For the record, I did not get a blog out yesterday. I had to take my car in to have the air conditioner fixed, a must have in this country.
Gary
Pete Gillis’ (65) sister
Viola Gillis Grinnell’s Obituary
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
Our condolences are with Viola’s family with her passing. I didn’t know her, but being a sister of Pete Gillis’, I know she was a good person. Gary
Memory
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
I was trying to find a nice way to say that Debbie (75) and Diane
(75) sure don’t look to be 75. The story that this reminded me of was
when Mrs. Sunderland fell down the stairs and was hurt quite badly years
ago. The newspaper article said, ‘Mrs. Florence Sunderland 56 of
Dunseith falls and is hospitalized’. Jack Hosmer ,being the friend that
he was, sent her a get well card. On the front of the card it said
‘Florence Sunderland 56’ and he signed it ‘Jack Hosmer 52’. Just
another memory from old Dunseith.
Dick
Dunseith News
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
Mid 60’s snow
Stokes Yard
Joke of the day
Posted by Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND.
This is a good one.
5 Year Old’s First Job
Here’s a truly heartwarming story about the bond formed between a little 5-year-old girl and some construction workers that will make you believe that we all can make a difference when we give a child the gift of our time.
The young family’s 5-year-old daughter naturally took an interest in all the activity going on next door and spent much of each day observing the workers.
Eventually the construction crew, all of them “gems-in-the rough,” more or less, adopted her as a kind of project mascot. They chatted with her, let her sit with them while they had coffee and lunch breaks, and gave her little jobs to do here and there to make her feel important.
At the end of the first week, they even presented her with a pay envelope containing ten dollars. The little girl took this home to her mother who suggested that she take her ten dollars “pay” she’d received to the bank the next day to start a savings account.
When the girl and her mom got to the bank, the teller was equally impressed and asked the little girl how she had come by her very own pay check at such a young age.. The little girl proudly replied, “I worked last week with a real construction crew building the new house next door to us.”
“Oh my goodness gracious,” said the teller, “and will you be working on the house again this week, too?”
The little girl replied, “I will, if those assholes at Lowe’s ever deliver the damn sheet rock…”
Robert Dailly (57) and Arline Dailly (Lamoureux) (55)
Reply from Clark Crum (54): Woodbury, MN
Just a note to thank Bob and Arlene Daughter on her update on her parents.
I was a freind and class mate of bob and arlene and has some wonderful times together with the clases of 53-54-54-56.
Arline was one of the smartest girls in our school and her and bob are a class pair.
Clark Crum class of 54
Ray (70 and Lori Williams (75) Lagerquist
Folks: This Face Book picture of Ray caught my eye. I think the last time I saw Ray was in 1965. That is 46 years ago. I instantly recognized this as being Ray. Other than for a few added maturing years he looks very much the same as I remember him. Ray and Lori are living in Boulder, MT. Gary
Note from Aimee Lagerquist – Ray & Lori’s daughter
Hi Gary, I was going to tell you that the little girl- my niece is named Karsyn…she is Andrea (the youngest daughter of Lori and Ray) and Matt Dolezal’s little girl. She just turned two, so she thinks she is pretty hot stuff…well, we tell her that she is pretty fantastic continually, so we may feed into that.
Clarence Michaels – Town Cop
Reply from Paula Fassette (71): North Branch, MN
Thanks to Gary Morgan for the Clarence Michaels update. I’d told Dick I thought they had moved to Portal at one point. I think my Uncle Darrel Fassett bought the Michaels house when he first moved to Portal? I remember a playhouse-type add-on to a building out behind the house that was named “Fred’s Hut” – named by Fred Michaels, if I’m remembering this right! I do remember sneaking out there with my cousin Kathy and attempting to smoke……….then eating toothpaste so Aunt Dorothy wouldn’t suspect. Clothes that wreaked, I’m sure, of cigarette smoke……but very fresh breath!
Paula Fassett
Clarence Michaels – Town Cop
Reply From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
Reply to Dick Johnson, Missed your contributions to the blog while you were gone. Dick you should cut a CD of Merle Haggard songs. I think you would do a good job on his songs.
Anyway, Clarence Michaels was one tough customer. Earlier on on the blog I talked about the night at Dale’s when he slid through the gas pumps, I held the door open for him and the rest is history. One night I was with him up by where we call the crossroads, he got out of the car to talk to a young fellow, but he talked to him by hand. I guess he was getting some respect. My dad could have used a man like he was down at the pool hall in the 40’s. Clarence I believe was from Bisbee. Same general area that Joe Spaeth came from.
Big Roger Gustafson was another tough cop.
I met a guy who was originally from Rolla on a motorcycle in Grand Forks last summer that knew Jack Allen, a highway patrolman who was stationed in Rolla. Jack was big enough that all he had to do was back hand the average man. By the way, Ed Moore was not a 90 pound weakling either. These men were right for the time and place. At least you, Dick and Bill Grimme and maybe Gary Stokes would appreciate this kind of talk. Don’t want to sell Darrol Abby short either.
Now you may think of a few more as well. Gary Metcalfe
Lenore Watkins Hoover and her daughter Lenette
Pictures posted by Paula Fassette (71): North Branch, MN
Hi Gary:
With my cousin Lenette’s permission, I’d like to share a couple of photos that I received from her. Lenette is the younger daughter of my Mom’s sister Lenore Hoover. The first photo is of Aunt Lenore, Lenette and Andre the dog. The other 3 are the Peace Garden – looking beautiful as ever. Lenette said they enjoyed wonderful burgers at a newer café (at the Conervatory???) – even Andre had a tasty grilled cheese sandwich! The Peace Garden is so beautiful, I just thought I’d share the photos for those – like me – who haven’t made it up there for a couple years!
Paula Fassett
Viola Grinnell’s Obituary
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
I’ll miss not seeing Viola at Good Sam. Awhile ago, I pushed her (in her wheelchair) back to her room from the dining room. She was grateful to get back to her room without having to wait for someone to take her back. Neola
Viola Grinnell, age 87 of Bottineau formerly Belcourt, died Tuesday in a Bottineau nursing home. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10:00 A.M. at the St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Dunseith. Burial will be in the St. Louis Cemetery also of Dunseith. A wake will be held on Thursday beginning at 4:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 8:00 P.M. also in the Church.
I really goofed yesterday and absentmindedly too. I know that Debbie and Diane are twins, so they should have the same birthday. I might add too that they are two of most kind hearted gals on the face of this earth too.
Gary
Condolence to the Barbara Kalk Lopez Family
From Bob Lykins (Teacher): Hutto, TX
My prayers and condolences go out for the Barbara Kalk Lopez family. Barbara, true to form, kept a positive attitude and put up a good fight as shown through her blog statements. I guess the good Lord needed her more.
Bob Lykins (Barbara’s former HS teacher)
Clarence Michaels – City Cop
Reply from Gary Morgan (54): GARRISON, ND
Gary & All,
Dick Johnson Mentioned Clarence Michaels as the city cop. Clarence officiated some of our basketball games when I was in high school. When I began my customs career in Portal in January, 1963, the Michaels family was living in Portal. His wife, Lorrainne and my wife became good friends and would often coffee together. She was a Gailfus from Rollla (Jim’s sister). Clarence and I officiated a few games together. They left Portal sometime in the late 60s and moved to Larimore , I think. Clarence has since passed away and Lorraine has remarried and the last I heard, lives in Fargo.
Keep up the good work, Gary.
Gary Morgan
Joke of the day
Posted by Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND
The Talking Centipede
A single guy decided life would be more fun if he had a pet. So he went to the pet store and told the owner that he wanted to buy an unusual pet.
After some discussion, he finally bought a talking centipede, (100-legged
bug), which came in a little white box to use as his house.
He took the box back home, found a good spot for the box, and decided he would start off by taking his new pet to church with him.
So he asked the centipede in the box, “Would you like to go to church with me today? We will have a good time.”
But there was no answer from his new pet.
This bothered him a bit, but he waited a few minutes and then asked again, “How about going to church with me and receive blessings?”
But again, there was no answer from his new friend and pet. So
he waited a few minutes more, thinking about the situation.
The guy decided to invite the centipede one last time.
This time he put his face up against the centipede’s house and shouted, “Hey, in there! Would you like to go to church with me and learn about God?” …
YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS …..
This time, a little voice came out of the box, “I heard you the first time!
Gary Metcalfe remembers some of the town policemen through the
years. How many remember Clarence Michaels ? He was the town cop
around 1960. I remember he was a short but well built man who wasn’t
afraid of a conflict with guys twice his size. His wife ran the cafe
next door to the theater. I think they had 3 or 4 kids and one,
Freddie, was in my grade in school. I have no idea where they moved
when they left Dunseith. They were here for only a year or two. Thanks
Gary!
Dick
Folks,
Elwood Fauske is now 91. Both he and Eleanor are going strong. As I keep telling them, one of these
years they will have to join the Senior citizen ranks. At the rate they are going, that will be in the very distant
Future.Forever young. Stubby and Elwood are most certainly strong well respected pillars of the community.
Reply to Deanna Bannerman….I am going to guess that your parents are married for 50+ years. Bob and Arlene had not aged much at all since high school. Which speaks well for a long marriage. I have seen them on two occasions a couple years ago, at the Dunseith Reunion and prior to our Alaska Cruise.
By the way, your Grandpa Ernest was a typical lone cop in a rough town about 1953 & 54. Those cops at that time never ever gave us poor ole hillbillies a hard time for staying up all night on Saturday night. They seemed to know that we only had one night a week to howl. Those were the days!!!
Bob and Arlene had a great sense of humor, I am convinced that that is what keeps people young. Best of luck to two great people. Gary Metcalfe
Reply from Sybil Johnson: Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Neola,
I had no idea that you were going to have surgery. I must have missed it in Gary’s blogs. I’m so glad that everything went well and knowing you, you well be back
on your feet, as soon as the GOOD LORD will allow you to do so. Everything here in Chippewa Falls is doing good. We are getting colder weather and I’m still
trying to get use to the weather here. It is quite different than North Dakota and Wyoming.
You take care of yourself.
Sybil Johnson
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Kalk and Lopez family. If I remember right I went to school with Janet Kalk and had some fun times together.
Condolences to the Barbara Kalk family
From Esther Murray Fleming (65): Flint, MI
I just got the news of Barbara’s passing. I was so sorry to hear about it. She is in a better place. My prayers are with her family. She and I were good friends in High School and I amongst others will surely miss her.
Always
Esther
Condolences to the Barbara Kalk family
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
My condolences to the family of Barbara Kalk Lopez. I was
saddened to hear of her passing. We grew up just across the street from
each other in Dunseith and I have lots of good memories from those days.
Dick
LaVerne and Carrole Fauske (66) Rude
Reply from Audrey Hanson Aitchison: Bottineau, ND
Hi,
My prayers are with Neola in her surgery for the Lord’s healing touch. Also, happy birthday to LaVerne Rude and for Carolle (Fauske) and LaVerne’s 44th anniversary today. Have a great day.
Audrey (Hanson) Aitchison
Happy Birthday to LaVerne Rude
From Connie Fauske Monte (62): Lexington, KY
Happy Birthday LaVerne, I am sure you are having a good one. We have had a lot of good times, I am sure we will have many more. You are more like brother to me than a brother-in-law. Look forward to this winter in Florida.
Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
To Larry Hackman and all
I really appreciated your contribution on the blog. My dad told me many times that the Canadians knew way more about our politics than we do. He also said never complain about paying taxes, that means you have made some money. He has been gone for 30+ years so I am thinking that test would have produced the same results 40 years ago. Gary Metcalfe
Neola came home today.She is doing as well as can be expected.If her past history of surgeries are any indication, she will heal fast.
She does have a drainage tube in the procedure.She will have to keep that in until next Tuesday.I am not quite sure why but so be it.She is pretty stiff and sore, but she can hopple around and now is able to get out of the chair with a little help. She was told not to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk (10 lbs) for the next 6 to 7 weeks.So that is going to put a crimp in her caramel sales for the year.She does have some made, but not enough.
I am presuming some of you will get an additional mail from her.
I’m home
Neola’s Message
Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for your prayers–they worked!!! I came home about 1:30 this afternoon. I spent most of the afternoon/evening sitting in the recliner sleeping/watching TV/sleeping again/etc. Our new sister-in-law made a delicious supper for us, which Wally picked up about 5:30. I was very surprised when, shortly after being taken to my room from the recovery room, one of the first things I did was order something to eat from the hospital kitchen. They have a fairly large menu to choose from. I have been able to eat/drink since then, which was a WONDERFUL: surprise. In the recovery room, I was given ice chips, which was also a wonderful surprise. Usually, you have to wait a few days to eat/drink.
As I understand it, my small intestine was block (You probably remember I also had this problem around Memorial Day.) At that time, they put a hose through my nose to my stomach and “drained” it (worst experience I’ve ever had in the hospital). I said the next time my intestine became block, I have surgery before I had the tube again. God must have been listening, as this time they said the tube wouldn’t “do the trick”. I would need surgery. I was so grateful when the doctor said that–I’m a strange creature. I was told this Tuesday morning and would have had surgery then, but I had eaten Ritz crackers and drunk Coke during the night so surgery needed to wait until Tuesday morning. They came to get me about 5:30 a.m., which was great. I had watched TV/half-dozed during the night so I was ready for sleep. The pre-op wait was very short. I understand they were able to use laparoscopy to clear the intestine/insert a mesh (new/improved version) to hold my intestines in place.
The only really painful part of all this was/is getting out of a chair. I place a sofa pillow in the recliner so I didn’t sit so low. This made it easier to get up again. Yesterday, when I got up, it was from the edge of the bed, which wasn’t too painful, as the bed was quite high. When I sat down again, not thinking about having to get out of this lower chair, I asked about sitting in a lower/more comfortable chair in the room. They said that was fine. As Wally wrote, I had some real qualms about getting out of this chair. I think it was about 7:00 p.m. when they convinced me to get out of the chair. They showed me how to use the arms of the chair and the strength in my legs and arms to help lift me up. It went surprisingly well. After I was up, I walked down the hall again–farther than I had walked the first time. Walking isn’t the hard part–getting out of the chair is.
Anyway, I’m home/can get up from all the chairs in the house, except the recliner. I need to have Wally stand a little in front of the recliner so I have his hand to hold onto so I can pull myself up. I have pain pills/took one a little before 8:00 this evening/it’s doing what it’s supposed to/might take one later tonight; I’ll see how it goes. I expect the soreness to leave in a few days. The hardest part is going to be not grabbing anything over 10 lb. in weight and lifting it. I had made some caramels before surgery, which is good, as my caramel-making is pretty much over for this year–or until very close to Christmas. I understand it might be six weeks, or so before I can lift anything over 10 lbs.
Again, thank you so much for all the emails and prayers. As you know, prayers work wonderfully well. I’m not sure how much I’ll be on the computer for awhile, so you probably won’t receive a personal reply to your emails.
I’m still planning on attending the Hostfest, as we have bought tickets for three performances. We’ll see how it goes.
Neola
Reply to Pictures posted yesterday
From keith Pladson (66): Roanoke Rapids, NC
Gary,
A couple of comments about the photographs you included in your 1296 issue.
Wow, you were dressed awfully warmly in that photograph of yourself in “summer” school. I hope it wasn’t taken in July or August. What months did summer school at Ackworth start and end or conversely, what months did you not have school? I don’t know if Willow Lake ever had summer school at some time, but I do know they didn’t when I attended school there; nor the other one room schools I attended either. I’m glad you shared that photo, but to be honest I wouldn’t have known who it was if you hadn’t identified it as yourself.
Also, something doesn’t seem quite right on the photo of Loren Johnson. The photo has a date of Oct, 66. I graduated in 1966 and I believe Loren was only a year younger than me. But in that photo, he appears to be much younger than a High School Junior. I agree it sure looks like Loren, but the dates just don’t seem to compute. Maybe the roll of film wasn’t developed for a few years after the photo was taken.
Keith Pladson (66)
Keith,
Good points. Summer school started in early March and ran through late October or early November. The picture back ground of me tips me off that this was taken when I was in first grade. I’m guessing towards the end of the school year.
I am very sure that is Loren Johnson in that other picture. I am not sure how long after the picture was taken that the roll of film was developed though. I was hoping someone would have and email address for Loren too.
Gary, just a note to let you know that Barbara Kalk passed away on 9/20. The funeral will be at Holy Trinity Church in So. St. Paul on Sat. 9/24 at 11 AM. I believe she went by the name of Kathy Lopez. Her husband has communicated a little with me and is a real nice man. Please, will you all pray for this family at this very sad time. Thank you.
LaVerne: I know many of our readers will remember you as the center picture above. The Rude’s and the Stokes’ were like one big happy family in our growing up days. We were at your house so often, often many times each week. Those were good times too. I will always remember your birthday being in September too. For two months out of the year we are only one year apart in age. After today, you’ve got two years on me again. Gary
Reno Air Races accident – follow up to yesterdays posting
Message from Doreen Larson Moran (BHS ’61): bjdmoran@povn.com Usk, WA & Hazelton, ND
Noah Joraanstad was released from the hospital and will go to his parents for months of recovery time. I should have said that his father Kent is the son of Kenneth and Grace Larson Joraanstad. Grace taught in several one room schools in Roland Township and then near Roth.
Headed for Ackworth – Last year of summer school
Charlotte Lange was the teacher
Gary Stokes – Grade one
Stokes house – We thru a lot of wood down that basement window too.
Question: Does anyone have an email addess for Loren Johnson?
Neola Kofoid Garbe is having surgery for a blocked colon
Message from her husband Wally Garbe: Minot, ND
Neola is now in the hosptal and will undergo surgery at 7:00AM in the morning. She has a blocked colon (like she had 4 months ago) and also a hernia. The blockage could be caused by the hernia. Anyway both are to be repaired in the morning. She says if she owes you a reply to please excuse the delay and will try to get back to you when she is up to it.
Needless to say she would appreciate all the prayers she can recive that everything goes OK.
Wally
Follow up message from Wally
The surgery went well this morning . I think it only took a hour and a half to do. She was in the recovery for 2 hours. This is my interpretation of the procedure. The Dr stuffed and arranged the bowel back in place and than put a patch over it. This is a pretty simple explanation, but I think pretty close to right. It was done by laparoscopy. It was later in the day that some issues developed. She did have a bad headache and I think still has it when I left this evening. Anyway she was suppose to get a lot of walking in, but the nurses were so busy so she didn’t bug them. Anyway she did get out of bed and they took her to the bathroom. She than sat down in the recliner (if you can call it that) it is very low and she was afraid that those “puny” girls would drop her when trying to get her out of the chair. Later she was going to get up by herself and than found that there was a terrific strain on the procedure. After that she wouldn’t let the help get her up for fear she was going to break open the patch, so she sat in the chair. I finally went to supper and an “old hand” went into talk to her. When I got back she had been up and walked a little and to the bathroom. When I left tonight now she had tried to eat and developed hic-ups. So again a strain on the patch. So I don’t know when she will eat for fear of the hic-ups. She was going to call for help when I left and was going to try to get more walking in tonight. Now will she get home tomorrow, I don’t know. I presume it will be how she responds overnight. She does have a drainage tube into the incision and there is some drainage. As far as I know the doctor had not been in this afternoon/tonight. She didn’t have any company, which was good, because of her head ache.
Neola, I was so supprised to get this message from Wally. This must have come on quickly. We are so glad that your surgery went well and that you are on your way to recovery. We know it is painful, but you will get there. We are all thinking about you. Gary
Reno Air Races accident
Message from Doreen Larson Moran (BHS ’61): Usk, WA & Hazelton, ND
One of the victims at the Reno Air Races has Souris/Bottineau roots. Noah
is the son of Kent and Shirley Joraanstad now of Freemont CA.
—– Original Message —–
If you google ktuu it is an Alaska news station and click on the first
news you will see the article about Noah answered as only he would.
I think he was also interviewed for the today show I think for Monday but
they do have a Sunday edition so you might want to check.
Just a brief note on the extent of some of Noah’s injuries. Doreen
—– Original Message —–
From: “Julie Joraanstad”
:34 AM
Subject: Update
Seth heard from Kent. What Noah has is an open wound from bottom butt
about two feet up. Kent said when they change the dressing you can
actually see the lung. Since it is an open wound it can’t be stitched so
will be in the hospital a few days for sure.
He was literally a hair from lung and kidney puncture. Keep praying for
no infection. He also has some stitches in his head and not sure what
else.
Posting of the day – News IQ test
Posted by Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND
The best part of this test is not your own score.While interesting, it is the demographic breakdown of how well Older Americans scored versus Younger, Men verses Women, etc. Take it for yourself to see all the results. Pay particular attention to the breakdown: Demographic breakdowns by question
This is a terrific test.And it shows results in a number of ways.It sure indicates that the majority of Americans don’t know what’s going on.No wonder our politicians take such advantage.
Interesting and simple test.It’s astonishing that so many people got less than half right.
These results say that 80% of the (voting) public doesn’t have a clue – and that’s pretty scary.
There are no tricks here – just a simple test to see if you are current on your information.
Test your knowledge with 11 questions, then be ready to shudder when you see how others did.
Click here: Test Your News IQ – Pew Research Center
Barbara Kalk Lopez (65) is in Hospice care with Cancer
Message from Al Lopez: Inver Grove Heights, MN
To all from Dunseith,
Kathy (Barbara Kalk, ’65), is now in hospice care for her lung cancer. She has little time left here before joining her Father and Mother, Dan and Rose in Heaven. Please pray for her and the families.
Al Lopez
Al: What shocking news. We thought she was out of the woods and in remission with her cancer. In High School Barbara always had dreams of going to Hollywood of which I think she did and in the process met you.You made her life dreams come true from another angle in life so to speak. Barbara was never one to be under estimated. She has strong faith to guide her along in these trying times. Our thoughts and prayers are with her. Please let her know that we care and have not forgotten her. She is a wonderful person. Gary
Blog Picture problem solved – Thank you to Geri Metcalfe Munro (59)
From Jan LaCroix Kester (59): Fargo, ND
Hi Gary and Geri, Thank so much for your help with turning on pictures in the blog for me! Geri, your suggestion of clicking on ‘forward” worked! Presto! They popped up!
Thanks much for your help. Now today. they came in with me doing nothing. Go figure!
Jan LaCroix Kester
Class of 1959
Norris Knutson Memories
From Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (68): Dunseith, ND
Hi Gary– yes it is true Norris Knutson will be missed- he was just a great guy
Always the same!- and always was ready for a visit !– He lived a good life though- our condolences to his family – Lola Vanorny
Reply from Bill Grimme’s (65) friend
Vern Sanden (BHS ’61): Minneapolis, MN
Hello Gary,
Yes, I’m from Bottineau. I’ve been in the Minneapolis area for the last 41+ years. Let me just congratulate you for the wonderful job you do with the blog. It’s all pretty amazing.
Thanks for everything, Vern Sanden
Hi to Bill Grimme, when are you going to come up to visit us in Minnesota?
Vern: Do you still have relatives in the Bottineau area. You would have been in the same class as Doreen Larson, Harvey Hiatt, Dwight Olson, Dennis Haakenson and many others that I know. You guys just had a big reunion too. Gary
Replies from Allen Richard (65):Midland, MI
The Reno disaster. To Bill Hosmer (48).
This was bad–human beings push the limits. Sometimes the limits are difficult to value. Why did we go to the moon? Why do we try to break the sound barrier on the salt flats?
We just do. Bill, you broke more barriers than any Dunseith grad. I don’t know why you chose to do what you did, but I salute you. The skill you used as a member of the Thunderbirds was truly amazing.
The Reno crash was horrific. But it was about pushing limits. Risks come with that. I pray for those who suffered.
Reply to yesterday’s posting
To Dick Johnson–Another example of good old ND logic!
Former Thunderbird pilot and fighter jet pilot over North Vietnam.
Gary, One of my “bucket list” items was watching the Reno Air Races. I arrived there on a Thursday,
intending to return to Tucson today, Monday. On the first day I watched several heats, and some
demonstrations aerobatics and formation flying. The next day while enroute to the box I was
assigned for viewing, I stopped at a porta potty. The crash of the P-51 happened just them. I could
not get into that area again because of the devastation, confusion, and injuries to so many of the spectators
in the area of my viewing box. Later I learned that three of my fighter pilot friends had been injured by
flying debris. Fortunately, the injuries were not life threatening. A broken leg, an arm, and several cuts
and bruises. So far the death count number nine. Over 50 people were injured, some are in critical
condition. The site was painful to see from another location I was able to get to. No fire involved, just
many broken bodies being cared for by an army of medics and emergency crews. It was numbing to
observe the scene, and humbling to realize a pit stop kept me from injury as well as gratitude for once
again dodging that golden BB. Life is exciting. Life is good. Bill Hosmer
Bill, Today’s count is now 10 deaths from the horrible accident. How lucky you were to have not been in your assigned area along with your former co-pilots when this accident happened. Thank you so much for this reply. This has been breaking news and you were there first hand. Gary
Norris Knutson memories
Reply from Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine (73): Grafton, ND
I cant imagine the turtle mts without Norris. I have so many good memories I cant even begin to tell you. All I know is he was a big part of my childhood and a kind and gentle man, a good neighbor. He will be missed
Reply to the Birthday girls – Joanne Millang Bernstein and Jackie Peterson Hansen
From Marlys Hiatt (71): Dunseith, ND
Happy Birthday to the Birthday Girls, Joanne and Jackie. Still looking
pretty good.
Marlys
Story from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
A local DHS graduate went on to NDSU back in the late 50s and
eventually earned his degree (I believe doctorate) in animal health or a
similar field. One day Dad came home from up at the Crystal Cafe and
was laughing about the conversation he had just been listening to. The
graduate student did his thesis on why you can’t feed flax to chickens.
The local guys at the cafe were saying it was sure dumb for someone to
be able to get a doctorate for writing about something as ignorant as
that. One said, “Any idiot who was ever on a farm knows why you can’t
feed flax to chickens. It’ll kill ’em, that’s why!” There you go.
Thanks Gary!
Posted by Luella Boardman Bjornseith (49): Bottineau, ND
Connie Lagerquist and Luella Bjornseth working at the International Country Gospel Festival the weekend of August 20, 21. Great music and a wonderful time.
Julie Knox-Seier (82) Receives award on October 1st.
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
Congratulations Julie. You are to be commended for your accomplishments in receiving this award.
Reply from Doreen Larson Moran (BHS ’61): Usk, WA & Hazelton, ND
Hi Gary – I just pulled out my BHS Bottineau Braves 1959 annual. My picture says “State Champs” Under Coach Larry Selk Bottineau won the State Class B Basketball Championship.
I thought I might have the 50 year reunion picture of the Class B champions but I can’t seem to find it now. It would have been March 2009 in Minot – just a few months before the Bottineau 125th celebration. Almost all the players were at Minot. I believe Wayne Gorder is the only one who has died. Guess the picture might be on Face Book – maybe Arlin Melgaard or maybe Kathy Kunkel Gorder..
Picture: Arlin Melgaard (student manager) ; Brent Anderson; Ted Jacobson; Dwite Gorder; Keith Bangs; Sheldon Olson; Don Christianson; Gary Wall; Gary Berg; Lawrence Pederson; Wayne Gorder; Jim Kofoid (student manager).
This is the 1958-59 team left to right: Arlen Melgaard, Brent Anderson, Ted Jacobson, Dwite Gorder, Keith Bangs, Sheldon Olson, Don Christianson, Gary Wahl, Gary Berg, Larry Peterson, Wayne Gorder, Jim Kofoid & in front Larry Selk (Coach). This was the State Class B Championship Team.
Vern Sanden (BHS ’61)
Vern is a friend of Bill Grimme’s (65).
Vern: I have you listed as living in Bottineau. Is that correct?
Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
The basketball team in this email is a Bottineau team. Brother Jim is the student manager on the right side of the picture. Gary Wall is #20. I don’t know if you are interested in the identification of the boys being it’s a Bottineau team. If you are, I should have the names somewhere.
Neola
Joke of the day from a friend of mine in Bremerton, WA
5 Catholics Four Catholic men and a Catholic woman were having coffee in St. Peters Square , Rome .
The first Catholic man tells his friends, “My son is a priest, when he walks into a room, everyone calls him ‘Father’.” The second Catholic man chirps, “My son is a Bishop. When he walks into a room people call him ‘Your Grace’.”
The third Catholic gent says, “My son is a Cardinal. When he enters a room everyone bows their head and says ‘Your Eminence’.”
The fourth Catholic man says very proudly, “My son is the Pope. When he walks into a room people call him ‘Your Holiness’.”
Since the lone Catholic woman was sipping her coffee in silence, the four men give her a subtle, “Well….?” She proudly replies, “I have a daughter, slim,
Folks, this is one that I found in my lost files. It was lost when I lost all of the files serveral years ago. I have lost all the info for this picture. I do not recognize anyone in this photo and I do not know the year. We need some help with this one. Thanks, Gary
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Dunseith, ND
Solution to pictures not showing in email messages
From Gerri Metcalfe Munro (59): Fargo, ND
Jan Kester, I’ve had the same problem with little red x’s and pictures not showing in messages. If I forward to myself they will come up—if I send to myself I can then open and the pictures are there.
Geri Munro
Norris Knutson’s passing
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
I was so saddened to hear of Norris’ passing. Norris was a mentor in my growing up days. Norris and Arlene were good close neighbors of ours up in the hills too. Off and on during my childhood days my brother Allen and I worked for Norris on his farm. It was always a pleasure working for him and Arlene too.
Norris and I have the same Birthday. On our birthday last July I called Norris. We had a good visit. He let me know how thankful he was for my call too.
My condolence are with Arlene, Linda, Roger, Jackie, Sister Shirley/Carl Melgaard, Sister-in-law Mary Eurich Knutson and families with his passing. Norris will be missed.
Gary
Music for the cows
Video provided by Bill Pritchard: Bottineau, ND
Being an old farm boy, I thought you might appreciate this.
This is a great Video. My dad always had the radio on 24/7 in the barn. He claimed that the cows were more content with the radio music and as a result produced more milk.
I remember when I was about 12 years old or so, in the spring of the year we often times milked our cows outside, because it was just too muddy and nasty to milk them in the log barn. I remember your dad visiting one time with you kids (you and Cheryl) when we were milking outside. Your dad picked up a milk bucket and stool and sat down and milked one of our cows. I will never forget that as long as I live.
Gary
Frank Bass Memories
From Jackie Peterson Hansen: St. John, ND
Frank and Ginger Bass used to live where Bubber and Yvonne DeMers now live.
Frank Bass Memories
From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
Hello Gary and All,
One cold winter day, way back when I asked my dad where he was going and he said SHADLEMACHEEZE, which meant none of your business. Usually the man that I traveled close to for 30 years had me right with him, but it was a very cold, blustery day and I had to stay with the cattle. So he went out west, around Noonan, with a flat bed trailer and his half ton pick up to move Frank and Ginger Bass to the hills and place them on Paul Byre’s old farmstead. I don’t think he took Glen Weaver with him, that would have been too much.. My dad was a great talker, but the two were professionals. As you know by now Frank found his calling and made a good living in Montana as Montana’s Flying Auctioneer. Frank lost both of his legs in a plane crash at a young age, on his home farm. We could laugh with Frank about having to make a new leg that he broke doing chores. I remember helping Frank shovel snow for about an eighth of a mile in order to get him off to town. By the time he came home again, you can imagine the snow had drifted in, leaving him to carry the groceries.
If laughter covers up sorrow, then Frank had more than his share of sorrow. He laughed all the time. Ginger was a good gal to put up with being transferred from a more civilized setting on the prairie to the rocks and hardships of living in the hills. I don’t know what inspired them to go to Montana, but Frank found his calling there.
I met a lady in Lake Montezuma, Az., a neighbor actually, who had sold out their ranch in Montana and retired in Az. I ventured to guess that Frank Bass had had their auction and she said that he had and had some stories of her own. Noone that ever met Frank Bass will ever forget him easily. He had a real zest for life.
Floyd Dion you are on the right track, I think Frank did go to St. John more than he ever did Dunseith. The same as the North Willow Lake Rd. people went to Bottineau. We did not have George Gregory and the maintainer in those days.
I think Frank Bass thought it was cool that Jim Metcalfe furnished him an airport so he could come visit him.
Gary Metcalfe
Frank Bass Memories
From Lola Metcalfe Vanory (68): Dunseith, ND
THEY HAD SOME CONNECTION TO WEAVERS- Clara Myer weaver AND glen WEAVER – WHO ALSO DIVORCED- I BELIEVE WEAVERS LIVED ABOUT A MILE SOUTH AND 1/4 MILE EAST OF US – WE CAN SEE THEIR EVERGREENS- I BELIEVE THAT GLEN weaver WAS ginger’s BROTHER- ???—THAT IS HOW frank TURNED UP HERE- A REALLY NICE GUY!! – HE USED TO TEASE THE KIDS – HE WOULD TAKE OFF HIS LEGS AND ACT LIKE THEY WERE IN THE HAYSTACK!!- I REMEMBER THE DAY IN THE 70’S WHEN HE CAME TO VISIT dad- AND WHEN dad WENT TO THE DOOR HE SAID ‘HOLY COW – YOU HAVE GOTTEN FAT AND DAD SAID — WELL I GUESS SAME TO YOU !! AND THEN THEY VISITED FOR HOURS!!! Dad really admired him – although he would have been 20 years younger than Dad- that he didn’t let anything like a couple legs slow him down!! He did what you have to do — make do with what you have!!==
jay AND I AND THE KIDS WENT THROUGH HIS TOWN Lewistown -IN THE LATE 70’S –
WE HAD GONE TO GLACIER PARK– road to the sun – stayed at salmon lake- and St. Mary’s lake–At St. Mary’s lake a lady came over and said they loved to watch us cause 30 years earlier had taken their kids camping-!!-
we warned the kids not to wander far- as there were bears in the area- so the kids were out discovering all kinds of things– we were sitting in the camper one morning drinking our coffee and could hear the kids -! exploring and someone said “I bet this is a honey tree”- and they tasted the ‘sap’ from the evergreen– yuKKKKK!!! wasn;’t long they were in questioning about – what that was – and jay told them it was pine tar– !! we laughed about that and still do !!–
AND DOWN TO GREAT FALLS TO VISIT HIS AUNT LUCILLE– WENT OUT ON THE dam south of great falls and went to the Gateway to the ?? TO THE OCEAN?? that doesn’t sound right!
we came into Lewistown AND SAW Franks AUCTION BARN- I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED HIM UP!! – BUT YOUNG AND DUMB- NOT REALIZING WHAT VALUE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR ME!! BUT WE STAYED IN THE PARK ON THE PAD WE PARKED ON WAS A Plaque –‘THIS SPACE DONATED BY FRANK BASS-” — I think I probably thought he was dead by that time!!ha — IRONIC HUH??? HE WAS SUCH A GOOD friend of Dad’s – TODAY I WOULD HAVE SEEKED HIM OUT!!
I remember jay having to fix something on the pickup and took it to the Ford dealer- he made acquaintances there and I did in the laundry mat I did laundry as long as we had to wait and then went to the grocery store– such a friendly town !!!
When you think of it — he didn’t sit a whine about getting disability !!– cause he had no legs??– I mean really !!– he went out and took a big chance and developed a legacy!- what a guy!!- he didn’t have the privilege of being born into or acquiring a famous position by anyone!! -I think his plane said– ‘have plane will travel’ or something to that effect– or just plain “The Flying Auctioneer- somewhere I have a sale bill of his barn in Lewistown!!he
a character to remember!- for sure!!– quite an inspiration!!- –love to all– Toots!!
Hi Gary! I was getting the pictures along with the dialogue with no problems and then a few weeks ago I stopped receiving the pictures. Can you tell me what I need to do to receive them again. Thanks so much for any enlightment you can give me with this problem.. Where the pictures should be there is a small red X.
HELP!
Jan Kester (Class of 1959)
Jan,
With the reports I have been getting, those with hotmail seem to be having the most problems. There are a multitude of possible causes as to why the images are not being displayed with the messages I send. I have listed one possible solution below. Make sure you are viewing these messages using Rich text (HTML).
You should be able to view the pictures on this website. I do not post email addresses an personal info on this site.
Gary
Possible solution
Most email programs that display HTML email actually use a browser such as Internet Explorer to do so. That implies that any settings you’ve made to your browser will also impact your HTML email. One such setting controls whether images are displayed at all. Turn that off in your browser, and chances are you’ve turned it off in your email as well.
Some email programs may understand HTML email, but not the referenced images as hidden attachments.
Email programs must save embedded images to disk in order to display them. If there’s not enough room or some other problem, then that may fail and the images not appear.
Verify that the Show Pictures option has not been turned off.
If the Show Pictures option in Internet Explorer is turned off, you cannot see pictures. To determine whether the Show Pictures option is turned off, follow these steps:
a.Open Internet Explorer.
b.On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
c.Click the Advanced tab, and then verify that the Show Pictures check box is selected under Multimedia.
d.Click OK.
e.Determine whether you can now see pictures.
If you still cannot see pictures, try the other steps mentioned in the below article:
Reply from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND
From up in our neck of the woods we really appreciate and cherish Janet Haagenson Sedlacek’s pictures of Rendahl Church during different seasons of the year. I believe the one I purchased is in the wooden rack on this picture .
Frank Bass
Reply from Floyd Dion (45): Dunseith, ND
Gary
In reply to Margaret Metcalfe Leonard about frank Bass, I do remember him. He sold some cream when I worked for the Bottineau Coop creamery in Dunseith. I might be wrong but I think he was from St. John area and I thought he went to Minot, ND when he left, but don’t know what happened to him after that.
Floyd
Frank Bass
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
Gary, Margaret and friends,
The Bass family indeed lived east of our farm. I believe on the “Byre place”, east of Sucker Lake.
Frank’s first wife, Ginger, was the niece of Glen Weaver.
My parents exchanged Christmas Cards with Frank for years after they moved to Montana.
Frank was also known as Montana’s flying auctioneer.
The family business continued to thrive with his sons also auctioning, and an auction house in Lewistown, Montana.
When I lived in Montana I’d stop by whenever I was in Lewistown and visit the auction house.
Dad and Art would ask if I ever saw Frank.
I always wanted to go to one of the Bass auctions but I never was never fortunate.
Montana is a big state to travel to ranch auctions!
Art Seim showed me where they lived, again, on one of our drives through the hills the summer one of his last summers, when he came to the Dunseith home.
It was a dry summer and we managed to drive east by Sucker Lake!
I wonder too if it may have been where the Hank Smith family lived prior,
close to the Jack Peterson place?
Perhaps Henry, Wayne or Ron Smith would remember?
After, my mother passed our family has not corresponded.
I remember, the neighbor families visiting what fun we had,
and then Frank and GInger with 4 children moved away.
AH_____ but, one sunny evening in the 60’s…….. a big bird circled our farm.
Skip ( the ring necked border collie) hated those flying chicken hawks. And was quite agitated .
But whoa! It’s humming! This was not a bird….. Dad said, It’s a Plane! It’s Frank!.
Frank’s plane landed in our cow pasture which bordered the Seim cow pasture.
We all went to greet him as he climbed out.
He ate supper with us.
Art Seim came and they all visited and visited.
After tethering his plane down Frank stayed the night.
It was before our family had running water and lived in a small 1 bedroom house.
Frank wasn’t a fussy guest. For being so remarkable…. he was very common, and interesting.
It was a quite exciting event so see Frank’s plane circle and land up close.
Frank was a good visitor and story teller.
After that our dog Skip would get excited about flying objects!
Thank you Margaret for reviving that wonderful memory.
Vickie M.
Joke of the day
posted by Floyd Dion (45): Dunseith, ND
ARE YOU KATHLICK
Three little boys were concerned because they couldn’t get anyone to play with them.
they decided it was because they had not been Baptized
and didn’t go to sunday School.
So they went to the nearest church
But only the janitor was there.
One little boy said, ” We need to be baptized
because no one will come out and play with us.
Will you baptize us?”
“Sure” said the janitor.
He took them into the bathroom and dunked their heads in the toilet bowl,one at a time
then he said “You are now Bapized”.
When they got outside,
one of them asked,
“What religion do you think we are?”
The oldest one said,
“We’re not Kathlick, because they pour water on you”.
“We’re not Babtis, because they dunk all of you in the water “.
We”re not Methdiss,because they just sprinkle water on you”.
Question from Margaret Metcalfe Leonard (65): Rolette, ND
Gary does anyone remember Frank Bass? He lived in the hills in the early 50s. He had lost his legs in a plane crash and hobbled around on prosthesis. He was an auctioneer and moved to Lewistown MT. His slogan was have gavel will travel. Just talked to a fella from MT and be said Frank just celebrated his 80th birthday.
Condolences to the Peter Mellmer Family
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Peter
Mellmer, Jr. He was a fun guy to be around, always laughing and
joking. Junior always had a smile and a ‘one liner’ ready for any
occasion. He will be missed.
Dick
Pontoon ride on Lake Metigoshe.
Folks, I could not resist sharing this picture with you. Rose and Art along with Art’s mother Mary Ann Hagen and Velva Wondrasek took a pontoon ride on Lake Metigoshe. They were gusts of Gale Wondrasek-Lane and her husband Murray on their pontoon. Gary
Joke of the day
Posted by Art Hagen (72): Bottineau, ND
Pocket Tazer Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife.
Aguy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Tazer for their anniversary submitted this: Last weekend I saw something at Larry’s Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized Tazer.
The effects of the Tazer were supposed to be short lived, with no long term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety…??
WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home.. I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed I learned, however, that if I pushed the button and pressed it against a metal surface at the same time, I’d get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.
AWESOME!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.
Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn’t be all that bad with only two AAA batteries, right?
There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.
I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and then thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised.
Am I wrong?
So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and Tazer in another.
The directions said that:
A one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant;
A two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; and
A three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water.
Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.
All the while I’m looking at this little device measuring about 5″ long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference (loaded with two itsy, bitsy AAA batteries); pretty cute really, and thinking to myself, ‘no possible way!’
What happened next is almost beyond description, but I’ll do my best.
I’m sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side so as to say, ‘Don’t do it stupid,’ reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny lil ole thing couldn’t hurt all that bad.. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it.
I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and…
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. WHAT THE… !!!
I’m pretty sure Hulk Hogan ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs! The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room.
Note: If you ever feel compelled to ‘mug’ yourself with a Tazer, one note of caution:
There is NO such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself! You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor! A three second burst would be considered conservative!
A minute or so later (I can’t be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape.
My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace.
The recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was.
My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching.
My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs.
I had no control over the drooling.
Apparently I had crapped in my shorts, but was too numb to know for sure, and my sense of smell was gone.
I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head, which I believe came from my hair.
I’m still looking for my testicles and I’m offering a significant reward for their safe return!
PS: My wife can’t stop laughing about my experience, loved the gift and now regularly threatens me with it!
If you think education is difficult, try being stupid!!!!
Gary and Friends,
There was an incident in my high school days that might be remembered by more of the readers. One day we were waiting for classes to start and were hanging around in the hall. Don Mongeon was looking at the fire alarm switch on the wall and asked what the little breakable fiber pin was made of? He pushed in on the handle and the pin fell out and rolled away on the floor, leaving him holding the alarm in the off position. He said, “Hey, you guys, give me that pin so this doesn’t go off.” We just looked at Don and smiled and left him there and headed for class. We shouldn’t have but—kids. Don was pretty inventive and stuck his pencil into the mechanism to hold the switch and headed for class. Miss Shurr came down the hall a few minutes later and noticed the pencil sticking out—yeah—and pulled it out. The entire alarm system went off and caused havoc for the teachers and staff. Nobody knew anything about how that pencil got wedged in the fire alarm—amazing. Thanks Gary!
Dick
Dick: We are so glad to see you back on like. We missed you and more than you will every realize too. Gary
Janet Haagenson – Prviously posted with message 192 on 8/15/2008
From Stan & Joan Wurgler Salmonson (both class of 61): Dunseith, ND
Subject:Artist Janet Haagenson Sedlacek ’61’
Janet Haagenson Sedlacek, DHS Class of ’61’ who lives in Great Falls, Mt. was a featured artist at the Prairie Artists’ Show & Sale at the Christian Center of Lake Metigoshe on Aug. 9-10. She has exhibited her works at numerous shows in Great Falls and the area. She is famous for her painting of the Rendahl Church of rural Dunseith. The beauty of her watercolors can also be seen in her flowers, scenery of the Turtle Mountains, Montana and Alaska. Janet is a sister of Cheryl Haagenson and the late Mickey Grenier. Janet does not have e-mail but can be contacted at 224 Riverview Dr, Great Falls, Mt. 59404.
PS: In a previous picture of the 40th Anniversary of Wayne & Rosemary Smith–Wayne is also from the Class of ’61. Congratulations Janet, Wayne & Rosemary. Class of 61, let’s hear it from you!!
Joke of the Day
Posted by Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
A cop stops a guy because he looks odd, driving with a clown suit
on. The cop asks why he is dressed in a clown suit and the driver says
he does kids parties and stuff so what’s the problem? The cop asks if
he can juggle three things and the clown says he can but so what? The
cop says he really loves to see someone juggle and asks if the clown
would please just show him how he can do it? The clown says he doesn’t
have anything to juggle so the cop goes to his car and gets three flares
for the clown. The clown juggles the flares and asks if that’s enough?
The cop asks if the guy can juggle the flares if they’re lit.
Reluctantly, the clown says that he in fact can, so the cop lights the
flares and stands back as the clown juggles the lit flares. A pickup
goes slowly by and the driver pulls over and goes and gets into the back
of the patrol car and shuts the door. The cop jerks open the door and
asks what the hell he thinks he’s doing. The guy says, “If that’s the
new DUI test, just take me to jail.”
Peter Mellmer, 82,Bismarck, died Sept. 10, 2011, atMissouriSlopeLutheranCareCenter,Bismarck. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at theChurch ofCorpus Christi, with the Rev. Paul Becker officiating.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday with a rosary service at 7 p.m. atBismarck Funeral Home.
Peter was born March 2, 1929, in New England, the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Stecher) Mellmer. He attended New England Public School.
Peter married Viola Wanner on Jan. 11, 1949. Peter worked on the family farm until 1951. In 1951, Peter and Viola moved to Dunseith, where Peter worked at the local Gamble Store and Viola managed the Dakota Hotel. Later, Peter began working at the San Haven State Hospital where he ran the powerhouse. In 1972, Peter and Viola decided to move to Bismarck, where he began working for Burleigh County Housing until his retirement in 1994.
Peter was a member of the Eagles Club for 39 years. In his retirement he enjoyed fishing, dancing, and playing old time music. Peter loved spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Viola, Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center; children, Connie Krusinski, Chicago, Jim (Donna) Mellmer, Mandan, Patti (Tom) Weisbeck, Bismarck, and Lynette (Bob) Norbeck, Bismarck; sister, Joyce Rettinger, Glen Ullin; brother, Darrell Mellmer, St. Petersburg, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Peter was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law, Andy Rettinger and Gary Svihovec; and son-in-law, Ted Krusinski.
For the record, I did not get a blog out yesterday. Gary
1932 Willow City threshing crew picture
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
Gary,
I printed the 1932 photo of “The Willow City Threshing Crew” for Wes
and Ovidia Schneider.
They pondered over the photo at length but to no avail.
They will keep the photo and keep looking over. With apologies. Vickie
Vickie: No apologies needed. We all totally understand. This picture is nearly 80 years old. Gary
1932 Willow City threshing crew
3rd Row:
2nd Row: Dave Eurich Sr.?,??,??, Dale Gottbreht?
1st Row: Dave Eurich Jr.?, ???
Happy couple Yesterday on Lake Metigoshe
Art Hagen (72) with Rose Hohl (Cebu, Philippines)
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
Gary ,
Jason Counts was the son of Bernie Peltier and Lloyd Counts “Class of 1970”.
GPS location Date/Time:
From Trish Larson Wild (73): Fort Collins, CO.
Hi! I’m riding my horses and all is well. Here are my coordinates:
Trish: This is neat. Now we can keep track of you. Gary
“Just Us” performed at the Good Samaritan home in Bottineau.
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
Hi Gary,
Thought I’d let you know, “Just Us” (Don Boardman/Dave Mettler/Tina Pladson Bullinger) will be performing at Good Samaritan in Bottineau on Sunday, September 11, at 2:00 p.m. I plan to attend the event.
Neola
I did not post a blog yesterday, so we did not get this one posted in time. Sorry about that. Gary
Dave Mettler, Don boardman (60) & Tina Pladson Bullinger (78)
Happy 80th birthday to Luella Bjornseth Aug. 23rd.
Love from Joyce Smith
Joyce: This went to my spam and I missed it. So sorrry about that. Gary
Ackworth Alumni Picture
Reply from Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine (73): Grafton, ND
The lady @ the Acworth alumni standing next to Clarence Hagen is Leola Hiatt Lagerquist
Ackworth Alumni Picture
Reply Debbie Fuger Fauske (75): Minot, ND
The questionable lady in the Ackworth photo is Leola…I think?
Thank you Vickie and Debbie. I know Leola well too, but for some reason in this picture it did not look like her to me. Now that I know it is Leola I can see it is her in her smile.
1994 Ackworth Alumni gathering
Picture – L to R Up & Down (Bob Stokes took the picture)
Willis Bowers, Leola Lagerquist, Clarence Hagen, Mary Ann Hagen, Maxine Hiatt.
Bob Stokes with his Twin Sister’s (Margaret) daughter Arlene.
This picture was taken at Margaret’s Funeral in Weyburn, SK Canada, in 1997.
June 1958 – Bob Stokes family
Note: Our clothes were all purchased at Sister Rose’s store in Dunseith too.
I think this picture may have been taken at Grandpa Carl Petterson’s house?
Back: Bob & Elaine Stokes
Front: Gary, Darrel and Allen Stokes
Joke of the day
Posted by Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND
Older Men at Breakfast Chatting…
“Sixty is the worst age to be,” said the 60-year-old man. “You always feel like you have to pee and most of the time you stand there and nothing comes out.”
“Ah, that’s nothin,” said the 70-year-old. “When you’re seventy, you don’t have a bowel movement any more. You take laxatives, eat bran, sit on the toilet all day and nothin’ comes out!”
“Actually,” said the 80-year -old, “Eighty is the worst age of all.”
“Do you have trouble peeing, too?” asked the 60-year old.
“No, I pee every morning at 6:00. I pee like a racehorse on a flat rock; no problem at all.”
“So, do you have a problem with your bowel movement?”
“No, I have one every morning at 6:30.”
Exasperated, the 60-year-old said, “You pee every morning at 6:00 and crap every morning at 6:30. So what’s so bad about being 80?”
“I don’t wake up until 7:00 a.m.”
Florence & Keith Pladson, Becky Sime, Minnie Flynn
Darrel (70) and Debby Stokes
Folks, I wanted to share this wonderful photo of my Brother Bud (Darrel) and his wife Debby that was taken at their Son Nathan’s/Diana’s Wedding in June.
Debby and Darrel Stokes
Diana and Nathan Stokes
1994 Ackworth Alumni gathering
Picture – L to R Up & Down (Bob Stokes took the picture)
Willis Bowers, ????, Clarence Hagen, Mary Ann Hagen, Maxine Hiatt.
Folks, I need some help with who the lady is in this picture with my Dad. She looks very familiar, but at the moment, I can not place her. I will probably be embarrassed when I find out. Gary
Vivian Berube Cote is Urbain’s (44) (Deceased) wife. She is an aunt to Rachael, Robert, Angela and Muzette Berube. I don’t have her latest address. I think she may be living in Arizona. Vivian is included with today’s message.
Note: Lorette (Bill DHS 52) Berube Leonard is Vivian’s sister. Gary
Reply to Richard Slyter’s Birthday picture posting
From Cherrie Slyter Millang: Bottineau, ND
It is an awesome picture. 2 generations of Marines. The picture was taken Oct. 9th, 2009 after Devins Graduation in San Diego, CA.
SHERRI MILLANG
Richard Slyter with his Grandson Devin
1932 Willow City threshing crew
Photo provided by Mary Eurich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND
Hi Gary
The picture I had Karen send is Willow City threshing crew 1932. I’m
sure you recognize some of the people on it. Some of the names are on
the back of the picture. One of the guys is listed as Benny Schneider
but in another area the guy has been given a different name. Maybe
Wesley can tell us. You’ll recognize Dave Eurich Jr and Sr and Jim and
George Egbert are easy to recognize but I don’t
know any of the rest of them.
Sharon Landsverk Beckman has been sick. Saw her in the store the other
day. She’s looking good now. She said she was off work quite awhile.
I’ll write more later when I have time to collect my thoughts a little
better.
Take care.
Mary K
Mary: I don’t readily recognize any of these folks. I have listed who I think several are that you mentioned.
Folks, we need some help with this one.
Thanks Mary, Gary
1932 Willow City threshing crew
3rd Row:
2nd Row: Dave Eurich Sr.?,??,??, Dale Gottbreht?
1st Row: Dave Eurich Jr.?, ???
Brenda Hoffman (68) – Rolette County Historical Society
Message from Mel Kuhn (70): St. John, ND
Howdy Gary,
I want to send a big THANK YOU out to Brenda Hoffman for her donation to the Rolette County Historical Society. I will put it in the Blacksmith Shop fund. I finally got it pretty well finished up this summer. Now it’s to get all the equipment moved into it and set up. We’ve been getting quite a bit of things done at the museum this summer, one big project was getting the church painted. My wife undertook this project and even went as far as getting in the lift to go up and paint the steeple. Larry Haas brought in his lift and donated the use of it for a week to get the steeple done. He also did a great deal of work at a discounted rate which we are really greatfull for.
Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
Gary,
Talk about becoming immediate friends; that’s how quickly Sherrie/her mother/I became friends. It was wonderful–again, this happened because of your newsletter. Thanks again for all you do.
It was a fantastic afternoon. I was so “hyped-up” I wasn’t hungry. I did have half a bun with pulled pork on it, as my mouth has been watering for that ever since I read about it in the newspaper clipping about the restaurant reopening–DELICIOUS!! Highway 43 sounds better and better all the time! I like their song selections today. There was also an excellent harmonica player (lady) who performed with them. It was a fabulous afternoon!
Neola
Neola: I am glad to hear that all went well with Sherrie’s grand opening. With Highway 43 playing and with Neola attending I know it went well. Whether you realize it or not Neola, you have become pretty well known among the Dunseith folks/alumni. With all that you provide, you have developed quite a following. gary
Leah Richard Bergeron
Reply Lorraine Richard Nelson (46): Payson, AZ
Gary. thank you for all the wonderful information about my beautiful Aunt Leah. and thanks to Carmon Richard. Leah is the sister of my father Joe Richard, and I have many great memories of she and her husband Jerry Bergeron. When we were kids it was so much fun visiting them on the farm, and we never missed visiting her when she lived in Bottineau. What a treat for me to hear about her again., thanks again to all of you.. Lorraine Richard Nelson..Payson Arizona.
More pictures in Bob Stokes’ back yard in Bottineau – 1996
L to R: Ronnie Reed, Jim Pladson, Darrel Stokes, Dorothy Reed, Peggy Petterson Olson, Lillian Petterson, Jean Pladson, Willy Hiatt.
Back Row: Elaine Stokes, Lester Johnson, Marian Johnson, Charlotte Ovitt, Ovitt boy?, Rodney Ovitt Standing, Bob Stokes on porch
Back to Camera: Velma Millang, Rose Monsaro (SP), Maxine Hiatt, Debby Stokes, Nathan Stokes ?, Emil Petterson
Kathy Barbot Mcghan lower right corner of picture.
Joke of the day
From Bill Grimme (65): Birmingham, AL
Bill’s email Subject line: This is true for everyone EXCEPT Gary Stokes!
Bill: Thank you so much for this nice compliment. I know you meant for this to be posted so I am posting. In reality my memory is not that great. I use a lot of cheat sheets among other things for memory recall. I can not hold a candle to guys like Dick Johnson and Bill Grimme.
“Thank you for mentioning my Grand Opening in your blog today. It was a great turnout. And a beautiful day. Could you please mention that Lorraine Millang made my cake and to Hwy 43 for the music. I had alot of compliments on how good the cake was and and how good the music was. I cant say enough thank you’s for all the support and help. Neola brought her caramels for door drawing.”
Sherrie: It was my pleasure. I am glad you had a great grand opening. It is your dad, Richard Slyter’s, birthday today (September 5th) too. That is a great photo of your Dad and your son Devin below with their salutes. Gary
Happy Birthday Lyle Lamoureux (DHS ’63)
Leah Richard Bergeron
Reply from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI
Leah is a sweetheart. She is one of the people I would seek out at family gatherings. I assume she is the last survivor of Grand dad’s generation. She looks darn good in these pictures!!
Allen: Leah would have been 84 years old in those pictures too. She and Rose Monsaro (Sp) were inseparable friends. Rose was from the Philippines. Leah was the driver and had the car. Everyday they went places all over town and the area. I never saw one without the other. They would stop at my folks house real often. At Dad’s 80 Birthday celebration that was held at the Senior center in 1995, I had prepared a write-up of dad’s history that I read at his celebration. Leah wanted a copy of that in the worst way. At first I thought she was kidding and just being polite, but she was serious, so I gave her a copy. Lillian Houle and Velma Millang were part of that group too. Gary
Picture of Leah Richard Bergeron’s daughter
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
Hi Gary,
Another courthouse picture. I’m quite sure this is Leah’s daughter. She is married to Ken Bergman, son of Otto/Elizabeth Bergman. You probably know Lynne Bergman Boettcher (Gary), Bob Bergman, Ron Bergman, Ralph Bergman, etc.
Neola
Reply To Gary and Connie Zorn Landsverk from Neola
Hi Gary, and Connie
I just remembered the comment I was going to make about yesterday’s blog–the one with the pictures of Leah/your dad/etc. As you know, I live in the upstairs apartment in a farm house the Torhol brothers (Mrs. John Pedie’s brothers) moved into Bottineau MANY years ago. The house came from an Aasheim farm; Jean Aasheim Zorn (Connie Zorn Landsverk’s mother) and I visited for a short time yesterday. Again, Jean said which Aasheim farm it came from. I think she said it was her grandfather’s farm. Jean’s dad was Joe Aasheim. According to the Bottineau County Centennial Book, Joe’s parents were Theodore and Josephine Aasheim. Connie, can you help me with info about this?
Anyway, back to my apartment. Leah Bergeron lived on the main floor in this house for many years. In fact, I thought Leah had had this house moved to Bottineau. It was just a few years ago when Jean Zorn told me it came from an Aasheim farm. Mom/Dad lived a short block north of this house. When I look out my north window, I can see where our house used to be before it was torn down. Small world. Oh, also, Connie lives across the street (to the south) and a couple of houses “down” from my apartment.
All for now.
Neola
Joke of the day posted by
Posted by Doreen Larson Moran (BHS ’61): Usk, WA & Hazelton, ND
In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot. And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she was often called Amazon Dot Com.
And she said unto Abraham, her husband, “Why dost thou travel so far from town to town with thy goods when thou canst trade without ever leaving thy tent?”
And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, “How, dear?”
And Dot replied, “I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale, and they will reply telling you who hath the best price. And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah’s Pony Stable (UPS).”
Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. And the drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever having to move from his tent. To prevent neighboring countries from overhearing what the drums were saying, Dot devised a system that only she and the drummers knew. It was known as Must Send Drum Over Sound (MSDOS), and she also developed a language to transmit ideas and pictures – Hebrew To The People (HTTP).
And the young men did take to Dot Com’s trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Sybarites, or NERDS.
And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to that enterprising drum dealer, Brother William of Gates, who bought off every drum maker in the land. And indeed did insist on drums to be made that would work only with Brother Gates’ drumheads and drumsticks.
And Dot did say, “Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others.” And Abraham looked out over theBayofEzekiel, or eBay as it came to be known. He said, “We need a name that reflects what we are.”
And Dot replied, “Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators.” “YAHOO,” said Abraham. And because it was Dot’s idea, they named it YAHOO Dot Com.
Abraham’s cousin, Joshua, being the young Gregarious Energetic Educated Kid (GEEK) that he was, soon started using Dot’s drums to locate things around the countryside. It soon became known as God’s Own Official Guide to Locating Everything (GOOGLE).
Leah Bergeron is my husband Floyd’s aunt. She will turn 100 in 2012, I am not sure of the date, but will make it a point to fine out. She lives in Perham MN in a home that cares for about six elderly people–not a nursing home. We visited her there a few years ago. Her son Dick and his wife Veronica live in Perham also. Her children are Jim, Marion, Dick, Kenny and Don. One daughter, Alma Jean has passed away. When she attended the Richard reunion in Fargo in 1996, she was treated like a celebrity because of her age at that time, my grandchildren just loved her.
Carmon: Leah was a very close friend of my folks when they lived in Bottineau. My folks thought the world of her. She is such a warm and caring person. Thru my folks, I learned to know Leah quite well, but until I started doing this Dunseith blog I did not realize or know she was a Richard. Please give her my regards when you see her. Gary
Grand opening – Sher’s Cafe – located next to the Quilt Inn at Lake Metigoshe – Monday (labor Day)
Owners – Cam & Sherri Slyter Millang.
Folks,
I just got a message from Neola telling me about Sher’s Cafe Grand opening tomorrow (Labor Day).
Free cake and coffee from 2 to 6 pm
Highway 43 with Dick & Brenda Johnson and Ron Hett will be playing from 3 to 6 pm.
I just called Sherri. She said her special for the grand opening is a Poll Pork Sandwich with potato salad and coleslaw. Her mother, Ele Dietrich Slyter (69), will also have a snickers salad.
Highway 43
Brenda Johnson Ron Hett Dick Johnson
Previously posted on July 28th
Cam & Sherri Slyter Millang open new Cafe at Lake Metigoshe
Posting from Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): eleszoo@yahoo.com Dunseith, ND
Attached is a bit of news from the good ole’ Turtle Mts…and I must say we are very proud of our daughter Sherri and son-in-law Cam Millang for this venture of opening the cafe at the Lake. Their food is very good and reasonably priced and we wish them all the best.
Hello Gary, My mother Ovidia is married to Wesley Schneider. I called her and got Dorothy Schneider’s number in CA. 510-223-2030 Karen Larson
Thank you Karen. Gary
Condolences to the Arlind Poitra family
From Connie Zorn Landsverk: Bottineau, ND
Yes Arlind Potria was a very nice gentleman, Working @ the good samaritan center I would see him there in the dining room or on the front deck outside visiting with his wife Judy & sometimes his family was there. I had a nice visit with him last Saturday August 27th. He,s sadly missed @ the Good Samaritan. Sharing my condolences with his family. connie (Zorn) Landsverk
1996 – Dinner in Bob/Elaine Stokes’ back yard in Bottineau catered by Bernadette Stokes.
There are a few folks in these pictures that many of you will know. Many of you are related to Leah Richard Bergeron. Dad’s Brother Nels Petterson from Everett Washington was visiting that summer too. His wife, Helga had passed away in March, 1996. Nels passed away that same year in November at the age of 92. Sitting in the back yard Nels looked over and said “Oh my god, there is Leah Bergeron”. They had been neighbors in the Omemee area back in the 1930’s and had not seen each other since. Man, did they ever have a lot to talk about. It was a good reunion. Is Leah still living? She would be 99 years old.
Back: Darrel Stokes (White Cap), Ronnie Reed, Jim Pladson (Standing), Dorothy Reed, Rodney Ovitt (Back to Picture),
Freida Schneider Ferguson – Trying to locate her sister Dorothy.
Merle,
Freida’s Brother Wesley lives in Bottineau. The number I have for Dorothy in California may not be good any more. There are a number of Frieda’s close relatives on our distribution. I know they will gladly assist you locating Dorothy and can provide you with more detailed info about Freida too. Wesley is not on our distribution, but I know there are folks on our distribution that will relay this message to him.
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Gary
From: Merle Mc Morrow
Phone: 701-232-
E-mail: Message:
Freida & Wally Ferguson were our next door neibors for many years in Bismarck. After Wally’s death in 1990 we kept track of Freida and visited when it was convient. We tried to contact Freida within the last year and was unsucessful. Now we see her obituary on your site.
They had no children and looked at our two boys as their children also. It is too bad you don’t recognize how wonderful some people are until they’re gone and you never took the time to tell them.
Do you happen to know Freida’s sister’s telephone number in San Francisco, CA?
Merle
Trish Larson Wild (73)
Reply from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI
To Trish—- I was wondering how things were going. It has to be a blast! My back wouldn’t take it. I do plan a trip in the next couple years that involves horses — around 450 of them. Under a long black hood of my ’74 Charger. I want to make a loop. Here to Chicago–pick up Rout 66 to either hwy 83 or 81, then Bismarck and Dunseith. Trip home will be through the upper peninsula on hwy 2. I’m already saving up for the gas—it will take me upwards of 400 gallons —- of premium. But I’ll have air conditioning!
Allen
Pretty expensive air conditioning Allen, but it will be fun. Gary
Memories of my Father, Bob Stokes
A personal message from a relatives wife.
Folks, I wanted to share this reply with you. My dad was a very special guy. As she mentions, he had perfect comic timing and such good delivery of the punch lines for his many stories/jokes too, many of which were Bob Stokes originals. Gary
Gary,
I sure was taken with your father several years back when I was lucky enough to meet him along with all the others of his generation – most of whom have passed. He had such a charming personality – I just really liked being around him. He had such perfect comic timing, too. I feel your pain, I really do, as I recently lost my mother. I feel like I’ll never be the same. How lucky we are to have had them in our lives! Again, I’m so glad I got to meet your father – what a memorable person!
Dinner party with about 25 guests at the Stokes house last night.
Story of the day
Posted by Don Aird: St Louis, MO
Subject:Best Drunk Driving Story
A man goes to a party and has too much to drink. His friends plead with him to let them take him home. He says no — he only lives a mile away. > > > About five blocks from party, the police pull him over for weaving and ask him to get out of the car and walk the line. Just as he starts, the police radio blares out a notice of a robbery taking place in a house just a block away. > > The police tell the party animal to stay put, they will be right back and they hop a fence and run down the street to the robbery. > > > The guy waits and waits and finally decides to drive home. > When he gets there, he tells his wife he is going to bed, and to tell anyone who might come looking for him that he has the flu and has been in bed all day. > > > A few hours later the police knock on the door. > They ask if Mr. Joe is there and his wife says yes. > They ask to see him and she replies that he is in bed with the flu and has been so all day. > The police have his driver’s license. They ask to see his car and she asks why. > They insist on seeing his car, so she takes them to the garage. She opens the door. > > There sitting in the garage is the police car, with all its lights still flashing. > > > > True story, told by the driver at his first AA meeting. > > > > >
Today is my fathers 96th birthday. It was a tough phone call that I got from brother Bud (Darrel) on the evening of August 23, 2000 telling me Dad had passed away. It was so fortunate that several weeks prior to his passing I had spend 2 1/2 weeks with my parents. In that time Dad and I did a re-tour of the hills, Bottineau and Dunseith visiting many folks. It was a good closure. The area is not the same without him there to take me around the area visiting all these folks. We always had to make a trip up and down Bottineau’s main street going into all of the stores, banks, etc visiting and for him to introduce me again to all these folks. Of coarse he always had to tell a few stories too. He is dearly missed.
Gary
Robert Stokes
Sept. 2, 1915 – Aug. 23, 2000
Funeral services for Robert D. Stokes, age 84, of Bottineau, were held on Monday at , in the Metigoshe Christian Center at Lake Metigoshe. Burial was in the Ackworth Cemetery of rural Dunseith. Officiating at the service was the Reverend Carol Wendel. Casket bearers were Elwood Fauske, Ronnie Reed, Jim Skoog, Glen Rude, Dennis Haakenson, and Angus Campbell. Debbie Sapp was the soloist. The congregation sang selected hymns, and Zelma Brandvold was the pianist. Military honors were by the American Legion Post # 42 of Bottineau.
Robert D. Stokes, a son of Carl and Bertha (Stulen) Petterson, was born on the family farm in the foothills of the Turtle Mountains northeast of Bottineau, ND on Sept. 2, 1915. Shortly following he and his twin sisters birth, his mother died, and Bob was taken in and raised by the Stokes family who lived in the Ackworth area of Willow Creek Township in Rolette County northwest of Dunseith. In 1937, he moved to Texas and learned the Backery trade. He then returned to North Dakota, and began working in a Bakery at Pembina, ND. On June 18, 1941 he was married to Elaine Woodward at Pembina. Following their marriage the couple began farming in the Ackworth community of the Turtle Mountains. On Oct. 1, 1942 he entered the Untied States Army and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre. After his honorable discharge on Dec. 12, 1945 he returned to the farm. In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Stokes also worked at various jobs in the area including hauling cream for the Bottineau Creamery. He retired in 1980 and a number of years later they moved into Bottineau. They have resided their since.
He was a member of the Metigoshe Lutheran Church. He was also a member of the American Legion Post # 42 of Botttineau. He had served in the Honor Guard for many military funerals over the years. For many years, it was Bob’s duty to carry “Old Glory” in any parade in which the American Legion was involved.
Bob passed away on Wednesday on arrival at the Bottineau Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine; three sons, Gary and his wife, Bernadette of Bremerton, WA.; Allen and his wife, Janet of Lakeside, CA; Darrel and his wife, Debby of Bottineau; four grandchildren, Bernie Stokes of Bellevue, WA; and Christin Stokes and Nathan Stokes, both of Bottineau: and one great-grandchild, Tyler.
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:Minot & Bottineau, ND
Condolence to the Arlind Poitra Family
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
My sympathy is extended to family of Arlind Poitra.
I had a very nice chat with Arlind at Kevin and Christina St. Clairs
wedding reception on July 23.
He told me, it meant alot to him as a great uncle to be personally
invited by Kevin.
He was very concerned about his wife Judy who is very ill. His
intent was to drive every day from his home in Dunseith to spend time
with her at the Good Samaritan Home here in Bottineau.
He was indeed a family man. Hold fast to your memories.
Sincerely, Vickie Metcalfe
Hurricane Irene – Reply to Keith Pladson
From Marlys Hiatt (71): Dunseith, ND
Kieth,
I sure was interested in reading about your experience during hurricane
Irene. I am so sorry about your shed but thankrul that you, your wife,
and your home are okay.
Marlys Hiatt
Washington Trails on Horse Back
Update from Trish Larson Wild (73): Fort Collins, CO.
Hi Gary,
Just a quick update from SE Washington, where Zak and I are camped with the four horses at a State Park near Bonneville Hot Springs, where we just spent a wonderful rainy day, enjoying the pleasures of this beautiful resort. Massage, hot tubs, sauna, and two meals later, we are rejeuvenated and looking forward to another glorious ride in the tall forests of this area near the Columbia Gorge tomorrow. Yesterday we rode to the top of “Hardy Ridge”, and then hiked to the summit, which took another hour or so. Spectacular views of the Columbia Gorge from up there.
The campground is lovely, with a high line pre-installed for our convenience, and actual green grass for the horses delight! Somehow one of the geldings, Magic, got his hock surrounded by the rope and endured a bad rope burn during the night (which is not supposed to happen on a high line). I think his brother, Midnight, was giving him a hard time and somehow he got in a tangle. I woke up to him holding his rear right foot up to me for tending. He has a wound, but I have the stuff to take care of it. Vetricin (antibiotic spray) and Udder balm should do the trick. I’ve dealt with these wounds before and the key is to not let it get out of hand with infection. I’ll be keeping a close eye and doing twice daily dressing changes for awhile.
We’ll stay here tomorrow, resting and relaxing after our long drive from our last great wilderness camp in the Wenatchee Wilderness, where we saw the most incredible sunset over the Cascades from a mountain top near the Ken Wilcox horse camp.
For entertainment, I sometimes paint my white arabian to look like a zebra, so the photo shows you some of the silly fun we’re having. You would not believe how many people think it’s real. I think he actually looks better in stripes…
Friday we head to Portland, where Zak will hop off to visit friends while I jot down to Eugene to visit a good friend and do my miles in Oregon. I also heard about another hot springs down there where I might be able to camp with the horses…
Then it’s back to Washington for a couple of weeks on the Olympic Penninsula. I’ve always wanted to visit the rain forest (and more hot springs!) there.
The horses are doing great and seem very happy and healthy. We have our systems down, and everyone is having a great time exploring new terrain and camping in the incredible forests of the far Northwest. What an amazing place.
Thanks to all the commentators, and to especially to everyone who visits my blog and leaves a comment. I sure love the support and interest from the North Dakotans. I haven’t met any finer folks anywhere.
For general info, I did not get a blog out yesterday.
Gary
Hurricane Irene
Message from Keith Pladson (66): Roanoke Rapids, NC
Gary and all, Since you brought up Irene in your 1272 issue, let me post a little account of what happened here.
For those who have been through an event like this you will quickly identify with what I am saying, so sorry for the redundancy. For you others, I’ll try to give you a feel for what it was like. I’ve lived on the east coast now for about 45 years and have experienced several tropical systems – some big, some small and some where the Washington DC area was close to the eye of the storm as it passed through the area.
We now live in Roanoke Rapids, NC, which is about 80 miles due west of the coast and just a couple miles south of the VA/NC border (just off of Interstate 95). The eye of the storm came ashore about 7am this morning over Point Lookout, NC, which is southeast of us by approximately 150 miles or so. However, this is a very large system so we started getting hit by the outer bands of rain and wind about 1 am last night. By the time I got up this morning (around 8 am – I know, I slept in. Hey I’m retired!!) we were already getting pounded by steady winds of about 25 to 30 mph and gusts of 50 mph or more and very heavy rain which was often hitting us horizontally rather that vertically.
It is now 2 pm and there has been little change except that the wind is now blowing at around 40 mph and gusts are at times now exceeding 60 – 70 mph.. We have some huge oak trees in our back yard (by “huge” I mean trees that are up to 24 inches or more in diameter at the base and over 70 feet in height) andwatching them when a strong gust comes through you see the upper parts of the trees sway 10 to 15 feet. In my mind I keep wondering how much of this they can take, but then oaks are pretty strong wood so it is unlikely they will break off. (When trees like these do go down it is usually because the whole root system has become weakened from the rain and they are then literally pulled out of the ground by the wind. I’ve seen a lot of trees downed like that in past storms). In any case we’ve so far been lucky as no trees have come down. At this time the eye of the storm is still a bit to our ESE and we’ve seen no let up. The eye will not come over us but pass east of us right at the coast line or about 80 miles from us. One of the things that make these weather systems so different from normal systems is that in most cases with weather fronts (which can have winds just as strong and lots of rain) they hit you and an hour or so later there all gone. We’ve been in this now for over 14 hours and since the eye of the storm is still to our ESE it means we still have many hours to go.
Oops! I spoke too soon. One of those huge oak trees just came down. I have a shed in the back yard for all of my lawn equipment, etc. That huge oak tree is now laying over the top of the shed! It may break the shed in half if the wind doesn’t let up soon. As it is, it pushed the shed off it’s foundation and the shed now looks like an old sway backed mule. Fortunately, we have insurance so except for the deductible I’m sure it will be covered. Just hope no more trees come down. One of them (in our neighbor’s yard) could hit our house if it comesdown. We also have a crepe myrtle (crepe myrtles are very common ornamental flowering shrubs/trees in this area) in front of our front door that has already lost about 60 percent of it’s foliage. And we have leaves and small branches all over our driveway and front and back yard. I would guess we have already received over 5 inches of rain and there has been no let up. I’ll try to
Continued.
In all of the tropical storms Alice and I have been through in the past, we have never felt the brunt of a storm as much as we did this one. I started writing this on Saturday the 27th, while we still had power and kept saving as I went for fear the power would go out and I would loose what I had written. This was about the time the storm was nearing it’s worst here. In any case, the first three paragraphs were written then. The remainder I’m writing now (Tuesday, Aug 30th).
So, now that we have power restored I’ll continue. We lost power around 3 PM on Saturday right about the height of the storm and got it back around 9:30 last night. (Fortunately, we have a small generator so could keep power to the refrigerators and freezers.) The tree that had come down across our garden shed continued its crushing downward movement toward the ground with each new gust of wind; eventually slicing our shed in half and crushing my riding lawn mower in the process. Unfortunately, as we were to discover, this was just the start of things to come. With nothing else to do we sat looking out the bigwindow we have on the back side of the house that overlooks the lake and watched in a mixture of fascination and horror as huge tree after huge tree gave up its hold to the ground and came crashing down. Over the course of about 3 hours as gusts here were most likely exceeding 80 mph we saw a total of 10 big oaks go down. The back of our house faces in a northeasterly direction and one of the things I have really enjoyed since moving in was that I could sit outside in the early morning sun and be completely comfortable because those big oaks gave me total shade. Unfortunately that’s all gone now as we have only three big trees left and even they have been denuded of most of their leaves. Some of the trees that went down were to the right side of our house and though we couldn’t actually see them from inside our house, we knew they were going down as each made a low guttural whup as it hit the ground. Two of those were close enough to the house that they could have hit the house, so we were actually glad each time we heard a whup that it wasn’t instead a crashing sound of hitting the house.
Finally, at about 7 PM on Saturday would could feel the wind was letting up and the gusts were not as strong. They were still very powerful, but the remaining trees were able to withstand each succeeding gust. The rain was also getting lighter. In all we got almost 8 inches of rain. Around 10 PM the wind had died down considerably and we went to bed. I woke up a little after midnight and when I looked outside the stars were shining and there was only a light breeze. It was over!!!
Sunday morning everyone in the neighbor was able to start assessing damage. We clearly had lost the most trees. However, we were very lucky in that we were not hurt and neither was our house. Some were not so fortunate. Several houses had had huge trees come down on them with various amounts of damage. Later on Sunday, Alice and I took a drive around other neighborhoods in Roanoke Rapids and it was disheartening to see all the trees down across streets over power lines and on top of houses — literally hundreds of trees. Some of these trees were up to four feet in diameter and have probably been there for over 150 years.. And, Roanoke Rapids was not alone. The entire eastern third of the state suffered similar damage. And as you probably all know by now the entire eastern seaboard suffered similar and worse conditions, especially from flooding – which we did not experience in any way.
Keith Pladson (66)
P.S. I’ll try to send a couple of photos to Gary via my cell phone.
Keith, Thank you so much for this first hand report of this historic storm. Your losses could have been much more. You can count your blessings. Thank god none of those trees hit your house. The one that hit your shed sure did it’s damage. Those are some big trees too. Gary
Storms – History
From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
It sounds like the Minot floods are a real heart break for a lot of people. Our first encounter with too much water was 40 years ago when a dam in the Black Hills broke and sent 240 people to their maker. We were on vacation in the vicinity and had to get shots. Previous to that, we lost the two Arends brothers as we had 10 or 12 inches of rain during the night.
On our first visit to Galveston Island, Texas, history has it that over a hundred years ago a hurricane came in the middle of the night and killed 6,000 or more people. A man saw his family sucked down through the stairwell to never see them again. They hauled the bodies out to sea on rafts but that did not work as they surfaced again on shore. The stench was awful so they burned the corpses. They built up the seawall with giant boulders hauled for miles by rail. I watched Galveston Island go completely under water when I was on standby to haul the people to San Antonio for food and shelter. Then Katrina.
We observe people who evidently had not had a lot of adversity in their life, ignore the horrendous suffering of beautiful people in one of our most interesting cities in the U.S. The courage and valor of these people held them until the love and compassion from people like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Harry Connick and other people that we know as servants. But, I think the Saints came through with a rush of adrenalin that even the hardest hearts got a lesson on the art of living.
For Minot I hope that even half the love that New Orleans has received will find you in your grief.
Don Conroy, how far is your house from the one we lived in our college days? I will never forget what that dr. told you on a day when you came home and reported to me!! lol Gary Metcalfe
