09/30/2009

Highway 43 with Dick & Brenda Johnson will be performing at the Hostfest daily:
Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Gary Metcalfe–Sorry I misunderstood the Harry-Harold Larson
relationship. Brothers they are.

We have gotten many requests for the CD of our live performance,
thanks for the support and encouragement. We had an interesting call
last night. We had been scheduled to play on a side stage at the
Hostfest in Minot this week starting Wednesday. One of the entertainers
had to cancel with illness and the honchos asked us to move to one of
the main stages and fill the slot. We now are on at noon and 4PM, two
performances each day for all four days. We have four different song
sets so no two shows each day will be the same. I hope we get to see
some of our classmates and friends during the week. Please stop by for a
visit if you folks are in Minot. Again, thanks to everyone for your
support and encouragement. We really appreciate it! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Reply from Jan Bergan Evans (66): MONTICELLO, MN
 
Hi Gary The Harry Larson that you are referring to is the Larson that was married to Alice Evans Berube’s sister Esther Tennancour. They had 2 children George and Jani Larson Myhre Janie is in Spokane and George is in Pittsburgh, He died 1986 and Esther died 1-15-1991,
Jan, I have located a phone number for Janice Myhre in Spokane, WA. I left a message with her voice mail. With the info you have provided I believe the death records that I posted several days ago for Harry and Esther Larson are correct. My question now to everyone, is Janice Myhre related to the Myhre’s in Rolette? Thanks, Gary

 

 

Arnold & Lorna Zeiler – July 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

09/29/2009

Reply from Llyod Awalt (44): Bottineau, ND
 
Erling, Harry Larson was my teacher when I was in the 7 & 8 grade in 1938 & 39 . he was there from 1937 to 40 or 41 then went to Montana. I’m not sure how many were in that family. Swead lived north of overly. Charles lived north east of overly. I’m not sure if he was the father of the Larson or just a brother . That’s the only ones that lived around here that I know of. I was in the same grade as you was in high school with urban &yedola I quit school when I was a sophomore then went in the navy. Lloyd Awalt
 
 
 
Request from Verena (Pete) Gillis (65): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary,
I received a call requesting a picture of Wilbur “Billy” McKay-born
October 1907 and died Sept. 16, 1924. Could you post this and if anyone
has any pictures of Wilbur to please send a copy to: Arla Linford- Street-Renton, Washington 98059. Her telephone number is (XXX)
XXX-XXXX.

Thank you.
Verena

Verena, I believe Wilbur “Billy” McKay would be Arla Linford’s uncle, brother to her mother Alice. I believe Arla’s mother was Alice McKay Klang, Daughter of George and Minnie McKay. That is how I interpret what is written about their family in the Dunseith book.
 
 
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Thanks Lloyd for the information on Clint Anderson’s cream station. It
was just a wild guess on my part that the bigger building beside it
might have been the dance hall that burned on New Years Eve. I thought
Glen Shelver told me it was in the early 30s and you have it as ’31 so
it fits together well. More correct history from those who remember!
Glen said they were warming up the hall for the New Years Eve dance and
the stove must have started the fire. I can only assume the cream
station burned along with the hall, as they appear nearly connected. Is
this correct or was it torn down later? Thanks Lloyd!

To Erling Landsverk– Yesterday Gary Metcalfe mentioned that Harold
Larson is Harry’s son. Gary said Harold has two daughters in the Twin
Cities. I think he had three daughters. Harold Larson also has a
daughter named Jeannie who is married to Dave Schneibel and lives at
Rugby. We were friends with Dan Schneibel who taught in Bottineau. He is
Dave’s brother and this is how I know about the connection. Jeannie’s
phone number is 701-776-5066.

Gary Morgan’s story about his dad and Rene Bedard and hunting ducks
sure brings back the memories. I used to use my grandpa’s old 1887
Winchester lever action 12 gauge shotgun when I was 11 or 12 and had
some real lessons to learn. That big old shotgun was ‘shot out’ and had
a pattern that could cover the barn door at 10 paces! The only prayer I
had was to sneak up close and then blast a few on the water. One day in
the fall it was real cold and I walked out to the point by Axel’s old
house to see if I could get a couple ducks. I crawled up to the edge of
the rise above the lake and peeked over the grass to see the lake shore.
There were a bunch of ducks sitting on the rocks and a few just barely
into the water. I jumped up and ‘ground balled’ a couple with the first
shot and then set the shotgun stock on my belt buckle so I could run the
lever and get another shell in the barrel of the old beast. It was cold
and I had grabbed a pair of Grandpa’s old ragged work gloves before I
left the house. Well, when I closed the lever the big ragged glove
caught the trigger, giving me the entire recoil right in the belly! When
I woke up—– there were two dead ducks floating in the water and the
rest were probably half way to town! I still have the old shotgun and
later found out that it was designed for black powder and should never
be loaded with modern ammo. I shot any and every kind of ammo I could
find in that old gun and never had a problem of any kind.A few years
later and with newer guns, John Bogus and I decided that we should both
learn how to shoot ducks on the fly. One evening we shot almost two
boxes (50 shells) at bluebills flying overhead—and never touched a
duck! I remember John saying, with a big grin, “We better not tell
anyone about this.” I never shot trap or skeet in my life until just a
couple years ago. My son is one of the best in the Fargo area where his
team won a big trap shoot at Horace (Fargo Gun Club). He came up to St.
John a couple years ago and shot trap for a fund raiser for the FFA.
When it was over, some of the bystanders, me included, took a crack at
it. With his coaching, I got 16 out of 25 on my first go around. He
asked, “Why are you waiting so long before you shoot? The clays are only
3 feet off the ground when you fire!” I told him, ” They are going
slower when they get way out there and I have a bigger pattern.” He
about died laughing! My old hunting habits must have worked in reverse
when I had a good shotgun. He nailed the targets within a few yards of
the launch so my technique was hilarious to him! Oh well, I did get 16!
Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 
Hello everyone, There seems to be some confusion on Harold and Harry Larson. Harold was Harry’s baby brother.

To Larry Hackman: Within the next few weeks we intend to go up to New Haven, Gerald and Hermann, Missouri. I thought some of your relatives were from Hermann, but I am not sure. With the Dietrick’s and Hackman’s and the church location, we should be able to find some relatives, after all your grandfather Hackman had lots of brothers and sisters that may have stayed in that area. We love Missouri with it’s 6,000 caves and clear water rivers and streams, so we camp often and look for out of the way adventures. Looking up some of your family will give us a reason to go that way. If you have any information about any of them, please let us know.

Gary Metcalfe

 
 
 
Previously post with message 171 on 7/25/08

Irene Pigion’s Obituary provided by Vickie Metcalfe (70):

 

Gary, I copied the following for your information;
Irene Pigeon is dear Lise’ ( Rousseau) (DHS Class of 64) Metcalfe’s mom. Vickie
 
Lise/Larry Rousseau-Metcalfe
Fargo, ND 58104
No email address
 
 


Irene Pigeon, 88, of Fargo, died July 22, 2008, at Elim Care Center in Fargo, ND.

The daughter of Jeffrey and Marie Pronovost, Irene was born December 19, 1919, at Lac a la Tortue, Quebec, Canada where she grew up and attended school.

On July 8, 1944, she married Roland Coutou at Grandmere, Quebec, Canada. He died June 8, 1946, of a work-related accident.

She remained in Canada until 1950 at which time she married Joe Rousseau on November 25, and they moved to North Dakota where Joe farmed. In 1956 they moved to Dunseith where she worked at San Haven Sanitarum for fifteen years. Joe died November 12, 1969.

Irene then married Romulus Pigeon on June 15, 1972. They lived in Dunseith until his death in 1979. She then moved to Carrinton, ND.

In 2003 she entered Elim Care Center where she remained until her death.

She is survived by: her daughter, Lise Metcalfe (Larry) Fargo, ND; grandsons, Brian (Kiki) Columbia, CA, and Christopher (Kristina) Fargo, ND; brother, Clement Pronovost, and sister, Liette Boulet (Aime) both of Montreal, Canada.

Memorial service: Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND

 

With all the questions about the latest storm that hit the PI, I thought I’d include this map that Bill Grimme provided several years ago. We are located in Cebu, where the red star is on this map. We are 380 miles south, southeast of Manila. We are located about 500 miles north of the equator. The latest storm that came though causing all the flooding was in the Manila area.Gary

 

 

09/28/2009

Five Samski family members will be visiting the Dunseith area. It’s been decades since they were in the area.
 
Rod Samski’s (65) Reply to a Personal message from Gary.
STOCKTON, CA
 
A special Hello to you Gary, it’s always good to hear from you. I have been following the daily Dunseith news. Some of the news is good and some not so good. The last time I talked to you I had decided not to attend the reunion because I really did want to remember all the wonderful memory’s the way I remembered them.

When my dad Gene said he wanted to go back there and see the land and the people, he’s 90 and still drives and lives independent, gets around like a 60 year old. I thought lets make some new memories. Now there will be 3 sisters Carol and Marlys who were born there and Karen who was born in Lodi Calif. We will be having a reunion with the Eurich’s, Jean,Sharon,Dorthy,Eileen and Floyd Pritchard who was a great childhood friend. There are so many wonderful people we hope to see. One of our disappointments we will not be seeing Dwight Lang who no longer stays in Lake Metigoshe it has been good talking by phone with Dwight. We also will be looking at the old Stokes farm, Boguslawski, Hill’s, Houles, Johnson,the list goes on.

 

Rod…

 

If you think our trip is worth putting in the blog it is fine with me, who knows we might here from others while back there.

Rod, your trip is most certainly worth putting on the blog. If you have a cell phone, I can post that number too so folks can get in touch with you guys while you are in the area. I’m sure LeaRae Espe Parrill will know how to get in touch with you guys too when you are in ND. Gary

 

 

 

Condolences to the Clara Larson Family
From Lynn Halvorson Otto (75): Seoul, Korea
 
My sincere condolences to Clara Larson’s family on her passing. I worked for Clara for 2-3 summers during my high school years at the International Music Camp kitchen, washing dishes, etc. It was hard work but she treated us well. You are in my prayers. Lynn Halvorson Otto

 

Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44): Bottineau, ND.

 

The picture of the Anderson’s cream station ( he was my uncle ) was located north of the Dakota hotel where Flynn’s gas station was the big building attached is the city hall which burned down on new years eve 1931. Just south of the cream station later years the cabins of the hotel were built . The cabin facing the street was the border station there was no station at the peace garden at this time. The cream that was bought was put in 10 gal cream cans and shipped to larger creameries by rail. charley Wright had a cream station where Maries beauty shop is . These creameries bought cream for other big creameries. Lloyd Awalt.
 
 
 
From Gary Morgan (54): GARRISON, ND

Gary & All,
The waterfowl season opened in North Dakota this weekend which reminds me of one of my dad’s favorite stories: It seems Rene Bedard asked my dad if he wanted to go duck hunting with him. My dad declined, saying that he didn’t particularly like the taste of duck, he hated cleaning them and most of all he never had any luck shooting ducks. He had never gained the knack for leading them. Either he led them too far or not enough. To which Rene responded, “Hmph, it just depends on how fast they’re swimming!

Thank you, Gary. You give a lot of people something to look forward to every day.

Gary Morgan

 
 
 
From Blanche Wicks Schley (42): Grand Forks, ND
 

I was watching CNN tonight and they mentioned about flooding conditions in the Philippines. I don’t know just what area of the country you are in (have not taken out the atlas to check) But I was thinking about you and your wife.
 
Eileen sent the information on the Wicks “boys” who are buried at Little Prairie cemetery and also information on my father’s family. I have her e-mail from the information she sent, but I would like her address. I would like to talk to her and thank her.
 
Again, thank you for your daily informative e-mails…I, like some who have already said this, read your items first when checking e-mails. It is so interesting to learn how the products of small towns have gone all over the world and yet they have that tie to their home town area. My husband was like that. He lived in Aneta, ND. He was drafted in WWII and did not return to Aneta, but when he was asked where he was from the answer was “Aneta” and not the town where he was residing. He lived in Grand Forks from 1956 until his death in 2002. I guess with all of us the ties to home areas are so strong..
 
Have a great day, Gary, and again thanks for the work that you have untaken to keep everyone informed on activities, past and present. It makes for an interesting morning ritual.
 
 
 
Blanche Wicks Schley
 
Blanche, the storm that caused some flooding you are referring to was up in the Manila area. They get hammered frequently with heavy rains and storms that pass through the Philippines. Cebu, where we live, is kind of in the Banana belt of the PI as far as weather conditions are concerned. The brunt of most storms pass to the north of us. We seldom get the high winds with the storms, but on occasion we’ll get some of the rain. Manila’s average monthly rain fall in the rainy months is nearly 16″ compared to ours at 6″. Our lean months are 3″ compared to Manila’s with almost 0″. Most all rains in the PI are hard and fast lasting less than an hour.
 
 
Question from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

Is Harry Larson the Harold Larson that taught for a number of years at Russell School?

 

Allen Richard
 
 
 
Reposted from yesterday’s message:

From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO

 

Reply to Erling Landsverk

 

I think there were 11 kids in that Larson family. The only ones I knew were Swede, who was married to Clara Hagen and Harold. Everyone knew Harold from Dunseith Baseball Days. Harold was a good baseball player and vocal as well. He and his wife taught at Russell School for many years. My grandmother, Randina Evans, babysat for their three children.

 

My mother knew Harry Larson. Harry married Ernest Tennancour’s daughter, Esther. They had two children George and Janice. They moved to Montana where Harry taught, then he went to work for an oil company until he retired. Then moved to Yakima, Wa. His son George is a teacher in Pa., Janice a teacher in Spokane.

 

I might add, Harold Larson gave up teaching to sell insurance. Harold has two daughters living in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. We knew Harold from Metigoshe Ministries Church.

 

I have been meaning to ask why we have not heard about a famous Landsverk…..Halvor, a poet and reporter.

for Willow Lake Community

Gary Metcalfe

Gary Metcalfe, I am amazed at how well you remember people. You are right on with what I found out about Harry & Esther Larson pasted below. I think the death records I found for them are correct, but I’m not sure. I’m pretty positive that the other info I found for them is correct. Harry and Esther would be 100 & 93 years old if they were still living today. There are a thousand George Larson’s out there and I don’t have a married name for Jancie, so I didn’t not try and locate either one of them. I’ll leave that up to Sharron Gottbreht Shen and some of the others that are able to trace families to narrow the selections down for us to start making phone calls. Gary
 
Harry H Larson

View Details

100 Spokane, WA
Yakima, WA
Esther Larson
Esther Larson

View Details

93 Spokane, WA
Yakima, WA
Harry H Larson
Esther LARSON       Birth Date: 29 Oct 1915     Death Date: 15 Jan 1991     Social Security Number: 516-40-4813     State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Montana     Death Residence Localities     ZIP Code: 99208     Localities: Spokane, Spokane, Washington  
 
Name: Harry Larson
Birth Date: 27 March 1909
Death Date: June 1986
Residence at Death: Yakima,Yakima,Washington 98902
SSN: 720-18-0516

 

09/27/2009

From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 
Reply to Erling Landsverk
 
I think there were 11 kids in that Larson family. The only ones I knew were Swede, who was married to Clara Hagen and Harold. Everyone knew Harold from Dunseith Baseball Days. Harold was a good baseball player and vocal as well. He and his wife taught at Russell School for many years. My grandmother, Randina Evans, babysat for their three children.
 
My mother knew Harry Larson. Harry married Ernest Tennancour’s daughter, Esther. They had two children George and Janice. They moved to Montana where Harry taught, then he went to work for an oil company until he retired. Then moved to Yakima, Wa. His son George is a teacher in Pa., Janice a teacher in Spokane.
 
I might add, Harold Larson gave up teaching to sell insurance. Harold has two daughters living in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. We knew Harold from Metigoshe Ministries Church.
 
I have been meaning to ask why we have not heard about a famous Landsverk…..Halvor, a poet and reporter.
for Willow Lake Community
Gary Metcalfe
Gary, You have sure been a great help with all this added info for Sharron Gottbreht and maybe others that have been trying to locate Harry Larson or his family members.
Clara Hagen Larson (38) recently passed away. I have posted her Obituary below. She is from the Ackworth community. This one slipped through the cracks and I missed publishing it. Gary
 
 
Clara Hagen Larson’s (38) Obituary:

OVERLY Clara Larson, 89, Bottineau, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009, in a Bottineau nursing home.

She was born Jan. 4, 1920, to John and Agnes Hagen north of Bottineau. She married Clarence Larson in 1938 at Rolla.

Survivors: daughters, Peggy Culhane, Columbia, Mo., Barbara Evanger, Mandan; son, Ronald, Overly; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Ina Anderson, Mondovi, Wis., Florence Marten, Modena, Wis.; brothers, Raymond, Kennewick, Wash., Oscar, LaCrosse, Wis.

Funeral: Tuesday, 10 a.m., Willow Creek Church, Overly.

Burial: Willow Creek Cemetery, rural Overly.

Prayer service: Monday, 7 p.m., Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau.

Visitation: Monday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., in the funeral home.

 
 
Message/Pictures from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
Hi Gary,

There should be plenty of time to pack suitcases later today so I give you my first minutes. Many of your readers will find the 1938 list of teachers for Rolette County of interest. My cousin Mildred Gottbreht Solomon taught summers in the rural schools near St John at this time – she married in ’39.

The picture of Ernest Boucher, Ronnald Tennancour, George Gottbreht and Sharron Shen was taken at Bob’s Cafe near the Missouri River front Sept 23. We then adjourned to Uncle’s apartment to enjoy a very delicious birthday cake. George was on the road to pick up Ronnie in Bottineau when he remembered CAKE! He called Wayne Barbot who arranged a beautiful cake with a baker he knew in Williston. It was all ready when Geo and Ron arrived – George keeps the controls at 2mph over speed limit, always!

Uncle regaled us with several stories that evening. This is one I should tell before I loose it. North Dakota voted Dry when she entered the Union. Back in the early 30’s when Ernie delivered beer in East Grand Forks, it was always draft beer sold in kegs. The only bottled beer sold was to the bootleggers. Special boxes were built to fit under the car seats which held one layer of large bottles side by side. No one local in the industry thought bottled beer and cash and carry sales would be a success. But when prohibition and state law changed a Jewish gentleman opened a market in GF selling bottled beer take away. His huge success made the local retailers take notice and the rest is history.

Uncle certainly enjoyed the visit. He teased Ronnie about the “strong” language he probably had learnt in the plumbing business and poked a bit of fun at the Mayor of Dunseith. Every niece and nephew was recalled and inquired about. Amazing man. Must run but wish to bring this visit to everyone at least one more time.

Sharron

Ernest Boucher’s 99th Birthday With George Gottbreht

 

 

 

Note: Ernest Boucher was a brother to Yvette Boucher Brunsell and Alma Boucher Gottbreht.

 

Yvette was Ronald Tennacour’s mother and Alma was Sharron and George’s mother. Gary

 

 

Ernest Boucher, Sharron Gottbreht Shen, George Gottbreht & Ronnald Tennancour

 

 

 

1938 list of Rolette county teachers. Harry Larson, the teacher that

 

Erling Landsverk is asking about, is listed in this list.

 

 
 

09/26/2009

From LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND.

 

SAMSKI VISIT

 

My mother received a letter from Carol Samski, daughter of Gene and Marion Samski. Carol and Gene will be in the Dunseith area for a nine day visit ending October 9th. They lived on the farm next to us in the foothills where Bonner & Carol Law, Jim & Marty Wheeler, Garret and Debbie Myer, & Charlene Woods later lived. They had five children when they moved to Lodi, California in Jan or Feb 1957-Douglas, Rodney, Diane, Carol and Maryls. Diane was in my grade and one of the 37 first graders mom had her first year of teaching in town 1955-56. Diane and I were best of friends. Mom and dad became good friends with the Samski’s even though we only lived neighbors for two years before they moved. Diane and I were pen pals for years. Our parents exchanged Christmas letters most every year since. Marion ended up with some type of dementia and passed away December 2007. The Samski’s had two or three more daughters after they moved.

 

I am thinking Rod or Douglas contributed to this blog quite awhile back.

 

Anyway, I just wanted to let people know that Gene is planning this visit. I called Carol last night to get more details, but could only leave a message. She lives in Hawaii and I believe it is five hours behind Central. I called at 10:30 PM our time.

 

 

 








Samski Rod 1013 GOLDENOAK WAY STOCKTON, CA 95209 (209) 478-8085 Rod8085@yahoo.com 65
Samski Ho Diane 1147 Ala Napunani Honolulu Hawaii 96818 (808) 839-4076 hod021@hawaii.rr.com 67

Rod Samski (65)

 

From LeaRae

PARRILL BARN- More questions than answers

 

The picture Dick Johnson posted of the Parrill barn is a mystery to me. Dad told me that our Grandfather owned land in the Turtle Mt. that was sold to put a down payment on the land that his step father , Joe Cox, bought in the Red River Valley near Mountain (Cavalier), ND. This land was sold some time in the 1930s. Our grandfather, Cecil Day Parrill, came from Illinois and taught school (in Russell township ?) and then was Supt of Dunseith Public School at the time of his death in December 1918. He was a victim of the Flu Epidemic of 1918. My uncle Thurman was one year old and my dad (Dean Parrill) was born four months after his death. Cecil married Laura Melhus at John’s(?) Lutheran. This church later merged with Little Prairie.

 

I am wondering if this barn was North of Dunseith or North of Bottineau. I was always under the impression the land was North of Bottineau but it would actually make more sense that it was N of Dunseith, except I thought dad said it was over by Bottineau.

 

We have family history stating that the Parrills came to America from Scotland between 1660-1690. Hugh Parrill (9 generations back from me) settled in Virginia and was a neighbor of George Washington. (Some legal papers of Washington mention dealings with the Parrills).

Parrills fought on both sides in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. During the Civil War, some moved to West Virginia as they were against slavery and some stayed on the Virginia side as they were in favor of slavery. Three or four Parrills married Calverts, relations of Lord Baltimore (so it is written). Anne Calvert married Hugh Parrill. Later, some Parrills moved to Ohio and Illinois. Our grandfather came alone to ND to teach school after graduating (?)from Valparaiso University in Illinois. Dad attended a Parrill reunion in Illinois when he was about 20. We had Christmas cards from his uncle and cousins in Farina, ill, but otherwise we kids have never met any of our Parrill relatives. My brother Clark had a letter and emails from Michael Parrill of West Virginia. If anyone on the blog knows any Parrills, they are probably related. Some spellings are slightly different, but could still be related. (Actually, I think my cousin Myron met a Parrill in Grand Forks-think he worked at Menards. This was probably 20 years ago.)

Dick Johnson’s reply:
LeaRae,

I may have misread the writing on the old picture of the barn. It’s
very poorly written and may not be ‘Parels’ at all. We think it could be
‘Pauls’, which could then be my great grandfather Paul Strietzel’s barn
and would make more sense. I don’t remember this barn but it could have
been long gone before I was around. I’m old, but not that old! Sorry if
this caused any confusion, it looks like my mistake. If you write the
name ‘Paul’ and stretch out the U, it looks like an R and an E. Of
course it doesn’t with a typewriter. They obviously didn’t have Anna
Foss for English!!

Dick

 

 

Reply to Erling Lansverks question about finding an old teacher

From Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.

 

Good morning Gary,

There must be over 250 listings on Footnote for the family name Larson in the Turtle Mt Star. I have read about 40 items so far and found Harry Larson listed as school staff for the year 1938 at Dunseith No I. A Mrs. Harry Larson was hostess to the teachers’ sewing club mid April 1939. Victor and I leave for a week with Ivan and Nora in New Jersey this Sunday. I may have several idle hours to explore Larson entries then.

George mentioned the passing of Greg Grimme to me at our visit in Fort Benton, MT. This birthday event quite by chance coincided with the funeral services of Greg. Marc Gottbreht and George were shocked and saddened by the loss of Greg and offer their condolences.

Sharron

 

 

 

 

Reply to Dick Johnson (68) form Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, WY.

 

 

Thanks Dick! I never heard the description of the house. Beckie will appreciate the article, for she also gets these blogs everyday. I don’t ever remember Uncle Raymond (Red) being called “Hobo” Red; even though it truly describes him very well. The stories that old man use tell were very entertaining. Like the one, about him and others being chased out of Mexico; or the one about him and others being called “soldiers of misfortune” instead of the usual “soldiers of fortune”. Thanks again, Dick. Sybil Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

Message / Picture from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.

 

 

Gary and Friends,

Someone sent in a picture of Clint Anderson’s Cream Station quite a
while back. I have looked at that picture several times and can’t place
the building or the large building beside it. I was wondering if Lloyd
Awalt or one of our other contributors could tell me where it was
located? I remember hearing that a big hall burned down on the north end
of Main street on New Year’s Eve—OK Lloyd,(or whomever) what year?
Someone stated that Minnie and George Alvin took over the cream
business, but this isn’t the building they were in. At least not the one
I remember, across from Lamoureux Bros. Garage. There were many fires in
the old days and several businesses were lost so I wondered if this
could have been the fate of Clint Anderson’s cream station. Does anyone
know? I suppose many of the younger readers don’t know the difference
between a cream station and a creamery. A cream station bought cream
from the farmers and then sent it to a creamery for processing into all
the dairy products. They had to ‘test’ the cream for butter fat content
and the producer was paid accordingly. The picture below is the one of
Clint Anderson’s Cream Station sent in earlier. Thanks Gary!

 

 

 

Lutheran Picture L to R:
 
Back row
Clarence Bye, Clarence Christianson , Coonie McKay, Erling Berg, Stan Salmonson, Cliff
Salmonson, Art Henning, Ingolf Medlang

3rd row
Joan Salmonson, Alvina Christianson, Helen Bye, Agnes Salmonson, Ella Metcalfe, Dorothy
Halvorson

2nd row
Gladys Henning, Hannah Rude, Delores Berg , Bernice Johnson, Caroleen Williams,
Alma Halvorson, Alice McKay

Front row
Don Johnson, Art Rude, Cliff Halvorson, Lawrence Struck, Lester Halvorson,
Jim Metcalfe, Don Williams

 

09/25/2009

Thank you from Bill Grimme (65):
 
First of all, I thank you all for the condolences you sent by email and in the blog. I hope I responded to everyone. If not, know that I appreciate all the kind words, thoughts, and prayers.
 
I feel it is necessary to file a small report on Greg’s funeral to this audience, because it feels to me that all were there in spirit.
 
The funeral was very well attended, I thought. It was wonderful to see friends of the Grimme family there. Pastor John Hesford delivered a fitting memorial – it almost seemed that he had known Greg all his life. Pastor Hesford has a true talent and he is a comforting presence.
 
And then there was the music. Joan Richards was great as the piano accompanist. She opened and closed the service with “Amazing Grace” and “Morning Has Broken”. Well done and thank you, Joan. Dick Johnson, Brenda Johnson, and Ron Hett did two pieces “Wayfaring Stranger” and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”. I know I have never before experienced such fine talent a funeral service. And, I was not alone in my evaluation. EVERYONE I talked to after the service volunteered that it was the finest music selection and presentation that they had ever heard. Thank you, Joan, Dick, Brenda, and Ron.
 
We can be proud of our family in Dunseith and the area. They don’t forget their own and they welcome them home with conviction.
 
Thank you, everyone.
 
Bill Grimme
 
 
 
Reply from Mel Kuhn (70: St. John, ND.
 
Howdy Gary,
 
In response to your query in #564 of Jerome Allard. His mother was one of the 5 Cote sisters and he is double cousins with Carol, Mary and Larry.
 
Mel Kuhn [70]
 
 
 
Reply / Pictures from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Sybil Johnson’s request about pictures of Axel and Bernice’s homes is
a tough one. The lived on a peninsula on Horseshoe Lake, out past our
barn. I have a picture of part of the house. The main part of the house
was actually a tar paper shack and to the east was a log addition that
was probably bedrooms. This place was abandoned in 1933 when Hans and
Cynthia Johnson moved to Towner, ND. Axel and his family moved into
their house and stayed there for several years. When Hans and Cynthia
moved back to the farm in 1942, I think Axel moved his family to
Dunseith to the house you remember. The house they first lived in on the
peninsula was falling down by the 1950s and in the 70s I pushed the
remnants into a pile and burned it and cleaned up the spot. I have never
seen a picture of the tar paper shack part. I do remember it well though
and can still remember going inside many times and looking at the stuff
that was still there. There was flowered wallpaper in the kitchen part
and the log walls were whitewashed. The roof was shot and the inside was
damp and moldy from rain running in. It’s rather interesting that we
have no pictures of the main part of the house. They took pictures of
everything else. To the east of the log addition was a small log cabin
that Red ‘Hobo’ Kelly stayed in. I played in that one too until the roof
collapsed in the early 60s. This cabin survived longer than the house
probably because it wasn’t quite as old. Anyway, I will attach a picture
of the cabin and part of the house and then a picture of Hans’s house
where Axel lived for 9 years or so. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 

 

 

News paper articles posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: neolag@min.midco.net Minot & Bottineau, ND.

 

 

Tim Greb is married to Trish Pladson, Daughter of Floyd & Patricia Pladson. Floyd’s parents were Eldon & Ella Pladson. The Pladson family lived right below the Ackworth Cemetery. Floyd’s brother Dan now owns the land and has a house directly behind the Cemetery. Gary

 

 

 

 

Reply from Ron Longie (65) when I asked him if he was ralated to Cote and his dad Dan. Gary

 

Gary,

Dan is my Uncle Verlin and Aunt Stella’s son I believe he lives in Bottineau.

Ron

 

09/23/2009

Folks, I sent the last group message about 12 hours ago. With the daily limits set by the email providers I may not be able get this sent to everybody now, but I’ll give it try. Gary
 
 
Request from Erling Landsverk (44): Portage, WI
 
Hi Gary and All;
 
I am writing a story about my first grade teacher, Harry Larson. I remember him very well but I did lose touch after Iwas about 10 yrs. My sister Borg Filas saw him at an all school reunion at Dunseith in the seventies. He taught at the following school
Loon Lake School #2 District 15
Bottineau county schools
Inga B. Olson, County School Superintendent
He taught there in 1933. He was an unusual and gifted teacher, and I had hoped that perhaps someone on your mailing list might have some knowledge of him and his family. And if he has decendants I wanted to let them know how greatly he was admired by everyone at our little school. I will list most of the families that attended at the time he taught if that would help. He also taught in Dunseith Elementary in 37-38 school
Here is a list of the Families
Hagen Family
Torgeson family
Amsbough Family
Helgeson Family
Fulsebakke Family
Lund Family
My sister tells me he had moved west, and I really don’t know if he has family or not, but i presume he does. So all you good people from the turtle Mountains, Please! give me a hand getting in touch with his decendants.
 
Erling Landsverk
 
 
 
Reply from Trish Larson Clayburgh (73): FORT COLLINS
 
Wow Gary, that looks like a wonderful vacation spot. Congratulations to Cheryl on winning the prize for the singing contest, and doesn’t she look great! No surprise there! I used to stand in front of her in choir, so I know all about how wonderful her voice is….
 
Trish Larson
 
 
 
From Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, WY.
 
Dick, is it possible with in all those pictures, that you may have pictures of Pa and Ma Johnson’s old places? In the 30 years that I was married to
Augie, I heard so many stories, but never saw the pictures. Many years ago, with Ma and Augie, we went to Aunt Cynthia’s place, before it was fenced in (if I remember rite). But that was all. Augie use to talk about (dont know if this is true or not) how Pa would swim Lake Shootie(?) and how he nailed
with a spike, the strap that Ma use to use on the kids and dared her to dislodge it? Maybe, this isnt the place to ask, but anyone who knew Pa, knew he
wouldnt allow such abuse. There is bad with the good, but mostly the good out weighs the bad.
What I remember of Pa Johnson, is anytime you couldnt find him, all you had to do is look in one or the other vegetable garden. He was a dear man!
Sybil Johnson
 
 
 
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 
Cousin Geri Metcalfe Munro sent me some photos and my response.

Hi Vickie–The pictures of the cousins was taken at the Seattle Dunseith reunion before the cruise–the one of Jeff, David and wife Juli was taken last evening at Monte’s downtown. We could mention LeRae’s maiden name (Parrill) and that Mildred and Jennie were sisters.

Geri

Hi Kith and Kin, attached are 3 photos sent to me to be fwd to you by Geri (Metcalfe) Munro who has labeled each. I believe each of you on this Kith and Kin address are somehow related to a couple of people in at least 2 pictures. Millie Parrill ( Lea Rae’s mom) and Jennie Metcalfe (Ardis’ mom) were Nelsons….and….Terry Espe is related to those of you with the Seim connection. Jeff and David are Geri’s son’s.

………My dad was well taken care of that icy cold month of January 1980 by the Munro boys and their parents while mom had the brain surgery. As was, Uncle Emil’s family a couple years previously when he was hospitalized. In the ’70’s and 80’s St. Luke’s in Fargo was one of the premier places in ND for those suffering the most critical of illnesses.

Geri and Chuck and their two sons welcomed bewildered immediate families into their own home and wrapped around with the warmth of loving care. When mom was out of critical care danger, I went back home to the farm to be with my brothers, and back to teaching school, it was Jeff and Dave who took over and helped dad with his primary eating needs.

Geri, Dad loved you and your hospitality preparing meals he could eat, driving him to the hospital and at the end of each long day,giving him a little glass of sipping Sherry to unwind before bed each night. I think that was the only time he had Sherry, but I believe he liked it best when you were there to sip with him and talk. When I think of the Munro family I know God blessed each of them (the Munro’s) with the special gift… character trait of caring. Love Vickie

Cousins Ardis (Metcalfe) and Harley Steggall and LeRae (Parrill)

and Terry Espe

 

 

 

 

Note: Jeff & David are sons of Geri (Metcalfe 59) & Chuck Munro

Jeff, Juli and David Munro at Juli’s bday party

 

 

 

 

Cousins: Ardis, daughter of Lucky and Jennie (Nelson) Metcalfe;

Dianne, daughter of Jean (Metcalfe) Maki; Geri; Ken, son of Leona (Metcalfe) Oswell;

and brother, Gary Metcalfe.

 
 
Note: Arlene Allard is a sister to Jerome whose picture was posted yesterday. Arlene and Neola were Bottineau HS class (1957) mates.
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 
This is Arlene’s name tags I made for one of our reunions. Arlene didn’t attend the reunion, but I wanted to scan/save one of the name tags. Arlene’s happened to be the one I saved.
 
Neola
Provided byNeola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 
Thank you Neola for scanning this for us. I’m assuming the Turtle Mountain Star, The Turtle Mountain Times and the Metigoshe Mirror have or will publish this as well? Gary

 

 

09/22/2009

Folks, Bernadette and I got back today, Wednesday, from our trip to Boracay, Philippines. We had a wonderful trip. Boracay is for sure a paradise vacation resort island. The Boracay Regency Beach resort where we stayed is a fabulous place spread out over about 7 Acres with over 500′ of ocean front beach. They do not have a parking lot, because POV’s are not allowed on the island. The Boracay beaches have some of the finest sands with the clearest, warmest and shallowest waters anywhere in the world. After swimming in the ocean, it was refreshing to take a dip in one of the Regency’s pools. I have attached several pictures at the bottom of this message.
 
Since I have this ready, I will send it out tonight rather than in the morning Filipino time. Gary

 

 

Email address change for Marvel Hill Thompson (69): Bottineau, ND.

Gary,

It is great all you do, but for some odd reason I quit getting your emails. Could you please put my address back on. I did change emails August 1 but have been getting them until last week.

Thanks.

Marvel (Hill) Thompson

Class of 1969

My new address is:

 

 

Request from Randy Hiatt: North Bend, WA.

Gary, when you get back from your very interesting sounding trip please add Delmar Fugere (my first cousin, Lois (Hiatt) and Orelle Fugere’s son to the blog. Lois was my mothers (Delores Hiatt) sister.

Thanks,

Randy Hiatt

Delmar, with all the wonderful things folks have had to say about your mother with previous postings, it is my pleasure to add you to our distribution list. You certainly have a whole lot of relatives included with the distribution of these daily messages too. I found a listing for you living at Bonney Lake, WA. Would that be correct? I believe your dad is living up in Mason county west of Bremerton, WA. I lived in Bremerton for over 35 years. Gary

 

 
 

Jerome Allard’s picture

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

 

Hi,

 

Gary, I think Jerome Allard was mentioned in one of your emails awhile ago. I think Jerome is Arlene Allard’s brother. She is my classmate. The dad passed away within the last year, I think. Jerome’s mother was, I think, one of the four/five sisters who lived at Good Sam within the last year, or so.

 

Neola

Neola, Jerome Allard graduated with the DHS class of 1958. Arlene is his sister. Without doing some research, I don’t remember if their mother was one of the 5 cote sisters. If she was that would, I think, make her a double cousin to Carol, Mary & Larry Allard. I may be all hosed up with what I remember. Mel Kuhn and some of you others, please verify all this. I do know for a fact though that Jerome is married to Donna LaCroix (64). I remember his sister Corliss Allard (66) very well too. Gary
 
Cruise pictures from Geri Metcalfe Munro (59): Fargo, ND.
Nancy Hosmer Baldwin (62) with her fiancé Keith Kontzie

 

 

 

Cousins: Ardis, daughter of Lucky and Jennie (Nelson) Metcalfe;

Dianne, daughter of Jean (Metcalfe) Maki; Geri; Ken, son of Leona (Metcalfe) Oswell;

and brother, Gary Metcalfe.

 
 
 

Phyllis McKay (65), Bill (Willie 60) & Al-lyn Longie

 

 

 

 

Cheryl Haagenson (71) with the judges after winning the singing contest on the cruise

 

Gary’s note/question

 

This sure looks like Mike and Sandra Zeiler (62) Vandal?

 

 

Message/Picture from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.

 

Gary and Friends,

I ran across a picture that is obviously very old. It was actually a
postcard, which was common in the early to mid ’20s. People could have
their pictures printed in postcard form and then mail them to friends
easily. This was in with my grandparent’s pictures and several others
are postcards and are dated in this same time period. With the recent
loss of our friend Thurman Parrill, and LeaRae Parrill Espe’s many
contributions to this blog, this old picture might be of special
interest to her family. The hand written inscription on the back
says–‘Parrill’s barn in the Turtle Mountains’. Actually it
says–‘Parels barn in the Turtal Mountains’, but then some of my
ancestors weren’t the best at grammar and phonics! I can only assume it
is LeaRae’s grandparent’s barn, and before the death of her grandfather
when the family moved to Mountain, ND. I don’t know the exact dates but
I assume it was in the ’20s. Can you fill in the blanks LeaRae? Thanks Gary!

Dick

 

 

Made out of sand on the beach – Boracay Island, Philippines

 

 

Dinner buffet at one of the Boracay Regency restaurants on the beach.

 

This buffet only cost $12.00 net with taxes and gratuities. The Breakfast

 

Buffet was free. Restaurant food is cheap on Boracay.

 

 

Bernadette in the seating area of the Buffet pictured above.

 

 

 

Bernadette at the Boracay Regency. The beach is to the left behind the trees.

 

 

 

Me (Gary) on the Beach. Later on I did go swimming

 

 

 

Bernadette on the Beach. That water is as warm as heated bath tub water.

 

 

One of the 3 pools at the Boracay Regency. That is a bar in the lower right

 

of the picture with bar stools about 6″ under the water in the pool.

 

later on in the

afternoon all the stools were taken.

 

09/21/2009

Folks,
 
I’m making this a fast one today. Bernadette and I are leaving shortly this morning for Boracay, Philippines. We are going on a 3 day 2 night excursion, so we’ll be back Wednesday evening. Boracay is a little Island located about 200 miles NW of us. The island is only about 4 miles long and about 3/4 of a mile wide. We’ll be flying to a near by island and then taking a boat (2 miles) over to Boracay. Boracay’s beaches with the fine white sands are ranked #6 in the world with some of the literature I’ve read. Boracay is a well known tourist resort. We have always talked about going there, but never have.
 
With us being gone, I will not be sending out a blog for the next 2 days. Please keep your messages coming though. I’ll catch up when I get back.
 
Gary
Boracay Regency beach resort
 
 
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary thanks for your response, below in the Peterson information recently sent by way of Dick Johnson,
#4, Emma Peterson m. Bill Childs children Billy and Donny…….They attended country school Seim School land owner unknown which was known previously as Oakes School located on the Metcalfe Farm SW corner of Holmes Township. All connected to the Lude Peterson Family

also please note #5 Vida Peterson m Jess Wilson……. Arla (Wilson) Hall long time former teacher at Bottineau school and many country schools is I believe a Wilson. I see Arla Hall out with other retired teachers, former country schools and Dunseith School ie. Millie and Marie Parrill their sister Jeannie Walker

.

Vickie,

In Gary’s message he sent me it shows a Billy Dean Childs born in Bismarck and Died in Dunseith in 1942. I think this could be the boy. I should have read his message first. Does this sound right? I remember Mom talking about this little boy being killed but never the year–just that he was 8 years old. His mother was Emma Peterson Childs, according to Gary’s Peterson family history. I’ll forward the page from Gary–actually from Vance Bailey. Thanks.

Dick

Yes, you are correct about Billy Dean Child’s. I’ll fwd these to Nancy…..since she does recall alot of stuff. I remember, the Child’s had another younger child too. I wonder if they came back once or not…I think Jim and Ella Metcalfe, while Jim was in partnership with Berg construction out of Seattle lived for a time in Spokane during the war, visited with the Peterson clan often, Jimmy or Gary Metcafe would recall this.
Vickie

Descendants of Ludrick “Lude” F. Peterson

Generation No. 1

1. LUDRICK “LUDE” F.2 PETERSON (ANDERS WHILHM1) was born 20 November 1865 in Hjorted, Sweden, and died 1959 in Spokane, Wa.. He married LILLY MAE OAKS. She was born 1880 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, and died 1964 in Spokane, Wa..

More About LUDRICK “LUDE” F. PETERSON:

Burial: Fairmont Memorial Park, Spokane, WA

More About LILLY MAE OAKS:

Burial: Fairmont Memorial Park, Spokane, WA

Children of LUDRICK PETERSON and LILLY OAKS are:

2. i. MAX LEROY3 PETERSON, b. 1897, Battle Lake, Otter Tail Co., Minnesota; d. 1963, Renton, King Co. , Wa..

3. ii. MAUDE PETERSON, b. 1899, Dunseith, Rolette Co., N.D..

4. iii. EMMA PETERSON, b. 1903, Rolette Co., N.D.; d. 1994, Spokane, Wa..

5. iv. VIDA LILLIAN PETERSON, b. 1905, Dunseith, Rolette Co., N.D.; d. 1990, Spokane, Wa..

6. v. MINNIE PETERSON, b. 19 March 1915, Rolette Co., N.D..

Generation No. 2

2. MAX LEROY3 PETERSON (LUDRICK “LUDE” F.2, ANDERS WHILHM1) was born 1897 in Battle Lake, Otter Tail Co., Minnesota, and died 1963 in Renton, King Co. , Wa.. He married MARY LEAH AWALT 29 August 1920 in Dunseith, Rolette Co. ND, daughter of WILLIAM AWALT and MARY KNIGHT. She was born 14 December 1896 in Plano, Appanoose Co, Ia, and died 20 August 1977 in Bottineau, Bottineau Co, ND.

More About MAX LEROY PETERSON:

Burial: Oak Creek Cem., Bottineau, Bottineau Co., ND

Fact 1: Buried at Oak Creek Cem., Bottineau, N.D.

Children of MAX PETERSON and MARY AWALT are:

i. LUCILLE4 PETERSON, b. 02 October 1920, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; d. 15 July 2003, Washington State; m. LOUIS HOVELAND, 02 October 1940, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; b. 17 September 1915, Perth, Towner Co., ND; d. 18 November 1999, Renton, King Co., WA.

More About LUCILLE PETERSON:

Burial: Greenwood Cem., Renton, King Co. WA

ii. MARION PETERSON, b. 01 April 1922, Rolette Co., ND; m. CARL FEUTCHER.

iii. MAYNARD (BILL) PETERSON, b. 24 March 1923, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; d. 31 August 2004, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; m. JOY STICKLAND, 20 October 1944, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; b. 12 February 1927, Rolette Co., ND.

More About MAYNARD (BILL) PETERSON:

Burial: Little Prairie Cemetery

iv. DUANE LEROY PETERSON, b. 14 May 1924, Rolette Co., ND; m. LORRAINE EVA DUE, 1953, Willow City, Bottineau Co., ND; b. 26 March 1935, Bottineau, Bottineau Co., ND.

Notes for DUANE LEROY PETERSON:

The Courant, Bottineau, ND, Tuesday September 30, 2003

PETERSONS CELEBRATE 50th ANNIVERSARY.

Approximately 200 friends and relatives gathered at the Lodge at the Peace Garden, Sunday, Sept. 14, to help Duane and Lorraine Peterson celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

At the punch bowl was Tami and Frank Gladue. Serving coffee was Gail Lagerquist. Cutting and serving the Weddidng Anniversary cake was Renee and Holly Lagerquist. All are their grandchildren. The cake was baked by their daughter-in-law Sheri, and granddaughter Heather Peterson.

The Kelvin Homemakers provided and served the delicious lunch.

All four of the Peterson childrn were in attendance. They are Connie and Karen Lagerquist, (Mike) and Sheri Peterson of Dunseith, and (Kim) and Miles Brown of Colorado Springs, CO. All nine of their grandchildren were here for the event. They are (Russell) and Holly Lagerquist of Butte, Montana, and their grandaughter, McKenzie of Bismark. Renee and and Gail Lagerquist and Tami and Frank Gladue, and Danny and Heather Peterson of Dunseith and Alecia Brown of Colorado Springs, CO.

Duane’s brother (Bill) and Joy Peterson of Dunseith and sisters, (Vida) and Howard Hiatt and Doris Williams of Bottineau; Shirley Lagerquist of Rugby; Lois Peterson of Spokane, WA.; and Mary Artzer of Algona, WA were all in attendance.

Lorraine’s family were also all present.Dolly Schoonover of Rolette; (Joann) and Emery Vigness of Alexander, ND; (Helen) and Wesley Satron of Minot, ND; Marta of Fort Collins, CO; and Morris’ twin sister (Marion) and Mike Nerple of Dunseith, ND.

(then follows a description of the program)

Fifty years ago, Max Peterson’s Model A Ford truck was in Willow City to escort the bride and groom around town after the wedding. On their 25th anniversary, that same Model A truck was at the Peace Garden for a ride around the Garden driven by Jack Peterso. Would you believe, that same Model A was waiting at the Peace Garden on their 50th anniversary, driven by Martin Peterson for another ride around the Garden?

Approwimately 50 friends and relatives enjoyed supper after the open house at the Peace Garden, visiting and reminiscing. Relatives and freinds came from North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Colorado, and Canada.

v. VIDA PETERSON, b. 16 February 1926, Rolette Co., ND; m. HOWARD HIATT, 27 April 1944, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; b. 22 September 1924, Bottineau, Bottineau Co., ND; d. April 1977.

vi. LOIS PETERSON, b. 08 March 1927; m. (1) LEONARD HONSEY; m. (2) ROBERT RUDE.

vii. SHIRLEY MAY PETERSON, b. 26 August 1929, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; m. RALPH BENJAMIN LAGERQUIST, 03 December 1947, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; b. 22 April 1921, Kelvin, Rolette Co., ND; d. 10 December 1998, Rugby, Pierce Co., ND..

viii. DARREL (JACK) PETERSON, b. 19 February 1931, Bottineau, Bottineau Co., ND; d. 14 June 1989, Minot, Ward Co. ND; m. NETTIE Z. HIATT, 11 April 1951, Rolla, Rolette Co., ND; b. 08 March 1930, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND.

ix. MARY PETERSON, b. 24 April 1933, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; m. (1) MARTIN EVANS, 08 June 1957; b. Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; d. 20 April 1970; m. (2) ERWIN “BUD” HOERLE, 09 March 1972; d. 28 September 1984; m. (3) JOHN “JIM” ARTZER, 11 July 1986, Renton, King Co., WA; b. 08 March 1930, Longmont, Boulder Co., CO; d. 13 January 1995, Renton, King Co., WA.

x. DORIS PETERSON, b. 04 November 1934, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; m. MARLIN B. WILLIAMS, 27 August 1955, Rolette Co., ND; b. 10 July 1935, Rolette Co., ND.

3. MAUDE3 PETERSON (LUDRICK “LUDE” F.2, ANDERS WHILHM1) was born 1899 in Dunseith, Rolette Co., N.D.. She married (1) A. M. (ABIE) ROTHWELL. She married (2) FRANK WOLVERTON. She married (3) HENRY J. MORLAN 01 December 1917 in Dunseith, Rolette Co., N.D., son of WILLIAM MORLAN and EVELINE AWALT. He was born 30 August 1879, and died 27 September 1944.

Children of MAUDE PETERSON and HENRY MORLAN are:

i. EVYLEN4 MORLAN, b. 18 December 1919, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; m. MEYER QUAM.

ii. PHYLLIS MORLAN, b. 02 February 1925, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND; m. ALVIN MARTIN.

4. EMMA3 PETERSON (LUDRICK “LUDE” F.2, ANDERS WHILHM1) was born 1903 in Rolette Co., N.D., and died 1994 in Spokane, Wa.. She married BILL CHILDS. He died 1958 in Spokane, Spokane Co., WA.

More About EMMA PETERSON:

Burial: Fairmont Memorial Park, Spokane, WA

More About BILL CHILDS:

Burial: Fairmont Memorial Park, Spokane, WA

Children of EMMA PETERSON and BILL CHILDS are:

i. BILLY DEAN4 CHILDS, b. Bismark, Burleigh Co., ND; d. 1942, Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND.

ii. DON CHILDS, m. PAT [–?–] CHILDS.

5. VIDA LILLIAN3 PETERSON (LUDRICK “LUDE” F.2, ANDERS WHILHM1) was born 1905 in Dunseith, Rolette Co., N.D., and died 1990 in Spokane, Wa.. She married JESSE C WILSON 10 June 1924 in Dunseith, Rolette Co., ND, son of SOLOMAN WILSON and EDITH ANDERSON. He was born 06 January 1897 in Mo., and died 13 December 1971 in Spokane, Spokane Co., Wa.

More About VIDA LILLIAN PETERSON:

Burial: Fairmont Memorial Park, Spokane, WA

More About JESSE C WILSON:

Burial: Fairmont Memorial Park, Spokane, WA

Children of VIDA PETERSON and JESSE WILSON are:

i. LUDRIC CALVIN4 WILSON, b. 01 August 1925, Gary, In.; d. May 1982, Spokane, Wa.; m. SHIRLEY ANN BERNICE STEINER; b. 13 May 1932.

ii. JESS CLEO WILSON, b. 14 September 1927, Eureka, Ca.; d. 31 May 2003, Spokane, WA.

iii. MARGARET CORINNE “CONNIE” WILSON, b. 04 December 1929, Minot, Ward Co., N.D.; m. MERRILL ALAN READ, 06 February 1957, Spokane, Wa.; b. 23 January 1920, The Dalles, Or.; d. 15 October 1967, Spokane, WA.

6. MINNIE3 PETERSON (LUDRICK “LUDE” F.2, ANDERS WHILHM1) was born 19 March 1915 in Rolette Co., N.D.. She married (1) LESTER PINE 11 March 1937. She married (2) EUGENE HARRY PATTERSON 03 June 1975.

Children of MINNIE PETERSON and LESTER PINE are:

i. LARRY4 PINE, b. 21 February 1940.

ii. MIKE PINE, b. 27 December 1943; m. ARLENE CHILDS.

iii. LESLIE ANN PINE, b. 09 March 1951; m. (1) DALE LEE MILLER; b. abt 1950; m. (2) TIMOTHY PETE

09/20/2009

Condolence to the Poitra family from Marge Longie Wilcox (56):Vancouver, WA.

 

Gary,

I would like to send my prayers and condolences to the Poitra family for their recent lost.

Marge Wilcox

 

 

 

Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70):Dunseith, ND

 

THANK YOU. Dick and Gary for the information on our neighbors, the
Peterson’s of Holmes Township.
My dad was between Bill and Duane in age. When dad lived with the
Seim’s, Duane lived with the Carlson’s. Dad was there from the
time he was 14 to 17. He left the Seim farm to join his older
brothers in Seattle along with Bill Peterson. Dad and Bill ”
bached” together at Meyers rooming house for a year until he joined
the navy. Dad recalled many other hired folks a the Seims. Some
were were Jennie Nelson, & Louis DuBois. All the hired help that
ever worked at the Seim farm carved or wrote their in names in to
the wood close to the milk house in the barn. Dad or Art showed me
the many names that continued to withstand the test of time.

I recall mom and dad taking Nancy and I across the road to the north
to Lude and Lillies, where they would visit and would play cards
under the light of a kerosene lamp.

The article also made the connection as dad recalled it with the
Oakes family. While riding one of my trusty steeds ….(Byrd the
barn horse, Scout the Tennessee Walker…or Smokey…..the killer.)
I often rode over or around the original foundation of Oakes school.
Thanks Gary & Dicki

Vickie L. Metcalfe

Vickie, I think you are referring to some Peterson family info that Doreen Bailey sent to me with a personal message that I forwarded to Dick Johnson. I have posted A reply I got from Doreen about that very message below. Gary
 
Reply from Doreen Bailey:Tempe, AZ
 
Gary
I am happy if any of the information I have in Vance’s research is of interest and or helpful for others who are searching for family connections/history.. I just did not want to send something that was not appropriate for the email newsletter.
Thanks for continuing to send me the emails. I admire your dedication to the newsletter, it certainly has brought joy and renewed friendships for so many, God Bless. Doreen
Doreen, We know that Vance acquired a lot of Dunseith/Turtle Mountain/Rolette county info with his research. When you see subjects discussed that you have info on, please share. Not being that familiar with the Peterson family, I forwarded that message to Dick. I am glad that he shared it with those he thought it would be of interest too. Thank you Doreen, Gary.

 

 

Reply from Carmen Leonard Richard: Rolette, ND.

 

I printed out the picture of Little Prairie Ladies Aid for Marie(Eurich) Beachler and she was able to identify almost everyone.

Back row:-Hannah Kirkwold, Ella Metcalfe, Arla Millang, Joy Peterson, Jesse Millang, Kenrose Medlang, Bertha Meyer, Agnes Solmonson ? Elenore Fauske, Velma Millang.

Front row: -Christine Carlson, Annie Nicholson, Hilda Strong, Martha Handeland, Clara (Seim) Anderson, Francis Espe, Ingrid Seim.

Carmen, Thank you so much for sharing this with Marie. I do not have Marie or any of her children listed in my records. I see she is a sister to Dave Jr. Eurich (deceased). I also see that another sister, Olynda Eurich, was married to Ydola Piegon, Colette Piegon Reid’s mother. Colette, I had no idea that your mother was a Eurich. That makes you a first cousin to all of Dave/Winifred’s children. Gary

 

 

Reply from Geri Metcalfe Munro (59): Fargo, ND.

 

Hi Gary,

I will list the ladies on this picture beginning with the back row (including some that were standing a little forward): Hannah (Tom) Kirkwold), Ella (Jim) Metcalfe, Arla (Art) Millang to the rt of Ella, Joy (Bill) Peterson, Jessie (Carl) Millang, Kenrose (Odin) Medlang, Bertha (Earl) Myer behind Agnes (Cliff) Salmonson) , Pat (Johnnie) Myer, then to the right in front of Pat, are Dorothy (Leonard) Millang and Velma (Cliff)Millang.

Front row is Christine (Pete) Carlson, Mrs. Fred Nicolson, Hilda (LeRoy) Strong, Martha (Oliver) Handeland, Clara (Leslie) Sime, Frances (Elmer) Espe and Ingrid (John) Seim.

I think Dick Johnson’s guess of 1948 was probably closer than my guess of 1951–my family moved to the farm from Seattle by the time
Margaret was born in 1946 and they joined Little Prairie Lutheran Church. I have pictures of the pastors who served our congregation.
Geri

 

 

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.

 

Gary and Friends,

In the picture of the Ladies Aid, they should be as follows:

Back row–L-R Arla Millang, Jessie Millang, Bertha Myer, and Pat Myer

Middle row–Hannah Kirkwold, Ella Metcafe, Joy Peterson, Kenrose
Medlang, Agnes Millang, Dorothy Millang, and Velma Millang.

Front row–Christine Carlson, Annie Nicholson, Hilda Strong, Martha
Handeland, Clara Sime, Frances Espe, and Ingrid Seim.

Gary—I’m sure the Metcalfe girls will know all these ladies and
respond too. After reading the story, it appears the picture was
actually taken in 1954. The roster with the picture shows another date.
Stan Salmonson found the picture in the Dunseith history book on page
318, for those who want to read the story. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Back Row: Arla Millang, Jessie Millang, Bertha Myer, and Pat Myer
Middle: Hannah Kirkwold, Ella Metcafe, Joy Peterson, Kenrose Medlang, Agnes Salmonson,
Dorothy Millang, and Velma Millang.
Front Row:
Christine Carlson, Annie Nicholson, Hilda Strong, Martha Handeland, Clara Sime,
Frances Espe, and Ingrid Seim.
 

 

These are some pictures that we took on the cruise. The flash was not set to go off on our camera when these were taken so they are not the best pictures. Gary

 

 

Cheryl Haagenson (71)

 

 

 

Geri Metcalfe (59) and Chuck Munro

 

 

Gary Stokes (65) Lorette Berube Leonard and Bernadette Stokes

 

 

09/19/2009

Harry Poitra, 71, Dunseith, died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, in a Minot hospital.

He was born Sept. 23, 1937, to Robert and Eva Poitra in Belcourt. He married Leona Delorme on Aug. 6, 1957, near Dunseith

Survivors: sons, Richard, Dunseith, Larry, Rapid City, S.D., Douglas, Grand Forks, Randy, Bottineau, Kevin and Michael, both Belcourt, Sandy, Park River; daughters, Donna Fredericksen, Grafton, Cheryl Trottier, Williston, Peggy Parisien, Dunseith, Diana Poitra, St. John; 36 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sisters: Theresa Manson, Rolla, Helen Sunblad of Minnesota, Amanda Poitra, Grand Forks; brother, Virgil, Dunseith.

Funeral: Saturday, 10 a.m., in Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau.

Burial: St. Louis Cemetery, rural Dunseith.

Visitation: Today, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., in the funeral home.

Marlin (Virgil 64), you are the only one of your brothers family members I recognize. I am sure many of our readers know many of your family members. Our condolences are with you and your family with the passing Harry. Gary

 
 
 
Request from Lyle (61) and Sharon Pearson Zeiler (62): Rugby, ND
 
Hi Gary,
 
We would like to be included in the Dunseith Blog.
We moved to Rugby in Jan.2008 and just got hooked up
to the internet again. Our e-mail address is
Our address is 410 -7th st sw
Rugby,ND 58368.
Thank-YOU,
LYLE & SHARON (PEARSON) ZEILER
 
 
 
Copy of message sent to Janice Leonard Workman (56): Auburn, WA, From
Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 
Hi Janice, Good to see you in Seattle. Sure did enjoy your brother Bill on the cruise. We really had a lot to talk about.

Though I know you did not work full time for Judge Ray Wilson, I thought you might have been there the day Tony Christianson paid his fine for whatever. He gave the Judge and extra $20 and said, “I am gonna feed you so well that I hope your short leg grows out to match the other one.”
Tony wasn’t in Dunseith that long, I think he was Danish and some kind of a character. They all had a sense of humor those days. Tony was married to Velva House.

Hope you had a good time in S.D. for the reunion and that you found Bonnie and Keith doing well!!

Thanks Janice. Gary Metcalfe

 
 
 
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Marshall Awalt’s latest picture of the Ladies Aid was at one time in
the papers with the caption ‘Fried Chicken Experts’. The ladies served
the Peace Garden board of director’s annual meetings at the old lodge.
They did this for many years and used the proceeds for the church. My
guess on the date is ’46 or ’48, by looking at the bottom part of the
numbers. They continued the serving tradition for probably close to 30
years. After looking, I believe only four of the ladies in this picture
are still living today. One is Joy Peterson who was in the kitchen today
helping with the lunch at Greg Grimme’s funeral. She is going strong!

When Vickie Hiatt LaFountaine mentioned the cream cans, I thought of a
neat thing that happened just a couple years ago. I’ve been known to
take an early morning drive over to St. John to have coffee with the
guys. One morning Doug Stewart came in after I did and told me he put a
‘present’ in the back of my pickup. When I left I noticed this old rusty
smashed cream can in my pickup box and thought it was a joke of some
kind, probably just something that was laying in the street and needed
to go to the junk. We pull tricks on each other too, so it could be
something like that. I went to throw it in my scrap iron pile and then
noticed the brass name tag on the can—Paul Strietzel-St. John, ND–my
great grandfather! I took it to the shop and heated the tag to loosen
the solder and now I have the tag as a keepsake. Doug had also noticed
the name and thought I might like to have it–he was sure right!

Greg Grimme’s funeral today was well attended and even though it was
sad to have lost our friend at such a young age, folks came together to
support the family and to remember all the good times we had. Several
classmates of Greg and Gwen came to pay their respects and visit with
Gwen and Bill. Greg was buried at Riverside Cemetery in the Grimme
family plot by his parents and brother, Conley. The Grimme family was an
integral part of our community and I think that was reflected by those
in attendance. My sympathy sure goes out to Gwen and Bill in this time
of sorrow.

Dick

 
 
 
Reply from Geri Metcalfe Munro (59): Fargo, ND
 
THANK YOU , Marshall Awalt and Gary Stokes for the precious picture of the Little Prairie Lutheran Ladies Aid group. My mom had it framed and on a wall at the farm, but I lost track of it, so I was DELIGHTED to get this back, and it prints so well. I am thinking the picture was taken in about 1951. Joy Peterson would probably remember the year. I was just about to write and ask her if they still have the picture. I remember these ladies so well from my childhood–good friends and neighbors all. They made money to support the church by serving chicken dinner to the Kiwanis and other organizations; it was the best in the world!

Many thanks and Marshall, I’ll bet you have other great pictures, too.

Geri (Metcalfe) Munro

 
 
 
Replies from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 
Gary I try to inform my cousins (Kith and Kin) of family news It is so great to tell them to log onto your blog.. Always great when a special treat appears. Thanks Gary.

Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:12:28 -0500
To: Kith and Kin,
From: “Vickie L. Metcalfe”
Subject: Fried Chicken Experts

On today’s Gary Stokes #560 web site, there is a photo of the Little Prairie Ladies Aide. I’m sure you will recognize many familiar names. Each a wonderful rolemodel. These farm women served meals at the Peace Garden during the summer to earn monies for the ladies Aide.I think this group was called “The Fried Chicken Experts”. I hope Geri Munro writes in on Gary’s blog to tell him about her mom, Ella and others’ frying the chicken’s at home and how we all have Ella’s coleslaw recipe. When,after the big serving day,they would bring home roaster scraps to feed the family. ….What about it Geri?… I recall most of these ladies in the congregation at Little Prairie and also at Peace Lutheran.
Little Prairie merged with Dunseith Lutheran and Rendahl Lutheran, the ladies aide from all of those congregations grouped together and continued to serve at the Peace Garden for special meals. However, as time moves on and congregation grew smaller that doesn’t happen any more.
Tall evergreens now stand stately in place of the old church over the final resting place of many of these fine women. Clean up day at Little Prairie Cemetery is the first Saturday in May. After cleaning up, Little Prairie folks gather around, under the trees for….coffee, sandwiches, bars and commune.
Love, Vickie

http://garystokes.net/message5609.aspx

Vickie L. Metcalfe
Geri You’d remember more than I. I think you are right about the cooking at the Peace Garden because of the big ovens. Our mom wasn’t part of that earlier group, she did help in later years.
I know for the 1980 Metcalfe family reunion that’s what we did, led by Lorraine Somer’s and Cousin Barbara Straub cooked the in the day’s before.
Vickie.


Help Geri out here.

Please correct me if I’m wrong about the ladies frying chicken at the Lodge. They used to serve 150-250, I think–not sure of the #’s–it would have made sense for the ladies to fry at home–since they served so many…let’s hear from you guys out there!

Love,
Geri


From: chuckgerimunro
To: vickie.metcalfe
Subject: RE: Fried Chicken Experts
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:15:27 -0500

Hi Vickie–You know, I remember that the ladies aid fried all the chicken at the Lodge at the Peace Garden, not at home–maybe they browned it the day before and went back–it was a long day and I know Mom was tired by the end of it, but it was so enjoyable for her. All she brought home was the scraps in the bottom of her roaster (my mouth waters just to think of what a wonderful flavor that chicken had–of course, they did not spare the butter, cream or browning) –the folks that were served always rushed to purchase the chicken that was left and it always sold out, no matter how much chicken there was.

Mom used to say that she didn’t know what they would do once Christine Carlson and Ingrid Seim were no longer available, so I guess that she decided to learn to be one of those in charge, which she often was after they were gone.

Love, Geri
 
This is the Little Prairie Lutheran Ladies Aid picture. We know the names of who all is in this picture but we do not know who is who. Geri, Vickie, Dick & others; can you guys help us out? Thanks, Gary
 
 
Reply from Geri Metcalfe Munro (59): Fargo, ND
 
Hi Gary and Marshall Awalt,
My cousin, Vickie Metcalfe and I were talking this week about old pictures and she suggested I send this picture to the Dunseith blog.
Gertrude Awalt had given Lottie and Vickie the picture, and they had it copied and gave copies to relatives. The kids are left to right: Jim Metcalfe (my dad), Uncle Lucky Metcalfe, friend and neighbor, Charles Anderson, (uncle of the Awalt kids)and Uncle Archie Metcalfe in front. We are not sure of the date but maybe 1924 (?)
Thanks, Gary

Geri (Metcalfe) Munro

Back L to R:Jim Metcalfe, Lucky Metcalfe, Charles Anderson
Front: Archie Metcalfe

09/18/2009

Pamela Fugere Schmidt (73): Mandan, ND

Loved Sharron’s comments on Jeff Gottbreht. I think I was just 10 years old when I started babysitting for the Gottbreht boys. Jeff, you’re quite a guy and you make us all proud!

Pamela (Fugere) Schmidt, class of ‘73

 
 
From Cheryl Kester Gaugler (69):North Brunswick, NJ
 
Gary,

Just wanted to check in and thank you for keeping Dunseith alive for everyone. I left 37 years ago, but my family knows that when I refer to ‘home’ I’m referring to Dunseith (New Jersey just feels different somehow!).

I’ve been enjoying Dick and Brenda Johnson’s CD, especially Johnny Cash’s Long Black Veil. It’s my favorite Johnny Cash song, so was great to hear Dick’s version. I told them the best part of the CD was hearing Dick talking and Brenda’s laugh in the background. I’ll be home in October for Mom’s 92nd birthday and am hoping to hear the Highway 43 group live.

 

Thank you for keeping everyone connected – it’s appears to be a labor of love on your part and everyone appreciates your efforts.

Cheryl Gaugler

 
 
 
From Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC
 
Hi Gary, I just got home from working the night shift. This past week I’ve been listening to Dick,and Brenda Johnson’s & Ron Hett’s Hwy 43 C.D. on my way to work each night, and again on my way home in the morning. The more I listen to it the more I love it.
 
Lastnite I watched on T.V. who was going to walk away with 1st Place on “America’s Got Talent”. There was some awesome talent on there this past month or so. A chicken farmer from Kentucky won it. As happy as I was for him for winning it cuz he really did need a break in life, he didn’t come remotely close to how good Dick, Brenda,and Ron are. Dicks got such a clear strong great voice, and Brenda, Ron & Dick really know how to play those instuments. I’m not just saying this to have something to say, I’m dead serious they need to go to the next audition in New York, that’s coming up. That would be awesome!!! I Am So Serious About This …Go Dick, Brenda & Ron!!!!!
 
Who ever out there doesn’t have the C.D. “Get It” and then lets cheer them on…. all the way to New York!!!
Cheryl and Aggie, I’m assuming you guys have the same CD of Dick & Brenda’s that was recorded at the Frozen Fingers Festival in Minot last winter that Brenda sent to Bill Grimme and Me. It is for sure a jewel. And yes, you are right Cheryl about Dick’s talking. I enjoy that ND/MN accent that I’m sure at one time I also had. After being away from the area for all these years I can sure pick up those from that area by their accent. Guess what, Hwy 43 just came up on our Stereo as I’m writing this. It’s 50 plus minutes of wonderful music.
 
Folks, I’m not sure of the cost or the distribution of this CD, but I’m posting both Dick and Brenda’s email for them to answer those questions for those of you that are interested. djcars@hughes.netBrenda.Johnson@ndsu.edu Gary
 
 
 
Reply from Randy Flynn (70): Happy Valley, OR
 
Gary,
 
The message from Gary Metcalfe prompted 2 thoughts. First, it would be wonderful to hear Gary Metcalfe and his Granddaughter sing. Their singing on the Alaskan Cruise was enjoyable. Angelina was truly as entertaining as her Grandfather Gary. I hope they are now recording a few songs so we can all enjoy their voices on the internet throughout the year.
 
Secondly, Gary’s desire to see the Ocean is well understood. I am presently working for 3 days on the central Oregon coast. I have not had many days as enjoyable since the Alaskan Cruise. The sun has been shining for several days, tonight the temperature is still 64 degrees at 11:15 at night, and some forthcoming bad weather is creating a beautiful surf rolling white waves upon the beach and rocky shoreline. It is truly mesmerizing and therapeutic to see and hear. If anyone travels to the west coast and has not visited this area, it is a real treat. Driving HWY 101 from Lincoln City to Coos Bay permits you to see and feel the ocean as well as the majesty of the rugged cliffs filled with wildlife.
 
So, Gary Metcalfe, please record a few songs for all of us to enjoy. I will play them the next time I drive U.S. Hwy 101.
 
Gary Stokes, Thank you for your continued efforts to keep us all connected.
 
Randy Flynn
 
 
 
Reply from Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine (73): Grafton, ND
 
I have fond memories of every sat bringing the cream into town to Minnie Alvin and waiting for the cream check as mom called it. I remember thinking how horrible that place smelled and commenting only to get the shhh and head shaking. Oh and yes dear Bob and the cream truck what a pleasure it was to see him. As a child I never knew the importrance of those cows until mom told os that the cream check was what they survived on. Guess I should’nt been so mean to the hateful old cows.
Yes Vickie, the cream check was the bread and butter of those days for most of the farm families. Dad got paid 3 cents for each butterfat pound of cream that he delivered to the Bottineau Creamery. The farmers paid him one cent and the Creamery 2 cents. The over loads on his pick-up were well over loaded with all the cream cans, double stacked, in that extra wide wooden box on that ford Pick-up by the time he got to Bottineau. Gary
 

 

From Marshall Awalt (51): Newport, NC

 

HI Gary I don’t know if I posted these ladies before or not but some of the readers might see a mother or grandmother.

 

Marshall Awalt 51

Folks, I recognize a whole lot of these folks, but there are some I don’t recognize, so I’m not going to start placing names or guessing from the list posted below the picture with the names of those in the picture. I’ll leave that up to you guys. The four that stuck immediately to me were Ella Metcalfe, Velma Millang, Kenrose Medlang and Agnes Salmonson. Taking a closer look I do recognize a whole lot of the others too.
Thank you Marshall for sharing this picture. Can you tell us the year of this picture. The date got cut off on the top. Gary

 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:neola@min.midco.net Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 
 

09/17/2009

Sympathy to Gwen & Bill Grimme
From Toni Morinville Gredesky (68): Farimount, ND
 

Gwen and Bill–

Please consider this my deepest sympathy on the loss of your brother Greg. His death brought back many memories of our childhood. There were so many kids in the neighborhood. Remember how we spent summer days outside all day? Greg was so incredibly intelligent and unique. He represents one of the reasons I am proud to be part of the class of 68.

Toni Morinville Gredesky

 

 

Sympathy to Gwen/Bill Grimme from Phyllis McKay (65): Auburn, WA.

To Gwen and Bill Grimme,

I am so sorry to hear of Greg ‘s passing. Words of sympathy can never capture the pain of losing a loved one. After losing my parents and little niece, I can only look forward to the day we will be reunited. You are in my thoughts and prays. Phyllis McKay

 
 
Message from Pam Wenstad Lane (78): Dunseith, ND.
 

Hi Gary,
 
I missed reading the blog in the last couple of weeks. I’m back HOME !! Been a long time, almost 25 yrs. Its nice to be around family again. Anyway, I was wondering if there are any friends out there that might have any insight on the history of the Willow Lake School? If there are any classmates around and years they went to the school? I myself did’nt go there but I know that Debbie did . Thats where she lives now. So, if you or someone out there could help me out I would greatly be thankful.
 
Pam Wenstad Lane (78)
Pam and All, I post all of these daily messages on the Dunseith Alumni WEB site. http://garystokes.net/default.aspx
I strip all email addresses and personal contact info when posting.
 
 
Reply from Nathan Richard (2000): Fairbanks, AK
 
In regards to the picture of C. Emerson Murry. Wow it is really cool to put a face with the name of the ND National Guard Fire Center (South Camp Grafton). Before moving up here to Alaska I have spent many days on that range qualifying. We are enjoying summer still up here. Last week it was still reaching around 70 which is great!

Nathan A. Richard
1LT, AD
Bravo Crew Sensor Operator
HHB, 49th MD BN
Unsecure: (907) 873-2222
Home: (907) 869-3563
Cell: (701) 330-6563

Larry Liere (55) and C. Emerson Murry (42)
 
Reply from Larry Liere (55): Devils Lake, ND.
 

Gary

 

One more thing of interest about the Turtle Mountain Creamery. During WWII that little creamery had a contract with the Army and shipped a railroad box car load of butter I think every week. At that time just about every farmer milked and they would bring in cream to sell in 3 to 20 gallon cream cans. It is hard to believe that those farmers, that little creamery, with one churn could produce that much butter. Emerson and I were talking about this subject at the reunion. I remember they would box the butter in boxes about 2 foot square maybe a little smaller. Emerson thought the weight of the box was about 60 lbs. If anyone out there knows the size and weight of butter to make 60 lbs. you can prove us right or wrong. Even after shipping to the Army they still had enough butter to supply Dunseith, and the San Haven.

 

LARRY

Larry, how well I and a whole lot of our readers remember milking those cows and selling the cream to the creameries in Bottineau and Dunseith. My share of the milking was three cows morning and night 7 days/week. There were no vacations. My dad had a cream route that he ran twice a week for many years. He hauled cream from the farmers in the hills from #3 to Bottineau. Many of those farmers would invite him in for coffee along the way too. He loved to socialize and he also loved his coffee.
 
 
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND.
 
Gary and friends;
Responding to blog# 556, Albert Peterson and the Lude Peterson’s
were not related. Lude and Lillie Peterson lived across the road
to the north from my parents when they first purchased their primary
farm site from Bill Child’s. The Child’s were related to the Lude
Peterson’s as were the Oakes who had moved on to Spokane,Washington.
Cliff Metcalfe, (Dad) waded in snow waist high walking down from Bob
Lambs (Grandpa’s) to purchase the Child’s place in May 1950. My
parents, lived for a couple months with Nancy behind Kelvin. Around
that time Bertha (Metcalfe) House was the Central telephone operator
at Kelvin, then Kathy Gregory, Eleanor (Metcalfe) Nerpel was the
operator as late as fall 1961. I answered the crank telephone the
one August day she called ,she said, “Tell your dad to call Eleanor
Nerpel”…I didn’t Which.. I still feel guilty because as a 2nd
grader I forgot to tell Dad to return the call…Eleanor was calling
to notify him of his mother’s (Grandma Rose’s) death in Seattle.

> Previous to Carl Nelson,Albert Peterson owned the land to the
>north of “the flat” ,which is now owned by Mike Peterson. Various
>folks lived in the Albert Peterson shack, for short periods of time,
>Among them, Elmer and Sylvia Rush(mom’s first cousin), and later,Ed
>and Celia Walter and their new baby Erna.
>
Albert Peterson, a bachelor,was brother to Christina Medlang,
also owned the land across the road to the south of the Seim meadow.
Odin Medlang sold that portion of Albert Peterson land to my
parents, it was their second land purchase… Dad and mom called it,
both “the flat” or “The Homestead”.

> My sister, Nancy,commented to me about the questions Gary
>Metcalfe wrote in your blog. “Re. Gary’s email about Albert
>Peterson. Does he realize it was “out on the flat”. That’s who our
>dad bought “the flat” from in the 1950’s, just after we moved in to
>the Child’s house.. There was a shack in the trees at the end of the
>field where we used to pick rocks . (The row of trees between the
>flat & the rock field.) every spring. He was Odin Medlang’s mom’s
>brother. I don’t think he was related to Lude. But I’m not sure.
>When we were in Seattle, remember the story Aunt Leona told about
>him when he came to see Grandpa Metcalfe. He rode a old fat nag.
>When it was time to go he kept trying to jump up on the back of the
>horse but couldn’t make it. The boys were all standing around
>watching. She was exasperated they did not help him. When he tried
>the last time, Aunt Leona ran around and gave his foot a boost up,
>he made it. She was pleased he was smiling and was exasperated at
>her brothers.”
Later, Vickie

 
 
Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 

Hello All, I do watch the news everyday and see the world changing drastically and I don’t know how long it will last, but we can still go back in time and will continue too. My wife and I drove to Mt. View, Arkansas the other evening. There were six or eight groups of 5 to 10 fiddle players, guitars and other instruments. I can always find someone to sing, “All Around the Water Tank” for me, an old Jimmie Rogers yodeling tune. Then to Kingston, Arkansas the next week, they were singing on the square and toward the end had an open mic time. So our six year old granddaughter, Angelina, sang without music and I did one too. She said that I did good, that was the best part of that endeavor. Anyway, the people, the setting, no cop in the town, we camped on the square that night and when we woke in the morning they were singing for a different benefit, some thing for a motorcycle group.

We can go to Alaska and watch a mother bear catch a salmon from that clear, cold creek; hear the bones crack in that big fish and take it up to the tree where her spoiled cubs were hanging out. That was at Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier. We saw Alaska at its best, clear skies. No one seems to be able to convey the true beauty very well. She’s a 10 for sure!

I won’t say too much about that beautiful place called Seattle, other than that I love every bit of the area. The place where I saw two generations of N.D. people fulfill their life dreams. I surely noticed a change in scene from the earlier days with the gorilla family at Woodland Park Zoo. Now they have a more natural surroundings. It seems to me that they enjoyed putting on a show, especially the one that was a baby. If I were to guess I would say that that big, magnificent guy weighed about twelve hundred pounds, I could be off by 300 pounds or so. The big guy sat where he could keep an eye on us, the spectators and his family. When he put his big hand over his face and looked through his fingers at us, I felt he was thinking “if I could get out of here, I’d sure put the run on whatever they are. But, then again they sure are entertaining at that, bald heads, tennis shoes, large stomachs. I wonder where they are from?” And he has to observe them every day.

 

On a trip last week back from Arizona there was a scene similiar to one we as a family had seen 25 or more years ago in northern Arizona. It was early evening, the young sheep dog was bringing the flock home with a big smile and he was in the lead with a happy look on his face. The earlier encounter was an older, unkempt, three legged sheep dog. It was a very hot Arizona day and I thought a human being would have to be paid a lot of money for what he does from the heart.

 

If we can see the ocean one more time this year, we will be ready to start all over again next year. Maybe earlier next year!!!

Gary Metcalfe

y are

 

09/16/2009

Gregory Grimme
December 19, 1950 – September 6, 2009

 

DUNSEITH – Gregory Lee Grimme, 58, Katy, TX, and formerly of Dunseith; died Sunday, September 6, 2009, in Tomball, TX.

He was born December 19, 1950 in Rolette to Carl and Kathleen (Fassett) Grimme. He was raised in Dunseith and graduated from Dunseith High School in 1968. After graduation, he attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

He moved to California and worked in Walnut Creek for Cordis Dow in the plastic fabrication field. His career led him to many destinations including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Texas where he designed and built commercial reverse osmosis water purifications systems, much of it tied to the oil industry. In recent years, he travelled internationally with his work. He made several trips and spent time in the Ukraine. He was currently employed by ITS Engineered Systems, Inc. in Katy, TX.

Gregory was a giving person and felt empathy for others. He enjoyed woodworking and built several clocks, and enjoyed hunting in North Dakota.

Family: fiancé, Lynn Snider, Magnolia, TX; brother, Bill Grimme, Birmingham, AL; twin-sister, Gwen (George) Eltz, Spokane, WA; and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles and cousins.

Gregory was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Conley; and Dingo, his pet German Shepherd.

Funeral: Thursday, September 17, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Dunseith

Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Dunseith

Memorials: Memorials preferred to the Rolette County Historical Society or to Cypress Creek Christian Church, Spring TX.

Visitation: Two hours prior to the service at the church.

Sign the Online Guestbook

 
 
 
Symphathy to the Grimme’s from Esther Murray Fleming (65): Flint, MI
My deepest symphathy to the Grimme families. I know what it is like to lose someone you love and at such a young age. You will be in my thoughts.
 
Esther
 
 
 
To the Grimme Family from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
I feel lucky to have met Bill Grimme, Greg’s brother. Sibbling bonds are indestructable. I pray that Bill and Gwen will continue to experience the closeness of their brother and their parents until all are reunited. Saddness is a lame word to describe the loss of so young a sibbling. I hope Bill hears many stories in the coming days that will affirm how splendid a man has passed by. Sharron
 
 
 
Condolences to Bill & Gwen Grimme & Message from
Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

First of all, my condolences to the Bill and Gwen. There were lots of
good times with Greg. He left us too soon, but with many good memories
of our time together. We spent a lot of time together doing things that
kids do while growing up in old Dunseith. We will surely miss him.

To Aggie–Your story about the World Trade Towers was interesting. My
wife’s brother, Greg Knutson, had an office in one of the towers in the
early 90s when terrorists detonated a van full of explosives in the
basement parking area. They had placed the van near one if the main
support pillars in hope that one tower would fall into the second,
taking them both down. The company Greg worked for had the contract for
repair and cleanup of any disaster that could happen to the building. He
never thought anything more than a water leak or glass damage was
likely. The bomb blew down two floors and up four floors and left a
cavern as big as a large gymnasium.The people who were rushing to
evacuate all locked their office doors as they left and the firemen
chopped them all open to check for anyone who might still be in the
building. Everyone doing his job! Clean up was in the millions. The most
ironic part was that his folks saw him come out of the building, on CNN.
He couldn’t get an open phone line for over an hour and when he finally
reached his folks in ND, they already knew he was OK. He was covered in
soot but they recognized him. Of the approximately 30,000 people who
left the building, what would the chances be of seeing ONE person you
were worried about? He later moved to another job in New Jersey and
watched the planes hit the towers from his office window several years
later. He now lives in Denver and and stays close to ground level!

Thanks to Marshall Awalt for the picture of Berdella, ND and the
celebration of the end of WW I. Having lived here for most of my life, I
recognize were the picture was taken. It was taken looking to the north
from just inside of the gates going to our old farm yard. Anton Julseth
had a small store and Post Office just to the right and just out of
sight on top of the small hill that is visible. The store building
became the first part of my grandparents house. They moved it a couple
hundred feet south to a nice spot overlooking Horseshoe Lake and added
on to it. At the time this picture was taken, I would assume my great
grandmother and probably my Grandpa Hans and Axel would have been in
attendance as they were then living less than a quarter mile south along
the lake. Marshall’s grandparents were living where I now live about a
quarter mile northwest of where the picture was taken. It would also be
just out of sight to the left of the picture. Thanks Marshall for this
picture and please post any others you might have–this is great! Thanks
Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Condolences to Grimme Family and Picture/Message from
Larry Liere (55): Devils Lake, ND
 
Hi Gary
 
This past week Sept. 11 to 14 retired members of the North Dakota Army and Air National Guard held their annual weekend get together at Camp Grafton near Devils Lake, ND. About 120 retired members were their to enjoy the reunion of old friends. Two former Dunseith members were there and had their picture taken together. C. Emerson Murry (42) and Larry Liere (55) via Devils Lake. Emerson is a retired Adjutant General for the State of North Dakota and Larry is a retired Supply-Property Officer for Camp Grafton. As a side note Larry’s dad Tony worked for Emerson’s dad Ray at the Turtle Mountain Creamery in Dunseith during the late 30’s and 40’s. When Emerson was Adjutant General for North Dakota Larry worked for him as a Supply-Property Officer. I guess that shows it is a small world and history can repeat its self. Sorry about the Sun making the picture have so much shadow.
 
LARRY
 
Our sympathy to the Grimme families Larry & Karen Liere (55) Devils Lake, ND
 
I knew Carl, Kathleen, Conley, and kind of remember Bill, but Greg and Gwen must have been born after I moved from Dunseith. My mother and Kathleen were very good friends and our families would visit each other often. Kathleen and Mom would visit a lot even after we moved. We lost a Son to cancer at age 23 and when a family has the loss of a young person like Greg the grief is hard to take. Grief is something most of us will have to live with during our life time. We found that thinking of all the good times we had with our Son helped us through some difficult times. I feel it helps to keep the memory of loved ones alive. Even though we did not know Greg we are sorry for your loss since he was the Son of our mothers good friend.

Larry Liere (55) and C. Emmerson Murry (42)

 

 

Reply from Bev Morinville Azure (72): Dunseith, ND.

 

Thank you Verna and Pete.. each message means the world to me….as you all know Verna has done as much volenteering in this area she is truly a angel to all of us. She never asks for a pat on the back she does it cause she can . HATS OFF TO YOU VERNA SOMEDAY YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN WILL BE GREAT…

GOD BLESS YOU …………BEV

 
 
Reply from Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC
 
Hi Gary, I would like to make a major correction on the name of the F.B.I Agent and the title of the book I mentioned in my last e-mail message to your blog…The name of the book is “The Man Who Knew” not “The Man Who Warned America” and it’s by John O’Neill, not Bill. I read alot of books,and I’m getting up there in years …..I rest my case….LOL! Ms. Aggie
 
 
 
From Tom Hagen (51): Mesa, AZ
 
Hi everyone of our friends in cyberspace!!!! We are back in AZ for
the winter and finally getting organized again , it seems to take longer
every year. Our son’s family (Sue and 6 kids ) now are in Mesa
permanently but our son is back in NY to sell the house and work at his
regular job at least for the first quarter. We are helping her as much
as we can until he can join them. We will be looking forward to
hearing from you and have already had some contacts.! We are back
online!!!!

We love E-mail letters, Love Tom and Dot

 
 

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

Charles Azure, 60, Wahpeton, died Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, in his home.

 

He was born May 16, 1949, to Martin and Irene Azure in Belcourt. He married Judy Allery in January 1969 in Dunseith. They later divorced. He married Laurie Albertson on July 28, 1978, in Rolla.

Survivors: wife; sons, Gary DeCoteau, St. John, Brian Azure, St. Cloud, Minn., Mike Azure, Wahpeton; daughters, Tammy Azure, Wahpeton, Michelle Roquet, Dickinson; brothers, David, Aberdeen, S.D., Bryan, St. Paul Park, Minn.; sisters, Jeanette Belgarde, Bemidji, Minn., Karen Nadeau, Clintonville, Wis., Debbie Peltier, Dunseith, Sharon Gattke and Kathy Stein, both Rolla.

Funeral: Thursday, 2 p.m., St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, St. John.

Burial: St. John Holy Cross Cemetery, St. John.

Prayer vigil: Wednesday, 8 p.m., Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Visitation: Wednesday, 5 to 8 p.m., in the funeral home.

Judy Allery Azure (65): I saw your name in Charle’s Obituary and with that I want to extent my sympathy to all of his family. Gary

 

Reply from Ken Striker: Dayton OH

Garrison Keillor out of hospital after stroke

MINNEAPOLIS — Humorist Garrison Keillor has been released from Mayo Clinic’s Saint Marys Hospital after suffering a minor stroke earlier in the week.

Keillor spokesman David O’Neill released a brief statement Friday night saying Keillor left the Rochester hospital earlier in the evening. O’Neill said Keillor was on his way back to his St. Paul home “and is in great spirits.”

The 67-year-old Keillor had said he felt ill on Monday morning and drove himself to a St. Paul hospital, then was transferred to Mayo Clinic.

Keillor said he still plans to start his new season of “A Prairie Home Companion” as scheduled in two weeks. Some 4 million people listen each week to the long-running show on nearly 600 public radio stations in the U.S.

09/15/2009

Funeral services for Greg Grimme – DHS Class of 68:

 

GREGORY GRIMME, 58, Katy, TX, formerly of Dunseith; died Sunday, September 6, 2009, in Tomball, TX. Funeral Thursday, September 17, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Dunseith. Visitation two hours prior to the service at the church.

 

 

Sympathy to the Grimme’s & reply from Luella Boardman Bjornseth (49):

Bottineau, ND

 

My sympathy to Gwen Grimme Eltz and her family in the loss of her brother Greg. I worked with Gwen at the college for several years and we were good friends.

Thanks Gary for passing on the remembrances from Bob’s friends. Erling Landsverks stories brought back lots of memories. We didn’t remember him ever playing football. I wonder if we ever got to watch any of his games. The stories made nice reading. The American Legion in Frazee had a really impressive graveside service for Bob after the church service.

Luella

 
 
 
Reply from Pete (65) & Verena Gillis:Dunseith, ND.
 
Message to Bev Morinvill Azure, HANG IN THERE GAL! Our thoughts and prayers are with
you and your family.
Pete & Verena
 
 
 
Condolences to Bill & Gwen Grimme
From Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC
 
To Bill and Gwen Grimme,my heart goes out to you and your family during this most difficult time. I remember Greg well from high school. I lived in Houston Texas for 3 years,and am familiar with Katy Texas,which really makes Greg’s passing so real.He was too young, it’s all so sad. God Bless you all with peace in your heart in the days ahead,and alot of great memories of Greg. Sincerely, Ms. Aggie Casavant


 
Condolences to the Grimme family:
FromPete (65) & Verena Gillis:Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary,
We are sending our condolences to Bill Grimme and his family. We are very
sorry to hear of their loss.

We were in Fargo last week for 2 days, Pete had testing over there and is
in a little trouble again. They found a spot on his kidneys and his PSA
took a good jump. So they tripled his casadex for 8 weeks and if that
doesn’t bring the PSA down, he will then have to start Chemo. So wish us
luck! We’re gonna need it.
Verena

 
 
 
Sympathy to the Casavant & Grimme faimiles and reply
From Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI.
First, My deepest sympathy top Gerald Casavant and to the Grimme’s. I’m stunned in both cases.
 
Second — to Margaret Seim Lawston—The story about Mr. Julseth. In early 1934 he rented a quarter section of land to a young man who was then 14 years old. That young man was my dad. Then at age 15, dad bought his first tractor, a McCormick Deering 15-30. (I have a story about the tractor too, but it may be a bit too detailed) Dad farmed that land until he was drafted in 1942. Later, another 1/4 section that Anton owned was available for rent. He contacted Dad and Dad rented it for several years. Some time in the 60’s He contacted Dad because he wanted to divest himself of property in his later years. He was in his 80’s at the time. He wrote Dad a letter with the price and terms. It was too good to pass up. The land is located about a mile south of where Ernest LaCroix lived, along the road to Currie school. Some of you who are a couple younger than me will recall it as a great party spot. Dad got tired of the beer cans stopping the disks on our grain drills. He somehow found out the name of one of the kids who used to frequent the spot. He asked her if it would be possible for them to put all the containers in a pile from that point on. A couple weeks later, when I went to cultivate the summer fallow I found a pile of containers about 3 feet high, and not a single can in the field.
 
When Dad died my sister Stephanie got that land. She once met Anton Julseth. I never had the privilege.
 
Allen Richard
 
 
 
Reply to Jeff Gottbreht – Reference #554 posted on 9/11
From Diane Fugere (75): Minot, ND.
 

Gary:

I have always known what a wonderful person “Big Jeff” is. He is a big teddy bear with a heart of gold.

Diane Fugere

 

 

 

Reply from Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC

To Sharron Gottbreht Shen: Thank you for sharing your memories of 9-11. I found it very interesting how your son Ivan, and nephew Jeff were a part of that day. I had been to New York just a couple years earlier, and had taken pictures of the Twin Towers coming in on the ferry . Later that day, my brother Aime, his wife Brenda, and their daughter Vanessa and I were walking around down by Wall Street, when we came around the corner, and Aime said,”Hey Aggie look down the street. About a block down the street stood the Twin Towers rising high above all the other buildings. We didn’t walk down there cuz we were all pretty tired. So I took my camera and clicked a few pictures off of the Towers. After 9-11 I took the pictures out to look at them, and it struck me just how big those Towers were, cuz even from 1/2 or a block away I still didn’t get a full picture, like I think the top of the towers was cut off…(or it could of been just poor photography…) Anyway, Aime’s daughter Vanessa lived and went to school there for like 4 yrs. If I remember correctly, Vanessa was walking past the first tower when it got hit. She said, she heard an explosion and her and the other people on the side walk looked up and saw smoke coming from the towers. When she got to work she told her co-workers, I think there was an explosion in one of the towers, and already her co-workers said, that a plane had ran into it…and the rest is pretty much history…evacuation of her building, smoke and ash inhalation, which she still has a problems as a result of, not to mention the emotional toll it took on her for some time…She since has moved out of New York City. It would be interesting to know if there are anymore people out there, from N.Dakota who were directly or indirectly connected to that day in New York City. We are so blest that Ivan, Jeff,and Vanessa made it thru it…..so many didn’t… It’s still all so sad,to think about when 9-11 rolls around every year.

 

Theirs a book titled “The Man Who Warned America” by an ex-F.B.I. agent, by the name of Bill O’Neil. It’s not fiction…once you start reading it, you can’t put it down, it will take you thru every emotion you’ve ever expierenced, and some that you never knew you had….the last two chapters will leave you in stunned disbelief…but with a resolve that we all can do something…that we have to do something…Aggie Casavant’

 

 

 

Reply from Dale Pritchard (63): Leesville, LA

 

Gary, On the old crank phones, all I remember is that Willie and Margie
Hiatt and your family were on the same line with us. Our phone quit
working early on, way before the SRT came into the picture, so we went
without. It was one of the few times that my Dad
wouldn’t/couldn’t/didn’t fix something that was broke. We still had the
old phone when the farm was sold. Don’t know what became of it. Dale

 

Reply/Picture from Marshall Awalt (51): Newport, NC

Here is a picture shot at Berdella. It is celebrating the end of world war I .You can’t see much but they had a lot of people for that time.

Thanks for all you hard work.

 

Marshall Awalt class 51

 

 

Excerpt from Dick Johnson’s message posted yesterday:

Berdella, ND–a store and post office– was located just
inside the gates here on our place

 

Copy of WORLD WAR 1 CELEBRATION AT BERDELLA,N.D.

 

Posted by Ken Striker: Dayton OH

I thought your readers would be interested

http://www.popeater.com/2009/09/09/garrison-keillor-stroke/

 

09/14/2009

Symathy to the Grimme & Lindberg families from
Richard (67) & Ele Dietrich (69) Slyter: Dunseith, ND.
 
Richard and I wish to express our most sincerely sympathy to the Grimme and Lindberg families. We both knew Greg in school and thought very highly of him. It’s just not right that people his age should pass so quickly through our lives. Our prayers are with you during this trying time.

ele

 

Condolences to the Grimme family from the Lester Havorson Family:
Lynn Halvorson Otto (75): Seoul, Korea
 
Dear Grimme family, our condolences from the Lester Halvorson family, Gail, Lynette, Donna, Lori and Mike. We pray for God’s guidance during this difficult time.
Lynn Halvorson Otto, (75).
 
 
 
Condolences to Bill & Gwen Grimm from Bev Morinville Azure (70): Dunseith, ND
 
I am so sorry to hear the news about Greg …Bill and Gwen may the Lord hold u close in this time of sorrow. I hope I will be up to going to the service but still recovering from surgery.

GOD BLESS YOU …………BEV

 
 
 
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Thanks to Vickie for the correct story on the partnership–Big Three
not Big Four. I should have paid closer attention to Carroll Carlson
when he told me.

I think Art Seim said his dad had the materials and the carpenters
brought to Dunseith by rail from Iowa. The big house took nearly two
years to build. I believe it was 1919 and 1920. It was probably the most
majestic house in the hills!

The Mountain Home Telephone Company was taken over by Souris River
Telephone in the early 60s and replaced by underground lines and new
phones. We had a very nice Western Electric crank phone on the wall in
the old farm house.Grandma use to polish the oak case with furniture
polish. The guys from SRT said they owned all the equipment so they
were taking all the phones. I couldn’t stand to think of Grandma’s nice
phone getting tossed in a truck and hauled away so I replaced it with an
old phone that was in the attic and we kept the nice one and still have
it. It looks like new! Ingolf Medlang was probably the last
secretary-treasurer of the Mountain Home Telephone Company and he used
to bring notes to church council written on the stationary from the old
phone company. I wish I would have asked him for a few sheets of it for
the museum. There are still a very few of the old phone line poles
around the hills but most have fallen prey to nature since their
abandonment some 46 years ago. Anton Julseth had the ‘central’ office at
Berdella. Berdella, ND–a store and post office– was located just
inside the gates here on our place. This is how my grandparents met
while my grandma was the operator for the phone company. If I remember
right, I think they still called the ‘central’ office ‘Berdella’ after
it was moved to Kelvin. I mostly remember Kathy Gregory being the
operator in the 50s and early 60s. Our ring was 2 longs and 2 shorts.
Three cranks for a long and one for a short! Of course it didn’t matter
who called who—I think everybody listened!! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Dick, I remember the central office being called Berdella. I had no idea where the name came from. Now I do. I remember well when SRT replaced that old phone system too. A lot of the underground wire is buried in the middle of the county roads. For a very short time SRT had several parties on one line. That was short lived though. I remember Fauske’s and us sharing the same line. Our rings were different. I don’t remember for sure, but Pritchard’s may have been on our same line too. Gary
 
 
Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 

Reply to Dick Johnson:

 

It has been a long time since I have had any thoughts about Albert Peterson. My dad used to talk about the Albert Peterson place. Dad and my brother, Jimmy, came back from Seattle in about 1945 and bached on what I thought was the Lude Peterson place, also where Carl Nelson lived near Lyde Lake. But, Dad referred to it as the Albert Peterson place.

 

When school was out and my mother arrived from Seattle with three more kids, Dad was very happy to have a cook. Just talked to my brother Jim in Arizona and he and Dad came back and lived in Albert Peterson’s house, along with little Martin Evans.. LeRoy and Hilda Strong were living in our house on the farm and had no where else to go. There had to be an addition built on before the rest of our family came from Seattle. Jimmy was not sure that Albert was related to Lude or Max Peterson. But he remembered him being a quiet, skinny old man that must have been living in Dunseith at that time.

 

That brings to mind another character that spent some time on the Sime farm. His name was Louie DuBois.. My mother would laugh until the tears ran every time they talked about Louie DuBois. Here was a Native American who could talk Norweigan better and with more humor than most Scandinavians. I remember Louie and Jack Hecla in Seattle when they went up in a tree and cut off some big limbs for my dad. Jack was a Finlander from Rolla, one of Lucky’s “colorful” pals. I remember my dad and Art Sime talking and laughing over fun memories of Louie and what a character he really was.
 
 
 
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND.
 
Hi Gary,
Wow, Jeff Gottbreht from our home town.
That morning of 9-1-1 was a clear blue sky day. I was at Bottineau
Elementary School, in Mr.Larry Haugens 6th grade class room watching
T.V…..a history in the making….a teachable moment. My gut
clenched, horrified as those planes. 1—–, 2,—- 3—-,
4…..????,….Helpless. Chilling. Numb.

Later that day, after school, I, driving… through the motions, to
Lloyd’s grocery store. I now know I was out to stuff my dismal
feelings….. A beautiful clear September day. As I got out of my
car, an older neat, clean cut guy approached me… he started and
continued in a preaching voice, saying,”the end of the
world…shoved a piece of paper at me. Taking his pamphlet, I
politely thanked him. ( Yep, Even when I’m gut clenched and numb, I
can still smile and be polite.)

I walked on to the front door of the store…finally feeling angry.
STOPPED. WHOA. I threw that pamphlet in the trash. And thought,”Why
didn’t I say, Today is not the end of the world. We are not a
passive people! ” “We have elected good leaders. And, I know in my
heart, there are Americans….everyday common folks who will not be
sitting by idle. In the face of difficult trials. We are people of
action.” I felt very strong reinforced by personal knowledge; Our
country thanks to patriotic Americans like my dad,uncles, my friend
Carroll, and countless service men…and my Aunt Leona….a true
Rosie the Riveter,and folks back home, rose together fighting back
after Pearl Harbor. I believed and just knew…Americans whatever
their differences would stand shoulder to shoulder with our president
in the days ahead.

Thanks to your blog and Jeff Gottbreht’s aunt, today years later,
I smile and think, ” YES. One of our own would have been there making
a difference.”

Earlier today, I went to the Family Bakery to have a bite before
making my 6 wk. run to Minot.
As I sat down to read the Minot paper, I looked back and noticed a
young man look intently at me. A few minutes later he came to speak
with me. He was Jaylyn Hiatt all grown up! Jaylyn is the son of
Harvey and Tonya Hiatt. What a nice conversation we had catching up
on the last 10 years. Then, Harvey came in said they’d come up from
Arizona to visit Harvey’s mom and Ackworth Cemetery.

On the way home from Minot I listened to Garrison Keiller make
comments about how beautiful every place in the U.S.A. is in
September. He said he once packed up and moved to New York after
visiting there in September. Ah. Folks making split decisions to
move to various places whilst in the throes of Septembers golden
beauty. Well through the raining and zipping down the road, its
more like soggy time here in Bottineau and Minot, North Dakota .
But, it’s indeed a golden September Day compared to 9-1-1.
Thanks Gary and THANK YOU, Jeff Gottbreht!

 
 
 
Reply from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI
To Margaret Seim Lawston—
 
The Anton Julseth you mention—Was he the same man who I believe became Rolette County Register of Deeds and served for several decades? If so I have a story to relate about him. He was a truly wonderful man that my dad referred to as “Mr. Julseth” all his life.
 
Allen Richard
 
 
 
Pictures/message from Sandra Zeiler Vandal (62): Elk River, MN
 

Connie and Sandra before and after.

 

Minnie Mary and me, my first grade teacher.

 

Hi Gary, just got some pictures scaned with the help of my daughter!!! Was great seeing everyone before and during the cruise.

the picture of Connie and I at graduation—crying. Laughing is so much better! It was wonderful seeing my first grade teacher, and she reallly looks wonderful!!!

 

Wanted to add, our 19yr. old granddaughter, Vanessa Zachman, has joined the army, and with tears, fear, and pride will be seeing her off on Monday. Our granddaughter ,Kayla is getting married this month also. Different roads, equally challenging and rewarding. Gosh, really feeling old right now!!! more later, Sandy

Sandra Zeiler & Connie Fauske 1962

 

 

 

Connie Fauske Monte & Sandra Zeiler Vandal – July 24, 2009

 

 

Sandra Zeiler Vandal (62) & Minnie Mary Mckay Merrill (48) – July 24, 2009

 

 

Sandra Zeiler Vandal, Vanessa Zachman & Mike Vandal

 

 
 
 

09/13/2009

Greg Grimme Passed Away: Message from
Gwen Grimme Eltz (68): Spokane, WA
Bill Grimme (65): Birmingham, AL.
 
Greg Grimme (Class of 1968), brother of Conley, Bill, and Gwen (Grimme) Eltz passed away suddenly in Katy, TX of an apparent heart attack last Sunday (September 6, 2009). A memorial service for Greg will be held in Dunseith with burial in Riverside Cemetery. Both Bill and and Gwen are on their way to Dunseith today to make arrangements for their brother’s burial.A complete obituary will be posted with more details, including the day and time of his funeral, in the next few days. Greg was the son of Carl and Kathleen (Fassett) Grimme.
Gwen & Bill, Our condolences are with both of you with the loss of Greg.
 
Gwen, We all know that Greg was your twin brother making an extra close bond between the two of you.
 
Bill, You were my class mate of 1965. In the past few years we have become very close and dear friends. You are in deed a true friend, one that I deeply admire and look up to.
 
We are so saddened to hear of the passing of Greg. We only wish we could be there with you guys at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you though.
 
Gary & Bernadette Stokes
 
PS – Bill I am posting your cell phone number.
 
Folks, I just called Bill on his Cell phone to make sure this is still a good number for him and it is. Bill is flying out in the morning to Grand Forks. From there he’ll be renting a car. He’ll be in Dunseith later in the day tomorrow.
Previously posted by Dick Johnson in message 500
Those in the pictures: John Bogus with the multi colored shirt, Rich
Campbell with the block of wood, Greg Grimme with the hat on, and Tim
Hill with the ‘ I think we made it ‘ look!
 
Lillian Amanda (Lindberg) Levorson
Lillian passed away on August 25, 2009 at the age of 93. She was born to Ben and Mary Lindberg, homesteaders from Norway, on Sept 6, 1915 in Bottineau, North Dakota. She had two brothers, Elmer and Roy, and four sisters, Alice, Clara, Sally and Mabel. Lillian moved to Tacoma and met and married Alvin Levorson in 1941. They had two children, Lois and Annette. Lillian was a warm and welcoming person whose door was always open. She was a born nurturer and mothered many children besides her own through being a foster mother, a sunday school teacher, a loving grandmother, aunt, mother-in-law, and loving friend to many. She enjoyed her flower garden and cooking meals to share with others. Her home was often the gathering place for holidays and celebrations. Lillian was predeceased by her parents, her brothers and sisters, her two daughters, and her husband of 65 years. She is survived by her son-in-law, Dan Macomber, and her two grandsons, Allen and Ben Macomber, and many other relatives. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 at 7 p.m. at United Lutheran Church, 1231 South 76th Street, Tacoma, 98408. Donations may be made to the church.
Pub Date: 8/29/2009
Phyllis McKay an all of the Lindberg/McKay families. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time with the passing of Lillian. Lillian was a dear childhood friend of my Dads. They were only 10 days apart in age and were born an raised in the same community up in the hills. Lillian’s name was mentioned often with the many childhood stories of my dad.
 
Phyllis, You too are another class mate that we have become close friends with in the past several years. You too are indeed a true friend.
 
Gary & Bernadette Stokes

09/12/2009

John Norman Nelson
Obituary posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

John Norman Nelson, 87, Minot and formerly of Lansford died on Thursday, September 3, 2009 in a Minot healthcare center.John was born on October 2, 1921 on the family farm in Homan Township of Bottineau County near Dunseith, ND to John H. and Marie (Berg) Nelson. He was reared on the family farm, attended Beaver Dam Rural School and graduated from Dunseith High School in 1941. He excelled in football and basketball and participated in drama and music. As a young adult, he was employed by Boeing Aircraft Corporation in Seattle, WA prior to enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard on September 11, 1942. Following his honorable discharge as a Carpenter’s Mate First Class on March 20, 1946 in St. Louis Missouri, he returned to North Dakota and resided in Rolette. While in the Coast Guard, he was trained in Chemical Warfare and was awarded a Good Conduct medal. He served in both the European and Pacific Theaters.

John married Della (Lunde) Cobler on July 3, 1955 in Rolette. They made their home in Rolette and New Rockford where he owned and operated Nelson Plumbing and Heating prior to moving to Lansford in 1961. While residing in Lansford, he was employed by Honeywell Corporation as a master plumber and pneumatic service specialist. He worked construction projects at the Minot Air Force Base, Garrison Dam and many projects throughout western North Dakota. He retired from Honeywell Corp in 1983 and was recently awarded a 50 year certificate as a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local #300. John and Della moved to Minot in 2003. Della died on June 16, 2008.

John was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, American Legion Post 279 (60 year recognition), Senior Citizens, and Community Club all in Lansford. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Rolette, Elks Lodge and Eagles Aerie both in Minot and was a delegate to the ND Silver Hair Legislature. He especially enjoyed bowling and tournament play and was a member of teams in Lansford and Minot. In addition, he loved hunting trips in the Badlands, fishing in Canada in his younger years, local sporting events and Minnesota Twins baseball. He was an avid collector of stamps, coins and arrowheads and enjoyed metal detecting. As a carpenter, he spent countless hours during his retirement building furniture and various gifts for family and friends. He was especially known for his unique footstools.

Survivors include: children, Sherry (Tim) Coutts of Colorado Springs, CO, Jana Nelson and Jeff Nelson both of Minot and Robert Nelson of Craig, CO; stepchildren, Dennis (Kathleen) Cobler of Muskegon, MI and Don Cobler; grandchildren, Amy and Mike Cobler, Brian (Renee) Botton, Teresa (Pete) Gilbert, Carla (Brian) Safigan, Ilona (Ryan) Goltz, Tricia (Tom) Luebesmier, Charisse Cobler, Jake and Casey Coutts; and six great- grandchildren. Sisters, Eugenie Walker, Mildred Parrill and Marie Parrill all of Bottineau and several nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents, wife, stepdaughter, Diane Botton; grandson, Erik Coutts; sisters, Jennie Metcalfe, Nellie Bloomquist and Olga Edinger and brothers, Carl and Erling Nelson.

Funeral Service: Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church – Lansford. A Fellowship Luncheon will follow at the Lansford City Hall.
Graveside Service: Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in the New Veterans Section of Rosehill Memorial Park – Minot.
Visitation: There will be no reviewal but friends may sign a register book on Friday from noon until 7:00 p.m. at Thomas Family Funeral Home – Minot.
Memorials will be forwarded by the family to various organizations in John’s memory.

 
 
 
Thank you, from Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC
 
I would like to say thank you all for the kind words at the passing of our sister-in-law Janice. She was a very good wife to our brother Gerald, a great mother to her 3 sons,Bevin,Micheal,& Matthew,and such a nice sister-in-law. Our family is better for having her a part of our family as long as we did. She broke all our hearts when she left us. Thank you all once again. Sincerely, Ms. Aggie
 
 
 
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND.
 
GARY,
On today’s DUNSEITH BLOG there is a photo submitted by Dick
Johnson given to him by his maternal grandmother. CYNTHIA (STRITZEL)
JOHNSON. Dick also shared the THE BIG FOUR.
Carroll Carlson and Art Seim always told our family , “BIG THREE.”
“LUDE PETERSON, PEDER CARLSON and JOHN SEIM were the BIG THREE. ”
The Seim children, Art, Alvin, Morris, and Bernice Seim, the Calrson
children,Carrol, Leonard,Clarissa, Urssulla and Melba,and the
Peterson children…Max. were neighboring children and schoolmates at
Oakes…(Seim ) school.

Whenever any of the Big Three borrowed from another, each had a
notebook and wrote the transaction down . In late fall, after falls
work, ie threshing, fall plowing, butchering etc, the THREE would
get together on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Each with his
notebook. After a fair amount of discussion and ciphering. They’ d
conclude, usually after a little lunch… over Norweigiann coffee and
maybe one of Mrs. Carlson’s Cardomom cookies, or Ingrid Seims lefse
or roulepolse or Lilly Peterson’s cookies. Once again,after talking,
borrowing, trading, sharing,ciphering and working things out,they’d
call it even on a handshake.
Good Neighbors.
They were literate, assertive negotiators, honest and hardworking
rural neighbors who lived on the same road. Each with many other
positive character attributes and sometimes after heated discussions
continued to respect the others opinions . Both Art and Carroll
told me in separate conversations about the decision to help out
William Metcalfe to the south of them when a house fire destroyed
the Metcalfe home. One of the group said, “Lets give him some
cash. another said, “No he will drink it up, lets start an account at
the store in Dunseith with conditions on what he can buy. John Seim
spoke up and said, ” William Metcalfe won’t accept a gift with any
conditions. If we’re going to give him something we should give him
the donation straight out.” ” Aye.” And that is what the Big Three
decided to do. William Metcalfe accepted the charitable donations
and built a tarpaper shack.

One one of his last summers, Art came back from California and stayed
at the Dunseith Nursing home I went and got him several times for
drives through the hills. We’d drive the back roads and he’d tell me
the name of every lake we went by and about who lived where on
places throughout the hills from Dunseith to the Canadian
border….Long ago….ie The Byres now the DeMar’s and Jack
Petersons to the Peace Garden,the original John Seim homestead.

Art was happy that the Seim meadow did stay in the family…..My
brother Shanon and Debbie as young newlyweds purchased it. I’d hear
about it time and again, he’d point to it we’d drive by and again
proudly tell me how Shan and Debbie paid for it. And say, ” Thats one
piece that stayed in the family.” He didn’t choose to go into the
Seim buildings or farmyard. He wished it to remain as pristine and
immaculate as in his memory. “A big white farmhouse built by
Norweigan craftsman from Iowa.” …..We’d go to my mothers and have
coffee and a little lunch.
Thanks Gary and thank-you Dick for photos of folks …. North on
Highway #3., turn east at Snuice Box Junction, gravel road over Seim
and Metcalfe meadow, over the Oak hills….HOME to the Carlson’s,
Seims, Petersons, Smiths, Johnsons. GENERATIONS OF GOOD NEIGHBORS.

VICKIE

 
 
 
Message from Margaret Seim Lawston (54): Citrus Heights, CA
 
I read a blog or two about our telephone system in the hills.
This may interest some of you. I have the phone from the farm and
asked my Dad for the history. The hill people sure knew how to work
together!!!

The Mountain Home Telephone Co. was organized in the winter of
1916-17. The lines were built in the sumer of 1917 to 128
subscribers at the cost of $125.00 per share. The farmers doing all
the labor free.

Anton Julseth was one of the leading organizers and its first
President and Mrs. Julseth its first central operator. Other
operators were Mrs. Berg, Mrs.Hans Johnson, Mrs. John Seim, Mrs.
Brennan, Mrs.George Gregary, Mrs. Art Plaudson and the last Mrs.
Hazel Foss. It served its purpose well for 35 years!!

 
Margaret Seim Lawston
 
 
 
Reply from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND.
 
Regarding the picture of the “Gang of Lazy JS” : I know that Frances Smith Espe (Terry’s mom) and Jennie Nelson Metcalfe (Mildred and Marie Parrill’s sister & my aunt) both worked at the Seim farm. I am thinking the one by Elmer might be Jennie. Maybe someone else could comment. Maybe the other guy is Art’s brother Alvin, but that is only a guess. We have very few pictures of Elmer at that age so it was a special treat to see . Thank you, Dick Johnson.
Posted yesterday by Dick Johnson:
‘Gang of the lazy J.S.’ (John Seim). The middle guy is
probably Art Seim and the short guy on the right, I think is Elmer
Espe who is Art’s cousin. Not too sure of the others. Thanks Gary!
 
 
Message/Pictures from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 

Good morning Gary,

 

 

The date should not pass without sharing a few memories. Most if not all of your viewers will know Jeff Gottbreht, son of George and Patty. Jeff and two other firemen of Nebraska received advanced training as immediate responders following such disasters as we suffered September 11, 2001. They were paired with three firemen from the community of Dobbs Ferry, NY.Several such teams from all corners of USA were called up and served at the Twin Towers site shortly after this tragedy, Jeff and his Nebraska “brothers” among them. The Javits Center served as barracks for the visiting teams and in the course of Jeff’s stay the Dobbs Ferry fire engine in full splendor pulled up to the Hudson pier and called for “Big Jeff” to come out and receive a personal thanks and welcome. About 2006 Jeff was invited to attend ceremonies commemorating all those who had given their lives and service to NYC. George and I get rather tearful each time we recall these harrowing days when my son Ivan and his now wife Nora escaped and Jeff arrived to serve.

 

 

As ever any morning, I was up early playing Spider, having coffee. EJ called asking where Ivan worked and I responded the Twin Towers. “Turn on the TV now; terrible events are happening right now.” What can I say, it was all so unbelievable. I roused Victor barely able to speak, “Where does Ivan work, where does he work.” God love a duck and mamas who are so clueless. Ivan worked in the Financial Tower 3 located nearby and attached to the towers in question by a bridge. He was in a closed meeting that morning and went down to the Towers plaza with two others when they were interrupted by a secretary announcing the first plane “mishap”.A crowd soon arrived and the cries and sobs of the helpless group is what Ivan remembers today. When the second plane struck, everyone [hundreds, thousands] fled, were herded away. Ivan had run the mile and a half to his apartment and after the 6th try was able to route an email to his dad. After all, his palm pilot was at his desk! It was a long two hours wait. Victor might even have had time to put his sox on.

 

 

It took me a month to unpack our suitcases. We were schedule to meet Ivan in Kennedy September 13 for a five country cruise of the Mediterranean. Man proposes God disposes; how absurd our little plans can be. Victor and I were with Ivan for Thanksgiving. We met with Ivan and Nora and about 18 of his fast friends, the same crowd that sat down to an Italian feast with Jeff and a fellow Nebraskan two months earlier. Jeff thought it must be the best Italian in the city. No, Ivan said, it was the only place that would seat the crowd who wished to meet you Jeff and say thanks.

 

 

Ivan and Nora were married 24 Sep 2005. Jeff could not be there, he was in New Orleans responding to the aftermath of Katrina.

 

 

Sharron

Jeff Gottbreht

 

Jeff with George and Patty 1988

 

 

Ivan and Nora Nov 2001

 

 
 
 
Posted byNeola Kofoid Garbe: neola@min.midco.net Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: neola@min.midco.net Minot & Bottineau, ND.
Folks, I am not sure of Emily Nelson’s family. I’ll bet some of you can tell us though.
Jim Kofoid is Neola’s Brother.
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: neola@min.midco.net Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 
 
 

09/11/2009

Carringbridge update for Bev Morinville Azure: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bevazure
Posted by her daughter Shonda Azure Campbell (94): Minot, ND

Thursday, September 10, 2009 3:40 PM, CDT

Greetings family and friends,

Once again i bring you great news … The DR was in and her tests are already back and all is well …..NO CANCER !!!! And her x ray was better then the DR expected it to be …….Thank you all for your kind thoughts and your stead fast prayers …. We are all very thankful

Shonda

 
 
 
Condolences to the Gerald Casavant Family
From Jean Nicholas Miller (66): GLENDALE, AZ
 
I want to extend my condolences to Gerald Casavant and his family. Gerald and Aime were both in my class (66). I haven’t seen them since high school. Gerald sat behind me in Mr. Hepper’s class.
Jean Nicholas Miller
 
 
 
Reply from Marie Iverson Staub (60): Seattle, WA.
 
 

Hi Gary,

 

Just wanted to let you know I loved the pictures of the Peace Garden’s. I also wanted you to know I enjoyed meeting you and Bernadette at the reunion in Seattle. It was more fun then I expected and also seeing people I did remember from Dunseith also glad to hear everyone had such a good time on the cruise. Thanks again

Marie Iverson(Staub)
 
 
 
Picture from Jim Kamphenkel (DHS Teacher): Greenwald, MN.
 

Yes. I was the coach.

 

Pictured Front row L to R: Gaillord Peltier, Allan Enno, Keith Berg, John Mongeon

 

Back Row L to R: Gordon Malaterre, Elmer Parisien, Robin Olson, Jeff Campbell, Everett Enno, Jim Kamphenkel

 

Not pictured: Clarence Enno, Marcellino Parisien

 

Fortunately, I wrote all of this info onto the back of the picture way back then…I certainly couldn’t remember who was NOT there!

 

These were a really nice group of young people to work with. I enjoyed working with them immensely.

 

Jim

Jim, Thank you so much for responding to our WEB site and for this picture. I have added you to our daily distribution. Please let me know if you’d rather not be getting these daily messages? Gary

 

Back: Gordon Malaterre, Elmer Parisien, Robin Olson, Jeff Campbell, Everett Enno, Jim Kamphenkel

Front: Gaillord Peltier, Allan Enno, Keith Berg, John Mongeon
 
 
 
Reply/Pictures from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Margaret Seim Lawston’s story of not getting enough of the water from
their well is true. I think I drank far more water from the old cream
can back then than I have since! I too remember how Mrs. Carlson
suffered from arthritis. Her hands were knotted and knobby but she made
some of the best cookies I ever tasted! She gave her recipe to my
Grandma and then Brenda got it from her so I still get to enjoy those
cookies from so long ago. I think they are from an old Norwegian recipe
because they are mostly butter and sugar—all the good stuff! She
stayed on the farm with Carroll for several years after her husband,
Pete, died in 1953. I think she moved to her daughter’s home in Minot
about 1960. I believe she passed away in 1962. I remember going to see
her in Minot once, where she lived in an upstairs apartment. One cute
story was when Carroll asked me if I could read Norwegian? I said that I
couldn’t read it but could generally get the meaning if I read through
it a couple times. He went in and got a letter from Norway that he kept
in a drawer. It appeared to me that they were sending condolences on the
loss of his mother and asking if he was still going to stay on the farm?
I asked him when he got the letter, so he handed me the envelope—1963!
He said, “I didn’t write to them, I didn’t know what the hell they were
saying—he he he!”

There was a threshing crew made up of John Seim, Pete Carlson, Lude or
Max Peterson, and I think one more neighbor. This was a partnership
called ‘The Big Four’ and they did a lot of custom threshing around the
area as well as their own. Carroll told me that some of the scrap iron I
hauled to Minot for him contained the remnants of some of the equipment
from the partnership. Maybe Margaret Seim Lawston or Don Aird can
correct me on who was in the partnership. It is a piece of local history
that I think we should preserve in proper form. It seems to me there was
a man named Albert Peterson, who was not related to Lude and Max, and
was also involved in this partnership.

My Grandma, Cynthia Johnson, had the pictures I’m attaching. They were
taken in the yard at John Seim’s place—later owned by his son Art
Seim, the father of Margaret Seim Lawston. The top photo is of the
confirmation class from Little Prairie Lutheran Church taken at Seim’s.
It includes the Carlson kids, Don Aird’s mom is one of the girls. She
is Clarissa, a sister to Carroll Carlson. The lower photo
says—‘Gang of the lazy J.S.’ (John Seim). The middle guy is
probably Art Seim and the short guy on the right, I think is Elmer
Espe who is Art’s cousin. Not too sure of the others. Thanks Gary!

 
 
Reply from Robin (Dan 75) Pladson: Dunseith, ND.

 

Gary,

Just a short note……..with this email you sent a picture of the Herman Hiatt place across from the Achworth Cementary to the east, which is viewed through our dining room double deck doors (Daniel and Robin Pladson). Anyway, I was talking to Daniel last night and we believe the date on the picture is incorrect. Should have been “2008”. I did some investigating with the tags on the car, they were yellow in 2008. And supposely they rotate in colors every 5 years. What brought this on is the german shephard in the background, she is our dog and the joke is “she is visiting her grandparents for the summer” and comes home for supper on occassion. Her name is Josie, and Daniel didn’t get her till 2005. Josie keeps on eye on our place, cemetary and Grandpa and ma Marchus and loves to play throw with anyone she comes in contact with.

Enjoy reading the news and history of the Turtle Mountain area from your daily emails. I am originally from the Black Hills of South Dakota, a cattle ranch(now 5th generation) that was founded in 1868 by my great grandparents, Joesph Fugier (son of Emil and Emilie Fugier – born in France, “Fugier” is an anglicized version of “Fugere”). Emil had a couple brothers (Fugere) that came to St-Dominique, Quebec, Canada area and Emil went on to Iowa and had son Joe and siblings. From what I am finding out, is that I have distant cousins here in the Rolette/Bottineau Counties. Never would of thought by marrying Daniel I would have relatives in the area. The first time I met David Fugere he said “it was about time they get a french girl in them norwegian hills”.

Robin, I think you are right. This picture was not taken in 2004. I Think instead it was taken in 2007 when we were back for the Dunseith reunions. I remember your dog and my brother Bud telling me it was your dog. I have added several other pictures taken from the other direction that include your buildings. Larry and Mona Marchus have sure kept the place looking nice. Dad used to keep all that mowed too, after they moved to Bottineau. We had a beautiful place in the hills with a fantastic view to the east all the way to the Peace Garden and Little Prairie. Gary

 

 

Former Stokes Farm Yard now owned by Larry & Mona Marchus

 

 

 

 

Picture take from the Stokes yard:

 

Ackworth Cemetery with Dan & Robin Pladson’s house & farm buildings on the back side.

 

I remember those evergreens being planted when I was a kid. They stayed so small

 

for so long. Gary

 

 

Cropped picture of the Cemetery with the Pladson Buildings.

 

Robin & Dan, I’m thinking that is the old Holmen school on the right. It used to be on the Lake road (#43) several miles west of Salem church. LaVerne Rude, if this is the school I’m thinking of, this would be your old school. Salem used to use that school for their two weeks of Bible school that we all attended every summer. Gary

 

 

 

Looking North from the Ackworth Cemetery on the Willow Lake Road:

 

Stokes farm approach on the right and the Pladson approach/mailbox on the left.

 

The Former Johnny Hiatt farm, now the Fauske farm is one mile north and a half mile west.

 

The Canadian line is about 2 miles north.

 

 

09/10/2009

Folks, A former Dunseith teacher, Jim Kamphenkel, discovered our WEB site and has sent me a picture of the 1976 Dunseith American Legion base ball team. I will be posting that picture tomorrow. Gary
Jim Kamphenkel’s reply:
I taught in Dunseith from 1975 to 1978. Lived in an apartment on the second story of Elmer Espe’s home
 
 
Condolences to the Boardman Family from Betty Watschke Cooley (45): Redmond, Wa
 
I was sorry to learn of the passing of Bob Boardman. My sympathies are extended to his family. He graduated from DHS a year ahead of me, but we ended up at NDSU in Fargo at the same time. And he had a car (rare in those days) so I accompanied him home to Dunseith at several vacation or holiday times and delighted in the long conversations along the time. Our paths haven’t crossed in years, but I’ll always remember his kindnesses at those times.
Betty Watschke Cooley
 
 
 
Condolences to the Casavant family from Lynn Halvorson Otto (75): Seoul, Korea
 

Hi, my condolences to the Cassavant family. I graduated with Carolee, 75. I also enjoyed the picture of the Willow Lake road looking south over the beautiful Turtle Mountains. It’s so green there this summer. My boys and I had a great visit there this past summer with my parents, Lester and Dorothy Halvorson.
Bev and Stephanie, you both are in our prayers. Keep up the fight and we pray you win the battle.
Lynn Halvorson Otto (75).
 
 
 
Condolences to the Casavant and Whetter Families from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Janice Casavant. Our
condolences to Gerald and the extended Casavant and Whetter families.

Dick

 

 

 

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

 

Hi Gary and All, I look at the blog with great interest and have
a few comments. Dick your remarks about the Seim well was right on,
the underground tank, etc. When I came home nearly every summer from
Calif. I could not drink enough . It tasted so good! As a child my
heart always did a flip when I watched Dad climb to the top of
windmill to oil { or what ever he did}. Yes and we all drank out off
the same dipper from the pail!!!!! So much for
germs !!


Don Aird I was glad to see your name. I was a great friend of your
Grandma Christine. As soon as I got a drivers licence we were a team.
I”m sure I gave her a few scares. She suffered so much from
arthritis that when the mailman came I picked up the Carlson mail
and took it to her and she always had something delicious coming out
of the oven. She was a great lady. My Dad always spoke so
highly of Pete and said he was a great
neighbor.

I remember my mom talking about a student named Larry Liere.. Yes she
taught in a one room school near the farm before she taught in
Dunseith. She taught my brother Edwin, my sister Marion and myself.
Not fun and we got the lowest grades we every received from
her. She started her teaching in about 1929 at a school near the
Earl Myer farm. She lived at the Myer home. Some of her students
were the children of Jenny and Steve Cook {Kelvin Store} and
Arnold Zeiler. Sorry I can’t recall any more names.

My Dad would not tolerate any negative comments about N.D. but
shortly before his death at 96 years of age he finally said, yes the
winters were about 3 months too long!!!!!

 

 

Reply from Judy LaCroix McGuire (59): LITCHFIELD, MN

 

Thank you for the picture of the Willow Lake road from your ND home. We lived farther north where Fauske’s now live for 2 years and I remember walking home from summer school many times up that hill. I enjoy reading your blog and finding out all the ND news. Hello to everyone! Judy (LaCroix) McGuire MN class of 59 Can that really be 50 years ago~!!
Judy, I remember well when your family (Ernest &Lydia LaCroix) lived up on the Johnny Hiatt farm. You guys were very close friends of my folks. They were back and forth a lot in those days. We were your closest neighbors. You guys moved from there to your place on the prairie in about 1953. That is the year I started school. That was the last year of summer school at Ackworth too. I think Donna Went one year to Ackworth too. I remember well your dad having a turning knob on the steering wheel of his car. I think that knob may have been the cause of you guys having a roll over on the Willow Lake road when it got caught in clothes? I was only 5 years old at the time, but I remember all this stuff pretty well.
 
Ernest (deceased) & Lydia (Fauske) LaCroix family 3/8/08:
L to R: Joan, Judy, Lydia & Donna
 

 

 

Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

 

 

Hi Gary,
 
I enjoyed seeing (again) the pictures of your yard/south from your farm.
 
Neola
 
 
 
Thelma (Scotty) Thompson Passed away:
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 

Thelma Carlson Thompson passed away. Thelma was married to Clarence “Scotty” Thompson (page 624 in Centennial Book; Scotty and his first wife’s info is on the same page. Thelma’s parents are on page 114.) Thelma/Scotty performed great music for many years.

 

THELMA died Sunday in a Bottineau nursing home. Funeral Friday, 2 p.m., in Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau. Visitation Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., in the funeral home.

 

Neola

Folks, Scotty & Thelma have been mentioned several times with these daily blogs along with Ole Bursinger and others for their music. I am so sorry to hear of Thelma’s passing. I last saw Thelma, in Bottineau in 2004, when my brother Bud (Darrel) and I were out for a walk and we walked past her house in the Skating rink area of Bottineau. She was outside and recognized us so we stopped and chatted.

 

Dwight Lang (61)

 

 

 

First Cousins Gary Metcalfe (57) & Randy Hiatt – July 2009

 

 

 

Peace Garden Pictures from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC

 

Dear Gary,
My sister Cindy received these Peace Garden photos taken by Evon Lagerquist. I thought others would find them as beautiful as I do.
Brenda – class of 68
Connie Peterson Lagerquist (74) is the Head Gardener at the Peace Garden.
Connie, you sure have things looking really nice. These pictures are beautiful! Gary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

09/09/2009

Robert Boardman’s Obituary Provided by Eileen Brudwick: Fargo, ND.
 

April 11, 1926-Sept. 4, 2009

 

Robert C. “Bob” Boardman, 83, of Frazee, died Friday, September 4, 2009, at the Frazee Care Center, under the care of Hospice.

Robert Claire Boardman was born to Chase and Mabel (Wheeler) Boardman on April 11, 1926, at Grenora, N.D. He moved with his family to the Overly-Omemee area of North Dakota, where he rode horse to school. They then moved to Dunseith, N.D., where he graduated from high school in 1944.

Bob was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1945, and served in the military police, guarding the air base in Jamaica. He attended North Dakota Agricultural College (now North Dakota State University), graduating with a degree in agriculture, with honors, in 1951. He taught the Veteran’s Agriculture Program for two years, before moving to Frazee in 1953 to start a technician unit for the Minnesota Valley Breeders Association, which later became 21st Century Genetics.

In 1954, Bob married Betty Gienger in Gardena, N.D. They made their home in Frazee, where they raised three children. In 1957, Bob became a district manager and traveled for the next 40 years throughout North Dakota and western Minnesota. In addition to supervising distributors, he trained farmers to do their own breeding. He received many awards in the cattle-breeding field.

Bob took pleasure in music. He played in an old-time band, entertaining many nursing home residents. He loved to dance, traveling great distances to dance to polka bands. He was actively involved with the Frazee Oktoberfest. He was active at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, serving as head usher for many years, on the church council, and playing guitar in the Praise Band. He enjoyed yard work, mowing the grass and taking care of the elk.

Surviving Bob are his wife, Betty; sons, David (Charleen) Boardman of Wahpeton, N.D., and Gary (Dawn) Boardman of Tulsa, Okla.; daughter Donna (Terry) Atherton of Moorhead; four grandchildren; one great grandchild; a brother, Don (Irene) Boardman of Bottineau, N.D.; sisters, Luella (Ralph) Bjornseth of Bottineau and Joyce (Jim) Smith of Chicago, Ill.; and a sister-in-law, Edna Boardman of Bismarck, N.D.

Preceding Bob in death were his parents; brother Harold; and sister, Agnes Peltier.

Visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, September 9, 2009, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., in the Furey Funeral Home, Frazee, and will continue for one hour prior to services at the church Thursday.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Frazee, with the Rev. William Aufdenkamp officiating. Burial will follow the service at Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Frazee. The Furey Funeral Home in Frazee is providing arrangements.

http://www.dl-online.com/event/obituary/id/47333/?FORM=ZZNR5

Eileen, Thank you so much for locating Bob’s Obituary and sharing with us. Throughout all of my childhood days, on the farm, my dad used the services of the Minnesota Valley Breeders. He bred those old Hereford cows with Holsteins using their services. He then kept the calves for milk cows to replace those old Herefords. Walt Gangle and Franklin Amsbough were the two main local guys in my day that worked for Minnesota Valley Breeders. They worked for Bob Boardman. I remember Bob coming to our house one time with, I think, Walt Gangle when one of our cows needed breeding. How well I remember Walt Gangle going into our old log barn with that leaky straw roof, often times having to wade through mud and manure well above his ankles to get into the barn in the spring of year. I think Bob Boardman was in that barn too, before we got our new one in 1961, the year I started high school. Gary

 

Janice Casavant’s Obituary Provided by Eileen Brudwick: Fargo, ND.

Janice Casavant
(April 7, 1951 – September 7, 2009)

 
 
 
 

 

Janice Casavant, 58, Jamestown, ND died at Jamestown Hospital, Jamestown, ND on Monday, September 07, 2009.

 

Janice Marie Whetter was born on April 27, 1951 in Bottineau, ND the daughter of Harry and Helen (Estenson) Whetter.She attended elementary school at both Gardena and Bottineau, ND, graduating from Bottineau High School in 1970.Janice graduated from the Jack School of Cosmetology at Minot, ND and then worked as a hair stylist at Rolette, Rugby, Bottineau and Jamestown, ND.She married Gerald Casavant on August 23, 1974 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rolette, ND.They lived in Bottineau, Ekalaka, MT, and then Jamestown.She was employed as a hair stylist at the Beauty Haven in Jamestown, as a custodian / housekeeperat St. John’s academy and at the N. D. State Hospital.

 

 

 

Janice was a member of St. James Basilica, the Basilica Tabernacle Society and was a member of St. Joan of

Arc Circle

.She had also been a Eucharistic Minister at St. James Church.Janice was active with the North Dakota National Guard Support Group as well as helping with her husband’s 4thDegree Knights Of Columbus activities.

 

 

 

Survivors include her husband; 3 sons, Beven (Mehan), Grand Forks, ND,Michael (Jennifer), Santee, CA, and Matthew (Alicia), New Brighton, MN; 2 grandchildren; 3 sisters, Margary (Jack) Duff, Havana, ND, Sheryl (Norman) Erber, Oriska, ND and Barbara Whetter, Valley City, ND and 1 brother, Eugene Whetter, Bottineau, ND.She was preceded in death by her parents and 2 infant siblings.

 

 

 

Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 10, 2009 at St. James Basilica, Jamestown, ND.

 

 

 

Prayer Service: 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at Lisko Funeral Chapel, Jamestown, ND.

 

 

 

Visitation: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Lisko Funeral Chapel and 1 hour prior to services in the church on Thursday.

Memorials: May be directed to FACE FOUNDATION

 

 

Interment: Calvary Cemetery, Jamestown, ND

Eileen, Again thanks for providing this Obituary.

Gerald and Family. You truly have our condolences and prayers with the passing of Janice. It’s been a rough road and you have sure hung in there for Janice with all the medical problems that came upon her in the later years. You were a prince of a spouse to say the least. Gary

 

 

 

 

Reply from Betty Lamoureux Malone Badgett (49): Fountain Valley, Ca

Thanks, Gary. I did hit that button by mistake. I meant to send the message to my oldest daughter, Kathy, who lives in Santa Rosa. She enjoys reading your Dunseith mail, even though she never lived there. But she has visited there once – several years ago, when we took a trip together to see my ‘home town’. Thanks again. And, thanks for our daily “Dunseith Alumni” mail – it is a great way to start my day!! Betty

Betty, I wanted to share this reply of yours. I hope you don’t mind. Many of our readers remember you. Gary

 

From Bev Morinville Azure (72): Dunseith, ND.

Dear Family and Friends,

 

To keep you up to date on my health condition, I created a CaringBridge website. You can follow my progress and show your support.

Visit my website in two easy ways:

1. Visit my CaringBridge website by clicking the link below.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bevazure

2. Enter my website name, bevazure, at www.CaringBridge.org.

When you visit you’ll be asked to log in, because I’ve chosen to keep the site private.

 

Show your support
• Visit and keep up to date.
• Leave a message in my guestbook.
• Receive e-mail notifications when my journal is updated.

Thank you.

clarence and bev

 

 

From Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN

Hi Gary – and all:

I wish all the best to Bev and her family and pray that her tests are negative! Hang in there Bev!

I would also like to mention that my old pal Stephanie (Evans) (Class of ’71) is also fighting a battle with cancer. She has a Caringbridge site also – here is the address:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stephaniemontgomery Please add her to your prayer list.

 

 

Thanks!

 

Paula Fassett-Pfuhl

 

 

Reply from Carmen Leonard Richard: Rolette, ND

Thanks Kenny for the pictures of the wind towers that are dotting the landscape just south of us along highways 17 and 3. Our son Mark and his wife Lanette (Beachler) are proud to have had two of them built on some pasture land they own. This is North Dakota industrial development at its finest. I have often said that we may not ever get an oil well,— but we sure do have the wind.!! Glad that it can be harnessed and put to good use. The geologists surveyed the terrain in order to place the towers on the windiest hilltops available.

Plans are for another series of windtowers to be built between Minot and Bismarck. Stephanie Richard’s husband- Ron Rebenistch-who works for Basin Electric, is instrumental in bringing this about.

 

Reply from Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC

To Allen Richard: Thanks for the answer to my question, I found everything you wrote very interesting,and happy and encouraged to see the organizations you and your wife are involved in.I think that’s great! I laughed but totally agreed about your remark about politicians and statesman.So sad,but so true. How our Govenor here in South Carolina,can remotely think that he has the right to keep his job is insane at best. I would like to see any one of us not show up for work for a week, and still expect to have our jobs when someone finally tracked us down. They should of started impeachment proceeding as soon as he touched down at the airport in Greenville.The feeling of entitlement from these politicians are a disgrace.I’ve got my telephone on speed-dial to every radio talk show in the area,and for anyone who’s interested C-Span is really easy to get on their open lines.Especially 8-10 A.M….”If Not Us…Who?…If Not Now When? Aggie C.

 

Picture of the old Stokes Farm yard taken in 2004 with the barn that was built in 1961.

Note: The original Harmen Hiatt house stood where that large dead elm tree is located in front of the car.

 

 

I thought I’d repost this picture for Dorothy Pritchard. I don’t think she was on line yet when I previously posted this.This picture is looking south from the Stokes farm. The Pritchard farm, now owned by the Lagerquist’s is located on the east side of the road just over hill to the south. The Ackworth Cemetery is on the right of where this picture was taken. Highway 43 is one mile south. From this location Dunseith is located one mile south, 5 miles east on #43 and 10 miles south on #3.This is the Willow Lake road.Gary

 

From Mark Schimetz (70): mschimetz@msn.com Rolette, ND.

Maybe some of the Soldiers posting photos of their time in Vietnam, knew of, or at least heard of this Man, Known as To Tall to Fly in the Movie We were Soldiers Once and young. Taken from a book written by Then Colonel Hal Moore, Now General Hal Moore. I Thought this might be of interest because it occurred during the hoopla of a politicians death, This article too the back pages, few have seen this. Edit as you see fit. Gary
 
 

Ed Freeman
 

You’re a 19 year old kid.
You’re critically wounded and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley ,

11-14-1965, LZ X-ray , Vietnam . Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8 – 1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in.


You’re lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you’re not getting out.

Your family is 1/2 way around the world, 12,000 miles away and you’ll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.
Then – over the machine gun noise – you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter..!!

You look up to see an un-armed Huey!! But…. it doesn’t seem real because no Medi-Vac markings are on it.
Ed Freeman is coming for you..!!
He’s not Medi-Vac so it’s not his job, but he’s flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway. Even after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come.
He’s coming anyway.
And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire , as they load 2 or 3 of you on board.
Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the Doctors and Nurses.
And, he kept coming back ..!! 13 more times ..!!
He took about 30 of you and your buddies out who would never have gotten out.

Medal of Honor Recipient , Ed Freeman , died last Wednesday at the age of 80, in Boise , ID

May God Rest His Soul.

I bet you didn’t hear about this hero’s
passing, but we’ve sure seen a whole bunch
about some freakish white-gloved sexual pervert’s passing..!!


Medal of Honor Winner

Ed Freeman!


Shame
on the American Media..!!

09/08/2009

Spelling correction.
Betty Boardman, I apologize for the miss spelling of your name with yesterday’s posting. Although you did not complain, I still want to make the correction. Gary
 
 
Reply from Luella Boardman Bjornseth (49): Bottineau, ND.
 
Gary!
Thanks for posting Bob’s obituary. It is a sad time for us and we will miss him but we are thankful he is no longer suffering. Luella
 
 
 
Reply from Don Boardman (60): Bottineau, ND.
 
Thanks for putting Bob’s obituary in the Alumni news. I hadn’t seen it in the paper here yet.
There were 6 of us in the family, Agnes was the oldest and died October 7, 2004. You wouldn’t have had any information on her as she graduated from Ommeemee. You have Harold’s death listed. So now there is just 3 of us left.
You do a really good job of getting everything into the news. Congratulations!
Don
Don, Even though Agnes didn’t go to Dunseith, to make your family complete in our records, I’d like to add her to the master DHS list with the year she graduated from Ommeemee with a notation. I could not find her death record in the SS death records with the name Agnes Peltier. Gary
 
Condolences to the Boardman Family & message from Dick Johnson (68):
Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

First of all, my condolences to the Boardman family on the loss of
their brother, Robert. We all know Don and Luella from Bottineau and
share in their loss. To Aggie, there are many ordinary folks out there
who were on the edge and further serving their country so we can have
the freedoms we enjoy. A cute story about Harry Truman was when someone
asked his wife why he used the word ‘crap’ when describing something?
She answered, “That’s not bad, it took me years to get him to say
‘crap’.” I didn’t make a political statement here, just a humorous
observation! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Condolences to the Boardman family & message from Erling Landsverk (44):
Portage, WI
 

Hi Gary and Friends:

 

First, I wish to express my condolences to the Boardman family on the loss of their loved one and one of my old classmates We are both about the same age so it tends to bring back old memories.We shared a lot of classes in the basement of the old white school, along with typing classes across the hall. All our instructors did double duty as to class, since many of the teachers were in the military or on the way, . The ones that come to mind are Stebner, Aucutt, Dorothy Page, Castleman (principal), Hannah Jevne and Mrs Feycho I am not sure that i spelled Mrs Feycho’s name correctly, so I simply spelled it phonetically.I guess i will always remember a day in study hall, when I saw Mrs Feycho standing at the windows, looking at the sky, dabbing her eyes with her kercheif. I learned later her husband had been killed flying a mission over Germany. Such a sad time for wonderful people like her a nd others as well. Bob was a member of our 6 man football team , I think I was the runt of the entire team, and I watched more than I played, I believe, I played center and defensive end and I guess where i was told to play by Glen Shelver,(our coach) i remember Alan Campbell, on the team, Bruce Cornell, Lee Sanders, Raymond hagen and others. If I remember correctly, the equipment was a little less than great. The school was rarely closed due to inclement weather, except for one day in the winter of 40 and 41, my brother Ossie and I walked over to the school from our home away from home so to speak, we thought it seemed pretty cold, but when we arrived at the school, we were informed that classes were cancelled because the janitor could not get the interior temperature of the class rooms above 25 degrees farenheight. We asked how cold was the temperature, and was told it was 54 degrees below zero, with a brisk windout of the northwest..I thought of the trappers in the Jack London stories I had read about spitting on the ground and when the spittle hit the ground it was already frozen. I tried it and it did! No kidding. Incidentally, our home away from home was a store room on the north side of Charlie Wrights cream station. Most of the kids from the hills did the same thing at that time, since there were no buses, andthe road conditions were rather unpredictabel. So Dunseith had quite a few of the students from the hills living in rented rooms doing light house keeping from Sunday night through the following Friday. We spent the week ends back in the hills, while our mothers cooked a lot of food that would keep through the week. amd of course we all knew a little about cooking ourselves The one thing that many people today wonder about is , how much trouble did unsupervised kids get into? Well, for anyone interested, there never was one inccident of Turtle Mountain students causing problems or getting into problem that I am aware of.. We knew that our parents had to trust us, and we all wanted to honor that trust.. It surely saved them a lot of concern and worry. I think it must be the air out there. what do you think? Thats all for this time, Thank you for listening.

 

Erling Landsverk.

 

 

 

From LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND.

 

Wedding of Karna Colby (granddaugher of Mr. Ben Grossman)

 

Saturday evening I had the privilege of attending the wedding of Karna Colby and Lance Monteau. Karna is the daughter of Patty Grossman and granddaugher of Mr. Ben Grossman whom many of us had for English back in the 1960’s. Karna is a medical doctor in Bismarck -her speciality is pathology. Lance is almost done with medical school-I believe he just has a year of internship left. K. Flynn Richard and her mother Minnie and I were the only old Dunseith connections in attendance.

 

Patty lives about five miles South of Velva and spent her career as a science teacher. She taught 16 yrs at Ryan HS in Minot and then in several other area schools. She spent the most years at White Shield. Currently she is retired and doing substitute teaching.

 

Paul and Peter Grossman have worked for the coal mines in the Hazen area for many years. I so appreciated visiting with Paul as he shared his memories of coming out to our farm with my brother Clark. Parrell Grossman, the youngest brother, is a lawyer and is the head of Consumer Protection for the ND Attorney General. I have seen him interviewed on the news many times regarding consumer fraud.

 

Both Bonnie and Ben passed away a number of years ago.

LeaRae, How well those of us from the 50’s & 60’s remember Mr. Grossman. He was a wonderful teacher. He truely stressed education and getting a college degree, higher education or training. He drove that one into us hard on a regular bases. He would truely be very proud of his granddaughter. Gary
 
 
Reply from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI.

Aggie–I ask myself that very often. Actually it is where my wife, Susan grew up. IBM downsized in 2002. In June that year her department was all but eliminated — June was also the month that her dad died of liver cancer. I was free lancing at the time, so when a job opened here I took it. Susan went back to the Minneapple, sold the house and the “toys” and moved here where she was employed almost immediately. Susan’s mom is 78, so our being here is a good thing. Now Susan is the director of Big Brothers Big Sisters in the Heart of Michigan and I’m director of the Literacy Council of Midland County, both non-profits that do good things.

 

Midland, MI is home to Dow Chem. and Dow Corning along with a number of peripheral companies and a few other prosperous corporations. The economy here is pretty good compared to the rest of the state, parts of which have been in recession/depression for forty years. The current unemployment rate for the state is pushing 15%, Detroit is at about 30% and the entire upper peninsula is at about 22%.

 

Sometimes God is subtle about what he wants — and some times not.

 

Allen Richard

 

Also to Aggie—In my years in politics I found that there are two species–not Democrats and Republicans but rather Statesmen and Politicians. Statesmen have been on the “endangered Species” list for longer than either of us has lived. I’m afraid statesmanship is rapidly going the way of the Dodo Bird!

 
Allen
 
 
From Don Aird (Carroll Carlson’s Nephew): St Louis, MO
 
I just read about the five most stressful places to live in the US, LA is #2. Several years ago my cousin was hosting his brother-in-law from Orange County California. Maurice Aird lives and teaches in St John, ND. After a week in St John, Maurice’s brother-in-law passed out they had to take him to the hospital in Rolla. Turned out he was taking too much blood pressure medication. Just one week staying in St John and his stress level dropped significantly. They adjusted his medicine and he had no more problems. This guy was so excited he bought land on the edge of St John to build a retirement home. Cancer claimed him before he could get it done. I was trying to get him to do a commercial for ND. The commercial would play in LA, lots of folks in ND didn’t want that to happen. They really didn’t want a bunch of Californians discovering ND.  

 
 
Reply from Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC
 
Hi Gary
 
WoW! Dunseith and neighboring towns without a doubt did there part during the Vietnam War. I never realized there were so many from our area that went into the military.But in retrospect when you think the draft was active at that time, it only make sense. I always felt and still do,that once they did away with the draft,thats when this country started a downward spiral with the young teenagers.Back in the 60’s and 70’s if a teenager started any signs of getting in trouble,by the time the military draft enlisted them,and they did there stint in the military,they came back into civilian life as pretty upright citizens with direction and purpose in life. The kids today….well need I say anymore. Yes, there still are some young people who choose to go into the military,and fight for what they beleive in,and serve their country,or the young kids who didn’t necessairily go into the military but became productive members of society.But I guess being in the line of work I’m in, I’m reminded everyday, where I beleive this country went wrong when they did away with the draft. Some people out there may disagree with me,and that’s O.K. But that’s my take on it from my personal observation of working with teenagers this past 32 yrs. or so.
Well you all,I better sign off before I launch out into the Gettsburg Address… So thanks Gary,for everything you do keeping us all connected… Aggie
Aggie, The military for sure makes men out of boys and teaches a whole lot of discipline and respect. The training may be hell, but it’s very effective. My thoughts all the way through basic were “I didn’t volunteer for all this crap”. I truly admire those of the Volunteer services of today. The training has relaxed some, but it’s still very rigid. When I say relaxed, I mean they have done away with a lot of the undo harassment tactics from the days of the draft. I was a pansy and extended a year of my commitment, in Basic training, to become a Dental Technician. For my overall military career, that proved to be good move. Following Active Duty, I continued on in the Army reserves, in a Dental unit, for 25 years. I was the only prior service active duty guy in that unit when I joined. As a result, I got all my ducks in a row, made Sr. ranks quickly, and rode everything out to retirement. Our unit was deactivated in 1996 the year I went into what they call the retired reserve. We just had our first ever reunion, also at the Best Western, in Seattle. It was a blast with nearly 90 folks. We were a very tight unit over the years with an excellent reputation for the Dental procedures we performed on our week end drills at Fort Lewis. Well so much for that soap opera. I was just very proud to be a member of such a great organization. We were not only the Army’s largest Dental reserve unit, we were also one of the best with the many specialist we had. Believe it or not, an Army dentist has to pass state boards, from any state, before he/she is allowed to practice dentistry in the military. That is one rule they are very strict with. Gary
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Todd Poitra, Son of Ginger LaRocque (65) & Tony Poitra – Saudi Arabia

 

 

 

 

Bill Fassett (36) – WWII

 

 

Ricky Kuhn – Son of Mel Kuhn (70) – Kosovo 2009

 

 

Warren Anderson (65) – Viet Nam

 

 
 
Pictures from Kenny Nerpel (65): Devils Lake, ND.
 
Gary,
 
A big story around Rugby these days is the big wind farm that is being assembled along highway 17 just to the north of Rugby. When completed electricity will be sent to a substation east of rugby owned by otter tail power and from there sent off to consumers as far away as Sioux Falls SD.
 
The towers are over 300 feet tall and give quite a different look to the prairie landscape. There are 71 of them and they have the capacity to provide electricity to about 45,000 homes. Today was a fairly clear day and as you can get up very close to them my wife, my mother, and I took a drive up that way to get some pictures.
 
Kenny
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

09/07/2009

Bob Boardman (44) passed away

Message from Beatty Boardman, Bob’s wife:

 

Bob passed away on Friday, September 4, 2009 in the Frazee Care Center. The funeral is Thursday, September 10 at 11;00 AM. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church,Frazee, Mn. Visitation, Wednesday 4:00- 8:00 PM. We will be celebrating his life at this time.

Beatty, Our condolence are with you and the whole Boardman family with the passing of Bob. Vickie Metcalfe said she saw Luella and Ralph today/yesterday in Bottineau. Vickie sent me Bob’s Obituary that I have posted below. Our thought’s and prayers are with you. Gary

 








Boardman Donald Bottineau, ND 5831860
Boardman Harold Born July 7, 1929Died March 1985     Deceased 46
Boardman Robert Frazee, MN 56544-8500 44
Boardman Bjornseth Luella Bottineau, ND 58318 49








Boardman Smith Joyce Chicago, IL 60638-4916 53
 
 
 

Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

 

From the In-Forum


Robert Claire Boardman
Frazee, Minn. Died Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at age 83 in Frazee Care Center under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.


Robert Claire Boardman
Frazee, Minn.
Died Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at age 83 in Frazee Care Center under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.
Survivors: wife, Betty; two sons, David (Charleen) Boardman, Gary (Dawn) Boardman; daughter, Donna (Terry) Atherton; brother, Don (Irene) Boardman; and two sisters, Luella (Ralph) Bjornseth, Joyce (Jim) Smith.
Services: Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 8, with a prayer service at 6:30, in Furey Funeral Home, Frazee, and Thursday from 10 to 11, followed by the funeral at 11, in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Frazee. Burial: Church cemetery.
 
 
 
 
Reply from Mona Dionne Johnson (48): Lake Metigoshe, ND

 

Gary: Our great country was indeed fortunate when Truman had to step
in on April 12, 1945 and assume the great responsibility of the
presidency and World War II. The sign on his desk “The Buck Stops Here”
was not just a sign to him, it was fact, and with the grave decisions he
had to make, he made them. He never disgraced the office and he led our
country forward. There should be more like him today.
Mona Johnson, ’48

 
 
 
Reply from Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC

 

 

Hi Gary, First I want to say thank you for getting Yvonne all squared away,I know she’ll enjoy it. Next I want to say that I had no idea that you and Warren Anderson served in Vietnam… Wow! I guess I say that,cuz when Gary Metcalf mentioned the other day of guys that we think of as war heros that we know,all I could think of was my brothers,now I have two more I can add to my list… Gary and Warren. I guess for those who never expierenced saying goodbye to your brother or brothers not knowing if you’ll ever see them again,it’s something that never leaves you. When I saw the pictures of you and Warren in Vietnam it brought back a flood of memories
Thanks for sharing those pictures Gary,they really meant alot.

 

Next the pictures of Terry and Tim Martinson are so cute,they should be put on a Norman Rockwell Calendar…Totally Priceless!

 

And to Allen Richards,”Honor To A Politician” WOW!!! Do you have the e-mail to Capitol Hill? I am

so serious,cuz I’m so fed up with that bunch… And before I forget to ask,cuz I’ve been wondering for awhile… Why Midland Michigan,and where is it?
Later…Ms.Aggie

Aggie, I lost a lot of my pictures when I had computer problems a while back. I am going back through the old messages capturing some of those pictures and in the process I am reposting a few for folks to see that were not on our distribution when they were originally posted. There are a whole bunch of us from the 60’s classes that served in Viet Nam. For fear of missing a few, I will not start naming names, but I will be re-posting their pictures as I come to them.
 
Gary Wall was a Dentist in Viet Nam and I was a Dental Technician. Gary was from Bottineau and I of coarse from Dunseith. We met for the first time in Viet Nam and worked in the same small clinic for 6 months before Gary went back to the states having served his full year and I was transferred to a different Clinic in country. Gary is now retired, living in Bottineau. He is married to Loretta Neameyer, one of our own, from the class of 72. These old pictures are coming up in the same order as they were posted the first time, so Kenny Nerpel’s reply to our picture follows right in line with the previous postings. Gary

 

 

 

Previously posted with message 170 on July 24, 2008

Viet Nam Pictures & message from Kenny Nerpel (65):

 

Turtle Mountain Americans,

Regarding Gary’s Vietnam photo: Gary Wall and Gary Stokes

Wow, those are some strack troops (ideal in military dress, demeanor and
bearing). Notice the bloused boots and clean uniforms. I think I
remember using something called boot blousers when we were in basic and
AIT to get that clean professional look, but I never saw anything like
that in Vietnam. Where did you get them anyway? Where I was we got clean
uniforms in bulk every two to three weeks, whether we needed them or
not. Sometimes they came in by convoy; other times they just dropped
them out a chopper and then it was a mad scramble to try to find
something near the correct size.

The attached photos (Trang Bang, The Road and The Road2) are of members
of my platoon while on road security (it looks like blue ribbon was the
beverage of choice back then) and of Vietnamese soldiers (White Mice)
searching through the belongings of people wanting to use the road. All
photos except the the one taken from the air were taken the same day
along the dirt road Six Alpha, which connected the village of Trang Bang
with FSB (Fire Support Base) Pershing. The brown-uniformed guys are
South Vietnamese police called white mice; the nickname came from their
uniforms and I think that they sometimes wore white helmets and gloves.
The photo from the air is of a small fire base (Dees) taken from an
approaching helicopter. The smoke indicates where they want the chopper
to land.

It’s been about forty years now, so maybe it’s time for a Vietnam story:
The Road

Highway 1 was a paved highway out of Saigon (Ho Ci Minh City) running
through Cu Chi, Trang Bang and on towards Tay Ninh. It proceeded
northwest about 15 miles to the city of Cu Chi and then it was about 8
miles farther to Trang Bang. Near Trang Bang was a bridge and FSB
Stuart. The road where these pictures were taken was the dirt road Six
Alpha, a secondary road leading from Trang Bang north to FSB Pershing
then on to the Saigon River. The Vietnamese fellow (Wine Maker) visiting
with the troops lived along this road and made some of the worst rice
wine that has ever been made. He was always more than willing to share
some of it with us and we were willing to partake. We figured what are
they going to do to us anyway? Send us to Vietnam? This road was a
supply route and had to be patrolled to protect the convoys supplying
FSB Pershing about 4 to 5 miles up the road from FSB Stuart. Daily
convoys from Cu Chi took this route and required heavy security because
of constant mining of the road and harassment of the convoys by the VC.
Road security was welcome duty. It afforded the opportunity to mingle
with the locals and it was a break from the other duties of the
infantryman. Even though considered good duty it was not without danger.
On one of my first assignments to road security I remember saying, “this
isn’t so bad.” On that day we were providing security for the
minesweepers, which involved patrolling both sides of the road while the
engineers went down the middle sweeping for land mines. I happened to be
the closest to an engineer when a mine was discovered. I took a seat on
the shoulder of the road while the engineer proceeded to dig the mine
out. Suddenly there was a deafening explosion. The mine had been
triggered. I looked up and saw huge chunks of earth flying up and then
dropping back towards the ground. Another member of the platoon who had
been “in country” for awhile came over to me to see if I had been
injured and when I said I had not, he remarked, “I think you should help
look for the body parts. I always do because if this happens to one of
my friends, I think it would make it easier for me to help bag up the
body.”

Welcome to Vietnam!

Kenny

 

 

Kenny Nerpel – Viet Nam

The Road2

 

 

 

 

 

Kenny Nerpel – Viet Nam

Trang Bang

 

 

 

The Road

 

 

 

 

 

White Mice

 

 

 

Wine Maker

 

 

 

Dees

 

 

 

Memorial given for Cliff Henry at our class of 65 reunion on July 12, 2007

Aggie, All of us in these 2 memorial pictures are Viet Nam Veterans.

 

Holding the flags are Henry Hackman & Kenny Nerpel with Pet Gillis & Warren Anderson

 

 

 

Bill Grimme in front reading Cliff Henry’s Eulogy.

 

In the back holding the flags Henry Hackman, Kenny Kerpel. I’m not sure who the person between them is?

 

Pete Gillis, Joe Casavant, Rene Casavant, Gary Stokes, John Bedard, Warren Anderson, ??, Ron Strong?

 

 

 

 

 

Cliff Henry (Deceased) from the class of 65

 

 

 

 

 

Kenny Nerpel (65): Note Kenny and I went through

 

Basis training together at Fort Lewis. Gary

 

 

 

 

Robney Lagerquist (67)

 

Served in Viet Nam

 

 

Lyle Lagerquist (68)

 

Stationed in Germany

 

 

09/06/2009

Request from Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC
 
Hi Gary, I just got off the phone with my sister Yvonne, I was telling her how interesting your daily e-mail to everyone is,she asked if you could put her on the list,her e-mail address is Thanks Gary – Hope You Have A Blest Day…Aggie
Yvonne, I have you listed in my records with this email address, however I had some else’s email address listed for you on the master distribution list. I also have you listed as living in Bismarck. I am so sorry for the mix up. I caught one other person with a wrong email address too. Gary
 
Previously posted with message 164 on July 17, 2008
Reply from Alan (42) & Phyllis Campbell:
 
Gary: In answer to your request for the names of those at the ribbon cutting at the Grand Opening of the new Bottineau Security State Bank they are as follows: left to right: Jeff Campbell (class of 76), Phyllis, Cathy (class of 73), Jeremy (Jeff’s son who is working this summer at the Botno bank and is a Junior at U. of Mary in Bismarck),Alan, Bottineau Mayor Doug Marsden, Donovan Bertsch (a bank director), Rich (class of 68 and also a bank director) and David (class of 71). A little correction on the story – William (Bill) Campbelll came to the bank in Dunseith i n 1933 from Omemee where he, Violet and Alan were living. Several Dunseith businessmen including W.E. Hosmer, Joe Lamoureaux and Wm. Gottbreht among others asked him to come to Dunseith to run the bank. I forgot to mention above that Alan was a graduate in the class of 1942. He went to Jamestown College where eventully he and Phyllis met! These parents are very proud of all their children and the good education they received in Dunseith and thank you and others for your nice comments!Incidentally all four kids are happily married and all living in North Dakota! Alan and Phyllis have ten grandchildren – all out of high school now – plus two great-grandchildren. We do enjoy reading the emails from near and far!
 
Picture L to R: Jeff, Phyllis, Cathy, Jeremy & Alan Campbell; Doug Marsen,
Donovan Bertsch, Rich Campbell and David Campbell
 
 
KC & Esther Evenson

 

 

Tim & Terry Martinson

 

 

 

 

 

Gary Wall & Gary Stokes – Viet Nam – October 69

 

Warren Anderson – Viet Nam

 

 

 

Warren Anderson’s return trip to Viet Nam in 2006

 

 

 

From Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

Gary — I think a lot of the bloggers would like this
 
Allen

Subject: Honor in a politician

Harry Truman

 

Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made
many important decisions regarding our nation’s history as any of the
other 42 Presidents. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on
what he did after he left the White House.

The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which
was in Independence Missouri.
His wife had inherited the house from her mother and other than their
years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army
pension
reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was
paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an
allowance’ and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home

to Missouri by themselves.
There were no Secret Service following them. When offered corporate
positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, “You don’t want
me.
You want the office of the President, and that doesn’t belong to me.
It belongs to the American people and it’s not for sale.”

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him
the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it,
writing, “I don’t consider that I have done anything which should be
the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.”

As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on
the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress
also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the

fruit of their offices. Political offices are now for sale.

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, “My choices in
life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a
politician. And to tell the truth, there’s hardly any difference!
I say dig him up and clone him!!

 

09/05/2009

Reply from Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC
 
To Bev Morinville Azure,
 
Although I look back at times and laugh at the crazy things we did as kids,I’m 100% behind you to anyone who smokes to do whatever it takes to quit.
 
I not only took up smoking,but also drinking shortly after moving back to N.Dakota from Denver Colorado after my youngest brother Jimmy got burned at his graduation party. Short of sounding like I’m making excuses for the life style that I “chose” at that time,I caution anyone who leaves N.Dakota for any amount of time to live in a larger city, with a variety of entertainment at your disposal,and moves back to beautiful N.Dakota….Beware of the pit falls of the small town bars…Where everybody knows your name…and their all so glad you came…It starts with getting off work and someone saying,”Everyones going down to the bar for happy hour…You wanna join us… and you get comfortable, cuz your with your old friends,cousins,neighbors people you grew up with…Days turn into months,turn into years, Then one morning…you wake up…feeling sick and tired,of being sick and tired…
 
I’ll be forever grateful to the two nurses Wanda and Laurel from Ryder N.Dak. who later told me, they felt they were called by God, to come and work at the Rolette Hospital to talk to people about the Bible…They talked I listened…On Sept.13,1977 I dedicated my life to doing Gods work,I’ve been alcohol and cigarette free ever since… So very often while living here in S.C. people ask me, “Aggie,what brought you all the way from N.Dak. to South Carolina? I just smile and say…GOD….
Thanks Gary…..Aggie
 
 
Pictures taken at the Dunseith Alumni Reunion in Seattle on July 24th.
Note: for some reason the flash was turned off with our camera when these
pictures were taken and we didn’t realize it. Gary
 
Lee (Leland) Stickland (64) with his friend Gloria.

 

 

L to R: Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59) & Shirley LaRocque Wendt (59)

 

 

 

L to R: Al-lyn (Bill / Willie) Longie, Oliver & Marlene Reing.

 

Note: Marlene is a sister to Debby (Darrel) Stokes

 

 

 

L to R: Sandra Zeiler Vandal (62), Katrine (Bob) Hosmer &

 

Nancy Hosmer Baldwin with her friend Keith

 

 
 
This is a terrible picture of me, but it’s the only picture I have of Bob and LaVerne so I
decided to post it. Can’t sweat the small stuff.
 
L to R: Bob (Connie Fauske 62) Monte, Gary Stokes & LaVerne (Carrole Fauske 66) Rude
 
 
 
Dunseith news posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

 

 

————————————————————————————————

————————————————

 

09/04/2009

John Nelson DHS Class of 41 passed away:

Posted by LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND.

 

Dear Gary,

 

We were saddened to learn of the death of my uncle John Nelson of Minot who passed away this morning at Manor Care. He had a massive stroke last week .

 

He is survived by three sisters Eugenie Walker, Marie Parrill, and Mildred Parrill. He was preceded in death by three sisters – Nellie Blomquist, Jennie Metcalfe, and Olga Edinger and two brothers Erling and Carl Nelson. His wife Della passed away June 2008. He is survived by four children, Jeff and Jana of Minot and Sherri Coutts, Colorado Springs, CO and Bob of Craig, CO. A memorial service has tentatively been set for September 19 in Lansford.

 

He worked in plumbing and sheet metal for R & O in Rolette, purchased his own plumbing shop in New Rockford and sometime in the 1960s went to work for Honeywell in NW North Dakota. For many years he traveled this area to check thermastats, etc in many buildings and schools including the Bottineau Public School where I worked.

 

I am sure the Minot Daily will carry the full obituary soon.

 

He was a member of the Dunseith HS Class of 1941.

 

Thanks for posting this. LeaRae Parrill Espe

LeaRae, Yes it is so sad to hear of the passing of your Uncle John. You also lost another Uncle, Thurman Parrill, this month too. Our condolence are with your whole family with the losses of both of your uncles. I will post the Minot daily Obituary when it comes out. Gary
 
 
Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 

Hello All, Regarding the cruise it was everything that we had heard about it, and that is hard to believe. When you try to tell this generation about anything, their response is “been there, done that”. Thanks to the mobility of our world.

Aggie after the cigarette caper that we all have tried in one form or the other, Prince Albert, Velvet, Duke’s, Bull Durham in the rural setting. My dad didn’t smoke, so I only got an old pack of Camels and a cigar he had from Chris Berg in Seattle about 4 years old. So then we used a weed that looked like tobacco and yes, newspaper burns too fast!!

I have known people who take up smoking or chewing later in life. If you do, I’d like to offer some advise….don’t start with Copenhagen. Don’t be on a mission such as going to get the cows for milking. As I lay under the barb wire by the old split rail cornerpost, I started to measure the consequences of being home late with the cows, sooo up on my hands and knees, gradually getting to a standing position. Wouldn’t you know the cows were in the far end of the pasture!

Aggie, I was pretty sure, now I am very sure. You can laugh at yourself, a lot of us are not real good at that, if you know what I mean. You just need to share more of those many stories.

 

Sharron Shen you just exposed one of your heros. Everyone should have at least one, wouldn’t that make an interesting blog. Very interesting man, Ernest Boucher. I always wanted to know about him. Thanks for sharing.

Gary Metcalfe
 
 
Reply from Bev Morinville Azure (72): Dunseith, ND.
 
Aggie, I sure did enjoy your story of you kids smoking…….. I can close my eyes and just see Eddie with that hugh ciggy in his month. We all thought it was so cool to smoke.Little did we know just how bad it is for each of us. I smoked for 35 years and in the end I lost 50% of my tougne and now on this Tuesday the 8th of Sept I will undergo a Thoracoscopy to see if I have lung cancer. IF you smoke please STOP now. It is not worth all the worry and pain . God Bless you all and please keep me in your prayers. Have a great labor weekend.
 
 
 
Postings by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
Sister Sharon Houle is a sister to all of the Houle kids (Keith, Joanne, Gary, Allen, Ron, Pam, Doreen) that we all know from Dunseith. Their mother, Lillian, recently passed away.

 

 

.

 

 

From the Thurman Parrill Family

 

 

 

 

Don Boardman DHS class of 60

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamie Pladson is the son of Dan (75)

 

and the late Marge Johnson Pladson

 

 

 

 

Granddaughter of Lloyd (44) & Theresa Cote (48) Awalt

 

09/03/2009

From Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC
 
Hi Gary
 
Reading Dicks memories of his Grandpa Hans,and his rolled Prince Albert cigarettes brought to mind another episode with Maryann, Eddie, Bobby and I.
One day when our Mom and Dad went into town to get groceries,Maryann,Eddie,and Bobby and I saw that Dadddy had left his rolling papers on the kitchen counter right next to this big round can of Prince Albert. So we all agreed that we were going to have a contest who could make the biggest and the best cigarette,and we were gonna smoke them. We had talked about doing it other times but our Dad would always just have the little flat cans,and we knew he would notice someone used his tobbacco and we would get in trouble,But this time we felt we could pull it off because the can was so big that he wouldn’t miss a few cigarettes. So the contest began and we were all in our own corners making our own cigarette.At some point Bobby saw that he was going to loose the contest,so he comes into the room with a full page from the Minot Daily News in one hand and the big can of Prince Albert under his other arm.As he layed the paper on the floor and started pouring the tobbacco down the seam in the newspaper he said,”I’d like to see any of you make a bigger cigarette than this! By that time some of us were done making our cigarette and were puffing and choking.But we really started choking when we saw that Bobby was going to use that whole can of Prince Albert on that huge cigarette,and we were really going to get in trouble. We were yelling, No Bobby! you can’t do that. But by that time he already had rolled it up with both hands,and had it up to his mouth like he was playing the flute yelling,”Light it Eddie! Light it! Well by that time we were all laughing, and jumping around cheering him on. Well needless to say there was more newspaper than tobbacco,and the end of the cigarette started on fire. Well Bobby was puffing for all he was worth and all he got at his end was newspaper ashes,and fire.(If there ever was a time he could of been a Dunseith “Dragon” mascot it was then). All of a sudden we heard our older sister who had been down at the barn milking cows,come into the house.We threw the cigarette on the floor that was still in flames,and started stomping it out…She could smell something burning and hollered,”What are you kids doing? So we ran into the kitchen where she was and said,”We were playing with matches,and handed them over to her. When she went back outside,we ran back in the living room and started sweeping up the mess,trying hard to save as much tobbacco as we could to put back in the can, so our Dad wouldn’t notice…Well we salvaged alot of the tobbacco,but along with it was alot of newspaper ashes and whatever else was on the floor,but we didn’t care we were so sure that we would have our Dad fooled. When he got home and we saw him go for that can of tobbacco,and all of a sudden heard him say “Those 3 words in French,that he always said when he was,first baffled then mad….all of us scattered out of any door we could find.
 
Like Dick said,there was something about that sweet smell of Prince Albert that was special…As the years have gone by I’ve collected Prince Albert cans. Most all of them are the small flat ones,I have one full can of Velvet, but the most special one I found in a small antique shop in Nashville,Tennessee about 13 years ago was a big round Prince Albert can….chocked full of memories. Thanks Gary! Aggie
 
 
 
Dale Pritchard’s (63) reply to Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Leesville, LA
 
I remember the first time I ran across this program. I was driving into
town, going through the radio stations, and I came into the middle of one of
their ketchup skits. I kept thinking “What kind of commercial is this.” I
especially like their skits on Lake Woebegone and the Norwegian bachelors.
It comes on here in Southern Louisiana Saturday nights then reruns on Sunday
afternoons. Folks, this is a national PBS program that comes out of
Minneapolis. Pull up a search of “Prairie Home Companion” to get a schedule
for your area. I, and I guess Sharron also, recommend it for some good,
clean, radio listening.

Dale

 
 
Message/Pictures from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 

Ernest Victor Boucher, son of Victor and Emma Boucher, is 99 today living in Fort Benton, MT. My words will not do justice to Ernie Boucher; he has been friend, mentor, father and fellow well met his many years to so many. I’ve heard and recorded several of the many stories related about the how when and where persons have met Ernest, all reflect the esteem which they hold for the man.

 

 

He first met Dale Gottbreht at Notre Dame Academy, 1922; “First time I saw a boy wearing high top laced shoes. Dale was ever mischievous, but never malicious.” Ernest was the only one of his brothers to graduate from High School. Many of you know the countless tasks of an older son growing up in a farm village; Ernie did them all. Horse and trap escort of the parish priest from Thorne to St. Antoine every other week; milk delivery before daylight throughout the village [The spookiest was when his uncle Art Perrin lay in the Boucher parlor – he was certain that his deceased uncle road with him that night!]; working at the SC Pidgeon General Store and always part of the labor force at surrounding farms every harvest season. He attended Business College in East Grand Forks and worked for a Beer distributor during and after college.

 

 

Ernest went from boot camp to England and from England to France after D Day. He downplays his roll in the war being part of the support team behind the battle front. I am sure he related to his brothers his experiences, many of them painful to witness. His cousins, Harvey Grenier and Ollard Boucher, and so many others did not return from WWII so I take his silence as a matter of respect.

 

 

My husband Victor first met Ernie at the 50th wedding anniversary of Hector and Celia Boucher in Wisconsin. Victor asked uncle to relate the secret of his financial success. Ernie said it was all quite by chance. His former boss in beer haulage was retiring and had no sons. He offered his two top men the market for Schlitz and Grain Belt. Ernie told his fellow heir to choose first, the gentleman chose Schlitz! Ernie settle for Grain Belt which later became Bud. The greater community of Grand Forks has done well by the generosity of their favored son, Ernest.

 

 

The third picture offered was taken after Ernie Gottbreht had taken Mom, Ivan, Blake and I fishing to Lake of the Prairie, SASK in 1984. I’ve never experienced Walleye fishing on that scale since! Ernie knew exactly what he was in for and invited Joe Boguslawski along to help bait hooks, etc. Both Ivan and I felt we needed arm splints! In the photo, we have just finished a lunch of mom’s Walleye Chowder and Uncles Ernie and Roland Mongeon, who turned the 97 page yesterday, then got busy moving Alma to her new apartment.

 

 

After retirement, Ernest lived for a time in Prince Albert, SASK, and now lives in Fort Benton, MT where he gardened for years, watched the seasonal progress of huge grain farms and delights in living day to day close to the Missouri with all the wild life and fowl it attracts. It is my hope to visit him in the next few weeks and get beat one more time during his 100th year by this very dear and cheerful Pinochle wizard.

 

 

Sharron

Ernest Boucher July 4 1937

 

Ernest Boucher in England or Europe c 1944

 

Sharron & Ivan Shen, Alma & Ernie Gottbreht and Ernest Boucher summer 1984

 

 

 

Note: Obituary reposted with Thurman’s picture:

From Neola Kofoid Garbe:Minot & Bottineau, ND.

 

Thurman Parrill, age 91, of Bottineau, died Tuesday, August 4, 2009, at a Bottineau hospital.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, August 12, at 2 p.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith. Visitation will be Tuesday, August 11, from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. Burial will be at the Rendahl Cemetery near Dunseith.

Thurman Merton Parrill was born December 13, 1917, to Cecil Day and Laura Melhus Parrill near Thorne, N.D. His father passed away in the 1918 flu epidemic when Thurman was one year old. He grew up in the Bottineau area and attended area schools. The family later moved to Mountain, N.D., and he worked on the family farm until he joined the U.S. Navy on May 23, 1944. He served in the Pacific Theater on the SS Mormachawk and SS Orvetta during World War II. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on Feb. 15, 1946. After the war, he came to the Dunseith area and began farming in Rolette County.

On November 24, 1947, he married Marie J. Nelson at the Lutheran church in Dunseith. They moved to a farm in Bottineau County, where they raised their five children. In 1995, they sold the farm and moved to Bottineau, where they had since resided.

Thurman was a past member of Rendahl Lutheran Church and a current member of Peace Lutheran Church of Dunseith. He served as a Township Supervisor of Homan Township for many years. Thurman enjoyed playing cards and enjoyed spending as much time as possible with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by: his wife of more than 61 years, Marie, of Bottineau; and his children, Janet (George) LeNoue of Lexington, Ky., Lynda (Curtis) Jordan of Yerrington, Nev., and Clayton (Linda), Rodney (Ann), and Myron (Kathy) Parrill, all of Bottineau. He has nine grandchildren: Christy LeNoue, Michelle (Carter) Newton, Troy (Meagan) Jordan, Stephanie Swartz, Katie (Tyrell) Lauckner, David, Brooke, Krystle and Shelby Parrill; and four great-grandchildren: Levi, Braxton and Declan Lauckner and Jordan Swartz. Also surviving are his half sister, Shirley (Oliver) Johnson of Grand Forks; half brothers, Don (Roberta) Cox of Cavalier, Joe (Gladys) Cox of Seattle, Wash., Ben Cox, Cavalier, and Paul Cox, Grand Forks; stepsister, Hazel Cox of Davenport, Iowa; brother-in-law, John N. Nelson, Minot; and sisters-in-law, Mildred Parrill and Eugenie Walker of Bottineau, Judy Cox, Cavalier, and Fern Cox, Union Mills, Ind.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dean Parrill, Darrell Cox, Mytroen Cox and Howard Cox; sisters, Avis Vivatson, Deedee Anderson, Fern Grimm, Edith Baratach, Esther Leonard and infant sister Helen Cox; stepfather, J.R. Cox; and nephew, Clark Parrill.

 

 

 

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:Minot & Bottineau, ND.

 

 

 

Folks,

 

Dick Johnson’s wife Brenda sent me and also Bill Grimme a copy of this beautiful CD album of theirs. They were unaware that they were being recorded, so Dick didn’t think it was of premium quality to be sending out. It’s a great album! Sometimes one can be too self critical. It’s 50 plus minutes of great music with Dick singing. Like I told Dick, I can sure pick up that good ole ND accent in the Album. I’m not sure if this album is for sale or not. For those of you interested in having a copy will have to ask Dick/Brenda that question.

 

Gary

 

 

09/02/2009

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Thanks to Larry and Don for the insight on the neighborhood. My
neighbor, Audrey Anderson Smith, was a sister to Arol (Bud) Anderson.
She told me many stories about Bud and Carroll Carlson.One time Bud’s
wife, Norma, got tired of Carroll and Bud arguing about politics and
went to bed at midnight. She got up in the morning and they were still
sitting at the table—arguing about politics! I think Carroll lived
alone too long and this was the main reason he was considered
introverted by most folks. He really liked to visit and talk but usually
didn’t if he had to start the conversation. Knowing this, I always would
break the ice and he would talk right along. If we asked him to come
over for a meal, he would usually say, “Ah, I got plenty to eat over
here, he he he, do you think I’m gettin’ skinny or what?” The next words
were usually, “What time, he he he?” He was VERY knowledgeable about
history and current events and expressed his opinion! I placed value in
his opinions because of his personal experiences over many years.
Several times we invited him up to our cabin on Lake Metigoshe. He just
loved to ride around the lake on my pontoon. I remember one day we took
a cruise around the north lake and then went back to the cabin to eat.
After we ate and sat around for a while, I said, “Anyone care to take a
ride around the south lake?” Carroll nearly tipped his chair over when
he jumped up and headed for the dock! It was fun for me to see someone
who still enjoyed the little things in life. He was a good friend and I
sure miss him.

Larry’s mention of roll-your-own smokes reminded me of my Grandpa Hans
Johnson and his flat can of Prince Albert. I really loved the smell of
his tobacco and the smoke was sweet, not rank like the cigarettes today.
Grandpa died in the fall of 1965. It was about 30 years later that I was
trucking hay and stopped in St. John for noon lunch at the little cafe.
There wasn’t a table left in the whole place so an old fellow I only
kind of knew said I could sit with him if I wanted. He was just
finishing his meal when I sat down. I was looking around the room and
all at once this smell from 30 years ago hit me. I looked at him and he
had just lit up a home-rolled P.A.! It was like instantly going back in
time! It’s amazing how the mind can store the memory of a certain smell
for all those years!

Seim’s well—good water for sure! We went to their well and got
drinking water in a cream can out of the covered underground tank below
the big windmill.I used to take the bottom cushion out of the old Model
A and set the cream can in the back. If we got water in the morning, the
sun shined through the small doorway and I remember seeing all the way
to the bottom of the deep tank. Clear and cold! My grandmother also used
the water can as a weather forecaster. It sat in the entry to the old
house at the farm and if it started to ‘sweat’ (condense on the outside
of the can) she would say, “You better finish putting up that hay today,
it’s going to rain.” It usually did! While I’m on the subject of old
predictors of weather, Grandpa always said to watch the seagulls. If
they are flying low over the lake it will more than likely rain. If they
fly high, no rain. If the foam from the waves on the lake lines up in
streaks–rain. If the oak leaves turn over and show their silver
underside–rain. The old ‘red sky at night–sailor’s delight, red sky in
the morning–sailors take warning’ still works most of the time too! I
still watch for these signs and they still hold true most of the time.
The old folks were much more in touch with nature than most people are
today. We have Doppler radar, the weather channel, and radio so the old
ways are not even considered anymore. Oh well, technology moves on but I
still use the old signs as well. Thanks to Don, Larry, and Gary!

Dick

 
 
Reply from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC
 
Hi

Actually, Dr. Angel Cuadrado is actually a professor and pediatric cardiologist or oncologist (I keep forgetting which) at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. One of his interns’ brother owns a unit in our condo in Greenville and she says he’s a great dr. instructor and person. Can’t ask for more than that! And Manual lives in Nebraska. Not sure what he does/did for a living.

Brenda – class of 68

Brenda, I just talked to Angel and he said he only went to grade school for several years in Dunseith. He remembers very few folks from those days, however he does remember you. His brother Manual (Manny) graduated with the class of 63 and yes, he is on our distribution list. Gary
 

Cuadrado

 

Manuel

 

2009 S 88th St

Omaha, NE 68124

(402) 680-1674

 

manny.cuadrado@cox.net

 

63

 

 

 

 

Reply from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.

 

Gary, the picture of Dale and Adolphe should be dated 1955 or after – the 42 film Arla used in 1958 for several pictures may have been that used at the bar.
The blanching seen in the bar pictures was similar to that of early flash camera results. Sharron

Sharron Gottbreht Shen – 7-24-09
 
Seattle/Dunseith Reunion 7-24-09:
Front L to R: Evie Gottbreht Pilkington (65), Fred Dutra & Francie Gottbreht Dutra (63):
Back: Sue Metcalfe

 

 

 

Seattle/Dunseith Reunion 7-24-09:

 

 

L to R: Leah Metcalfe (Daughter), Sue & Gary Metcalfe (57)

 

 

09/01/2009

Reply from Dale Pritchard (63): Leesville, LA
 
Gary,

Sharron Gottbreht Shen’s revised quote, “Dunseith, where the women are
strong, the men all handsome and the children above average,” from the
PBS radio program “Prairie Home Companion” caught my attention. One can
turn that quote around when they are proud of where they came from. I
found, and got hooked on, the program maybe 5 years ago and listen to it
when I can. Thank you, Sharron!

Dale Pritchard

Sharron’s (59) reply: Everett, WA.
 
Yeh! I was waiting for a kindred spirit to recognize Garrison K. Another line from Prairie Home Companion that I love is “beebop a rhubop rhubarb pie – it takes the taste of disatifaction out of your mouth”! Mr Keillor brightens my every Sunday. Thanks Dale. Sharron
 
 
 
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

The prom pictures with Conrado Duran reminded me of some of the other
Cuban students who came to San Haven and attended school in Dunseith.
One in particular was Roberto Lopez. He was sandy haired and very nice
looking. He was very good at softball and baseball. When we played
softball on the west side of the old white school and he came up to bat,
the outfielders took off to the south on the run. He could hit the ball
all the way to the street or over the street into Boguslawski’s yard,
over 200 feet away. In Cuba they played ball all the time and he was
good! I think most of the Cuban kids were sent to stay with relatives in
the US to escape the revolution when Fidel Castro took power. I remember
they feared for the safety of their families still in Cuba. Another
family was the Cuadrado family. Angel (an-yel) Cuadrado was in our grade
and Manuel was about two or three years older. I remember how they had a
bit of trouble with English at first. Some of their sentence structure
was humorous to us, as we never had been around Spanish speaking people.
One morning as I got to school, Manuel came up to me and very seriously
said, “Do you heard what happen?” I said, “No, what happened.” Manuel
said, “Father Wolf, from the Catholic Church, he woke up dead.” He
apparently had died in his sleep. Although it was a sad deal, I couldn’t
help chuckling that day whenever I thought about Manuel’s excited
statement. They were all excellent students and very courteous, as I
recall. As the doctors from the San transferred to other places, so did
the kids who stayed with them. Angel Cuadrado left in about his
sophomore year. Lola Metcalfe Vanorny told me she heard he is now a
pediatrician in Atlanta, GA. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 

Converversation between Larry Hackman (66):Bismarck, ND.

 

& Don Aird: St. Louis, MO.

 

 

From Larry to Don:

I think this was a interesting conversation we had. Would you mind if Gary Puts it out on the blog? If you do please let him know as I’m sending this to both of you. Don, I also must have deleted the latest emails. If this is OK with you and if you want to include them please send them onto Gary

 

 

 

 

 

Don to Larry:

 

Carroll Carlson was my favorite Uncle I visited him as often as I could the last time was in December the year before he died. I knew Alvin and Art Siem we used to get our drinking water from the Siem’s farm. Eva Siem always had cookies and hot chocolate for me when we stayed at the farm during Christmas.

 

Don

 

 

 

Larry to Don:

Don

 

I have been trying to place you and where you lived?

So far I have nothing. I know several people use to haul water from their neighbors wells in the hills. Some of the water was real good and some not so good. I think a lot of it depended on the depth of the well. Did you know the Walters’, the Birklands’, The Dietrichs’, and the Hackman brothers that lived along 43. There are a lot of Hackmann/ Hackman relatives that live in and around St.Louis. Do you know any? My family originated from between Gerald and New Haven, Mo. near a church called Port Hudson. Mo.

Larry

 

 

 

Don to Larry:

 

Not many folks in Dunseith know me. I was born in Bottineau in 1943. My Mother Clarissa Carlson Aird worked and lived in the Shelver Drug Store until Dad returned from Europe (WW II) then we moved to Wahpeton. My Mother died in 1952. I was raised in Wahpeton, went to college in Dickinson, went to Vietnam in 1970, came back to NDSU where I got my masters on the GI Bill. We always came back to the Carlson farm across the road from Siems but I never got to know anyone either in the hills or town. Over the years I came back to visit Uncle Carroll as often as possible. Carroll was the least sociable character I ever met. He rarely visited anyone. In fact Dick Johnson lived just down the road from Carroll, Carroll wouldn’t talk to him. So Dick took it upon himself to start a conversation. Dick then watched after him until he died.

 

 

 

The water we drank came from the Siem farm. It was the best water I ever remember drinking, it was always cold. Art and Eva were good friends.

 

 

 

Misery is a beautiful state but to hot and humid in the summer. I spend my retirement working with/for Vets and fishing the many rivers that are close to St Louis.

 

 

 

Larry to Don:

 

Don

Sorry I havn’t got back to you sooner. I was thinking about your comment about Carroll being unsociable. After reading many of the stories written about him and what he accomplished during his life time I dont’t think that was always the case. However, I think that as people, in particular men, get into their later years they seem to hold back and shy away from other people. I know several in my family that did the same thing. They actually were all real nice folks, but just would not go out of their way to strike up a conversation with anyone. I think there are several reasons for this, one being that as most of us age we start to loose are hearing. It gets hard to understand what some people are saying. I’m finding that out now. People with soft voices and most kids, I can,t undrstand, so I end up asking them to talk slower, and louder and to repeat . If there is any background noise forget it. I know I’m going to have to get hearing aids eventually, but I don’t want to. I know that is one reason why people shy away from other people and avoid crowds. Another reason why people shy away from other people is that when you deal with other people their problems have a tendancy to become your problems. When you get up in age I think most people and again mostly men figure that they have seen and had to work through enough problems and don’t want to get involved with solving any more. I always thought my great uncle was wasting his life sitting back in his chair, smoking his pipe, and watching the leaves flutter and turn in the breeze just outside the window. He would do that for hours every day. You know, now that I’m retired and can kick back, there is something that is calming and almost hypnotic about relaxing and watching the leaves. It almost makes me want to get a pipe and light up. Maybe I’ll consider it again in about 10 years, if it crosses my mind. I havn’t smoked for almost 40 years, but I remember my great uncle didn,t mind if I took one of his pipes filled it with his tobacco and kicked back and had a smoke and a conversation with him. I was about 12 years old. Them were the days? I had a couple of uncles who smoked roll your own cigarettes using Bullderm tobacco in the sack or Prince Albert tobacco in the can. One uncle could roll a cigarette with one hand. I had to use both hands. They always claimed, that roll your own cigarettes never started a fire. Because if you didn’t draw on a roll your own , it simply went out and you would have to relite, or if you laid it somewhere it would simply go out. Where as, with a taylor made cigarette it would keep burning until there was nothing left no matter if it was in your mouth or an ash tray, or a pile of dry leaves. They didn’t set much store with taylor made cigarettes

 

 

Larry

 

 

Larry to Don:

 

Don
There were two parts of these messages that did not go through. Your reply to the last message, was that Bud Anderson and Carroll Carlson were good friends before and after the war and that Bud had informed you that Carroll Carlson had become introverted due to his experiences in the war, where he was involved in several major battles and that he was a lot more light hearted and friendlier before the war.
 
Don I remember Bud Anderson being quite a jokster. Bud’s family was putting up hay on my Great Uncles (Henry Dietrich’s) place. Frank Hackman my uncle was in the stack. At that time the object was to build a hay stack to the largest dimensions possible and still get the stack moving people to move it from the hay field into your farm yard. They usually charged by the stack and just gripped about the size of the stack but you still got it moved for the same price. Anyway my Uncle Frank was in the stack. His job was to keep the edges of the stack vertical and packed to highest point possible or to the height the farmhand could reach. The last item of business to complete the stack was to top it off so that the middle of the stack was higher and moisture would drain off the stack and not into the stack. Frank had been in the stacks all day. The day was hot and I ‘m sure Frank was tired. It was the last stack of the day. Lorenzo Anderson running the farmhand hoisted the hay up to the center top of the stack. There was a push off on the farmhand that pushed the hay off the end of the tines onto the center of the stack. This action also happened to push my uncle off the stack. He came sliding and tumbling to the ground with his fork in his hand. Bud and I were sitting in the pickup watching and waiting for them to finish up saw all of this happen. Bud couldn’t contain himself and begin laughing. My Uncle Frank was glaring at him with pitch fork in hand. Then Bud knowing Frank was a bachelor said the wrost possible thing he could think of, at that instant. He said, Frank you almost made your wife a widow, and just howled with laughter. Its a good thing old Bud had that pickup in gear and fast with his foot on the accelerator, otherwise he would of been wearing a pitch fork for a tale. Bud always liked to tease Uncle Frank about his wife. As I remember Bud. He stood about 6ft.5in. and always had a smile on his face and always found something to laugh about. I bet Carroll had some good times with old Bud Anderson?
Larry

 

 

Question from Lois Tweten: Helena, MT
Neola Kofoid Garbe’s reply in Red: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
Hi Gary,
You certainly have a lot of wonderful information! Thanks to you and Bev Morinville Azure for adding me to your list/blog even tho I don’t know many folk.
But…I do have a question. In the 40’s 1942-49 when I lived on Ohmer street – a block North on the East side of the hospital…two houses to the North, on the corner, Johnnie and I played with Smallie Houle…Do you know who that is now? Maybe you do Neola? Hi Lois, Smallie/Smollie (Raymond Houle) lived three houses north from the corner. I THINK the Monson family had moved their house to the corner of the block (straight west from our house) when your family still lived in Bottineau. Monson’s house was on the corner, someone named Nordmark–maybe Marlyn, was next. Then it was Houle’s house. I think the Lyle Mahler family lived in this house later. Smallie/Smollie was one of the bunch who chased each other around the neighborhood after school on May 1. I’m sure you remember “May Day ” was BIG day in our neighbor. As you know May baskets were delivered, usually after school, and that’s when the chasing/fun started. I can still remember running after/from the other kids. You/Johnnie delivered your baskets in the morning (When we got up in the morning, baskets from you/Johnnie were already hanging on our doors. It would have been a big surprise/disappointment if they hadn’t been there.), so you could sit back and relax while the rest of us were running. :) I think Smollie/Raymond passed away a few years ago. I thought I had his obituary, but I can’t locate it. Eileen, did I send it to you?
We played with Dennis Langehoud Dennis Langehaug lived on Bennett St. He/my brother, Jim, were good friends in high school. Dennis is a fun-loving fellow. Did you see the picture of Dennis/your brother, Johnnie/me that was taken at the Class of ’58’s 50-year reunion? If not, I’ll send it to you–I think Johnnie has it, too., Billy Sauscer (spelling is all wrong). But after my Dad, Kenneth Tweten died, and Mom married Harold Skjervem we moved away and then I’ve lost touch with so many until this Dunseith blog.
Thanks for any information…
An old Bottineau classmate until 1949, in my 4th grade. Lois Tweten
 
Neola

 

 
 
 
Allen, I am reposting this from several days ago. I did not realize I had forgotten to identify it was from you until I noticed it with the last group that I send these daily messages to. Gary
 
From Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

 

In August Nathan and Kristina were inn ND while he was on furlough fro his position in Homeland Security in Alaska. They didn’t have time to make it to MI and I couldn’t make it to ND. We met in the Minneapple for a fun couple days.
 
To make an adventure of it by taking the old Charger. Yeah — I still have it. Some of you may remember it as “Dakota Midnight” in CB radio days.
 
I want to dispel any rumors that my trip caused gas prices to go up — although i could have created a temporary shortage of premium in a couple places —- I re did it mechanically — and watering 450 horses takes a considerable amount of fluid. Yeah–its “baditude” is much worse than ever. (13 MPG on premium–saving up for an overdrive transmission — should get close to 20 mpg then)
 
The trip was event free and I managed to shave nearly two hours off my usual time from Midland to the Minneapple — partly buy using a GPS and finding a great route. Alaina and I made it in 12.5 hours out and 12 flat back — of course it rained most of the way back mand Ol’ Midnight will create a “religious experience” in a split second on wet pavement.
 
There is a “MOPAR Power Tour” every year and so far I’ve not been able to participate. So this summer we did one of our own. In the next few years I’d like to drive back to Dunseith for a Peace Garden car show. The Charger hasn’t been there for nearly 25 years. Dick — keep me posted OK? In respect to our old friend Jack Smith — I’ll drive — not haul it.
 
Anyway here are a few pictures —
 
Nathan, Kristina and Alaina — only 5 min from the Mall of America–but she still didn’t find a dress for homecoming.
 
 
 
OK — so I always have to get in the picture–must be a throw back to political days

 
About my T-shirt—The Great Lakes Loons is the name of our minor league baseball team — Clayton Kershaw went straight to the Dodgers from Midland MI.

 

 

 

Message/Pictures from Cheryl Larson Dakin (71): cheryl.dakin@yahoo.com BEDFORD, TX

 

Hi Gary

I’m attaching a couple more pictures I thought might be of interest to those Larsons and Hansons out there. I can’t identify the grandchildren in the picture with Kjersten, but her greatgrandchildren on the blog might know. The other picture is of my dad’s 7th birthday party (it would have been 1932). He’s in the center of the photo, and Frances Morinville is behind him. She’s very easy to recognize. My Uncle Dick (Richard Larson married my mom’s sister Jerrine Richard) is in the little blond boy in the front. (Hi Uncle Dick!)

Thanks Gary!

Cheryl Larson

Cheryl, I did not realize that Jerrine Richard (49) is your mom’s sister let alone married to your dad’s brother Dick. She is another one I did not have on the master email list either, however she is and has been on our daily distribution list. Gary
 

Richard Larson

 

 

Jerrine

 

 

4930 NE 86th St

 

Seattle, WA 98115

 

(206) 524-4566

 

 

rdlars1@msn.com

 

49

 

 

1932:

Norman Larson’s 7th birthday with brother Dick (little blond boy in front)

and Frances Hansen Morinville (center back)

 

 

 

 

 

Kjersten Adriensen age 90 with grandkids