Monthly Archives: February 2010

02/28/2010

Posted on by
Message/Pictures from Kenny Nerpel (65): Rugby, ND.
 
Gary,
 
RE: Southern Rendezvous
 
We just returned from the first annual Appalachian adventure. It wasn’t well attended but we were able to get together with old friend Billy Grimme at a cabin near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Stopped in on the way at a casino near French Lick, Indiana. I’ve always wanted to visit the home town of basketball legend Larry Bird and took this occasion to cross it off the bucket list.
 
It snowed for four days in the Smokies and rarely got above freezing, but North Dakotans do not let small things like this interfere with fun. The pool tournament , hot tubin’ and reminiscing went on as planned. Billy says that he honed his considerable shot-making skills at Sayid Kadry’s Pool Hall in Dunseith.
 
Took a different route on the way back passing through Memphis for a visit with my son. We visited a hotel there where they have ducks living on the top floor that they escort each day, via the elevator, to the lobby. Then on to Little Rock and Conway Arkansas, stopping briefly to visit the Toad Suck Ferry. (Toad Suck). May have stumbled upon the site of the next Southern Rendezvous. Hmmm.
 
 
Pool tournanment Snow 28 Degrees
 
 
Kenny
 
 
 
Newspaper articles posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

Trent Metcalfe is the son on Archie (79) & Sally (Knutson) Metcalfe. He is also the Grandson of

Mary Eurich Knutson (62). Archie/Sally and family live on the former Orville/Gloria Hagen farm

located a half mile south of #43 and a half mile east of the Rolette/Bottineau county line.

 

 

  

02/27/2010

Posted on by
DeAnn Gottbreht delivered Connor Wayne O’Hara on February 25th: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht
Message from DeAnn:
 

Hello from two very proud parents! Connor Wayne O’Hara was born on September 25, 2010 at 9:55 pm. He weighed 4lbs 1 oz and is 17.25 inches long. He has a nice head of brown hair and what appears to be brown eyes. He is really doing great!

They started me yesterday morning at about 5 am on the inducing drugs and is was a very long day. I had really slow progress most of the day but at the end it was really quick and all of a sudden he was ready to enter the world and all of the nurses had to scramble to get the room ready and the doctor had to hurry in from home to deliver! He was crying as soon as he came into this world and it was a beautiful sound! The NICU people cleaned and checked him in my room and I was able to hold him for about a minute before they had to take him out to the NICU. What a miracle he is. Patrick went with to the NICU to see what was done. When they wheeled him out to the NICU they went by the waiting room so some very proud grand parents got a chance to see him as well!

Overall Connor is doing really well. They had to put him on a ventilator last night to help his breathing but when I last spoke with his doctor they planned to take it off a little earlier this afternoon because his breathing had greatly improved. They started to slowly feed him formula today as well. He is handling everything very well so far and all of the NICU staff have been great. Patrick and I have been in to see him a number of times today and also got to bring is his grand parents for a visit. He is a beautiful boy and we are blessed. I thank you all for your prayers that helped bring such a strong boy into or lives. I will post a picture of him from this morning on the site so you can all see him. Take Care everyone!

Read Journal

 
 
Lester Kitterling – Posted from the Duseith Alumni Website:
Reply from Traci (Pritchard) Zahn:

Judge Ketterling married my parents (Shirley Pritchard). I can remember mom talking about what a great sense of humor he had. My thoughts are with him and his family.

Traci, I believe your mother was Shirley Pritchard, daughter of Robert & Dorothy. She has passed on and is buried in Ackworth. I do not remember your dad’s name though.
 
You requested to be added to our distribution list some time ago. I added your name to the master email list, but I don’t see where I’ve added you to our daily distribution. I have added you now, so please let me know if you are receiving it twice. For our records, where are you currently living? Gary
 

Lester Kitterling’s CarringBridge Website:

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

 

Gary,

 

I just read your newsletter; I see LeaRae mentioned Judge Ketterling. This is his CaringBridge website if anyone would like to have it.

 

Neola

 

 
 
 
 
Reply from Trish Larson Wild (73): FORT COLLINS, CO
 
Hi Gary,

I finally got my blog online and running. It’s just the rough start, but if folks want to check it out, the address is:

trishwild.blogspot.com

My hope is to keep the site updated often for family, friends, followers, and sponsors. There will be frequent entries to chronicle preparations, training rides, and challenges getting ready for this endeavor. Anyone who clicks on the link to follow the blog will get a notification of all new entries. Thanks to everyone for your supportive comments and interest.

Trish

 
 
 
Picture from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
Many of you may know of the wedding celebration that will happen March 6, 2010 in LA. Ashley Noel, daughter of Gerald Pilkington and Evelyn Gottbreht will exchange vows with Gavin Phillips Witzer, son of Mr and Mrs Marc Witzer. All eight of Dale and Alma Gottbreht’s children will be together for this happy event. I am posting the fine photo of George who was in fine form on the occasion of another family wedding, that of Ivan Shen [Victor and Sharron] to Nora Obringer [Bob and Lauran] 24 Sept 2005 Detroit, MI. George danced the night away with his many nieces. The photographer captured Jenny Gottbreht daughter of Bill and Jean; DeAnn Gottbreht daughter of Ernie and Brenda and Ashley Pilkington daughter of Ger and Evie with there Uncle George Gottbreht. Priceless!

Sharron

Jenny Gottbreht, George Gottbreht, DeAnn Gottbreht & Ashley Pilkington
 
 
Allen Enno:
Picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

 

Gary,

 

I think I sent this picture awhile ago. Someone might have sent an address where I could mail the picture, but I can’t find it. I have the picture right beside me RIGHT now, so if anyone has a mailing address for Allan/a relative, I’ll mail the picture as soon as I have an address. It’s a small picture, but Allan/a relative might like to have it.

 

I’ve been battling a cold since February 16; I haven’t been out of my apartment since the night before when I arrived in Bottineau. I don’t have much energy these days, but I’m going to scan/send a few articles from the Courant to you for your newsletter. The good part about having no energy is I’ve watched much more of the Olympics than I usually do. :)

 

I enjoy all the pictures/stories/etc. (if I know the people, or if I don’t know them) in your newsletters and also the picture/info you include about life in Cebu.

 

Thanks!

 

Neola

 

 

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

02/26/2010

Posted on by
Lester Kitterling – Former Rolett/Bottineau county Judge – has cancer:
From LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND
 
Judge Lester Ketterling and wife Eunice are in Arizona. The Judge was diagosed with an agressive lymphona (cancer) a few days after they got there. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.They were just planning to spend a couple of months in the sun and it hasn’t been good. He started chemo, but has a ton of side effects. Lester served as District Judge for this area including Bottineau and Rolette County for a number of years. He is blind and his wife has low vision.
 
 
Also From LeaRae
The Bottineau County Centennial Books used to be available at the Bottineau County Public Library and/or the Bottineau County Auditor’s Office. I just called both and neither has any for sale. Mom found one at a garage sale a couple of years ago for 50 cents. Sounds like it could soon be a valuable as a Rembrandt!
 
Gene Bender Benefit
For those who don’t see the Bottineau Courant or Metigoshe Mirror, I would like to remind everyone there is a benefit for Gene Bender, former science teacher at Dunseith High School. He suffered a severe stroke in November. He was in Rochester, then Fargo, Bottineau Good Sam, and is finally going home this week, but will continue to be an out patient. His right side and speech were affected. One of things they are trying to get is a machine to help him communicate. This item is not covered by insurance.
 
The Benefit is Sunday February 28 from 11AM to 2:30PM Multipurpose Room at the HS. Menu Spaghetti -Garlic Toast -Dessert Sponspored by Metigoshe Lions and Dakota College (Forestry) and Supplemental Funds by Thrivent. Come to the East side of the HS, just South of Thatcher Hall.
Free will offering.
 
Make it a day and attend the Bottineau Community Theater production of “Curtains” at 2:30 in the Holwell Auditorium. It’s a musical-comedy and mystery. You may recognize some actors/actresses with a Dunseith connection-Duane Sebelius, Keith Pritchard (son of Corbin) and his wife Jan Pritchard, Loretta Neameyer Wall, and Diana Awalt Bullinger. Also, Robert Christianson whose dad was supt of the Peace Garden a few years back.
Hope I didn’t miss anyone.
 
 
 
 
Posted By Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot ND.

LINDA C. BJUGSTAD
Linda Bjugstad, age 59 of Dunseith, died Monday in a Minot hospital. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church in Dunseith. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery of rural Dunseith. A wake will be held on Friday beginning at 4:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 8:00 P.M. also in the church

Linda is survived by her husband Don Bjugstad of Dunseith, ND, Her sons, Wayne “Stompy” (Sherry) Poitra of Grand Forks, ND, Terry (Audra) Poitra if Cando, ND, Christopher “Pd” (Arlene) Poitra Of Mandan, ND and daughter Tobbie (John) Vivier of Dunseith, ND, Step-daughter Joani (Lee) Jarus of New York, Kelsey Bjugstad of Fargo, ND and Jasper (Amy) Bjugstad of Missouri; Mother Betty Peltier of Dunseith, ND, brothers Dennis “Magoo” (Gail) Belgarde of Moorhead, MN, Tommy (Paula) Belgarde and Sylvester “Buster” (Ginger) Belgarde of Dunseith, ND; sisters Janice Morin of Fargo ND, Debbie (Elvis) Gladue and Betty Jean (Ray) Ostby of Dunseith, ND; 28 grandchildren and 3 great-grand children.

Print Obituary
  

02/25/2010

Posted on by
Bottineau County Centennial Books:
Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 

Gary,

 

The Bottineau County Centennial Books are VERY hard to find. I haven’t seen/heard of a new copy for years. Estate sales sometimes have a copy. It seems the people who own them, are hanging on to them. I’m guessing many of the original books have worn out over the years. The book was kiddingly called “The Bible”. I located a copy on the net about three weeks ago (used). It was selling for $295. Sometimes, of course, a person lucks out and finds a copy. I’m trying to locate a copy for a friend of mine, too.

 

Perhaps an ad in the Courant would bring results.

 

Neola

Neola, I am so sadden to hear that those books are no longer available. Whose in charge and what would it take to have a few more copies Printed? I know they’d get the sales. The Dunseith Centennial book can be purchased at the Log Barn and the Security State Bank in Dunseith. Gary
 

 

Phyllis McKay (65): Auburn, WA

 

Folks, I just had a really nice visit with Phyllis McKay. In the coarse of our conversation, she mentioned that she has file folders for certain folks that are mentioned in our daily blogs that are of special interest to her. She copies and pastes all entries mentioned about these folks into these folders. What a brilliant Idea. I’m wondering if anyone else is doing this? Phyllis is recovering from Rotator cup surgery. She is well on her way to recovery and has gone back to teaching half days. Gary
 
 
 
Reply from Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (68): Dunseith, ND.
 

Hi-Gary

We were so saddened to hear of Dan Morgan’s passing- he was a good man!

Trish- I remember when you got your first horse- you were a youngster living at the port- I believe your Dad was a customs officer. You kept your horse in my parent’s pasture and my mom, Ella Metcalfe used to haul water to it every day . Those were many years ago.

Also, one thing I remember my mother saying about the flu years was that she and her sister Hannah (about 8 and 10) were lying in bed sick with the flu and their little brother Neil (18 mo) was In his little bed and she said they could see him play with his hands above the top of the crib . She said one day

that stopped and then she could see a small white box on Gramma’s sewing machine- he had died. She said Gramma (Randina Evans) never did get the flu and she would go around to the neighbors and milk their cows and leave the milk on the front porch. It was so contagious they didn’t dare go into the houses. Those people sure rallied back after every crisis- then they went through the depression and then wars. Tough ! they were!!- enuf rambling!-Lola

 
 
 
Update from DeAnn Gottbreht: Carringbridge link – http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht
Note: Brenda has been diagoised with breast cancer. Her parents are Ernie Gottbreth and Brenda Hill Mueller.
 
Hello from my room in MeritCare hospital. We went to our ultrasound appointment yesterday morning and the fluid around the baby had gone done more. He spoke with out high-risk doctor who consulted with the Neonatologist (Baby ICU) doctors, my Oncologist, and my regular OB here who will deliver the baby and they decided the best route for me now is to deliver. The main reason being so they won’t have to put off my chemo treatments any longer. So I can deliver our son and get started recovering. I was admitted into the hospital yesterday afternoon and have been relaxing here in room 437. They are going to induce my labor starting about 5am tomorrow morning so I guess I better get my rest tonight while I can. I’m just happy they are letting me had supper tonight before I go on my liquids diet tomorrow morning! I am pleased with our doctors decision and look forward to meeting our son, the newest O’Hara to enter the world. I probably won’t be able to update this again for a couple days so I just wanted to keep you updated as best I could. I appreciate all of your prayers and we go through this next step in our journey. It sounds like he will have to be in the NICU for atleast 3 weeks to a month but I know he will be in good hands. Take care everyone and Ill keep in touch. Oh and we will be moving to a different room starting tomorrow morning so if any of you are looking for me I should be in the directory. Oh and I sure hope this is a easy delivery with very little pain!! I can hope for it right!!

Love, DeAnn

 
 
 
Wm Elmer Striker:
Question from Ken Striker: Dayton OH
 
Hi Dean-
 
Thanks for sending that link of the picture of Adda/Adele’s stone. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=striker&GSiman=1&GScid=2179256&GRid=14673518&
 
I read at the Dunseith HS blog that many folks died from the flu epidemic 1918 are were buried at Little Prarie Cem. (see below)
 
I would like to learn where Wm Elmer Striker, Adda/Adele’s husband was buried. In 1943 he and his daughter Ellen moved into Dunseith and later they moved to Seattle. He died at the age of 91 d 19 Dec 1953 Seattle King Co. WA
 
 
 
Lake Metigoshe Hotels:
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 
If you are interested in staying at Lake Metigoshe and want to make reservations online, here are the websites for the two Lake Metigoshe sites.
 
I sent the phone numbers for both facilities before.

Quilt Inn at Lake Meigoshe: http://quiltinnandsuites.com/
 
Twin Oaks Resort at Lake Metigoshe: www.twinoaksresort.net
 
Neola
 
 
 
School Picture:
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

The picture of so many kids and parents by the school house makes
me think it could have been the annual event called ‘play days’, when
several of the schools would take the kids to a centrally located school
for games. They had running races and ball games and other things for
healthy competition. It’s just a guess as to why so many kids would be
at one school at one time. This school is very similar to the Hilltop
School that was southeast of the Peace Garden. I imagine many school
buildings were built alike and maybe even by the same carpenters. I’m
not real sure, but I think Glen Honsey bought the Hilltop School and
moved it to his place for a shop. It looked quite similar to the one in
the latest post by Mary Eurich Knutson. Several of the kids who attended
Hilltop are readers of this blog and may shed more light as to which
school this is for sure. It certainly looks like Ackworth and many of
Mary’s other pictures are from that area. Wasn’t the Ackworth school
moved at one time to it’s present location? It just seems to me that it
was located a short distance from it’s current location. Thanks Gary!

Dick

In about 1981 the Ackworth School was moved a half mile west to it’s current location, pictured below. The community got together and made the move. It is currently sitting on the exact spot where the original Ackworth Post Office was. Albert Hiatt owned that 40 acres. I think the Lagerquist’s may have it now. Gary
 
 
 
Pictures from Clayton Parrill (72): Bottineau, ND
Note: Clayton purchased Wondrasek’s studio a number of years ago and he renamed the business to “Dakota Memories Photography”. Gary
 
Gary,
 
Was looking at old picture of Ackworth School. Here is one I took last summer as it is today.
 
Clayton Parrill
 
 
I added a couple of other photos you might be interested in. I have taken a lot of landscape and scenic art images of the Turtle Mountains and from Rolette-Rolla-St.John to Bottineau-Souris areas if you think anyone would interest in seeing them I would post one every now and then.
Thank you.
Clayton, these are great. Yes, by all means we’d love to see more. Your Photo’s are absolutely wonderful! Gary
 
 
This is Ackworth as we see it today. The bell has been removed and the siding and shingles have been replaced. Those are the windows that were in the school when I attended school there for 8 years. I remember those long windows being replaced to these modern windows, for the time, about the time I started school. The school year of 60/61 was the last year school was held at Ackworth. I was a lone 8th grader with no one in the 7th. Dagney Haagenson was our teacher. For the hundreds of kids that were educated in Ackworth, I hold the title of being the last to have graduated from and to have attended all 8 grades in Ackworth. Most all of the Hiatt’s, one generation ahead of me and earlier, attended Ackworth. Many Hiatt’s of my generation attended as well. At one time the Hiatt’s accounted for more than half of the nearly 50 kids in attendance. Gary
 

 

 

Clayton, this is precious. I have a picture of my folks Headstone, but it’s not nearly as nice as this. Dad had both of their funeral arrangements made inclusive of the headstones. He had it all drawn out on paper in Nero’s hands. He visited Bill Nero often, so he and Bill had everything all in place when he departed this earth. It was so easy for us. Bill just followed thru with all of dad’s plans. These headstones, with the base, just appeared on their grave sites as they are pictured.

 

 

 

Ackworth Cemetery

 

 

 

 

I believe this is the old Homen school that was located on the north side of Highway 43 (Peace Garden road) about 2 miles west of Salem church. We used to attend Bible school in this school. Virgil Rude told me this is the school he attended too. I know LaVerne Rude, Carrole Fauske’s husband, attended this school too. This school was moved for a period of time to the church yard of Salem. I believe it was later purchased by Dan Pladson. Dan moved it to it’s current location next to his house located behind the west fence of the Ackworth cemetery.

 

  

02/24/2010

Posted on by
Dan Morgan, Former DHS Teacher, passed away:
From Judy Morgan: Edgeley, ND
 

H. DANIEL (DAN) MORGAN

Graveside services for H. Daniel (Dan) Morgan, Edgeley, ND formerly Wishek, ND will be held in the spring at Milnor Lutheran Cemetery, Milnor, ND.

Dan Morgan, son of John and Anna (Schiffner) Morgan was born June 19, 1937 rural Englevale, ND. Dan grew up and attended school and graduated from Lisbon High School. He attended Valley City State University earning a BS in education. Dan was married to Judith Nelson October 8, 1955 at Milnor, ND. Dan taught in several North Dakota schools before moving to Wishek in 1970 where he taught for four years. Dan and Judy owned and operated J’S Gift Shop and Craft Supply in Wishek. He continued to teach throughout North Dakota until 1987 while pursuing graduate work in Physics and Math. Dan also worked for North Dakota School Assemblies and the National School Assemblies. In 2003 they moved to the DJ Ranch west of Edgeley, ND where he continued to live until the time of his death. Dan was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church at Wishek, ND. Dan will be remembered for the love of his family and friends, teaching and a lifetime love for his horses.

Dan died February 22, 2010 at his home under the care of Prairieview Hospice. He was 72 years old.

Dan is survived by his wife Judy; one son Scott Morgan, Rosholt, SD; three grandchildren; Richard, Abigail and Daniel S.; two sisters, Eva (Wally) Buckmiller, Tonasket, WA; Mary Jane Gullingsrud, Minot, ND; three sisters-in-law, Mavis Morgan, Ottertail, MN; Iris Barta, Moorhead, MN; Marvel Stockstad, Milnor, ND; one brother-in-law, Steven Nelson, Minneapolis, MN; two Godchildren, Susan Morgan, Louisville, KY; JoAnn (Bob) Gray, Atlanta, GA; two aunts, Rita Bachman, Pierce, NE; Marie Bachman, Renton, WA; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his son, Richard and infant son Daniel C, an infant daughter, parents, brothers, George and James, step-father Herman Jensen, and five brothers-in-law. Visit www.dahlstromfuneralservice.com to sign online guest book and share memories. Dahlstrom Funeral Home of Wishek ND entrusted with arrangements.

 

 
 

Bottineau Centennial Book:

Request from Kay Hildebrandt (Cousin to the Pritchard’s & Thompson’s):

 

Gary, Could someone please tell me how I can obtain a copy of the Bottineau Centennial Book? City, historical society, or ? Thanks, Kay Hildebrandt

Kay, I’m sure some of our readers can help you with this request. Folks can order the Dunseith Centennial Book from the Security State Bank in Dunseith or the Log Cabin. Gary
 
 
Reply to Ackworth School Picture:
From Florence Hiatt Dahl (50): Anchorage, AK
 
I went to Ackworth 7 years–those sure look like the windows I looked out of a zillion times. I remember a car went by pulling a horse–the horse died right by the school………………I..remember the anger–even as child–I KNEW the idiot had killed that poor animal..
 
 
 
Reply to Ackworth School Picture:
From Marlys Hiatt (71): Dunseith, ND.
 
I’m thinking the school could be achworth. I remember there was a bell
and a tree in the same place but much larger. The one thing that is
missing is the big steps on the front but maybe the people are covering
them.

Marlys Hiatt

 
 
Reply to Ackworth School Picture:
From Dale Pritchard (63): Leesville, LA
 
Gary / Mary,

I would say it’s the Ackworth school. It’s position is correct in
relation to the road, it did have a bell, the tree is right although
considerably smaller, and the road seems to be a little higher than the
level of the school which is correct (unlike the Willow Lake school
which was higher than the road). I believe the hill in the distance on
the left was behind Willie Hiatt’s barn. I remember we had a small barn
on the back right of the school lot which wouldn’t show on this picture.
I guess it was a souvenir of when kids rode horses to school. I don’t
remember the tall windows. Maybe it was remodeled somewhat before our
time. Surely all those kids did not go to school there at the same
time. I remember an average 12 – 15 of us back then and, although we
had room to move around, most of the room was used.

Mary, Thanks for sharing the old pictures. I have never seen a lot of
them before now. When moving around as much as I did for so long, one
tends to keep from collecting a lot. But that’s our regret in later
years. Keep ’em coming! We have snow in the forecast again for
tomorrow. If the forecast is right, it will be the 3rd time this year.
Very rare. The usual is once every 3 to 4 years.

Dale

Dale, Florence & Marlys; I so agree with both of you that this is Ackworth. About the time I started school in Ackworth, in 1953, I remember those windows being replaced with shorter windows. I remember all the talk about how much it changed the appearance of the school. Marlys, I remember well those steps being replaced. It was about the time you started school. I know Mrs. Phelps was our teacher at the time. In my day we had an oil burner stove for heat. In the years before my time they had a wood stove. I also remember the barn in the school yard. In my dad’s day, the kids rode their horses to school. Margie Hiatt often talked about how disgusted she was with my dad for eating all the raw eggs that her chickens laid in that barn. Dad loved his raw eggs and burnt toast. Gary
 

 
Bog Family:
Reply to picture posted yesterday from Eileen Brudwick: Fargo, ND
 
Hi Gary,
 
I just happen to know something about the Bog family! Ole & Eli Bog are the parents of: Anna, Knud, Ellen Carolyn Bog Smulan (wife of Ole Theodore Olsen Smulan), Bertine, and Oletha Bog Johnson (married to John M. Johnson), Oletha died in National City, San Diego County, California in 14 January 1967. She & John had at least 7 children.
 
Ole Theodore Olsen Smulan is my husband Mike’s 1st cousin three times removed. Small world isn’t it! I am happy to see this picture of the family! It’s one I didn’t have. The golden wedding celebration was 25 June 1913.
 
Thanks again Gary for all you do!!
Eileen
 
 
Casper Johnson:
Reply to picture posted yesterday from Eileen Brudwick: Fargo, ND
 
Gary,
Casper (as far as I know) is an adoptive son of John & Olette (Bog) Johnson. Casper Adolf Amundson was born, 9 November 1908 in Bottineau County, North Dakota and died, 6 November 1986 in San Diego County, California. He was married to Peggy ??
 
Eileen
Thank you Eileen. You can sure solve a lot of unknows with the resources you have. It’s great!
 
Folks, do any of you remember the Bog family or this Johnson family? I’m thinking they may have lived in the Willow Lake township area possibly on the Bottineau County side? The Brudwick’s lived west of Rendahl church in Bottineau county. Gary
 
 
Axel Johnson’s first wife Mary:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Gary Metcalfe is right. Axel Johnson’s first wife, Mary Olson
Johnson, died in the flu epidemic of 1918. He actually was also sick
with the flu and had to lie in bed with her for a couple days after she
died because he was too sick to get up. This is what my grandmother
related to me many years ago. Not very many people survived if they
contracted this deadly disease. Little Prairie Cemetery has an area in
the northeast part of the cemetery that is filled with victims of the
flu. Cliff Salmonson told me that grave digging crews worked day and
night and took turns warming up at Millang’s farmhouse across the road
from the cemetery. We have had to leave this part of the cemetery ‘as
is’ because we have no idea how many or where the graves are for sure.
They buried victims through the winter and just moved over a bit and dug
another grave. The dead just kept coming and coming, according to Cliff.
If you look in any local cemetery, there are always dates of death in
1918 and the victims are of all ages, young and old alike. This was from
the flu epidemic. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Reply from Trish Larson Wild (73): FORT COLLINS, CO
 
Hi Gary, Wow. You really went back in the archives for the photo of me on Magic, my gelding. I thought I better send a couple of more recent photos of riding in the Rockies. You asked how many miles a day I could ride. Of course it depends on many factors including terrain, weather, fitness, weight, breed of horse, etc. A common conservative long distance mileage to keep horse and rider sound, fed, healthy and happy is about 25 miles per day, 125 per week, 500 per month. I think I can do a bit better than that on the route to North Dakota, for a number of reasons. Therefore, if I’m going to do it, I would like to leave by April 1, which doesn’t leave much time because I’m already committed to travel to Costa Rica from March 3 to 9. I’m heading down to that beautiful country to further develop some contacts and scope out my future route through the rain forest and swamplands of the north. I don’t know if I can pull everything together in time to make the trip to North Dakota, but I am going to try. It all depends on how quickly my website comes together and sponsors come on board. I have been encouraged by the feedback, invitations, and interest from your readers, so I’m hopeful it will all work out. Mainly, I’d like to do it because I think it would be fun and a good challenge. I’m off work in the ER the next two days, and I’m hoping to get my website up. With some luck and elbow grease, I think I can get it done – or at least get a good start. Does anybody out there know a good web marketing consultant? In the meantime, here’s a link to a website I developed for people interested in losing weight. I lost 40 pounds this past year and so many people asked me how I did it, so I just made a website that tells the story. The reason I’m sharing it is because there is a good photo of my Morgan mare, Miss Maggie on there. If I make the reunion, I will be riding her most of the way. She is the bomb! Plus, there is info on healthy weight loss, which might be interesting to people. The system I used is called a Raw Food Diet, which is healthy and was easy for me to follow, Anyhow, for anyone interested, the link is livingarawfoodslife.blogspot.com. Well better call it a night! Big Thanks to everyone who has written to me to offer encouragement. I need all the help I can get! By the way Gary, I am texting all this on my iPhone so please feel free to correct any typos you might notice. Not that I worry any of my former teachers might be reading this or anything (lol). To finish up, here’s another timely quote from my heroine, Amelia Earhart: .”
 

02/23/2010

Posted on by
Reply from Trish Larson Wild (73): trishclayburgh@yahoo.com FORT COLLINS, CO
 
Hello everyone! Gary, I have to thank you again. I have heard from old friends and new via your daily missive and I’m so in awe of the heart and spirit of the north dakotans who carr for each other. I haven’t had time to respond yet to each individually because I’ve been worrking non stop lately, but I sure will soon and want each person to know how much I appreciate your support! Mr Metcalfe, I sure appreciate your comments and you bet I will keep in touch with all my nodak friends through this daily blog of Gary’s. All is going very well and I’m hoping to ride in to dunseith for the reunion. It might be a case of “kicking out the ladder”, but I’m just about ready…

I think this blog is quite unique in the world, and Gary, I’d like to thank you again for the effort you put forth to bring us all together.

By the way, I have officially changed my name to Trish Larson Wild,

I hope to live up to the name!

Blessings to all of you….

And I have to say, I think the class of 73 rocked! I know we had fun….

Trish
Trish, we are excited to see you come riding in on your horse all the way from Colorado. What an undertaking an adventure. How many days do you think it will take you to make this trip? Once you get to Dunseith, you’ll have the ride back too. Gary
 
 
 
Interesting article on Jay (66) and Lola Metcalfe (68) Vanorny:
Posted by Bill Grimme (65): Birmingham, AL.
 
 

Mikkel Pates, reporter/columnist for Agweek magazine of Grand Forks, blogs from Fargo, N.D., about ag issues in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. His postings and ag-at-large column are designed to support the development of successful entrepreneurial farms and agribusinesses.
 

Religion, farming and freight — at the border

I couldn’t help but stop and chat with Jay Vanorny of Dunseith, N.D. He lives on the west side of U.S. Highway 281, just a bit south of the Canadian boarder.

Vanorny told me he’s primarily in the cattle business. He started out in 1966 with 250 ewes, but in 1968 sold those and went into cattle. Both he and his wife Lola used to work at the San Haven Sanitorium, until it was abandoned in the late 1980s. “I took my retirement and bought more cows,” Vanorny says. He’s at about 100 cows now — a kind of “Heinz 57”, with some Gelbveih and Charolais. “Mostly black and black-and-white faced,” he says.

But there’s a couple of other interesting things.

First, there’s that farm shop you see behind Vanorny. It’s actually the old church that used to sit near the Little Prairie Cemetery. The congregation started in 1907 and the church was built in 1910. The church was abandoned in the late 1950s or early 1960s. In the 1980s, he bought the building. “Them old Norwegians had lots of nails and lots of time,” he said, describing the cans upon cans of nails he pulled from the subfloor so he could use the building for a farm shop. And the attic area of the church has enough lumber to build a house.

Second, there’s a 40-by-60 foot steel building — a freight depot. Vanorney and his wife operate Border Depot Shipping Services — a holding place, if you will, where U.S. shippers who don’t want to go into Canada send things. Then, a Canadian shipper comes and gets it and goes through Customs. It started several years ago when a sister-in-law, working as a broker, wanted to get soem packages into Canada. It just kind of grew gradually as a second job, and last year, Vanorny built a new building.

“Nothing is too big or too small,” Vanorny’s motto is. “You name it, I think I’ve seen it,” he says. “Boats, snowmobiles, cars, appliances. Plants.”

Now that’s what I call diversifying the farm.

He also operates a freight service in which U.S. shippers who don’t want to cross the border drop items. Canadian shippers will come across the border, pick up the items and go across.

Posted by: mpates on 2/22/2009 at 10:12 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

 

 
 
 
Pictures Posted by Mary Eurich (62): Dunseith, ND.
 

Hi Gary

I thought this at first might be Ackworth School reunion/picnic of some sort but then I don’t know if the school had a bell on top and all the men

are dressed in suits and hats so maybe it’s a church doings

I’ve scanned the picture with a magnifying glass and cannot positively identify anyone. Maybe all the kids are our parents.

The picture with the family on the porch are identified as

the John Johnson & family and Mr & Mrs Bog – Bog’s golden wedding anniversary – neighbors. Turtle Mountains. Is this the same Johnny Johnson family originally talked about from up in this area or was their more than one of them too?

The single man is labeled Casper Johnson 1928. If theres a connection – I don’t know. I always think there is somebody out there with the same pictures that will know the answers. Thanks. Mary K

 

 

This is what is written on the picture. Does anyone have any idea which Johnson family this would be. Have any of you heard of the Bog’s?

“John Johnson & family and Mr & Mrs Bog – Bog’s golden wedding anniversary – neighbors.”

 

 

 

 

 

There is a Casper Johnson (1872 -1937) listed on page 260 of the Bottineau Centennial book. He was married to Hanna Haagenson. Hanna died in 1926. He Later Married Lydia Erdman and lived in Minot. Anna (Mrs. Joe Sebilius) and Clara Hanson were Casper/Hanna’s daughters. Could this be the Casper Johnson in this picture? Gary

 

 

Casper Johnson 1928

 

 

 

 

 

This could very well be the Ackworth school. I remember a tree on the other side of the school in that exact spot. Of coarse in my day, it was much larger. Ackworth had a bell too. Folks, please let us know what you think, if this is Ackworth or not? In the back of my mind, I think I remember seeing this same picture in some of my folks old pictures and it was labeled Ackworth. We’d like some comments on this one. Thanks, Gary

 

  

02/22/2010

Posted on by
Message from DeAnn Gottbreht: CaringBridge site link –http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht
 

Sunday, February 21, 2010 10:11 AM, CST

Hello everyone. I hope you all are doing well. We have had a set back. Friday we went in for another ultrasound and to have my second chemo treatment afterwards. Once the ultrasound got started I could tell something was wrong. The fluid around the baby looked to be almost gone. One of the possible side effects of one of the two chemo drugs I got last week is the lowering of the fluid around the baby. My high-risk baby doctors were consulted. The fluid shrank from about 12cm to 3cm. I was given a non-stress test where they monitor the baby’s heart rate, movement, and whether or not I am having contractions. The test went great and he was moving well and heart rate was great. The doctors say he can do fine with the fluid he has in there and hope it will start increasing again since I haven’t had another chemo treatment. I have been following their orders and taking it easy and drinking lots of fluids. We go back to MeritCare on Monday where they will do another non-stress test and ultrasound to check the fluid levels. From what I understand if the baby is not in distress and the fluid is still low they will probably admit me to the hospital to give me IV fluids and monitor the baby more closely. If the baby is in distress at all they will deliver. We will then see the high-risk doctor on Tuesday and have a full ultrasound to check the baby’s growth and fluid level. The doctor will decide then what we do next. A big mark for the baby’s development is 32 weeks and I should be at that point at this coming Friday so they may hold me and possibly induce me to deliver then. I guess there is nothing more we can do but wait and see, and pray! Please keep us in your prayers. I will try to keep you updated.
 
 
 
Message from Dianne Larson Sjol (70): Minot, ND.
 
Hi everyone,
I am sitting at the Mpls airport with a four hour layover trying to
keep myself out of the stores…can’t fit anything else in my suitcase
as it is after a great trip to Albuquerque and Santa Fe. I went for a
two day conference but managed to squeeze in a couple of fun days
before and after. Cousin Nancy Hosmer Baldwin flew to Alq with me and
we met my sister, Cheryl Larson DAkin at the airport…she flew in
from TX…we all loaded up in the rental car and drove to Colette
Hosmer’s in Santa Fe. Needless to say, we had a great time. We had a
wonderful surprise and got to enjoy lunch with Gen (Ret)Brad Hosmer
and his lovely wife, as we joined them for lunch at a great little
Mexican restaurant…the conversation was flowing and we so enjoyed
their company. Some of you may remember that Brad was the the Gen at
the Airforce Academy in Colorado Springs for a time. He is the son of
Clark Hosmer, brother of Bob (Nancy and Colette’s dad)….We were also
joined by COlette’s beautiful daughter, Samantha (Sam). The rest of
the trip, including the conference was great. Cheryl and I saw much
of Santa Fe and even more of Albuquerque by default since we kept
making wrong turns….we ended up in some pretty strange places but
made the most of it…even traveled down the famous Route 66. We went
30 miles out of our way since we turned left instead of right…we
didn’t know that our exit was just one mile down the road had we
turned the right direction..we had a great adventure just the same. I
will leave it to Cheryl to post some photos…by the way, we also
spent time with some delightful friends of Colette’s, Scott, her son
and her grandson Tien…didn’t want to go home….
Dick and Brenda,
Nancy and Keith loved the concert…wish we could have gone!
Diane
 
 
Don Johnson Memories:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

There is a short story about my dad, Don Johnson, that has to do
with his farming and teaching. One fall in the mid ’70s, Dad was up
north about a mile swathing grain one Saturday afternoon. I was working
on the combine in front of the shop when my Mom came running from the
house with this look of panic on her face. I knew something was urgent
by the way she looked. She said, “I just looked at the calender and your
dad is supposed to be in Boissevain directing the band in just over an
hour, so he must have forgotten!” I dropped the wrenches and jumped in
my pickup and tore out to the field. I tried to think of a way to tell
him that wouldn’t make him panic. I drove out to where he was and turned
the pickup around and headed it toward home and left the door open. When
I got to the swather, he kind of knew something was up, so I just
stepped over to the side and said, “Don’t panic, but weren’t you
supposed to be—“. It registered and just as I thought, he hit the
ground running for the pickup, before I finished asking the question!
The dirt flew from the tires and he disappeared in a cloud of dust. I
finished the swathing. When he got home, Mom had his clothes out and
everything ready for a quick bath and he made it in the nick of time and
nobody knew that less than an hour before, he was a farmer and not a
teacher! Over the years we had many similar deals with trying to do two
things at once. When Dad bought Ernest LaCroix’s cows in ’67, we still
lived in town. We had to get up real early and come up to the farm and
pitch on a sleigh rack full of hay in the dark and take it out to the
cattle every morning and then be back home and cleaned up and at the
school by 8 AM. It really used to burn me when kids from the country
would come in off a nice warm bus and say, “You town kids have it made,
we have chores we have to do.” Kiss my–what! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Reply to Trish Larson:
From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 
Looks like you are on your way to living a full life. Life is not measured by how many breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away. I must admit I envy you on your ride through those beautiful, tropical areas. Looking forward to all the life changing experiences you will have to share with us. Dunseith missed the boat by not telling the life of a real Montana cowboy, George Alvin. George went way back to the turn of the century, he was in Colorado in 1896. My dad had a passion for people who had a real story to tell. He took George along on a trip to Nebraska in the 30’s. The CCC boys wanted to go back home for the 4th of July. They stood up in the back of his pick up truck both ways. But I am sure your story will be told and recorded. Gary Stokes will do you proud, please keep us posted Trish. Good Luck!
Gary Metcalfe
P.S. Both Pete and Ben Lajimodiere lost their wives to the flu about the time Axel Johnson’s wife died.

02/21/2010

Posted on by
Memories of and condolences to the Laura (Sager) Stretzel family:
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 
Gary,
A few years ago, My sister-in-law Deb gave me a photograph.
Mrs. Laura Stretzel had just entered the nursing home in Rolette.
In her collection of memorabilia she had a photograph she handed to a
granddaughter and instructed her to give it to one of Lottie
Metcalfe’s family. Deb in turn gave it to me…………Deb says it
was because I am the keeper of the family history…….

I treasure this old photograph, which my mother verified of
her maternal grandparents,Holmes Township Rolette County residents.
Mom also identified her great Uncle Welch, her mum Sylvia, aunt
Ocie and their brother Carl circa early 1900’s. My mom’s
grandparents Sam and Elizabeth (Welch)Wicks came to ND from Iowa in
a covered wagon They were long ago friends of the Sager family.

I always wanted to go see Mrs. Stretzel and thank her in
person but regretfully, we all know good intentions are not always
followed by actions.

My sincere sympathy to the family of Laura (Sager) Stretzel.
Thanks. Vickie Metcalfe

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

Quite a while back, Trish Larson Clayburgh said she had never seen my
dad, Don Johnson, with anything but a clean suit of clothes. I mentioned
that he did get dirty often and just never went anywhere without
cleaning up. Last night I ran across some old pictures of us that were
taken back in 1952 here at the farm. Both pictures were taken the same
day. It is nearly impossible to do any part of farming without getting
dirty, at least not the way we farm. Most folks never knew Dad even
farmed at all, thinking he was just a teacher and was always dressed
with a suit and tie. Such was not the case! These pictures are of Dad
and Grandpa Hans and me, taken in the shade of the trees, at a lunch
break in the field, and me at age 2 back in the yard later in the
day—yes I got dirty even then! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
  

02/20/2010

Posted on by
Sylvester LaRocque (Relatives)
Reply from Denise Lajimodiere: Moorhead, MN.
 
Ginger, the other brother is Curtis, married to Debbie Cree. Duel LaRocque is a first cousin. Alice his mom, and my mom Lola Lajimodiere were sisters. The were Plantes or LaPlantes.
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

Sylvester LaRocque

July 22, 1946-Feb. 12, 2010

Sylvester Gerald LaRocque, 63, Dunseith, died Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, in a Minot hospital.

He was born July 22, 1946, to Jerome and Alice LaRocque in St. John. He married Shirley Myers on Oct. 17, 1975, in Rolla.

Survivors: wife; daughter, Shylow LaRocque, Dunseith; sons, Christopher Martin and Shane Martin, both Kansas City, Kan.; three grandchildren; sisters, Bernice Poitra, Linda Poitra and Jackie LaRocque, Debbie LaVallie, Joy Myers, Jeanette LaRocque, Annette Lunday and Sherry LaRocque; brothers, Ronald, Richard, Curtis and Brian.

Funeral: Friday, 10 a.m., St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Dunseith.

Burial: St. Louis Cemetery, Dunseith.

Prayers service: Thursday, 8 p.m., in the church.

Wake: Thursday, 4 p.m., in the church. (Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau)

Shirley A LaRocque

PO Box 821

Dunseith, ND 58329-0821

(701) 244-5338

 

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

Laura Strietzel

Nov. 24, 1911-Feb. 16, 2010

ST. JOHN Laura Victoria Strietzel, 98, St. John, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, in a Rolla hospital.

She was born Nov. 24, 1911, to Clyde and Emma Sager in Richland County. She married Otto Strietzel on June 15, 1934, in Rolla.

Survivors: daughter, Loretta Mayer, St. John; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister, Hazel Berg, Fargo; brother, Harold, Devils Lake.

Funeral: Saturday, 2 p.m., St. John Presbyterian Church, St. John.

Burial: Rolla City Cemetery, Rolla, in the spring.

Visitation: Saturday, two hours prior to the service, in the church. (Elick Funeral Home, Rolla)

 

Filipino poverty with families in need of assistance: http://garystokes.net/SponsorFilipinoFamily.aspx

Message from Brenda Hoffman (66):

 

I don’t know how many of you remember some of the stories Gary has posted about the poverty of the Philippines, but one of his posts (or was it a personal communication?) struck a cord. I was in the midst of the usual frantic Christmas preparations when he wrote that most kids in the PI don’t get Christmas gifts – their families barely have enough money for fireworks. Additional info from Gary indicated that many of the PI children are starving or malnourished. I asked Gary how I could send some money to a family with small children and he and I set up the following system:

  • I sent Gary a check at: Gary Stokes, PSC 517 Box RS/CC, FPO AP 96517-1000
  • Gary transferred my check into PI currency
  • Gary and Bernadette purchased food with the money and delivered it to the family in the pictures pasted below.

In the last few years, I have been hesitant to donate money to charities because I’m never certain that the dollars I donate will be used to help the people I want to help – I would rather volunteer my services. Gary altered that picture for me. He and Bernadette make sure that the children receive the food.

  • A bag of rice costs $14 for 25KG; $28 for 50KG. A $28 bag of rice will probably last a family of 8 for a month. Rice is the staple of all of their meals.
  • Most families have no stove to cook on so they set a pot on stones and cook with wood.

My thought was that anyone who might be interested in helping feed a family – particularly one with small children – might send Gary $5, $10 or whatever amount. And maybe, just maybe, those of us from the Dunseith area could sponsor one family or even a few families. Bernadette’s sister works in social services in the PI and could help us target the poorest of the poor. The family I helped lives right behind Gary.


Gary added that he would make sure that contributors would get recognition at the Barangay level – the first level of government in the PI and of course receipts, etc to be used for US income tax purposes.


Brenda

Gary’s reply and comments:
 
Folks; Brenda did send me a check of which I cashed and exchanged for Peso’s. With Brenda’s donation Bernadette and I purchased Rice and food and gave it to this family, pictured below (follow link posted above). 100% of the money she sent was used to buy food for this family. This family was so happy and elated to receive this donation. They are a family of 8 that live in a 5′ X 7′ house. They, like so many families in this country, often go without meals, for lack of food. There is no welfare in this country.
 
With Brenda’s suggestion, we would like to help more of these folks. Bernadette and I are willing to purchase food and give to the needy families in our area with the donations sent. 100% of your money will be used to buy food or requested items for these folks. I will keep an updated listing posted on the Dunseith Alumni Website of the total moneys collected and how they were spent with pictures and listings of the recipient families. Individual donations will not be listed separately. We feel individual donations should remain silent. For United States Income Tax rules, we will keep detailed records, of individual contributions, of all moneys collected and where they were spent.
 
Please see pictures of some of the needy families on the next tab of this site (link above) that we will be giving our donations too. If you’d like to help a specific family, please let us know with your donation. If you have specific requests for your donation, please let us know that too.
 
I have a United States FPO address that you can mail your donations too. A regular US postage stamp is all that is required. The Mailing address is
 
Gary Stokes
PSC 517 BOX RS/CC
FPO AP 96517-1000
 
I will reply to each and every donation with an email message that we have received the donation. For those I do not have an email address for, we will make a personal phone call letting them know their donation has been received.
 
Thank you Brenda for your inspiration in seeing this thru. I am always amazed with how happy go lucky these folks are that have virtually nothing. These folks are always so very friendly and more often than not have a smile on their face.
 
Gary

 

Adventuresome night

For Verena (Pete 65) Gillis: Dunseith, ND.

Hey Gary,
I had quite an adventuresome night, had not been feeling very good for a
few days. Tried to get into the Dunseith Clinic and they were all full,
tried Belcourt Hospital, sat there for over an hour and you know me when I
have to wait too long for something….well, pardon the french but the
poop hit the fan, lol. I finally had to go to administration and boy did
they catch it. I was feeling dizzy, lightheaded, having chest and back
pain, my left arm was hurting, and my neck and jaw were misbehaving too.
What a day! Well, I ended up storming out of there and told them I was
going somewhere else and they would be receiving the bill. Of course,
that didn’t happen since I couldn’t get in anywhere anyway. I told Pete I
would go with him this AM to Rolla when he went to take care of Little
Pete’s pickup. Anyway, started getting ready for bed, about 10:00 pm,
just couldn’t get comfortable, so got back up and told Pete, I don’t think
we should wait for tomorrow, call Brandi and see if she will take me. So
did that, then I called IHS and they told me they would be sending an
ambulance since they have all the necessary equipment in case of cardiac
arrest, wow! Anyway, ambulance gets here, begins the blood pressure
routine, tried to put an IV in but of course these little night crawlers
of mine kept ducking on them, (I have terrible veins). Then the one guy
starts to get real loud, 213 over 137, huh? I say, “is that my blood
pressure?” “Yes it is young lady.” Oh oh, I’m in trouble, I thought to
myself, remain calm….into my mouth comes a nitro. I then pulled out my
cell phone and called Brandi letting her know everything that was
happening, “Holy ….” was her reaction to how high my blood pressure was,
OK Mom, just relax, Dad and I are on our way. So here I am riding around
in this big old ambulance at 11:00 pm at night, pretty rough ride too.
Someone happened to be driving down our road at this time and of course
had to report to the Garden Tap where our Harold was. Then the calls
started coming in and we weren’t even home, lol.

Longer story short, got to the hospital, got hooked up to an EKG,
meantime, blood pressure is going down gradually, still trying to get IV
into me, night crawlers still won’t have that, lol. Did blood work,
X-Rays-very thorough doctor. In the end, seems my hiatal hernia was the
culprit and the blood pressure meds were not working for me. This was
about 5:00 am. OK, so what now, I am tired, I hurt and I just wanna go
home to sleep. Wait, gotta get that ole GI Cocktail first, yum, yum.
This numbs my esphagus-they then gave me a shot on the hip to relax me,
tells me I need to start relaxing more. Me? LOL. “I can’t”, I say, “got
a benefit on Saturday for Snowball Poitra who has stomach cancer. Been
having these just about every week for someone.” Why? I was asked.
“Because my husband and I have been fighting this horrible monster for 14
years, we know the expense of driving back and forth, the cost of the
chemo or radiation, whatever it is they are having, IHS does not help
everyone so there you go, answer your question?” “Yep.”

Well ya’ll, hope this wasn’t too boring, tried to make it as adventurous
as I could, lol. I look forward to hearing from you.

“Can’t get a good girl down”

Verena :)

Verena, We need you well for this reunion. You can’t get sick on us like this. A friend of mine that I used to work with had a hiatal hernia problem too. Twice that I know of they hauled him out of the shipyard to the hospital and put him in ICU only to find out it was his hiatal hernia acting up. Gary

 

 

 

From Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI 48640

 

In case anybody thinks people in the Frozen North don’t mean business—–

 

Allen

 

  

02/19/2010

Posted on by
Commercial Hotel
Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44): Bottineau, ND.
 
hi Gary I will see if I can answer the question on the commercial hotel. Yes the Hurst family was a owner at one time . Charley Watkins took care of it for awhile, then Gassman’s had it and they sold to Grimme’s. We lived in Tom Cassidy’s house on the corner west of the hotel Mrs. Grimme and my mother were very good friends. They visited together allot. We lived in Tom’s house from 1932 to 1941. My dad had the dray line from 1931 to 1946. So we knew where every one lived for we hauled every thing imaginable. Hope this helps a little Lloyd Awalt.
 
 
 
Gerald Sylvester LaRocque’s death:
From Ginger Poitra (65): Belcourt, ND.

I haven’t seen a writing about my cousin Gerald, Sylvester LaRocque he
passed away Friday February 12, 2010 in a Minot hospital. His wake
services is tonight February 18th at St. Michael’s (formally St. Louis)
Church in Dunseith, with funeral Friday February 19th 2010. Sylvester
was 63, and the son of Jerome and Alice LaRocque, of Dunseith. Some of
the siblings are Bernice, Ronnie, Jackie, Jeanette, Linda, Brian,
Richard, Debbie, Annette, Joy, I just can’t remember the one brother.
Sylvester had one adopted child Shiloh.

Ginger, Neola sent me the following Death notice for Sylvester. I did not realize he was your cousin. We are so sorry to hear of his untimely death. Our condolences are with you and his family. He was so young. Gary
 
Sylvester LaRocque
(July 22, 1946 – February 12, 2010)

Sign Guest Book | Send Private Condolences
Send Flowers
SYLVESTER G. (DUEL) LAROCAUE Sylvester (Duel) LaRocque, age 63 of Dunseith, died Friday at a Minot hospital. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Dunseith. Burial will be in the St. Louis Cemetery also of Dunseith. A wake will be held on Thursday beginning at 4:00 P.M. in the St. Michael’s Catholic Church with a prayer service at 8:00 P.M.

 
 
 
Sgt. Terry Rishling’s Obituary & Funeral
Posted by Larry Liere (55): Devils Lake, ND & Arizona
 
Gary
 
I receive these because I am a retiree. Since he is from Belcourt, ND I thought it may be of interest.
 
LARRY

Retirees in the area are encouraged to be at the Fargo ariport to pay respects as the casket for Sgt Rishling is being unloaded.

> FARGO, N.D. – The remains of Sgt. Terry Rishling are scheduled to arrive in
> Fargo on Thursday, with visitation at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home that
> evening.
>
> Sgt. Rishling died at 6:04 p.m. (CST) Feb. 10 (1:04 a.m. Feb. 11 Kosovo time)
> from apparent natural causes while serving in Kosovo with the North Dakota
> Army National Guard. Sgt. Rishling, 38, was a team leader for Third Squad,
> Third Platoon of Alpha Company, 231st Maneuver Task Force, serving in Kosovo
> with Multi-National Battle Group East, Kosovo Forces 12, on a NATO
> peacekeeping mission.
>
> The plane carrying Sgt. Rishling’s remains is scheduled to arrive on Delta
> Flight #7307 at Fargo’s Hector International Airport at 4:21 p.m. Thursday.
> The North Dakota National Guard’s Military Funeral Honors and the North
> Dakota Patriot Guard will be on site to pay respects as the casket is loaded
> for transport to Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, 215 S. 7th St., Fargo. Viewing
> and visitation will take place at the funeral home from 6:00-8:00 PM.
> Memorial service: Saturday, February 20 2010, at 10:00 AM, at St. Anns
> Catholic Church, Belcourt, ND.
>
> A memorial ceremony took place Monday in Kosovo, where Sgt. Rishling’s fellow
> Soldiers remembered him as a dedicated Soldier and jovial role model who
> placed family first and looked after his team members as if they, too, were
> family.
>
> Sgt. Rishling is survived by his wife, Nancy A. (Gailfus) Rishling (Fargo);
> and daughters Sophie E. Rishling, 8, (Fargo) and Courtney M. Rishling, 20,
> (Belcourt); and his parents, John and Gloria Rishling, of Belcourt, N.D.
>
> WHAT: Arrival and transport of Sgt. Terry Rishling’s remains and viewing at
> the funeral home
> WHERE: Fargo’s Hector International Airport and Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home,
> 215 S. 7th St., Fargo
> WHEN: Plane arriving at 4:21 p.m. Thursday with viewing expected to from
> 6:00-8:00 p.m.
> COORDINATION: The family has requested that media be allowed at the airport
> and funeral home, but has asked that no interview requests be granted.
> —
> WHAT: Memorial service
> WHERE: St. Anns Catholic Church, Belcourt ND.
> WHEN: Saturday February 20, 2010, at 10:00 AM.

 
 
From Trish Larson Clayburgh (73) Fort Collins, CO
 
 
Subject:Wild Ride begins 101010

Hello Gary! I thought I would drop you a line to let you know that I have set a date for my departure on horseback to Buenos Airies, Argentina. I will leave Estes Park, Colorado on 101010 (October 10, 2010). After a lifetime of dreaming and planning, it is finally almost time. Anyone that knows me well can tell you that I have been horse crazy my entire life. This fall I will realize my dream to become a “Longrider”, or as I prefer to be called, an “equine vagabond”.

This summer I will continue to train and prepare for the long journey of more than 9000 miles with my three horses, Maggie, Magic, and Midnight. My wonderful canine partner, Wiley Coyote will accompany us as well. I have many things to do before I go. The first priorities are to get my website up and get sponsors on board.

I am currently writing letters to business leaders and corporations who might be inspired by my story enough to lend financial or material support.

If I obtain enough funding in time, I would like to “warm up” with a 1000 mile ride back to my home town reunion in North Dakota this May. I am also planning several training rides this summer in Colorado, and I hope to have enough money set aside by spring to be able to leave my nursing job and train full time.

It’s a busy time, but I thought you and your family and friends might like to be the first to learn of this news. I will send you my website link as soon as I go online with my daily blog. I will be keeping my patrons, family, friends, and followers up to date all summer with stories, photos, videos, and accounts of planning tasks, outfitting, training, and adventures leading up to the big ride through Mexico, Central, and South America.

Thank for your interest in my journey, and please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions or know of anyone who might like to offer any kind of support be it emotional, spiritual, financial, or anything else!

I will largely depend “on the kindness of strangers” to achieve my goals, but I hope that anyone who chooses to offer any kind of assistance to me will be rewarded by feeling they are an intrinsic part of the accomplishment.

Feel free to send this on to anyone who might find my equine travels to be of interest.

For the fun of it,
Trish Larson Wild, RN, PhD

“We all have our oceans to fly. Risky? Maybe…. But what do dreams know of boundaries?”. -Amelia Earhart

Trish, We are so happy for you with your life time dream becoming reality. It would be nice if you can make our reunion. We are looking forward to seeing you. Gary
  

02/18/2010

Posted on by
Dunseith Alumni Reunion:
 
Folks, Verena Gillis is canvassing the Dunseith Businesses asking for donations to purchase Tee shirts, with the Dunseith Logo, that we’d like to give out to everyone attending the reunion. In doing that we would like everyone’s sizes.
 
For those of you attending the reunion, please reply to this message letting us know you know about the catered dinner we have planned for the reunion. We’d also like your Tee shirt size too. They come in Sm, Med, Large, X-Large & XX-Large. I’m not sure about the triple XXX size. Your Tee shirt sizes are for our records only. They will not be published.
 
Note: We’ll be calling those that we do not get a reply from that plan on attending the reunion. We want to make sure that everyone is informed of the catered meal.
 
I have listed a list of the hotels in the area near the bottom of this message. They seem to be filling quickly. Gary
 
 

Commercial Hotel:
Question from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
I found that the Hurst family were former partial owners of the Commercial Hotel – I’m wondering who the Gimme family bought from or if they have title history? Fantastic picture. Sharron
Dick Johnson’s (68) reply: Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Sharron,

I think Bill Hosmer said the hotel was owned by Grassmans before Grimmes. It might be in the history book.

Dick

Sharron’s reply to Dick:
 
The Rolette History book mentions the Hurst family as partial owners – only mention I found. Hurst name may precede Grassman. Does Hanna Higgins Myher have email? Floyd Dion? Sharron
 
 
Posted By Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau ND.
 

 

 
 
 
Here is a list of motels in/near Dunseith & Bottineau.
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau ND.
 
Dale’s Truck Stop & Motel – maps.google.com
Highway 3 & 5, Dunseith – (701) 244-5491
Sky Dancer – Located 9 miles east of Dunseith
Louella Allick, Hotel Manager
(701) 244-2400 ext. 106
 
 
Norway House: Highway 5 E, 701- 228-3737
 
Loveland Lodge: 345 11th St W, Bottineau, ND 701-228-2296
 
Super 8: 1007 11th St E, Bottineau, ND (701) 228-2125
 
Quilt Inn and Suites (Lake Metigoshe):
10722 Lake Loop Rd E # 1, Bottineau, ND
(701) 263-6500
 
Twin Oaks (Lake Metigoshe):

10723 Lake Loop Rd E, Bottineau, ND
(701) 263-4295
 
 
  

02/17/2010

Posted on by
Dunseith Alumni Reunion Dinner:
 
Folks, we were trying not to have to collect for the dinner in advance, but we will be charged for the number we give the caterer, so that pretty much locks us into collecting in advance for those that would like the dinner. Verena has make arrangements with a catering service out of Rugby. This is what she has made arrangements for:
 
Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Corn, Bacon/Lettuce Cauliflower Salad, Dinner Roll and Dessert for $10.00 per plate.
 
It’s not a requirement to purchase the catered dinner to attend the reunion. Verena asked the caterer if they could provide food for purchase, on site, for those that prefer not to have the catered dinner. They said they could make a few roast beef sandwiches, cold cuts, etc that could be purchased on site.
 
Verena has calculated $5.00 per head to cover all miscellaneous expenses. This includes the Facility, decorations, table covers, several cakes, the hiring of a clean up crew the following day, etc
 
For those of you desiring the catered meal, please send your payment of $10.00 Plus $5.00 ($15.00 total) per person payable to
 
Verena Gillis
PO Box, 785
Dunseith, ND 58329

(701) 263-3302
 
The caterer has given us a deadline of May 14th.
 
For those attending that have not paid in advance, we will be collecting the $5.00 registration fee at the registration desk the day of the reunion.
 
We will be making contact with all of you signed up for the reunion, that we do not get a reply from, to make sure you are informed of the reunion details.
 
Gary

 
Frozen Fingers “Just Us” Photo’s: Dave Mettler (Bottineau), Don Boardman (60) & Tina Pladson Bullinger (78):
Provided by Dave Mettler and Neola Kofoid Garbe:
 

 

 

 

 

 

Terry Rishling, originally from Belcourt, Died in Kosovo:

Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

Gary,

I’ve been waiting for this info to be in the Minot Daily, as I wanted whatever news I sent about Terry, was accurate.

 

Neola

Soldier who died in Kosovo originally from Belcourt

BELCOURT A North Dakota Army National Guard soldier who died while deployed to Kosovo is originally from Belcourt.

Sgt. Terry L. Rishling, 38, Fargo, is the son of John and Gloria Rishling of Belcourt. He graduated from Turtle Mountain Community School in Belcourt in 1991.

Rishling died Wednesday while deployed to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, with Multi-National Battle Group-East, Kosovo Forces 12, on a NATO peacekeeping mission, the Guard announced Friday. Rishling was not feeling well and went to the hospital where he died of apparent natural causes, Guard officials said.

Rishling was a team leader for Third Squad, Third Platoon, assigned to Alpha Company, 231st Maneuver Task Force out of Valley City.

A memorial service was held Monday at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo.

Rishling joined the N.D. Army Guard in 2001. His survivors also include his wife, Nancy, and two daughters, Sophie and Courtney, Fargo.

  

02/16/2010

Posted on by
Happy Birthday Aime Casavant (66): Jamestown, ND
 
Aime, I believe today, February 16th, is your birthday. We wish you the happiest birthday ever. Enjoy.
We are also looking forward to seeing you at the reunion on May 22nd. Gary

 
 
Reply from Cheryl Larson Dakin (71): BEDFORD, TX
 
Hi Gary
I’m sure I’m not the only one who would love to see more photos of your fiesta. It’s very interesting to hear you talk about the customs of the people there and see the photos.
Thanks so much.
Cheryl
P S… loved the picture of Nancy and Keith. I’m flying in to Albuquerque to meet Diane (Sjol) and Nancy (Hosmer) on Wed. (Diane has a nursing conference there) and we plan on spending lots of time with Colette in Sante Fe. It should be a blast of shopping, museums, art, good food and great company.
 
 
 
Hotel vacancy the weekend of the reunion
From Verena (Pete 65) Gillis: Dunseith, ND
 
I called Sky Dancer Casino this morning and they only have 5 rooms
for the 20th, some for the 21st but nothing for the weekend. Pretty
booked up with a wedding, golf teams coming in and so forth. So you could
probably list some of the other motels in the area for them to consider.

Please include Mrs. Ronald Peltier in your emails:

Verena :)

Verena, Thank you so much for this info. I will post a list of other hotels in the area with the next posting of the Reunion attendance list of which I’ll be doing with in the next couple of days. Gary

 
 
Dunseith Alumni Reunion:
Reply from Larry St. Claire (66): Anchorage, AK
 
It sounds like a great time, something I don’t want to miss, so add Robbie and I to the list. We will be there from Alaska.
 

 

Commercial Hotel:

Reply from Marie Iverson Staub (60): Seattle, WA
 
Gary,
 
I loved the picture of the Commercial Hotel that Gwen Grimme Eltz sent in. It brought back a lot of memories. I remember Charlie Anderson as he used to be in town a lot. It’s interesting what brings up all those good memories . Some of the other pictures that have been on your blog of the school I can remember as we lived directly across the street. I can’t believe it’s been 53 years ago. It’s scary.
 
Marie Iverson (Staub)

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

First, thanks to the folks that came to the Frozen Fingers event in
Minot and thanks for the compliments. It again lived up to it’s name as
Saturday there were near blizzard conditions throughout the area.
Second, thanks to Gwen Grimme Eltz for the neat picture of the
Commercial Hotel. I had kind of forgotten the enormous size of the
hotel. Many times the neighborhood kids were at Grimme’s to play ball
out in front or just to visit. One thing I remember is that when Greg
and I would go out to play football, we would need another player, as it
is nearly impossible for two kids to play football alone. We would ask
Gwen if she wanted to play? She would, but she always had a rule. She
would say, “Alright, but don’t knock me down,OK?” She knew we could get
a bit rough, and so she had one rule we had to follow! Ever the little
lady. I can still remember the inside of the main floor of the hotel. We
usually entered through the south entrance that is behind the pine trees
in the photo. The first room to the south was where Carl did his
furniture upholstering. He did all kinds and I can still see him
standing there working on his projects. The next room to the right was
where the stairway went upstairs right along the west wall. Then we went
into their large living room. This is the main part of the building that
is centered on the picture. Lots of the woodwork in the hotel was
varnished wood that had naturally darkened to a deep dark brown. I think
the living room transversed the entire center portion as I believe there
were big windows on both the east and west side. North of the living
room was the big kitchen where Gwen mentioned that her mom served the
meals to all the hotel boarders. If I remember right, the kitchen was
painted a cheerful bright yellow. We would sometimes go out of the
kitchen to the east through the door that is centered between the trees
on the picture. Another thing I can remember is that Carl had a small
ship built inside a bottle. I can remember how fascinated I was with
this the first time I saw it. It was on a shelf on the south wall of the
living room. Grimmes also had the first set of bubbling Christmas tree
lights that I had ever seen. Just a couple years ago, I found some of
reproduction bubble lights and bought two sets just for the nostalgia.
In a prior message, I mentioned that my aunt lived in the north ground
floor apartment for a while so I pretty well remember the entire lower
level but I guess for some reason we never went upstairs, as that was
where the boarders had their private rooms. Gwen and Bill–please
correct me about what I’m writing, as this is just my recollection of
YOUR place, so you would be much more correct on the building layout. It
was sure a neat place to go, I do know that. Carl and Kathleen always
made us feel welcome in their home. Carl immigrated from Germany and had
the common ‘German to English’ brogue translation problem. I can still
hear him saying, “Glegly, you be home at 10.” He was a neat guy. Thanks
Gwen and Gary!

Dick

 

 

Update from DeAnn Gottbreht: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht

 

Monday, February 15, 2010 9:31 AM, CST

 

Happy Valentine’s Day. I am at home enjoying having the holiday off. It is below zero outside so I am glad not to have to head outside.

I started chemo again on this last Friday. It is a new type of chemo with two new drugs. I will do a total of 12 of these treatments. I am going to be doing the treatments weekly now and then break hopefully a week or so before the baby is born so my system can recover from the chemo before the birth. After the birth I will recover for a few weeks and then finish the 12 rounds. These new drugs are not suppose to be as hard on my system as the last so I guess we’ll see. So far I have been feeling fairly good this weekend. Getting plenty of rest!

We met with the high-risk baby doctor and our boy is doing very well. He is about 3 and a half lbs now! We also met with our new OB at Meritcare who will actually hopefully be delivering the baby, as long as he doesn’t show up unexpectedly! I will be getting weekly ultrasounds now to watch the baby closely and make sure he isn’t effected by the new chemo.

I want to thank you all once again for all of your support and generosity. It is greatly appreciated.

 
 
 
Eleanor Hiatt Fauske (42) and Elmer Hiatt (deceased) with their prize winning 4-H Herefords:
From Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
This picture was front page news in the Turtle Mt Star 3 July 1941, a fine photo of the two Hiatt members. I know DeAnn Gottbreht received 2 blue ribbons for her fine porkers around 1990. I thought Pork Chop and Gertrude beautiful pigs and DeAnn was so proud of them. It was hard for me to accept that they would be dressed out at the fair for the needed qualification. Sharron
 
Follow up reply from Sharron:
I was just a bit jealous of the 4H Club crowd when young. Makes me value the local Brownie troop more and our brave leader, Lee Hosmer. Perhaps someone has a picture? Meetings were the high point of my week/month in 1st and 2nd grade. I can no longer remember how often we met!

Sharron

 
Turtle Mountain Star – July 3, 1941
 
 
 
Thompson Family Pictures:
Posted by Kay Hildebrandt (Granddaughter of A.C. & Esther Thompson):
Gary,
These photos were collected by one of the Canadian Pritchards. Missing are Alfred and Harry. If anyone has a photo of Alfred, I’d like to have a copy. Thanks, Kay
Thank you Kay: A.M. & Esther Thompson would be grandparents to Corbin, Robert, Lincoln, John and Winifred (Eurich) Pritchard. Will & Ida (Thompson) Pritchard in the lower left of the this picture were their parents. A.M. & Esther Thompson were also grandparents to Ella (Thompson) Pladson and Esther (Thompson) Tangen. Their father was Ulysses Thompson, center right, in the picture. Gary
 

 
 

Old Bottineau High School:

Posted by Ken Striker: Dayton OH.

 

Saw this neat pic at ebay. Ken Striker of Dayton Oh

 

 

 
 
 
  

02/15/2010

Posted on by
Reply from Dorothy Eurich Strietzel’s (75) Daughter:
Wendy Strietzel: Minot, ND
 
Hey Gary! My folks wanted me to send you a note to let everyone know how much they enjoyed the Frozen Fingers concerts yesterday. They also wanted to let Dick and Brenda Johnson know what a great job they did. Both mom and dad have been commenting on how well the Fauske’s did. As a matter of fact, we are listening to their CD right now and it is great.

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! It’s my son’s 10th Birthday today as well. Take Care!

Wendy Strietzel

 
 
 
Reply from Janice LaCroix Kester (59): Fargo, ND.
 
Enjoyed the 2 pictures of the girl’s basketball team! I found it amazing how Bonnie came up with so many names! It stirred up memories of grade school, and how much I’d admired the gals who played. I don’t think girls’ basketball was offered when I started high school. Thanks, Gary!

Janice Kester
746 Elm St. N.
Fargo, ND 58102
701-237-6385
701-238-5657

 
 
 
Reply from Audrey Hanson Aitchison: Bottineau, ND.
 

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day and hope your day is special. It is nice there are so many people on this blog so we can keep in contact each other. I wanted to explain a little more about the Hope for Humanity that I have worked with for about 20 years. Another name for it is: Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). It Many times they get there before the Red Cross does. 100% of the money collected goes to help millions around the world who are hurting. Overhead expenses are covered from other funds. It is over 100 years old. It is located at :

Hope for Humanity 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904. Thanks. Have a great day!

 

 

 

Commercial Hotel:

Memories/Picture from Gwen Grimme Eltz (68): Spokane, WA.

 

Hi Gary,

I thought you might be interested in a picture of the Commercial Hotel since it’s been mentioned a few times in the blog. Our family moved into the hotel in the fall of 1956 and lived there until 1978. During that time, several elderly men (“boarders”) stayed there long-term; and our mother (Kathleen Fassett Grimme) cooked three meals a day–seven days a week for them, did their weekly laundry every Monday morning, and cleaned their rooms daily. I have a lot of memories of ironing men’s shirts and pressing white sheets and pillowcases using a mangle. Some of the men who lived many years with our family were Bill Sharrett, Ovila Lamoureaux, Charlie Anderson, Ray Anderson, Fred Lamoureaux, among others. The hotel had a front lobby, but in the evenings it was commonplace for the boarders and other hotel guests to join our family in our living room to watch TV and visit.

Always enjoy reading the Dunseith blog, Gary! Thanks for all that you do!

 
 
Frozen Fingers Reply:
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 

Thanks, Gary. :)

 

Nancy Hosmer/friend attended the Hostfest today. She said, “I know you”, or something to that effect. I didn’t recognize her, so I asked her name. It was great to meet her. I had met her daughter a couple of years ago when my aunt, Alvina Christianson, was in St. Andrew’s Hospital in Bottineau. I had not seen her daughter for awhile. She said she is now working in Minot. It was fun seeing Nancy’s daughter again and meeting Nancy.

 

Dick, Brenda and Ron sounded great again–as usual. :) Tomorrow, Brenda and I sell tickets for one shift. I sell tickets from 1:00 until closing. The other ticket seller sells for 2 hours. Today, I Tina Bullinger and I worked one shift together.

 

Speaking of Tina, Florence was at Frozen Fingers today! She uses a walker, but I understand she can walk around the house without her walker. Talk about a miracle. She looks great.

 

Tomorrow, “Just Us” performs in the afternoon. If you recall, “Just Us” is comprised of Tina Pladson Bullinger, Don Boardman and Dave Mettler. More good music?

 

The weather really cut into the attendance at Frozen Fingers today. When Wally/I went to Sleep Inn (We live behind the Job Corps.), it was “blustery” and getting slippery. Out of town was bad. Later in the day, the snow quit falling.

 

I’d better get to bed, as I’m selling tickets again tomorrow. Thank goodness, I don’t need to be there until 1:00. As you know, I don’t “do” mornings. :)

 

Neola

Nancy (Hosmer) Baldwin (62)
with her fiance, Keith Kontzie

  

02/14/2010

Posted on by

Girls Basketball

Reply from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA
 
We must add Marlene Kraft Amentrout to the basketball team. I sure wished to sink baskets just like Marlene and winged many a prayer that I be granted 5 more inches to qualify as a potential player. The girls of Notre Dame Academey did have volleyball however. Sharron
 
 
 
Girls Basketball
Message/Pictures from Bonnie Awalt Houle (56): Becker, MN
 
Gary,
In answer to the Dunseith Girl’s Basketball Coach:
Dunseith had Girl’s Basketball all the years I was in High School. Some of the team members that I remember were:
Doris Peterson, Betty Lou Poepple, Carol Fassett, Betty Counts, Viola Hobbs, Emma Awalt, Viola Klang,Shirley Johnson, Lois Lilleby, Donna Sunderlund, Joyce Burcham, Arlene Lamoureux, Millie Crum, Janice Leonard, Bonnie Awalt, Marlene Kraft, Lois Hiatt, Neva Haagenson, Mickey Haagenson,Elaine Schneider, Marlene Schneider, Joy Nordquist, Arliss Nordquist, Barbara Bott, Arlene Allard, Joanne Kester, Ellen Graff, Tiny Knox: Coaches were first Mr. Conroy, then Mr. Berg and next Virgil Vanorney(sp). Mr. Vanorney had a good knowledge of basketball and was a good coach. The year he coached us we did quite well. Our downfall came in the regional tournament at the Bottineau School of Forestry, when we had to play against Newburg. Newburg were the returning State Champions. They went to State almost every year in the 50’s and we were hoping to get past them, but they went undefeated that year. We had some great players over the years: Marlene Kraft, Viola Hobbs, Arlene Lamoureux, Donna Sunderlund, all had great athletic ability and could have competed with the boys in talent. The years I remember teams were 1951 through 1956.
Marlene Kraft Armentrout could fill you in on the years after we graduated.
Bonnie Awalt Houle 1956
Bonnie, It looks like the names in the 2nd picture got cut off. Thanks, Gary
 

 

 

 

 

Folks,

 

I have a little extra room today, so thought I’d include several pictures of a Buffet dinner we hosted at our place last night. These pictures were taken before our guests arrived. I did not take any pictures at the dinner, but many of our friends did of which they will pass along to me.

 

More Filipino customs and traditions. These are Filipino Catholic traditions. I’m not sure if the American Catholic’s celebrate these traditions to the extent as they are celebrated here in the PI. Each and every community, town, city and many individuals here in the PI have their Saints. Each Saint has their date for celebrations each year of which are celebrated with Fiesta’s. Bernadette’s Saints are Lourdes and Bernadette of whom she is named after. I’m not sure where Saint Bernadette fits into the picture but we have a celebration for Saint Lourdes every February with a dinner fiesta of which we had last night. We hired a catering service to come in. They set up the whole event with tables, chairs, tents and the food. We asked them to set up two buffet serving areas of which they did. We had well over 200 folks that attended our fiesta last night. It was a great evening. Folks were here until midnight. We also hired live entertainment with music.

 

Gary

 

 

 

 

Statue’s of the Saints Lourdes & Bernadette

 

 

Lower Buffet Setup

 

 

Upper Buffet setup (Not fully setup when this picture was taken)

  

02/13/2010

Posted on by
Dunseith Baskeball Team:
Reply from Janice LaCroix Kester (59): Fargo, ND
 
In answer to the question of whether there was a girls basketball team in Dunseith – yes, there certainly was in the early to middle 50’s at least. There was Millie Grem, Joanne Kester Boucher, Elaine Schneider, Marlene Schneider, Ellen Graff, Arlene Lamoureau I think and I can’t remember anymore. I’m sure there is people out there who can give a more detailed list of players. Thank you so much Gary! You are unbelievable in the way you have kept this blog going!
Jan
Janice Kester
746 Elm St. N.
Fargo, ND 5r8102
701-237-6385
701-239-5657
 
 
Bob Lagerquist (58) & Kenrose Medlang: (701) 263-4232 Dunseith, ND.
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 
Hello Gary,
Today I zipped into the Family Bakery for soup to go.
Kenrose and Bob.were eating dinner. I was delighted to see them
because they are always so happy and enjoy even a little visit. I
hadn’t seen them since before Thanksgiving.

Bob told me, “This past week he was very sick. He was very
dizzy, so he telephoned Mark Bernstein (Joanne Millang’s husband).
Mark drove he and Kenrose into Bottineau. Bob ended up staying in
the Bottineau hospital for over two days. Kenrose was very
concerned about him and was able to stay at the hospital in Bobs
room. She said the staff at St.Andrews took very good care of Bob.
And were very good to her too. While away from the farm, Loren
DuBois came over and cared for the dogs. Bob and Kenrose were so
grateful for the friendship of Mark Bernstein, & Loren Dubois and
the care of the Bottineau Hospital Staff!

Bob now will go into Minot these next few weeks for further testing.
I asked Bob if I could let Gary Stokes and the folks on the
Dunseith blog know about his recent stay in the hospital. Bob said,
that it was fine with him. Kenrose said,” Why wouldn’t it be? I
said to Kenrose because some folks get upset about people knowing
their stuff” She said, “Hmm, she did not mind at all that Gary
posted her birthday information, she received over 30 birthday cards
and was was happy to hear from everyone! Bob was happy that folks
would be interested in him.
Thanks, Vickie

 
 
Norman Pritchard & Leslie Harmon:
Newspaper article posted by Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
Outstanding Pictures! I really do not want to recover from the high of Stokes/Thompson/Pritchard entries. Thank you – pictures are truly worth a thousand words. And I would add that the Hanson/Pritchard romance is surely the right “thousand”. Thank you Dorothy Pritchard and Mary Knutson. In browsing old issues of the Turtle Mt Star I have noted items about Norman Pritchard but never enough of his career and destiny. Would Dale or Dorothy sing of Norman? Thanks Gary. Sharron
 
 
Frozen Fingers Festival & Dunseith News:
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
Hi Everyone,
 
A final reminder of Frozen Fingers Festival to be held at Sleep Inn, Minot, this weekend. If you enjoy old time/bluegrass/gospel music, this is an event for you.
 
I sell tickets on Saturday/Sunday, starting at one o’clock. If I haven’t met you before, and if you attend the festival, please say hi and tell me who you are. :) I’ll also be selling tickets for the dance on Saturday night.
 
I hope to see many of you this weekend.
 
Neola
 
 
 
 
 
Pictures from Dianne Rober’t Johnson (76): Rolla, ND.
 
Gary,
Yes, that’s me, holding a White Bass caught @ Pelican Lake, part of Devils lake. The guy that is all the photos is my husband, Kevin. In the 1st photo, holding a White Bass, @ Pelican, taken spring 2008. The 3rd photo was taken same year, along Hwy 19 going to DL, Mauvee Coulee, Kevin is holding a Perch, only one caught take year for us!!. In the 2nd, Kevin is holding a walleye caught @ the bridge south of Churchs Ferry, same year, in the spring.
In the last photo, that is Kevin’s youngest brother(from Texas) & his Dad, (from KS) taken in Plains, KS, down for Pheasant season. I did try to send you some more photos, but not sure if you received them.
 
thanks – have a nice day,
Dianne

Kevin Johnson – Pelican Lake

 

 

 

Kevin Johnson:

 

walleye caught @ the bridge south of Churchs Ferry

 

 

 

 

Kevin Johnson:

 

Along Hwy 19 going to DL, Mauvee Coulee

 

 

 

 

Dianne Rober’t Johnson:

 

White Bass caught @ Pelican Lake

 

 

 

Kevin Johnson’s brother (from Texas) & his Dad, (from KS)

 

 
  

02/12/2010

Posted on by
Dennis Dubois (63):
 
Folks, I had a nice chat with Dennis Dubois this morning. Dennis is living in Minneapolis. Dennis for sure plans to attend the reunion on May 22nd. In the course of our conversation he mentioned Mary Bott (62). I told Dennis I’d call her too, of which I did. Mary is living in Linton, ND. She is not sure if she will be able to make the reunion.
 
Gary

 
Girls Basketball question:
From Chris LaFromboise (90): Dunseith, ND.
 
Does anyone have a recollection of girls basketball in Dunseith? Has any team made it to the State Tournament? I am coaching the varsity girls team this year and wondered if Dunseith ever made it to state for basketball.
 
 
Reply from Vickie Metcafle (70): Bottineau, ND.
 
Mary Knutson and Gary,
Thanks for the photo sharing of my namesake Leona Rose (Metcalfe) Oswell. I hadn’t seen that one.
The athlete photo from the Bottineau courant paper is of Trenten James Metcalfe, son of Archie and Sally(Knutson) Metcalfe. Trenten’s maternal grandmother is Mary (Eurich) Knutson. Trenten is blessed to have known his great- grandmother Winnifred(Prichard) Eurich. And knows that his great grandmother Winnifred Pritchard and paternal Great-aunt Leona Metcalfe were life long friends!
Aunt Leona flew back to ND with her son Ron in the early 2000’s to visit. She met and knew many of her extended family.
Aunt Leona spent one day at the Eurich farm with her friend Winnifred. Later that evening, Leona told the story of a skip day many years ago in the 1930’s. She and Winnifred hiked to a nearby popular water area and spent the afternoon on the large rocks sitting comfortably, visiting lazily in the warm spring sun. Two days later at Winnifred’s graduation, Leona said, “Winnifred’s smiling face glowed like a beckon on the stage, standing out from all the other graduates.” “It was shiny red like a stop light, she had a such a sunburn and her white teeth glowed with her smile”
She was able to visit her absolutely favorite Bergan school teacher (Miss Laura Olson) Mrs. Potratz at Dunseith Senior Citizens. Leona was so full of delight at the end of that day,showing us a photo that the former teacher had kept all those many years and brought to give Leona. “Ah….” Leona glowed like a kid when she said “Miss Potratz said, I was a smart intelligent girl!”
Another afternoon was spent with another life long friend Edna (Tooke) Vandal.
Seeing Aunt Leona’s joyous animated face when remembering her fond friendships of yesteryear and telling stories, gave her son Ron and I pure pleasure! I smiled for days. It warms me now again to think of those wonderful fond and life lasting friends. Thanks again for the memories. Vickie Leona Metcalfe
 
 
 
Reply from Lee Struck (66): Hudson, WI.
 
Gary & all subscribers –
 
I wish to correct a comment made by Audrey Aitchison to the note on my volunteer work.
 
I have NOT done any work with Hope for Humanity (ADRA). I maintain a membership with Bethel Lutheran Church – ELCA – (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America).
 
My association – both through local chapters and in the hurricane ravaged Gulf Area of our country – has been with Habitat For Humanity. Founded by Millard & Linda Fuller in Americus, GA in 1976, Habitat For Humanity has built more than 100,000 homes world-wide.
 
To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary (August 29th), the Fuller family had planned an international “blitz build” of 100 houses beginning August 29th in Mr. Fuller’s home town of Lanett, GA. Unfortunately, Mr. Fuller passed away suddenly on February 5, 2009.
 
Following his untimely death, the plans for “the build” remained in place, but the event was re-named the 1st Annual Fuller Legacy Build. I participated in that miraculous event. On Monday morning we drove up to the job site and saw 6 cement slabs. Just before the dedication ceremony at 2 PM on Friday of that week, we were hanging kitchen cabinets, trimming the doors and installing baseboards in the painted rooms!
 
I was blessed to meet Mrs. Fuller, visit with her and receive her note & autograph on “The Theology Of The Hammer”, one of many books written by Mr. Fuller. She is a delightful, charming, Southern woman, living the Fuller Center motto – “Building a Better World, One House at a Time”.
 
The 2nd Annual Fuller Legacy Build will take place this year in Indianapolis, IN, the first week of September. To join us, please visit the Fuller Center web site at http://www.fullercenter.org/.

—
Go In Peace!
Serve The Lord!

Lee Struck

  

02/11/2010

Posted on by
Class of 73:
Reply from Sharon Longie Dana (73): MIssoula MT
 

Reply to Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine,
 
Where is the class of 1973. We are out there BUT as I have mentioned before here in Garys blog the class of 73 doesn’t blog, doesn’t ask questions or reply or make remarks. I have heard that some of our classmates are silent readers. They were a great class…i wouldn’t say that…….there were those of us who were friends and those of us who were outsiders for one reason or another. I would hardly call the class as a whole great. We seem to only remember the good times when someone passes. Life is to short, but only a few of us know that for real. Don’t mean to be a downer Vicki, maybe the class of 73 needed a reality check.
 
Sharon Longie Dana(73)
 
 
 
Pictures provided by Mary Eruich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND.

 

Mary, these Pictures are absolutely wonderful. I have added my guess to several of them as who may be who. It’s a pure guess on my part. Hopefully someone can make a better positive identification than me. Thank you so much for sharing. We are looking forward to seeing any more pictures that you may have too. Gary

 

Folks, Mary has solicited the services of Karen Larson at the Spectrum in Bottineau to scan and send these pictures to me. She does a great job and her fees are very reasonable. Gary

 

Leona Metcalfe Oswell DHS Class of 1939.

October 13, 1921 – November 2, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

Clint Anderson 1881- 1969 Hattie Anderson 1885-1971

 

Clint & Hattie owned & ran the Cream Station in Dunseith. They were married for 66 years.

 

Dunseith Centennial book – page 7

 

 

 

I think Mary has the above picture labeled correctly and in the right order, Gary

 

 

 

This is a pure guess in the above picture, Gary:

Far left: Alice Stokes Thompson sitting in chair with Ulysses Thompson behind.

Center: William Stokes sitting with Oscar Rendahl standing behind and Rebecca Stokes Rendahl Standing in front. Oscar & Rebecca’s daughter standing to the right.

Standing to the far right I have no clue.

 

 

Newspaper articles provided by Neoal Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND

I’m not sure which Metcalfe Family Trenten belongs too?

 

 

 

 

 

  

02/10/2010

Posted on by
Reunion Reply:
From Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine (73): Grafton, ND
 
I have some great concern: WHERE IS THE CLASS OF 1973, as of today it is myself and Jeff Evans Im sure Jeff and I can party enough for everyone lol but it would sure be nice to see more of you at the reunion. As I remember we had a great class. So glad to hear you are coming Gary be great to see you.
Vickie, I have attached the reunion list in a class sort again today so folks can see who among their class mates plan on attending. Gary
 
 
The Schwabe & Schniederman Families:

Reply Mary Eruich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND
 

Hi Gary

I called Erma Eurich Peltier last night to see if she could add anything to the Schwabe info. She remembers them well. They were apparently very close neighbors. She named the kids. Forest, Dale, Howard, Florence. She said Florence was quite a bit younger than she was and she thought forest was the oldest. They went to school together. Forest had a glass eye and it would freak her out when he’d take it out and apparently he knew this and during school he’d take it out and roll it around on his desk.

I figured Art Schneiderman’s wife would turn out to be a Schwabe but apparently not. She actually couldn’t remember who she was. She did remember that her name was Marie. Mary
 
 
Dorothy Pritchard/picture/write-up, The Schwabe & Schniederman Families:
From Mary Eruich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND
 

Gary

Today Marie Eurich Beachler called me regarding the Schwabe family. She said the Schwabes lived in the area for some time when they were kids. And they visited back and forth a lot. Mrs. Schwabe and Mrs. Art Schneiderman were sisters. Schwabe’s went west when the war broke out and would come back occassionally and would always pay them a visit when back here.

 

Art Schneiderman lived with us for quite awhile after his wife had died. He had broken a leg and it wouldn’t heal right and he couldn’t take care of himself. At that time welfare wasn’t that easy to get and you had to live in a county so long before you were eligible to draw. I don’t know all the details but I know he stayed with us till he was eligible in Rolette county then he an Earl found a place to stay but it didn’t last as the Dr said his leg wasn’t healing right and they would have to rebreak it. I don’t remember all the details but I think he came back to live with us a couple of times. If Earl was in the area he’d stay with us to.

 

Dorothy really enjoyed her cards and letters. She said, They just kept coming and coming. Thought you’d enjoy some of her history she shared earlier with staff in Bottineau. That is the cabin her a Robert were in the proces of building when Shirley was born.

 

Here’s a couple more pictures. I thought Gary Metcalfe might enjoy the Clint and Hatty (ie) Anderson one and Leona

Metcalfe. I remember the old cream station. The stove set on a little platform. I remember Ma leaving me at the cream station while she run to Hassen’s for groceries. I sat on that little platform by the stove and never moved.

 

Thought you and Kay and Keith and Dale would enjoy the picture of the Stoke’s again. Kay gave me an address for the Canadian relatives so I will be trying to make contact to get the Pritchard side identified also. I hope you can do a better job of naming the folks on that picture. They are not standing in the order that the names are stated thats for sure. I ‘m going to lay low for awhile and enjoy others input for awhile. Thanks Mary K

Mary,

 

I am cramped for time again today, so I’ll post those other pictures tomorrow.

 

Thank you so much for Dorothy’s write-up. Dale or someone sent this several years ago before we got you on line, but it truly deserves another re-run.

 

Folks, I am so glad to hear of all the cards Dorothy received from all of us for her 97th Birthday last month.

 

Gary

 

PS – Mary, I’m hoping your laying low is short lived. We really enjoy all that you have to contribute.

 

 

 

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

Gladys Rosberg
(Died February 4, 2010)

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Gladys Eva RosbergFuneral services for Gladys Rosberg, age 98 of Bottineau, were held on Wednesday at 10:00 am at the First Lutheran Church in Bottineau. Officiating at the service was the Reverend Glenn Berge. Dianna Bullinger was the soloist and Nancy Olson was the organist. Casket bearers were Dean Rosberg, Erok Rosberg, Larry Rosberg, Kreg Rosberg, Rory Holmes, Dana Larson, Drew Holmes and Joshua Heisler. Honorary casket bearers were all of Gladys’ grandchildren. Burial was at the Oak Creek Cemetery in Bottineau.

Gladys Rosberg, a daughter of Eugene and Anna (Grimstead) McGhan was born on February 28, 1911 at Jackson, MN. In 1916, she moved with her family by train to Bottineau County and settled near Souris. She attended grade school in Peabody Township and graduated from Souris High School in 1929. On June 20, 1931, she married John Oliver Rosberg at the Bottineau County Courthouse. They made their home in Carbury for 10 years and during that time eight children were born. Johnny worked as a carpenter and also did painting and paper hanging. In 1942 they moved a one-room school house into Bottineau. They enlarged it and made it their home. They also added to more children to the family. John passed away on April 7, 1957 from a brain tumor. Gladys continued to live in the family home where she raised the children. In 2002 Gladys moved into the Bottineau Good Samaritan Center and in 2009 she moved to a Wichita, KS nursing home to be closer to family.

She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Bottineau where she was active in the WELCA and the quilters group. Gladys was the matriarch of her family and kept everyone in touch by writing interesting letters and by faithfully sending birthday cards. She always had a baked item ready for friends and family when they stopped by for coffee. Her hospitality, listening skills and gentle, loving personality made everyone feel welcome.

She passed away on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at a Wichita, KS nursing home.

She is survived by 6 daughters, Darlene (George) Gillies of Bremerton, WA, Margaret (Dave) Dawson of Casper, WY, Cheryl Larson of Kent, WA, Olive (Max) Burdick of Overland Park, KS, Glenda (Don) Heisler of Hokes Bluff, AL, and Alysia (Mark) Runnells of Newton, KS; 3 sons, Lonnie (Eunice) Rosberg of Mohall, John (Eleanor) Rosberg of Mills, WY and Dennis (Audrey) Rosberg of Billings, MT; 25 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Mabel Mosing of Bottineau, Evelyn “Sally” Guttu, Tacoma, WA; sister-in-law, Ilene McGhan, Crosby, ND and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter Yvonne Turner; twin brother, Glen McGhan; brothers, Marion McGhan, Art McGhan, Cecil McGhan, Edwin McGhan and Eugene McGhan; sisters, Margaret Van Eckhout, Alma Lexa, Lucille Magnuson, Alice Rebich and Luella Thomas; 3 grandchildren and one great-grandchild

 

02/09/2010

Posted on by
Condolence to Carol LaVallie’s family:

From Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN

I’m just catching up on reading the daily news. I would like to send my condolences to Carol LaVallie’s family. Carol and I went to school together in grade school. I haven’t lived around Dunseith for a long time, but whenever I would be in the area and happened to run into Carol, she always greeted me with “hi sweetie” and we’d have a good gab session.

 

 

Glad to see so many are signed up for the reunion in May. I hope more of the Class of ’71 will sign up!

Paula Fassett

 

 

 

 

Reply to Kathy (Barbara) Kalk Lopez (65):

From Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (68): Dunseith, ND.

Cathy and Al!!- what a beautiful family you have!!– I have many good memories of you kids– Marlene, Marvin and Natalie were closest to my age- nice kids– I have kept I contact with some of them in the area and when they came back to the area=- Marvin died too young!!- throughout the years–

Regards, Lola

 
 
 
Schniderman’s place:
Reply from Tom Hagen (51): Mesa, AZ & Williston, ND
 
Hi Gary, this is a correction that Dick wrote about Schneidermans who were our neighbors in Gilbert Township . Their home was actually where Will Olson (Willard’s folks) used to live just up the hill from where Eileen Eurich Nelson and David live. We walked to Beaver Dam School and visited often as Gene was my friend and Glen was Leland’s friend. Later they moved to the place west where Andy Medruds lived. Gene and wife Shirley live in Nebraska. Thanks for resending the Rural School Reunion form. Tom Hagen
 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
All rights reserved

02/08/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
I got a message from Al & Kathy (Barbara) Kalk (65) Lopez letting me know that they plan on attending our reunion on May 22nd. Kathy was unable to attend our 2007 reunion, so it will be nice to see her and Al. It’s been 45 years since most of us have seen Barbara.
Kathy (Barbara as we all remember you), It will be so nice to see you again. Gary

Kathy (Barbara) Kalk & Al lopez

 

Kathy & Al’s children – 2008

History Memories:
From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO

Hello all, I guess one opinion is as good as another, so here goes some opinions. I believe the one trait that most people on the blog can thank the early settlers for was sheer nerve and spirit of adventure. Without the PP&MM book we would have lost contact with the past in so many ways. I read somewhere that Louis Bergan was the oldest child and came from Norway at one year old and that there were about six or seven other children. Then I could not remember where I had read this so I looked through the PP&MM again and saw were three or four of the Bergan’s went to Willow Lake School. Then I found an early settlers, Hans Bergan who settled in Holmes Twsp. where we lived.

 

Then I found a George Hack, who was an earlier settler on land that Boardman’s and Sal Schneider occupied in our later years. This might explain your mystery man, Emil Hack.

 

I read about people like Jim Penny, Joe Renauld, and others just like them in that area south of Dunseith. My mother lived neighbors to them in the old days. She was fascinated with Joe’s ability to roll a cigarett with one hand, he blew the other off with a shot gun. Read his story in the PP&MM.

 

You can find a story in there about my old friend, Maggie Cassidy’s hubby when he was 9 years old, written by a supreme court judge. Tom was a hero. So to the Wenstad girl who bought the book, PP&MM, it may take you 10 years or more as it did me to really get into it, but that is alright.

 

To Allen Richard, Pete Richard’s store was known as the Variety Store to us. He was always on the job with his bolo tie and big rings on his fingers. Norman Richard spent the winter of 1945 or 46 up on our farm. Tough duty, no electricity, snowed in while we went back to Seattle for the winter.

 

Read about Frank and Julian Peltier’s grandfather. He had money and did not need to move to ND. Dakota was not much different than when I lived there, frozen solid in the winter and mosquitoes in the summer. We had to build a smudge to even have a 4H meeting in those days. One person had to weild a dish towel so the crew could eat dinner, flies you know.

 

Bonnie Awalt Houle if you read about your grandparents and also Clint Anderson, you will see why you are a survivor. I will talk about Clint Anderson later.

 

We haven’t even mentioned the guy who always said, “Holy Baldheaded” when he got excited. He also would say, “Holy Cat”. I have a feeling Floyd Dion will know who I am talking about.

 

This is getting too long. Thank you Gary, sure do appreciate you and all you do for us. Gary Metcalfe
 
 
The old lumber Yard & Story:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary,

One old story about a deal at the old Great Plains lumber yard, is
worth telling, I think. This is the lumber yard that was mentioned in
recent messages and was located where the Dunseith post office is now.
The back side of the lumberyard building was right up against the alley
behind the bank. I remember how cars would splash mud against the
building when they went down the alley. There was a time when Isadore
(Zike) Boguslawski bought scrap iron and batteries at the old lumber
yard building. There was a little kid ( won’t mention his name) in
Dunseith who found a few old batteries and brought them to Zike to make
a few dollars. One day someone had turned into the alley and slid their
car into the back wall and knocked a hole in the wall right behind the
batteries. This kid was coming up the alley with a battery in the box of
his wagon and found the hole, with the batteries just sitting there for
the taking. He crawled in and set a few batteries out in the alley and
loaded them in his wagon and then went around front and sold them to
Zike. He did this several days until Zike figured this kid sure was
finding a lot of junk batteries for a young kid, so Zike marked a few
batteries and sure enough, they showed up! The part of the story that is
interesting is that the kid had a given name but since that day in the
’60s, he has only been known as ‘Potlicker’. This is what Zike was
calling him as he chased him around town trying to get close enough to
give him a whooping! To this day, he is called ‘Potlicker’! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion:
Posted by Linda Gardner: Washington, DC
 
Hi Gary – I had a call today from Tom Hagan. He asked if you could rerun the announcement about the Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion as he had lost the original e-mail. The announcement is attached.
 
I’m also attaching a picture of the snow we had over the weekend. I live about 20 miles west of Washington, DC and for the second time in the last couple of months we got hit with a bad snow storm – a little over 3 feet. The mound of snow you see in the attached picture between the lamp post and mail box is my car!! Looks a lot like ND don’t you think. Federal Government is closed tomorrow as public transportation is still not up and running!!!
 
Thanks, Gary for all your help!
Linda, That is quite a snow storm you guys had. The snow is piled up pretty high on the mail box and the cars.
I have pasted the Reunion annoucement and registration form below. Gary
 
 

Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion

 

July 10, 2010

 

Plans are underway to hold a Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion on July 10, 2010, at the Twin Oaks Resort & Convention Center atLakeMetigoshe.Anyone who attended a country school in theTurtleMountains or is interested in celebrating an educational life style of the past is welcome to attend.The cost is $42.00 per person.Reservations and advance payment are required.Please fill out the form below and mail to:

 

Linda Gardner

 

 

3059 Sugar Lane

Vienna, VA22181

 

TurtleMountainCountrySchoolReunion Registration Form

 

Name

 

  

Address

 

  

Country School

  

Number of Participants

 

  

 

 

 

Checks should be made payable to Linda Gardner and mailed with the registration form to the address above by June 1, 2010.

 

Registration will begin at 3 PM; Social Hour 4-6:30 PM and dinner will be served from 6:30 – 8 PM.

 

If you are interested in helping organize this event, have memorabilia to share at this event, or have questions, please contact Linda at:

 

Telephone:703/636-6392

 

E-mail:lgardner9@cox.net.

 
 
 
Posted by Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
 
The pixie girl attached is DeAnn Gottbreht at age 5, Clear Lake Canada! It seems right to send a second posting today in view of the generosity of Verena and Pete Gillis who know full well the rough road of cancer. I spoke with Ernie and Cheryl yeaterday; DeAnn and Patrick and the kindness of Verena and all volunteers were the first and foremost subject. Praise God, all continues well. Thank you friends. Sharron
Daughter of Ernie Gottbreht (65) and Brenda Hill Mueller (70):
DeAnn Gottbreht – 1987
 
 
Dick Johnson & Sharron Gottbreht – Conversation about the Schneiderman’s Haagenson’s & others.
Posted by Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
Kind of Dick to think I could incorporate this data on the Haagensons and Schneidermans. I reviewed what I sent and see several typos and grammar problems. I doubt I can be trusted, Dick! Besides, you have first hand knowledge of the terrible events that affected their lives. I should have mentioned that the Schneidermans had moved to Rolette County sometime after the 1930 census. Their centennial entries appear in the Bottineau County book. Obviously, Art Schneiderman and family belong with us! I cannot pinpoint the “Beaver Dam” area, but it must be as Dick ably describes. Many thanks, Sharron

Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 10:35:22 -0600
From: djcars@hughes.net
To: sharron_shen@msn.com
Subject: Re:

Thanks Sharron! One local input item, Schneidermans lived on a farmstead in the Turtle Mts. just south of Rendahl Church. There is still a house standing there. It is located one mile west of the Willow Lake Road and just a short distance north of Elvin Haagenson’s farmstead. I got to know Earl Schneiderman while I was over in my wife’s home town of Sherwood. He was Art’s son, I believe. He rented a trailer house site from my father-in-law and later built a new home right next door to them. Earl said they/he lived in the Turtle Mts. on this farm until he entered the army in 1961. He gave me a ’56 Chevy car that he had left on the place and so that’s how I knew where it was located. Earl died a few years ago. He was divorced and lived with his son, Tim. Tim was one of the young fireman who were burned terribly in an oil field fire several years ago. His face is disfigured but he was one of the lucky ones. Two died from burns and one other is very disfigured. It was on the same land that my wife’s uncle farmed and he was there when the final explosion happened. Terrible tragedy for such a small town.The lightening caused the fire and Brenda’s uncle saw the primary fire and called the fire dept. He was really traumatized by the accident, as I’m sure most people would have been. Just thought that you could maybe use this information while doing the research. Thanks.

Dick

Sharron Shen wrote:

Thank you Dick Johnson for expanding on what we now know of the Schwabe family. In addition to Hans Schwabe who was 19 in 1930, his brother Christ, absent from home, was age 30. This rings a bell and I will check for a Christ Schwab in the TMS. I too made the association of Schwab/Schwabe. Although the father Wm Schwabe, of Louis, Christ and Hans was born in Denmark, his parents were born in Germany. Wm P Schwab, salesman at the lMarchand/Watkins lumber yard for many years, was born in Iowa, parents born in Germany. Many families altered the spelling of there names on arrival USA – Gottbreht/Gottbrecht. The Schwabe/Haagenson names were often associated. I only checked the family of Hans and Ida Haagenson who lived in Gilbert Twp. Hans was 54, Ida 56; children still at home in Gilbert Twp were Willard age 24, his wife, Erma 20, their baby Raymond 11/12; and Alvin youngest son of Hans, age 17. The Haagensons were neighbors of Lillie Kotchevar on one side and Anton Gunville followed by Gilbert Rude on the other; Art Rude was age 6. I sure want to take a second look for teachers, neighbors, ministers who lived near Art Rude; a man among men and anchor of his community.

According to the centennial bio of Wm P Schwab and Hattie Hurst, they had 2 children. Ethyl, 23 in 1930, was married to Wm Gottbreht Jr, also age 23. They lived next door to Ethyl’s parents with their baby daughter Marilyn. I did not note Bill’s employment listed in the census but he did work at the hardware store Higgins and Gottbreht and he also served as USPS carrier from time to time. I must check other files to see of all 3 of their children were born in ND. Their 3rd generation Bill was about EJ’s age. Dale Gottbreht owned the home south of Wm P Schwab and may have purchased it from Wm Jr. This house may have been known as the Thomas home prior to 1930? Mom talked about making sauerkraut with Grandpa Geo G in the small structure at the back of this house! The sloping garden area behind the homes of Gottbreht/Schwab/Tennancour were huge per my childish assessment – Wm P Schwab’s cabbages were amazing.

I found Arthur H Schniederman renting in Bottineau Co, Wheaton Twp in 1930. He and his parents were born in MN. His wife Marie E. age 29 was also b in MN as were her parents. You may remember that Charlotte, age 37, wife of Louis Schwabe was born in MN. I went after the name in MN and have misplace the notes! What surprised me about the census taker in MN of that lost work, his record of towns in Norway where folks haled from! What a boon to historians who try for data after a century or more.

Thanks Dick and Gary. Sharron

  

02/07/2010

Posted on by
Folks, I’m kind of cramped for time today, so I’ll go with what I’ve got for now. Gary
 
 
Virtual Wall:
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70):
 
Gary,
I checked the Virtual Wall today and it is truly remarkable and
sobering. I did not know anyone who was killed there. But while at
NDSU Bottineau in the fall of 1970 met someone whose brother was
killed in Viet Nam the fall of 1969.

I checked for his name and thought of his sister who was very much
affected by his passing.
While at NDSU – Bottineau I met and knew many Viet Nam Vets. They
were my age……………….but….. had old eyes. Thank you to
Larry Hackman for the Virtual Wall information.
Peace. Vickie Metcalfe

 

02/06/2010

Posted on by

 

Condolences to Carol LaVallie’s family:

 

 

Gary, please post this:

 

 

Sending our condolences to Carol LaVallie’s families.

 

 

Dianne (Rober’t) Johnson & Darla (Rober’t) Armstrong. dianne@arrowtechinc.com
Reply from Allen Richard (65): AllenRndmn@aol.com Midland, MI

 

To Collete Hosmer–The Richards had a fair presence in Dunseith years ago. Your mom’s uncle Joe ran the gas station on the south end of town–his sons Vernon and Norman took it over in the 50’s. Uncle Pete ran the dime store. Our great grand parents lived next door to Uncle Pete until they passed away in the early 50’s great Grands dad passed first. I’d need to check the geneology book for dates– or Carmen Richard probably just knows it.

 

 

By the way–your art work is amazing.

 

 

Allen
Tom Cassidy’s House:
Reply from Marshall Awalt (51): jandm@ec.rr.com Newport, NC

 

 

Gary

 

 

We have been in Maryland for the last week and everything came through fine except #705.Dick wanted to know why our pictures were shot in front of Tom Cassidy’s house.My parents rented tom’s house in the early 1930’s and we lived there until around 1940 when my father built a house down by the train depot.

 

 

Thanks Marshall
Schabe’s – Picture:
Reply from Lloyd Awalft (44): Bottineau, ND.
HI GARY . I WILL TRY AND ANSWER DICK ABOUT THE SCHABE. FRIST THE ONE THAT MANAGED THE GREAT PLAINES SUPPLY WAS SCHWAB NO CONNECTION. SCHWABS LIVED IN THE HOUSE THAT DENIS ESPY BOUGHT. FLORENCE THE NAME RINGS A BELL IKNOW THEY LIVED IN DUNSEITH BUT FOR HOW LONG IM NOT SURE ELEANOR HAS NO IDEA WHO THE GRIL IS THE PICTURE THAT WAS SENT OF THE TWO GRILS DOSNT LOOK LIKE THE ONE WITH ELEANOR IM KIND OF INTRESTED NOW WITH IT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO SHE IS. LLOYD
Thompson Family:
Reply from Key Hildebrandt:
Gary,
Just a note to let you know Beulah Hoaglund enjoyed the pictures. She’s another of the “family keepers” and has been generous with her records.
Also, someone emailed me, and it went into my Spam folder. Unfortunately, my hand was quicker than my eye, and it was deleted just as I saw “Dunseith.” Hopefully, it will be sent again.
Thanks for including my messages. Kay Hildebrandt
Reply to Dale Pritchard (63) – Norway:
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
Dale,
I hope you do make it back to Bodo in the summertime. It’s quite an experience to have the sun shining (not brightly, of course) at midnight. I have a slide of our family with the midnight sun in the background (The slide is in Minot.). I’ll try to scan/send it sometime.
Neola
Alex Pedie family photo reposted with correction:
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
Gary,
I sent this picture to you awhile ago; you included it in one of your daily newsletters. Thanks to Dick Johnson, I now have Dianne’s correct maiden name: Volker, NOT Voeller. I don’t know where my mind was when I typed Voeller; it wasn’t on what I was typing! Thanks, Dick.
Neola

Virtual Wall – The Viet Nam Wall w/detail behind every name:

Posted by Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND

 

Gary
I think you should post this and have everyone look at Mark Eklund from Morris, MN and read about what his teacher wrote about him. I guarantee everyone will have a tear in their eye and every teacher will cry.
Larry

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is truly remarkable.
The link below is a virtual wall of all those
lost during the Viet Nam war with the
names, bio’s and other information on our lost comrades. It is a very
interesting link, and those who served in that timeframe and lost
friends or family can look them up on this site.

Please pass this on to all of your fellow vets and their families

First click on a state, then when it opens, a name. It should show you a picture of the person or at least his bio
and medals…… http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.ht

 

02/05/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
Just as I had everything about ready to send today, the power went out. I’m currently running on Generator power. When the power went out I lost a lot of unsaved messages includeing the one I had ready to send. If you sent me something for posting and it’s not posted please resend it to. I’m hoping I retrieved most, but I think I’m missing a few.
 
Gary
 
 
Curt (59) & Denise Quillinan (63) Halvorson:
Request from Floyd Dion (45): Dunseith, ND
 
HI Gary
Denise Halvorson would like to be put on your daily newsletter.
Denise is class of 63 and her husband Curt is class of 59
Floyd
 
Malnourished Philippine family given assistance by a Dunseith Member: http://garystokes.net/SponsorFilipinoFamily.aspx
 
Brenda Hoffman (68) asked us if we could help a needy Filipino if she sent us some money. Please click on our Website link above to see her message and pictures of the family she provided assistance too. Each of the six kids in this family wrote her thank you letters too and asked me to mail them to her. The older kids assisted the younger kids with their letters. The first letters they brought me were written in Cebuano. Knowing Brenda probably wouldn’t be able to read them, I requested they rewrite them in English of which they did. Brenda got those letters after she sent me her message posted on our Website. Gary
 
 
Reply to Mary Eruich Knutson (62) & Neola Kofoid Garbe:
From Dale Pritchard (63): Leesville, LA
 
Mary, Another long lost relative? It’s almost unbelievable what this
system comes up with sometimes.

Neola, I made it to Bodo, Norway one time during the Winter. I guess it
was about 1972. I didn’t even get away from the airport as we were
taking some parts in for another broke down airplane (never did find out
what the other plane was doing there). The snow was piled up 20 to 30
feet around the airport and reminded me of home back in the younger
days. It didn’t look like a fun place in the Winter but I would like to
make it back sometime during the Summer.

Dale

 
 
Schwabe Family:
Reply from Dick Johnson: Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Sharron’s entry about the Schwabe family got interesting when she
mentioned that they lived in Renville County and in Prosperity township.
Small World! This is where my father-in-law was born and raised. I
called him to ask a few questions about the family and he knew quite a
bit of their history. The farm that Louis Schwabe rented and lived on
was just a couple miles west of his parent’s home place. He said that
there is at least one son who was not mentioned. His name was Hans and
he married a neighbor girl by the name of Ethel Douglas. Hans and Ethel
first lived at Norma, which is 15 miles south. Hans ran the Westland Oil
bulk service. They later moved into Sherwood where he worked for
Krueger’s Hardware and Ethel worked at K.R. Flem Inc.–IH dealer. My
father-in-law was the rural mail carrier out of Sherwood for many years
and also lived in town. The connection of Schwabes and Schneidermans is
also interesting. Earl Schneiderman moved from Dunseith to Sherwood and
worked for Matador Field Services in oilfield trucking. I was wondering
if Louis Schwabe moved to Dunseith and was the manager of Great Plains
Lumber? I thought it was a Schwabe or Schwab that ran the lumber yard
where the post office now sits. Gary Morgan mentioned this lumber yard
in one of his earlier entries. The large lumber yard building was sold
to Bromberg and Haas–dba, ‘B&H Lumber’– and now sits along Highway 43
just west of Carpenter Lake, on the Larry Haas farm. The Schwabe family
apparently left the Sherwood area sometime between the 1930 census and
the 1939 Turtle Mt. Star stories, where it said they lived in Dunseith.
My father-in-law said he thinks all of them left except for Hans, who
lived out his life there. Ethel is still living. My wife says they had
at least one child, a girl named Glenda, who was born in about 1947. She
graduated in ’65 from Sherwood High School.

Could the girl in the picture with Marshall and Eleanor Awalt be
Florence Schwabe? It says she would have been about 12 or 13 in 1939.
Without giving away Eleanor’s age—–she would have been about 2 or 3
years older than Eleanor and would appear about that age. Maybe Lloyd
can ask Eleanor if the name ‘Florence’ rings a bell? Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
Carol LaVallie
(September 18, 1952 – February 1, 2010)

Guest Book| Sign Guest Book
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CAROL LAVALLIE Mass of the Christian burial for Carol LaVallie, age 57 of Dunseith, was held on Friday, February 5, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Dunseith. Burial was in St. Anthony’s Cemetery also of Dunseith. Officiating at the service was the Reverend Father Jeff Eppler S.O.L.T. Special music was provided by Troy DeCoteau, Martin Trottier and Joyce Dumont. Casket bearers were AJ LaVallie, Edward LaVallie, Derek LaVallie, Don Cameron, Don Andrews and Shelly Duboise.

Carol LaVallie, a daughter of Ernest and Cecilia (Poitra) Parisein, was born at Belcourt on September 18, 1952. She was reared and educated in the Dunseith area. On November 7, 1970 she was married to Andrew LaVallie at Belcourt. Carol worked as a cook at Dale’s Café and then managed the Café. She worked 14 years with WIC in the Dunseith area. Carol returned to school and received her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Coding at Turtle Mountain Community College. Andrew passed away on May 29, 2009. Carol retired in 2009 due to ill health.

She was a member of the St. Michael’s The Archangel Catholic Church in Dunseith. Carol was a member of the Jaycee’etts of Dunseith in her younger years.

Carol passed away on Monday February 1, 2010 in her home.

She is survived by sons, A.J. LaVallie and Edward LaVallie (Julie Keplin) Both of Belcourt and Derek LaVallie (Rachel Chepulis) of Dunseith; grandchildren Shakara, Shauntel, Anthony and Shalynn; her mother Cecelia Parisien of Dunseith; sisters Elizabeth (Punky) Morin of Dunseith and Brenda Winters of Grand Forks; a half brother, Charles LaRocque of Rock Lake.

Carol was preceded in death by her father, husband and a sister Mary Parisien

 

Reply from Kay Hildebrandt posted on our Website:

From: Kay Hildebrandt
E-mail:
Message:
Gary,
Thank you for posting my message. I wasn’t sure you would, since I’m not an alumni. I found your site while doing google research on the Thompson family, to see if there was anything I could add to show Beaulah (Lasher) Hoaglund, who is visiting me on Friday. Beaulah is Melvina Thompson’s daughter. My grandmother was Candace Thompson, youngest daughter of Anthony and Esther Thompson. Candace stayed in Wisconsin when they moved to North Dakota, to finish school. On her way to North Dakota, to teach school, she stopped to visit her oldest sister, Clara (Thompson) Graham, who lived in Renville County, MN. Charles Torbert met her there (over a mud puddle–he was walking out to their farm, they were walking into town), was smitten, and followed her to North Dakota. They were married in Somber, ND, and returned to MN, where he farmed.

I have done extensive genealogy work, back to the 1600’s. Esther Thompson was a Julson, and those records go back to the 1600’s. Mary, you posted a picture of children in front of a hayrack. I think those are Ella (Thompson) Pritchard’s children. Ella and Joe Pritchard moved to Alberta in 1910, and farmed south of Bruce in Alberta. Joe Pritchard invented a haystacker while farming there. They were an extremely talented family.

I had the pleasure to attend the reunion that John Pritchard hosted at Lake Metigoshe a few years ago. John shared many stories and pictures of the families with me, and it’s wonderful to see that some of you are continuing those efforts.

Your blog is terrific, Gary. I’ll check it every day, hoping to find more pictures and messages about the relatives. Thank you, K

Kay,

 

You have explained the relationships well.

 

I believe Joe Pritchard was a brother to William Pritchard. William/Ida’s children were Robert, Corbin, Winifred, John & Lincoln. I believe Ella Thompson Pritchard was a sister to Ida Pritchard. This would make the Robert, Corbin, Winifred, John & Lincoln Pritchard double first cousins to the kids in the picture below.

 

Gary

 

Joe and Ella (Thompson) Pritchard’s children

 

Reply to Lee Struck (66):

From Allen Richard (65):

 

to Lee Struck
 
Enjoy NZ! It is a wonderful place. we have friends there and we spent out 10th anniversary with them. Rotorura is lovely. You ought to see the Bay of Islands!!! I’d retire there —- if i could ever afford to retire
  

02/04/2010

Posted on by
Dunseith Alumni Reunion
 
Folks,
 
Bernadette and I will be attending the Dunseith Alumni Reunion on May 22nd. We will be in the area for nearly three weeks. We will be arriving on May 16th and leaving on June 5th. We’ll be spending a few days in Seattle both going and coming. While in ND we’ll be staying with my brother Bud and his wife Debby in Bottineau. We are so looking forward to seeing everyone. This will be a fun trip.
 
Gary
 
 
Tom Cassidy
Reply from Susan Fassett Martin (65): Spearfish SD
 
Tom Cassidy was married to Beatrice Fassett, sister to Grandpa Wilmar (Bill) Fassett. They had three children, Violet, who was born in 1905, Cora May, who was born in 1907 and John Loan, who was born in1913. According to my dad’s history, Tom married Maggie Aubrey after Bea died and he spent the last years of his life in Rolla.
 
 
Reply from Audrey Aitchison (Gary’s cousin): Bottineau, ND.
 
Hi,
 
I wanted to thank Lee Struck for working with Hope for Humanity to help in the projects he’s been working on. Every fall I go ingathering for Hope for Humanity to help in disaster areas and also half of it is used locally. They send 100 % to these areas. This fall I got $200 and it was sent to Haiti to help there. Hope for Humanity (ADRA) is associated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church which I belong to. May the Lord bless you richly.
 
Audrey Aitchison
 
 
 
Reply from Colette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe, NM
 
Thanks, Allen. I had a feeling that you would know the “correct” Richard. I had a feeling that I had chosen the wrong name. Colette

 
 
 
The follow message was posted on our Dunseith Alumni Web site:

From: Kay Hildebrandt
E-mail: Kaisa65@aol.com
Message:
Mary Knutson, I loved the pictures you posted in December. Beulah is visiting me on Friday, (her daughter and family are now living in Temecula, CA) and I’ll be sure to share these with her. Kay

 
Mary Eruich Knutson’s reply to Gary:
 

Hi Gary

Yes I know Kay Hildebrandt. She is Mom’s cousin. She has done extensive geneology research on the Thompson side of the family. She has gone way back into the 1700’s. Very interesting. She probably found out about the Dunseith Blog through John Tangen. I’m sure she’d find lots of useful information as I have. Nice lady. I’m forever grateful she was so willing to share her hard work. I can see just what we’re doing is not easy tracking some of this stuff.

much. Mary K

Kay Hildebrandt, Can you fill us all in where you fit into the Thompson family? You would be related to the Pritchard’s and the Eldon/Ella Pladson family as well as John Tangen and others. Thanks, Gary

 

 

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

 

Every morning I attend to your entries, Gary. Perhaps others are energized by name association with folks we knew or who were spoken of by friends and family. The pictures have been outstanding and sent me rushing back to several of my own mismanaged files. The young lady in the picture of Eleanore and Marshall Awalt seemed familiar, I think it was her dress that reminded me of Evelyn and Alphonsine Gaudette around 1900. I searched the 1930 Census for Schwabe in ND.

Louis and Charlotte Schwabe lived in Renville Co, Prosperity Twp. Louis was 33, born in IL; his parents were born in Denmark. Charlotte age 37, born MN; parents born WI and MN. The children were Howard 11; Forest 8; Dale 7; Florence 4 9/12. All children born ND. Louis was renting his farm.

There are about 10 entries in the TMS for this family in Dunseith News or that of Bever Dam. All the entries were from 1939. Briefly, Forest enrolled in the CCC camp of Kramer in July; Dale the teenager was often mentioned seeking company of Helga Haagenson – Dale brought his sister Florence along to the home of Aminda Haagenson on one occasion. Christmas Eve 1939 the Louis Schwabe family had supper with the Art Schniederman family and Christmas Day the Schniedermans came to Dunseith and dined with the Schwabes. Florence would have been about 12/13 the summer of ’39 which seems a match. I do not know the name of Art’s wife, but two of Louis’ sisters were still at home of parents Wm and Hannah in 1930, Lillian age 21 and Erma age 11.

Thanks Gary, Sharron

Marie Alphonsine and Evelyn Gaudette
 
 

 

Message/Picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

 

Gary,

 

I don’t know if you can use this picture. It was taken on the road between Bergen, Norway, and Bodo, Norway (Bodo is where the sun shines all night in the summer time; we wanted to see this–which we did.). According to the map, it is closer to Bodo. I should narrow it down more, but I’m short on time (I need to get to bed; it’s almost 5:30 a.m.). Dad took this picture when we were in Norway in 1963. He, of course, knew Elwood Fauske; we (Mom/Dad/Jim/I) knew the Dunderland families, so we were excited to see this sign.

 

Neola

 

 

 
  

02/03/2010

Posted on by
Alice Cora Stokes Thompson:
Reply from her granddaughter – Tina Pladson Bullinger (78): Bottineau, ND
 
Gary,
Just a follow-up on the correct name of my grandmother, Alice Cora. I was named after both of my grandmothers, Thyra Alice, and I remember doing a school family history project one time and the name of my maternal grandmother, from my mother, was Alice Cora Stokes Thompson. Hope that’s correct cause I’d hate to have to change my name at this time in my life!! HA HA

Tina Pladson Bullinger

 
 
Reply from Lee Struck (66): Hudson, WI.
 
Gary –

I read with interest your note about travel arrangements you might make for tours in your part of the world.

I am leaving for New Zealand next Wednesday – February 10th – with Habit For Humanity – International. Our group of 12 will work in Tauranga for 9 days and then spend a couple of days in the Rotorua area “catching some rays”.

The group from my church here in Hudson, WI, is making their third trip to Iringa, Tanzania on the 5th of March. I have made that trip twice. This spring I wanted to see another part of the world and was able to hook with with a group from Olympia, WA.

In mid-October, 20008 until the end April, 2009, I lived in Biloxi, MS working on Hurricane Katrina re-build projects. In July I returned to the Orange / Bridge City, TX area where I have spent some times last spring for a couple of weeks, re-building homes damaged by Hurricane Ike.

Our director in these 2 states is looking into how & when we can get into Haiti later this year. I would go with them and see what I can do.

Thank you for all of the work you have done to put this site together for all of us!

Should I decide when I want to travel to Southeast Asia (and I do!) I will certainly get in touch.

—
Go In Peace!
Serve The Lord!
Lee Struck
722 3rd Street # 201
Hudson, WI 54016
 
715-808-1717
 

Reply from Allen Richard (65): AllenRndmn@aol.com Midland, MI 48640

 

The person Colette Hosmer refers to would be Pete Richard Sr. He ran the dime store for many years. He was the a younger brother of her grandfather, Fred Richard.

 

Allen

 

 

Emil Hack

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): djcars@hughes.net Dunseith, ND.

 

Gary and Friends,

Floyd wrote about Emil Hack, the older man who drifted in and lived
in a shack behind the Commercial Hotel. When I was in the hospital in
Fargo back in 1985, I had to go from working from daylight to dark, to
sitting in a hospital room for three weeks with nothing to do. I about
went nuts! During this time I read the entire Dunseith History book and
studied each page as a way to pass the time. This is something I enjoy
doing anyway so it passed the time for me. Anyway, there are a few
things that will really stick in a persons mind and so was the Dunseith
Journal entry from January 1946. It said, ‘Emil Hack Found Dead-His Body
Frozen’. I asked my grandma who this man was and she said he was kind of
a loner and lived in a little shack in the alley behind Henry Hagen’s
house, which was across the alley from the Commercial Hotel. While I
have Floyd’s attention, it also said that he and Luella and their guests
were the one’s who noticed and reported the creamery fire in 1950. This
is the fire that Crystal Fassett Anderson sent the pictures of a while
back. It was in the spot that the Garden Tap and Bowling Alley are
located now. Thanks Gary!

 

 

Tom Cassidy:

Reply Carmen Leonard Richard:carmel@utma.com Rolette, ND.

 

Tom Cassidy had a son named Loan, I do not know where he moved -possibly Fargo. If there were any other children, I can not say for sure. Tom worked on the farm for my dad for many years.

 

 

Tom Cassidy:
Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44): lata@utma.com Bottineau, ND.
 
Hi Gary. Answer to Floyd. We lived in the Tom Cassedy house on the so, corner of the block. North was Henry Hagen next was Steve Cook and behind him Emil Hack and on the corner where Roland Mongeon lives used to be Ernest Horsman. He was the baker in Dunseith. I don’t think anyone really knows where Emil came from. He was a handy man in town and repaired shoes. Us kid used to give him a bad time at Halloween. I’ve been in his shack. Dick, Tom Cassedy had one son his name was lone or lonely could be spelled wrong I believe he passed away. The Girl in the picture with Eleanor & Marshall, I have no clue of who she is. Eleanor doesn’t know either Lloyd Awalt

 

 

 

Folks, I’m running a tight schedule today with today being our bowling and I’ve also got to run up and see the Mayor this morning to get a permit for a project that we are doing. Having been sponsors together in several weddings, Mayor Guggob is my compodray. They generally have 6 to 14 (couples) sponsors in a wedding. They have them listed and seated in the order of importance. We are generally always seated way behind the mayor. Gary

  

02/02/2010

Posted on by
Gary Cota (56): Dickinson, ND
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 

Gary,

 

Awhile ago, I sent the four 8 X 10 family pictures of Gary/Darla Cota’s family (same picture, four of them) to Gary. I received a very nice thank you note from them. I’m not sure who wrote the note, as it’s signed Gary & Darla. I think you said Gary’s vision isn’t good, so maybe Darla wrote it–doesn’t matter. Whoever wrote the note said they have four grandchildren, so each grandchild will receive one of the pictures. I didn’t ask for postage, but there was a $5 bill in the envelope. I’m sure that much more than it cost to mail the pictures–very nice of them.

 

I hope things settle down soon so I can get back to the pictures from the courthouse. I’ve decided I’m going to address the envelopes I have and mail them with whatever pictures are in them–not wait to see if I locate more pictures before I mail them. I think the people will be happy to receive the envelope–I’ll feel GREAT to know I have mailed them I probably have at least 25 envelopes, so it will be good to get them mailed. If I locate more pictures of any of these people, I’ll send them in a separate envelope. Peace of mind will out-weigh what it costs me to mail them. :)

 

Neola
 
Bruce Hill (80):
 
Bruce,
 
Thank so much for your reply. I have added you to our distribution list. For our records, where are you living now?
 
Gary
 
 
 
Update from DeAnn Gottbreht Posted on her CarringBridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht
 
Hello everyone. I wanted to write as soon as I felt up to it to let you know just how well I am doing! Other than some tightness in my chest and arm I am feeling good. Very little pain. I was released from the hospital on Saturday afternoon and we made it home to Mom’s last night about 9.

I went into surgery about 11 on Friday and it took about 2 hours. My surgeon called Patrick right after I was out to let him know how great it all went. The cancer looks to be completely contained in the breast and looks to be DCIS, which is non-invasive. They took four sentinel lymph nodes as well which all came back negative so at this time it looks as though the cancer has not spread at all! The news couldn’t hardly be any better! The baby doctors monitored the baby before and after the surgery and he came through it all great! All of our prayers were truly answered! Thank you all for your love and prayers. I will need a few weeks of recovery now before we start chemo again. Keep in touch everyone. I enjoy hearing from you all.

 
 
Rabbits on the north side of the Commercial Hotel
Reply from Colette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe, NM
 
I think I can solve the rabbit droppings mystery. My uncle Art (?) Richard raised rabbits over there. I was young … maybe it was ’54 or ’55. I had a pet rabbit named Pinky. I nailed some chicken wire across the top of an orange crate and kept her in that. She ate everything I could haul home from the store and soon outgrew her cage so Mom talked me into giving her to Uncle Art across the street. I was very sad about it but he told me I could visit Pinky whenever I wanted to. I did — often — and soon lost count of all the baby rabbits she produced. I also remember a lot of rabbit dinners during that time
 
 

Building on the north side of the Commercial Hotel

Reply from Floyd Dion (45): Dunseith, ND.

 

Gary

I knew of a man that lived north of the Commercial Hotel, but I would not say that is the building he lived in , His name was Emil Hack and he lived in a small shack. Luella says she walked by his place when she went to school, her parents lived on the spot where Roland Mongeon lives

now. I don’t know where he came from, maybe drifted in town He lived there I know in the late forties maybe in the early fifties. Who knows maybe he had rabbits. He died in his shack.

 

Floyd
 
 
Building on the north side of the Commercial Hotel
Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44): Bottineau, ND.
 

Hi Gary. Reading about the commercial hotel maybe I can you in . First off the picture of Marshall and Dave was taken in our front yard when we lived in Tom Cassetys house. The hotel we are looking at the back. Charles Watkins managed the hotel in the 30s later on sold to Grassman’s. Grassman’s had the rabbits for awhile. The storage area was for wood & coal . My dad had the dray at that time and we hauled everything. I shoveled many a ton of coal in there. I believe grassman’s sold to Grimme’s Melba Grassman Marsaa married to Ben Marsaa was a school teacher in Dunseith this is from 1930 to 1941. Winifred Pritchard stayed at our place while she went to high school. When that picture was taken they were problem courting. Lloyd Awalt
 
 
 
 
Reply from Dick Johnson: 68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Marshall Awalt’s pictures of Dave Eurich and himself and of Eleanor,
Marshall, and an unknown girl look as though they would have been taken
in the front yard of Tom Cassidy’s place. Marshall, is this correct and
what connection would there be with your family and this place? The
other girl looks to possibly be of Native American descent, at least to
me. I think Tom Cassidy lived in the house until the mid 50s and I
believe he moved to Rolla and spent the rest his life there. I don’t
know if he had children who could have been this age but thought it
might help in her identification. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 
Carol LaVallie
(September 18, 1950 – February 1, 2010)

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CAROL LAVALLIE Carol LaVallie, age 59 of Dunseith, died Monday, February 01, 2010 in her home. Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery also of Dunseith. A wake will be held on Sunday beginning at 4:00 P.M. in the church, with a prayer service at 8:00 P.M. Arrangements are with the Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau.

 
 
 

Alice Stokes Thompson, not Clara Stokes Thompson:

Correction From Keith Pladson (66): Stafford, VA

 

Gary,
Just a quick correction. In the photo with several of my family ancestors in your 700 blog, you correctly identify my Grandmother as Alice Stokes Thompson. However, in the photo of my Grandmother and Grandfather in your 698 blog, they are identified as Ulysses and “Clara” Thompson. I’m not sure where the name Clara came from, but I’m pretty certain she was never known as or called Clara. I should have caught this earlier, but somehow it just slipped past me until my sister Tina sent me an email to point it out. I would appreciate it if you could correct the photo to say “Ulysses and Alice Thompson.” Thanks, Gary.
Keith

Reply From Mary Eurich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary/Keith
That is my error – the lady’s name is Alice on the wedding picture. Yes the little boys name is Jim Cain (Cane). He was born November 1938 so this picture must be summer of 1939. The Frank Stokes vs William Stokes issue is kind of a mystery to me. It is very possible some of the pictures may have errors. I’m sure we’ll get them hashed out. There is a Clara Rose Thompson that is a sister to the homesteaders in the hills but she never came this far as far as I know. She lived in Minnesota and was married to a man named Graham. Remember the picture of that old car with the people sitting in it. That is labeled Graham’s with friends.
And , yes, Keith you are right about the year of the storm when you stayed at our place. In 64 and 65 my kids wouldn’t have been big enough to ride the sled behind the snowmobile. I am definitely not good with remembering dates. Will dig out more information after I finish working my income tax. Take care. I love the information and will be making a scrapbook from pictures and articles I laminate from your info. Mary K.
 
Mary,
 
I have reposted this picture of Ulysses and Alice Stokes Thompson and the William Stokes Picture too.
 
I’ll bet that whoever was labeling those pictures had Frank on their mind knowing it was William Stokes when they labeled that photo. With this picture being taking in 1939, It has to be William Stokes, because Frank died in December 1932. This picture resembles William Stokes that I’ve seen in other pictures too.
 
Thank you Mary,
 
Gary
 
Ulysses & Alice Stokes Thompson
 
 
 
Standing L to R: William Stokes, Esther Thompson Tangen, Ulysses Thompson,
Rebecca Stokes Rendahl, Lillian Thompson Cain, Ella Thompson Pladson & Lester Cain
Sitting in Wheel chair: Alice Stokes Thompson holding Jimmy Cain
 
  

02/01/2010

Posted on by
Bobby Pigeon:
Memories from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC
 
Dear Gary,
Following recent posts, Paulette LaCroix (Chisholm) and I reminisced about our fourth grade interactions with the “much older” Bobby Pigeon. With his duck tail haircut and The Fonze stride, he made Paulette and I “swoon” at the sight of him walking to or from lunch in the basement of the white school house. Could anyone be more handsome?

Once in a great while, he might smile at us or even SAY SOMETHING. We discussed him for hours comparing him to Cookie on the television series Seventy-seven Sunset Strip and the songs “Cookie, Cookie Lend Me Your Comb” and “Runnin’ Bear….Loved Little White Dove with a Love That Wouldn’t Die.”

Amazingly, I interacted frequently with the song writer and singer of Runnin Bear at Dave’s Brainerd, MN satellite office. He is now in his 80s and continues to be invited to Europe frequently where his Rock a Billy sound remains extremely popular. He’s a very nice man.

Brenda Hoffman Class of 1968
 
 
1955 Football Team Picture:
Reply from Larry Shirk (58): Naperville, IL
 
Gary:

Some are wondering about which class the 1955 football team picture
represents. If you note, the football in the picture has 55 on it. It was
the fall of 55, the start of the 55/56 year The seniors in the picture
would graduate in the spring of 56. So in reality, the picture doesn’t
represent the class of 55 which graduated 3 months earlier, but the 1955
football season. (and the class of 56) Hope this makes sense.

Larry Shirk

 
 
 
Reply/Picture from Marshall Awalt (51): Newport, NC
 
Gary
 
I am sorry but I do not know the girl standing next to me in the picture.I sent you another photo shot in front of the same tree with the commercial hotel in the back ground.It is of Dave Eurich and myself.
 
Marshall
Marshall, I have reposted that picture below. Hopefully someone can identify the girl in the picture with you and Eleanor?

 
This is a wonderful picture of you and Dave Eurich. Dave never changed over the years. He was such a young man too, when he left this world. He was a wonderful man. I remember him well.

 

Dave Eurich & Marshall Awalt

 

 

 

Eleanor & Marshall Awalt and ??? Schwabe

 

 
 
 
Buildings on the north end of the Commercial Hotel:
 
Larry Hackman, Dick Johnson, Bill & Gwen Grimme are looking for the rest of the story from some folks probably a little senior to them.
 
Please read from the bottom up.
 

Gary

I’m just trying to find out the rest of the story?

Larry

 

Bill, Gwen, & Dick:

I’m thinking we went as far as our youth permits us to go on this story. Don’t you also think we should have Gary put this out there to see if we can find out the rest of the story. I’m sure there are some around that know what the out buildings on the north end of the Commercial Hotel were used for?

I didn’t mean to insinuate that Dick was older then us ( Bill and I), just that he might know more then us. “God, I hated to say that!” I hope that sentence makes him feel better.

Larry

—– Original Message —–

Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 11:28 PM
Subject: Re: Rabbits?

 

Larry,

I can remember the building just north of the Commercial hotel. It was a storage building when I first became aware of it. My aunt Joy Nordquist rented the north ground floor apartment in about 1957. This was before she married my uncle Cliff Johnson, but I was over there often. She worked with Mom at the bank and had to raise her younger brother and sister. She was only twenty in ’57. Tough job. Back to your question–the rabbit deal. Maybe the people who ran the Hotel before Bill’s folks, had rabbits. I think this was the building where Greg had stored his old bike. I mentioned to Greg that I really liked old bikes, as we were driving home from UND, and Greg said he would give me one. We went over to that old building and he dug out his old bike with the mud flaps with reflectors and he gave it to me. It was maroon and white with big balloon tires and had a couple chrome springs on the front fork much like an old motorcycle. Like an absolute FOOL, I traded it to a guy who collects bikes and have regretted it ever since! To this day, I am trying to get it back but he just won’t let go of it yet. He still has it in the same condition as it was in 1970. Oh, yeah—rabbits–I don’t have an answer as to who would have had rabbits in the white building north of the hotel. I don’t think there were rabbits there in ’57. I caught the old joke that Larry was hinting at about smart pills. The old Indian got the Indian kid to taste a smart pill. The kid said it tasted like rabbit crap. The old Indian says, “See your smarter already.”

Dick

larry hackman wrote:

Dick
Maybe you know more then the rest us? You have to read this from bottom to top to make sense out of this
Maybe not?
Larry
 
—– Original Message —–

Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: Rabbits?
 
Bill
I don’t believe this. Most older people respond by saying they don’t remember droppings. But You do?
Bill, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t resist making a joke out of the memory. I remember how it was with rabbits. They did produce a lot and droppings too. We always called the droppings smart pills and tried to convince others that they would get smarter if they ate them. I don’t think I ever got anyone to bite on that one. Pardon the pun.
We are going to have to ask someone with a few more years behind them and see if they remember what the buildings were used for and if they remember who kept rabbits in them.
Bill I’m not a psychiatrist but your folks ditching you like that, could be the cause of you being the way you are. Which is not a bad thing?
If nothing else, it gives you an excuse. I don’t know what else I can say to make the hurt go away. Except maybe that Jack Daniels might help. Thats right you said you tried that. Maybe they were right, You just weren’t listening. You know how kids are? If you don’t have an excuse, make one up.
Have a good day and hope the Saints win.
Remember; Laugh and the whole world laughs with you.
Larry
—– Original Message —–
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: Rabbits?
 
That’s what was rattling around in my head – the rabbit droppings. They must have been there before we moved in. Speaking of moving in, Larry, every time a comedian tells that old joke about “my parents moved and never told me”, I think about Dunseith. You see, that’s what happened to me when the folks moved to the Commercial Hotel. I was in the fourth grade and I came home from school to a dark, locked house. I sat on the front porch until dark and the woman that lived across the street from us (can’t remember her name, now) came over and took me to her house and told me my folks had moved to the hotel. I eventually got over to the Commercial Hotel and found it to be true. The folks swear they told me and I wasn’t listening – again, but, I’m sticking to my story that they were trying to ditch me!
 
Bill

From: Gwen Eltz
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 10:29 AM
Subject: Re: Rabbits?
 

Bill and Larry,

 

I remember the rabbit droppings, too–you’re right…the building was full of them–but I have no idea why rabbits had been housed there either. The droppings were there when we moved into the Commercial Hotel in the fall of 1955 ( I was in 1st grade), so I don’t know who would have been raising rabbits. The building was divided into about four parts; two parts on the north end were outdoor biffies. I sometimes wonder why the south wall had an opening with a small wooden swing-out door that looked like a drive-up window.

—– “Bill Grimme” <wgrimme@charter.net> wrote:
>

Larry,
 
I remember the buildings, but, I don’t remember the rabbits, exactly. There is some memory of something in there, but, I don’t recall any details. Maybe one of our boarders kept some rabbits. Ole Melhouse comes to mind as a possibility, but, I’m not sure. Gwen probably has a much better memory – she didn’t soak it in quite as much DAMN ALCOHOL as I did.
 
Bill