Monthly Archives: February 2011

02/28/2011

Posted on by
Email address change
For Betty Hackman Schmidt (68):) Mesa, AZ
 

First I’d like to thank you, Gary, for all you do.
I really enjoy reading all the news from everyone from good ole’ North Dakota.
It will always be HOME.
I have a new e-mail address-so please up-date, I do not want to miss any newletters.
Thanks,
Betty Hackman-Schmidt Class of 1968
 
My new email address is Bettyschmidt@

 

 

 

Anthony Family Memories

From Floyd Dion (45): Dunseith, ND

 

Gary

Vickie Metcalfe talks about the Anthonys and her dad as he was always teasing someone.

I remember in the 1930s when my brother and I went to the Oaks school, it was south of the Seim farm, it must have been in October or November as there was snow deep snow on the ground, We lived on the place where Ed Walter lives now . We were walking home from school and as we left the road to cut across the pasture, we were about 1/4 mile from the road and we could hear this hollering, we stopped and he kept on , finally he he got down from the hayrack full of hay and started to run after us, talk about a couple of scared kids, we never stopped running until we got home.A few years later Clifford asked us if we knew who chased us, so we finally knew who it was and he had a good laugh.

And the Anthonys , In 1944, I went to Seattle and worked in the shipyards and I stayed with my uncle Alphie Dion , Jim Anthony, and Louis Bergan. Jim & Louis worked the graveyard shift and Alphie and I worked the day shift, so we kept the only be warm.

Ward I knew very well.

Floyd

 

 

Anthony family Story – Part Six
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

 

The Anthony’s #6
” Fond Farewell”

Years, like gentle snow flakes passing, fall quietly, one by one. Sometimes, with the thawing of the winter snows, memories seem to melt together, pass us by running and move toward the rapids into the vast expansive grey sea of the human mind. In sharing with Wayne and Rosemary, Smith,I found that happened, with recollecting the year Jim Anthony’s community friends bade him farewell.


It seemed, dad made special efforts, especially in winter months to check on the Anthony’s. The routine came to be; Every Sunday after morning milking. Dad pitched the hay to the livestock. He’d pitch another hayrack of full hay for the next day. Then, he’d head south with the team to the Anthony’s, while mom sewed on her pedal sewing machine and we girls, read and passed another quiet afternoon.

One cold winter Sunday, Dad came home from his visit to the Anthony’s, earlier than usual. He put the team in the barn. He came in the house quite serious murmuring to mom. Dad was worried about his old friend after this Sunday trek. He’d, somehow contacted and convinced a doctor from Rolette to drive his motor vehicle up to our farm.

When the doctor. arrived, Dad had the harnessed Prince and Corky, the grey/white team to the hayrack. My father and the doctor were both well bundled for the subzero temperatures. Watching from my frosty peephole in the window pane, I watched as they left the yard in a hayrack filled with hay. White breaths of vapor steamed from mouths of human and beast alike.

I don’t recall county maintenance ever opening the Anthony road. I knew they were going on the magical Anthony Road, over the winter trail. Miles south, past the Smith farm, through sloughs, meadows, around hills, lakes, and a coulee, the miles for the doctor to give medical attention to Mr. Anthony.

They arrived back to our farm late as the dusk descended and darkness hovered near. Horses were unharnessed, put away, the doctor left and Dad went to milk the cows.

On Dr.Cook’s advice, the next day, the township snow plow (I wonder if it wasn’t George Gregory?) cleaned a road to the Anthony farm with Dad following behind.

Then, in an old red jeep. Dad left well bundled, to take his old friend on a ride from the Anthony farm to Rolette hospital in a bed made by our mother in the back of the red jeep.


ANTHONY, RAE CORBIN aka “JIM” 07/21/1888 – 11/03/1959

Metcalfe Family Tales, Vickie Metcalfe, Winter 2011

 

 

 

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

 

Gary and Friends,

Vickie’s story of her dad teasing her about sending her home with Ward Anthony, really sends home how young kids are affected by that type of teasing. When I was about 6 or 7 years old, a bunch of us neighborhood kids were playing in our yard. It was rough housing amongst boys as boys do and Natalie Kalk walked across the street and wanted to join in with the wrestling and other stuff we were doing. I told her she wouldn’t like it and may even get hurt but she insisted and tried to wrestle with me. I was getting pretty good from wrestling with bigger kids like Don Egbert and Marvin Kalk. Natalie tried to jump in the play and I just did an easy flip and she hit the ground. She got up crying and headed home. That’s when Don Egbert said, “Oh, Oh. Your in trouble now. When her dad gets home, he will come over here and you will probably have to go to jail.” I said, “They wouldn’t put me in jail for that, would they?” Don said, “Oh yes they will. You will have to go to jail.” That evening I was scared to death that I was going to go to jail for sure. That evening I looked out my bedroom window and here came Dan Kalk walking toward our house! My heart started to pound and I couldn’t breath. He knocked on the door and I nearly passed out! The one and only reason he had come over was to give my mom something for the bank but I thought it might be a death sentence for me. He walked home and I went to take the heat. I asked her what he said? She said it was just some business for the bank. I nearly collapsed! A lot of times older people have no idea what teasing like that can do to a young mind and don’t understand the lasting impact. The reason I can remember it so well is because of how traumatic this simple teasing was. Thanks Gary!

Dick

  

02/27/2011

Posted on by
Skating Story
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

Vickie’s story of skating in the old days reminded me of my first experience on ice skates. My folks found a very small set of skates for me and one Sunday at the farm Dad shoveled off a small area on Horseshoe Lake in front of my grandparents house. I was about 4 or 5 at the most and had no idea how to skate. They put the skates on and said for me to try skating. I remember I only made a couple steps and did a back flip. The first thing that hit the ice was the back of my head and I hit it so hard that in just a short while I got sick. Not a real good first experience.

I remember later I would watch closely in the fall for the lake to get frozen over with about 3-4 inches of clear ice. Then it was time to put on the skates an go for a trip around the edge of the lake. People used to say they wouldn’t go on the ice until later when it was thicker. Dad used to say that 6 inches of GOOD ice would carry the Caterpillar. I never tried that!

We had several Luther League skating parties and also school skating parties at the indoor rink in Bottineau– the Lumberdome. It was there during a blizzard in the winter of ’68, that a bunch of us college guys called to see if they were open for skating. The girl said it was open but nobody was there. Darrell Abrahamson and I had rooms in a house off campus so he and I and several friends walked over to the rink for some fun. Of course the first thing we did was start the old ‘crack the whip’ and the girl came on the loud speaker saying she knew we were the only ones there, but it was still against the rules. Then we decided we would play a game of ‘tag’. We really had a wild deal going until Darrell got tagged and was ‘it’. He couldn’t catch anyone and was stuck as ‘it’ for quite a while. He took after Monte Sande, our good friend from St. John, and was bound and determined to tag him. They went the entire length of the rink with Darrell just a few feet behind Monte. There were no hockey boards in the rink back then, just a plank wall with steel mesh covering the windows to the front area. As Monte and Darrell approached the wall, they were flying. Monte was a good skater and wore figure skates. Darrell had on a set of long blade hockey skates. When Monte got too close to the wall, he simply turned left and Darrell missed the cue and hit the wall wide open! I remember how the old Lumberdome echoed the boom when he hit. He fell back on the ice and we all ripped down the ice to see how bad he was hurt. He got up and kind of grinned but was hurting bad and had squares from the mesh stamped into his chin. We decided we had enough skating and went home. A few days later, Darrell said, “I guess I did hit the wall pretty hard.” He was black and blue on both knees and up and down his legs! It hurt to look at it. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 

Anthony family Story – Part Five
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 

Anthony Family Story #5

“ Ward and the Mouse Girl”


As a small child, I was shy of most people, as result of my dad’s incessant “Metcalfe” teasing. Which one day, intensified when Dad said, “Next time Ward comes you can go home with him and live with the Anthony’s, Annie would like a girl to help her.”


About a month later, Skip, the black and white border collie began his barking. Peeking out the window, I see Ward coming down the hill into our yard. Panic swept over me. “Oh. NO, today is the day!”


Backing away from the window with stomach clenched, I skedaddled! Albeit quietly. And hastily, barefooted, I ran to the living room closet which had many floor to ceiling shelves. (In those days our closets didn’t have doors. They had heavy homemade curtains). I crawled in and laid on my belly under the bottom shelf. I held my breath. I was ever, so quiet.

 

With a knock at the back door, dad’s greeting, “Come on in!” First, the smell enters then the boots. Boots the kind with laces that at the top had these metal things the brown laces would be wrapped around and Ward enters. I laid on that closet floor and tried not to breathe lest Ward heard me. I could see those boots, from my mouse eye view under the curtain.


He sat down in mom’s rocking chair right in front of me. “Oh, No!” I was cornered!

Then, the fearful “What if”. Fear, “What if he’d hear the thumping of my heart as he sat rocking his chair?”(hold the breath) His feet were level with my eyes. One foot crossed over the other. And he rocked one foot and tapped the other while he told his tales and my dad laughed.


Ward wore rolled up legs at least one fold, on his blue denim pants that were shiney and grimey. I knew this because whenever he rolled a cigarette, lit the match with his thumb the acrid smell mingled with the smell of Ward, who smelled bad, cause he didn’t bathe too often and his smell mingled with the smell of his rolled King Albert tobacco cigarettes. “thump, thumpity, THUMP.” My heart continued to accompany, the tick, tock, tick, of the cuckoo clock, throughout the long afternoon . The rocking chair creaked back and forth, back and forth. His feet tapped and his hand would go down and flick ashes into his rolled up pants leg, And me, “the mouse girl” found her nose twitching.


Feet would come down, he head for the water bucket, over the wood box. He started to clear his throat, Mom said,” Ward don’t spit in my wood box and he giggled”. My nose twitches again with his one hand flicking of the match, I crossed my eyes, and held my breath. My stomach clenches. My chest hurts.


Mom’s cuckoo clock struck another hour then another, and finally lunch time._Oh, no! thud, thud,THUD! My hearts a-beating! I’m thinking, “Dad’s gonna be calling me to send me home with him!” The long afternoon finally passes with darkness settling upon the house.


Ward finally moved away from the rocking chair. The outside door opens and the cool fresh air whooshes under the curtain. When the door shuts, I tentatively poked my head out of my hidey hole and breathe the long deep breath of relief . “I am still home!”


The clock ticks. I hear Mom putting dishes in the dishpan and the sizzle of heating water of the tea kettle on the wood stove. Dad pulling on his three buckle over shoes saying to mom “Where’s Vickie, I haven’t seen her all afternoon?” The milk buckets clanging. The door slams. All is quiet. “CUCKOO, CUCKOO, CUCKOO, CUCKOO, CUCKOO “


Taking a deep breath, I unclench my teeth, stomach and chest, breathe, crawl out of my nest, pull on my boots and run for the out house and I am relieved.

Family Tales, Vickie Metcalfe, Winter 2011
 
 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cebu EXPAT dinner.
This is one of many pictures these gals took. They love pictures and we three guys were their target for this shot.
 
 
 
 
  

02/26/2011

Posted on by
Weather report
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau

Gary,

I thought perhaps you might enjoy this.

Tonight it is supposed to bet -22. That’s too cold for me for the end of February. I suppose we don’t want the warm weather to come to fast and have flooding due to all the snow. But the good news, the days are longer, no more going to and from school in the dark! Vickie

Vickie, I won’t tell what the temps are here, but I’m sitting in my office with the fan running to keep cool and Bernadette is still sleeping with the A/C on full bore. As close to the Equator as we are, we normally have 12 hour day light days year around. Gary
 
 
 
Trying to Locate Ardell Willard Grimm
Posting on our Website
I have already replied to Dick Tuttle with his request, but I know a lot of you folks knew the Omemee people and will be interested. Please reply with any comments any of you may have.
 
Ardell Willard Grimm is Neola’s class mate of the BHS class of 57. I forwarded Dick’s request to Neola. I know she will make the contacts and get these folks connected.
 
Gary

 

From: Dick Tuttle
Phone: 720-425-44132
E-mail: Message:
I have seen Ardell Willard Grimm’s name mentioned various times. I strongly believe I know this Lady from my childhood in th 50’s in Omemee, ND. I believe her Father’s name was Ray Willard, but I’m not sure. I do remember he was the custodian at the Omemee school that I attended. I would absolutely love to contact Ardell if there is any way possible. Wow – that was nearly 60 years ago.

 
Dick Tuttle’s quick reply.

Thanks so muchGary. I really appreciate it. I lived in Omemee ’53, ‘4 & part of ’55. I actually liked growing up there. It was already becoming a very small town. But I had friends there and it was just downright peaceful and quiet. I have since lived in large cities and would take Omemee over any of them. I haven’t been back to Omemee for many years but intend to go back this next July. In 1955 we moved to the “BigCity”, Bottineau (Ha) where I went through High School and eventually was drafted into the Army. I cannot for the life of me remember my Omemee school teachers name, but he was so good, a heck of an educator. He lived in Dunseith but drove daily to Omemee. I most certainly remember the soda pop factory and Mr. Rasmussen. He made the best pop in the world. I no longer have any relatives in the area by the name of Tuttle, but my sister Jean Hall still lives in Bottineau. Her husband is Roger Hall, the former Sheriff. My father was Lawrence Tuttle, but he passed away in ’71. I am going to attempt contacting Ardell just for old time’s sake. I so remember her Dad Roy Willard. He was quite the Gentleman. Again, thanksGary. It’s always fun to reminisce. Especially about Omemee. I am retired now, and live inDenver, CO. Take care,

 

 

Dick (Richard) Tuttle

 

 

 
 
 
A big Thank you for posting and identifying the Kelvin baseball team
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND.
 

Gary, Nettie, Jackie, Dick and Margaret,

 

“Boys of Summer”

Many many thank you’s to the Petersons; Nettie and Jackie (Hansen),

Margaret Seim Lawston, and Dick Johnson on sharing those old photos and all the combined knowledge which came together via internet not the old ringer telephone, in identifying those handsome young men of long ago, those, “BOYS OF SUMMER”.


Years ago, many of those names were familiar, as dad and neighbors would refer to places and those names, when discussing about the where where homesites were located on the road where I grew up. The only ones I remember meeting in person in my lifetime were Mr. Peterson and Mr Anthony.


I do remember Art Seim sharing about many of those names, on our road trips through the hills, during the times he came back from California, to live the summer at Dunseith Nursing home.


We’d drive north on highway #3 of Dunseith and take the road east through Holmes township, send the vehicle straight by the Carlson farm, and over the hill to the Seim farm, around the curve and more hills the Lude Peterson farm, our farm, then the Smith farm where one would drive by from the north, to the Anthony place, the Johnson farm, all the way by the lakes to the Jack Peterson farm.


Art pointed out every one of those old farmsteads, and who lived there. He included the DeMar’s, Volz, Byres. And named for every little lake!


For a moment in time, he shared about the baseball team when Art remembered when he was, one of “the boys of summer.”

Thanks again.

Vickie Metcalfe
 
 
 
 
Lorraine Miller from Dunseith Passed away
Posting from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 

I need to make a correction on what I wrote yesterday. The fellow who lived at Good Samaritan was NOT Marvin Biberdorf, but Walter Biberdorf.

 

Sorry about the error.

 

Neola

 

Lorraine Miller
(January 21, 1927 – February 23, 2011)

Sign Guest Book | Send Flowers

LORRAINE MILLER

Lorraine Miller, age 84 of Dunseith, died Wednesday in a Minot hospital. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Michael Catholic Church in Dunseith. Burial will be in the spring at the Sunrise view Cemetery of rural Dunseith. A wake will be held on Monday beginning at 4:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 8:00 P.M. in the Church.

  

02/25/2011

Posted on by
Dunseith Alumni Website Link http://garystokes.net/default.aspx
 
Folks for your info, to this very moment this month we have an average of 78.25 visitors per day visiting our Website. Last months average was about 50 folks per day. I post each days blog on our Website. Our daily email distribution is about 650. You folks with all you contributions have made this a success. We are now into year four doing this.
 
I plan on being around for another 35 plus years, but if I should kick the bucket anytime between now and then, Dick Johnson and Bill Grimme have access to all my files.
 
Gary
 
 
 
Kelvin Base Ball Team Pictures Identified by Netty Hiatt Peterson
Posted by Jackie Peterson Hansen (Nettie’s Daughter): St. John, ND
Nettie Peterson has Annie Anthony’s old scrapbook in which she found the picture of the Cubs baseball team. According to Mrs. Peder Carlson, who submitted the picture to the Dunseith Journal the players were front L to R: Jim Anthony, Jean DeMers, Burt Took, Vilt(no first name), George Voltz, John Voltz, Frank Knox. Back row L to R: George Brill, Joe Sipe, Herman Voltz, another Voltz and Lude Peterson.
Nettie asked me to get this message to you.
 
Back row L to R: George Brill, Joe Sipe, Herman Voltz, another Voltz and Lude Peterson.
Front L to R: Jim Anthony, Jean DeMers, Burt Took, Vilt(no first name), George Voltz, John Voltz, Frank Knox.
 

 
Replies to the Omemme Bowlers Picture Posted by Neola:
 
Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND

 
Hi Gary,
 
Except for the first man, all the men have been identified. I’m expecting the first man to be identified soon. You were right about one of the fellows being Larett Foster. Next is Melvin Boettcher, Marvin Harrison, and Marvin Biberdorf.
 
When I get all the names, I’ll add them to the picture/send it to you, again. If no one else wants the picture, Irma Foster Radliff (Larett’s sister) would like to have the picture for her niece. Marvin Biberdorf is Irma’s brother-in-law. He was married to Irma’s sister, Alwyn Foster. Time does go on. I’m quite sure it was Marvin who spent his last years walking up/down the halls of Good Samaritan, not really knowing what was going on. Sad.
 
I’m experiencing some of the symptoms I had with the new cancer pill, even though I’m back on the old one. Dr. Swenson said to quite taking either pill for two weeks and see how I feel. What I really dislike is my lack of interest in doing anything, even the computer. :( This too shall pass. :)
 
Neola
Neola, With the replies below, The first guy has been identified as Bob Meyer. The last guy was the one in question of whom you have identified as Marvin Biberdorf. Neola, we nailed another one. This is fun, keep them coming. Gary
 
 
Doreen Larson Moran’s message to Jim/Mary Meyers
From Doreen Larson Moran (Bottineau 61): Hazelton, ND & Usk, WA.

 

Jim and Mary – See the picture of the bowlers. If they are Omemmee you probably know them. I was wondering if the “Bob” is your father? Gary Stokes grew up in Dunseith then spent most of his working career in the Bremerton area of WA state. He now lives in Philippines but has been doing a great job with getting the Dunseith folks connected . If you can answer his questions re: the names he would appreciate that – as would the other readers of his column. Thanks. Doreen

Jim/Mary Meyers Reply

The first person is my dad Bob Meyer, second is larret Foster, Melvin Boettcher, Mickey Harrison, the last I know but can’t put a name with him.

Mary & Jim

 

 

 

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

 

Gary and Friends,

I would like to take a guess at the names of the bowlers. L-R Bob _____?, Larrette Foster, Mel Boettcher, Mickey Harrison, and Marvin Wolfe. This is a guess. I kind of remember Mickey Harrison from the lake in the ’50s and I think it’s him. He used to race boats with my dad. My grandparents bought a ’61 Ford car from him. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Dick, You got 3 out of 5. That’s great for taking a stab in the dark.
 

L to R: Bob Meyer, Larett Foster, Mel Boettcher, Mickey Harrison & Marvin Biberdorf
 
 
 
 
Anthony family Story – Part Four
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 

Anthony Story part 4

“6th sense”

There are experts who say our senses can trigger a memory. I know they are right, I use most all of my senses when recalling. Sometimes it’s comes with the sound of a musical melody that conjures up a person. Other times, it’s the soft brush of the gentle breeze on your face as it paints the rustles through poplar trees.


Oft times it’s a smell.

Through the course of my life, and day to day events, I recall from the depths of feeling, times long past. A childlike deep clarity, overwhelming fondness, the sensing of warmth and loyalty my dad had of his friends of childhood and youth.


Once there were three Anthony’s, Jim, Annie and Ward.

In recalling early days of my toddler hood and visits in the summertime to the Anthony home. We’d drive east to the Smith mailbox then south with the windows down and wide open. Off the gravel ridge the car went further south on a dirt track, no ditches, just a dusty trail. The smell of clover, meadows and slough hay. The bright sunny warmth of the air blowing through the windows and rustling through the trees. Dad would stop frequently and open the various gates, get in , off we’d go with the clutch smoothly out, bumpity, bump over the waft of an occasional cow pie.


It seemed part of the road went through a lake, as I stood on my tippy toes, hanging on to the seat behind dad, I worried; perhaps he did not see the water up ahead, he was busy visiting with our mother. Fearful. But my dad seemed confident and sure as he drove through on that magical trail, the waters lapping at our car.

Finally we’d be there. We girls, Nancy and I quietly listened and ate a cookie, while Dad and Mom visited sipped a cup of coffee with Mr. and Mrs. Anthony, and their boy, who was called “Wardy Allen”by his mother . We children, were instructed to call them Mr. and Mrs. Anthony and Ward. I believed their ages were timeless. We all know in the mind of a child, “child’s time” moves very slow.


Mr. Anthony must be very old, as he had white hair and I somehow knew he was a long ago neighbor of my Metcalfe grandparents. I wasn’t so sure of Mrs. Anthony, although her hair of deep brown was fashioned braided tightly around her face and her skin, was flawless.

 

Then, there was Ward, who would be called “different looking”. But we shan’t stare. He had this big, big bump protruding on the back of his neck, and longish black hair. He rolled his pant legs up, the rolled cigarettes he smoked he flicked ashes into the cuffs. And, he had a goofy he-hee giggle.


And? And they all had their own smell. The Anthony smell.

 

Later,in my uppity, brash childish youth I questioned my father Why? he liked those “stinky people”. He quietly responded with “A person never forgets how people treat you as a child.” He said, “Annie Anthony always treated me well.” Then said, “When I was a ragged, fatherless, boy, riding horse through the hills and woods, looking for a strayed cattle, many times I’d ride by the Anthony farmstead, Annie Anthony would call out my name, bring out a glass of cold milk and a warm cookie”.

 

A father’s lesson: The power of non -judgmental acceptance of those who are different. And, the mighty strength of something so simple, as kindness to a child.


ANTHONY,RAE C 07/21/1888 North Dakota 11/03/1959 71 Years
Anna A Anthony: B. 01/31/1888 D. 10/27/1972 Age 84

Ward Alleln Anthony: B. 10/23/1913 D. 04/16/81 Age 67


Family Tales, Vickie Metcalfe Winter 2011
 
 

 

 

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
  

02/24/2011

Posted on by
Happy Birthday Alan Poitra (76): Bloomington, MN
From Sharon Longie Dana (73): MIssoula MT
 

Happy Birthday Alan Poitra……hope you had a great day dear friend !! Many hugs to you !!

 

Sharon Longie Dana(73)
 
 
 
 
 
Message posted on our Website
Former Student locating Gary Fulsebakke (71)

From: Tina Cowling
E-mail: Message:
Hello. My name is Tina Cowling (maiden name- Herbert) and I am trying to get in contact with Gary Fulsebakke. He was my very first voice teacher in Roanoke, VA. I started with him when I was 6. I took lessons from him at a church- I think a Methodist church. We sang Pie Jesu together and he put me in a Christmas play on a night we hosted Miss Virginia.

I’m now 25, pursuing a career in opera, and really want to contact him. He was the first operatic voice I’d ever heard and it was a significant moment in my life. I even remember what song he was singing.

I googled his name and it brought me to this site. I also saw a picture and am sure it’s him. Would someone please be so kind as to pass my name – Tina Herbert- along to him??

Tina Herbert
tinacowling@gmail.com

Thank you!

 
 

 

Reply from Dan & Eunice Larson Lovass Niece

Doreen Larson Moran (Bottineau 61): Hazelton, ND & Usk, WA.
 

If it matters too much, Bob and I have our Dakota Retreat in Hazelton but our home is near Usk WA – the mountains of NE Washington about 60 mils south of the Canadian Border.


 
 
 
Anthony family Story – Part Three
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 

“Me Too?”

Anthony family story, part 3

Once upon the time of long ago, on Rabbit City Lake, Rose Metcalfe kept strict rules about water safety. For not just for her own, but, all the neighbor children, “No swimming until June 15!”


One fine spring day, when she was not in clear view, the ever-gathering community of barefooted children decided it was a hot day. They began to put their toes in the lake,___ just to cool off. Then, it went further. And further. And, so ended up, ________ahem,_____sh..“skinny dipping.”


The large woman with hands on her big hips surprised the children out of their revelry, raised her voice, sternly,” Out you all, come out at once!” In the midst of much frolic, and water play, Rose Metcalfe had arrived on the bank, over looking the inlet. Startled children made their way to shore, splish, splashed, and splashing, splash, SPLASH! And, climbed unabashed, out of the lake.


1 little, _ 2 little, _ 3 little, Metcalfe’s and others, numbers progressing upward, others including at the very end of the line, Ward Anthony.


Sternly, the mother of the Metcalfe’s said to them, “You all broke broke the rule, now line up,” as she’d reached for a young supple willow, snapped off a branch and had a switch in hand.

The laughing children promptly and soberly, all lined up.

In disbelief, Ward said solemnly lowering his voice,”Me too, Mrs. Metcalfe? ” She replied. “Yes, “You too Ward!” The children queued in line, each took their consequence. One by one, each got a “quick, brisk, switchin” across their wet bare legs, including the last in the line, Little Wardy.


Whenever Ward recounted the story, he’d stand up straight and proud, and then solemnly say, ” Mrs. Metcalfe treated me like her own.” She gave me my one and only spanking.” Later, after Ward had walked out the door, my dad, Cliff, would laughingly comment, “I don’t think Annie was too pleased about her little Wardy getting a spanking, but she never spoke of her displeasure to my mother.”

 

And so, that was the way it was, in the days when it was the accepted practice, long, long ago on Rabbit City lake, “when an entire Community i.e. Village came together and raised the child.”

Family Tales from Dad, (3) retold by Vickie Metcalfe Winter,2011
 

 
Picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 

Hi Gary,

 

This is another Wondrasek picture. The name on the envelope is Melvin Boettcher. I sent the picture to Bonnie Boettcher Zeltinger, and asked her if she was Melvin’s daughter, and if she could identify the bowlers. Turns out she isn’t Melvin’s daughter, barely remembers him, but she thinks one of the bowlers might be Angus Campbell. When I read that, I knew you were the person I needed to send this picture to, as you know Angus well. :)

 

Neola

Neola, Angus Campbell I don’t think is one of these guys. Enlarging this photo the names are
Bob, Larette, Mel, Mich and Marv.
I think Larette may be Larette Foster. He was married to Eileen Cote, sister to Theresa (Lloyd) Cote Awalt. I think these guys may be Omemme folks? I am thinking the Dunseith folks may be able to help us out with this photo. Gary

 
 
 
 
TB and the Book Westhope
Findings from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
http://www.upress.umn.edu/Books/H/hulse_westhope.html (states you can hear Dean Hulse read the first chapter of the book).
 

Back again.

 

When I went to Amazon’s site and typed in Huse, author of Westhope, his came up. I see it also says “tower”. http://www.tower.com/westhope-life-as-former-farm-boy-dean-hulse-hardcover/wapi/113118841

 

Neola

 

Page 8

Dakota Resource Council

P.O. Box 1095

113 W. First Street

Dickinson, ND 58602-1095

Non Profit

U.S. Postage Paid

Dickinson, ND 58601

Permit #43

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

FORMER DRC CHAIR PERSEVERES—AND PUBLISHES

by Dean Hulse

 

Be willing to persevere. I’ve been heeding that advice

for years—not only as a DRC member working to weaken

the grip that coal interests and agribusinesses have on policy

makers—but also as a writer.

In April, the University of Minnesota Press will be releasing

Westhope: Life as a Former Farm Boy, a collection

of highly personal essays about growing up on a family

farm and small-town life. Writing these essays has helped

broaden my understanding of redemption, as it applies to

personal relationships and the human connection with nature.

My book will be available at many North Dakota bookstores,

as well as on line through Barnes & Noble,

Amazon.com and the University of Minnesota Press (http://

www.upress.umn.edu/Books/H/hulse_westhope.html).

I’ll be giving an interview on Monday, April 13, at 3

p.m. CDT on “Hear It Now,” a North Dakota Public Radio

program. Here are some other events, which may be subject

to change:

• Thursday, April 16, a reading at Zandbroz in downtown

Fargo, 6:30 p.m.

• Saturday, April 18, a book signing at Barnes &

Noble in Bismarck, 1-3 p.m.

• Saturday, April 25, an author’s talk, reading and

book signing at Barnes & Noble in Fargo, 1-3 p.m.

• Wednesday, April 29, an author’s talk, reading and

book signing at the grand opening of the Fargo Public Library

in downtown Fargo, 7 p.m.

• Saturday, May 9, a book signing at Great Stories in

Jamestown (in same building as Babb’s coffee shop), noon-

4 p.m.

• Saturday, May 16, a book signing at B. Dalton

Bookseller in Fargo (West Acres Shopping Center), noon –

4 p.m.

There’ll be other goings-on, too—in Minot and possibly

in Valley City, Grand Forks and Dickinson. Call me at

701-232-7997 or contact me via e-mail (hulse@i29.net),

and I’ll provide updates.

(Dean Hulse, Fargo, was DRC Chair in 2004 and

2005 and currently represents DRC on the Western Organization

of Resource Councils Board of Directors.)

 
 
All rights reserved

02/23/2011

Posted on by
Folks,
 
I have been kind of busy the past week or so, so I have not given the daily blog as much attention as I’d like. Things will slow down a bit shortly though. Today is our bowling day too.
 
Gary
 
 
 
Dan & Eunice Larson Lovaas
Message from Eunice’s neice Doreen Larson Moran (Bottineau 61): Hazelton, ND
 
When we had family reunion a few years back I took Danny Lovaas for a ride
in my 2000 Inferno Red Chrysler convertible – limited edition . I bought
it Aug 2000 since on Aug 25, 2000 I celebrated 25 years with the government.
And since we enjoy traveling it was most appropriate. Since Dan’s father
had been pastor at the Lutheran Church we tried to find where the parsonage
was and the old church. As we drove through the streets of Dunseith he
just said, “Wow, would I have loved to have had this experience when I was
in high school.” He and I also drove around the Peace Garden area. He
had done a lot of the buildings there after he got back from his army stint
1946 to 1948. He did a lot of the stone work on the shelters on the level
that overlooks the pools and flowers and walkway to the twin towers etc.
Folks, Doreen’s parents were Ledolph and Edna Larson. They lived on the Lake Road several miles south of Lake Metigoshe. I remember the Larson Family well from my growing up days. They, like us, were very active Metigoshe Lutheran church members. Doreen and I recently connected with facebook. I told here I had located her Aunt Eunice when she and Dan were being discussed a while back with our daily messages. Gary
 
 
 
Reply to Carmen Richard’s posting yesterday:
From Glen Williams (52): Missoula, MT
 

To Carmen Richard….Will get a copy of the Westhope book and read the chapter “Haunted” on San Haven…….and give you my thoughts…Thanks for letting me know that such a book exists….I have been there and done that so to speak….

 

Glen Williams…

 

 

 

TB and San Haven before the discovery of Drugs:

Reply from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC

 

Dear Gary,

Even though I haven’t read the book Westhope, I can understand the San Haven chapter titled “Haunted”. Prior to the drugs discovered during WWII, TB was pretty much a death sentence. Since there was no real cure, all sorts of regimes were prescribed including complete bed rest, laying nude in the sun, sleeping outside in midwinter, removing lungs and parts of lungs and giving daily sputum tests.

During their hospital stay, Herc Nicholas and Benny Frovarp shared the cottage (that later became my family home) because there were no beds available in the hospital. Both recovered to become important parts of my childhood at the San. And both told stories of how they would get their dog to do their sputum test and no one knew the difference! My Dad’s cousin Veona Schocker was hospitalized from age 13 until her late 20s – when the meds became available. And the top floors of the hospital offered a beautiful view of a cemetery.

One of my new friends in Greenville, SC is from MN and her grandfather died in the MN TB Sanatorium. A few months ago, she emailed me copies of his letters from the hospital – they were so sad. He missed his family so much. One of the highlights of his letters was receiving socks in the mail – his family didn’t have enough money for travel to the hospital to visit him.

When Mom and I found our admittance date in the handwritten books kept by someone in the hospital clerical area, we were saddened to see that all entries were handwritten except DECEASED which was a rubber stamp – obviously there were so many.

TB was as frightening before meds as AIDS was in the early 80s. My bible school teacher was engaged before she became a patient. Her fiance soon found someone else – she never married. So many sad stories.
Brenda Hoffman Class of 1968

 
Anthony family Story – Part Two
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 

Anthony family story, part 2
“Whirly Jigging with Ward”

The children of Rabbit City Lake community enjoyed their times of childhood play on the lake. All the children participated at various times in their youth, and Ward was frequently in the middle, “giggling” among the lot of them. As a result, all maintained and continued their friendships well into becoming elders.


In the winter, ice-skating and a good game of shinty couldn’t be beat. One winter, Aunt Liza, who was a maternal aunt of the Metcalfe children sent many, many pairs of huge size XXXL which were well over-sized, roughly cured and cut rawhide shoes. The enterprising children found a use for the unusable, they discovered those contraptions made of leather when wet could be shaped into a shoe-skate. When frozen, the pointy curled up toes were perfect on the ice for whirly-jigging.

This was another made-up special of their games, given the name, “Whirly-Jigging” by their friend, Ward. In late fall, the stronger, bigger swimmers of the lake community, placed a long pole, planted end on end (vertical) in the muddy bottom of the lake. And come the frozen winter ice, another long narrow poplar was attached horizontal to the top of the pole which gave the top a swiveling movement.

The children of Rabbit City community would gather on the lake at the Whirly-Jig pole. First, the bigger children would line up and lean against the horizontal slowly pushing the top pole around, Around and AROUND, gather speed, faster and faster, f-a-s-t-e-r- Whee! Sailing like a merry go round!

Then, all hands hanging on, they played crack the whip daring each other to be the one brave enough to be the at the end. Most times, it was Ward at the tail end, whooping with his very own, unique high-pitched __hee-hee-hee___H-_E-_E- WHEE! Whirly- Jig! _____hee-____hee____ hee!

Family Tales from my dad (2) Vickie Metcalfe, Winter 2011
 
  

02/23/2011

Posted on by
From Carmen Richard: Rolette, ND
 
Have any of you read the autobiography of Dean Hulse intitled “Westhope” ? He tells what it is like growing up in small town North Dakota. He devotes one chapter in the book to San Haven as he had relatives who were patients there. I am not sure if we should be offended or not. I would like someone else’s interpertation of it. The chapter is called “Haunted”.I am sure that the book is available through the ND State Library and possibly at the Bottineau library. I am not sure if it is available at Barnes and Noble. It is published by University of Minnesota Press. email address is www.upress.edu . I know that conditions were pretty tough before there was a cure for TB. Many of you had a much closer connection to San Haven than I did. Please let me know what you think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margaret Seim Lawston (54) picture: Citrus Heights, CA

 

Posted by Dick Johnson (66):Dunseith, ND

 

 

 

Gary and Friends, Margaret Seim Lawston sent me some pictures some time ago and this is one of them. It is the Turtle Mountain Cubs baseball team of the late ’20s-’30s. Her dad, Art Seim, is second from the left in the front. There are no names on the picture except for Art. There was a baseball diamond behind Kelvin where there were many games played in the early days. Somewhere I have a program from a Fourth of July celebration at Kelvin. It was a big deal for the community including speeches from dignitaries, band concert, and of course ball games. I would have liked to have had the program as I’m writing this but it’s somewhere in my ‘archives’ and may take some time to find. Thanks Gary! 

Dick

 


 
 
 
 
Posted by Ellen Graff Myrick (58): Grand Forks, ND

It is winter in North Dakota
And the gentle breezes blow,
70 miles per hour at 52 below!
Oh, how I love North Dakota
When the snow’s up to your butt;
You take a breath of winter air
And your nose is frozen shut.
Yes, the weather here is wonderful,
You may think that I’m a fool.
I could never leave North DakotaCause I’m frozen to the stool.

  

02/21/2011

Posted on by
Lloyd Awalt’s Grandson, Nathan Jensen Engaged:
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 

Hi Gary,

 

I think Dan is Lloyd Awalt’s grandson. I think Dianna is Lloyd’s daughter. I say “I think”, as I’m not too sure of anything these days! LOL!!

 

It appears you/Bernadette are having wonderful parties/reunions/etc. these days–fantastic!!

 

Neola

Reply from Lloyd Awalt
 
Hi Gary, yes Nathan Jensen is my grand son his mother is married to Danny Bullinger. Lloyd

 

 
 
 
Folks,
 
I’ve got some extra room today, so thought I’d throw this picture in. You have heard me mention Tata and Aldren a few times. They have been with us and our helpers since 2002 a year before we arrived. They are husband and wife with three children, a girl 12, a boy 10 and a boy 6 months. Aldren is a brother to Bernadette’s sisters husband Eddie. Tata’s sister, Gaga, also works for us. Tata and Gaga take care of the inside of the house and Aldren everything outside. They do have lots of free time, but are on call 24/7. Can you believe we installed a door bell in Tata and Aldren’s apartment with a remote button in our house that Bernadette pushes when she wants their services. First thing in the morning when she wakes up, normally long after I’m up, she will ring their door bell. Tata and Gaga are always there in a heartbeat. The have taken wonderful care of us with our needs and wants over the years. We in turn treat them well for doing so. Tata and Gaga’s mother is living here with them too, so she takes care of the baby.
 
Gary
 
 
 
TaTa & Aldren in their apartment
 
 
  

02/20/2011

Posted on by
Folks,
 
I am kind of cramped for time today, so today’s blog is rather short. Bernadette’s sister, Alot, arrived last night from Japan. It was a surprise. We did not know she was coming. She will be here for 10 days. This evening is our Friends 40th Wedding Anniversary too.
 
Gary
 
 
 
Anthony family Story – Part one
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 
 

The Miracle Baby of Rabbit City Lake

Ward Allen Anthony:B. 10/23/1913D. 04/16/81Age 67

 

Family legend told it, a doctor was called when Ward Anthony was born. The doctor attended to the mother and Ward was delivered after a difficult birth.

 

Our own Grandmother, Rose Metcalfe stated to her children, Ward was so very frail, and puny.One could almost see his innards, she’d said, He reminded her of“a little sparrow bird,” all mouth and dark hair, chest rising and falling with each breath and little beating heart.The doctor counseled the Anthony’s, Annie and her husband, R.C. aka “Jim”;Little Ward would not live through the night.

 

Ward was swaddled in cotton batting and put into a cigar box.

The cigar box was placed in the kitchen stove, on the top warming oven.And for a long lengthy time in the months following, the kitchen stove continued to be well tended.

 

Grandma Rose Metcalfe wet nursed Ward when Annie couldn’t.She said, “He was like nursing a tiny, tiny monkey.”I think, in comparison, Ward was a polar opposite of her own big Metcalfe babies.She would often nurse Ward on one side and one of her own babes on the other.

 

 

Ward grew up in the little Rabbit City Lake community with mostly all of the Metcalfe’s, Charlie, Lucky, Jim, and Archie.Then, he grew up with their younger siblings, Emil, Leona, Cliff and Jean. They knew his faults and attributes. They all played with him, looked out for him and attended school with him.

 

 

I believe, he had what teachers call now a “learning disability”.I recall reading from the Seim/Oakes School record book one teacher’s comments of his reading difficulty and the view of his dismal future.

 

 

Each of the Metcalfe siblings was very fond of Ward. He was a special child. Throughout his entire life and theirs, their “special” friend. They humored and joked with him, worked along side him, and spent many Sundays and Easter dinners with him and let it be known they would not tolerate any one harming him.

 

Through a miracle, Ward survived the night of his birth and became his parents delight. To this mother, he was always her “Little Wardy Allen.”

 

 

To his friends he was remembered with fondness as a person who never harmed anyone with words or actions, had unique abilities and the great gift of good humor and optimism.

from, Family Tales, VickieMetcalfeWinter 2011

 
 
 
God creates North Dakota
Posted by Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC
 

On the sixth day God turned to the Archangel Gabriel and said: ‘Today, I am going to create a land called North Dakota .

It will be a land of outstanding natural beauty; a land of beautiful rivers and streams, each one full of fish.

It shall have tall majestic cottonwood trees, peacefully flowing rivers, landscapes full of Buffalo , tall grass, and eagles,

beautiful blue skies, forests full of wildlife, rich farmland, and fair skinned people.

God continued, ‘I shall make the land rich in resources so as to make the inhabitants prosper and they shall be known as a most friendlypeople who practice being nice every day.’

But Lord,’ asked Gabriel, ‘don’t you think you are being too generous to these North Dakota people?’

‘Not really,’ replied God ‘just wait and see the winters I am going to give them.’

 
  

02/19/2011

Posted on by
Happy Happy Happy Birthday Brenda Johnson
 
I believe this is a milestone Birthday too. So how and where are you going to celebrate? Wherever you decide to go or whatever you decide to do, just enjoy and have fun. Tomorrow is a non work day too.
 
Gary
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reply to Florence Hiatt Dahl (50)
From Lois Lilleby Fielding (51): Prescott, AZ
 
Reply to Florence Hiatt Dahl. I remember you well! We had folks from Anchorage on the trip! We have been very impressed with all our trips with Grand Circle Travel and would also recommend that company to everyone. (They also have Overseas Adventure Travel, which has more vigorous trips) Cheers, Lois
 
 
Reply to Connie Fauske Monte (62):
From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 

Hello to Connie Fauske

Heartwarming to say the least, what a tribute to New Orleans a horse with that much WILL to survive is so fitting for a city that had to have that same true grit. Then came the Saints and Brad Pitt to me the Big Easy is the most unique city in America with a lot of history. If we lost New Orleans we would not only lose a great city we would lose a complete culture.

According to what you said in your earlier letter, I think you live on the very spot where we lost lost Buddy, our cockateil, temporarily. That was in the hills above Santa Barbara, the old Rancho Oso Thousand Trails Preserve. That Seattle based campground membership afforded our kids a great life. Over the gate it said, “We Are Family”.

Our first horse worthy of mention was old Dewey. Little Martin Evans had ridden him to Hilltop School before we returned from Seattle. Martin had trained him to count. Well, as horse people know, young horses lose their teeth around 2 or 3 years old. Grandpa Martin asked my dad to go down to the meadow and knock him in the head as he was not going to make the winter in the deep snow. Dad hauled him home on a stone boat sled and pulled him up and down daily with a wire stretcher for a month or two. Now the readers may not believe what I saw with me own eyes, Dewey would stick out his tail in the morning and Dad would help him up……Dewey turned out to be part of the family and did more than his share of work.. He hauled us kids seven miles a day to school, doubled as a saddle and a harness horse. We found a real match for him, his half brother Jim. Then Dad found a horse that made him feel a little John Wayne, I think. An Arabian gelding that retired on the farm. There weren’t a lot of good horsemen and good horses were very scarce in that part of the country at that time.

 

Connie, did I detect a trace of modesty as you submitted your letter. That horse story should be sent around the world. You came by that modesty honestly…both of your parents were.

 

 

 

 

Augie Johnson has cancer

Message from Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, WY.

 

Dick–

 

I was talking to Augie last week and during our conversation, he told me that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I have no idea when he was diagnosed or anymore about it. We usually dont talk, but I called him, mostly about the kids. I have no idea why he chose to tell me, but he did.

 

I just wanted you to know. Take care. Sybil Johnson

 

 

 

 

Message with a story

Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND

 

Hello Gary;

I see your wintering pretty good. We had a few days this week that got up into the forties,

in fact one day got up into the fifties. As you well know, That is skinny dipping weather here in the Dakotas.

Well, you know, we were out soaking up the sun in our flannel shirts without the coats.

It was beautiful. I wish it would hang around a while longer. A little sunshine now and then does a body good.

That’s what the old timers use to say, anyway. I suppose where you are, you wonder about a statement like that?

Well Gary I thought I would send you another story for the blog. This one is a little late.

I wanted to get it out for New Years Day or at least near to that time frame. It didn’t work out, so I thought I would wait until next year.

Then a couple days went by and there was no Gary or barely any Gary. I was getting worried.

I thought I better send in another story. This one is ready. Ready or not, enjoy.

 

At this time, I also would like to express my appreciation, and thank everyone for all their great comments on my last story and previous stories.

I really appreciate your comments, they make my ego soar.

Again, Thank You all.

I also want to thank everyone else for all their great contributions to this blog.

I enjoy reading them and looking at the pictures.

Please continue to send your stories, comments, and pictures in to Gary, and also if anyone wishes to forward any story of mine,

for the enjoyment of another person , please feel free to do so. Thanks to you all.

and thank You Gary for your time and your expertise, for putting this all together and for keeping it going.

Again, Thank you to all,

Enjoy the story,

Larry

Another great Larry Hackman Story:
 

New Years Eve

It was New Years Eve.I was hanging around the house.Not much going on.Watching TV, listening to the hype, waiting for the ball to drop, and knowing all the time that I wasn’t excited enough about it to stay awake for the big event.It was the early sixties; I was a sophomore or a junior in high school.We had been on Christmas break for little over a week already.The weather was cold and miserable and not much had happened. Had played a lot of cards, put together puzzles, and played monopoly for entertainment.I was bored.

Then it occurred to me, that there was a New Years Eve Dance down at the City Hall.I went and got all dressed up, combed my hair and walked downtown to the City Hall.Remember when, people decided to go some place, where there were other people, people actually use to put on clean dress clothes, the older people wore suits and nice dresses and combed their hair.We actually tried to make our mother proud; that they had went through the trouble of having us.

 

I arrived at the City Hall, the music was playing, and I was getting excited.I ran up the stairs and had just grabbed the handle of one of the two swinging doors to enter the hall, when this fellow yelled through the window of the ticket room, “Larry, you have to pay here, before you can go in.”I turned around and walked back to the window and asked this fellow, who I knew well, you mean I have to pay to get into a free New Years Eve Dance.He laughed, and said the dance was put on by the Jaycees to make money.Well, I explained to him that I had no money and that a New Years Eve Dance should be free.He said, “Sorry”.Well I said, I guess I’ll be heading back home.He said, “Just a minute,” and passed through the window this quart, seven-up bottle in a brown paper bag. He said go ahead and take a drink. Man, it was good stuff.It warmed you up, slowly, from the pit of your stomach out to every part of your body.It made you feel good, real good, right away. It was a common drink at the time; people would buy a quart of seven-up or squirt, pour out or drink about a quarter of the bottle, then pour in a ½ pint or mickey of Everclear.It was good stuff, and definitely made me feel better, and it definitely was going to keep me warm for my long, lonely walk back home.I handed the bottle back through the window, said thank you, and started to zip up my coat.When the guy stuck the bottle back through the ticket window and said, “Here, have another drink, its cold out there.”He knew I had about a four block walk and it was very cold and dark out, and that I wasn’t too anxious to go back home and finish out the night watching TV anyway, and I was getting less anxious, every time he passed that bottle back to me.In fact I was starting to think that this wasn’t too bad and was thinking of spending the rest of the night right here beside the ticket window.Who cared what that New Years ball was going to do anyway?Finally, Guess what?That stuff must have been getting to that guy in the ticket window too, He says to me, I’ll tell you what.I’ll let you into the dance free;”if you promise me that you will dance with them older ladies standing just inside the door in the back of the hall”.

I have always had trouble understanding? A hall must be like a church when you are outside looking at the entrance to the structure.It’s the front.When you are inside it’s the back.Go figure.

 

I took another pull on that bottle, and I says sure, I can do that, no problem.I was getting pretty agreeable to almost anything at this point.I went into the hall, looked over at them ladies, and then looked back at the ticket room door.That fellow was standing there grinning, like a cat that had just swallowed the canary.He was right, all those ladies looked to be at least 40 or close to it.Now I would consider them to be still young.Funny, how your perspective changes after you get a little past 50.In fact there was no one in that whole hall that was my age or even close to it.It did cross my mind, “Where the hell are all the kids”?I suppose they all were at home, watching TV, waiting for that damn ball to drop.I didn’t care, I was fired up, and ready to do some dancing.I walked over and asked the first lady I came up to, “If she would like to dance”?She agreed, and I was off dancing the night away. I danced every dance until the band quit playing for the evening.The guy in the ticket booth had a smile from ear to ear.He must have had more than one bottle in that little room.Why, I even seen him dance a couple.I was happy, and did occasionally stop by the ticket booth on band breaks, to get reenergized.The ladies appeared to be happy too, to have this young fellow dancing with them.The husbands also, appeared to be happy.I suppose the ladies were happy to have this young handsome fellow giving them all this attention and the fellows were happy that I was keeping them ladies occupied and out of their hair, and I suppose they figured that I was too young to cause them any worry. Those husbands appeared to be sticking pretty close to that ticket booth, anyway. Apparently it worked out well for everyone concerned, because I had a great time.In fact, I hardly remember the walk home.In fact, I think I ran home.

The next morning was bummer though.In fact, I don’t think there was a morning that morning.In fact I remember waking up once or twice and looking at the clock and not being able to figure out why it was daylight in the middle of the night.I didn’t dwell on it to long though because I remember it made my head hurt.I suppose it put too much pressure on the few remaining living brain cells, I had left.How many brain cells got killed by alcohol that night?I think I’m still trying to recover.Did I get out of bed that day?Yes, I did.I think got out in time to go back to bed.

Remember to, eat some beef, drink some milk, and to laugh today.

Larry

 
 
 
Kayleen Rae Norquay passed away
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: neolag@min.midco.net Minot & Bottineau, ND
 

Gary,
 
If, after reading someone’s obituary in your newsletter, someone would like to have me send the obituary directly to them, they can send an email to me, telling me which obituary they would like to receive, and I will TRY to get it sent to them.
Also, if any of your readers would like to receive the obituaries at the time I send them to you, they can contact me. I’ll create a list that includes the names/email addresses. I’ll send emails to this list, BCC, which means the names/addresses of the people who are in the list.
 
I am finally feeling quite well again! When I have time, I’m going to “fill you in” on how this happened. :)
 
Neola
 
Kayleen Rae Norquay
(October 9, 1986 – February 11, 2011)

Sign Guest Book | Send Flowers

KAYLEEN RAE NORQUAY

Mass of the Christian burial for Kayleen R.(Buttons) Norquay, age 25 of Dunseith, was held on Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Michael the Archangel Church in Dunseith. Burial will be in the spring at St. Louis Cemetery also of Dunseith. Officiating at the service was the Reverend Father Paul Grala. Special music was provided by Troy DeCoteau. Casket bearers were Devon Davis, Jamie Nadeau, Ramsey Morin, Kyle Norquay, Thomas Poitra and Lenny Schroeder.

Kayleen Rae Norquay, a daughter of Sylvester Peltier and Veronica Norquay, was born on October 9, 1986 at Rolette. She was reared in the Dunseith area by Peter St. Claire and the late Mary St. Claire, and she attended the Dunseith Day School. Kayleen loved to be with her family. She loved to read and later listen to stories. In 2001 Kayleen entered the Dunseith nursing home where she has resided since.

She loved to listen to her radio and playing with her nephew Devon. Kayleen loved it most when her dad and Roberta would visit her at the nursing home. Kayleen will be missed very much.

Kayleen passed away on Friday, February 11, 2011 in a Minot hospital.

She is survived by her father Peter St Claire of Dunseith; natural parents Veronica St. Claire and Sylvester Peltier both of Dunseith; sisters, Rozialia Norquay, Kyle Norquay, Karla Norquay, Felishia St. Claire, Jessica St.Claire, and Mirandia St. Claire all of Dunseith; brothers, David (Trina) St. Claire, Michael Beston, Khyl Norquay, Ramsey Morin, Bradley Belgarde, Donna ( James) Gunville, Velma Vivier, Larry Vivier, Gary Vivier, Lisa Peltier, Sylvester Baker, and Tyrone Peltier all of Dunseith; step-sisters, Arlene (Tony) Azure of Dunseith, Rosie (Tom) McCarthy of New Town; step brothers, Darrell L’Esperance and Dan L’Esperance both of Dunseith; extended family Roberta Nadeau of Dunseith.

Kayleen was preceded in death by her mother, Mary St. Claire and a niece, Elaina Machipiness.

 
 
All rights reserved

02/18/2011

Posted on by
Reply to Lois Lilleby Fielding’s trip to Egypt and Israel

From Florence Hiatt Dahl (50): Anchorage, AK
 
Gary–Lois’s trip to Egypt and Israel with Grand Circle Tour Group sounded great. When my husband passed away in 94, our youngest son saiid–Mom don’t hoard your money–you like to travel–so trevel. Grand Circle was the first adventure—took their trip on a cruise ship down the Great Rivers of Europe. Went down the Mein, Rhine, 130 miles of man made canal and then down the Danube river. fabulous. Highly reccomend Grand Circle.
 
 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
Reply to this picture from Sharon Zorn Gerdes (62):

That is sure my brother Eugene in the front row. He always wore those dark rimmed glasses. But that was the trend then, and is coming back again now. He lives near Dallas Texas, is CPA, has two grown daughters, sings extremely well in church groups, and is a pretty good kid. Sharon.
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
  

02/17/2011

Posted on by
No Blog yesterday:
 
Folks I got rushed and did not get a blog out yesterday. Our very close and dear friends, Michael and Barbara Kenny, are celebrating their 40th Wedding anniversary this Sunday. Their son and his family from England and their daughter and her children from Australia are here too. Also, several of their other friends from England and Ireland are here too, for this celebration. I just got a text message from Michael letting me know he is on his way over to our house with a couple from Ireland. We also got involved making all the contacts for a Beach resort gift that we are giving Michael and Barbara too. We have to pick that up this evening, following that we are invited to a birthday dinner for another close friend. We kind of got tied up with all this yesterday and I did not get a blog out. We had nearly 30 folks (couples) contribute to a 3 night 4 day stay at a beautiful beach resort for Michael and Barbara. We could not believe the participation we got with this one. We are picking up the gift certificate this evening of which will be presented to them on Sunday at their anniversary.
 
 
 
 
Len and Lois Lilleby Fielding just returned from Egypt and Israel
Message from Lois Lilleby Fielding (51): Prescott, AZ
 
Hi Gary: We were computer scammed last December and lost all our e-mail contacts. Then we were gone for the holidays and were in Israel and Egypt during January. Our new e-mail address is
Israel and Egypt are amazing countries, of course. We visited many of the famous Biblical and archeological sites and cannot believe how the ancient people accomplished what they built. There is a new library in Alexandria, Egypt that has no actual books–everythiing is computerized. www.bibalex.org It was peaceful in Jerusalem and most of Israel. Grand Circle Tours avoids areas of danger, I think. We were on a riverboat on the Nile for about a week while in Egypt

In Egypt all was peaceful until about the 25th when we began to see many armed military and police everywhere–near Luxor then. We were scheduled to leave for home when the demonstrations began in earnest and we smelled tear gas and heard some gun shots near our hotel. Our buses managed to get to the airport okay.

The peole in both countries were very kind and friendly. We saw a lot of poverty in Egypt. Lets hope for peace in both countries. Gary, please put us back on the blog!! Best wishes to all, Lois and Len

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

Mark Schimetz’ story about the railroad officials from the south not knowing what a snow plow was for actually reminded me of an old story. Lloyd Awalt mentioned the winter of ’48-’49 when unbelievable amounts of snow fell. The highways were blocked for a very long time and travel came to a stand still. One story I heard was that when the Army and the National Guard came into the area to open the roads, one of the Caterpillar operators was from the deep south. Of course those of us from the north know how snow looks to be in layers when we are moving it. This southerner said that the snow on top was easy to move but the 3 and 4 year old stuff under it was kind of hard to push.

Erling Nelson used to tell us what he told his Army buddies when they asked him how long the winters are in ND. He told them we have nine months of winter and three months of ‘tough sleddin’.

Glen William’s joke about North Dakotans getting good milage on alcohol, open the door. A rancher from ND went to the National Cattleman’s Convention in Kansas City. He went to the social and noticed how the ranchers were all standing in groups talking and enjoying some drinks so he got a beer and went over to join a group. A Texan with a big hat said, “I can get in my pickup in the morning and drive east until 10 and stop for coffee and then on south and stop for lunch. I can then turn west and drive until afternoon coffee break and then back north and get home just at dark—and never get off my own land! The guy from ND said, “You know, I had a pickup like that once too,” Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
 
Dick Johnson’s reply to Gary’s question about this years ND winter:
 
Gary,

It hasn’t been too cold this winter. We did have a few 20-30 below nights etc. but with this much snow it insulated the lakes. Guys say there is also a lot of water on top of the ice and there is a layer of ice over that again. The creeks are all running and have been open all winter. First time in my life that I have seen this. The temps are supposed to drop this weekend but not get real cold. The first of the week we are back to 20 so that’s pretty good for February.

Dick

 
  

02/15/2011

Posted on by
Interesting findings for ND folks
Posted by Glen Williams (52): Missoula, MT
 

A recent study conducted by NDSU found that the average North Dakotan
walks about 900 miles a year.

Another study by the American Medical Association found that North
Dakotans drink on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year.

This means, on average, North Dakotans get about 41 miles to the
gallon. Kind of makes you proud to be a North Dakotan!

 
 
 
 
Dale Pritchard (63) & Bob Lykins Crossed paths in Japan:
Reply from Bob Lykins (Teacher): Hutto, TX

Gary,

 

Got a call from Dale Pritchard the other day. We compared notes on where and the dates we were stationed oversseas. He and I crossed paths on occassion as he was stationed at Yokota AB, Japan the same time I was a teacher there and he did TDYs into Rhein Main AB at the same time I was working out of the District Office for the schools located there. We had a nice chat and I hope we can continue with a personal visit in the future. Your blog is doing amazing things.

 

Bob Lykins
 
 
 

Obituaries

 

Brennan Robert

 

(Died February 2, 2011)

Guest Book| Sign Guest Book| Send Flowers

 
 
 

 

  
 
 

 

 

  

 
     

 

  

 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 

  

 

Robert “Bob” Brennan, age 59 of Dunseith, died Wednesday at his home. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday at 2:00 pm at the St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Dunseith. Wake service will be on Monday starting at 4:00 pm with a scriptual prayer service at 8:00 pm at the Church.

 

Robert Dean Brennan, a son of Ray and Janet (Pilloud) Brennan, was born on September 4, 1951 at Rolla. He was reared at Dunseith and later graduated fromDunseithHigh School. In 1971, he entered the US Army and was stationed atBangkok,Thailand. It was there that he met his heart and soul, Supan Ponsupa, and they were married on September 17, 1973. They then moved back to Dunseith. Bob worked for Hiatt Farms and later worked at the San Haven State Hospital at Dunseith and later TMC in Dunseith. For the past 16 years, he helped Supan with her doggie business until Supan’s passing on December 20, 2010.

 

He was a member of the St. Michael theArchangelCatholic Church in Dunseith, where on January 7, 2010 he and Supan renewed their wedding vows.

 

Bob loved his family and had a passion for his horses. With the faith that Bob had in our Lord, we will all someday ride high again.

 

Bob passes away on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at his home.

 

He is survived by his twin daughters, Sheila (Troy) Kubas and Shelby (Kal) Larson all of Minot; sons, Sonny (Holli) Brennan of Bismarck and Shannon (Kristie) Brennan of Minot; grandchildren, Lauren and Madisen Larson, Brennan and Jaxon Kubas and Kaden, Gracyn and Rylee Brennan; brother, Mike Brennan of Dunseith; sister, Velma Millang of Rolette, Patty Groff of Bellingham, WA, Mildred Riemer of Colorado, Dorothy Vandal of Cando, Shirley Brennan of Minot; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Brennan and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

 

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by sister, Faye Lindquist and brother, Dennis Brennan.

 

Cowboy Bob will be deeply missed by his wonderful friends and family.

 

Arrangements are with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net.

 
 
 
  
All rights reserved

02/14/2011

Posted on by
Happy Valentines day to all.
 
Bernadette said she wants to go to TGI Friday’s, so that is where we will be going for dinner this evening.
 
 
 
 
Art Rude (71) featured in the Bismarck Tribune
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 
Art, This is amazing. Your dog did well and you too!
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 

Kayleen Rae Norquay
(October 9, 1986 – February 11, 2011)

Sign Guest Book | Send Flowers

KAYKEEN RAE NORQUAY

Kayleen R. Norquay, age 24 of Dunseith died Friday in a Minot hospital. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Michael the Archangel Church in Dunseith. Burial will be in the spring at St. Louis Cemetery also of Dunseith. A wake will be held on Tuesday beginning at 5:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M.

Kayleen Rae Norquay a daughter of Sylvester Peltier and Veronica Norquay, was born on October 9, 1986 at Rolette.

She is survived by her father Peter St Claire of Dunseith; brother, natural parents Veronica St. Claire and Sylvester Peltier both of Dunseith; sisters, Rozalia Norquay, Kyle Norquay, Karla Norquay, Felishia St. Claire, Jessica St.Claire, and Mirandia St. Claire all of Dunseith; brothers, David (Trina) St. Claire, Michael Beston, Khyl Norquay, Bradley Belgarde, Larry Vivier, Gary Vivier, Sylvester Baker, and Tyrone Peltier all of Dunseith; step-sisters, Arlene (tony) Azure of Dunseith, Rosie (Tom) McCarthy of New Town; step brothers, Darrell L’Esperance and Dan L’Esperance both of Dunseith; extended family Roberta Nadeau of Dunseith.

 
15 year old by sings Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire:
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
This kid is absolutely amazing. Brenda Hoffman (68) sent this to me a while back too. Gary
A 15 yr old boy with an unusual voice…discovered singing on a Seattle street. Vince Mira ,15, is a somewhat shy kid who looks uncomfortable during a TV interview, but when he steps up to the microphone to sing Johnny Cash ‘s classic “Ring of Fire,” the result is downright spooky.
He performs this song on the Good Morning America show.


http://www.katu.com/home/video/11944831.html?video=pop&t=a


 
  

02/13/2011

Posted on by
Friends Visiting us from Bremerton, WA.
 
Last night at 10:30 PM, while working on my computer, I kept hearing these voices saying I.O. (hello). These voices kept getting louder and louder the closer they got to our house. We are quite a distance off of the beating path too, with no house number, etc. I thought I better go out and see who these folks were. When I went out this lady says “Hello Gary, do you remember me from Bremerton?”. I said I sure do. She was with her cousin who lives about 15 miles from here. She said , Larry her husband, was up on the road in the car. These folks were good friends of Bernadette’s dad back in Bremerton. It had been so long since we had seen them that they had forgotten our last name. They only remembered our first names and the general area where we lived. They just started asking folks where we lived and were directed to our general area. When they got in the area, this younger kid, whom I did not know, accompanied them to our house. Needless to say, Larry was very shocked when I walked back with them to their car up on the road. He thought they were just looking for a needle in the haystack, but that is the way you find folks in this country. They visited for several hours last night. When they got ready to leave, the power steering was not working on her cousins car, so I took them back to the Marco Polo hotel where they are staying.
 
Gary
 
 
 
 
Jay Vanorny (66): Dunseith, ND
Dennis Haakenson: Bottineau, ND
Posted by Noela Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
Dennis Haakenson’s mother, Mabel, was a Kofoid, first cousin to Neola’s dad, Johnny, and my dad, Bob.
 
Gary
 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary,

These are some old photos I found and I thought I would share them.
The two car photos are the 1955 Chevy Gerald and I had in high
school. We bought the car from Dennis and Myron Zorn. I still dream
of that car from time to time and wish I had it today. The second
photo is of the first house that Brenda and I lived in while we were
students at UND (student housing). The people photo is the Casavant
Family about 10 years ago. The bus would fill up when we got on. The
only one missing is Paul.

Aime

 

 

Aime, Can you send me another picture with a little higher resolution of you family?

 

 

Thanks, Gary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highway thru Japanese building.

 

Posted by Wayne (61) & Rosemary Smith: Bottineau, ND

 

 

Gary:
I recieved this from my Idaho uncle. Since Dale & Bob were blogging about the terrible traffic situation in Japan, Wayne & I thought this would be an interesting bit of information.
 
Rosemary & Wayne Smith

 

 

 

 
 
  

02/12/2011

Posted on by
Folks,
 
Today’s Blog is rather short. We have a Fiesta with about 60 Local and 30 EXPAT (Foreign) folks that We/Bernadette is serving dinner to at noon.
 
 
 
Ida Pritchard
Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe:
 

Hi Gary,

 

Ida Pritchard is the lady who lived “kitty corner” from our family in the north end of Bottineau, right (in the 40’s)? It was Ida, Corbin, and, I think, Floyd was the grandson/nephew who lived with them at that time. NICE PEOPLE!!

 

Neola

 

 

 

 

Rail Road Snow plows

Reply from Mark Schimetz (70): Rolette, ND

 

Hi Gary and friends, I have to comment on the Train Video, It’s a Snow plow with two Engines and the Plow Engine, cleaning the tracks for Freight and Passenger Trains. It brought to mind, when the Frisco Railroad, merged with Burlington Northern Railroad. The funny thing was that Frisco Hatchet Officials came to Grand Forks ND. To Cut what they thought was dead weight. I happened to be at the Round House that Morning, as my Office was Located there as well. The Officials, came in asking for a foreman. They caught me in my Office. The Officials had been looking at that rusty looking Snow Plow. They wanted me and my crew to cut it up for scarp: Now remember that these Officials come from the deep South, and Had no Idea what this Snow Plow was. They got more than a little ticked, when I refused to comply with their request. They Threatened me with insubordination for not complying, It didn’t bother me any, My Boss was in Superior Wisconsin. I called the Road Master and had him come out to the shop. Meanwhile I decided to inform them of the Use’s of the plow train. You don’t need that dam plow one said. I couldn’t help laughing at the dam fools. I went back to my office gathered the crew and got ready to go to work, When Jack Hein arrived, the Road Master, We went together to get the point of need to these idiots. Jack took them down town to his office to show some Photos of snow covering Passenger and Freight Trains stalled on the tracks unable to plow through the 6 to 8 foot or more snow on the tracks.
 
The Railroad really started down hill with this merger. the Frisco Railroad had about 2000 miles of track and the Burlington Northern had over 25000 Miles of track. Some how during the merger Frisco Officials’ were given num-
erous high office placements, though it only took us about a year or so to straighten them out. LOL Those were the days
 
 
 
 
Dunseith Alumni Web Site activity: http://garystokes.net/default.aspx
 
Folks,
 
I thought I’d share this months daily activity of our Web site with you. Yesterday we had 111 folks visit our Web Site and they viewed 120 pages. As time passes the average number of folks visiting our Web site increases. My daily email distribution is about 650.
 



Visitors per day for February, 2011
  
 
Date
 visitors Visits 2/1/2011 73 81 2/2/2011 55 64 2/3/2011 80 85 2/4/2011 72 86 2/5/2011 66 79 2/6/2011 56 70 2/7/2011 54 66 2/8/2011 73 83 2/9/2011 57 65 2/10/2011 111 120
 
 
  

02/11/2011

Posted on by
Reply to several personal messages between Gary Stokes and Bob.
From Bob Hosmer (56): Lynnwood, WA
 

Hi Gary,

I did not know Pastor Grudt, Pastors Duane and Ronning I did know. I knew Pastor Duane better than Pastor Ronning, however. I ran a DVBS program at Little Prairie Church one summer. Both Margaret and Patty Metcalf were part of my class. Also, Medlangs, Dana Henriksen, and others I can’t remember. But that was one exciting summer. It must have been in 1957 or 1958. Margaret was 10 years old then.

 

Glad you’re enjoying the Philippines. We have close Japanese friends who live there, but I think they’re further south. They work with Wycliffe Bible Translators and have been translating the Bible in one of the Indonesian languages (they can no longer get visas to live and work in Indonesia as missionaries).

 

Have a good weekend soon coming. Weather in Puget Sound is blue sky clear and in the mid 40’s and low 50’s just my kind of winter.

 

Bob

Follow up reply from Bob
 
Thanks, Gary. I’m slow to contribute to the blogs. My experience with horses is very limited, but it’s fun to read up on all the fun people were having in those earlier days. Bob

 

 

 

Request from Rosemary (Wayne 61) Smith: Bottineau, ND

 

Will you add Mary (Prouty) Knudson to your mailing list. Her email is

 

She is married to Keith Knudson from Botno. His mother is Beverly Handeland from Dunseith.

 

Thanks

 

Rosemary Smith

Rosemary, It is our pleasure to add Mary and Keith to our distribution list. Gary
 
 
 
School Bus Reply
From Aime Casavant (66): Jamestown, ND
 
I think David Fugere is quite accurate – when it is -40 degrees,
school is two hours late in ND. It was his (dad, grandfather?) and
Johny Hill who owned the Dunseith School Buses. I got a chuckle out
of that one. Thinking of riding those sort of cold buses to school. :)

Aime Casavant

Aime, I remember riding those buses well myself. We had two of the greatest bus drivers ever, Mike Vandal and Stan Salmonson. Mike’s father-in-law, Arnold Zeiler, was a fill in driver too. Those three are the only ones I ever remember diving our bus the 4 years that I rode it. We always watched for them to go north to pick up the Fauske’s so we could be out at the road on their way back. This was all after we had done the morning chores of milking the cows, separating the milk, feeding the calves, slopping the pigs, etc. Dad always feed the cows and cleaned the barn, so we didn’t have to have to do that before going to school. Dad would wheel the manure a hundred or so feet out the back door of the barn. In the spring, he would hire Elwood Fauske, with the County D-8, cat to push that manure pile back into the woods to the north. Gary

 

 

 

 

Reply to Mary Eurich Knutson’s Log school picture #6.

From Mary Anderson Millang (67): Dunseith, ND

 

I have dad’s original copy and it’s in the Centennial Book. The school is the original Witherhalt school. The picture is dated 1910
 
Mary Anderson Millang Class of “67
 
 
 
Pictures
Reply from Mary Eurich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND
 
Morning Gary,

Boy was I surprised to see Mary M. had identified the picture of the
school kids. Don’t know why, it’s what I wanted.

Now I wonder where that school was.

Just to comment on some of the others. #1 Pete Schneider Jr and Dave
Eurich Sr (1925 or 26). I had gone visiting one evening and they
brought out pictures to look at. I was just surprised. I really never
expected to ever see a picture of Pete. Schneiders were our neighbors on
the praire. I don’t know of ever not knowing them. Pete drove school
bus for years. He even took us to school with horses and sleigh. I can’t
remember what they called the sleigh’s with the built over top. I
remember the front window and the cut out for the lines. It had a wood
heater sitting in the middle of the floor. It wasn’t bolted down and on
one particular trip we hit a hard snow drift and the sleigh felt like it
wrenched when the front runners went ove the drift and Pete hollered for
Stanley to grab the stove. We made it without tipping the stove over.
Again I remember getting pretty cold. I never could take the cold very
well.

 

#2 Grandma – Ida Thompson Pritchard. I’ve only seen two pictures of her.
Her wedding picture and this one. I know she was camera shy and would
disappear when someone showed up with a camera.

#3 Irvin Pritchard – writing on the back says Wm Pritchard’s youngest
brother. I believe he’s making a ski.

The picture of the family – I have no clue but maybe somebody will have
the same picture and be able to identify it yet.

 

Thanks Mary and Thanks
Gary.
Mary
Mary, I remember well, your Grandma Ida living in Bottineau. The Dunseith book says she lived her entire life on the farm. Corbin and all of the Pritchard’s had moved off of the Pritchard place that bordered the Canadian line by the time I was born. I know Lloyd Awalt remembers that place well though. I remember visiting and being at your Grandma Ida’s many times when she lived in Bottineau. I was only about 11 years old when she passed. Gary
 
 
Picture #1 – 1925 or 1926
Pete Schneider Jr and Dave Eurich Sr

 

 

Picture #2

Ida Thompson (William) Pritchard

 

 

Picture #3

Irvin Pritchard
 
 
Picture #4
Unidentified family
 

 
 
 
Arla Hall & Neola Kofoid Garbe
Picture posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
 
 
 
Rail Road snow removal at Donnybrook, ND
Posted by Maryls Hiatt (71): marlys.hiatt@sendit.nodak.edu Dunseith, ND
And Bob Lykins (Teacher): bbplykins@aol.com Hutto, TX
 
 

RR CROSSING in North Dakota:

You can see the train, but you can’t see the track!

This was taken at a crossing near Donnybrook, North Dakota,

about 40 miles northwest of Minot on US 52.

Almost makes you want to see it in real life….

 
 
 
  

02/10/2011

Posted on by
Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44): Dunseith, ND
 

Hi Gary, 15 below this morning. Dick is always doing things with cars & tractors looks up and see his dad looking at him wondering what now. Kids will do that Dick I remember my dad was going to get the cows for me so he got on my pony star when I came out of the barn and seen him going I don’t know why but I whistled and she piled him in no time flat I laugh but when I seen the look on his face he never said nothing but if looks could kill I would of been a dead duck. I never done it again. Lloyd
 
 
Reply to Mary Eurich Knutson’s picture #6.
From Mary Anderson Millang (67): Dunseith, ND
 

Picture 6 from the schoolhouse these are the listed people.
Left to Right
Clarance Salmonson, Elmer Bruhjell, Bennie Anderson, Joe Brasseur, Albert Bruhjell, Pete Bruhjell,
2 girls in back Thelma Bruhjell, Hazel Right
Front girls
Margaret Salmonson, Olga Anderson Knox, Beatrice Right, Grace Right, Leah Brasseur, Caroline Anderson
Teacher Bennie Johnson
 
Here’s a horse story
The teacher asked Ollie to make up a sentence using the words “defeat”, “defense” and “detail”.
Ollie scratched his head for a minute, then said. “De feet of de horse went over de fence before de tail.”
 
Mary Anderson Millang Class of “67
Mary, This is wonderful. What school would this be and how in the world were you able to identify all these folks? Clarence Salmonson was born in 1904. He looks to be about 6 years old in this picture, so my guess is that this picture was taken in about 1910. That is 101 years ago. I have cropped this photo for enlargement below. Thank you Mary. Gary
 

 

 

 
L To R: Clarance Salmonson, Elmer Bruhjell, Bennie Anderson, Joe Brasseur,
Albert Bruhjell, Pete Bruhjell

 

 

2 girls in back Thelma Bruhjell, Hazel Right
Front girls: Margaret Salmonson, Olga Anderson Knox, Beatrice Right, Grace Right,
Leah Brasseur, Caroline Anderson
Teacher: Bennie Johnson

 

 

 
 
 
 
Cold is a Relative Thing
Posted by David Fugere: Dunseith, ND
and Mel Kuhn (70): St. John, ND
 
Gary , thought there was a little truth in this

Thanks, David Fugere

David, I do not have your graduating year in my records? Thanks, Gary

Cold is a relative thing
 
 
 
65°
 
Arizonans turn on the heat.
 
People in North Dakota plant gardens.
 
 
 
60°
 
Californians shiver uncontrollably.
 
People in North Dakota sunbathe.
 
 
 
50°
 
Italian & English cars won’t start.
 
People in North Dakota drive with the windows down.
 
 
 
40°
 
Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats.
 
People in North Dakota throw on a flannel shirt.
 
 
 
35°
 
New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
 
People in North Dakota have the last cookout before it gets cold.
 
 
 
20°
 
People in Miami all die.
 
North Dakotans close the windows.
 
 
 
0°
 
Californians fly away to Mexico.
 
People in North Dakota get out their winter coats.
 
 
 
–10° below zero:
 
Hollywood disintegrates.
 
The Girl Scouts in North Dakota are selling cookies door to door.
 
 
 
–20° below zero:
 
Washington DC runs out of hot air. (Ya think? Nah.).
 
People in North Dakota let the dogs sleep indoors.
 
 
 
–30° below zero:
 
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
 
North Dakotans get upset because they can’t start the snowmobile.
 
 
 
-40° below zero:
 
ALL atomic motion stops.
 
People in North Dakota start saying…”Cold enough for ya?”
 
 
 
-50° below zero:
 
Hell freezes over.
 
North Dakota public schools will open 2 hours late.
 
 
  

02/09/2011

Posted on by
Memory of Johnny Hiatt
Reply from Diane Wenstad Wiebe (69): Portage La Prairie, Canada
 

Hi Garry, I bet you are enjoying the warm weather! This maybe most of our thoughts; all of us that live in the “Great White, Snowy areas”!

 

Thanks for the good job of keeping the blog alive and everyone else that is sharing the Memories.

 

Another horse story……..

I was talking with my daughter, Angela, one day. Angela and her husband have a small farm with horses and a few cattle. Angela was talking with the neighbour about the states and that her mother was from Dunseith. The neighbour stated he knew where that was as he remembered that his dad bought some horses from there. He had mentioned the name, Johnny Hiatt. How interesting and small the world is! So there is some other American blood in this country too.

My kids were quite young when my parents passed on but I tried to tell her where Johnny’s place was as we came down the San Hill (as we called it) into Dunseith.

Take care and keep up the great job!

Diane (Wenstad) Wiebe

 

 

 

 

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

 

Gary and Friends,

Thanks to Kathy Nerpel for the well written story about her horse experiences. Very interesting story! I bet there are quiet readers out there who also are thinking about their own stories from the old days. WRITE them and SEND them!! We all enjoy everyone’s input.

When Kathy wrote that the sky was getting dark and they were still out riding, I remembered another one. At the time I wasn’t riding a horse, I was on a WD 9 International tractor, disking a field a mile from home. It was a hot summer day and I was probably 13 or 14 and wasn’t paying attention to the sky in the west, just beyond the treeline at the edge of the field. You get into kind of a trance from the monotony of making round after round and not seeming to accomplish much with the small equipment we had back then. I noticed that I went from being hot beyond belief to getting chilly with just a T shirt on. Of course my usual pastime was singing to myself and dreaming about—whatever. I finally noticed that I was actually getting cold and snapped out of my trance to suddenly notice that the sky was getting black just over my head and the wall of rain and hail was just about on top of me. I remember my first reaction was near panic. There were no cabs on tractors and I was about to get wet. I jumped off the tractor and pulled the pin on the disk and headed the old tractor out onto the road and put it in high gear and hoped to make it home before—too late–the big hail stones started bouncing off the hood in front of me and soon they were hitting me on the head and they hurt. The old tractor had a fast ‘road gear’ and it went about 20 miles an hour so I was cruising. The rain started coming down in buckets and it was COLD. I was already soaked when I came through the gate into the yard and water was running down my face making it hard to see. The road was getting wet and kind of slick and water was already getting into puddles. That’s when I decided I better slow the tractor down as I was going too fast. I sat down and pushed the clutch and the brake at the same time as I was turning the old beast into the spot where we parked. Just then I hit a hole and it bounced me out of the seat and of course the pedals pushed me back which let the tractor take off again wide open. I dropped into the seat and pushed the pedals again but it was too late. Sitting right in front of me was my dad’s pride and joy, his ‘new’ 600 Case diesel tractor that he just bought to replace the old WD 9. The old tractor slid into the front end of the new one and completely spun it around and steam and water shot out of the old tractor I was on, when the fan went through the radiator. In shock, I shut the old 9 off and looked up at the house to see if Dad heard the wreck. He was standing in the doorway with both hands on the frame. He just looked at me and dropped his head in disbelief. You know I seem to remember that the rain and hail just didn’t seem that bad after all when I saw the look on his face. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Mary Eurich Knutson’s picture #5
Reply from LeaRae Parrill Espe (68): Bottineau, ND
 
Gary, In answer to the Mary Eurich Knutson pictures- the Joel is probably my brother. He and Dorothy are close to the same age. Actually I believe Joel, born in February is older than Dorothy who was born in August of the same year. We lived a half mile up the road and were back and forth alot. The folks played many games of whist. Please tell me which message those pictures were posted as I completely overlooked that picture. Thanks, LeaRae
 
It is another bitterly cold day in North Dakota. Wind chill watches were issued for most of the state until noon today. However, most of us hardy folks do not vary our routine.
 
 
 
Reply from Mary Eurich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND
 
Hi Gary
yep. The little girl is Dorothy and Norman is correct the little Joel is
Joel Parrill. Boy that is a nice horse Lloyd had.
I thought of incident on the school bus one time when I saw that
picture. You know how kids like to brag and like to think what they
have are the best. Will Jimmy Wheeler had a nice little quarter horse he
loved and Clarence Pladson also had a horse he thought a lot of and
they were getting into a pretty heated discussion about what each of
their horses could do. Finally Jimmy says, ” Is your horse a quarter
horse.” Clarence hollers, “H___ no he’s all horse.”
I remember Clarence Pladson well and Jimmy Wheeler too. We lost Clarence when he died in Pederson Lake a mile west of our place up in the hills in 1972. That was such a tragedy for his family and the community. Clarence was nearly 25 when he left us.
 
 
Wrong picture with yesterday’s posting:
Folks, Yesterday’s posting of Picture No. 5 of Mary’s pictures got replaced with another one. Sorry for the confusion. This is the correct one. Gary
 
Mary Eurich Knutson’s Picture #5
Dorothy Eurich, Joel Parrill & Norman Eurich

 
 
 
ND Weather
Reply from Trish Larson Wild (73): FORT COLLINS, CO
 

Friend of mine from Fargo just sent me this. She lives in California (80 degrees). She’s delicate.

 

I loved the horse story from Kathy. I have one it reminds me of with me and JoAnn Hill (evans), but we got in trouble so I’ll let her tell it…

Trish Wild (Larson 73)

The Equine Nomad
 

Wind.

Snow.

Ice.

Blizzard conditions.

2,000 miles.

30 states.

100 million people.

Worst storm in 50 years.

State of emergency.

Natural disaster.

 

In North Dakota we just call it Wednesday.

 
 
Several Replies to Dick Johnson
From Karen Loeb Mhyre (65): Bellevue, WA
 
Hello Dick,

The photo labeled picture 5 at the end of today’s post is from my Mom, Hannah Higgins Loeb’s collection.

The people I know are:

Looking at the photo, starting on the left:
Frank Higgins – my grandfather.
Hannah Higgins, age 6 (my mother) is in front of Frank.
Next to Frank is Alida Olson Higgins, my grandmother.
Infront of Alida is an unknown teen age girl.
In front of her is Patty Higgins, @ age 3, my aunt and my mother’s younger sister.
Then there are an unknown man and woman in front of her.

I think the photo is from 1927, as there is a date on other photos we have where Hannah appears to be the same age.

I originally thought that the 3 people were my grandmother, Alida’s sister, husband, and daughter. Possibly Mable Olson Haugen, her husband and daughter, Fyrnn. However, my mother’s cousin, Ardis Haalund (daugter of Myrtle Olson Knudson from Trail County area of ND, did not recognize these people as any of the Olson family.
The photo appears to be taken on a farm. My grandfather, Frank Higgins had 3 farms that he homesteaded in North Dakota. The Higgins family lived in Dunseith where Frank had a hardware store. He rented the farms. Following his death in 1937 (?), one was inherited by Frank’s son, Francis Higgins (from his first marriage to Sarah – a Gottbreht – who died shortly after the birth of Francis. She had tuberculosis.) The other two farms passed to Alida. Alida had farmer tenants for as long as she owned them. Eventually, at least one of the renters, the Fugere’s, bought a farm from my Gramma Alida Higgins. These 2 farms may have been combined, but I am not sure.

Thanks for looking at the photo and any ideas would be appreciated.
Karen
Dick,

 

I think the man is Jim Washta for sure, and probably his wife, Leah. I remember my Gramma Higgins visited Mrs Prokosch ( Mrs Washta’s second marriage) in Minneapolis when she visited us during the 4 years we lived in Minneapolis when my dad was in his residency at the U of Minnesota. It looks like the couples were friends. I know Mrs Procasch had a huge cemetery monument of “The Pieta” erected at the Riverside Cemetery south of town where Jim Washta is buried.

 

I will forward later a picture of the 8 sisters if I have trouble deciding which one is to Franks right.

 

 

The woman is most likely one of Alida’s sisters. Maybe Donald Aird (on this mailing list), also a cousin of my mothers, or Ann Sather Latimer (daughter of Selma Olson Sather – one of Alida’s youngest sister – she lives in Minot) will recognize the first woman in the photo as one of the 8 Olson girls!

 

Look forward to identifying the 3 people in the other photo with the Higgins family. The woman seems familiar to me, but I don’t know who they are.

 

Thanks for your help!!

 

Right: Frank Higgins with his Daughter Hannah, age 6, standing in front of him
Next: Alida, Unknown girl in front of Alida & Patty, age 3, standing in Front
Left: Jim & Leah Washta.
 
 
  

02/08/2011

Posted on by
Beautiful Horse Story
From Kathy Nerpel (64), Posted by Kenny Nerpel (65): Rugby, ND

Gary,

 

Here’s another horse story from my sister Kathy. I did edit it for spelling, grammar, and profanity.

 

Kenny

Kenny, this is such a well written interesting story that Kathy has provided.

 

Thank you Kathy. It is great hearing from you. Gary

 

 

Gather around Buck-a-Roos, here is another horse story.

 

 

 

My brother, Ken and I are the first to admit we didn’t inherit equestrian skills.What we lack in skill, we make up for with stubbornness and at times stupidity.Who with even a lick of sense would get on a horse after getting bucked off more than once?I never met a horse that couldn’t buck me off.Put me on an old crippled horse and that horse would decide to play rodeo.A horse with only two speeds, “slow and slower” would take off and win the Triple Crown.I loved horses, they hated me.

 

 

 

No doubt you have heard the term “horse laugh.”Well, all our horses had a sense of humor.I know they laughed at Ken and me as we tried to become bronc riders.We would put a saddle on a horse and they gave us the ol’ hee-haw, snickered to themselves and said, “Here comes the old ‘ejection seat’.”Ken isn’t the only one that had the privilege of being airborne and seeing the wonders of the horizon above the treetops.

 

 

 

Once when Dad was on Lightning, as usual Lightning was high stepping and acting up.Dad told Mom to put me on Ginger and lead her around next to Lightning to calm him down.Yeah right!Ginger was another knot head horse with a sense of humor.I loved that horse but she hated me.The plan was for me to hang onto Ginger’s mane.Ginger took one look at Lightning and decided to act silly too.She started sidestepping, snorting and threw her head back and hit me smack in the nose – broke my nose and blackened my eyes. Thus ended the lesson for the day.

 

 

 

Another incident with a horse and my nose.Ken and I were playing hockey with sticks and a frozen hunk of manure, commonly called horse turds.(Hey, this was before video games – we made our own entertainment!)Ken wound up, gave a mighty swing, hit that horse turd so hard – wham!Hit my nose with a frozen horse turd.You might say I’m acquainted with both ends of a horse.

 

 

 

The end of the trail almost happened one fall day in 1962.It was a tradition to have one more ride before school started.I would either ride with my cousins Carol Sue Nerpel or Nancy Bedard.This day I didn’t know we were going to go for a ride; therefore, I wasn’t dressed for horseback.I was wearing a summer blouse, pedal pushers (now called Capri pants) and sandals.Nancy said we were just going for a “short ride” so I’d be okay.Phyllis McKay and her wonderful horse Viking and John Awalt on a pony met us at the barn.Nancy and I rode double on her wonderful horse Stormy.We packed some hotdogs and buns and took off headed north.What a beautiful, hot, sunny fall day.Miles went by.Did I mention I was riding with Nancy behind the saddle?Not very comfortable.More miles went by and we were in the “foot hills.”It was getting HOT.More miles go by.We are in brush with thorns and BUGS, BIG BITING BUGS.Finally John had enough and headed back to town.We went on, and on, and on some more.Viking decided to run on a gravel path.Phyllis was an excellent horse person, but Viking wanted to run.He did run. Don’t know what happened but Viking was down.He must have stumbled and fell head first and there went Phyllis, airborne – crash landing for both girl and horse.Phyllis was skinned up, bleeding, crying and worried about her horse – what a girl!Did I mention the hot dogs went flying too?Never did find them.More miles go by – HOT, BUGS, THORNS, THIRSTY, HUNGRY.Wow, guess what?We are at Mineral Springs.Swamp water never tasted so good.Dried up, squished hot dog buns – delicious.Cool dip in mineral swamp water – wonderful.Life doesn’t get much better than that.If any of you have ever ridden a horse around Mineral Springs, you know this isn’t your pleasant prairie terrain.There are hills that would challenge a mountain goat.We had heard stories of bogs and quicksand around Mineral Springs,but never thought much about those “stories.”I now had blisters on my butt and chafed legs to add to my sunburn, thorn scratches, and bug bites.Yes, I’m still behind the saddle.Nancy said for me to put my feet in the stirrups to ease the pain on my legs.Not smart, but felt better.

 

 

 

It was getting late and the wind was starting to blow.As we crest yet another hill, we notice the sky to the north and west getting very black.We better try to get home fast!Who said they knew a short cut???Finally, we do find some open area next to a pasture but there is a fence we need to cross.The ground is wet but we didn’t think much about it.Phyllis got off Viking and was able to pull up a fence post and lay down the fence so we could ride the horses across.Now the wind is really strong and the sky is very black, lightning, thunder, and sprinkles of rain.The horses are acting up, dancing around, laying their ears back, and snorting.Something is really wrong.We thought it was the storm causing the horses to act strange.Phyllis got on Viking.He got part way to the wet ground, stops, and backs up.Phyllis turns him around, gives him a kick, and he jumps across.Now it is Nancy, me and Stormy’s turn.He jumps but not all the way across the mud.He hits in the middle of the wet ground and sinks.Nancy threw herself off and got free.Stormy is now terrified and lunging.Nancy is screaming that he broke his leg.Before all hell broke loose, I was able to get one foot out of the stirrups.One was still in the stirrup and I was under Stormy, stuck in the mud.I said, “Hey girls, forget the dang horse, give me a hand and get me out of this #^&@!# bog.”Phyllis came back and the girls calm Stormy and lead him out.Whatever Stormy sunk into was scary.We were lucky Stormy was able to get out and I was only bruised and covered with mud.We fixed the fence and started home.When Stormy and Viking knew we were headed home, they gave a very fast ride.It started to rain and hail so I got part of the mud washed off.When we got to the barn Nancy’s dad was waiting for us.That is the only time I’ve ever seen Lucien upset.Nancy told him what had happened.Lucien chewed on his cigar for awhile, raised one eyebrow, and said the horses were smarter than us.He didn’t say anymore.Maybe by the looks of us he thought that was punishment enough.

 

 

 

I was visiting with my cousin Carol Sue and I made the comment now that we are experiencing old age I wish we would have had more fun when we were younger.Her reply, “I don’t think we could have lived through more fun.”Happy trails everyone.

 

Kathy

 

 

 

 

Hannah Alida Higgins Loeb’s (39) eulogy and Pictures

 

Posted by Karen Loeb Mhyre (65): Bellevue, WA

 

 

Hi Gary,


When my mom passed away this past October 9th, I put together a slide show from photos we had of her and family in old albums. It was very therapeutic to look at all the old pictures and make the slide show. Apple has great programs that are very user friendly even for those of us who are not very “techie”!
 
Several of the photos had people in them that I could not identify. I sure wish I had looked at the photos and asked Mom about them while she was alive. I sent copies to Susan but she did not identify the people. I also sent them to a couple of Mom’s cousins, but they were not able to identify the people as “family”. I thought they might have been my grandmother, Alida Olson Higgin’s sisters and families.
 
The first photo is of my grandfather Frank Higgins with one arm around Alida (on Frank’s left) and another lady on his right. Then another couple is on their left. I was hoping to identify the couple and the woman with Alida and Frank. The photo is from the 1920’s, I think. Frank passed away in 1937, I believe.
 
The second photo is from the left: Frank Higgins, Hannah Higgins in front, Alida, Patricia Higgins, then unknown teenage girl, unknown man and unknown woman. I thought these 3 were Alida’s sister, Mable and her husband and daughter, but Mom’s cousin Ardis did not recognize them. This photo is from 1927. My mom was 6 years old.
 
Thanks to anyone who might have an idea of the identity of people in the pictures.
 
Also attached is the obit we wrote for Mother for her funeral mass. Our plan is to return Mom’s ashes to North Dakota this summer when we are visiting for a family wedding in northern Minnesota. My Dad is buried in St. Cloud, Minnesota. I am trying to figure out about moving him to ND as well, as that is where “they began our family”. Not sure how this will all work out!
 
It is great to see all the old pictures and read the stories from so many of our Dunseith folks. You are providing a wonderful service for all of us with North Dakota ties!
 
Karen Loeb Mhyre

 

 

Follow up reply from Karen,

 

Hi Gary,

Karen Loeb Mhyre


I have had trouble with internet but it is now working. Here is a copy of what we wrote for Mom’s funeral mass.


Also, I looked at the photos again and I am surprised that the woman with Frank and Alida is not one of her sisters, as she looks a lot like Alida. Hope some of our Dunseith readers can identify the folks in the photos. Thanks,

 




Hannah Alida Higgins Loeb

Beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died Saturday, October 9, 2010, at age 89. The daughter of Frank and Alida Higgins, Hannah was born in Bottineau, North Dakota on March 23, 1921. A graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Fargo, ND, class of 1939, she went on to St. John’s School of Nursing where she earned her RN and went to work for the Army Air Core in the Grand Forks during WWII. In 1947, she married Dr. George Lorenz Loeb and together they worked at San Haven, a tuberculosis sanatorium – Hannah acting as anesthesia nurse for George as they performed surgery on TB patients. Eventually, Dr. Loeb introduced sulfa drugs to their patients, which worked to cure them, and enabled the state to close the sanatorium to TB patients in 1958.

Together, they had five children; Karen Christa Loeb Mhyre (James) of Bellevue, WA, Robert Frances Loeb of Colorado, Marianne Helen Loeb of Bothell, WA, Thomas Frederick Loeb (Brigitte) Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and Jane Connelly Loeb of Bothell, WA. Hannah was preceded in death by her husband, George in 1975.

In 1958, the family moved to Minneapolis where Dr Loeb retrained at the University of Minnesota in the specialty of radiology. The family lived in Seattle, WA for several years following Dr Loeb’s residency, and then settled in St. Cloud, Minnesota where he practiced at the St Cloud Hospital Radiology department until his death. Hannah remained active in the Woman’s Medical Auxiliary, co-chairing the blood-mobile drive annually for many years. An active supporter and participant in the arts community throughout her life, Hannah was also a member of the Catholic Daughter’s of America, the St. Stephen’s Mission Society, the Wildlife Federation, PETA, Sierra Club, and the National Democratic Party.

In 1998, at age 77, she moved to Bothell, WA where she lived with her daughters, Jane and Mari. She traveled extensively with her third daughter, Karen, visiting Alaska, Hawaii, Australia (for son Thomas’s wedding), and even back to Dunseith, ND for a reunion of Dunseith schools where she was was honored as one of the “oldest” former students attending the reunion, a member of the class of 1939. She rode in the parade celebrating all the classes of the Dunseith school. She rode atop a 100 year old carriage drawn by 2 beautiful horses. She loved waving to the crowd and tossing candy to the Dunseith children watching the parade. This continued to be one of her favorite memories about her visit to the reunion.

An avid reader, political aficionado, scrabble player and supporter of human and animal rights, she will be greatly missed by all that knew her. She is survived by her five children, seven grandchildren, four great – grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass was celebrated in her name at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church in Bothell, WA on October 16th, 2010.

 

 

 

This is my grandfather Frank Higgins,Hannah (Mom @ age 6, Alida, unknown girl, Patty (@ age 3) & unknown man & woman.
Karen
 
Right: Frank Higgins with his Daughter Hannah, age 6, standing in front of him
Next: Alida, Unknown girl in front of Alida & Patty, age 3, standing in Front
Left: Unknown Man & Woman.

 

 

Mabel, Frank, Alida Higgins, & unknown couple ? Date

 

 
 
 
Reply to Mary Eurich Knutson’s Pictures
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

I think the little girl in picture 5 is one of the Eurich girls. My guess is Mary, but at that age they could look a lot alike. It could also be some of the Pritchard kids, who are cousins of the Eurichs. Same genetics, same features. The other pictures are a bit older than me yet, but I’m catching up. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Dick, Picture 5 is labeled “Dorothy & Joel & Norman”. Dorothy and Norman Eurich we know are Mary’s siblings. Mary, who is Joel?
Picture 5
Dorothy & Joel & Norman

 
 
  

02/07/2011

Posted on by
Condolences to the Bobby Brennan family:
From Rhonda Hiatt (75): Battle Ground, WA
 

Hi Gary,
 
I would like to send my thoughts and prayers to the Bobby Brennan family.
 
 
To Tim Martinson, I really enjoyed the link to your daughter’s wedding. What a great idea.
 
Rhonda Hiatt “75”
 
 
 
 
Email address change
From Donna Dubois Thomas (72): Dunseith, ND
Hi Gary,
 
I have a new e-mail address. Would you add me as I am not getting current alerts.
 
Thanks,
Donna DuBois-Thomas (Class of ’72)
 
 
 
 
Tim Martinson’s daughter’s wedding
Reply from Sharon Longie Dana (73): MIssoula MT
 
Reply to Tim Martinson: Congratulations on your daughters wedding and thanks for sharing it with all of us. It was absolutley beautiful, you can make anything happen with wonderful family and friends. Wish them all the best !!
 
Sharon Longie Dana (73)
 
 
 
 
Tim Martinson’s daughter’s wedding
Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bismarck, ND
 
Hi Gary,
 
I just visited the Anchorage wedding site Tim Martinson provided. What fun! Please tell your readers if they haven’t visited the site, they should. This was an amazing wedding. It was interesting how relatives/neighbors/so many people came together to ensure this was a memorable wedding. Be sure to watch the video–to the end (past the fireworks).
 
Neola
Question for Tim Martinson: How did you end up in Alaska? Was it Job related or just an adventure?
 
This is the link again, for Tim’s daughter’s wedding, for those of you that missed it
 

 
Reply from from Sharon Peterson Harmsen (63): Bismarck, ND
 
HI Gary,
 
I continue to enjoy my daily dose of Dunseith news. Isn’t it really amazing how many wonderful stories have come out since you started publishing the daily blog……… I continue to be surprised at the ability of so many people to dig way back in the recesses of their mind and come up with these fascinating stories that I’d long ago forgotten. Makes my day.
 
Anyway, my husband and I just got back from Arizona and while down there were able to access our ND email address. However, in doing so, somehow emails # 1080, 1081, 1082 and 1083 were lost or somehow deleted. Can I ask that you forward those to me at your convenience. I like to share them with my mom, Joy Peterson, as she looks forward to reading them also.
 
MUCH snow in ND right now and wind is blowing it around today again.
 
Thanks for your help. Keep up the effort.
 
Sharon Peterson Harmsen
Bismarck, ND
 
 
 
 
Reply from Sharon Zorn Gerdes (62): Windsor, CO
 

Its sure nice to hear from Meryle Hoopman. I babysat her when she was a baby, and liked her entire family very much. Just had to comment on the Kick McKay horse. Patsy would ride this magnificent palomino over to my house. He was huge, and just beautiful, named Viking. I recall trying to ride him a time or two, must have been suicidal to even try. He was a lot more horse than I could handle. Patsy did well with him however. Wondered if that was the horse Kick took to the mountains to ride. Sharon Zorn Gerdes.

 

 

 

 

Lots of snow in Bottineau

Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70):

 

Yes Gary,
Snow, snow every where! Here in Bottineau there are many streets
quite narrow. The city crews are busy every day hauling snow away,
one street at a time. So many more to go.

Yesterday afternoon,I heard the thundering sound of snow rumbling
down my metal north roof. The boys quit frightened barked and danced
in circles while Sven squawked in fright! We were all relieved when
it was over, the roof hadn’t caved in!

When I went to the back door I found my car parked in the driveway,
buried in the heavy, wet snow that slid off the garage. Every farm
girl keeps a grain shovel. (Used more than silver) And, as I “grain”
shoveled, tunneling my car out, I found it wiser for my back to take
tiny scoops. The hood of my car was indented from the heavy, wet
snow, but, “Plucks” popped right back into shape as the snow was
scooped away.

I am so glad it was my car that was buried not me or the boys. Any
of us would have been flattened from the sheer force and weight! I
looked across the street where their son -in -law was moving snow
away at Wes and Ovidia’s, and Mr. Mortenson shoveling off the
addition to his house. Everyone inthe neighborhood took advantage of
the +30s to work.

Other neighbors called to ask if I was alright, I just responded,
Yep! Now, I don’t have to crawl up on the rooftop to move snow!
Later, at Buie’s insistence, we called upon the Schnieder’s. Wes
continues his slow recovery from a fractured wrist. Wes, who for all
the ski-ing ,riding horse, and hard physical work he has done in his
life finds it hard to slow down when there is snow to be moved and
kindling to be chopped.

A “bob cat” just came and moved the snow tunnel off my driveway.
Blessed with good health, I shan’t complain. Yep, I’m wintering well.
Vickie

 

 

 

Gary Stokes’ Confirmation Picture 50 years ago. My how we have changed.

 

Folks, After about a year searching and asking my former Confirmation class members if they still had their copies of our Confirmation picture, Betty Hanson Tratebas found her copy. She asked Neola to scan a copy and send it to me. I think we were confirmed in 1961. There is lots of Norwegian blood in this photo. I know many of you know some of the folks in this photo. Joanne Smith Fuchs was with us the first year too, until they moved to a farm west of Dunseith.

 

Pastor Richard Grudt lives in the Seattle area

Jerry Larson lives in Dickinson. He is a retired County Agent.

Howard Olson, Brother to Dwight in Bottineau, lives in Minot.

Kenny Pederson lives in Michigan, ND with a 2nd place, his homestead, west of Lake Metigoshe.

Dick Roland lives in Crosby, ND

Betty Hanson Tratebas lives in Bottineau and works at Good Sam.

Rochelle Lovaason I have not made contact with yet.
 
 
 
 
From Alan Poitra (76): sporttrac_6@msn.com Bloomington, MN
 
Hi Gary, I thought time for another joke…enjoy!

Childbirth

at 65

 

With all the new technology regarding fertility
recently, a 65-year-old friend of mine was able to give birth.

When she was discharged from the hospital and went

home, I went to visit.

‘May I see the new baby?’ I asked

‘Not yet,’ She said ‘I’ll make coffee and we can visit for a while first.’

Thirty minutes had passed, and I asked, ‘May I see the new baby now?’

‘No, not yet,’ She said.

After another few minutes had elapsed,I asked again, ‘May I see the baby now?’

‘No, not yet,’ replied my friend.

Growing very impatient, I asked, ‘Well, when can I see the baby?’

‘WHEN HE CRIES!’ she told me.

‘WHEN HE CRIES?’ I demanded. ‘Why do I have to wait until he CRIES?’

‘BECAUSE I FORGOT WHERE I PUT HIM, O.K.?!!!!

 

 


Later,
Mr. Poitra

  

02/06/2011

Posted on by
Condolences to the Bobby Brennan Family from the Hoopman family:
Message from Meryle Vinje Hoopman (74): Prescott, WI
 
I am sorry to hear about Bobby Brennan, my whole family sends their condolences to the Brennan family. I understand the pain and sorrow you are going through and our prayers are with you. The Hoopman family
 
 
 
 
Web Link to Tim Martinson’s daughters unique wedding
From Tim Martinson (69): Anchorage, AK
 

Hi Gary,


My youngest was married recently and I have attached a link to the article about it. I thought you may get a kick out of it. I sure had a good time .

 

Take Care,

 

Tim


Folks, Enjoy this very special occasion in such a unique setting.
Tim, This is so special and very different. Thank you for sharing.
 
 
 
 
A who Question with a horse west of Lake Metigoshe:
Question from Kay Hosmer (77): Crown Point, Ind
 

I don’t have a horse story per se, but when I was young I had so much fun when Kick McKay took us horse back riding. Later on in life, I loved riding through the Turtle Mountains on a horse with Terry – ?? – I can’t remember his last name – his family lived just west of Lake Metigoshe. What beautiful country to ride through – Kay Hosmer (‘77)

Folks, I’ll bet you guys can figure out who this guy Terry is. If he is close to Kay’s age, I’m assuming he’s be about 50.
 
 
 
Connie Fauske is visiting Jerome (58) and Donna LaCroix (64) Allard in FL.
Message from Connie Fauske Monte (62): Santa Barbara, CA
 
“We are currently in Cape Coral, FL. Just got here on Thursday, it is so humid, not at all like the west coast. Donna and Jerome Allard say we will get used to it. The past couple days have been humid in the morning but the breezes come in and blow the humidity out. We will be here for 6 weeks to 2 months or until it is more pleasant in Kentucky.”
Connie, Donna is right. You will get used to the humidity. You and Bob enjoy your time with Donna and Jerome while you are there.
 

 

 

 

SKI-Joring and Wes Schnieder

Posted by Vicking Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

 

Gary and friends,

SKI-JORING and Wes

 

Upon my inquiry about ski-joring. Wes did. Wes called any time he put on a pair of skis as skiing. Most of his skis were homemade. Upon further visiting, I learned; Wes cross country skied without ski poles. He with his brother Warren, frequently down hill skied without ski poles, often making jumps coming down off the foot hills around the Scheinder farm. Wes also skied behind horses and behind his brother Warren’s motor cycle. SKI-JORING.


According to Wes, ski-joring behind a horse was hard exercise. Ski-joring behind his laughing brother, Warren, driving the motorcycle hitting the gravel edges, proved to be the bigger challenge. One day, as Warren sped along faster and faster and faster, Wes decided it would probably be safer to swing over the gravel ridge beyond the ditch into the field where there were heavy snow banks. He just made it over the gravel ridge and ditch, but, the front of the skis embedded into the tangled clover growing under the snow. Wes let go of the rope and found himself head first in the cold wet snow. Crawling out he walked the rest of the way home.


Another time, in the hills by Ackworth, Wes was ski-ing by Norman Hiatts, where he stopped to visit. They discussed the deer in a field by a haystack. Over the course of the conversation, Wes said to Norman, “Would you like me to rope a deer for you?” Norman doubted Wes could ever rope deer. Off went Wes ski-ing with a rope in hand. He roped a deer (I’m not telling you Wes’s secret of how, as it is different than roping cattle) Wes came back on skis, leading a roped deer back to the Hiatt door. Norman came out and said in surprise, “Wes wait here until I get my camera and take a picture!” He went back in the house to get the camera. With the rope slack, the deer gave a mighty leap and away he went into the woods with the rope, leaving Wes behind. Perhaps the deer was camera shy?


We in this corner of Bottineau are wintering well. Vickie

Vickie, I talked to my brother Bud today in Bottineau. He said you guys have quite a bit of snow this winter. More than you have had for a number of years. He said some of the streets are quite narrow with the high snow build up from being plowed. Gary

 

 

 

More Crystal Cafe memories

From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

 

Gary and Friends,

Just a couple more short Crystal Cafe stories. I remember in the 50s and 60s how the kids hung out at the Crystal on Saturday nights while their folks shopped at the stores and socialized. The thing I will always remember is the definite difference in the choices of music that the kids from the country had from the town kids. Just inside the door of the Crystal and to the right sat the jukebox. Saturday nights it was seldom not going full bore. I remember the town kids liked the rock and roll doo-wop songs but if one of the country kids, especially the ones from the hills, went over to the nickelodeon you were going to hear Kitty Wells or Sonny James or better yet, Johnny Horton doing ‘North to Alaska’. It kind of became a Saturday night battle of the bands, so to speak. A lot of nickels went down the slot on Saturdays.

One funny story Mom came home and told us was when she went over to the Crystal from the bank for her noon lunch one day. Helen Watkins Nelson came over from Hosmers and sat with her. She said Helen got up and went into the little restroom toward the back of the cafe and when she came back to the booth she was carrying the roll of toilet paper. Mom said she pointed to it and Helen shook her head and headed back to the restroom and came back with her purse. She said, “I knew I was carrying something when I went in there.” They both had a good laugh. Helen was a sweetheart! Thanks Gary!

 
 
 
 
Frozen Fingers Festival
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 

Hi Everyone,

 

It’s time for the Frozen Fingers Festival again. :)

 

Local groups are “Highway 43” and “Just Us”.

 

“Highway 3”: Dick and Brenda Johnson (rural Dunseith–near Highway 43, or as I call it, “The Peace Garden Road”) and Ron Hett, former owner of Roba’s in Bottineau.

 

“Just Us”: David Mettler, Tina Bullinger, Don Boardman

If you are as old as I am (or older), you probably remember Oscar/Sanna Wekseth Vikan. David is their grandson. Dave’s mother, Evelyn, is Oscar/Sanna’s daughter. I’ve mentioned several times that my dad worked for Oscar in the early 40’s. Oscar sold the shop to Arnold Haugerud.

Tina Pladson Bullinger is married to John Bullinger, son of Marvin/Marjorie Johnson Bullinger. John is the younger brother of “The Twins”: Garry and Larry

The third member of the trio is Don Boardman. I remember the Boardman name as, when we drove to Dunseith, we drove past “The Boardman Place”. We knew we were almost to Dunseith then. Don/his wife, Irene, live in Bottineau.

 

I hope to see some of you at Frozen Fingers. From 1:00 p.m. until closing, I’ll be at the registration desk. Please say “hi” and tell me who you are (Gary’s readers). :)

 

Neola

 

 

Mystery photo solved
Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44): Bottineau, ND
 

Hi Gary,

 

Dick got it right. It’s me on my pony Star. Dick the date is wrong we moved in the spring of 41 so picture taken in 41. They were still working on the house as you can see the mess in the yard I never thought of you getting it, but you recognizing the area had to have a good idea.

 

Lloyd.

Lloyd Awalt on his horse Star – 1941
 
 
 
Mystery Pictures:
From Mary Eruich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND
 
Folks,
 
How many of these folks can you guys identify in these 6 pictures? I think I know several already.
 
Gary
 
 
Picture 1.

 

 

 

 

Picture 2.

 

 

 
 
Picture 3.

 

 

 

 

 
Picture 4.

 

 

 

 

Picture 5.

 

 

 
Picture 6.

 

 

 
 
  

02/05/2011

Posted on by
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
Robert Brennan
 

Died February 2, 2011
 

Robert “Bob” Brennan, age 59 of Dunseith, died Wednesday at his home. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday at 2:00 pm at the St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Dunseith. Wake service will be on Monday starting at 4:00 pm with a scriptual prayer service at 8:00 pm at the Church. (Nero Funeral Home – Bottineau)

 
 
Condolences to Bobby Brennans family
Reply to Peggy Wurgler’s pictures
From Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN
 

Hi all…..

 

 

 

I share in Marlys’ sadness over the news of Bobby Brennan’s death. He was a friend and a classmate. He always had a big hello AND a story to tell. My thoughts and prayers are with Bobby and his family…..

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing those photos, Peggy! I don’t remember the one with the bubble – guess that’s just one of my many hidden talents…… The one of you and Art is SO cute – it looks like a photo from an ‘old’ calendar (sorry for the old reference!!!)……

 

Paula Fassett

 

 

 

 

 
Gracie (Art) Rude
Horse Story
John and Hazel Hiatt
From Rod Hiatt (69): Bottineau, ND
 

I haven’t written in a while, so I thought I would ramble on a couple of different subjects.

My son, Jason, does snow removal in the Bismarck area and he went and cleaned a driveway and corral for a lady, He calls me and tells what he done and went on about how nice and totally awesome this lady was. As we talked and he kept on about this great lady, he asked me if I knew her, as it was Gracie Rude(Art’s wife)

Of course I said yes and told him that she was a very good customer of mine when I had the Western Store. Small world and one never knows who you might run into.

 

I could tell hundreds of horse stories, some from personnel experience and many from stories I had heard from Dad and Granddad

When we lived in Dunseith, north end of town, Myron Evans had a hay field right across the street to the north. Well my Dad had been out on the road buying horses and he came home with a black and white 13 hand pony that he had bought for me. I am guessing that I was around 10, but anyway there was no way that my Mother was going to let me get on this new horse without her first trying him out. So Mom bailed on Spraky(already named him) kicked him in the ribs and she headed out across the field like she had come out of the starting gates and the Kentucky Derby. of course back then the woman wore dresses and Moms blew up over her face and she couldn’t see, she was hollering, Joyce Evans was standing on their steps hollering at my Dad to stop that *%$&&%^* horse, well old Sparky circled around the haystack at the north east end of the field and headed back to the trailer on a dead run. He came sliding to a stop my Mom got off and never again did she decide to make sure a new horse was safe for her little boy Roddy again.

 

Last of all, Vickie made the comment that Granddad and Hazel were like Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, well being a grandson I feel that its ok for me to say, that my Granddad was a very knowledgeable man in the horse business and well respected with anything to do with livestock, but he would have never been wearing a white hat like Roy and the rest of the good guys, Anyone that dealt with Granddad better had made sure that their pencil was sharp or they were going to come out on the bottom end of the deal. And for Hazel, us kids thought the world of her and she treated us just great, but I think I could probably see more Calamity Jane in her than I ever could see Dale Evans.

 

 

Reply to Peggy Wurgler’s pictures

From Marlys Hiatt (71): Dunseith, ND

 

Great pictures Peggy – I was also a classmate of yours and remember the
7th and 8th grade well, especially those socks all the girls wore. In
2001 I returned to DHS as the school social worker. There are quite a few
alumni working here now.

Marlys Hiatt

 
 
Crystal Cafe memories
From Shirley LaRocque Wendt (59): Tukwila, WA
 

Goodmorning I too worked at the crystal , I started out washing early on then onto
waiting tables until I went away to school. I remember Father Woolf very well my mother

Madeline LaRocque she also worked her way up to cooking for years she worked there. I remember Saturday nights the Canadians would come down to go to the bars as the women could’nt go into the bars in Canada, so we were really busy.

 

 

 

Reply to the mystery photo posted yesterday

From Dick Johnson (68):

 

Gary and Friends,

I couldn’t really put 2 and 2 together on the horse and rider until I recognized the back of the store buildings behind him. It’s Hosmers and across to the right is the top of the Dakota Hotel. That means it was taken on the south side of John Awalt’s new house on the east side of town so my guess is Lloyd or Marshall Awalt. One question though. Lloyd said his dad built the house in ’41 so are you sure the picture was in ’38? Now if the guy BROUGHT the picture in to Karen at the Spectrum, it’s got to be Lloyd. Texaco hat, sleeves rolled up, pants rolled up, it’s Lloyd! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 

 

 
 
 
   
All rights reserved

02/04/2011

Posted on by
Condolences to Bobby Brennan’s Family
From Marlys Hiatt (71): Dunseith, ND
 
I am so sad and sorry to hear that Bobby Brennan passed away. He
graduated a year ahead of me in high school and was always one of my
favorite people. I still have a very funny memory that to this day I can
clearly see in my mind that symbolizes all the fun we had. I wish I could
share it but it would be hard to put into words. I have forgotten a lot
of the story but the picture will always make me smile. The next laughs
Bobby and I will share will be on the other side.

Today my thoughts and prayers are with Bobby’s family and friends,
especially his children and grandchildren.

Marlys Hiatt

 
 

 

Condolences to Bob Brennan’s Family

From Dick Johnson (66): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

First I would like to send my condolences to the extended Brennan family on the loss of Bob Brennan. It sure has been a rough time for the family with the loss of Supan and now Bob. I know the entire community supports the family at this sad time.

Those who said the picture was taken in the Crystal were right. I think the lady at the till is Bertha Vanorny, Jay’s grandmother. She was a fixture in the Crystal for years. I remember how she and Bertha Myer and Father Wolfe used to play cards at one of the center tables. They would sometimes move the game to the rear room if the place was busy. Dick Bercier from Rugby also was a frequent player. He was the highway patrolman. Even as a kid, I kind of wondered how the Priest and the Highway Patrolman dared to sit in plain view and play cards for cash?? Only in old Dunseith. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Lee Stickland (64) had a heart Attack on New Years day.
From Lee Stickland (64): Dickinson, Nd
 
Leland Stickland, Yes this is appropriate to publish. Why did you wait so long to tell us. Heart Attacks are serious, not Passé. We are so hoping all is OK now. Please keep us posted. Gary
Gary and Bernadette,

Great today, melting, 30s. Travel advisory for tonight as roads will be
“slippy”.

We have had a lot of snow. In fact; we got 7 inches the past week end. City does not have enough $$$ or equipment to keep up.

Today’s paper showed that $87 million will be provided to city on need of the state to help fund exceptional need for snow removal.

Thanks for being so faithful in YOUR maintenance of the BLOG.

Gary, the following is only for publication if YOU think it appropriate I hesitate to mention it, heart attacks are nearly passe’ these days. I had a heart attack on New Year’s day. Well, really I had it on the 30th while sitting in a chair and petting a cat. It felt terrible, I figured it was gastrointestinal reflux.
Pain went away in 20 ” and I went about my business. Next morn it was -24 degree wind chill and when I walked out into it, two mules kicked me and I than knew that I needed help. I have a great friend, an ER Dr whom I have known since we were kids. He is Sheldon Swenson, born and raised in Rocklake. ND.
Sheldon lives about 6 blocks from me and was here soon. Enzymes were quite elevated, indicating muscle damage in the heart. So.. 90 mph ride to Bismarck. ( I once drove the ambulance or cared for the passenger in the back). The cardiologist said degree of cardio-damage was <5%.
All relevant staff for angiogram knew I was coming to St A’s, all info including the EKGs had been sent electronically so all was ready. I was able to watch the whole procedure on TV and converse with the DR and the staff re what I was able to see.
4 days in the hosp and conflicts so I feel great, at least like a M$.
SWAY IT GOES WHEN THE WIND BLOWS LEE

 
 
 
Mystery horse rider
From Karen Larson (Bottineau Spectrum): Bottineau, ND
 
Gary – the gentleman on the horse brought this in. I am allowed to tell
you that the horses name is Star, It was taken in 1938. Personally I
don’t think he looks a lot different now ( the gentleman – not the
horse.) : ) Karen Larson
Karen, I don’t have any idea who this may be. He looks to be about 12 years old, so he would have been born in about 1926, give or take a year or two each way. This looks like the out skirts of Dunseith too?

Folks, Any idea who may this mystery guy may be?

 
 
 
Art Rude’s Song Title correction
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
Hi to both of you.
 
I was so excited when I sent the email about Art’s song, I sent the wrong title. :( It should be, I think, “Forty Below Keeps the Riff-Raff Out”. As soon as I read your newsletter, Gary, I realized my error. Sorry about the error. That one word changes the meaning entirely!
 
Neola
 
 
 
Floyd Pritchard (59) Memories
From sister (cousin) Mary Eurich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND
 
Hi Gary
Just thought I’d tell a little story on Floyd Pritchard. When we were
very young he always wanted to work at “getting toughened up” and we
girls were supposed to help him. He’d loosen his shirt so it hung over
the top of his jeans and then tighten his gut and have up punch him in
the belly as hard as we could. Every so often he’d forget to tell us he
had a big buckle on his belt and when we hit we’d punch that buckle. It
didn’t feel good. He’d think that was so funny and laugh and laugh. Then
he’d wait quite awhile again till he figured we’d forgotten about the
buckle and pull the same thing over again. Just one of the incidents
that comes back when I read all the stories on the blog. Take care.
Mary
 
 
 
Crystal Cafe Memories
Reply from Yvonne Casavant Marchand (#3 of the 16 Casavant children): Bismarck, ND

Gary, Yes I,m sure that is Bertha Meyers in the picture
I have many good memories of the Crystal Cafe, thats where I met my late husband Francis Marchand .
My sister Lorette Aamodt [Casavant] and I both worked there ,Rosie and Dan as our boss.
Being farm girls it was a learning experience.
I will never forget waiting on Joe Morrinville he ordered a raw hamburger I thought he had to mean rare so that what I brought him , He looked at me and said ,I said raw (needless to say from then on it was raw)
Thanks to Bertha M Rosie M, Stella S ,Mary G ,and Charolette B for teaching me how important it was being to work on time,
was young and foolish then I,m always on time now
Yvonne Marchand
Yvonne, It is wonderful hearing from you! I know that many of your siblings are living in the Bismarck area too. Gary
 

Crystal Cafe Memories

Reply from Susan Brew Roussin (59) Rolla, ND
 

We have good memories of the Crystal Cafe. Our grandmother, Kathryn (Kate) Demo cooked there for quiet a while, she also cooked at the bowling alley cafe at times. Besides helping raise Lorna (Brew) Abbey and me (when Mom was sick) Grandma also worked at San Haven for years as a nurse’s aide. She also sold Avon. Glad to be part of the alum of DHS. Take care. Enjoy life. Seen a memo at Senior Meals yesterday that said “Life is too short to fold your underwear” How true….
 
 

Crystal Cafe Memories

Reply from Sharon Zorn Gerdes (62): Windsor, CO
 
Gary, I also have to say that photo is the Crystal cafe. I worked for Rosie and loved it until they found out I was under the legal age to work there. Then they made me quit. But I never forgot the nights when there was a dance in town. After the dance the Crystal would be standing room only, extremely crowded, and man did we sell hamburgers. I think they made excellent hamburgers and malts. And I don’t recall who made the pies, but they sold a lot of pie and coffee as well. I loved the Jukebox and Rosie let us take nickels from the cafe to keep the music going. Good times! Sharon Gerdes.
 
 
 
Crystal Cafe Memories
Reply from Dick Johnson (66): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

Paula wants to hear a bunch of Crystal stories. Here are a couple. One time Dad and I were sitting at the counter and a guy came through the front door. The old heavy wood and glass door was at least 3 feet wide, or more, and this guy had to turn slightly to get through the door. Up until that time (around ’60) he was the most obese man I had ever seen. He was well dressed in western attire and was wearing a western belt with a big silver buckle with what appeared to be a large ruby on it. As he walked toward us I whispered to Dad, “Where could you find a belt that big?” He walked past us and Dad tapped me and pointed at the guy’s back. There was another identical buckle in the back! He was wearing two belts, end to end. First and last time I ever saw that! I don’t have a clue who he was or where he came from but I remember the belt.

Dwight mentioned staying with Jim McCoy upstairs at the Crystal. One thing I remember was that Jim McCoy used to open the window upstairs over the sidewalk and then squirt water from a squirt gun on drunks that came out of the bar next door. They would stand out there on the sidewalk and look all over the place trying to figure out what it was and where it came from. I was pretty young and was sitting in a car on a Saturday night and laughing hysterically at the poor drunks and their antics. I saw what Jim was doing so I knew what was coming, but they didn’t! OK, someone else has to know a Crystal story or two.Thanks Gary!

Dick
 
 
Experiences living in Japan
Reply from Bob Lykins (Teacher): Hutto, TX

Reply to Dale Pritchard. Oh-my-gosh, Dale, I lived at Tachikawa from August, 1974 until July, 1979. I taught at Yokota High School SY 74-75 and then was promoted into the DoDDS-Pacific Office as the Pacific Curriculum Specialist for Social Studies. My office was in the Tachikawa AB old Headquarters Building. This means our paths no doubt crossed a number of times during your 2nd tour. We lived in American Village near Tachi AB at first and then I bought a “lot house” on base. Lot houses were an interesting concept at that time. They were built by private contractors and managed by base housing. One would purchase the house and then receive housing allowance for the utilities and 10% of the purchase price of the house. I paid $475.00 for a 3 bedroom, kitchen/dining room, living room, one bathroom with an enclosed addition on the back. Unlike living in base quarters we could do anything with the house. If one made improvements/repairs you saved the receipts for the materials, turned them in to the Base Housing Office and whatever you spent was added on to the value of the house. I didn’t live there for very long. When I was promoted into the school’s central office my GS grade was equal to a Lt. Col. which qualified me for base housing which was far better than what we had. The American Village house, which was on private land and managed by a rental company, would not pass the most lenient housing code in an American ghetto. When the wind blew the curtains stood straight out. The house was heated with a kerosene space heater that was fed along a line leading from a 55 gallon drum propped outside. We bolted fans to the ceiling to push warm air down a hallway to the back rooms. In the winter the kids ate their breakfast on the stove oven door while my wife kept the oven running. The houses were traditionally old Japanese and the baths were very Japanese. We had to heat the bathrooms with space heaters before bathing. The lot houses were a step up but not by much. In addition, if the base closed and you were in a lot house, you were responsible for destroying that house and returning the property to it’s “original state.” Since Tachi AB was slated to close soon, I got out of that house as soon as I could selling it to an AF doctor for $450.00. Moving into base housing was a like moving to Beverly Hills. Unfortunately our teachers, on many bases, such as in Korea and Japan, are still required to live off base. In a number of places like Germany, that’s not so bad but in others it can be a trial. Still many prefer living off base to escape the military hassle. Me, I liked my creature comforts and the convience of living on base. It’s too bad, Dale, that we did not meet there. I would have been able to continue your education by introducing you to some of the aspects of Japanese life that most foreigners did not have a chance to see and then some. You were right about the trip to Atsugi. It was much longer than a couple of hours from Yokota and it didn’t matter what day of the week. Travel was something else. I remember the kids who lived at Tachi AB leaving school at Yokota AB on their bikes the same time I did in my car and they would beat me home most days by 10-15 minutes. The distance between the two bases was only about 3 miles. Ah, the old days.

 

Bob Lykins
 
 
 
Old Pictures
From Peggy Wurgler Axtman (71): Kent, WA
 

Gary,
 
 

Looking back through my photo albums recently, I pulled a couple pictures of my classmates taken on my last day of school in Dunseith. We were 7th graders and the year was 1966, I would guess.

Unfortunately, one of the images is double-exposed and the other one is only half-exposed. I may have to blame my camera and not my camera skills that day! Pictured is Paula Fassett, Stephanie Evans & Cheryl Haagenson. And, also Reid Schmitz is on the next one but Stephanie has disappeared. Paula wins for blowing the biggest bubble!!

 
Also, attaching an old snapshot of Art Rude, Jr. and me sharing what must have been a milkshake or root beer float at the Texaco station one evening. We were 5 or 6 years old at the time. HA!
 
I enjoyed looking at these and thought it would be fun to share them with my classmates and everyone else.
 
Thank you, Gary.
 
from
Peggy (Wurgler) Axtman
Kent, WA
 
Peggy Wurgler & Art Rude

 

 

 

Paula Fassett, Stephanie Evans & Cheryl Haagenson

 

 

 

Cheryl Haagenson, Paula Fassett & Reid Schmitz

 
  

02/03/2011

Posted on by
Bob Brennan (71) Passed away this morning – Feb. 2, 2011
 
Message from Diane Millang Volk (77): Sherwood, ND

With a very sad heart I have to report the passing of my uncle Bob Brennan this morning.

Diane, We are so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. I remember Bobbie well from my childhood days. He used to ride our bus along with you kids. He was such a nice guy. Our condolences are with you and your family and especially with your mother Velma. Gary

 

 

 

Mark LaCroix Picture posted yesterday

Reply from Mark (73) and Arlene LaCroix: Bottineau, ND

 

You are correct. Mark LaCroix is the son of Jerry LaCroix (73). Mark
is a Junior at Bottineau High School

 

 

 

Mark LaCroix Picture posted yesterday
Reply from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC

 

Yes, Mark is Jerry LaCroix’s son.

 

 

 

 

Art Rude’s song “Forty Degrees Keeps the Riff-Raff Out” featured on TV

Posting by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND

 

Hi,

 

I just turned to channel 13/3 (CBS). They were running a crawl at the top of the screen, showing which schools were starting late and also showing the scores from last night’s ball games. There was music in the background that I started listening to. It didn’t take long for me to realize it was your “Forty Degrees Keeps the Riff-Raff Out”, Art. At the end of the song, they showed the title and your name on the screen. Neat!!!! I love it!!

 

Neola
 
 
 
 
 
Replies to Dick Johnson’s Picture posted yesterday and again today:
 

 

From Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN

 

Hi All…

 

Dick, I would say that photo of your Grandpa was taken in the Crystal Café! I remember those ceilings. I have a guess at who the lady behind the counter is, but I’m keeping it to myself, since the photo is blurry and my eyesight is poor!!! I’m hoping we get to read lots of stories, now, of people who ate, visited and worked there!

 

I know my Aunt Lenore did when she was a teenie-bopper. She told me a story once about how she saved the tips she made at the Crystal for a pair of earring she’d spotted at K.C.Seim’s store. They had light purple stones in them, and she wanted them to wear to a dance, I believe – and I don’t remember what the cost was, but she saved her hard earned tips. She saved for a LONG time and finally bought those earrings. Several years ago she still had (has) those earrings and decided to take them to a jeweler in Minot to have them converted to wear for her pierced ears. The jeweler took a look at them and told her they weren’t just colored glass – they were genuine stones of some sort – of course, I don’t remember – amethyst, maybe? Must have been some treasure that came over from the “old country”. Well, that turned out to be more of a KC Seim Store story…….but it started at the Crystal……….

Paula Fassett

 
 
From Leland Hagen (50): Bryan, TX
 
This had to be taken in the Crystal Cafe!
I think everybody can remember the metal panels on the walls and ceiling.
I was unable to recognize the lady in the background .
 
Leland Hagen (50) Bryan,Tx
 
 
 
From Cheryl Haagenson (71): Dunseith, ND
The picture puzzle ? The Crystal Cafe! What a grand name – the Crystal Cafe
Look at that great ceiling!
 
 
 
From Dwight Lang (61): Tucson, AZ
 
Hey gang,
That’s most definitely the Crystal Cafe. Spent many, many hours there as well several overnights with Jim McCoy. It’s the stamped metal ceiling, I remember well.
 
 
From Marge Wilcox Longie Langan (56): Vancouver, WA
 
gary,
that picture dick johnson is referring to was taken in the crystal cafe.
 
margewilcox-langan
 
 
 
From Lloyd Awalt (44): Bottineau, ND
 
Hi Gary,
 
To Dick’s picture of his grand dad, I believe that is the crystal cafe that’s what the decoration in the cafe was the lady in the back hard to recognize.
 
Lloyd
 
 
 
From Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (68): lrvano Dunseith, ND
 

HI Guys- I asked Jay and he said it could be his Grandmother “Mrs V” or Bertha Myer- I am thinking the hair looks more like Bertha V- Bertha Myer’s had a reddish color as I remember- thanks for all the good stories!-Lola

 

 

From Ron Peltier (70): Dunseith, ND

I do believe the picture is of the old Dunseith Pool Hall and the lady in the background would be Mrs. Sy Kadry. I used to hang around the pool hall after football and basketball practice years ago. And in the early 80’s my uncle, Harry Peltier owned and operated the pool hall for a few years.
 
Ron Peltier
Class of 1970
 
Posted yesterday
 
Picture from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

I have a question to ask of the readers. The attached picture was taken in a well known business on Main street in Dunseith. I bet most of the readers will be able to identify where it was taken. It’s a picture of Grandpa Henry Olson, but the background really brings back a lot of memories. I bet several of you know the lady at the till behind my grandpa too. Let’s have everyone write tomorrow with their thoughts on the picture. Thanks Gary!

Dick


 
 
All rights reserved

02/02/2011

Posted on by
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 
Gary and friends,
 
I enjoyed the photo from Peggy, about Hazel and John Hiatt, who were probably the very first couple of real cowboy life ie. ( cowboy and cowgirl) I ever saw as a child. They always dressed the part and lived the hard cowboy life of hauling cattle and managing horses and ranching. They were a unique couple, kind of their own version of Dale Evans and Roy Rodgers.
 
I too, enjoyed Warren’s horse story. I could picture in my minds eye as he “Warren the Kid” and his brother, “the Anderson boys” rode the hills West of Highway #3. I’m glad other kids used their vivid imaginations to play cops and robbers too! My cousin, Janice (Metcalfe) Poitra and I called it cowboys and outlaws. Warren your reference to fathers was right on the mark. “How we needed our dads when bad events happened.”
 
I found Woody Gagnon’s life long dedication to service of his fellow man inspiring. My dad was one of the folks who enjoyed the benefits of attendance and fellowship at Camp Grassick.
 
And Bill and Dick,thanks again for the humor. I love it when I can start my days laughing.
 
Hope y’all are wintering well. Vic
 
 
 
 
Horse Story
From Richard Langer: Belcourt, ND
 

Hi Gary: after reading all the horse stories on the blog lately. I thought the following would be nice, even though it is not really my personal experience:

“I went horseback riding today, it was a near death experience. I got on the horse and fell. I got on the horse again and fell off. I got on again and my foot got caught in the stirrup, just as I thought it couldn’t get any worse, the Wal-Mart Manager came over and unplugged it.” I am enjoying reading the daily blogs. Richard Langer

Richard, We too, enjoy having you and Rita among us. Gary
 
 
 
 
Reply from Dale Pritchard (63): Leesville, LA
 
Return message for Bob Lykins,

My first tour in Japan was at Tachikawa (66-68) and my second was at
Yokota (75-78). I didn’t have a car during the first tour and don’t
think I would have considered driving anyway. I made that 25 mile drive
to Atsugi a couple times myself during my second tour. You said it was
“about” two hours. My best time was 2-3/4 hours. Between railroad
crossings, pedestrian crossings, slow moving busses and the sheer volume
of vehicle traffic, it was a white-knuckle drive. I imagine that, by
now, the same thing could be said of almost any big American city.

Dale

 
 
 
 
Birmingham Visitors
Posting by Bill Grimme (65): wgrim Birmingham, AL
 
Gary,

I had the great pleasure of having two fine people visit me in my fair city today. They really fit in with the local scene, as you can see.

Bill

John and Margaret, You guys look great! I’ll bet you’ve been cruising too?
 
John (65) and Margaret Bedard

 

 

 

 

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

I have a question to ask of the readers. The attached picture was taken in a well known business on Main street in Dunseith. I bet most of the readers will be able to identify where it was taken. It’s a picture of Grandpa Henry Olson, but the background really brings back a lot of memories. I bet several of you know the lady at the till behind my grandpa too. Let’s have everyone write tomorrow with their thoughts on the picture. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 


 
 
 
Picture posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau, ND
 

Gary,

 

Here’s a good picture of Mark LaCroix/came from the Courant.

 

Neola

Folks, Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Mark’s father is Jerry LaCroix (73).
 
Thank you Neola for sharing. Gary
  

02/01/2011

Posted on by
Bill Grimme’s Mule ran out of gas:
Posting from Bill Grimme (65): Birmingham, AL
 
 
Gary,Dick’s story about the mule and the turpentine reminded me of another story. A fellow was driving down the road when he saw a farmer in the field kneeling next to a horse lying on the ground. The fellow stopped and walked over to the farmer and, as he approached, he saw the farmer pouring liquid down the horse’s throat, about a gallon’s worth. The fellow asked the farmer, “What did you give to that sick horse?” and the farmer said, “Gasoline.” The fellow says, “Are you crazy? That will kill him.” Just then, the horse jumped to it’s feet, kicking and bucking, took off running, jumped three fences, and began running at a gallop around the field. The fellow says to the farmer, “That’s just amazing. The gasoline really worked.” About that time, the horse stopped suddenly and fell over on it’s side. The fellow says, “I knew it was too good to be true, the horse is dead!” The farmer says, “Nope, just out of gas, again.”.

Bill

 
 
 
Reply to Happy Birthday message:
From Colette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe, NM
 
Hi Evie,

 
I always told you that you had a mind like a steel trap (or if I didn’t, I meant to). January 30th it is! And, as families go, I often felt like the ninth Gottbreht kid.
Thanks so much for the note.
I think of you often,
Colette
 
 
 
Horse story
From Warren Anderson (65): Rolette, ND
 
Hi, Gary and all readers:
 
We need another horse story. This one took place in 1957, I was 11yrs old and my older brother, Lawrence was 13. Now it was not the first time dad sent us out with the team to haul a load of hay, and it was not the 1st time we played staghcoach and robbers. However we always done it with the hay rack empty. The hay road in the winter was a 2 & 1/2 mile round trip and it took us across two different lakes, through tall trees and pasture. We always had my brothers old 2520-winchester with us on this route and I would always sight in at big trees or fence post and go “bang” another robber lay dead. back to the day, we pitched on a good load of hay and started back and once off the field I yelled to Lawrence that the robbers were gaining on us we had to go faster. The horses were already at a fast trot because they knew it was home bound. ( I am now thinking i must have been cold so i needed a good robber game to warm myself up). Lawrence hollared and the horses shot into a canter. Now, for 200 yards was a nice level sleigh trail but the end of that route was down a steep bank onto the first lake. Dad had always warned us that the team had to walk down that bank or something would go wrong. We faithfully listened and did just that whether I was driving the team or Lawrence. Now, in my dream world of shooting robbers I hear my brother screaming ‘wow’ “stop” and other choce words. I turned forword and noticed we were damn close to the bank of the lake. Only then did real fear set in, (we had TV for a couple years already and i knew how fightening a staghcoach rollover was, people died.) I was dashing for a rear jump off the rack when i thought i heard Lawrence’s “death song”. I looked back and he was flying through the air like he was shot out of a cannon. The pin through the evener and sleigh had came out just starting down the bank and of course my brother had the reins wraped around his hands and he got pulled off, might quikly too. I stayed on the rack full of hay, the sleigh stearing pole dug in the ground and snow which stopped everthing pretty qiuck. Lawrence looked up at me and said,”i could have been killed.” I just said, “I know.” All my thoughts were on the team running full speed across the lake, it seemed i never took my eyes off them. Across the lake and over another hill and then all i saw was snow flying. I hollered at Lawrence that something happed right over the hill with the horses, but he never saw anything, I was still up on the load and alot higher that him so i was the only one that saw the snow cloud. I did beat my brother racing across the lake that day and even over the hill. There I could not beleive what was right in front of me. Our team were a team of blacks, dasiy was the much smaller mare and diamond was the bigger gelding—he was called diamond because he had a white star on his forehead. It appeared, dasiy fell and even must have rolled end over end and diamond had just kept running and dragging her until he had to stop or fall too. She was all white exept her big sorryful looking eyes and her two snorting nostrals and she could not move as she was so tangled with the driving lines and the rest of the harness. I told Lawrence, “we have to get dad” He says “you go– this is all your fault” Now, What a guilt trip on a 11 yr. old? I ran home in record time and found dad in the barn. I screamed at dad, that we had a runaway with the horses and he had to come quickly. By that time I was crying and he said, “why are you crying? did Lawrence get hurt? I quickly told him, no, but I thought dasiy was hurt. He quickly briddled one of our riding horses and we road double at a fast speed to the crash seen. I think every one of the harness straps were broke on dasiy and if they were not dad had to cut them to get her up. Luckly for all of us that day, the team nor my brother or I were hurt. Dad rested dasiy for about a week then she got back into her repaired harness. The sleigh or rack was not hurt. My brother and i learned a few more cuss words that day from good old dad. How we needed our dads when bad events happened. It seemed i quit the stagecoach and robbers game the rest of my winters on the farm. We never did tell dad the truth about that day but i feel he knew we were playing some kind of a game. Warren-65


 
John and Hazel Hiatt Horses
Reply/Pictures from Peggy Wurgler Axtman (71): Kent, WA
 

Gary

Because there seems to be a “horse” theme to the blog lately, I thought I would share more pictures with you and all readers of the horses belonging to John Hiatt. Please see three attached. I have good memories of John & Hazel and the times they brought their horses down to the Texaco station and even the times I got to visit their ranch north of Dunseith. I’ve probably ridden a horse only a couple of times since those days! Thanks for doing this.

Peggy (Wurgler) Axtman
Class of ‘71
Peggy, Thank you so much for this reply and sharing these pictures. It was great that you were able to visit our Alaska cruise group in Seattle, when we were loading buses for the cruise at the hotel in July 2009. We so very much enjoyed seeing you. You most certainly are still the very pretty girl we see in these pictures. Gary
 
Dave and Peggy Wurgler

Peggy Wurgler

 

Peggy Wurgler

 

 

 

 
Replies to Dale Pritchard’s Japan comments:
From Bob Lykins (Teacher): Hutto, TX
Gary,

 

 

 

We had to have a yearly auto inspection when I lived in Japan. When I first got there the test was done by the Japanese at a testing station. Later, it was shifted to on-base. They checked a number of things including emissions. The emissions test was as you described except they checked to make sure you had a catalytic converter. The whole process from beginning to end took 10-15 minutes. The longest period of time was waiting in line to be checked. The Germany inspection was a lot tougher (I thought) as they really went over the exhaust system, brakes, and lights.

 

 

 

Bob
 
 
Follow up reply from Bob Lykins:
Too bad Dale didn’t have a connection with the Yukuza. Those guys really liked Americans right down to copying the mannerisums and dress of our 1920’s Chicago gangsters. I used to go to one of their hang-outs in Tachikawa for a beer. I never had a bit of trouble. My friendly bar-keep always had a solution to getting around the local regulations. But Dale was spot on when it came to travel. The Japanese always bragged that one was never more than a 5 minute walk from public transportation anywhere in Japan. I believe they were right as we traveled everywhere by train & bus. Except driving from Tachikawa Air Base to Atsugi Naval Air Station to shop in their BX. The 25 mile drive usually took about 2 hours but, hay, the Navy BX had such neat stuff that the Army PX and the Air Force BX didn’t have.

 

 

 

Bob

 

 

 

 
 
John Hill Family Identities
From Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN
 

Hi… I don’t see than anyone took the challenge of naming my cousins, the Hills, so I will……

 

 

 

What a great family!

 

Paula Fassett

 

 

Back row: Brenda, Murl, Johnny, Tim

Front Row: Joanne, Bruce, Lynn, Diane, Greg

 

 

 


 
 
Woody Gagnon Obituary
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70: Bottineau, ND
 
 
Simeon Grenier, Ed Milligan, ??, LTC Woody Gagnon, Henry Sunderland, Visitor, Visitor, Don Hosmer
 
Bismarck Tribune
 
Woody Gagnon dies at 96

George “Woody” Gagnon, 96, Bismarck, died January 30, 2011, at the Baptist Home“ My hobby is people and I get to meet all kinds,” he told the Associated Press in 1979. The retired colonel of the North Dakota National Guard and former justice of the peace recently penned an autobiography. He read excerpts from his book “The Woody I Know” in July 2010 at the Bismarck Public Library.

His impact in groundbreaking decisions for the state spans a wide area — energy, disasters with the National Guard, counsel to lawmakers, and right-hand man to Link in personnel, scheduling and administrative matters.

 

“We will all miss Woody,” said former Gov. William Guy. “He was one of those people well-versed in everything from the National Guard to all of the offices of the governor.” “He was a good, valuable adviser — so practiced and knowledgeable about state government,” Guy said. “It almost is impossible to replace somebody like Woody. He was a good adviser up to his death.”

 

Gagnon’s legacy seems to be defined with a rare mix of genuine interest in people, knowledge of government issues, leadership, and strong communication skills. “He had a manner about him that brought people together just by the force of his energy,” said former Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan Monday. “He had very good people skills. He accomplished a lot for the governor,”

 

Dorgan said Gagnon was full of life, energy and fun and “lived a long, full productive life and I really enjoyed him.”

 

He described him as “almost a perfect reflection of Gov. Arthur Link. Their approach was very human-oriented. He played a big role in the state during the Link administration.” Gagnon never had a cross word and always believed in the best of people, Dorgan said.

 

Eighteen-year state legislative leader S.F. “Buckshot” Hoffner said Gagnon was someone he could always bounce ideas off and find a reliable opinion on state issues. Hoffner most remembers Gagnon for his comment, “After an election is over, we work for the state of North Dakota.” Hoffner describes Gagnon as a role model on many levels. “He was very effective in getting his message across,” Hoffner said. “He was the type who got people’s attention.”

 

In 1985, former Gov. George Sinner appointed Gagnon to the North Dakota Centennial Committee to help organize the state’s 100th birthday celebration. Gagnon was named the first Northwest Bank of Bismarck Gold Award Winner in the early 1980s for his unselfish and tireless devotion to those with disabilities.

 

He was actively involved with the local Easter Seals and served as director of the Easter Seal Certification Board for 20 years. Gagnon was very active with youth, visiting elderly shut-ins, was an original supporter of Camp Grassick, and helped the blind and those with disabilities.

 

In 1975, Gagnon was honored for his work as chairman of the North Dakota Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation Services.

 

 

 

In 1974, Link assigned Gagnon to head state energy programs amid what the governor termed “a man-made energy crisis.”

 

In 1973, he was honored with a meritous award for his work with the North Dakota Army National Guard. He retired from the National Guard in 1974 with the rank of colonel.

 

 

 

In 1970, he was honored by the Mayor’s Committee for the Employment of the Handicapped and for his service to the handicapped by the National Easter Seal Society.

 

 

 

Gagnon served in the Army in World War II, the Korean War and Berlin Crisis. The Page native graduated from North Dakota State University before being drafted in 1942.

 

 

 

In 1965, he was appointed a general member of the National Americanism Council of the American Legion.

 

He served as Barnes County and Valley City Justice of the Peace from 1952 through 1960.
(Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 250-8264 or leann.eckroth@bismarcktribune.com)
 
 
 
Posting by Virgil Rude (Retired Col NDNG): Minot, ND
 
Woody Gagnon
 
 
Hi Gary,

 

I just got an e-mail message from Mr. Don Baglien that Woody Gagnon passed Jan. 30 and will be buried on Thursday.

 

 

 

Virgil

 

From Parkway Funeral Home: 

George “Woody” Gagnon, 96, Bismarck, died January 30, 2011, at the Baptist Home. 

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, February 3, at McCabe United Methodist Church, 1030 North 6th Street, Bismarck, with Rev. Ray Baker officiating. 

Burial will be in the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery, Mandan, at a later date. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm Tuesday, February 1 and from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm Wednesday, February 2, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. 

Woody was born June 30, 1914, in Page, ND, the son of George A. and Nina (Pray) Gagnon. He attended elementary school in Page and graduated from Fargo High School and North Dakota State University. Woody served in Europe during WWII. While home on leave, he married Renee Patterson on September 20, 1944, in Fargo. Family and marriage were very important to him. Woody and Renee lived in Valley City after the war, where he owned a restaurant, sold insurance and was active in the National Guard. 

In 1961, Woody moved to Bismarck, serving on the National Guard’s Adjutant General’s Staff at Fraine Barracks. After retiring from the National Guard, Woody joined Governor Link as Director of Administration and Chief of Staff until 1980.
Woody brightened the world with his sense of humor and commanding presence. His interest in people was genuine. He supported many service, community, charitable, and veterans organizations throughout his life and he made it very clear, he was always proud to be from North Dakota. 

The family would like to thank the Baptist Home in Bismarck for the exemplary care provided to Woody for the last five years. 

Woody is survived by two sons, George W. (Michelle) Gagnon, Jr., CA, and Ed Gagnon, Bismarck; two grandchildren, Von and Nina; and many friends, relatives, nieces and nephews. 

Memorials may be given to the Elks Camp Grassick, the Easter Seals, or the North Dakota Association for the Blind.

 
 
Woody Gagnon’ passing
Reply from Larry Liere (54): Mesa, AZ & Devils Lake, ND
 
Gary
 
Sorry to say Woody won’t be able to help with the picture ID. He was a great guy as you can see by the OBIT. His friend down here in Mesa said he
saw Woody at Christmas time and that he was doing very well at that time so I guess things can change fast when you are 96 years old. I guess I can
not think of any other old Guardsmen that can help with the picture ID. Talking about things changing fast at 96 a Devils Lake classmate died yesterday
here in Mesa and she was in her early 70’s so I guess we can go fast at any age.
 
LARRY