine, MN 55449	(763) 786-2582	doc@tcinternet.net	67
Stickland	Dean	9542 MARLBROOK CT SE	OLYMPIA, WA 98513	(360) 459-4566	mail@sticklandbows.com	73
Stickland	Lee (Leland)	1520 W Villard St	Dickinson, ND 58601	(701) 483-3709	lee_stickland@yahoo.com	64

Lee, Darrel & Dean: We are so sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. He was an icon, especially for those of us rural folks he delivered mail to for so many years. He is the only mail man that I ever remember us having for all of my growing up years until leaving the area. Lee, I had a nice visit with your dad about a year and half ago when I was locating you. He was of very sound mind. He gave me your phone number and that is how I got in touch with you. Our condolences are with you guys and please keep us posted. Gary

Reply from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND

I remember hearing “Tickled Pink” at Robin and Bernard Morin’s wedding dance. They played “Mama, He’s Crazy” and it sounded every bit as good, if not better than the Judd’s. Appropriate song for the occasion, right, Bernard?

Reply from Trish Clayburgh (73): Fort Collins, CO

Hi Gary,

I really enjoyed reading the blog this morning – I loved the stories about Tickled Pink. I missed that era because I was already off to college, but I remember singing many songs with Cheri Metcalfe …..In fact she taught me the complicated words to “I’ve Been Everywhere Man” and I’ve been known to pull that song out at campfires ever since.

“I’ve been to Reno, Chicago, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota……..”

Anyhow – we sang a lot of songs huddled together against those freezing nights as we drove to whatever game in whatever town…..some of them were a bit more colorful –

Maybe Cheri remembers the one about Rats**, Bats***, gobble nibble nibble chew-

Oh yes – we just laughed our heads off. Who made up that stuff?

99 bottles of beer on the wall – I used to work in Chicago?

Throw em out the door head first, eh?

That should stir some memories…

I WOULD LOVE A COPY OF TICKLED PINK! What fun!

Trish

Reply from Margaret Metcalfe Leonard (65): Rolette, ND

Hi Gary

It totally amazes me that each day there are messages to read from
Dunseith folks. This has become a ritual…it’s like a lifeline to the
past as well as the present. I have learned so much about life in
Dunseith from so many different perspectives that it’s like reading a live
account of small town North Dakota. (reminds me of the Mitford Series)

Tickled Pink was pure fun. Cecile Berube Reynolds would tell us that
there was live music at the AC, Fortune’s bar, and we would come from
Rolette to dance to Tickled Pink’s music. I can still hear Kathy singing
Kalijah. I would love to receive a copy of that CD, a treasure to be
sure.

Thanks,
Margaret

Folks, Bill Grimme, with his elite computer abilities was able to shorten and reduce the file size of this CD to an acceptable size to be included with this message. For your enjoyment, please click on the attachment.

Margaret & Trish: I will send both of you the full size electronic copy of that CD that I received from Mel. It sounds like Shelly Fulsebakke Albertson has an original CD that she gave a copy of to Mel Kuhn. I’m sure Mel shortened the CD version considerably for sending as an email attachment.

Margaret, whether you realize it or not, you are a major contributor to the development of this daily blog. Had it not been for you and John Bedard contacting my brother Darrel in Bottineau to get in touch with me for the 2007 Q-centennial, I would have never been inspired to locat and contact our 65 classmates. You were also one of the major contributors with the planning of the very successful class reunion we had in 2007. The rest is history.

Margaret, You mentioned in a message to me a while back that you are retiring from teaching the end of this school year. With all your years of teaching at the Belcourt High School, now teaching 3rd generation students, you have created quite a following. Folks are saying, “Margaret can not retire until my kids finish HS”. That in it self says a lot about you and also your teaching abilities. You will be missed by students, parents and staff alike. Gary

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO

Reply to Shirley Olson Warcup

Too answer your question Shirley, George Chase, a first class painter and contractor, trained his sons, Clyde and Fred in the trade and they were professional painters. Clyde Chase was on the scene through the 50’s for sure, he had about 13 children and lived very near the San. No wonder they called it Chaseville.

By the way, one of Dale Gottbrecht’s main men, Andy Gunville, was Clyde’s brother-in-law, married to Clyde’s only sister.

Vickie Hiatt, Norman and the boys episode reminds me of Lee Striker and Lee Smith at the wood pile where the fiddler at the house party hid his jug. Lee took a big drink and Lee asked, “how is it?” Lee said, “goooood” as he handed it to Lee. Fast thinking on Lee’s part, I don’t think #2 Lee took quite as big a swig… they’d been set up!!!

Gary Stokes my dad always carried his wallet in his front pocket. I think that came from running some plastering jobs in Juneau, Alaska during the war. A rough town at the time, he just never changed pockets.

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02/27/2009

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Gary

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

I should have been more precise. The Frozen Fingers group from Minot,
which we belong to, is joining us for a jam session in Bottineau, at the
Senior Center on Main Street every second Sunday of each month. The
first jam session is planned for March 8 at 1 PM. It’s open to the
public at no charge and the Senior Citizens will be providing the
lunch. At this time I’m not sure if the lunch is free will or if items
are priced, but either way it will be great! There will be pickers and
singers from all over the area taking turns playing all kinds of music .
It should be a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Hope to see you there!

Dick

Folks, Mark your calendars. This will be a fun event every month. I wish I could be there. Gary

Reply from Shirley Olson Warcup (49): Ivans, UT

Shirley is Dick Johnson’s aunt – sister to his mother

Gary,

Was the Fred Chase Vance Baily mentioned in his letter a painter? Two brothers who were painters painted our house when we lived on a farm west of Dunseith. Shortly after they finished the job, one of them was accused of murdering someone at San Haven. I was perhaps 8 years old at that time–I don’t remember their names. I do know that my parents were surprised when they heard about the murder and arrest. Both of these brothers were apparently very satisfactory workers and very polite men. I know my parents were skeptical that one of them could have done something like this, however, if my memory is correct one of them was convicted of the murder. Perhaps someone with a better memory than mine knows if our painter was Fred Chase.

Shirley Olson Warcup

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO

Reply to Vance Bailey’s letter

Here is some input about Jules Waldron, Vance mentioned the boys left town. In a letter from Bing Evans to his mother dated October 20, 1941, Bing was in training at Ft. Lewis, Wa. Bing says, ” I spent the last weekend in Seattle, John Schimitz and his wife came over to Jim’s (Metcalfe) and we played cards and drank beer. Had a great time. I visited for awhile with Albert Aubrey and Fred Waldron. Fred told me his brother Percy, was in the Army a year and spent 280 days of that time in the guard house. Albert is working in an electrical shop for at $10.00 per day and Fred works in a service station.”

Albert was known as Monk. Who knew his mother and step dad, Tom and Maggie (Aubrey) Cassidy? What a pair. Maggie and I had asthma together. We went to Bottineau one fateful day to see a new young dr. in town, Dr. Bray. An old lady and a kid. The dr. used a syringe that was designed for a draft horse….it was memorable!!

Gary Metcalfe

Reply from Lyle Olson (75) – Son of Lorraine Metcalfe: West Fargo, ND

Gary:

I read Bev Morinville-Azure’s e-mail the other day wherein she mentioned the band, “Tickled Pink”. She forgot to mention that Roberta Hagen (now Striker) was the drummer for that all girl band.

The band was formed in the mid-70’s. I was in the USAF at the time and literally made weekend trips home from Scott AFB in Illinois to see them play. They had an enormous following, young and old alike. I’ll never forget their biggest fans seemed to be Kenny and Nettie Tooke. In fact, Kenny and Nettie even developed “fan wear” for the band in the form of Black Windbreakers (to make Kenny look skinny) with the band’s name emblazoned on the back. They were quite the picture twirling around the dance floor, dancing two-steps to the Eagles and John Fogerty.

As many of you know, the lead singer for that band was Kathy Metcalfe. She was the best singer I have ever heard, as she could sing anything from Fleetwood Mac to Johnny Cash. Her voice was strong and pure, and she was great musician as well. I remember sitting on the porch at David Fugere’s house one summer night and we could hear Kathy singing all the way down the block. Her voiced filtered through the air as if delivered to one’s ears by angels. I really miss her.

Now, I want to take some credit for how the band got its name. You see Janice, Kathy, Elaine and Cheri Metcalfe and I were all driving around one night drinking a little wine in the winter of ’74, co-incidently named “Tickled Pink”, a delightful wine with no cork and less than $3.00 a bottle, and singing songs. It seems you can never get Metcalfes together without a little picking, grinning and drinking — but that is another story all by itself. The band “Pink Floyd” was popular at the time and we were all listening to them on the only radio we could get at the time, KFYR out of Bismarck. Well, lo and behold in the back of the car we were driving around in was a pink Frisbee and a pink scarf. Well to be funny, and after way too much wine, I used the scarf to tie the pink frisbee on my head and “PINK FLAUD” – the counry-bumpkin version of Pink Floyd – was born!! I couldn’t sing “Dark Side of the Moon,” but I was “Comfortably Numb” and having the time of my life with my favorite cousins.

Well we eventually made our way up to a party at Brian Fauske’s place in the hills. I remember it was a great party but it ended late. As we made our way back to Dunseith, I remember starting to get sick on the way down San Haven hill. How we made it to the little mobile home we lived in at the time without any regurgitation is beyond me. In any event, out of the car and into the house I bounded to get to the only bathroom in the house, which was right next to my mother’s bedroom. Well, she heard me get sick and she rushed in to see what was wrong. Well, I must have drank a beer with a cigarette put out inside as I brought up some tobacco with my wine. My mother screamed, “Oh my god, he is on marijuana!!!!!” I spent the rest of the night trying to convince her otherwise by incoherently telling her about Pink Flaud and Tickled Pink wine, and how it was those damn Metcalfe girls that led me astray!! Well, when I told the Janice and all about this story, they had no choice but to name the band “Tickled Pink.” Now you know the rest of the story.

{The above story as to the naming of the greatest band to ever come out of Dunseith is pure fiction and is not to be believed by any party, living or dying}

Lyle O.
Class of 1975

Reply from Bobby Slyter (70): Wichita, Kansas

to bev mornville: i truly do remember the tickled pick girls, they played for mom and dads 25th wedding anniversary party at the ac bar. good bunch of girls and great music

JUST LITTLE OLE ME FROM KANSAS

Bobby, Mel Kuhn just sent me a song from this group. I am going to send it to Bill Grimme to see if he can reduce the file size enough so we can post it with these daily messages. Gary

Reply from Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine (73): Grafton, ND

In reading todays stories it made me think of the dances dad and mom [ Norman and Irene Hiatt] use to have in the quensat [unsure of the spelling sorry] I was probably 5 years old. I remember the music, it was Norris and Bud Knutson and I believe Gary Olson. One of my fondest memories is doing the butterfly with Sharon and Jim Hansen. I remember mom making big kettles of sloppy joe and going to town to get the buns from the bakery. I also had a bed made for me under a counter. I remember dad telling a storie about my brother Jim and our cousin Clifford, apparently it was their job to pick up the beer cans and bottles the next morning, well I guess dad caught them poring all the cans together so theycould have a little refeshments after their work was done. I guess dad told them be careful drinking from those cans boys people could be peeing in them. I don’t remember if that stopped them or not. Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine

Vickie, I remember really well when your folks had those dances every Saturday night. We could see your house plain as day one mile to the east of our place. You guys sure drew the crowds and we could hear the music all the way to our house. Gary

Reply from Bob Lykins (mid 60’s DHS teacher): Germany & Hutto, TX

Gary,

Ah, the PI. You gotta love the place. I recall a time when I was working the schools at Subic Bay Naval Station. In the evening I went into Olangapo (where the sewer meets the sea) to have dinner at a reputable resturant that I knew. I was alone and sat down in a booth putting my camera bag beside me. I never went anywhere without my camera (the original OM-1). A fellow came up to me and starting talking. He was friendly and, as I recall, we had a great conversation. Unbeknownst to me, his accomplis while I was distracted, had reached over the back of the booth, unzipped my camera bag, took out the camera, removed the camera from it’s case and replaced the case back into the bag zipping it back up. Since I had other items in the bag and the camera didn’t weigh that much, I never missed it until I got back to my quarters on base. Slick as a whistle it was. Naturally I had to report it for insurance purposes. Needless to say, nothing came of the investigation and I can only hope that the sale of the camera brought some poor family additional food and clothes.

Fond memories.

Bob Lykins

Bob, Events that draw a lot of people here in the PI also draw a lot of professional pick picketers from other areas of the country. One has to be careful. When ever I’m in a crowded area, even in the malls at busy times, I always place my wallet in my front pocket. Living in the heart of a true Filipino community with many very poor neighbors, we have never had anything stolen from our place. Because we have folks (helpers and some relatives) living in our compound, we never lock the gate into our place. We feel very secure. On the other hand, if someone tried to take anything, they’d have to go past many folks to get out of our area and believe me, these folks would tackle and catch who ever was running. A month or so ago a large truck had an accident on the main road that caused serious injuries to several folks riding motor cycles. Before the police arrived, the bystanders beat up this poor truck driver so bad that he had to be admitted to the hospital. Gary

From Mel Kuhn (70): Saint John, ND

Gary,

Here’s one for Bev Morinville Azure from back in the OLD DAYS. To make a long story short, after a conversation with Shelly Fulsebakke Albertson a while back, she dropped me off a CD of Tickle Pink. Crank up the speakers.

Rolette County Historical Society will be holding its Fun Night on April 18th at the Senior Center in St. John. We had a real good turn out last year with lots of great music from area talent such as “Hwy 43” and lots more.

Mel Kuhn

Mel, I forwarded “Tickle Pink” to our computer expert, Bill Grimme, to see if he could reduce the file size for group sending. He was able to reduce the file size considerably, but I feel it’s still a tab bit large to be included with one of our daily messages.

Folks, if you’d like a copy of “Tickle Pink”, please request a copy from Mel or myself and we’ll gladly forward you an electronic copy. Gary

Bev Morinville Azure’s (72) reply to Bernard Morin (76): Dunseith, ND

WOW , Bernard I didn’t hear a thing I am sure if I would have heard it I would have been dancing in the street after all they were the best band to dance to if I remember right. Those were the days and if I remember right Bernard it was whiskey not beer lol seems like forever since those days . If anyone knows where I can get a cd of Pickled I mean Tickled Pink please call me and let me know my number is 244 0775. Bernard as I remember these were the day when u learned to park in my drive way back in those days we didn’t have DD.

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02/26/2009

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Gary

Folks,

Bill Grimme has provided us with an updated report of those that have signed up for our Seattle reunion banquet and dinner. If you plan on attending, please send your payment to Bill. If for some reason, you are unable to attend, Bill can refund your money up until the time he has to make final payment to the Best Western on or before July 21st.

Gary

July 24th Seattle reunion update from Bill Grimme (65): BIRMINGHAM, AL

Folks,

Just a reminder-dinner reservations and payments postmarked in February will get 4 raffle tickets for each dinner. In March, it drops to 3 per dinner. So far, we have received a response from the following people:

Chuck Munro 2 dinners

Robert Hosmer 2 dinners

Gary Stokes 2 dinners

Nancy Baldwin 2 dinners

Diane and Scott Sjol 2 dinners

Randy Flynn 6 dinners

Gary Metcalfe 3 dinners

Bill Grimme 2 dinners

So, we have 21 diners at our reunion dinner, so far.

Hope to see a lot more folks there.

Drawing for free dinners will be in mid-June

Dinner Sign up form.

8:00 PM

-Served Dinner

Harvest Salad Greens

(with Tomato, Cucumber, Carrots, Red Onion and Croutons, served with our House Dressing)

-Pan Seared Chicken Breast @ $24.90 (all inclusive including tax and gratuity) OR

(served with a Madeira/Port and Green Peppercorn Demi Glaze and Rice Pilaf)

– 10 oz. Certified Angus Beef New York Steak @ $34.10 (all inclusive including tax and gratuity)

(served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and a Side of Béarnaise)

FreshGarden Vegetables

Focaccia Bread/Butter

Freshly Brewed Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee or Tea

APPLE PIE FOR DESSERT

To attend this dinner, just fill in the following selections for you or your party, send me a check, and I will return a receipt.

NumberEntréePrice

Extended price

______Pan Seared Chicken Breast$24.90___________

______Angus Beef New York Steak$34.10___________

TOTAL FOR YOU PARTY ___________

Send Check to Bill Grimme,

3117 Memory Brook Circle,Birmingham,AL35242

.Phone 205-991-6512.

Hope to see you all there. Thank you.

Bill Grimme Class of ‘65

Reply from Bernard Morin (76):Dunseith, ND

I just read Bev’s comment on “Tickle Pink” which brought back a lot of memories, most of them kind of fuzzy. You see Tickle Pink was very conducive to beer drinking, come to think of it everything was conducive to beer drinking back in those days. Anyway back to the band, in my opinion they were the best band around as they always packed the house wherever they played. I’m not sure but I think that somebody made a C D of some of their music. Last summer Travis Metcalf came roaring into my driveway on his Harley with Tickle Pink jamming on his radio, I don’t know which was louder, the Harley, the music, or the neighborhood dogs. I can’t believe Bev didn’t hear it, as we only live a block away from each other. Maybe Trav or Janice would have some info on wheather there is a C D available.

Thanks. Bernard

From Mark Schimetz (70): Rolette, ND

Gary, Dick , Thanks for the correction, The Senior Center in Dunseith I presume. Please Correct me If I am wrong. Also I apologize for forgetting to mention, the Song about Pierre Bottineau that was written by Ron Hett. as I had intended too. (Guess I had a senior moment there. Not the first one I assure you!, and probably more to come along.)

I especially enjoyed this as it was the first time I heard the song.

Being a Mary Robbins fan, I believe this song would have greatly been appreciated the famous Ballad singer (deceased). If memory serves me, Many of Marty’s Older Ballads, came from his Grandfathers time. Stories and Songs played. Hence the gunfighter ballads etc, for the 19th Century.

Great suggestion from Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND

Gary

I was just thinking that we must be nearing the anniversary of Vance Bailey’s passing. I think it would be neat to post some of his stories in remembrance of his time he spent with us. In fact it would be a way to honor all of those that took time to join us and that have left us. What do you think?

Larry

Larry, This is a wonderful suggestions. Vance Bailey actually pasted away December 22, 2007. Vance is the pioneer that energized these daily blogs into being. The memories and tributes of his passing are far too many to list in a single email message, however I will post the last letter that he shared with us just prior to his passing. What a remarkable man he was. He possessed a wealth of history & stories for the Dunseith and Rolette county areas. He and his wife Doreen collected and recorded a lot of the history of the area with their genealogy interests. One of the things they did was make a recording of all the local cemeteries listing all those that are buried in each of them. Gary

Vance’s wife Doreen is on our distribution. Her email address is Tempe, AZ

Vance Bailey’s letter that he wrote at 2:00 PM on December 21, 2007, just eleven and a half hours prior to his passing.

Gary,

I spent an hour or two last night talking to Carol Watkins and Emory Carbonneau in Bottineau. I read all the correspondence that you have been posting.

Some things that have come to mind that we discussed. Mac McHugh. He and his wife owned the Dakota Hotel that was directly north of the Drug store where Glen Shelver was the druggist and I am sure later owned. In the mid forties Shirley Sunderland worked there as a “sodajerk”.

There was an old Socony Vacuum (later Standard Oil) filing station in front of the hotel that had gas pumps that had a glass tank that held 10 gallons of gas at about 18 cents a gallon. The guy that operated the station would let us kids pump the gas up into the tank once in a while.

There was a row of rooms along the north lot line of the Hotel and the one facing main street was the U.S. customs office manned by Henry Sunderland. When you crossed the border in those days you stopped in Dunseith to declare anything you brought across the border. I’m not aware of anyone ever stopping to declare anything.

We did have some excitement in those days, a nurse up at the San was murdered by Fred Chase and the trial was held in Dunseith. Carol tells me that our teacher got permission to take our school class to watch the trial. My most outstanding memory of the murder was the first night they had him locked in the Jail located in a long low building just north of the skating rink. Several of us kids were there until the crowd broke out a rope and threw it over the crossbar on the streetlight, then they made us all go home. We were all sorry to miss the hanging, but the adults chickened out so we did not miss anything.

How many of you remember the Waldron that was the Dunsrith policeman that caught a thief coming out of one of the buildings north of the bank one night. Carol reminds me that he was chasseing him down the alley and as he came to the fence back of the bank Jules Waldron fired over his head to stop him. The trouble was that the robber jumped up to go over the fence and stopped the bullet with his head. Jules had two boys in school and they left town. No good deed goes unpunished!!

For Collette,

The Baileys and the Hosmers intermarried a couple of times (that’s cousins) in the late 1600s and early 1700s in the New England Colonies.

Vance Bailey

Bailey Family Research
1418 E Gemini Drive
Tempe, AZ 85283

Doreen’s message:

Vance passed away this morning at 1:30– Dec 22

Doreen Bailey, wife

Tempe, Az

Vance’s obit.

Note we are having a service in Tempe, AZ, Dec. 29th, but his final resting place will be at Riverside Cemetery in Dunseith, ND. A grave side service will be planed around Memorial Day. His parents and sister are there, he always said that’s where he wanted to go.

—- Thank you all for the prayers and condolence messages. I am still in shock of the suddenness of his passing. I have had his love for more then 55 years.

I’ve enjoyed the emails along with Vance, we even had our daughter with us at the 125th Celebration. She was ready to move to ND, she really enjoyed the towns of Bottineau and Dunseith. There will be memorial site of picture on www.mem.com by Thursday and anyone wishes to add their though-it can be done on the site. Search by name, Bailey, then Vance Allen… Thanks for caring Doreen Bailey

Obituary: Vance Allen Bailey

1928 – December 22, 2009

Picture taken 2006

Born in Bottineau North Dakota on February 8, 1928 to Virgil and Marie Bailey. Vance passed away December 22, 2007 at his home in Tempe, AZ.

His service record is long: He was in the Navy at the age of 16 and the last phases of WWII. Joined the Air Forceafter the war, attended college inMinotND. then was on Military Sea Transport in the Merchant Marines for the Korean war. He sailed on many ships and visited many ‘far away places.’ Vance met his loving wife Doreen in Seattle. They married is 1952.

After that he settled down, they did many different things before coming to Arizona in 1980. Vance was employed at Boeing Aircraft for 15 years. Then went into free enterprise: Real Estate, owned a Tavern and Bowling Ally in Ephrata, Washington.

In Phoenix he worked for the Maricopa Highway Department doing appraisals for right of way. Later he went into Appraisal /Analyst of Real Estate contract and property values for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Real Estate Department and retired from that department in 1993. He loved his job.

He read when he wasn’t listening to the news or on the computer, loved old LP records. Vance was a news/political and history junkie.

During his retirement he ventured into Genealogy and now has over 9100 relatives in his records. Some going back to the 1500’s in England.

Vance’s passions, other than his family, were old cars, motorcycles, reading, current events, politics, history and lively conversation.

His parents Virgil and Marie Bailey and sister Ardis preceded him in death.

Survived by his spouse Doreen Bailey, daughter Dayna Rasor, grandson Colin Rasor, daughter-in law Donna Rasor, sister Sharon Conn, brothers Wayne and Gary Bailey.

Memorial Service Will be held December 29 at 11 AM at the Carr-Tenney Mortuary 2621 south Rural Rd, Tempe.

In lieu of flowers /donations maybe made to the American Heart Association

If you are unable to attend, a slide show will be available on www.Mem.com and you will be able to leave your condolences.

Vance’s burial will be in Bottineau ND in the spring of 2008

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02/26/2009

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Gary

Folks, The TV Cable sales man was just here and returned the money from yesterday’s story. Because of this, he lost his job. We just talked to the supervisor that I was dealing with at the Cable company and he said there is a big, in house, investigation going on because if this incident. They discovered that there were quite a few folks involved from different deparments in the company with this under the table deal they made with me. This is the only TV cable company that services this Island, so they are quite large.

Request from Martha Lamb Schepp (68): Newburg, ND

Hi Gary,

We are enjoying the service you provide to all of us who enjoy the times of days gone by. Shane Lester would like to be added to your list serve. Thanks for all that you do.

Martha Lamb Schepp, Newburg, ND ’68

It is my pleasure to add Shane Lester to our distribution. I believe Shane is the guy that is related to the Cook’s and House’s from Little Prairie. He would also be related to some of the Espe’s, Millang’s and Salmonson’s. I believe you mentioned that Shane works with your husband in the Newburg area. Gary

From Bev Morinville Azure (72): Dunseith, ND

I am not sure if you know this or not but back in the 70’s there was a group of gals from here that were all the rage. The groups name was Tickled Pink and it was one of the best bands around here. The members were Janice, Kathy, Elaine and Cheri Metcalfe and Shelly Fulsebakke. They played all over and we had a blast when they would be at the AC or up at Kelvin. They played country plus oldies these were a talented bunch of woman . Anyone have any memories they can share about the band . I do remember they walked into the AC bar with the idea of forming a band and walked out with enough money to start. Alot of people supported them.
GOD BLESS YOU …………BEV

From Mark Schimetz (70): Rolette, ND

Hey Gary, Dick Johnson, his wife Brenda and Ron Hett played for us at the Good Sam’s Nursing home on Sunday in Bottineau. In celebration of Mid’s 90th Birthday. The room was large, packed, and short of chairs. The music was grand, They played a song “Chancellor Ville” from the Civil War era, a blue grass tune from the movie “Oh! Brother where art thou?” , some Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Charlie Prides “Crystal Chandelier”, Cashes, Folsom Prison and Haggard’s, The Bottle let me down. The Music was preformed with a guitars, a banjo and large base guitar played by Brenda, Ron Hett switched back and forth from his guitar to his banjo as Dick Johnson set the lead.

There were a lot of smiles on the residents and visitors faces and wondering expressions of days gone by, countenanced on the faces of many of the elders. Dick and company were to play for an hour, however, they were asked to stay another hour and they gladly accepted the invitation to the great delight of all in attendance.

Shortly after the first hour Gary Fulsebakke arrived and joined in for a short time to sing Happy Birthday to his Mother and all joined in. Gary then Borrowed a guitar and moved to the south wing where the special celebration was given for his mother where she lauded with songs and remembrances of days gone by and serenaded by Gary with gospel music she loved to sing all her life. Gary had some cute stories about the early days at home and I hope to get him to share them with us.

I have been informed that on March 8th 2009, Dick and Friends will play at Good Sam’s , and every 2nd Sunday of the Month. there after. This is the plan according to Dick.

Thank you Dick, Brenda and Ron, and Gary for the great music. You all put a lot of smiles on the people Sunday and I know some really felt alive again and left that home for a couple hours in their minds, lost in time following the sweet music you all played and if they don’t remember much, I am sure the music will not be forgotten. Music soothes the soul.

God Bless you all, and keep up the gallant work as long as you can.

mschimetz@msn.com

Dick Johnson’s (70) reply: Dunseith, ND

Gary,

Thanks for the advance copy of Mark’s nice write-up. The name of our
group is ‘Highway 43’, we felt it was fitting as most of the musicians
we have in this area live on or within a couple miles of 43. It seems
it’s always been that way, if you think back. Ole Bursinger, Lorraine
Metcalfe, Jack Metcalfe, Carl and Shirley Melgaard, Hank Salmonson, Pete
Berginski, Sharon Albertson, Kenny Sivertson for a few from back in the
day. It’s somewhat the same now with just a few more names thrown in the
mix. I never considered the idea of so many pickers and singers along
‘ol 43 until someone asked us to pick out a name for the group. We sure
do have fun doing these little ‘gigs’ and if folks like our music, that
is an added bonus! Thanks Mark and Gary!

Dick

Gary,

I just reread Mark’s story and need to enter a correction. We are
jamming at the senior center every second Sunday–Mark said Good Sam.
Thanks!

Dick

Dick, I’ll bet you will draw quite a crowd too, of all ages, when folks know you are going to be there. It’s wonderful that you are doing this for the community. Gary

02/24/2009

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Gary

Note of appreciation to Dick Johnson from Sharon Zorn Gerdes (62): Windsor, CO

Just a note of appreciation. Perhaps I have missed it, but I was unaware that Dick Johnson and his wife sang. My mom lives in Oak Manor in Bottineau, and several of the ladies there say that they sing very well. I just want to say thank you to Dick and wife, because those senior ladies enjoy and appreciate it so much when people take the time to share their talents. So thanks for your kindness. Sharon Gerdes

Sharon: Dick & Brenda have a band, I believe along with Keith Smith and a few others.

Dick: Can you please fill us in with a few more details of your band?

Don Boardman along with Dan & Tina Pladson also have a gospel band. Can you guys fill us in with some of the details of your band too.

Sharon: I did not realize that your mother lives at Oak Manor. There are a number of the senior Dunseith Alumni living there. It’s a neat facility. They have a really nice common area for everyone’s enjoyment that alleviates a lot of loneness and boredom for those living there. Gary

Cancer update from Dwight Lang (61): Tucson, AZ

Hi there Friends,

Finally getting around to checking my email. 500 plus in the in box. Been out of commission with my colon cancer surgery thing.

Enjoyed the wild life pictures compliments of cousins, Rod and Brian. Lucky I never met the little squirrel looking fellow while carrying my trusty 22 through the foothills some forty years ago. And Dick J., enjoyed your addition to the Martin story and especially the picture of those super bar tenders. I was a bit young to be a customer but I did poke my head in the door from the bowling alley side many times. Usually to hit my Dad up for a few quarters to play the pinball machines while I was waiting for his card game to end with Johnny Hill, Don Darling and the other regulars.

Well the operation went as good as to be expected. I spent five days in the hospital (without a smoke) and then was sent home as soon as I had bowel activity. It was no fun. But, after a few days home I got a call from the surgeon and he told me that the lab results were all good (no cancer in lymph nodes, etc.). Had the staples pulled last Thursday and he told me to come back in a couple months for another look see. He also mentioned that I should have another colonoscopy next year as well. Guess I can handle that. Oh by the way, the chimney is smoking again.

Would you believe today it is supposed to be in the upper eighties down here in Tucson. That’s a bit too soon for me. I’m looking forward as usual to spending my summer back at Lake Metigoshe but I’m hoping the Tucson heat holds off for at least a couple more months.

Well, take care and thanks to all for your concern. Francie Gottbreht (63) told me it would all be OK.

Dwight

Cancer Update from, and Neola Kofoid Garbe’s reply to Gary: Bottineau/Minot ND

Mom/I are back from Minot; it took longer than I thought it would. I knew I wouldn’t be going back to Minot tonight. Wally says the weather is bad for tomorrow, so after Mom’s appointment, I rescheduled by radiation appointment. I scheduled it for next Monday at 2:00. I’ll be in Bottineau until Sunday. The surgeon got all the cancer. The area around where the cancer was, is “clean”. The treatments are for cautionary reasons, not to kill any cancer that’s there. I started taking anti-estrogen pills a few days ago. I haven’t had any side-effects from them.

Neola

Reply from Geri Metcalfe Monro (59): Fargo, ND

Gary,
Our friend, Betty (Allard) Heinz, class of 1960, married Ron Heinz, is also a daughter of Olivine Allard. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Betty and Ron and their family. Betty is flying home from Mesa, AZ tomorrow. We are with them in thought and prayer, even though we cannot make the trip back home.
Geri Metcalfe Munro, class of 1959; (Betty was class of 1960) and Chuck Munro–Fargo, ND.

Note: Gary, it would be nice sometimes if folks would state their current city and state. I have not saved nor could I download all info re: addresses.
Where does Gary Fulsebakke live now; I remember that he was a very accomplished singer and my sis, Marg Metcalfe Leonard said he read a note I sent Gary F. (at Mid’s birthday party–I never even knew her name was Mildred). lol

Geri, I will start adding the city and state for our folks. That’s a wonderful idea. I too did not realize Mid’s name was Mildred. She was always Mid in my growing up days. Gary

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO

Reply to Bonnie:
Rural schools were not as boring as home schooling, but we lost a year or more with eight months school and staying out to harvest and haying. I remember the first day, Dad hooked up to an honest to goodness buggy, with springs and all, naturally he took a short cut to save a mile or so through Erman Striker’s pasture. The water came right up to the floor boards, so we went via the road the next six years. We had three and a half miles, so did Faye and Doris Honsey. Horses are all about competition and old Dewey did very well keeping up that one mile straight north where we parted company with the Honsey girls. It was all bare back in those days and when it would rain, that big mud puddle in the road did me in a couple times, riding double. Dewey would shy around the puddle and I never could be sure which side he would take. Fanny and Dusty were spirited horses of the Honsey girls and Bernice Jasper. The girls were excellant riders.

Alas, the buggy was short lived, Martin Evans hooked Dewey up one morning and the barn door was open about two feet, Dewey decided to go back in the barn. Viola…that was the end of the buggy.

So now we got a cart with straight schaves and no springs, then a Ford tractor. Sometimes when the weather was favorable they took us to school and we would walk home. As if three and a half miles one way wasn’t enough, we took turns carrying water for school use a half mile. We put a stick through the handle of a 3 gal. pail, with a kid on each side.

On Monday morning that three and a half miles was actually four miles, for Dewey had a thick hide and had to go about a fourth of mile and come back home and get a good spanking from a grown up. Then the rest of the week, he was o.k. over the weekend he would forget and have to be tuned up again.

A typical lunch pail was a one gal. pail with nail holes in the lid for air. In hot weather, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches became soggy, for variety mustard or a dill pickle sandwich was good.

Most teachers had it worse than the kids. Clara Weaver had at least three miles because of no roads and I know Mrs. Graybill stayed at the school lots of times. Enough of that for now.

Age 14 life changed. Paved streets, hot lunches and a great job setting pins to pay rent with. Too bad Bertha Vanorny, Bertha Myer and Myrtle Hoopman got a part of that hard earned money. But I did finally learn to hold my own in a game of Smear. Life was great and still is.
Gary Metcalfe

Reply/Picture from Kenny Nerpel (65): Devils Lake, ND

Gary,

Regarding Rabbit City Lake:

The enclosed photo is of my Grandfather, William Bryan Metcalfe.
It was taken in 1919 and the lake in the background could very
well be the Rabbit City Lake that has been discussed. It took
awhile to find it. It sounds like there are others out there who
file like I do. A scoop shovel and four or five unlabeled
garbage bags.

Kenny

William Bryan Metcalfe

From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

I found this article amusing! Just about every move was covered by the
Dunseith Journal in the mid ’30s! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Folks, I’ve got a little extra room today so I want to share a story with you. Gary – Philippines

We currently have a satellite TV dish here in the Philippines, but would like to have cable service too. We are several hundred feet beyond the allowable distance for getting cable. Last Friday I called the worker bee lineman, who had been to our house, to discuss how we could get their service. Following my conversation with him, I called his boss to discuss this topic in more detail for us to be able to get their cable service. The boss told me he would send a field engineer out to our house on Monday. Lone behold, on Saturday we got a visit from one of the cable salesman. I was surprised to see him. I said “did Tony (the Boss) send you” and he said yes. He was a very nice gentleman. He looked everything over and said the extra cost for materials would be $250. He said if I gave him the money then, he’d be able to install the service Monday morning. Knowing he was from the cable company and thinking the boss had sent him, I gave him the money. On Sunday this salesman comes back with the worker bee lineman, I had called on Friday, to get everything set for the installation the next day. Monday morning rolls around and no one is here to install our cable, so I called the boss. The boss says I didn’t send that salesman to your house. In fact he said I sent my field engineer out to your house early this morning to look things over and we can provide you service with no extra material costs like we had discussed when I called him on Friday. He was very surprised when I told him I had given his salesman $250. He said you will get your money back. The salesman did not know I had been talking to his boss. He was trying to give us service under the table and got caught. When they came Monday morning to install the cable, they saw the field Engineer at our house and ran. The worker bee lineman called the salesman and that is how they got involved. They pocketed the $250. They also involved one of the other engineers of the company too. I am currently waiting for the salesman to return the money. I think he has probably spent the money, so he’s probably trying to borrow the money at this time. All three of these guys have been working for the cable company for a number of years. At the moment their jobs are on the line and will for sure be fired and possibly go to jail if the money is not returned. The salesman sent me a text message telling me he is very worried about loosing his job. He said he has 5 children to support. These guys make good wages too, but greed got in the way when they saw this American guy. They didn’t realize that I’m seasoned to their shenanigans. Gary

02/23/2009

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Gary

Olivine O. Allard’s Funeral notice:

OLIVINE O. ALLARD, 90, Bottineau, died Friday in a Bottineau nursing home. Funeral Wednesday, 10 a.m., St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Bottineau. Visitation Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau

To the family members of Olivine Allard. My condolences are with you with the loss of your mother, grandmother & aunt, Olivine. Larry, I remember you from our high school days before you guys were redistricted to Bottineau. Mary, I don’t really remember you, but I know your Husband, Laurel Hiatt, well. Carol, you being a class of 65 gal, I/we have gotten reconnected well the past several years. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Gary

Standing: Lillian Allard, Alice Kuhn & Evelyn Senechal

Sittiing: Adeline Allard & Olivine Allard

Reply from Tom Hagen (51):

Hi, Gary, just a quick reply to you about Wetheralt School. I had the
3 summer months when we were first married and it was really hot and
rainy that summer (55) When it got too hot we would have school in the
shade beside the school. We swept the room every day (mostly the kids
did it ) and used compound (reddish material to hold down the dust)
which had fallen off the kids legs who had walked to school in the muddy
roads. Isn’t that right???? Tom Anderson kids, Bud Anderson kids,
Obert Medlang, Susie Knox, Strong kids, Larry Metcalfe, Larry Hall, Eva
Eurich, (Hope I didn’t leave anybody out) That summer I took a bunch
of the kids to see Gone With the Wind , now can’t remember who !!!

We love E-mail letters, Love Tom and Dot

Reply/Pictures from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

Rod Hiatt’s picture of a pine marten is neat! The sightings of the
little animals have been increasing over the last couple of years. I saw
one about 3-4 years ago and had no idea what crossed the road in front
of me. Some college researchers set up cameras in the hills around here
and were able to photograph several in the wild. They baited an area in
front of motion detector operated cameras and got some nice pictures.
Last summer I saw one get hit by a car on Highway 3 by Rose Lake, north
of Dunseith. It wasn’t physically damaged and I picked it up and froze
it and sent it back to the Game and Fish Department in Bismarck, with my
son-in-law who works there. They didn’t have any specimens, alive or
dead, to necropsy (autopsy) and study so were very interested in getting
one. They are bigger than a large squirrel but smaller than a small
racoon. They kind of resemble a fox with their ears and face. I’ll
attach some pictures from the motion cameras and one of the one I found.
Thanks Gary!

Dick

02/22/2009

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Gary

Olivine Allard Passed away.

I recieved a message from Mel Kuhn that Olivine Allard passed away Friday evening at 8:00 PM. She is Carol, Larry & Mary Allard’s mother. She was also a sister to Mel’s mother. We will post more info later. Gary

Reply from Rita Carbonneau Anderson (Former Gamble store owner):

I am one of those who started school in about 1930. I went to a country school in Lordsbrg Township, there were 11 of us in the whole school. I lived just about 3/4 of a mile from school. We started school about the first of April and went to the first week of November. If the weather wasn’t too severe we would go to Thanksgiving. In the summertime when it was too warm to have school inside, we would go to the north side of the building and thats where the teacher would teach the classes. How about that!?

Email address change for Beth Fauske Duncan (67):

Dear Friends and Family,

I have come into the technology age and am now on high speed internet so have changed email addresses.

Please email me at :

Feel free to forward onto other family members whose address is not included above.

Thank you!

Al and Beth Duncan

02/21/2009

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Gary

Day correction for Mid Fulsebakke’s birthday celebration posted by Mark Schimetz (70):

The Date is wrong on Midge’s 90th birthday, the 22nd is a Sunday. Sunday is the day of her Celebration, I just called Good Sams. Saturday is the 21st not the 22nd of Feb. If some want to call the home, the number is 228-3796 .

Thank you Mark for catching this error and for calling Good Sam to get the correct day. Gary

Donald Sharratt’s funeral notice/Obituary posted by Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59):

Dear Family & Friends,

Because some of you have asked, here’s the link to Don’s obituary & online guest book, published in today’s Tucson paper.

Tucson.com | Obituaries and Guest Books

The text of the obit is also pasted below.

Here’s the link to the Adair Funeral Home/Avalon Chapel for more info, directions etc. http://www.adairfuneralhomes.com/Avalon_Chapel_57647.html

A reminder that the Service is on Sun 3/8, not 3/1, at 1pm. If you plan to attend the Memorial Service, I’d like you to know that there will be a time at the Service for friends to get up and share their memories about Don, lessons learned from him, fun things about their friendship with Don, etc. Just something to think about.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for all your prayers, good thoughts, and varied expressions of love, sympathy, compassion, and prayerful support. They mean the world to me, as do you ALL.

Love, Bonnie

OBIT TEXT:

Donald Sharratt

SHARRATT, Donald, 76, of Tucson, AZ, passed on February 1, 2009. Survived by his wife, Bonny; siblings, Darvin Sharratt and Sandra Gilje; sons, Eric (Donna) and Keith; four grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, 13 nieces/ nephews, scores of cousins. Proudly served in USAF for ten years as aircraft mechanic, supply sergeant, military police; flew in 16 combat missions. Lifetime member of the VFW. In private sector employed by the railroad and the mines. Self-employed in heating and cooling repair. Master mechanic in all forms of transportation. Famous for his story-telling, jokes and keen memory; loved for the sunshine and joie de vivre he brought to all he met, family, friends and strangers alike. Memorial donations may be made to any charity that benefits veterans, eg ;

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)or at VFW.org,

Disabled American Veteransor at DAV.org;

Paralyzed Veterans of America: PVA Home or at PVA.org

Memorial Service Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel, 8090 N. Northern Ave., Tucson, AZ 85704.

Question from Bonnie Awalt Houle (56):

Gary a question to all of the Country School Kids: Didn’t some of the schools have what was called summer school, where they went to school from March through the summer until Thanksgiving. This being done to avoid having students trudging to school during those harsh winter months? Being one of the town kids I only remember hearing about it, In town we always went from September to June.

Bonnie Awalt Houle

Bonnie, I can answer this because I’m one of those who attended summer school. I’m hoping some of the many country school folks we have on our distribution list will answer your question as well.

The last year of summer school at Ackworth was in 1953. I was a first grader. Charlotte Lang was our teacher. I remember that school year well. As I remember the summer school year was only 8 months, March through November. And yes, I believe they had summer school to avoid students having to attend school in the winter months. I’ll bet Tom Hagen and a few others can tell us a whole lot about those summer schools. I know we have a lot of Ackworth, Willow Lake, Lockhart, Wetherelt and I think other country school summer school folks among us too. Gary

From Vickie Metcalfe (70):

Gary,
For whom it may concern:
Regarding the Randa’s; Beverly (Randa) Boucher lives here
in Bottineau. She works mornings until noon at Bottineau St.
Andrews Hospital Long Term as a CNA. To my mother Lottie Metcalfe,
Bev was a positive, hardworking, efficient, smiling care giver with
an amazingly contagious laugh. Bev is originally from Saint John ND.
She told me she grew up in a large family in the Saint John and her
siblings are scattered throughout the USA.
Regarding Templeman’s;. My mother, Lottie had a recipe for
Mrs. Templemans Cake, that she got from Annie Anthony years ago. My
sister Cyndy (Metcalfe) Miller, ” our family pastry chef” is the
keeper of mom’s recipes.
Regarding “Rabbit City Lake” ; located on the North Side of
Hill Side Township. As the crow flies, located 3 miles from the
Cliff and Lottie Metcalfe home farm in Holmes township. The Rabbit
City Lake area -community was surrounded by families including
Metcalfe’s, Evans, Anthonys, Bergans, Poitra’ also neighboring
families of Belgardes, the Cota’s, the Morins, Scotch Annie, and
Lajimodieres. The depression era was tough on many farmers and in
the late 30’s many ended up selling their farms to the federal
government and became non-reservation Federal Land. Grandpa Bill
Metcalfe died in July,1935, my dad just turned 12 years old. Grandma
Rose moved into Dunseith with her younger children. My fathers legal
guardian was Louis Bergan.
As a child, dad often drove me to Rabbit City many times in
the old black ’52 chevy truck and told stores of his childhood on
the lake. His stories were filled with Ward Anthony, Clayton Bergan,
Neighbors, HillSide School, and his dear family. As a kid, we went
in from the south. However,when Uncle Jim Metcalfe purchased land
in the area close by the old Metcalfe farm site, a better traveled
dirt road came in on the north side of Rabbit City Lake. One winter,
in the early ’70’s, the fish were biting in Rabbit City Lake as well.
And lots of area folks, including my dad and my brothers caught their
limits…every day. Mom did lots of pickleing fish….
“Indian Creek” runs south of Rabbit City Lake. Adjacent
is “N____r Lake” , located on the west side of Rabbit City Lake.
Moving from Maza ND, Grandpa Bill Metcalfe bought the Metcalfe farm
from a “Black squatter”, hense the name “N____Lake”. On a late sunny
afternoon, Sunday June 31, after the the Metcalfe 1980 Reunion.
Shan drove “Old Yellar” dad’s old gold Chevy to the William and Rose
Metcalfe building site. In the front of the pickup with Shan were my
dad ( who was blind), his sisters well into their 80’s, Bessie
(Metcalfe) Jeans, and Bertha (Metcalfe)Deal . Riding in the box ,
with me were Uncle Lucky Metcalfe, Auntie Leona (Metcalfe)Oswell,
cousins Dianne (Maki) Reed and Barbara Straub, along with others.
It was an emotionally- remembrance uplifting story telling
experience for the older generation. On the way home, Uncle Lucky
told me stories that his father had told him as we bumped along the
dirt trail.
During the 80’s and 90’s I often rode horseback with nieces
and nephews to that site and as we’d eat the picnic lunch packed in
the saddle bag I told them stories of their Grandpa Cliff. I wanted
them to have the sense of identity, with Scots, English, French &
Indian. In the early 1990’s, our family was blessed again when we
learned of the existence of another cousin, Mick ( son of Archie).
Mick came to meet his Metcalfe family and his father’s
friend,Carroll Carlson. We decided to take Mick and his wife Betty
to Rabbit City Lake where my Uncle Archie ( Mick’s dad) had also
grown up. Those years the creek had come up quite high and we
couldn’t get to the building site. Shanon borrowed a boat from Dick
Johnson. and we four wheeled down to the Metcalfe homeplace. Shan
hopped out and started to pull the boat out. Immediately, Mick
jumped out and started to help him. Well the boat had a hole in it.
Shan’s eyes and mine met when, slick as a whistle, Mick pulled out
his jack knife cut a willow plug and plugged that hole. Shan and I
nodded our silent nods, in agreement…. this blue eyed solid guy
with a Metcalfe neck, also truly had a Metcalfe personality, down to
earth, and common farm sense. Another day of fond remembrance as
Mick, Shan and Betty paddled the boat over to the house site while I
, “Chicken Little”, that I am cause I can’t swim….longingly
wished I was on that other side with them.
Blessed be stories that tie us all together. Thanks. Vickie Metcalfe

Reply from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

To Dave Slyter—Grandpa Henry Olson died a little over two years after
the picture was taken. He was just 56 at the time in 1959 and died of
what I believe was pneumonia. Your Dad probably came into the
partnership with Glen Johnson after that. As for the Saturday bowling
leagues for kids, I sure do remember that. Do you remember that Dad (Don
Johnson) was the instructor? He got certified by the ABC (American
Bowling Congress) and taught lots of kids to bowl. Somewhere here I
still have a small belt buckle he had that has the logo for ABC. I think
he got it for his efforts in teaching the sport. Can any of our readers
remember when a bunch of Dunseith folks were in Minot to bowl on TV? The
show was live and was called ‘Bowling For Dollars’. I spent many
Saturday and Sunday afternoons all over the state watching Dad and his
buddies bowl in tournaments. They did real well and got several trophies
and cash prizes. Back to the kids league–I saw Terry Martinson bowl a
203 one Saturday when he was in about the 7th grade. The rest of us were
trying hard to hit a hundred, so were dumb founded! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Message/Picture from Rod Hiatt (69):

Gary
Brian Fauske had this Pine Martin at his house on Long Lake. All the
years living in this part of the country and I had never heard of such
an animal let alone seen one. Thought it might be interesting if anyone
else had seen or heard much about them in the Turtle Mountains. I’m
sure that back some years ago, if my Dad had seen it we could take
pictures of it hanging on the wall.

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02/20/2009

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Gary

Happy Birthday greetings to Mildred Fulsebakke from Erling Landsverk (44):

HI GARY:

WHEN I LEARNED THAT MILDRED FULSEBAKKE WAS CELEBRATING HER 90TH BIRTHDAY WITH HER FAMILY, I WANTED TO ADD MY GREETING ALONG WITH A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISH. YOU SEE, HER HUSBAND JAMES ALONG WITH THREE OF HIS SIBLINGS AND ALL OF OUR FAMILY ATTENDED THE SAME ONE ROOM SCHOOL. IT WAS THE LOON LAKE SCHOOL #2, ABOUT A HALF MILE WEST OF THE FULSEBAKKE HOME

DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, WE OFTEN STOPPED AT THEIR HOUSE TO WARM UP BEFORE GOING ON TO SCHOOL, BECCAUSE THE TEMPERATURE AS YOU KNOW USUALLY HOVERED AT OR BELOW ZERO, AND FOR LITTLE KIDS WE GOT PRETTY COLD AFTER TRUDGING A MILE THROUGH THE DEEP SNOW. THE LAST AND ONLY TIME THAT I SAW MILDRED WAS AT THEIR HOME IN 1970 I BELIEVE, MY WIFE AND I AND THREE OF MY SIBLINGS DROVE OUT FROM WISCONSIN TO VISIT OUR OLD HOME SITE, VISIT SIGRID FULSEBAKKE AND AS MANY OF HER FAMILY AS WERE AROUND, OUR OWN NELS LANDSVERK FAMILY AND OTHER FRIENDS, AND WHEN WE LEARNED THAT JAMES AND MILDRED HAD A FARM NEAR THE PEACE GARDEN, WE STOPPED TO GREET THEM, AND OF COURSE MILDRED INVITED US IN WITH A BIG SMILE AND HER AND JAMES AND ALL OF US TALKED ABOUT OLD TIMES. IT WAS A GREAT VISIT. UNFORTUNATELY WE NEVER DID SEE THEM AGAIN, NOR DID WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEIR CHILDREN. TO ALL OF THEM I MUST SAY, YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL MOTHER AND YOUR FATHER WAS ONE IN A MILLION. WE ALL HAVE LASTING FOND MEMORIES OF THE FULSEBAKKE FAMILY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MILDRED!

JO ANN AND ERLING LANDSVERK

Reply from Geri Metcalfe Munro (59):

To Gary Stokes:

In blog #375, I meant to send my email to Gary Fulsebakke, and I did; somehow, I must have clicked on Gary Stokes, as well.
I was wishing Gary Fulsebakke’s mom, Mid (Mildred) a HAPPY BIRTHDAY 90th birthday this weekend. Gary F. and I have shared some stories back and forth this week.

Geri Metcalfe Munro

James & Mildred Fulsebakke Family:

Back: Gary Mid & Jim

From Jim Jr. Joel & Shelly

For general info – The Forestry is now MSU-Bottineau

Brittney Fulsebakke is Mid’s Granddaughter. Her parents are Jim Jr. (75)

and Marlee Rae (Reing). Marlee Rae’s mother, Marlene (Oliver) Reing is a

sister to my sister-in-law Debby (Darrel) Stokes.

Reply from David Slyter (70):

My thoughts and prayers are with Marilyn, Richard and their children. I use to work with Richard at the school when we were both custodians there. What a great family. I pray you have a speedy recovery Marilyn. Great things can be cured through the help of prayer.

To Dick:
Thank You for the great picture of your grandpa, Glenn and Dad. I am thinking that your Grandpa must have sold his share to my Dad as there was a few years when Dad and Glenn owned the bar. I don’t know if a lot of you remember the kids leagues they use to have on Saturdays when Glenn and Dad owned the bowling alley. It was great. I think they had like three or four teams of kids bowling on Saturday mornings. Again thanks Dick and Gary. Good memories

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02/19/2009

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Gary

Reply from Bev Morinville Azure:

First I would like to tell Neola I wish you luck on the radiation it can be rough but your spirit is such a go get em spirit you will do great , the radiation team in Minot is wonderful they treat you very well and always encourage you as the treatments get tough. I will keep you in my prayers. Second Marilyn is in the hospital as far as I have heard in Minn. still, I talked with her sister Bernie just the other day and Marilyn is not well she has a lot of aneurism’s and Bernie said she is now in God’s hands Please keep her in your prayers . I had my yearly Ct scan and check up and so far no more cancer I am starting to feel great again. I thank you all again for your support and prayers in the last year I will ask you to please continue to pray for me and my family, Debbie is home and is working hard on getting her speech back it is a long road for her I call her once or twice a week and talk to her. Happy Birthday to Mrs. Fulsebakke. and Art I am so sorry your have lost your wife. I only talked with her one time but she was such a friendly woman we visited at the Bottineau Fair she was sitting behind me and I was telling someone I had graduated in 72 from Dunseith and she tapped me on my shoulder and said then you went to school with my husband Art so I got to tell her all kind of stories about you Art. May God Hold you and your family close during this time of sorrow. But know she is now healed and dancing with the angels.

GOD BLESS YOU …………BEV

Reply to Marilyn Peltier Allery’s condition from Judy Allery Azure (65):

Hi Gary, Paula, and everyone

Marilyn Peltier Allery is my sister-in-law, she is married to my brother Richard. Marilyn is in St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN. She had brain aneurysms and is in ICU in the Brain Unit. She seems to be coming along quite well, spent the past weekend with her and my brother, along with her mother and my youngest brother Dallas. All the prayers will be greatly appreciated. Marilyn was put in a chair for 4hrs this weekend and seemed to tolerate it quite well. She is getting stronger and stronger with each passing day. Marilyn was hospitalized on January 23, 2009, under went surgery during the night to clamp the aneurysms. This was quite an ordeal for her family, Marilyn and Richard have 3 children. I will try and keep all posted on her condition. Thank You Paula for remembering Marilyn.

Judy Allery Azure

Reply from Debbie Fugere Fauske (75):

Hi Gary:

I spoke with Richard Allery by phone today. He is in Minneapolis with Marilyn. I mentioned there had been a note in the blog regarding Marilyn’s situation. I asked how she was doing and if it would be okay to update the Dunseith blog about her condition.

He said she’s no longer in a coma, her eyes are open, but she’s not really awake either. He also said she seems to recognize their voices, and turns toward them when they talk. She is unable to speak at this time.

The doctor’s have started physical therapy at this time.

He said the doctor’s say she’s come a long way but has a long way to go.

Debbie Fauske

Reply from Geri Metcalfe Munro (59):

Gary,
I just have to share with you how precious it was when your mom married Jim Fulsebakke, neighbor and single. They came to Little Prairie Lutheran Church near Kelvin, where my parents, Jim and Ella Metcalfe and all of us seven children attended. In those days, I will have you know, the men sat on one side and the women and younger children sat on the other side. Well—-
when Jim and Mid came in (she was dressed to the nines in a suit, hat and gloves (WOW, I thought–what a glamourous couple)–I must have been about what (I was born in 1941), but she sat on the men’s side with Jim. Well—-after the service a lady approached my Mom and said you’d better ask Jim (Metcalfe) about this, and tell them that they should sit on their own side.
When Mom told Dad, he said “next Sunday, you and the girls sit on the men’s side with Mid, Jim and the men. After that, all the families sat together on both sides. We felt they were such a great addition to our neighborhood, and they CERTAINLY WERE. God bless you kids and your Mom on her 90’t birthday. Geri (Geraldine Metcalfe) Munro

Reply/Picture from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

Steve Cook’s Turtle Mountain Restaurant, I believe, was on Main Street
in Dunseith. I think it was on the east side about mid-town. For those
who have a Dunseith History Book, look on pages 371 and 372. Somehow I
thought it later became McCoy’s Bar. Don’t know for absolute, but I
think I heard that long ago. If anyone knows, please write and let us
all know. Kenny Nerpel—Thanks for the P. W. Poole story. I have the
article from the News with pictures. I’ll try to scan it and send it for
those who do, and don’t remember him. It may take me some time as right
now I can’t remember where it is! Mom sent it to me when I was in
college in Grand Forks. Knowing Pete, you would have died laughing at
the stories he was telling the reporter! The guy sucked it up like a
‘Hoover Deluxe’, word for word. All of us who frequented Kelvin know how
‘Ol Pete could spin a yarn! Everyone must have at least one ‘Pete Poole’
story. I’m attaching a picture of the Garden Tap from about 1957. Those
behind the bar are my grandfather, Henry Olson, Glen Johnson, and
Freddie Hiatt. This was when the Tap first opened. Classy joint—white
shirts and ties! Grandpa and Glen were partners when it opened. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Henry Olson, Glen Johnson, and Freddie Hiatt.

Neola Kofoid Garbe’s question to Colleen Brudwick at the Good Samaritan Home:

Hi Colleen,

I need help/info, please. I understood Highway 43 performs on Sunday. I just received Gary Stokes’ Dunseith Alumni newsletter. In it, Gary Fulsebakke has a note stating there will be a 90th birthday party for his mother at Good Sam, starting at 3:00. Will both events be taking place at the same time–little overlapping 30 minutes?

Thanks.

Neola

Colleen’s reply:

The music is at 2:00 on Sunday; the party is at 3:00.

02/18/2009

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Gary

Mildred Fulsebakke’s 90th B-day – posted by Gary Fulsebakke (71):

Hi Gary,
I thought some of the folks out there would like to know that we are
having a 90th birthday celebration for our mother, Mildred Fulsebakke
(Mrs. James Fulsebakke) on Sunday February 22, at the Good Samaritan
Home in Bottineau. The celebration will begin at 3 pm. with a short
program and refreshments to follow. The public is cordially invited to
attend. Thanks for the blog and keep those memories coming! Gary
Fulsebakke

Gary, I remember you mother well. She and my mother participated in a lot of the same community organizations/activities in our younger days. Your family farm was located near the west side of the Peace Garden. I remember well, in the summer of 1958, when your dad, my dad and a few others car pooled together to work at the Minot Air Force base. That was a very long commute.

I wish your mother a very happy 90th birthday. I saw her, at the Oak Manor apartments in 2007, when we were back there. She looked great! I understand she recently moved to the Good Samaritan Home. Gary

Mavis Hagen’s Obituary posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Mavis Hagen, age 56, of Bottineau, went to her eternal rest with her Savior on Thursday, February 12, 2009, at a Bismarck hospital following a courageous battle with cancer. Her funeral will be held on Thursday, February 19, at 2 p.m. at the Bottineau High School Gymnasium. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 18, from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. with a prayer service held at 7 p.m. at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. Burial will be at the Oak Creek Cemetery in Bottineau. In lieu of flowers, the family requests the memorials be given to the March for Hope, 403 Bennett St., Bottineau, ND 58318.

Mavis A. Hagen, a daughter of Orthon and Deverne (Klebe) Froseth, was born on October 26, 1952, at Bottineau. She was reared there and graduated from Bottineau High School in 1970. Mavis felt “2 teach is 2 touch a life 4 ever”; therefore she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Mayville State in 1974. Mavis began touching lives through teaching in Medina, ND, and in the fall of 1979 she moved to Bottineau. She continued her passion of teaching 3rd graders at the Bottineau Central School. On July 8, 1978, she married Arthur Hagen in Bottineau, where they had since resided.

Mavis was a member of the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Bottineau. She was active in the March for Hope, Relay for Life and many other educational and community activities.

Her loving family includes: her husband Arthur of Bottineau; daughter, Devonne (Jonathon) Leonard of Okinawa, Japan; son, Joshua (Keisha) Hagen of Bismarck; grandchildren, Keiandra Hagen and Jarik Leonard; mother, Deverne (Floyd) Thom of Bottineau; brother, Dorvine (Judy) Froseth of Bismarck; sister, Evette (Bruce) Bierman of Newburg; mother-in-law, MaryAnn Hagen of Bottineau; brother-in-law, Tom Larsen (Christine) of Chehalis, WA; many nieces, nephews and those she touched through teaching.

Those loved ones who she joins in heaven include her father, Orthon, sister, Charla Larsen and father-in-law, Clarence Hagen.

From Paula Fassett (71):

Hi Gary and all,

I just received an e-mail message from Dunseith and heard that Marilyn (Peltier) Allery has been hospitalized with an aneurism – or maybe several. I don’t know details, so won’t guess. Marilyn was one of my classmates – Class of ’71. She is a beautiful person – inside and out – and I pray for her recovery and hope that all of you will add Marilyn and her family to your prayers.

Paula Fassett

Peltier

Marilyn

PO Box 833

Dunseith, ND 58329

(701) 244-5266

marilyna@tmcwfs.net

From Kenny Nerpel (65):

Gary,

It was great hearing from Lynn Henriksen. I remember the year my
family spent in the telephone exchange at Kelvin quite well. I
think this must have been about 1960 or 1961 when I was in the
seventh or eighth grade. I also remember the kindness that her
mother “Midge” displayed to the folks in the community. I am
saddened to hear of Hal’s accident. I remember him as being such
a pleasant and well behaved child.

A highlight of the time I spent there was when I got to fill in
as the “operator” when my mother took a break.

I remember long walks in the woods behind the store, clearing off
a patch of ice on Lyde Lake for skating, and swimming trips to
School Section Lake with Rick, being ever so careful to not get
any sand or water in his car. Besides the central office there
were also a few other buildings near the store. Directly behind
the store was an empty cabin and to the North of that, down a
country lane, was a little three room building occupied by Peter
Wellington Poole.

I knew I had some information on Poole somewhere, so for the last
few days I had been searching for it with no success. I finally
resorted to asking my wife to help and within 5 minutes she had
located it. Go figure. On November 6, 1971 the Minot Daily News
published an article about the then 89 year old man.

Some of the highlights:

His small three-room home had no electricity, telephone, or
running water. He hauled water from a spring about 25 feet south
of his home. He used a kerosene lamp which he purchased from a
former occupant,Tom Kirkwold, whose wife once ran the Kelvin
telephone exchange. He spent much of his time cutting wood for
his kitchen range and wood heater in his bedroom. He didn’t like
coal because of the cost and a preference for good old Turtle
Mountain Poplar. Poole was a veteran of WWI serving with the
35th Division after being called up in 1917 with the National
Guard at Rolla. He was very vague about details of his army
career. Poole indicated that he had traveled almost around the
world with the secret service and had the job of scouting ahead
for the enemy. He said that when he returned to the United
States his service records were missing and it wasn’t until 1945
that he was able to establish a record of service in order to
qualify for compensation. His only income at the time the
article was written was the $121 a month that he received in
compensation from his military service. He was born in Ontario
and received no formal education. However, he did learn to read
and write. At that time he had no car and his main contact with
the outside world came from visits with friends at the store and
tavern at Kelvin during the day.

Kenny

From Gary Metcalfe (57):

Reply to Mel Kuhn

To answer your question Mel, if you stepped off of your Uncle Jimmy Birkland’s porch and walked 1 1/2 miles south, then 1/8 mile east, you would be at Rabbit City Lake. I think I have covered some of the shinaningans that happened there in the 20’s and 30’s in earlier blogs. The end of the 30’s was the end of Hillside Twp. as local people knew it. As the government bought most all the township, on behalf of the Native American people.

I think it would be safe to say that Fish Lake, that Crystal was referring too was 1 mile east of Johnny Belgarde’s on the same side of the road in Holmes Twp. John lived on the old Hosmer place. And you are right, Belcourt Lake was better known as Fish Lake.

What I remember about George Gottbrecht Manufacturing was a brand new style of pump jack. All farmers needed a pump jack to pump water for the cattle. Ours like most was dangerous, if you did not lose your tongue on the pump handle you may lose your fingers in the big exposed gears on the pump jack. George’s pump jack was enclosed and the only one I ever saw was LeRoy Strong’s. Then the electric came and we went to electric motors.

Gary Metcalfe

Reply from Tom Hagen (51):

Hi, Gary, just a quick reply to Linda Gardner from Bottineau, I am her
mom, Lillian Wenstad Gardner’s first cousin, as her Grandma and my dad
were brother and sister. We may have met when she was little but she
would remember Orvin.

We love E-mail letters, Love Tom and Dot

From Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Hi Everyone,

I visited with my surgeon, Dr. Lane Lee, today about the lump in my breast. He, too, thinks it’s from “over-lifting” and isn’t concerned about it. If he isn’t concerned, neither am I.

Apparently, it will go away on its own.

I have an appointment with Dr. Freiberg (oncologist) on Wednesday. I’m assuming a radiation treatment schedule will be set up at that time. I’m guessing they won’t start immediately, as “their” schedule is most likely full for awhile. This means I’ll be attending the special entertainment (Highway 43) at Good Samaritan on February 22.

Unless Dr. Freiberg has other ideas, I plan to return to Bottineau on Friday. Mom has an appointment with Dr. Lee on Monday (Feb. 23), so I’ll be her chauffer that day. Jim usually takes Mom to her appointments, but he has a really busy February schedule (driving the “Forestry” sports teams to their events). Unless treatments start soon, I’ll stay in Bottineau for awhile.

So, all is well in my world; I hope it is in your world, too.

Neola

Message/Picture from Susan Fassett Martin (65):

This photo is dated 1906 and says,”left to right–Steve Cooke, ? <
Hilda Wridberg, standing by plant, Paul LaFazer. Interior of Steve
Cooke’s “Turtle Mt Restaurant” Dunseith ND.” Steve Cook was Midge
Hendricksens father I believe hence, Lynn, Rick and Dana’s
grandfather. Enjoy!!! Susan

Turtle Mt Restaurant (Kelvin) 1906

L to R: Steve Cooke, ?, Hilda Wridberg, Paul LaFazer

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02/17/2009

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Gary

Condolences to the Art Hagen Family from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

I would like to send my condolences to Art Hagen and his family on the
loss of Mavis. All the area mourns her passing and she will be missed
greatly. In her many years of teaching, she had a positive impact on the
lives of many children so her legacy lives on through them and her own
family. I have never heard of anyone in the entire area who didn’t know
and like Art and Mavis Hagen.

Dick

Condolences from Marge Longie Langan Wilcox (56):

Gary,

My condolences goes out to the Hagen, Sherritt families in a time of
sorrow.

Marge Wilcox

From Betty Watschke Cooley (45):

Gary:

Many thanks for all the Dunseith memories in your postings. I’ve been wanting to write for some time, but was so far behind in reading them all. After being gone for the month of November in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where we have gone for a long number of years for the month, then coming home to the usual holiday rush, it has taken me a long time we “catch up”. Now we have just returned from a Caribbean cruise, but the catch up hasn’t taken as long this time.

In your #362 an inquiry was made about the family drowning, and I planned to answer, but Dick Johnson beat me to it. In #363 he answered with a good explanation. The double drowning of course was hard on all of us. My family and I had just been in Dunseith visiting the family and others and returned home to the Seattle area that Labor Day when we received my dad’s (Carl Watschke) phone call. I returned to be with him and the extended family. It was a sad time for all.

So many memories have been recalled: an old favorite such as Deerheart Lodge (where the Kotschevars were friends of my parents and we actually visited and sat on some of that wonderful handcarved furniture); Butte St. Paul, Lake Schutte, the Peace Garden and all its treasures, and on and on. My parents and I were at the dedication of the original Peace Garden as we had long ago relative connections with Dunseith and Rolla before ever moving there.

I’ve enjoyed passing along the “old days” happenings to my family — grandsons were home from college at Christmas time and I had noted several things to have them read (and that presented many questions of my teen years in Dunseith). It has opened many doors to unsuspecting education to a younger generation of past history. Gary, you will never know how much your efforts are appreciated and how far they extend – – – many, many thanks.

Betty Watschke Cooley – – Class of l945

From Lee (Leland) Stickland (64):

GARY–‘spout dime ya eared’ from SW ND.

Weather in DIckinson is more moderate than Dunseith; barely, at times.

My girl friend and I like to go to auctions. She is interested in seeing where “I came from” so a trip of 278 miles to Dunseith is in the offing, whenever.

Any note of pending auctions in the Dunseith area would be appreciated.

I will be querying the net for presentations of the Turtle Mountain Star, etc. in search of this relevance, over time.

I read and enjoy every line of the effort of each to post to YOUR grand site, Gary. Lee

Reply from Aime Casavant (66):

What a nice little surprise Gary. Thank you very much. Indeed, I caught a few hushed comments the past few days from my family that I could not quite make out.

Hope all is well with you.

Aime

From Mel Kuhn (70):

Howdy Gary,

I have a question for Crystal. What lake are you talking about when you say Fish Lake? Way back before your fishing days Lake Upsilon was known as Big Fish Lake and Belcourt Lake was known as Little Fish Lake. Belcourt Lake is still called Fish Lake by Many. That is the John Belgarde family by Carpenter Lake. I too am curious as to what and where is Rabbit City Lake as it is mentioned from Gary it is way differant from where I am thinking. When we moved in to Dunseith[ or close to] it was along the creek just north Riverside Cemetary and a mile or so north of Halvorsons.

Mel Kuhn

From Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Dick/Brenda(Johnson) & Ron (Hett) did a great job at Frozen Fingers! Highway 43 is performing at Good Samaritan in Bottineau on the last Sunday so this month (I don’t have a calendar handy.). I hope I’m in Bottineau then. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow and another one on Thursday. After that, I should have a better idea of where I’ll be the rest of the month.

Neola

Pictures posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Does anyone recognize this group or anyone in it?

Does anyone recognize this mother with her children?

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02/16/2009

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Gary

Happy Birthday Aime Casavant (66):

Aime, A little bird from the sky told me your are celebrating your Birthday today, February 16th. I’m thinking this may be a milestone birthday too? Anyway, happy birthday and just enjoy this one day of the year that is truly yours to enjoy with family and friends. Gary

Condelences to Art Hagen and Family:

Prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Sharon Longie Dana(73)

Don Sharratt’s passing posted by Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59):

Don Sharratt passed away February 1, 2009

Don was adopted by Erwin and Leah Boucher Sharratt who farmed near Thorne. There were two other children born later, Darvin and Sandra. Bonnie McGibbon is Don’s wife. His children are from his first marriage; he also had a daughter who is deceased. Don was born in 1933. He attended high school in Dunseith; lived with a family that maintained the school, grounds and furnace. Don would assist this man and I thought his name was Hagen?? Don did not finish high school, enlisted and served in Korea around age 18. Don is well known to Floyd and Carmen Richard. We had shared and interest in Boucher and Casavant ancestry. His natural parents were of Rolette County; he sought but was never certain of their identity. Don was close to Lee Hosmer and I did call her.

The following is a message from Don Sharratt’s wife, Bonnie:

As most, if not all of you know, my dear Don passed on 2/1/09. Because of this I wanted you to know about the upcoming funeral/memorial service that is planned.

It is scheduled on Sun 3/08/09, at 1pm at:

Avalon Chapel/Adair Funeral Home

8090 N Northern Ave

(located in NW Tucson, from the Oracle/Magee intersection, go 1 block west, then 1/2 block north)

Tucson, Az 85704

ph(520) 742-7901, my contact=Sam

For out-of-towners:

I want to be sure that visiting is as easy as possible. So I would like to refer you to my niece, Brooke Cromwell, a well-connected professional travel agent, to assist you with any travel needs. She is with Travel Leaders Worldwide, and can be contacted at ph 919-799-0883. Leave your name and number and she will get back to you promptly. By the way, she and I have already done some local hotel inspections and special lodging options near the funeral home have been pre-arranged, including breakfast and airport transportation.

If I can be of assistance to any of you, please let me know. And thanks to all who have sent cards, flowers etc and your good thoughts and prayers. I am so grateful for the support of my family & friends. So, thank you.

Fondly,

Bonnie

Bonnie L. McGibbon
Donald D. Sharratt
6921 N. Montezuma Dr.
Tucson, Az 85718-2438
home ph (520) 299-2141 (unlisted)
cell (520) 907-0863

Email address change for Jerry LaCroix (73):

We have a new email address please use this for
future emails. We too enjoy the stories and information that comes
across the blog.

Jerry LaCroix (73)

From Bonnie Awalt Houle 56:

Good Afternoon Gary,

It seems everyone has happy memories of the Peace Gardens. There was nothing my Dad enjoyed more then walking around the Peace Garden, I remember one warm spring day when we were walking around he asked my sister Emma Jean and I to run down this hill and when we got to the bottom by the trees we could say anything we wanted in a normal tone of voice and he would be able to tell us what we had said when we came back up the hill. It was quite a jog down the hill and when we got to the bottom we turned to each other and said something like, “What a Fool Dad was!” Then we raced back up the hill certain he wouldn’t be able to repeat what we had said. He immediately asked us why we thought he was a fool. Then he explained that God had made this natural amphitheater, and someday he was going to put the finishing touches to it, by building a stage and benches into the hillside. I visit this site everytime I return home and this time I say to myself, “What a Fool I was”. I don’t recall what year Dad built the stage and benches but I know I was 7 and my sister 9 when Dad told us his plans. Isn’t it amazing the insight our wonderful ancestors had.

Bonnie Awalt Houle 56

Reply from Chrystal Fassett Andersen )70):

Thanks Gary Metcalfe for the insight on “old man Templeman” as my Grandparents always called him, but now I want to know where Rabbit city lake is/was. Terry Halvorson lives out by Riverside cemetery.and I think my Grandparents lived there when they came back from Seattle, guess I better talk to my Uncle Darrel and write some things down. I know where Martin Belgarde lived. I am sure many people have stories about our Grandpa Bill “Pappy” Fassett, since he was the town cop for years and the town fisherman as well. I know all of us “brats”( as he fondly called all his granddaughters), have fishing stories from fishing at Fish Lake with Grandpa Bill. I remember him telling us..when one of us got old enough to ask about fishing limits..that there wasn’t any limit for senior citizens and never when he had brats with him. I remember stopping in places on the way home from the lake to distribute fish to different people, we even kept the bullheads for a Mrs. Belgarde that lived across form Carpenter Lake. I liked stopping there because they had a yard full of kids. Does anyone remember which Belgarde family that was? Anyway, I could go on and on.Thanks again BOTH Gary’s. Crystal Fassett Andersen

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02/15/2009

Posted on February 15, 2009 by Gary

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Mavis’ Hagen funeral is Thursday at 2:00 at the High school. Family and friends’ service is Wed. night, 7:00 at Nero Funeral Home.

Art’s address. 222 8th St. W

Bottineau, ND 58318

Condolences to the Art Hagen family from Bernard Morin (76):

Our sincere condolences to you and family in this sad and very trying times. Bernard & Robin

Thanks. Bernard

Message/Pictures from Bernard Morin (76):

Gary and friends,

With all the talk about Deerheart Lodge recently I thought I would share with everybody something that I purchased from ebay a while ago. It is a toothpick holder that I think is cut from poplar. It is about 1 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches high. The banner is attached with thumb tacks which I removed to get a better picture of. I bought it from Minnesota but can’t remember what city. Hopefully the pictures come through okay.

Thanks. Bernard

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57):

Reply to Cystal Fassett

I’m not sure where Terry Halvorson lives now, but the Templeman place was part of the old Rabbitt City Lake group, which was Hillside Township. Templeman was an accomplished farmer who fed lots of livestock on his farm. He fed lots of grain which we called screenings. He was Dunseith Bank President for eight years. Bill and Kate lived about l mile east of Maylon Bailley or 1 1/2 miles east of Fred and Rose Belgarde, Martin’s folks.

I am going to write a little about Clint Anderson one day. As far as Pappy Fassett, there are people out there that know a lot more about him than I do, but he is deserving of an article of his own.

Crystal that really is a great picture.

Trish Larson, its nice to know that someone besides me knows there was some food fit to die for, the cream was #1, saskatoons aka juneberries may have been even better than strawberries. Side pork was tops. Can you believe that recently, my wife and I found the regular old side pork in a restraunt ran by four former soccer player gals. It is in an old school house about 30 miles north of Seattle.

Its just as well I didn’t think I liked the ice cream, I thought they put too much salt in it AND there was never enough.

Gary Metcalfe

Jerry (Gerald)/Carol Berg Hamel photo posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Hi Everyone,

Carol is the daughter of Martin/Alice Brudwick Berg.

Carol/Jerry have two children: Lynette is married to Wade DuBois; they have three boys: Christopher, Daniel, Austin. Live in Bottineau.

Carol/Jerry’s son, Glen, isn’t married. Lives in Bottineau.

Carol is my “first” cousin.

Neola

I remember Carol Berg well. She attended Ackworth country school for a number of years before transferring to the Willow Lake school. The Bergs lived 3 miles from both schools. Carol’s dad, Martin, would take Carol to school everyday and pick her up each day after school. I don’t believe I have seen Carol since about 1959. Carol would have been with the class of 67. I’m not sure where she attended school following willow Lake, but I’m assuming Bottineau? Carol’s son-in-law, Wade Dubois, is a nephew to Dennis Dubois (63). Gary

Jerry (Gerald)/Carol Berg Hamel – May 1, 1988

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Hi Gary,

May might be from the St. John area. I knew Ernest/Ernie Randa years ago. He attended the Forestry when I did. I met Ron Randa and Ken Randa in Minot. Wally/I bowled in a couples’ league with Ken and his wife. May might be a sister/sister-in-law to these fellows, or not.

Neola

From Trish Larson Clayburgh (73):

Hi Gary – I thought you might enjoy dis blurb about dat new airline – all us good folks from nort dakota should sign up for flights on dis one den, doncha tink?

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE LUTHERAN AIR IS NOW OPERATING IN MINNYSOTA.

ALSO SERVING VISCONSIN, NORT AND SOUT DAKOTA.
If you are travelin soon, consider Lutran (Lutheran) Air, da no-frills airline. You’re all in da same boat on Lutran Air, where flyin is a upliftin experience.

Dere is no first class on any Lutran Air flight.
Meals are potluck. Rows 1-6, bring rolls; 7-15, bring a salad; 16-21, a main dish, and 22-30, a dessert. Basses and tenors please sit in da rear of da aircraft.

Everyone is responsible for his or her own baggage. All fares are by free will offering and da plane will not land ’til da budget is met.

Pay attention to your flight attendant, who will acquaint you wit da safety system aboard dis Lutran Air 599.
Okay den, listen up. I’m only gonna say dis vonce. In da event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, I am frankly going to be real surprised and so vill Captain Olson, because we fly right around two tousand feet, so loss of cabin pressure would probably mean da Second Coming or someting of dat nature, and I wouldn’t bodder wit doze liddle masks on da rubber tubes.
You’re gonna have bigger tings to worry about den dat. Just stuff doze back up in dair little holes. Probably da masks fell out because of turbulence which, to be honest wit you, we’re going to have quite a bit of at two tousand feet, sort a like driving across a plowed field, but after a while you get used to it.

In da event of a water landing, I’d say forget it. Start saying da Lord’s Prayer and just hope you get to da part about forgive us our sins as we forgive doze who sin against us, which some people say “trespass against us,” which isn’t right, but what can you do?

Da use of cell phones on da plane is strictly forbidden, not because day may confuse da plane’s navigation system, which is by da seat of da pants all da way. No, it’s because cell phones are a pain in da wazoo, and if God meant you to use a cell phone, He would have put your mout on da side of your head.

We start lunch right about noon and it’s buffet style with da coffee pot up front. Den we’ll have da hymn sing; hymnals are in da seat pocket in front of you. Don’t take yours wit you when you go or I am going to be real upset and I am not kiddin!

Right now I’ll say Grace: “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let deze gifts to us be blessed. Fadar, Son, and Holy Ghost, may we land in Dulut or pretty close.” Amen.

God be wit ya now, ya know.

02/14/2009

Posted on February 14, 2009 by Gary

From Vickie Metcalfe (70):

GARY, ART HAGEN POSTED THIS ON CARING BRIDGE YESTERDAY. WE HAVE LOST A WONDERFUL PERSON AND GREAT THIRD GRAD EDUCATOR. VICKIE

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. To Let you know that Mavis lost her battle to cancer at 5:14PM Feb 12 , 2009.

Love you all Arthur, Devonne, Jon, Jarik, Joashua, Keisha and Keiandra

Condolences to the Art Hagen family from Lynn Halvorson Otto (75):

My sympathies to Art Hagen and to all the extended family on the passing of your dear wife Mavis. I graduated with Arlin and we had 4-H with the Hagen family. May God’s blessings be with you during this difficult time. Lynn Halvorson Otto (75).

Condolences to the Art Hagen Family from Dave Slyter (70):

To Art Hagen and Family:

My thoughts and prayers are with in the coming days, with the loss of your dear wife and mother. She fought a long hard battle and will always be remembered for her uplifting attitude towards it all. God’s Blessing be with you all.

Dave Slyter (70)

Marlys Hiatt’s (71) reply to a joke type email that I sent out. Gary

Hi Gary,

Today (2/12/2009) I opened this email and had to just laugh out loud.
Today is my 56 birthday and I think the sentiment expressed is quite true.

Thanks again for making my day.

Marlys

Marlys, I know you didn’t expect me to reply to your message on the daily blog, but I wanted to wish you happy birthday using this tool. You know I remember the day you were born back in 1953. I was only 5 1/2 years old, but I do remember that day. Your mother and my mother were both pregnant at the same time. Your mother with you and mom with Darrel (Bud). Bud was born several months ahead of you in December 1952. That also put him a year ahead of you in school, having been born in 52. I think you went two years to Ackworth before we were all bused to Dunseith. Gary

Message from Erling Landsverk (44):

HI GARY!

I HAVE BEEN READING THE DAILY DUNSEITH ALUMNI NEWS AND MEMORIES. I AM AWARE THAT MY AGE PREVENTS ME FROM ASSOCIATING FACES WITH THE FAMILY NAMES I READ. I COULDN’T HELP BUT HAVE MY MEMORY JOLTED WHEN BUTTE, ST. PAUL APPEARED IT SO HAPPENS THAT MY FATHER GUNDER LANDSVERK BUILT THE CAIRN MONUMENT ON TOP OF THE BUTTE, AND OUR FAMILY ATTENDED THE STATE CELEBRATION THERE IN 1933 I BELIEVE. I REMEMBER ACCOMPANYING MY DAD, ALONG WITH MY BROTHERS WHO WERE OLDER, AND HELPED DAD BY MIXING MORTAR, AND CARRYING STONES, I REMEMBER ROLLING A COUPLE OF STONES DOWN THE SOUTH FACE OF THE BUTTE UNTILL MY DAD CAUGHT ME, AND SCOLDED ME FOR DOING THAT. HE REMARKED IN NORWEIGEN” STOP THAT, ITS HARD ENOUGH TO GET THE STONES UP HERE, WITHOUT YOU ROLLING THEM BACK DOWN” I REMEMBER THE STONES WERE HAULED UP ON STONE BOATS WITH HORSES. THE WORK WAS DONE BY MY FATHER, SOME OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS, AND NEIGHBORS WITHOUT COST EXCEPT FOR THE LIME AND CEMENT THAT WENT INTO THE MORTAR, AND I AM NOT SURE THAT THEY DIDN’T ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AS WELL. . I LAST VISITED IT IN 1992, AND I WAS ADVISED BY MY UNCLE THAT HE HAD TO REPAIR SOME DAMAGE CAUSED BY VANDALS, AND I NOTICED THAT A FENCE HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO PROTECT THE MONUMENT TO EARLY MISSIONARIES, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS FATHER BOTTINEAU. SUSAN MARTEN’S ACCOUNT OF SOME OF HER CHILDHOOD WAS FASCINATING, SINCE WE VISITED KOTSCHEVARS DEER HEART LODGE QUITE FREQUENTLY, AND I STILL REMEMBER SOME SUVENIERS THAT MY PARENTS HAD. THE MINERAL SPRINGS ADVENTURES SURELY RING A BELL FOR OUR FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS AS WELL. ALTHOUGH SUSAN IS YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE A DAUGHTER OUR MEMORIES OF THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS(HILLS)ARE STRIKINGLY SIMILAR. I SURELY REMEMBER LLOYD AWALT, I SHOULD, WE WERE CLASSMATES, UNTILL IN 1943 HE JOINED THE NAVY, AND OUR FAMILY MOVED TO WISCONSIN, AND I LATER ENTERED THE ARMY AND SERVED IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IN THE E MAILS, LLOYD APPEARS TO BE JUST AS GUNG HO AS EVER.. I COULD GO ON AND MENTION LOTS OF FOLKS, AND ALL THE MEMORIES, BUT I BETTER STOP AND GIVE SOMEONE ELSE AN OPPORTUNITY. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY GARY. HAVE A GREAT VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!

ERLING LANDSVERK

Erling, I am so sorry I missed posting this message of yours with yesterday’s blog. I just discovered I missed sending it. Gary

Reply from Ele Dietrich Slyter (69):

Thank you Dick for the pictures…I remember going to Deer Heart Park every summer, just as we went to the Peace Garden every summer for a picnic. It was a magical place to me. Seeing all the animals and bridge, cabin and flower beds tucked into the trees as if they had just sprung up right where they were. Everything sort of fit into the way the trees grew. And you never knew what new sight was going to greet you around the next corner. I wish I could take my kids and grandkids to see it in person instead of trying to tell them about it and show them pictures.

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57):

Hello Gary and Friends,

About Morris Azure, if I am not mistaken, Morris was part of a unique family. His parents, Fred Azure’s ran a very homey type store up on the Reservation for many years. His sisters were rural school teachers, Ackworth for one. Viola married Hartley Carlson from Bottineau.

For what it is worth….I don’t claim to be an authority on world cruises, but Bruce Williams may be. If you don’t know who Bruce Williams is ask Billy Grimme, he seemed to also be a fan of Bruce. Bruce claims to have been on many world cruises and says if you only do one cruise in a lifetime, it has got to be an Alaskan Cruise.

Gary Metcalfe

PS Gary told me that the story about the horse races/foot races that the Native American in the story with the ponytail sticking straight out was ON FOOT, NOT A HORSE. Sue

Gary, As with Erling’s message, I missed sending this yesterday. Sorry about that. Gary

Reply from Paula Fassett (71):

My sisters both wrote, so I’d better get my two cents worth in, too! Cheryl Kester mentioned the ‘quaking bog’, which was at Mineral Springs. As kids we used to hike up there every now and again and the bog was always fascinating! In another stage of my life, old Louie Racine (grandfather to Vincent “Vinnie” Racine, for those of you who know him) talked about it and called it “mushkeg” – which I think is a Cree word – or variation of one – for that kind of area. It’s moss, dead plants, etc., that are more or less suspended or floating on water that seeps from – in this case – the spring and is between that mossy crap and hard ground – voila – quaking bog. There’s probably some fiction mixed in with my fact, but that’s my story. Crystal, I’m glad you added in the part where Susan fell off the log and into the creek – we’ve teased her about that for about 40 years now!!!

Paula Fassett

Paula, Like with Gary M’s and Erling’s messages, I missed sending this one of yours too, yesterday. My apologies. Gary

Reply to Lynn Henriksen (64) from Bill Grimme (65):

Lynn,

This is my Valentine to you. Nice article. I enjoyed reading it very much.

Bill Grimme

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Folks, I see Bill sent this message via his Blackberry, so he must still be traveling. He called me a few days ago from San Francisco. The next day his plans were to rent a car and head south to visit/vacation in Carmel, Monterey, Big Sir, etc. Gary

Reply from Trish Larson Clayburgh (73):

Hi Gary,

I was really surprised to see an “entry” from my cousin Linda this morning. I haven’t been keeping up with the Dunseith “blog” lately – I’ve been too busy. But I have saved them all and will catch up later on a rainy day…

I wrote an email to Linda, and when I was done, I realized that my memories of those North Dakota summers might stir up similar memories for others, so I thought I’d send it to you to post it if you want to. Linda’s parents were wonderful North Dakota farm people – with big hearts and big laughter. I always enjoyed our summer vacations there, before we moved in 1969 to finally live in North Dakota, near where my mom had grown up.

Here’s what I remembered today, and thanks Gary again for all that you do.
From Trish Larson Clayburgh to Linda Gardner, my favorite cousin:

Hi Linda,

I was surprised to hear that you now live on the West coast. I had no idea!

I live in Fort Collins, CO, not Phoenix. I moved here about 4.5 years ago. I love it here, and have gotten more into my horses than ever. I’m in training to compete this spring in the sport of eventing – a combination of jumping, cross country trials, and dressage. I’m having the time of my life! My “day job” is working as a trauma nurse in an emergency room. We work three 12 hour shifts a week, so that gives me 4 days off to ride my horses, and I’m just loving it! Colorado offers so many opportunities for horse lovers.

It’s funny – my lifelong obsession with horses all started for me as a child on those trips to North Dakota. I was completely horse crazy (which I’m quite sure is a genetic defect), and I remember learning to ride one summer at your house on that big fat black mare at your farm. I was in bliss….my legs could barely hang on to her big round back, and I fell off a hundred times I’m sure, but never really got hurt for some reason. It was heaven for me – riding in the sunshine through the trails to the fields where your brother and dad would be cutting hay or harvesting in the sunshine. I was quite fascinated with the beauty of the rows of cut hay and how they managed to drive that hilly terrain. I would sit on the horse near the edge of the field for hours, watching the farm work, completely happy.

Later, when we moved to Dunseith, it was your dad that helped me find Shawnee, that scraggly little filly palomino I had through high school. She eventually became a wonderful friend and a beautiful sweet horse. My dad bought the horse for me, but it was Uncle Bill who helped me learn to take care of her – from teaching me how to brush her out to fitting the saddle and bridle, and riding her for the first time. I can still remember his laughter and delight in your big barn. He really loved animals and children, didn’t he?

I loved your parents – they were always so good to me, and visits to your farm were always a pleasure to be anticipated. I remember the “Pet” skunk in your chicken house (who was probably enjoying several eggs a day, don’t you think?), and all those baby chicks in the the barn, under that huge light. I also remember my first experience with picking huge grape sized ticks off your farm dogs, and then squishing them on rocks. Uff Dah! I’m surprised my brother didn’t figure out a way to torture me with those….maybe he was as grossed out as I was.

One of the fondest memories of my youth is the homemade ice cream during the summers at your farm, made with the fresh cream from your cows. I remember all the men – your dad, my dad, Lloyd, taking turns turning the crank. As a kid, I couldn’t imagine how it could taste so freaking good with all that salt in it!!! I had no idea back then that the salt was on the outside, working to increase the chill on the cream. I think people enjoyed confusing me – I was like six years old? There were so many of us, there was never enough ice cream left for me – I got only a taste – but it was heavenly!

And of course your mother’s strawberry patch – wow. She grew the biggest strawberries ever! And the raspberries. Eating them with cream and sugar while playing cards at your kitchen table – crazy 8’s I think it was, and of course Rummy! Lloyd was always so funny. There was lots of laughter….and rides on the tractor to the swimming hole after long days of work and for me, riding all day long on that poor black horse.

Anyhow – it’s good to hear from you. What’s going on in your life now?

Trish

Trish Larson Clayburgh in the Rawah Wilderness, CO

Message/Picture from Crystal Fassett Andersen (70):

Hi Gary, In my search for Omemee pictures,I have come across a lot of my Dad’s old pictures that are not labeled but here is one that was. I thought it would trigger some memories and stories. A lot of people probably remember”little” Charlie Andersen,I think they were neighbors to my Grandparents at some point. I remember them talking about living on “the old Templeman” place,and I have it in my head that is where Terry Halvorson lives now,but I know someone will set me straight,if my memory has once again failed me,There is no date on them and the women had no first names,but from looking at my Dad & Uncle Darrel I am guessing this was taken about 1934 or 35. Bill Anderson,Mrs. Bill Anderson,Mrs. Clint Anderson,Clint Anderson(in hat),Charles Anderson,C.B.Templeman,Darrell,Wm.”Bill” & Wilmar”pappy” Fassett and Jiggs the dog. This is certainly fun. Thanks Crystal Fassett Andersen

Bill Anderson, Mrs. Bill Anderson, Mrs. Clint Anderson, Clint Anderson(in hat), Charles Anderson,

C.B.Templeman, Darrell, Wm.”Bill” & Wilmar”pappy” Fassett and Jiggs the dog

Frozen Fingers Festival posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

From Mark Schimetz (70):

http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/leginfo/bills-res-jour/index.html

www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009

Above will get you to various links in the ND Legislators assembly. There is Video access to the floor but none to the 23 standing committees at this time, however hearing schedules are available on the web site

INFORMATION IS FROM AARP.

att: Gary Stokes. You may publish this on in your blog if you wish. I am sure many will be interested in the health care legislation alone this session.

02/13/2009

Posted on February 13, 2009 by Gary

Mavis Hagen’s passing posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

This came from my friend, Ruth Gust.

Renee called awhile ago to let me know Mavis (Froseth) Hagen passed away today. Art is her husband. Sue Froseth is Art’s sister.

Folks, Mavis is Art Hagen’s (72) wife. Art’s parents are Clarence (deceased) & Mary Ann Hagen. They lived up in the Ackworth community, in the hills. Art & Mavis are the owners of the Davidson’s meat processing plant in Bottineau.

Art and Family: You have our deepest sympathy with the loss of Mavis. I know she has been struggling with life for sometime time now and we were all hoping she was out of the woods and on her way to recovery. From all reports, I understand that Mavis was a really upbeat and positive person. I understand that she was an excellent teacher too, well liked by her students and staff alike. This has to be a really rough time for you with the loss of such a wonderful companion. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Gary

Hagen Arthur 222 8th St W Bottineau, ND 58318 (701) 228-3865 arthurhagen@min.midco.net

From Lynn Henriksen (64):

Hi Gary,

I gave so much thought yesterday to old friends and what they mean to me, so I wrote the attached post for my blog & published it just now – thought you’d appreciate it. <<…>>

Keeping Spirits Alive,

Lynn Henriksen

Website: http://www.telltalesouls.com

Blog: http://www.thestorywoman.com

Lynn, I copied and pasted below, from your blog, the article of discussion that you just posted. You, unlike me, are a very good writer. You have written a wonderful heart wrenching story. Thank you so much for sharing. Gary

Folks, please visit Lynn’s web and blog sites. She has put a lot of work into these wonderful sights.

Be Mine, Valentine

February 12th, 2009

Just a couple days ago something extraordinary ‘happened’ to me, that I want to tell you about.
It was heartwarming, so appropriate for Valentine’s Day – can’t help being a romantic.

I was raised in a wonderful place in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota at a little country store, Kelvin, just 4 miles south of the US-Canadian International Peace Gardens and 9 miles north of Dunseith, pop. 800! We, kids, were the Dunseith Dragons, “Blue & White Dynamite, Fight Team Fight.” Yes, I’m reminiscing way back to my formative years where a “man’s” handshake was his word, where the work ethic was not asking, “what’s in it for me,” but rather, “what can I do for you,” where the community came together for what we called a ‘building bee’ if someone lost a home or barn or store to a fire, where we could wander the town without fear or supervision and swim in the lake without life guards (luckily, no one drowned). Of course those were simpler times then everywhere, but I cherish my childhood where Turtle Mountain Memories are irreplaceable. A huge piece of my heart lies in the Turtle Mountains and Dunseith, especially Kelvin.

I’m thankful for the Face Book link and Gary Stokes for consciously reconnecting me to that time and place and to those good people. I joined Face Book just last weekend – had my arm twisted, heels dug-in not to go that route, but I have to say it was a very good thing I joined, because Gary Stokes, the Dunseith Alumni guru with a mighty following for his email Blog-blasts, found me and lured me in. He then blasted my unassuming response to that message he sent to me literally all over the place!

Little Valentines have been blowing my way the past few days through direct emails and website contacts reawakening in me tender memories, friendships, and ties. What’s more, many people are interested in writing a bio-vignette about their mothers and sending it to me – others have subscribed to my Blog feed – Wow! I hope they know I feel that the inspiration they say I’ve given them to write a “Mother Memoir” is truly a gift they’re giving me.

Harking back, once again, to school days, when Valentines were a really big deal, I remember we were allowed to build elaborate hearts and houses and chambers to place on the ledge under the windows inside our classrooms, hoping to attract as many Valentines as possible. It was a creative time filled with hopes for love and friendship, as well as dashed dreams, if Mr. or Mrs. Right-for-me didn’t deliver the longed-for “Be Mine.” Politically correct wasn’t even dreamed-up back then, I don’t think; we weren’t expected to give a Valentine to everyone in the class, and each of us knew we wouldn’t get one from everyone else, either. Most of us had our feelings hurt occasionally, but isn’t that real life? Expectations weren’t such that we believed attention, awards, friends, college, or jobs were a given – we knew we had to work for what we got, in return we learned to value what we did receive.

I value my Valentines past, present, and future. Thanks for being in my life. I used to think online cards were not sincere enough or the easy way – but I roll with the times and blogs.
I sincerely want you to Be Mine, Valentines . . . xo

Lois Hiatt Fugere’s Obituary posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Arnold Wenstad family posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Folks, I don’t have an email address for either Gary or Karen. I’m hoping that someone can pass this message along to them if you/they should happen to see them. Gary is living in the Willow Lake area and Karen is living in Kansas. When putting their class lists together, I had a nice visit with both Gary & Karen. Gary

Karen, Gary Arnold & Arlene Wenstad

Winthrop/Clara Smith picture posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Pictures posted by Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

Here are a few pictures of Deerheart Lodge from the Dunseith History
Book. Many of the readers probably have the book and have already seen
these, so these are for the ones who don’t yet have a copy. Thanks Gary!

Dick

02/12/2009

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Gary

Request from Shelly Hagel (78):

Hi Gary,

Will you please add my dad (Ray Hagel) to your email list.

I am sure he will enjoy…………………

Thanks so much

Shelly

Ray, it’s my pleasure to add you to our distribution. Gary

Reply to yesterday’s pictures from LaVerne (Carrole Fauske 66) Rude:

Hi Gary & Bernadette,

I was just looking at the photos and info on the blog and must say I can’t remember ever seeing the group picture of us all. Sure brings back the memories of those many years ago. Carrole was looking over my shoulder and her comment was, “That Gary sure was a good looking kid”. That picture of the “old man” was one I can’t remeber either. Hope all is well with you guys and I do hope to see you this summer.

LaVerne

Carrole, Thanks for the compliment. I think those features were short lived though. I noticed I had you listed with the class of 67 yesterday. I’ve corrected that with today’s message. We are all looking forward to seeing you guys this summer, up in Seattle, at our Dunseith reunion on July 24th. Gary

Reply from Linda Gardner (Bottineau):

It was so exciting running into Jackie at the Elks – I’ve been in the Washington area for almost 40 years (can’t believe it’s been that long) and it’s not very often that I run into someone from back home unexpectedly!

My dad and Trish’s mom were actually brother and sister so Trish is my cousin. I have not heard from her since she moved west to Phoenix I believe.

I got together with some friends (Laframboise family in Rugby) I went to country school with the in the Turtle Mountains last summer and we thought it would be fun idea to have a Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion. I originally contacted the Superintendent of schools (Bottineau and Rolette share the Superintendent) to see if I could get some names but have not heard back from him – It’s been over a year and half since I contacted him. Is there anyone interested in participating in that?

I plan to be in the Bottineau area this summer for the Q-Centennial and hope to get some plans in motion for such a reunion in the summer of 2010.

My mother was a Wenstad so a lot of my cousins on that side of the family went to country school in the Turtle Mountains and then to school in Dunseith. Our farm bordered the Rolette County Line but the farm itself was in Bottineau County even though our address was Dunseith.

As I was reading the messages, I was especially interested in the one about Butte St. Paul. We used to have most of our Country School picnics there and it used to be a “hot” spot for gatherings – I actually climbed up the Butte summer before last. I had been up in the “hills” as we referred to them, visiting Jack & Minnie Flynn. On the way back to Towner, we stopped at the Butte. It was a wonderful view from the top!

The other “hot” spot where we used to spend a lot of family/friends time was Long Lake – fishing, picnicing and playing horseshoe. Bud Hagan used to run the place there (he was my mother’s cousin) and it was always a good time.

Linda, I pulled out the Bottineau book after sending that message yesterday and noticed that Trish Larson’s (73) mother and your dad were siblings. I remember Trish telling me that too, when I asked her if she was related to you and Lloyd. We frequenly hear from your many Wenstad cousins too, that we have on our distribution list.

Margaret Metcalfe Leonard’s (65) reply to photo posted yesterday:

Hi Gary,

The instructor is Morris Azure. He had a TV business in Rolette at one
time and I know his family very well. He worked at the Jewel Plant in
Rolla for many years. His daughter Julie Pfeifer lives in Rolette.
Margaret

Mel Kuhn’s (70): reply to photo posted yesterday:

Howdy,

The unknown instructor looks like either Morris Azure or Al Azure. Al worked for Baker Elec. for years. Morris at the Jewel Plant.

Mel Kuhn

Morris Azure

From Marge Longie Langan-Wilcox (56):

Gary,
I would like to wish everyone on the Dunseith Alumni a Happy Valentine’s
Day.

marge langan-wilcox t

From Susan Fassett Martin (65):

Deerheart Lodge was owned by Henry Kotschevar, who was a brother to Lillie Kotschevar. Lillie lived just south and west of Dunseith on the little farm which we as kids liked to call “the smiling house” . Lillie was connected to the Watkins clan, as Sue (Watkins) Bell lived with her for many years as a companion and housekeeper. Carol Carbonneau may have more information. The following is from an article written in the Minot Daily News from an interview with Lillie when she was 90 years old. She was a sweet lady and was at most of our family functions over my growing up years. I wish that I had interviewed more of the older family members back then and gleaned more information. Here is the excerpt:

“……Lillie’s brother Henry Kotschevar will be remembered by many as the operator of Deer Heart Lodge, a tourist attraction four miles west and two miles north of Dunseith for 25 years. Henry, a graduate of the University of North Dakota, and his wife moved on a quarter section of brush land and pasture about 1935 and developed the area into a fairyland park and home.

They showed their home with its furniture carved from native timber and their park to the public until his health failed about 1960………..Their place was sold to Frank, Julian and Joseph Peltier and they in turn have sold the place to Kenneth Hill………Kotschevar had made all the furniture in the house, including a dining room table from plywood and a bed. He carved lamps, lamp stands, vases and picture frames from poplar. Selling these items and other souveniers, along with a 15-cent admission to tour the lodge during the summer months provided the Kotschevars with their only income. They reared four boys and a girl……..

On a Sunday the lodge sometimes had more that 100 visitors. Mrs Kotschevar, who took up taxidermy, mounted deer, birds, chipmunks and frogs for display on the grounds, some in glass showcases. In one area stuffed frogs she labeled, ” Dunseith poker players” were playing cards around a table. On a pedestal enclosed in two feet of glass mounted squirrels gathered for a wedding included one dressed as a priest and a couple in appropriate garb.

Kotschevar dug a circular brook which flowed under a stone bridge. Fed by a flowing well, the small brook provided a setting for a large number of flower beds and stone walks. He made one stone flower bed in the shape of a star with an upper portion in the shape of a pentagon. Using stone from the area, Kotschevar built a gateway to the yard and a wall around the trees. Kotschevar and his wife also had a vegetable garden and a garden where they raised apples, plums and strawberries. On the west end of the lodge they provided a picnic shelter for the public. Tours would start and end at their house. ”

Can you picture the place?? What a shame that so many of the landmarks around Dunseith have not been preserved. If any one has any pictures of Deer Heart Lodge, please post them or I would like to have copies. Contact me. If anyone would like the entire article I could copy and send.

Hugs and Prayers, Susan

Reply from Clark Crum (54):

Gary,

The “quaking bog” was at mineral Springs (you could drink the water coming out of the springs. I always thought you were on a big bowl of jello, it was very different. There was a site where we found artifacts on the way up to the springs.

Dick Morgan, Glen Williams and Don Hosmer led the way for Gary Morgan, Jerry Williams, Barry Shelver and I on many a trips to the Springs and the site.

Clark Crum

Reply from Susan Fassett Martin (65):

Paulette LaCroix asked about the “quaking bog”. That probably was at Mineral Springs just north of town a couple of miles. We used to make a trek up there every summer and bounce on the bog. Crystal has pictures in dad’s old slides of us hiking up there. Maybe she will post them. I remember in High School about 6 or 7 of us got left up there after a school trip by Mr Grossman and had to hike back to town. I know it was me, Phyllis McKay and 3 or 4 others. Anyone remember that from the class of ’65?? I think Kenny Nerpel was in the bunch??

Susan

Reply from Bob Hosmer (56):

In reply to Cheryl, I remember something of what you describe being near Mineral Springs. It was a most interesting phenomenon. I was raised and round–maybe fifty feet or so across and, as you said, spongy. Someone else may have a better grip that memory than I do.

Bob

Bob Hosmer, WA Chaplain
Marketplace Chaplains USA
Cell: 425-299-0928
Email: rkhosmer@comcast.net
Website: www.MChapUSA.com

Message/Pictures from Crystal Fassett Andersen (70):

I saw Cheryl Kester Gauglers inquiry about mineral springs. I am not going to attempt the history of it but it was a main place for an excursion for our family. It was always kind of scary/exciting to walk on the bog and have it bounce.We were always told it was kind of a sacred place for the native Americans so we were always on the lookout for arrowheads or some such treasure.But I don’t recall any of us ever finding anything.The Kester twins & our family often hiked up there. We would always call Jim Evans to get permission to go traipsing through his cow pasture. My Mom Irene or my Aunt Lenore would point out various plants, trees and of course any potential berry patches. One time the creek was high enough that we couldn’t wade across and had to crawl on a log. My sister Susan fell off and got soaked. She didn’t think that was as funny as the rest of us did!!I am enclosing a couple of pictures of one of our excursions.1st pic. Mineral SpringsSusan,Marise Hoover,Crystal,Lenette Hoover,Donnie Law,Irene(Mom),Lenore Watkins Hoover(moms sister),Craig Law & Les Hoover 2nd: Marise Hoover,Paula Fassett,Lenette Hoover,Susan Fassett,Irene & Crystal Fassett posing by Mineral springs 3rd: Irene Fassett, Bonner Law(the game warden at that time)Susan Fasset,Les Hoover,Donnie & Craig Law

Mineral Springs: Susan, Marise Hoover, Crystal, Lenette Hoover, Donnie Law, Irene(Mom), Lenore Watkins Hoover(moms sister), Craig Law & Les Hoover

Marise Hoover, Paula Fassett, Lenette Hoover, Susan Fassett, Irene & Crystal Fassett posing by Mineral springs

Irene Fassett, Bonner Law (the game warden at that time)Susan Fasset, Les Hoover, Donnie & Craig Law

Frozen Finger Festival posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe

Hi Gary,

I sent this awhile ago, but I’m resending it, as the “BIG EVENT” is this weekend! It should be lots of fun. I hope the weather co-operates. Last year, it was so cold it wasn’t fit for anyone to out and about.

Neola

02/11/2009

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Gary

Reply from Lynn Henriksen (64):

Yes, of course I remember Dot & Tommy! Mom loved you both so much. I always remember you as being so nice & fun. The names you just brought up & even the mention of the cabin behind Kelvin bring up so many wonderful memories – it actually brings tears to my eyes and tightens my throat, so I’m glad I can type, not have to speak right now, since I’d break down bawling. Seems like a million years ago – and the stuff we each have tucked inside can be triggered so easily by just the mention of a name. Thank you for think of us!

Briefly, Dana and Rick and families are all happy & healthy – Dana in Idaho, Rick in Oregon (1/3 of the time in Baja developing his “casa” project).

And yes, all the play time & boyhood memories between Markey and Hal. Hal had a horrible, crippling accident about 20 years ago – he is amazing, doesn’t let quadriplegia stop him – has a beautiful “saint” of a girl friend, writes, etc. I’m sure he’d love to hear from Markey & from you two – don’t know if I should put his email address in this reply, so please email me & I’ll give it to you.

Keeping Spirits Alive,

Lynn Henriksen

Website: http://www.telltalesouls.com

Blog: http://www.thestorywoman.com

Reply to Tom & Dot Hagen from Colette Hosmer (64):

Hi Tom and Dot,

I remember you well! Lynn and I were best friends and if she wasn’t staying at my house I was at Kelvin with her. I felt like I had two homes during those years. I remember walking down the hill often to visit you and Dot and the kids. I also remember you working in the store. It seemed as if you were always in a good mood and had a great sense of humor. I’ve thought of you and your family often over the years.

Colette

From Cheryl Kester Gaugler (69):

Hi Gary,

Am learning a lot of history about Dunseith from these postings – thank you.

I have a question: Does anyone know the history of the ‘quaking bog’? The Fassett girls, Pennie and I (and whoever else was available) used to take hikes, led by Bill & Irene Fassett, up through Evans pastures, across the creek and into an area that was very unique. It was full of small streams with a middle that moved, like the piece of earth was spongy. I think they may have surveyed it at one time to see if there was anything worth mining. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Thank you once again for all your time and effort keeping everyone connected.

Cheryl

From Jacqueline Hiatt Fix (79):

Good Day Gary,

It is a small world. Miles from ND, first time at this Legion in VA and I am told there are people from ND there. I say great not thinking they would be remotely close to Dunseith, think again. Linda Gardner daughter of Phelps (Bill) and Lillian Gardner from a farm on the county line! She attended the country schools until they closed and because the farm was on the Bottineau side attended Bottineau. She told me how she would like to have a reunion with individuals who attended the country school. And of course I told her all about your great communication tool that we all relive the “good old days” and stay in touch with current affairs back home. Her e-mail address:

Thanks Gary.

Linda Gardner, I remember you and I know many of our readers from the Willow Lake/Beaver Dam & Rendahl church areas will as well. Trish Larson Clayburgh’s mother, from the class of 73, is a Gardner. I’m assuming Trish’s mother and your dad were cousins. I have added you to our daily distribution. Please let me know if that is OK. It is in deed a very small world. Gary

Reply from Rita Anderson (Former owner of the Gamble store):

Dunseith Alumni,

I was to the Cachevars, a little farm, or whatever several times. Their furniture was made from the wood that they got in the Turtle Mountains. They grew alot of their own vegetables. If you want to know more about it, you can contact Carol Watkins Carbonneau. She could tell you more about them. There is another place not too far from there called Butte St. Paul. Many years ago, there were alot of doings there. There is a stone monument at the very top, quite a steep climb to get there, but once you get to the top, on a clear day you can see quite a distance. That property was donated by Pete Bogawlaski many years ago. It was quite a place for picnics and outings. In the Turtle Mountains, there is also a place called Bear Bute. It is also a steep climb, but worth the view. I just thought I would mention these.

Rita Anderson

LaVerne Rude’s military photo posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Folks, Neola sent this picture of LaVerne Rude in his Air Force uniform. LaVerne is a retired Air Force Pilot. I’m not sure of his entire Air Force career, but I do know that he flew a lot of the C141’s over the Pacific. LaVerne is Married to Carrole Fauske (66). Many of you and especially those of you from the Bottineau area know LaVerne. He graduated from Bottineau HS in 1963, the Forestry in 1965 and NDSU in 1967. The Rude’s lived about 2 1/2 miles into Bottineau County, just east of Salem church, on #43, also know as the Peace Garden Road. Glen is still living on the farm.

LaVerne, I just happen to have a recent picture of you too, that I included. That picture of us together in 1953 brings back lots of memories. Our families were back and forth, real often, in those days. Dad took the picture, so he’s not in the picture. Bib Overalls were sure in, back then. I think it was in about 1953 that I remember your dad telling us they budgeted $5.00 each for you Glen and Arliss’ Christmas gifts. Our folks could sure stretch those cream checks back in those days.

Stokes’ & the Rude’s (Stokes house) – Christmas 1953:

Adults L to R: Glen, Gladys & Arliss Rude, Elaine Stokes, Albert Rude

Kids L to R: LaVerne Rude, Allen, Darrel & Gary Stokes

Kim Lagerquist’s (80) picture posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Gary,

Here’s a name I recognize!!

Neola

Neola, Kim is Evon Lagerquist’s younger brother & son of Leola. Gary

Microsoft Office Live|Create a free website

02/10/2009

Posted on February 10, 2009 by Gary

Reply from Tom Hagen (51):

Hi, Gary, this is to reply to Lynn Henriksen(64) Hi Lynn, do you remember Tom and Dot Hagen when we lived and worked for your Mom, Midge, for 3 summers at Kelvin??? I worked with Rick in the store and gas station and we lived first in the little cabin down back and later in a mobile home we would bring up for the summer. The phone exchange at first was Eleanor (Metcalfe) and Cliff Nerpel, and later Kathy (Maginol) and George Gregory. Ken Tooke would bring the gas for the pumps. Lots of memories come back from those days!!!! How are Dana and Rick???We love E-mail letters, Love Tom and Dot

Hi, sorry but I had to add a little more to the message Lynn Henrikson (64) Her brother Hal and our son Mark (Tom) are about the same age(50s) and played together every summer . Our son and family are moving to AZ in July what is Hal doing now???We love E-mail letters, Love Tom and Dot

Reply from Marge (Landsverk) Fish (57):

Hi Gary and all,

I was just reading Dick’s e-mail and it brought back memories.

I remember going to Cachevar’s? I’m not sure of the spelling. It was on the crest of a hill at the start of the Turtle Mountains.

It was very different with furniture made of tree limbs and varnished. There was a lot of taxidermy of frogs playing violins, otters, prairie dogs and more, it was fascinating to a kid. It was across the road from Hills.

I was friends with Elve and Arla Hill and remember going there and riding horses. That was a big deal as I was crazy about horses and a town girl.

I had my first soft serve ice cream cone at the little place that was on the west side of Iver Lo’s store. I’m sure they made it with cream as it was the best that I can remember.

I got my hair cuts and rarely fixed at Maries beauty shop. I mostly got Toni Perms that got pretty hard to manage from my mom but thats what you did when your hair was straight as a stick.

I don’t remember if the Smokers in the basememt of the city hall were in the 50’s or before but there were rumors of guys losing a farm or a vechicle.

Dales cafe had the best hamburgers with everything on them even cucumbers!

Thanks Gary!

Take Care

Marge (Landsverk) Fish

From Bonnie Awalt Houle (56):

Dear Gary,

In answer to the question about the “Tastee Freeze” soft ice cream parlor next to Marie’s Beauty Shop. Some of the girls’ that worked there; Millie Crum and Elaine Schneider were the first two who worked there, next it was Marlene Kraft and Joann Kester. I don’t remember who worked there after that. It was a great place to hang out in the 50’s.

Bonnie Awalt Houle (56)

From Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59):

So excite by the clip posted by Dick Johnson – made my day! I wonder if it was moved? destroyed by fire? Must go but will want to write to Lloyd soon and thank him for his input.Gary I have searched over and hour for the Hot Sauce ordering info. Cannot seem to locate. If not too much trouble please paste to me. Sharron

Sharron, I have 3 bottles of this hot sauce, compliments of Bill Hosmer. It’s good stuff.

This is the info on the bottles.

https://www.milehighhotsauce.com/

Mile High Hot Sauce 288 Aviation Road Pikeville, NC 27863 Toll-Free Orders: 1-866-264-5344 mpcooper@milehighhotsauce.com

Reply From Sharron Gottbreht Shen:

Yes Gary,I like the dialogue. Bill Evans often called Dale “George junior” – your slip brought this dear expression to mind. In my father’s will drawn up after inlistment, George, my brother, is called Dale Jr. and he is listed second, my spot! It speaks to me about pride and affection and makes me happy. The picture of dad standing by the repaired semi was taken about 1947 along the street of the former Link home where we moved that same year. Dad learned to remove his keys from that semi after young George climbed in at age 4/5 and attempted to drive! The rolled trailer picture was probably late spring 1944. I hope to verify that today. I have no idea where the rear axel/wheels may have gone but Uncle Roland might know. Sharron

Sharron, I have reposted the picture of your dad with the correct labeling. With the first posting I identified him as George. Sorry for the mistake. Gary

Dale Gottbreht

Posting from the Dunseith Journal from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,With all the talk about these guys lately, here are their bowling scores from November 28, 1938. This is from the Dunseith Journal also. If you don’t care to sit in the old bowling alley and watch these guys, you can walk over to the Althea Theater and take in a show! Thanks Gary! Dick

Pictures from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,Here are a couple pictures to go with the newspaper bowling scores and Althea Theater ad. Don Johnson bowling in the old bowling alley–Lilleby’s, behind the bar and Eleanor Awalt Stickland in front of the show hall. Thanks Gary. Dick

Don Johnson

Eleanor Awalt Stickland

Posted by Ellen Graff Myrick (58):

How’s this for a “snowman” !! This was built in Wahpeton ND. Kinda gives you an idea of how much snow we’ve been having.

Pretty good sculpture too, don’t ya think?

Microsoft Office Live|Create a free website

02/09/2009

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Gary

Lynn Henriksen (64) Reply to Gary:

Hi Gary,

Thank you for your kind words about my site – I’ve worked very hard on it, to say the least. Yes, you can post my website on your blog (I’m so snowed under with getting my website platform robust, that I seldom get a chance to read your blog – sorry, but I just can’t do it all).

Thought you’d enjoy this bit of info: the picture I have up of the book cover I designed for TellTale Souls: Keeping Spirits Alive One Story at a Time is Mom on board the SS Aleutian on her way to Alaska, pregnant with my brother, Rick. You probably saw it when you looked at the site.

If you do link my site, I’ve found it’s best to just paste this:http://www.telltalesouls.com. Also, since I’m hoping to get TTS published this year, I’m beginning work on my next book, which will be the male voice on mothers. I’d love it if you’d write a bio-vignette about your mother or another important woman in your life.

I’d be pleased if you’d put it out there that I’d be interested in hearing from any or all of you reader with a story for possible inclusion in my next book. That would be so great to have Dunseith-rooted people included in my book – I’d be thrilled. Both Colette & Janet (Hosmer) and Dana (my sister), as well as Sam (Colette’s daughter) and both my daughters, Jennifer & Samantha, have stories in the current book.

It is important to note that when someone submits a story it needs to through my site – it’s easy by clicking on “Submit Your Story” so their “Mother Memoirs” won’t go to spam and I won’t lose them in the avalanche of daily emails!

Hope you’re well & happy! You always sound so positive and upbeat…

Keeping Spirits Alive,

Lynn Henriksen

Website: http://www.telltalesouls.com

Blog: http://www.thestorywoman.com

From LeaRae Parrill Espe (67):

Lloyd Awalt’s comments on the “smokers” made me think of Deer Heart Lodge.

I remember visiting there when I was quite young. There was a carving a four “frogs” in a poker game. The older folks seemed to know the inside joke that they represented certain town men. ( Maybe I have this mixed up and someone can shed some light on other details of what seemed like an enchanted spot.) Deer Heart Lodge was located on the Willow Lake Road and that place is currently owned by Kenny Hill. I remember alot of taxidermy, full size deer standing around the yard. Also, the furniture was hand made out of logs. I wonder what happened to all of the mementos that were there. Lots of tourists visited there and we would often have strangers drive in our yard looking for it, We had to tell them they were one mile off.

“Smokers” were used by the Jaycee’s in the late 60’s to raise money to buy bleachers for the gym. The Dunseith Jaycees of that era were very active and achieved #1 in the State Parade of Cities two years in a row under the presidencies of John Morgan and Terry Espe. The guys really pitched in on community projects as well as participating in state and national events. Rodney Armentrout flew a few members to the National Jaycee Convention in St. Louis. The convention was held under the “Arch” and one of the speakers was President Richard Nixon.

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57):

On page 355 in Mountain Memories has a superbly written article about a 7 year old son of Oliver Decoteau who drown on a spring day in Willow Creek, in Dunseith. He crawled out on a branch and it gave way. Spring of 1960. Clarence Michael’s was the policeman on duty.

A few people have expressed some interest in the old stories. If a story seems a little to much to believe about the old days, don’t be too sure. My dad told the story about Jack Smith, that old rounder who brought wild horses from Montana for a big sale in Dunseith and what a celebration every 2 or 3 years. It was said he and one of the old Demery’s fought for 3 days, I think they took nights off. I likened that to something that I observed many times in the hills. You had smaller farms and I thought it was interesting to observe a bull and a neighboring bull, they would threaten each other for a day or so then fight for an hour and rest for an hour, this would go on for 2 or 3 days sometimes. Lots of times I’m sure people didn’t know what was going on.

I decided to share Ben Lagimodeire’s secret how to save yourself from a mean bull in an open pasture. We have some people living in Wyoming and Montana who may need to use this information. He took down his pants, put his hands under his knees and jumped backwards toward the bull in short sporadic jumps. It worked on that bull and he was a notoriously mean bull.

They had grand horse and foot races, does anyone know the name of the old Native American that had a long braid that stuck straight behind him on that fast horse? Did you know that Art Seim was a pretty fast runner.

Gary Metcalfe

Reply from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

Lloyd Awalt–I too thought the picture was of Dale Gottbreht standing by
the semi. It was the way I remember him, kind of all business. You
mentioned Marie’s Beauty Shop being south of the Althea theater. When
did she move to Charlie Wright’s building where she spent the last many
years in the business? How many folks remember the ‘soft serve’ ice
cream shop that was just on the south side of ‘new’ Marie’s beauty shop?
I remember some of the high school girls worked there. It must have been
in the mid to late ’50s, and wasn’t there for very long–maybe only one
summer, although I’m not sure. We got a few ice cream cones there and
sat in the shade by the Dakota Hotel and ate them. Lloyd mentioned the
‘smokers’ in the basement of the city hall and the preacher that tried
to shut them down. Gary Morgan commented about that back a while. He
mentioned the name of the pastor which I think was from the Methodist
church, if I remember right. If you saved these messages, it was in one
of them with the picture of the Methodist church (community) choir.
Lastly, Lloyd mentioned Dale Gottbreht’s manufacturing business making
whetstone sharpeners, etc. A few years ago I found a new piece of
equipment in a box, in perfect condition. The sticker on the device said
‘Made by Dunseith Manufacturing’. I gave it to George Gottbreht as I
thought it was probably more meaningful for him to have than me. It was
made in Dale’s shop. Thanks for the memories, Lloyd. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Reply from Mona Dionne Johnson (48):

Gary:
I, too, realized the pics were of Dale Gottbreht, that is like Lloyd
says. I remember riding in the truck with Dale on his way to Grand
Forks and him dropping me off in Emerado where he and my Aunt Alma lived
at the time, and me helping with their children.
That goes a long way back, but some memories stick with you. I ‘spose
at the time that was the farthest away from home that I had traveled.
And, of course, I lived with them in Dunseith my first year of high school.
Mona Dionne Johnson (48)

02/08/2009

Posted on February 8, 2009 by Gary

Reply to Allen Richard (65) from Kay Hosmer (77):

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Richard – from Kay Hosmer (77)

Allen Richard

Pam Wenstad Lane’s (78) reply to Gary:

Thank You Gary, I want to let you know how much I love this site. I know you hear this all the time but Thank You for all of the time and work you do to bring people together. I’ll be moving back home next summer, so this makes it awesome, even though I don’t know most people. I am getting messages from relatives that I didn’t even know I had.

Pam Wenstad Lane”78″

Pam, I decided to post this message, even though it was a personal reply to me. I think folks will be interested in hearing of the connections you’ve made and that you will be moving back to ND. Gary

Email address change for Marge Landsverk Fish (57):

HI GARY, Feb. 7

I have been without a computer for 3 weeks and now have a new one.

My new e-mail address is:

I have been missing your e-mails and will have to get back on track now.

The weather in Horicon Wi. today was in the 40’s, just beautiful for Feb. I took my dog for a nice long walk, she gives me a reason.

Thanks for all your work on the e-mails.

Marge(Landsverk) Fish

Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44):

Good Morning Gary: Questions for Sharren and answers to some of her questions in message #361.

Sharren Gottbreth Shen (59) Yes,Sharren their was a Dunseith Livestock Exchange it was a long narrow building sandwiched between the Peace Garden Cafe and Ray Wilson’s Law Office. Yes, it had pictures of dogs playing cards and it was a place where the guys played cards. This group of men celebrated their birthdays together playing cards and having a dinner, these celebrations were held at the depot. Later on the Livestock Exchange became Marie’s Beauty Shop.

The “Smokers” poker card games were big poker games where men from all over came to gamble.

The money raised from holding these games was used by the city to purchase the new fire engine. It was used for other big ticket items needed by the City. These games were held in the basement of the Dunseith City Hall.(I remember there was a disagreement about whether or not it was legal or morally right to hold these games and one of the pastors of the community had them raided.) Hopefully someone can give us more input about this.

The pictures you sent I think were labeled wrong. #2 is a picture of Dale Gottbreth. #3 is also Dale, I do remember when Dale rolled the livestock truck. In 1942 Dale Gottbreth built a warehouse across from our home in Dunseith. The warehouse was used to manufacture Water Pumps and Whet Stones used for sharpening knives etc. This building was later moved out to where Dales is now and is part of the original cafe.

Lloyd Awalt

Hertha Egbert Photo posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Gary,

I’m not sure if Hertha is a Dunseith or Kramer Egbert. I just happened to see this picture last night.

Neola

Neola, The Dunseith and Kramer Egbert’s are all the same family. According to the dunseith book, Jim Egbert, Adrian’s brother, married Hertha Torno from Kramer. They had two children, Vernon & David. Gary

Hertha Torno Egbert

1909-1996

Hertha EGBERT

Birth Date:

4 May 1909

Death Date:

2 Dec 1996

Social Security Number:

501-66-5690

State or Territory Where Number Was Issued:

North Dakota

Death Residence Localities

ZIP Code:

58318

Localities:

Bottineau, Bottineau, North Dakota

Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau, North Dakota

Metigoshe, Bottineau, North Dakota

02/07/2009

Posted on February 7, 2009 by Gary

Request from Rod Kalk (61):

Hi Gary,
Please add Lisa Williams Mastvelton to your emails-
to your emails.
We’re enjoying great temperatures in ND.
Thanks, Rod Kalk Class of 1961

Rod, it is my pleasure to add Lisa Williams Mastvelton (82) to our distribution list.

Lisa, you were quite young when I left the Dunseith area, so I don’t remember you all that well, but I do know the Lagerquist’s and the Knutson’s, both extended relatives of yours. Your sister Lori is married to Ray Lagerquist and your daughter, Jenna, is married to Toad Knutson. I don’t know Toad, but I know his grandparents, Norris & Arlene Knutson, well. Toad’s dad, Roger, was just a little tite when I left the country. It’s hard for me to believe, in my mind, that Roger is all grown up and has grown up kids of his own. I guess things didn’t come to a stand still when I left the country. Rod Hiatt filled us all in, with message #333, with the wonderful wedding and reception of your daughter Jenna & Toad. My brother Darrel and his wife Debby told me they also attended their wedding and reception. From all reports, it was a wonderful affair. Gary

Reply from Pam Wenstad Lane (78):

Hi Gary,

Fisrt of all, I would truely like to tell you how much I like this site. I don’t know most of the people,but I like to read all of the history.Thank you for all of your work.I was wondering how I could get ahold of the Prairie Past and or Mountain Memories to read about Fred Morin.Maybe Gary Metcalfe can help me out. I would be grateful.

Pam Wenstad Lane “78”

Pam, You can purchase a copy of the ” Prairie Past and or Mountain Memories” book, on line, from the Dunseith WEB site. This is the Dunseith WEB site link http://www.dunseithnd.com/souvenirs.html

I strongly suggest purchasing a hard cover copy of the is book. The paper back is glued together and in time falls apart. The hard cover copy is bound well and does not come apart. The paper back is a good back up copy for taking pages out of to scan. Gary

Reply from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

In reply to Ginger’s question of a family from Dunseith’s Main Street
that drowned, it was the second wife of Carl Watschke and her son. They
were fishing on Long Lake and got caught in a sudden storm with strong
winds which overturned the boat. Mabel and Larry Nordquist drowned. Carl
managed to keep afloat and Larry’s sister Joy Nordquist swam to the
shore, although she was not a swimmer. The reason I am aware of what
happened that day in 1957 is that Joy later married my dad’s brother,
Cliff Johnson, in 1960. The terrible tragedy of that day has haunted my
aunt throughout her life. She and Cliff don’t have email and hopefully
won’t even hear about this message from those of you who do. I hope this
answers your question. Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Marth Lamb Schepp (68):

Hi to all,

We were just to Minot last night to meet our newest Gandson. Daxton Edwin Schepp, son of Karson and Kristen Marie Casavant Schepp also the grandson of Rick and Denice Casavant of Rolette. Daxton was born on Feb 4 at 6:40 P.M. 8 lbs. 3oz. and 201/2 inches long. He is our 7th grandchild, 3 being boys and 4 girls. The oldest will be 9 in March and until Wed. the youngest just turned 2. They are so fun. We have two grandsons from Rugby staying for 2 nights this weekend. Best say goodbye as we have a game of Yahtzee waiting. Thanks for all that everyone has does, especially Gary for keeping this going. Martha Lamb Schepp (68)

Reply from Bonnie Awalt Houle (56):

Dear Gary,

Your web sight sound fascinating, you are so intelligent, you and Billy Grimme. Too bad Conley Grimme isn’t still around he too was very intelligent with all this tech stuff.

I have let my secretary job slack off as I’ve been running around with my Grandkids at NDSU, had a grand time, but now it’s back to getting Lloyd on line again.

Bonnie, Thank you so much for the nice words, however, Bill is the guy with all the smarts. I discovered that it takes more time than brains to put together a ‘simple’ WEB page. Gary

Lloyd Awalt’s (44) reply:

Hello to Gary Metcalfe,

Gary mentioned the time my Dad was up at your place and came across the field carrying a child piggy back. It wasn’t me it was my brother Bill. Everything else you remembered was correct. Keep the messages coming.

Lloyd Awalt

Reply from Diane Berg Rheault (79):

Gary, the picture of the soldier in this email……… When I looked at it, at first glance, it reminded me of one of the Tooke kids (of Kenneth and Nettie(Knox) Tooke). Wondering if it could be some relative either on the Tooke side or the Knox side.

Just a thought….Diane (Berg) Rheault

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Folks, Justene Metcalfe’s parents are Shannon & Debbie (Salmonson) Metcalfe. Her grandparents are Cliff/Lottie Metcalfe & Harlan/LaDonna Salmonson. Gary

Posted by Glen Williams (52): junnermt@msn.com

Dear alumni and friends,

Thomas J. Clifford
1921-2009

The entire University of North Dakota alumni family is grieving the loss of one of our most beloved members. Thomas J. Clifford, one of the University’s and state’s most iconic and dedicated alumni passed away in his home on February 4. He was 87 years old. My heart goes out to Tom’s wife, Gayle, and the entire Clifford family during this difficult time.

As a UND faculty member, the youngest-serving dean and longest-serving president, Clifford touched the lives of nearly everyone he met. On a weekly basis, I never fail to meet or visit with someone who has an inspiring “Tom Clifford” story. In having many of these memorable conversations with the young and old alike, it’s clear Tom’s impact spans generations. He was a caring and compassionate man who took chances on students and inspired people to succeed. Serving as one of the University’s greatest presidents, the “Clifford Era” from 1971-92 was a time of steadfast growth and success at UND. Clifford was a mentor, a confident leader, a savvy businessman, and, more than anything, a loyal friend and alumnus of the University. No one in our illustrious 125-year history has positively impacted more lives in a variety of ways. He was our “renaissance man”, a war hero and a leader across several disciplines.

It is an understatement to say Tom’s passing leaves a void that cannot be replaced. He will be dearly missed on so many levels, both professionally and personally by thousands. Please keep the Clifford family in your thoughts and prayers during this trying time.

I am certain many of you have stories and memories about Tom you would like to share. Please visit www.undalumni.org, where we have set up a tribute in his honor. Some of these stories may also be included in the May Alumni Review, which will include a tribute to Clifford’s life. You may also contribute a story about Clifford for inclusion in the Alumni Review by sending it to alumnireview@undalumni.net I know his family and friends will enjoy reading your fond memories of their loved one.

Sincerely,

Tim O’Keefe, ’71
Executive Vice President and CEO
UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation

UND Alumni Association
3100 University Ave. Stop 8157
Grand Forks, ND 58201-8157
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02/06/2009

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Gary

Dunseith Alumni WEB site:

Folks,

I am in the process of developing a Dunseith Alumni WEB site. This WEB site is not intended, in any way shape or form, to replace our daily email dialog. In doing that I think we’d quickly loose the comradery that we have developed. We still prefer for folks to request to be added our email distribution, rather than just going on line to view the posted daily messages.

I am not posting any personal info on this site. I strip all the email addresses and other personal info when posting the daily messages. I will post each days message as we go along and back fit all the others as time permits. I have posted the Alaska cruise and the Seattle Dunseith Alumni reunion on this sight as well. Please provide me with any items you’d like posted.

Gary

Thank you from Carmen Leonard Richard (Rolette), Bryan Schimetz’s aunt:

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday cards to Bryan Schimetz at the Good Sam in Bottineau. He was quite surprised, and appreciated them very much. It was a day brightner for him to know that so many people cared.

From Ginger LaRocque Poitra (65):

Gary,
I remember hearing of a family drowning, they (if I recall correctly)
lived in a house on Main Street in Dunseith. Does anyone remember this
happening? I seem to remember that they hadn’t lived in Dunseith for very
long. I always wanted to know what happened. My parents didn’t discuss
these types of happenings with us, in our day we left the room when adults
were speaking, so I guess I overheard parts of their conversation. I
could be totally wrong on all counts. I don’t suppose I was very old.
Ginger(65)

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57):

It doesn’t get any better, town kid with farm experience. That old machinery had a lure for a kid that was all consuming and there were lots of three legged dogs. I knew it was Joe Lagimodiere when you mentioned the bib overalls.
Dunseith seemed like a larger town to me when you had shanty town and I do remember some the people who lived there. Joe, also Louis Bergan, Ann Grady, Slim Wallin, I am not sure when Axel Johnson moved there, Tommy Counts, Van Counts and many more.

When we talk about people like Fred Morin, we can’t completely appreciate what a job that was, he had to know and understand the bootleggers and the people that were not allowed to drink in public. Not much backup for a law man in those days. By all means like Wyatt Earp, a hero.

Great job on the pictures Sharren Shen.
Gary Metcalfe

Correction to yesterday’s picture posted by Kenny Nerpel (65):

Gary,

The picture was actually taken in Denver. I forgot to include
that when I sent the message.

Kenny

02/05/2009

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Gary

From Ginger(LaRocque)Poitra (65):

Gary,
I didn’t receive e-mail number 359. I sure have been enjoying all the
stories of times gone by. We all need to remember and pass our memories
on to our children and they to their children, and so on. My son who
lives in Texas was telling me how he tells his sons his remembrance of his
grandparents, whom he loved so much. I had said to him we live and we
die, no one remembers. That isn’t true is it? You all have proved that
here on this blog. You all remember a lot of people and the stories you
all tell are so invigorating to read. We owe Gary Stokes so much for
starting this, and including us all. Thank you Gary you are one of a
kind! and you are appreciated. Many Many thanks.Ginger(LaRocque)Poitra (65)

Ginger, Thank you so much for the very nice compliment. You are such a sweetheart. If I remember correctly, I think you and also a few others were a bit nervous with the thoughts of attending our 2007 class of 65 reunion. I think those thoughts were quickly diminished when you arrived at our pre-reunion breakfast the day before our formal reunion. We had a large turn out for that breakfast too. I will forever cherish that week of my life with the reunion of so many folks I had not seen for nearly 42 years. Like so many said, it was as though we had never parted. Gary

Reply from Marge (Longie) Langan Wilcox (Ron, Willy’s & Wally’s sister):

Hello from Washington state

Gary I certainly enjoy your tidbits everyday.
I am glad you have added me to your lists.
although I have been gone from Dunseith since 1956.

I remember Elaine Watkins very well.
she was in Agnes Berg’s room in the Dunseith school.

that’s the year the boys were burning the girls dresses.
and I happen to be the target by my Brother Wally.
our mom was mad at him.

margelanganwilcox

Marge, I had Agnes Berg for my 3rd grade teacher up at Ackworth. That would have been about school year 55/56. I remember her as being such a nice lady. Gary

Reply to Gary from Eileen Egbert Spitzer (Adrian Egert’s Granddaughter):

Thank you for the information on my father. It was very interesting. Since so many are gone, so much

will have been lost. The date of my fathers death was listed wrong in the chart. He was killed in

Germany May 2, 1945. WWII. My mother never remarried and raised my brother and I alone. She

died in October, 2007 at the age of 94. Eileen Egbert Spitzer.

Eileen, I had your dad’s info right on my combined class list, but it was wrong on the solo class list. Those dates on the Solo class list (1939) were for your Dad’s uncle, James, Adrian’s brother. He was born 12/18/93 and died 9/15/68. I was unable to locate your dad’s info at the time I was putting his class list together, so I thought his uncle was him. Your cousin, Lois Lilleby Fielding is the one that told us about your dad. You dad was only 25 years old when he was killed in WWII. What a sacrifice he made for our country and you too, for loosing him so early in your life. Gary

Egbert James Born December 8, 1919-Died May 2, 1945 Deceased

From Kenny Nerpel (65):

Gary,

It ain’t Paris and it ain’t Hong Kong, but it ain’t bad! There
seems to be something about fast food and the class of ’65.

Kenny

Kenny Nerpel in Denver, Co.

Bill Grimme

in Paris France Gary Stokes in Hong Kong

Kenny, You are looking mighty fine. Like Bill says, those Big Mac’s hit the spot.

Maybe we can get a few more pictures, from around the country, to add to our collection of McDonald’s.

Gary

Reply & George Gottbreht pictures from Sharren Gottbreht Shen (59):

Two for Lloyd Awalt, Gary. I sure look forward to his every entry; such fantastic recall that awakens so many happy memories.

George Gottbreht had an office on the east side of Main St: Dunseith Livestock Exchange. I think it must have been located near or in the Wilson Law offices? I believe the title was lettered on the window. Today I think of it as his private card room! Every time I would stop there looking for a nickle or dime, Grandpa and company would be playing cards. I can still smell the smoke of his cigars. The walls had several prints of dogs playing poker, some had expressions of chagrin, some sniggering, some surprised. The dogs were all smoking cigars too! Grandpa was there from early 40’s till his death in ’51. Jim Gottbreht told me of the Exchange sales ring and stock pens where Dale’s is today and I presume that is where most of their business was conducted.

Jack Hosmer told me about the Business Men’s Meeting held every month on Main St. I thought it might have been at Kadry’s. Any member celebrating a birthday that month would receive a new Stetson. Perhaps Lloyd or others could expand on this club.

I remember dad going to every “Smoker” held in town. I have the impression that these games were held in winter. I know my Uncle August Dionne would come from Thorne so I surmise all players were welcome. I wonder where they were held? My picture is rather dim but I will post it anyway.

Sharron

Sharron’s memo for the pictures:

Notice the white slats and black lettering of the semi trailer in the background of George Gottbreht picture taken around 1940. White proved impractical no doubt, but it is the same truck/trailer used by the Dunseith Livestock Exchange of George Gottbreht and his son Dale Gottbreht to transport livestock from rual Dakota to Fargo. Transport work and a hog farm out of the Grand Forks area defered Dale’s enlistment; when the semi was overturned on icy roads 1943/44, Dale was summonded for active service. Dad liked company for the long hawls to the Fargo Sales Ring and I was chosen one summer when about 8 yrs old. This all new experience to view the groomed animals in the tiered sales theater and hear the auctioneer stutter was amazing. Sales must have gone well beause dad treated us to a case of Bing cherries for the trip home; yes, a few extra stops on the way. The noon meal at Dale’s home was a silent affair except for radio livestock and feed reports.

George Gottbreht – about 1940

George Gottbreht – about 1940

Gottbreht overturned semi trailier 1943/44

Message from Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Gary,

I’ve been meaning to send an email, thanking the person who sent the pictures of Minnie Flynn’s birthday party, to you. Alice Vandal Leonard planned to attend, but because of the weather, she didn’t make it. I forwarded your newsletter that included pictures of Minnie’s birthday, to Alice. She was so happy to receive them. As you know, Alice doesn’t care to receive all the newsletters, so I try to forward the ones I think she might enjoy seeing. Alice was one of the four ladies who wrapped caramels to set on the registration desk at Frozen Fingers Festival, Sleep Inn in Minot on February 13-15. Dick and Brenda Johnson/Ron Hett will be performing at this event.

Thanks again.

Neola

eBay info for Bill Hosmer’s friends book “The Birds Were Silver Then” posted by Neola Garbe:

In a riveting collection of first-person accounts, The Birds Were Silver Then captures the idealism and tragic missteps of America’s earliest air missions over North Vietnam. Told in revealing detail by the pilots who survived, the book is both a testament to their heroism and a cautionary tale for our nation.

Read what people are saying about Lowell Peterson’s new book….

“Dr Peterson’s collection of essays and first-person interviews provides a clear overview of our nation’s often misguided Vietnam policies and a detailed account of the bravery of those charged with carrying our those policies – often to tragic ends. Whether you lived through this era in our history, or were too young to remember it, this book brings to life a critical juncture in the air war and honors those who served its cause.”

Melvin R. Laird
Secretary of Defense 1969-1973

“The Viewtnam War waas a political disaster. Lest we forget, this book remimds us that those who served in that war served honorably and heroically.”

Robert F. Froehlke
Secretart of the Army 1971-1973

“Those of us who were venturing into a new ear of pain and destruction grew closer together and gained stupendours respect and trust for one another. That is the underlying lesson I became aware of while we were losing our virginity in combat and experiencing the exhilaration which come from being shot at.”

William J. Hosmer
Colonel, USAF (Ret.)

eBay URL link for the Book “The Birds Were Silver Then”

http://cgi.ebay.com/The-Birds-Were-Silver-Then_W0QQitemZ260334810973QQihZ016QQcategoryZ378QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ

02/04/2009

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Gary

Bill Hosmer’s (48) reply for book purchase:

Gary, I spoke with my friend Lowell Peterson who put the book together to be sure the info was current and correct. The book, “The Birds Were Silver Then” is on E Bay, for those who use that format. It is soon to be on Amazon, but not yet. It is possible to order it from his address which follows: PETERSON HOUSE, 2627 BEECHWOOD APPLETON, WISCONSIN 54911. AT THIS ALTERNATIVE, THE COST IS $25.00 PER BOOK PLUS $2.50 FOR SHIPPING. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO PETERSON HOUSE. HE NEEDS TO KNOW THE ADDRESS OF THE BUYER PLUS A DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER. Gary, your help in this is appreciated. Doc Peterson told me to pass on his gratitude for what you have done. Me too, Gary. Cheers, Bill Hosmer

From Clark Crum (54):

Gary,

I was away for 3 weeks and enjoyed catching up on the e-mails.

Jerry Williams was a good quaterback in Football, his fake handoff to Gary Morgan (who was one of the best 6 man. players in the state) and Jerry had the ball hid and he calmly walked the opposite direction and made the touchdown before anyone knew what was going on.

I did see Viola Hobbs Zigler in Pick City, ND where her brother had a store and service station. Viola left Dunseith on graduation night and visited again. It was great visitng her and Dick, she still had the personilty and spirit.

We have the opportunity to visit with Gary and Pat Woodford in the summer time and enjoy some golf.

Does anyone know where Jimmy Foote is?

Clark Crum (54)

Clark, I have a James Footit listed for the class of 51 that is deceased. Could this be the same guy you are referring too? Gary

Footit James Born October 31, 1933–Died October 16, 2006 Deceased 51

Reply from Bonnie Awalt Houle (56):

Dear Gary,

I remember Joe Lagimodier, as the gentleman that drove the team of horses pulling a sickle mower cutting grass throughout town. He had a 3 legged dog that followed him everywhere. He used to tease me that if I continued to follow him everywhere I would end up missing a leg also. Then one day when I followed him home his wife gave me a glass of lemonade and told me not to listen to “Old Joe’s foolishness”, and I could follow him if I wanted to. Joe kept his horses in our pasture. I don’t remember what he looked like except for the bib overalls, and the stories he always told and the cookies he shared. His home was spotless and his wife really nice. They lived at the end of the dirt road that ran along our pasture to the road leading to Lake Shutte.

Bonnie Awalt Houle (56)

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57):

I think you (Susan & Paula Fassett) have the gift of writing a good story and I think possibly you have a treasure of history from your ancestors. I always look forward to stories about people worth writing a book about, as I think your grandparents were. They lived in a glorious time when people had to rely on each other for so much, I am sure they fit into Rabbit City Lake area very well.

By the way, Eileen it wouldn’t have been hard to write a book about Adrian Egbert. Most of us that are 70 years old never knew Adrian when he was young. I could never imagine the amount of hard work that Adrian did early on. My dad knew Adrian’s intrepid nature well, and his bad breaks.

Kind of ironic how we keep going back to Rabbit City Lake where Adrian’s sister drowned in the lake along with my Aunt Lily back in the early days.

By the way Janice, I appreciated your story about Corinne and I know she surely enjoyed going to the movies.

Gary Metcalfe

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

Gary Metcalfe mentioned Fred Morin who lived to 104 years of age. He
spent the last few years of his life living in the farmyard of his grand
daughter, Jeannie Azure Domben, near ‘Yellow Corners’ about 10 miles
south of Dunseith. He was interviewed by a researcher from the ND State
Historical Society in about 1975. When Jeannie found out about my
interest in all history of our area she allowed me to listen to the
taped interview. Having lived in the area since the time of the Civil
War, he certainly saw a magnitude of change in his lifetime. He and his
father hauled freight from Devils Lake to St. John and slept on the
ground on the two day trip. He remembers when the first few white men
began to show up in the area. They started plowing up the prairie and
things began to change drastically. He remembers the first store, owned
by Martineau’s in St. John. This is where most of the people did their
trading. He said the buffalo were gone but he and ‘the old man’ picked
up buffalo bones and hauled them to Devils Lake to sell and then
brought freight back. Fred’s dad started to farm but grain was so cheap
they fed it to the horses instead. He remembered oats being 10 cents a
bushel. All the towns in the area were just little outposts with a few
buildings. One of the most interesting memories of Fred’s was being
young and seeing the devastating fire that burned much of the Turtle
Mountains. The interview is quite long and is very captivating to the
listener. It is probably the most interesting ‘one on one’ interview
ever done and recorded, of anyone that age from this area. It might be
possible to get a copy of this tape from the ND State Historical Society
or maybe even from Jeannie Domben at our request. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Crystal, I am so sorry I forgot to attach your pictures with your message yesterday, so I’m reposting today with pictures. Gary

Reply from Crystal Fassett Andersen (70):

Well,since veryone else added their two cents,I thought I better add mine. What I remember about Elaine:…my boys (Aaron & Tyler Gunderson) thought of her as Aunt Laney. She never forgot my birthday or theirs and she made a wonderful angel food cake,always had a Knock,Knock joke,scratched your back and loved to “thumb” wrestle. She may have been mean when she was younger but I never saw it. She loved all our babies and would sit and hold them for hours.She would get so excited when she saw us coming to their house ^& she would be half down the road to meet us. She adored my Mom Irene and called her daily on the phone. She was a gift from God to our family. I also remember Corinne Leonard. She and Edna went many places with my Mom and loved to touch you and would smile that big smile of hers. I am attaching a few photo. Some I thought you “boys” would love and my favorite of some of out “aunts” and cousins. I saw Lorraine Neameyer Haas and she commented on how she didn’t realize how we were related to so many people. We had huge family picnics annually at he Peace garden and Uncle Ernie Amundson’s and I always thought everyone who came was a relative. As I got older I now see ,that in our family, if you show up at a picnic even once,You’re family!! So to all my extended family in the Turtle Mts. And everywhere…”Thanks for the Memories!!” Love and Blessings Crystal Fassett Andersen 1st picture; Dad Bill Fassett batting against Rolla at the Rolla fair June 1951 2nd : Grandpa Wilmar “Pappy” Fassett and Harry Fassett June 1953 3rd: Bill Fassett shooting,John Hill,Elvin Haagenson, Kids are (I think) Charlie Carbonneau,Gary Wenstad & Janet Haagenson (correct me Sisiter Sue ,if I’m wrong) 4th: Irene Fassett holding Paula,Murl Hill holding Brenda,Elaine & Helen Watkins,front: Ann Carbonneau,Susan &Crystal(in bonnet) Fassett,Charlie Carbonneau & Grandma Gudrun Watkins holding Marise Hoover.

Bill Fassett batting against Rolla at the Rolla fair June 1951

Wilmar “Pappy” Fassett and Harry Fassett June 1953

Bill Fassett shooting, John Hill, Elvin Haagenson,

Kids are (I think)

Charlie Carbonneau, Gary Wenstad & Janet Haagenson

Irene Fassett holding Paula, Murl Hill holding Brenda, Elaine & Helen Watkins

front: Ann Carbonneau, Susan &Crystal (in bonnet) Fassett, Charlie Carbonneau &

Grandma Gudrun Watkins holding Marise Hoover.

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: neolag@min.midco.net

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02/03/2009

Posted on February 3, 2009 by Gary

Question for Bill Hosmer:

I have been asked how to go about purchasing the Book “The Birds Were Silver Then” written by your friend Lowell Peterson. Can you provide us with that info once again? I have the book, compliments of you. There is an address and email address on the copyright page, but I’m not sure if those are correct anymore. It’s a really good reading hard cover book all about the air war over North Viet Nam of which you were a big part of and are mentioned numerous times throughout the book. Being a career Air Force pilot, you were Senior and the lead for your group for all the air strikes you performed. The old saying, “Rank has it’s privileges” may not have been so true with the air strikes over Viet Nam.

Thanks,

Gary

From Ivy Eller Robert (74):

Hi Gary…..Hope all is well!

This is for Janice Leonard Workman:

Janice…I remember your sister Corinne. I believed she loved to play cards and board games. I remember when I was little, a would tag along with my sister Carol (sometimes Bonnie) and we would go visit Corinne. We had a great time with her, she loved company. I remember, she had a crush on someone ( I don’t recall who it was) and Carol would tease her about him, she would laugh and blush. She was so sweet. I have fond memories of her……..I can still see her in my “minds-eye” laughing and playing games!

Ivy Eller Robert

From sharron Gottbreht Shen (59):

Hello Gary,

The family of Donald Sharratt [11 Jan 1931-1 Feb 2009] asked that I would inform friends of his passing. Don was the adopted son of Erwin and Leah Boucher. Don did not complete high school but would have been in the class of ’48. He enlisted in the Korean War and worked as a mechanic; skills he used in lifelong service. The family asks that any memorials be made to Disabled Veterans.

Don was an avid genealogist and enormous help to me researching the Boucher and Casavant families. Always spoke with great fondness of his many Edward Boucher and Sharratt cousins. I will miss his many phone calls over the years since 1982. Bonnie McGibbon, Don’s beloved wife of more than 20 years will share expressions of sympathy with his several children and grandchildren.

Bonnie L. McGibbon, 6921 N Montezuma Dr, Tucson, AZ 85718

Reply from Tom Hagen (51):

Hi Gary, Just a quick reply to Pam
Wenstad Lane.(78) My name is Tom Hagen and I am first cousin of your
Dad,Oscar Wenstad and your grandma Anna and my father Tom were brother
and sister. I would visit your home when you kids were little and even
stayed with you for a couple days when there was a snowstorm!!! Cousin
Tom Hagen, 51

Reply from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

Today I got an email from Linda Johnson Juntunen in Rolla. She said her
husband Dale remembered our address in Grand Forks was 2029 2nd Ave N,
not 2022 2nd Ave N as I said. He lived there with several of us in
’70-’71 and has a great memory! I hope he doesn’t spread any ‘rumors’
about the old ‘Sugar Shack’, as it was called. Just a bunch of decent
guys doing the things that nice guys do! It really wouldn’t bother me,
Dale, if your memory is a bit faded! Thanks Dale and Linda! Thanks again
Gary!

Dick

New email address for Marty Spriggs (former teacher):

We did change our email address.

New address:

Thanks for everything you do.

Take care, Marty

Reply from Crystal Fassett Andersen (70):

Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Hi Gary,

I’m enjoying the wonderful/loving stories about Elaine Watkins. The pictures of Elaine when she was “little” are adorable and precious. I remember her as she looks in the picture where she and Irene are dancing. I didn’t know Elaine well, but I felt so bad when she passed away. If my memory is correct, I met Elaine at a get-together at the Rendahl Church may years ago. I can’t remember if it was a New Year’s Eve event, or it is was after some other event. I remember we played “board games”. Orvin Hagen was there, of course (I can still picture him laughing/giving directions/entertaining us.), as were Barbara and Bobby Bott, Mickey and Neva Haagenson. I’m sure there were many others, too (Gary/Karen Wenstad?), but these are the ones I remember. That’s probably the night I met these people. Mickey and I didn’t see each other often through the years, but we were friends the last 25 years,or so, of her life. I see Barbara often when I visit Mom at Good Samaritan.

Neola

Message/Picture from Bonnie Awalt Houle (56):

Dear Gary, In answer to Bobby Hosmer; Bobby I too remember the day Elaine was struck, not a pleasant sight. Scared the heck out of me and I gave Miss. Eggy a healthy distance after that. Elaine loved to swing, you had to race like crazy at recess time in order to get a swing. Elaine had a limp or walked on the balls of her feet sorta but it didn’t slow her down one bit when it came to getting a swing at recess. When frustrated Elaine would find someone that wouldn’t fight back to take it out on, usually I was one of the people she would pinch.

My Parents and Bertha and Earl Myers were good friends and enjoyed having dinner together and playing cards. Bud liked to play cards also, he would play with us kids. When Bud won everyone with-in a mile knew it because of his laugh. When I was entering high school Bud was told he had TB and went to the San Haven to live. I don’t ever remember seeing him again.

This picture was taken at the school reunion can’t remember what year.

Bonnie Awalt Houle (56)

Elaine Schneider, Dwight Lang, Elaine Watkins, Duwayne Lang, Janice Leonard, Mickey Haagenson & Bonnie Awalt

From Bonnie/Lloyd Awalt (44):

Lloyd, he has compiled a listing of the Main Street Businesses in Dunseith. If anyone has any changes to make, feel free to add your memories. bonnie (56)

Lloyd Awalt

Ifyou were entering Dunseith from the South back in the early 40’s these are the businesses you would see.(to the best of my recollection)

East Side

Richards Service Station

Hassens Store

(street intersection)

Deiters Telephone Office

Mornville’s Grocery*

(vacant lot)

Leonard’s Café

(operated by Ed Leonard

Anderson’s Creamery

Ray Wilson’s Law Office

Barber shop

Althea Theater (Arnold Lilleby)

Douglas’s Funeral Home

(Street intersection)

Bank (Campbells)

Post Office

Hardware Store

S. Kadry Pool Hall

Pete Richard’s Variety Store***

Cote Liquor Store

Hosmer’s Store

(street intersection)

Gamble Store

Charlie Wright’s Creamery

Pool Hall/Teen Center

Wilson’s Home **

Watkins/Morgan Lumber Yard

*** Joe Mornville started his store here

**Dunseith Clinic

* Michaels started the Dunseith Journal in this building until a fire burned it down.

West Side

Michaels Newspaper (Dunseith Journal)

(street intersection)

Corner Garage

Stadheim/Woodford bar- bowling lanes

Small lunch counter -Bertha Myers cook

KC Siems Red/White Store

(vacant lot)

Lamoureux Brothers Garage with a large lot full of oil drums/machinery

Liquor Store/Lilleby-Lacroix

(Street intersection)

Stone Garage-Ray Lake

Red Owl Grocery-Lamoureux/Bedard

DionShoe Store

Snow White BakeryPat McAtee

Myer’s Clothing Store

Crystal CaféPoliquins/ Rosie McCoy

CreameryRay Murray/Bottineau

Peace Garden Café Fountain’s

Barber shop

Dry Cleaners/ Shoe Repair Dore

Shelver’s Drug

(street intersection)

Dakota Hotel

Cabin Gas Station Lloyd Awalt

Boarder Patrol Office in hotel cabins

From Mel Kuhn (70):

Howdy,

Gary, Dick left things so wide I open that I’m having trouble knowing what to do. I spent last Friday with him helping him work on a couple of tractors. The word challenged comes to mind but I just don’t know how to put it in a sentence with Dick’s name and use it properly. I am just totally at a loss for words, someone else is going to have to step up and take a shot. Larry H. how about it?

Mel Kuhn

From Allen Richard (65):

I think a lot of us would like this—-

Born Again American

aLLEN rICHARD

Allen, This is really Neat. Thanks for sharring. Gary

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02/02/2009

Posted on February 2, 2009 by Gary

From Lois Lilleby Fielding (51):

Hi to all: We are home from visiting children and grandchildren during December and from Costa Rica during January–where we studied and lived with a family.

We had felt some small rumbles in the earth a few times before the big earthquake occurred (6.2) and we ran out of the house to the back yard, where we swayed back and forth with the earth for a short time, I even felt nauseous. North of San Jose at Volcan Poas occurred massive damage and some people have never been found and several communities were wiped out. The T.V. news, of course carried it constantly and the people of C.R. came to the rescue as best they could. I even saw a large monkey run into the arms of an animal rescuer. It was very touching. Volcan Poas is again open for visitors, but the devastation of the roads and beautiful mountains and streams is great–just in that area. The rest of C. R. is okay. About 30 volcanologists were studying Poas in the crator when it cccurred, but they all came out unharmed. Happy New Year to all! Lois Lilleby Fielding

Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44):

Hi Gary, Here is my answer to Dick.

Hello Dick Johnson,

1960 is when Bill Teal retired from the depot, Bill Teal almost never drove, he always got someone else to drive for him.. Bill and Irene moved down next to Jack and Minnie Flynn. Ray Hagel took his place as depot agent. Yes I remember putting pennies on the train tracks and having the train flatten them, so you weren’t the first to do that and you sure weren’t the last. Doing that sure made a penny look like it could be worth more than one cent didn’t it!

My Dad John Awalt bought the Dray Line in 1931 from Ike Berg. We used horses to haul the freight, we hauled everything, coal, ashes, and ice besides what came in on the train. During the Christmas Season is was not unusual to haul as many as three truck loads of mail up to the San Haven. Coal was a big part of the business because almost all homes, stores and the school was heated by coal. The coal had to be pushed from the train cars into the coal sheds and later loaded onto the wagon or truck and hauled to it’s destination. The bucket you pushed it with by hand was no easy chore, and sometimes if you hit a nail in the floor as you were pushing it was a bugger of a quick stop. Dad sold the Dray Line in 1943.

Lloyd Awalt

Reply from Janice Leonard Workman (56):

Hi everybody, hope you all are getting ready for spring. Surely it must be on the way!!!

Elaine Watkins died just 1 month after my sister Corinne. Both were mentally challenged. It was interesting to hear of Elaine’s ability to remember things,

because Corinne could also. She remembered all the relatives’ birthdays, anniversaries, and she could also tell you how old people were. My mother used

to say, if it weren’t for Corinne, nobody would have gotten birthday cards from her. Corinne did not attend public school, although that was tried and failed, but she did have a

tutor come to the house for a time. That was Elinor Fuchs and she made a big improvement in Corinne’s life. Elinor taught her to read enough so she could find things in

the newspaper. Especially she would look to see who was in the hospital from Dunseith. As Mom was writing the news for the TMS, that was a big help. One of the things

about Elaine, when we were younger, was that we would sit together at the movies, way down in front. She wasn’t always as friendly as she was as she got older, but

mostly we managed to get along. She and Corinne were much more compatible. I don’t remember Bud so well, but I knew his folks better as they were often in the Crystal

Café when I worked there. Bud was pretty quiet, but friendly.

I really think Gary Metcalf gives Bonnie and I a lot of credit as I see our names in his messages pretty often. Thanks, Gary, you are alright!!!

Adrian Egbert was a character around town. He was the father of my aunt, Margaret Lilleby who was just the best aunt to have in this world. She and Louis drove a

taxi in Dunseith for a number of years before moving to Washington. They lived in the house the Dick Johnson’s folks had before moving to their farm. Eventually my

brother Lowell owned that house. The house was right across from Adrian’s Northern Hotel. Adrian’s woodpile was always a temptation on Halloween, and my

friends were involved in several “tricks” there. Dorothy (Adrian’s second wife) and my mother were friends and visited often. When Mom wanted to sell the house we

had lived in (get this, which was built by Adrian) Dorothy bought it for $2000. What a deal!! Donald and his wife lived in the last I knew.

Enough for now. Take care. Janice Leonard Workman, class of 1956 rules!!!!

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57):

Re: Modeste Lagimodiere

Modeste’s homestead was about 1 1/2 miles south of Rapid City Lake and one mile off #3 highway. Louis Riel Jr. was son of Julie Lagimodiere and Louis Riel Sr.
I have a story of Joe Lagimodiere and old Martin Evan’s, also Ben Lagimodiere told my dad what to do if a mean bull got you off guard in an open field.

If Alice Bergan doesn’t have a picture of Alcide, what with Alcide babysitting her kids all those years, then I guess we are out of luck. People reading this would get a lot more out of it if there was a picture.
It is interesting that Bergan’s land is connected to the old Modeste homestead and Mahlon Bailly was right next door . The Banker Templeman place where Wilmer Fassett was after 1935 was there also.

Melvin Cook, someone out there may know what family brought him to the area. I am guessing maybe the Anderson’s. On those swimming adventures on Rabbit City Lake, they would look way over on the other side of the lake, and say “there he is”. Melvin swam like a duck, staying under water so long, they wondered where he was at. I think he had some other talents too.

About 1947 Dad introduced me to a man named Fred Morin. He had a big star, a big hat and he was a rather striking figure of a man, this was up on the Jack Rabbitt Trail north of Dunseith. As I read his story in Prairie Past and Mountain Memories, one could easily write a book on his life of 104 years. I thought Fred did a lot of his duty on foot? For sure Wilbur Hall did his work on horseback on the Canadian Border when we first came back to the farm. Things really were changing fast in the 40’s.
Gary Metcalfe

Reply from Colette Hosmer (64):

Cousin Bob,

I liked your memory/letter which included Elaine Watkins very much. I have added this image of you to my file of “cousin Bob Hosmer memories” in my head. That’s one of the great things about this communal “blog”. It enables us all to build a more complete picture of those who contributed to our lives.

Thanks to you, the “Fassett Boys” and others, my memory of Elaine has filled-out considerably.

Colette

Susan, I forgot to attack the pictures when I posted the following message with #355. Sorry about that. Gary

Reply from Susan Fassett Martin (65):

Gary Metcalfe mentioned Elaine Watkins. She was born Jan 1st 1938 to
Helen Amundson and Roy Watkins. She was a sister to Murl Hill, Jeannine
Robert, and Carol Carbonneau. She died in 1993 peacefully in her bed at
home on the farm north of Dunseith. She never fully developed mentally
beyond about a 10- 12 year old mentality, but I believer God sent her
into our family to teach us love and understanding and tolerance. She
loved all of us kids (cousins Tim Hill, Charles Carbonneau, Susan
Fassett, and all our siblings. We used to tease her unmercifully when
we were kids, but she loved us anyway. Charlie, Mark Andersen, and I
used to take her out on Lake Metigoshe in the boat (Charlie driving) and
we would make her sit on one side and then Charlie would turn sharply so
the edge of the boat was nearly touching the water, just to make Elaine
squeal. She loved to tease the roosters and they would chase her when
she came out of the house. I’m sure Carol can tell many stories about
her and also Murl and Jeannine. These pictures are in my collection,
of Elaine in 1940 when she was 2. The one of her dancing is with my
mother, Irene Fassett, her cousin. Mom was teaching her to dance and
that was at our house on the corner in Dunseith(Paula sitting on the
couch.) We had lots of good times with her. I like to think that she
and mom and dancing in heaven along with lots of other relatives who
have gone home ahead of us. God Bless, Hugs and prayers, Susan

Irene Fassett & Elaine Watkins Dancing – Paula Fassett on couch

Elaine Watkins – 1940

02/01/2009

Posted on February 1, 2009 by Gary

Message/Request from James Egbert’s (39) daughter Eileen:

I am the daughter of James Egbert and since iI did not get the pleasure of knowing my father and his

family and history due to his death in WWll, I am looking for information on his classmates and

friends as well as relatives on the Egbert side. I live in Fargo so it is not convenient for me to come

there to search for this information. I would like information on the reunion planned for this summer

as I may be able to attend that. Eileen Egbert Spitzer.

Folks, James Egbert was a son of Adrian’s. He was Killed early on in WW II. Eileen is his daughter. James was with the Dunseith High School class of 39. I have included several of you, with this distribution, from the class of 39 that are not normally on our daily distribution. Eileen is seeking any info that any of you may have about her dad and also of the Egbert family. Her grandfather, Adrian Egbert, was a pretty well known guy in the Dunseith community in his day. Living way up in the sticks, in the hills, and not having attended Dunseith until my High School days, I have known the name Adrian Egbert my entire life. Gary

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57):

The Native Americans were first, what would Dunseith have done without them? Then maybe San Haven, what would Dunseith have done without them, people in the CCC’s brought prosperity and new settlers. The farm people from four directions brought their business and recreation to add the spice to that little settlement. Most every person has a little different take on most everything.
My parents were raised with the Bailey’s, Anderson’s, Bergan’s, Poitra’s, and a host of Native Americans, including Alcide Lagimodier. My dad always called Roy Poitra the Peacemaker, a very kind man.

Alcidede, as my dad called Alcide, was a life long friend from the old days.. He worked at our place for a number of years. One January morning , the ambulance from Belcourt, came and took Alcide to the Belcourt Hospital for about a week. That was the only time I’d ever seen Alcide “under the weather”, as the old timers called sick. He was diagnosised with diabetes. His first day back with us Alcide (Dr. Lagimodier) was down in my dad’s bedroom with the equipment necessary to take his blood sugar. As well as people liked to tease, no one to my knowledge, ever teased Alcide. He was my hero for a lot of reasons, one of them was he bought me a pack of Camels when we stopped at Kelvin at the end of his work week as I would take him back to Clayton Bergan’s. Alcide had a good home there.

Thanks to the Fassett Boys, as Casey called you, for a very candid tribute to Elaine Watkins. She was a friend to this old pin setter, country boy. You described her so well. Her mother, Helen was the greatest, her attitude was always upbeat, through those hard times, she was everyone’s friend.

I might say that without the benevolence of a few people like Janice and Bonnie and others from a class ahead of me, I could have been a real outsider too. Hillbilly you know. This country has just moved toward tolerance, that says a lot for this younger generation.

Gary Metcalfe

PS Gary is gone driving semi from Springfield, Mo. to Kingman, Az. tonight.. He left this letter written out so I could get it typed in for him. He told me as he was leaving that this blog has brought back so many memories that it gives him lots to think about as he is traveling through states like Ok., Tx.,N.M., & Az. where there can be lots of miles between places. …..Sue

Reply from Bob Hosmer (56):

Hi Gary,

I’m enjoying your communique’ immensely.

In response to Gary Metcalfe’s inquiry about Bud Myer and Elaine Watkins, as most know, they both were disabled mentally. Bud Meyer lived next door to us and was older than me by a number of years. Unfortunately, I mostly avoided him, because I was afraid of him. I wish now someone would have helped me make a connection with him. I think he was a very lonely man.

Elaine Watkins was in first grade when I was in second. In second grade, I was given a high school desk in which to sit because I to tall to fit in the regular seats-attached-to desk type desks that were fasten to slats that were fasten to the floor.

Elaine was sitting in one of those desks in the first grade section and she sat at the very front. For some reason, I can’t recall, Elaine became very frustrated with the subject matter under consideration and began throwing papers and books off her desk unto he floor and yelling. Miss Egge in her frustration in failing to calm her, took out a cat o’nine tails she had in her desk drawer and whipped it across her face. Principal Sterns finally came in and the matter and the matter get settled.

I was so agitated by the matter, I walked up to the teacher at her desk (I was actually about as tall as the teacher in second grade) and told her as flat out as I dared, “you cut Elaine’s face and it’s bleeding.” I could tell Miss Egge was still upset when she responded, “I don’t care.” This is not a nice memory to share, but from that time on for many years that action made me very cautious of those in authority over me. My tendency was always to keep quiet and to be as unnoticeable as possible.

On the other hand it made me more responsive to those who had to manage mental disabilities.

When I was pastoring a church outside Calgary, Alberta, we formed a ministry called “Friendship Club” for mentally handicap young adults. And saw many positive things happen in the lives of about 12 young adults who were part of that Bible class geared for them and in other interactive activities.

My wife and I saw Elaine last in the mid ’70’s and later we heard she had died.

Others, I’m sure will have more memories of both Bud and Elaine. I’m looking forward to hearing about them.

Bob

Bob Hosmer, WA Chaplain
Marketplace Chaplains USA
Cell: 425-299-0928
Email:
www.MChapUSA.com

Reply from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

Paula’s story of Elaine Watkin’s perseverance needs to be expanded on.
Paula is absolutely right that Elaine looked through the Grand Forks
phone book to find our address, where Tim Hill and I were staying at
2022 2nd Ave N. The part that is the most amazing is that the phone was
listed in the ‘w’ section under Jack Widdell, our landlord’s name! She
didn’t know his name so had to go through the entire book to find it. He
answered the phone upstairs and then had to come down to the basement
and get us, so we couldn’t give poor Elaine the number as we knew she
would call often and really upset the landlord. She did ride home to
Dunseith on some weekends with us and was fun to have along. I still
remember the day she called and said, “Tim, I found your number!” I
remain baffled how mentally challenged people can somehow clear the
‘debris’ from their minds and do nearly amazing things, that would seem
insurmountable to most of us who are thought to be at least somewhat
‘unchallenged’. There are probably some readers who might question my
assumption of which category I would be included in, after some of the
stories I have posted
about the stunts we pulled as kids in old Dunseith! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Reply from Bonnie Awalt Houle (56):

Good Morning Gary,

Received all the missing messages and certainly appreciate all your extra time. Today we are headed to Fargo to meet with my Brother Bill and his family for the week-end. Our Grandson is going to college in Fargo so they are all going with us. Scott Awalt is in a play in Fargo tonight.

Thanks and Blessings to you and your family

Bonnie Awalt Houle

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