Mark, Folks have been asking for a good mailing address for your mother to mail cards too. If you can give that to us it would be most appreciated. Thanks, Gary

Thanks for this fwd. Trav.

“Ya…so did Leona….I remember George saying (or Mom saying George sayng) that He and Leona met on the B-17 assembly line-“It was love at first bombsight” He had quite a wit…….

TRAVIS

History rolls out and on.

http://www.rbogash.com/Plant%202/Plant2.html

Folks, Please stop by and say hi to Dick, Brenda and Ron. This is their 2nd year being hired by the Hostfest folks for their entertainment. We all know that if they were not good and well liked, they would have never hired been back this year. Gary

Mom was moved to a hospice room at Good Sam (Room 301) this morning. I’ve packed a couple of “stay awhile” bags and will go to Good Sam as soon as I’m ready.

 

Thanks for ALL the prayers–they are working.

 

My cell phone number is: 701-721-0867.

 

Neola

 

 

Dunseith Staff at Good Sam

Follow up message from Neola:

Neola, This is neat that your mothers wing was staffed with Dunseith folks.

Neola, Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Jim and your Mother. Emma Brudwick Kofoid is so blessed to have a Neola Kofoid Garbe as her daughter. You are there for her every step of the way. Gary

Folks, Please see attachment article. I was unable to copy and past this article so I am sending it as an attachment.

 

Paula, What a touching story. Thank you so much for sharing.

 

Leely, This is so thoughtful of you for doing this for your friend. This shows the true character of who you are. You are indeed a wonderful person. Having Orvin Hagen for an Uncle along with all the rest of the Hagen family, we know you guys are good folks. Joe’s parents, Joe (deceased) and Joyce Hagen Evans are wonderful folks. The Dunseith community remembers them well. Gary

Gary, I attached a picture of Dottie Jury. Is this the person someone was inquiring about. If so, she is on facebook.

 

 

Eileen

A cabin deposit of $250 – per passenger is due by 7.19.2011with formal names and preferred cabin type.

Final payments are not due until: November 18^th 2011

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Ocean view with a port hole window – $848.75 – “ “ “ “ “ “ “

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Balcony cabins begin at – 1058.75 – “ “ “ “ “ “ “

*Mini Suite – is first come/ first serve and will be quoted at time of passenger deposit for a Mini Suite.

*(with a current price of $1288.75 – total per passenger)

7- Day NCL Western Caribbean Round-trip Miami

Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line
Ship Name: Norwegian Pearl
Sailing Date: 2/19/12

Norweigian Pearl Website link

Embarkation: Feb 19, 2012 – Disembarkation: Feb 26, 2012

Ports of call: Miami; Great Stirrup Cay; Ocho Rios; Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Miami

Please contact Gina Ford at either of the below phone numbers to confirm your cabin.

Thank you,

Gina S. Ford

Cruise At Will, Inc.

Cruise and Travel Planners

1-866-870-6986 (toll free)

703-580-1190 (local)

www.CruiseAtWill.com

July 2009 Dunseith Alaska Cruise

Group picture. A few are missing.There were 64 folks in our group

Jean and Others, For those of you having problems with the picture coming thru, you can view them on our Website. http://garystokes.net/message9219.aspx I post all these daily messages on our Website. Gary

Yes Sybil, That was some nice peppy music to get ones day started on the right foot. Thank you Neola for providing. Gary

 

 

 

 

Highway 43 will be performing at the Hostfest:

Posting from Neola Kofoid Garbe: neolag@min.midco.net Minot & Bottineau, ND

 

 

Hi Gary,

 

As you can see, Highway 43 is scheduled to perform at the Hostfest. Stockholm Hall, where they are performing, is the first door/hall to the right when you enter the main doors at the Hostfest. They will be performing all four days, twice a day. When you enter the main doors, you will either be given, or you can pick up, a schedule for the four days.

 

I like Stockholm Hall, as, besides having excellent music, it has many vendors. I enjoy checking what the vendors are selling; it’s especially fun when there is good music to listen to, also.

 

Neola

 

 

 

 

 

Evelyn Marie Cote Senechal Obituary

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

 

 

 

 

Vickie, Yes, I received the pictures from Karen Larson (Spectrum) pasted below. Again, thank you Karen for all of your wonderful services.

 

Larry and Karen are enough older than me for me to remember them that well. I knew their names well, though, in my growing up days. I’ve seen Dennis and Henry frequently over the years with my trips back, but I have not seen Bradley since the 1982 Dunseith Centennial. Bradley attended Ackworth too. He was 4 years ahead of me. Mrs. Phelps would have been his 8th grade teacher and my 4th grade teacher. Hank, Maybelle and Bradley lived 1 3/4 miles east of us up in the hills.

 

For all of you Ackworth folks that had Mrs. Phelps for a teacher. Do you remember her brother Kenneth Johnson from Overley frequently visiting her during school hours? I remember him well, because he always brought us candy and goodies to eat. Kenneth passed away several weeks ago. He was living in Bottineau.

 

For years, Hank and Albert Hiatt did custom sheep shearing. They’d shear our sheep every spring. Albert Hiatt and Hank Salmonson were brother-in-Laws. Albert’s wife, Alice Salmonson Hiatt, was a sister to Hank. Gary

Trish, This is quite an accomplishment that you undertook. You are so brave to be doing this all alone. Gary

Keith, I was drafted out of Rolla. I got one of those letters from President Nixon telling me I had been selected to join the military and that I was to report to the selective service board in Rolla on June 12, 1968. When I moved to Washington, I maintained Rolla for the Draft.

 

Yes, Washington has it’s share of cold rains in the winter months. The summers, after about mid July, are normally quite nice though. Gary

Lee, Shortly after I noticed Lars’s death notice in the Minot paper yesterday, I get a message telling me he had died while attending church services in Bottineau on Sunday morning. Yes, Lars and Ruby lived up in our neck of the woods a few miles east of Lake Metigoshe. They always had a pot of coffee on for Dad when he picked up their cream twice a week on his cream route. They were great folks. Lars will be missed. Our condolences go out to all of his family. Gary

 

Reply from Kelly Woods (89): Massena, NY

I love the picture tribute to some wonderful places in North Dakota, I was wondering if someone could take some updated pictures of Dunseith? I have not been home in 11 years and would love to see some updated sights of Dunseith? Just a thought.

If anyone has any stories to tell of Albert “Red” Pearson & Lorraine Agnes Pearson (my grandparents) I would love to hear them.

Thank you for all that you do Gary, I love your emails each and every day.

Kelly Woods (Dwight Coleman / Charlene Pearson Woods)

Class of 1989

Kelly, It’s great hearing from you. I had a nice chat with your mother and Dwight in bakery when we were back in June. It was so nice seeing them again. I remember your mother well from my school days. Gary

Mel, We are so sorry to hear of your mothers fall and the passing of her sister Evelyn. Our thoughts and prayers are with your mother and your (Cote) family. Gary

Folks, We sent Erling’s message and letter, posted two days ago with message 911, to the Bottineau Courant for publication in their paper. We feel his letter will be of interest to many of the Courant readers. Hopefully there will not be a problem with them publishing this. We’ll wait and see. Gary

COUNTRY SCHOOL REUNION

The date was early March 2010 I believe, when I read an open invitation from Linda Gardner to everyone on the Gary Stokes blog. It was an invitation to participate in a reunion for all those who attended the one room country schools in our part of the Turtle Mountains, or “Hills” as we are prone to call them. The Turtle Mountains are located on the border between North Dakota and Canada and truly are hills rather than mountains. Linda suggested a date of July 10th 2010. This would give anyone interested in attending an opportunity to prepare. I became interested at once and called my sister, Borghild Landsverk Filas, who lives in Golden, Colorado. As I suspected, she was immediately drawn to an opportunity to renew old school chum relationships and see the Hills again. Our plans were made but shortly thereafter she came down with a case of shingles, which resulted in painful nerve damage. I asked her if she felt that she could still attend and she told me that she had already mailed Linda her reservation fee and certainly planned to attend. I called Linda and told her the situation. Linda told me that if Borg could not go, her money would be refunded but that it would be a disappointment if she didn’t make it.

A couple of weeks passed and I kept in contact with Borg and she was making progress with good medical care. I was ready to mail in my reservation when Borg suffered a heart attack in May. Naturally I thought the trip was off. “Not so fast” Borg said, I am going up to see our Cousin Francis in Bermidji, Minnesota on June the 18th and then to the Peace Gardens and Bottineau, North Dakota if the doctor says its okay. Besides, she said, Francis’s daughter Betty and her family will be taking me and will keep an eye on me. It turns out that she did make the trip and when she returned to Golden she called to tell me that she expected to see me in Bottineau in time for the Reunion. Talk about being invincible and showing true grit. Fortunately, two of our sons, Owen and Eric, volunteered to drive this old bag of bones out to Bottineau. We made it in one day and met Borg and her son Frank in Bottineau for supper on the evening of July 8th. I asked Borg how she was feeling, and she replied that she felt okay but the shingles were still causing her a bit of pain.

The next morning we had breakfast at a place called the Bakery. They had great food there but the place was filled with alumni from the Bottineau high school that were also holding a reunion (their 50th) the same weekend. The din from their shouts and laughter was deafening but understandably so. After breakfast, we visited some places in the Hills that we knew well. We also stopped at Lake Metigoshe to check out the Twin Oaks Lodge where the reunion would be held. We then decided it would be a good idea to find what was left of our Loon Lake School # 2 where Borg and I had gone to elementary school. We set off towards the Long Lake area so I could get my bearings (not always an easy thing to do when you are blind). We drove aroundLongLakeand came back to what I thought was a section line road and past what I remembered to be theHagenhome. I gambled and told Owen to drive straight east on this road, but we found nothing. I thought I had made a mistake and we drove back to the main road. Eric and Frank, who were in another car following us, didn’t come back to where we were. Fearing that they may have gotten bogged down in the soft ground, we returned to find

them where we thought the school should have been. They had searched around a bit in the brush and sure enough, they spotted some crumbling concrete steps that I had spoken of. I verified they were the right steps when I found the old pipe railings, which I remembered well. Yes, we had discovered the old school, thanks to Eric and Frank. Of course everything was overgrown, and there were no buildings remaining. I guess the school building had been moved off the lot after the school closed. Needless to say Borg and I suffered a twinge or two of nostalgia.

The morning had passed quickly and we went back to have lunch at the Bakery with our Cousin Sharon. The place was jammed again but the service was great. A friend of Sharons, Vicki Metcalf, stopped to ask if Borg remembered Henry Solmonson. Borg said she did, as Henry had been in her class in high school. Vicki said she would try to find a way to have him meet her the next day. After lunch and a brief rest we drove up to Cousin Bruce’s house in preparation for a trip to our old home in Homen Township. The property had been acquired by the State Forest and what was left of our old homestead could only be reached by overgrown snowmobile trails. The trip up there was an arduous one for all who participated but a most gratifying one. All of our cousins living in the Bottineau area were involved. They included Bruce, David, Sharon, and Barbara. Barbara’s husband Larry Lawrence and Gary Wenstad, a neighbor of Bruce, also joined Borg, Frank, Owen, Eric, and I. We owe them all a ton of gratitude for their efforts that made the trek a success. After bidding a final farewell to our former home that lay crumbling under nature’s attack, we stopped to pay our respects at the Rhindahl Cemetery. There are many family members buried there including our grandmother, two of our infant siblings, and many extended family members. The afternoon was tiring but a time of remembrance for those no longer with us and for those wonderful days when we were growing up.

The next day dawned bright and sunny. It was the day of the Reunion, but we still had some time to spend visiting our old haunts. After breakfast, we drove to Dunseith, which was the closest town to our home and where we had attended high school. My gosh, we were shocked to find that many of the old buildings along

Main Street

had been recently demolished leaving a series of empty lots! Next, we drove up to the International Peace Garden on the North Dakota and Canadian border. Since I could not see, I listened closely to the others describing the all the gardens and buildings that form this symbol of friendship between our two nations. I thought about the year 1932, when our entire family attended the dedication of the Peace Garden. It was a historic event that too often is ignored by the media. Borg and I remembered it well and we also thought of Orvin Hagen, an old friend, who had done so much over the years to make the Peace Garden as beautiful and inspiring as it is. I would be remiss if I didn’t make a reference to my father, Gunder Landsverk, and his brothers Knute, Nels, and Arthur along with our cousins for building much of the beautiful field stone work at the Peace Garden during the early 1930s.

 

After leaving the Peace Garden, we headed for Bottineau for a luncheon appointment with our Cousin Sharon. As we were enjoying lunch, Vicki Metcalf walked in and announced that she was pretty sure that Henry Solmonson would soon arrive. After a few

anxious minutes, Henry appeared and he and Borg saw each other for the first time in 72 years. Needless to say, it was a time for remembering and I heard a lot of chuckles and laughter as they conversed. Yield told us that Henry played the guitar and had entertained at many local events. I fool around with the guitar a little myself and I handed Henry and Vicki each a CD that I had recorded. I told them that the CD’s made good coasters if the music was a flop. It was a great lunch, and we were grateful to Vicki for her efforts in reconnecting us with Henry.

After a brief nap at the motel, we drove up to the Twin Oaks Convention Center, arriving about 4:00 P M. Linda Gardner, and her brother was there to greet us. The place was filling quickly and one could hear the friendly greetings from people all around us. It was great to be back among all the wonderful folks from the Turtle Mountains. As I seated myself I heard a familiar voice; it was Floyd Dion and his beautiful wife Louella. I remembered Floyd from my high school days, and Louella was our neighbor to the south in my early years on the farm. My sister Borg was sitting across from me and I could hear she was being greeted by many of her old friends as well. Borg graduated in 1938 and had spent a few years working at some of the stores in Dunseith while attending high school, so she really got to know a great many folks. As for me, I was greeted by a good many whose parents knew our family and myself. Lester Halvorson, Louella’s brother, chatted with me about old times. Orvin Hagen was there too. He had attended Loon Lake #2 with Borg. After he visited with Borg, he came over and spent some time chatting with me. I was a classmate of his sister Thelma in high school. I remember her as a very beautiful girl. Others crowded around greeting me, and I must apologize for my ability not to remember everyone, but vision would have been a big help in that regard. I still felt the camaraderie and warm friendship from everyone that I spoke to.

After a terrific meal, we took turns recounting some of our more memorable experiences in the “olden” days, with horses, deep snow, and cold fingers and toes. Orvin Hagen lightened things up with his hilarious description of the experience he had with his run-away horses, culminating his story with a couple of colorful and melodic yodels. The Reunion continued until us old folks got a little tired. We bid a reluctant farewell to our cousins and to Larry and Gary. As we neared the exit, Linda Gardner was there to say goodbye with a hug and a handshake. It was a most memorable time for all of us. My single disappointment that evening was that not one of the students who shared the Loon Lake School #2 with me was there. And, from what I could gather, nearly all of them had passed away. I guess that is one of the inevitable disappointments of growing older.

The next morning as we were loading our luggage in the car, a car drove up and Vicki Metcalf got out and approached me with her arms full of stuff. She had brought me a Bottineau T-shirt, one of Henry Solomon’s CD’s, and several pictures taken at our luncheon meeting. She gave us each a hug and big smile as she bid us goodbye. A feeling of gratitude swept over me for the thoughtful gift and the way in which it was presented. Thank you Vicki!

Erling, Thank you so much for this wonderful report of your trip back to the area. We have been anxiously waiting for this report from you of which we knew you would provide. You explain things so well and so interesting. You are a great writer and a wonderful person. We most certainly enjoy everything you contribute. It was so nice that you and Borghild and your children made it back to the area. Please keep us posted with Borghilds’s health issues too. You and Borghild look so nice in these pictures too. Gary

Richard and Jerrine, I found this on the Web for those of us that are interested in purchasing one of these books. Thank you so much for sharing. I will for sure pursue ordering a copy. Other than for letters, I am allowed to receive books, Magazines and CD’s at my FPO mail address.

 

The book is hardcover, large print and contains 50 photos and 11 maps. Books will be available at select bookstores and from The 164th Infantry Association, P.O. Box 1111, Bismarck, ND 58502. Interested persons can e-mail Editor164InfantryNews@hotmail.com. Information about the 164th Infantry Regiment is available on the history tab of the North Dakota National Guard Web site (www.ndguard.com).

 

Folks, Many of you know where Richard and Jerrine fit into the picture, but for those that don’t, I want to clear things up. Jerrine is a sister to Leona (Lee) Richard Hosmer & Verdellis Richard Larson (deceased). Jerrine and Verdellis married brothers, Richard and Norman Larson. Jerrine is an aunt to the Hosmer (Janet, Nancy & Colette) and Larson (Diane & Cheryl) girls. Richard and Jerrine’s children are double cousins to Diane & Cheryl. Gary

 

Follow up message to the above posting from Vickie.

Gary,

Every time I hear a story in relation to Dunseith’s history I am intrigued. I do so enjoy “oral history” told by everyday people who have roots in our common past. I listen and hear another perhaps different perspective.

I was so blessed in moving to my neighborhood,because across the street reside two neighborhood treasures; Wes and Ovidia.

A year ago I told Wes, “When winter comes I’d like to come over and write your stories.” He was surprised.

Well, I never got around to doing so formally. Sometimes the best stories are “spur of the moment”. They happen when I am just having a nice visit over a cuppa and a recalled story springs forth.

This morning I awoke and thought.Hmm. I better go visit Wes and Ovidia with a print out of the stories Wes has told me. And tell him what I’ve been up to with sharing his stories on the Dunseith blog.

I printed out 3 Wes stories. The “boys” and I with papers in hand walked across to see my neighbors who were embarking on falls work in their yard….ie trimming rose bushes close to where the fuel man puts the winter’s supply of fuel oil.

I say to Wes “I have a confession to make, I wrote your story last night and sent it to the Dunseith blog”. Wes was not affronted. “Whew” I didn’t believe he would be, needed to be certain once again if it is ok to share his stories. They liked the idea that I wrote Wes stories. I told Wes since he is a former boxer I wouldn’t want him to feel he was “sucker punched”, if someone made a comment to him about one of his stories. I told him I think people who read the Dunseith blog like me are nostalgic and like to hear about the past.

Patiently waiting, Buie and Thor got their treat from Ovidia.

As I left I said to Wes and Ovidia. “Thank You, I think so much of the two of you. I love you both and as neighbors, I couldn’t wish for better” I like your stories I need to write them down,share while they are fresh from what you have told me, and remembered.

Later Vickie

Vickie, Wesley Schneider is a Dunseith boy and we love hearing his stories. Many of his relatives including his daughter Diane are on our daily distribution. Many of us have known Wesley for many years too. He worked at the Bottineau Cooperative Creamery for over 50 years. I remember Wesley so well from his days working at the creamery and also at the many Ackworth & Hiatt reunions. He is a special guy, loved and liked by all. Gary

Kenny, these are great! Where were these taken? The one of the barn and water I think was taken along Highway 43 between Kelvin and St. John? Is that stone building in the Peace Garden? Gary