3/30/2013 (1752)

No Blog posted yesterday.
 
For the record I did not get a blog posted yesterday.
 
Last night at about 9:15 PM we got an invitation from a friend of ours to go to her house for some good Filipino dessert. This gal lives in the same Condo complex as Art and Rose and is also very close friends with Art and Rose, so Art and Rose were there too. When we got the invitation, actually from Rose,  I nearly had the blog ready for distribution. When we got home about 1:00 AM it was too late to post.
 
The picture below of Art and me was posted by Mar, who was also with us last night. Take note of the caption just above the picture.
 
Gary 
 
 
Happy Easter
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

Today, I ventured to  Rugby where my dogs are groomed.
After dropping  my boys off,
I spent the morning  visiting with my two favorite Eleanor’s.
We ate Good Friday lunch together.
I shared my first childhood Easter exploits

 
Our first Oak Hill home,
  old, creaky, but  cozy  little house, the homestead of John Randon.
The kitchen and living room faced the sunny south.
It was  sheltered from the cold north winds by an Oak Hill
whose guardians were  red squirrels and striped tail chipmunks
chickadees, wrens and the Black with white ring necked border collie�
Skip.

During the winter snow drifts piled high around the house.
Cars that came down the hill oft had to be pushed up again.
or pulled by the Barnie or Byrd the  barn horses.

EASTER.
Easter  ham or chicken dinner then dishes  washed and put away.

Our  family harbinger ritual of spring was  walking in the warm�
sunshine,
up the hill then west down the the gravel road.
We’d search  for the first glimpse of catkins and pussy willows.
Upon finding, we’d  wade,  sometimes waist deep snow to pick our�
treasures.

One warm spring day about a week after Easter, I ambled around
the back to the north side of the house.

I spied an egg in the wooded eave trough.
hmmm.”Who could have placed it there?”
On my tippy toes,
I reached up and carefully pulled the egg toward me.

I felt the sun’s warmth as it  lay in the palm of my chubby hand.
…a beautiful speckled blue.

all Mine.

I was greedy and cared not to share.
I wanted to savor the first morsel.  All mine.
I nibbled into the egg in anticipation of sweets.

YUCK. pbst. gagged. spit.
a  real  bird  egg.

Reaching  my hands into  the  barrel I washed out my mouth
with rain water……..
.embarrassed.
……. I never told a soul.

Easter.
Brings us a promise.
Vickie

 
 
Where do you get them chickens that lay the colored eggs
Question from Larry Hackman (’66):  Bismarck, ND
 

Gary
Where do you get them chickens that lay the colored eggs?
Does that just happen on the shores of the 7,100 Philippine Islands?
Happy Easter
Larry
Larry,
 
You had me fooled all these years. I always thought those chickens came from a farm east of us up in them there hills.
 
You know all 7,100 of the Philippine Islands contain a total area less than the size of North Dakota. There are 95 Million people living on these islands too. The Filipino’s like togetherness. For most families all they need is one bedroom, because they all prefer to sleep together in the same bed. When the bed gets full, the overflow goes to the floor. All this with an empty bedroom next door too.
 
Gary 
 
 
Survey replies
Posted by Larry Hackman (’66):  Bismarck, ND
 
Gary
Here are the results of my survey.
Where do the chickens come from, that lay the colored eggs?
To all, a happy Easter.
Larry
 
 
From New Mexico.
We have road runners that lay out eggs.
Happy Easter and I hope your entire family gets together.
Noris
 
 
From Missouri.
I thought they were just universal chickens, had I known we only had them here I would have profited sooner.
Happy Easter and I hope spring comes to us all soon.
Jayne
 
 
From North Dakota. 
I don’t have a clue where those colored eggs come from? Maybe further back in the woods
the chickens are different but Grandma’s chickens just laid white or brown eggs.
But, as Axel would have said, “The yoke is on you, Hackman.”
Dick
 
 
From Alabama 

Not sure about the colored eggs, but, I just learned today on the news that rabbits can’t lay eggs. So, the school superintendent in a north Alabama school system outlawed the Easter Bunny. No joke.  Happy Easter to you and the family.

Bill

 
From North Dakota
There’s this guy up here at St. John by the name of Dave Hoover that raises all kinds of chickens. We have some up with this special kind of feed that we give them. We worked hard and long on our Secret Recipe so I can’t divulge the ingredients. If I did I’d have to kill you. So we give them this special feed which in turn prepares them for another high tech thing that we do. We use food coloring mixed with another Secret ingredient in an injection. We inject this special concoction into this little very hard to find spot right above the wing. This little spot is really hard to find so you have to wear your glasses and get right on down there and lift the chickens tail feathers and take a look and you’ll find it. Just give the injection of whatever color you want and away you go—colored eggs. I hope I answered your question. We do have quite a few in stock so if you want to order some just let me know and I’ll give you the order information.
Mel
 

From Colorado

That is your problem. Don’t you know it is the Easter Bunny that brings the eggs

Have a great Easter.

ro

Gary

I know you collaborated with A Florida person for this answer.

But, if your carnation milk is a color other than white, I would throw it away. 

Larry, Actually I got this from Pam Fassett Faust (’65). I was wrong when I said Florida. Pam lives in Georgia

A little old lady from Wisconsin had worked in and around her family dairy farms since she was old enough to walk, with hours of hard work and little compensation.When canned Carnation Milk became available in grocery stores in the 1940s, she read an advertisement offering $5,000 for the best slogan.

The producers wanted a rhyme beginning With ‘Carnation Milk is best of all.‘ 

She thought to herself, I know everything there is to know about milk and dairy farms. I can do this! She sent in her entry, and several weeks later, a black car pulled up in front of her house.

A large man got out, knocked on her door and said, “Ma’am,…..The president of Carnation milk absolutely LOVED your entry…..So much, in fact, that we are here to award you $1,000 even though we will not be able to use it for our advertisements!”

He did, however, have one printed up to hang on his office wall.


(Here it is:)

 
 
 
 
Val Moyer’s Studebaker – Reply from Norm Larson
Reply from Cheryl Larson Dakin (’71):  Bedford, TX 
 
Hi All
Larry …..Dad paid $2200 for the 57 Silverhawk Studebaker, brand new. It’s possible I may have a picture. If I do, and can find it, I’ll post it.
Happy Easter everyone!
Cheryl Larson Dakin
 
 
Studebaker’s
Reply from Allen Richard (’65):  Midland, MI
 

Studebakers  —  Sad to say so many good car companies have failed.  I too loved the look of the Silver Hawk.  It was kind of the mid price range at the time.  The Grand Tourisimo was the flag ship — and by the way, there is a beautiful black coupe with a red interior for sale a few miles from here. 
 
One of my dream vehicles was the Avanti.  It was about 20 years ahead of its time.  It had an available turbo charged V8 —- but if I had the cash that Tourisimo would be in my garage!
 
Allen
 
 
 
Johnson/Moyer Studebaker
Posting from Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,        I found the picture of my dad’s ’58 Studebaker President so will
post it.  This car was royal Blue and white and was a sharp car back in
it’s day.  It was not as sharp as Norm Larson’s Silverhawk as those were
really nice.  I think the way it sounds Val Moyer ended up owning both
Norm’s and Dad’s Studebakers.  The date on the picture is ’65 and that
would have been about when Dad sold it, I think.  The first Studebaker
Dad owned was a yellow ’51 two door that had belonged to Carl Lider.�
Dad bought that from Dale Fugere at the Stone Garage in the early’60s.
He sold that one when he bought the ’58.  Timmy Strong ended up with the
’51.  Dad later owned a black Studebaker Lark.  Now that was not much of
a car. Small square box with a dinky little six cylinder engine.  I do
have one story/confession on the Lark though.  I went a mile from home
to a vacant farmyard on land we were renting to check out what I needed
to do for field work.  After checking out the cropland,  I spun around
to head back home and got over just a little bit into some taller grass
and there was an old engine block laying in the grass and I ran the
little Lark right up on top of it.  I didn’t dare back it off the old
sharp block because the corner was against the oil pan so it might have
poked a hole in the pan.  I spent quite a while jacking up the car and
putting blocks under it until I could drag the old engine out from under
the car.  It didn’t do any damage to the car that way.  Come to think of
it,  I might have forgotten to tell Dad about that one too (do you
suppose?)  Hey Val,  Do you remember this old car?  The fan blade hadn’t
come up through the hood yet in this picture.  It sure was a little
‘screamin’ demon. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
Minot Snow
Pictures from Wally Garbe (Neola’s Husband)
 
These pics were taken this morning on March 28, 2013, 2 days before Easter.
Taken from our patio door (Minot, ND)…does not show the snow piled up in the
driveways and parking lot of our association. 

 
 
 
 
Ackworth Christmas 1959
Reply from Dale Pritchard (’63): Leesville, LA
 
Gary,

This would have been my first year in High School.  I thought the Martin Bergs had moved to Bottineau before this time but apparently not.  Several times, Martin, bringing his Carol to school, would catch up to Carol and I as we walked to school.  He always stopped to pick us up BUT we had to ride on the outside fenders of his pickup.  He drove slow but I would not do that dangerous stunt again, ever.  Looks like our average attendance at Ackworth was 12 to 15 kids.  I believe Mrs. Phelps name was Arvilda.  They had a son a few years older than Arlene who must have been in High School at St. John when Mrs. Phelps started teaching at Ackworth.

Dale Pritchard 

Dale,

 

I was thinking 1959, because you are not in it.   Marlys Hiatt is in this picture too and she was a first grader in 1959. 1959/60 was the last year that Mrs. Phelps taught at Ackworth too, so this must have been Christmas 1959.

 

I was thinking Carol Berg went back to Willow Lake in 59 or 60 too. She is in this picture, so she was still in Ackworth in 59. Art Hagen said he remembered her in Ackworth too in 60/61. I think they moved to Bottineau with the redistricting in 1961?

 

Yes, Alvilda was Mrs. Phelps first name. Their son’s name was Terry. He was born in 1940. I did some cross referencing and located him in Sebeka, MN. His wife has a Face Book account, so I zapped her a message. We’ll see what their reply will be.

 

Gary 

 

 
 Ackworth School: Christmas 1958 or 59
 L to R: Lyle Lagerquist, Allen Stokes, Jim Hiatt, Rodney Lagerquist, Arlene Phelps, Sandra Hagen, Susan Hagen, Gary Stokes, Carol Pritchard, Karen Hagen, Carol Berg, Marlys Hiatt, Darrel Stokes, Ray Lagerquist and Clifford Longre on the far right.
 
Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings: The “Avielle Foundation”
Posting from Lee Stickland (’64):  Dickinson, ND
 
Gary
I forward this to YOU for YOUR consideration of use.  I believe it of CERTAIN accreditation.  
The young man who was the shooter surely went without any obvious measure of mental
health assistance.  
I think the lady and the boy AMY refers to in her blog is my daug-in-law and G SON.
Thanks  Lee
 
 
Eric Stickland
Eric Stickland shared a link Introducing The Avielle Foundation: “Really nice article about the Avielle Foundation.”
 
 
Introducing The Avielle Foundation
usingourwords.com
Since that dreary December day, I’ve met one of those families. And they’ve got really interesting responses to both of these commonly said things.
Like · Comment · Share

3/28/2013 (1751)

Arlin Melgaard’s wife, Wanda, Passed away
Message form Larry Liere (’55): Devils Lake, ND
 
Gary 

I received this from a Retired National Guard Member that keeps us informed.  He received this from Becky Schmidt

who I think is the wife of the North Dakota National Guard Band Director and he is also a

band director for a Grand Forks, ND school. He also played in a dance band with Arlin   

                                                                                                       LARRY

 
 I got this from Becky Schmidt, GF Red River HS.  It was just February 2, 2013 that her husband Arlin Melgaard, an Army National Guard retiree, passed away. BEMIDJI, Minn. Wanda Melgaard, 65, Bemidji, formerly of Carrington, Devils Lake and Rugby, died Saturday, March 23, 2013, in a Fargo hospital.

 She was born June 18, 1947, to Willard and Mildred Axvig, in Langdon. She married Arlin Melgaard on May 19, 1976, in Bismarck.

Survivors: son, Chris Bartsch, Cathedral City, Calif.; stepdaughter, Angela Kamin, Mapleton; stepson, Cordell Melgaard, Owatonna, Minn.; six grandchildren; mother, Bemidji.

Funeral: Saturday, 11 a.m., First Lutheran Church, Bemidji.

 Burial: Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji.

 Visitation: Friday, 5 to 7 p.m., Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji.

 
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND
Gary,
Thanks for the…… great smile which came upon me ….. reading Don’s dog story.

Recently,  you mentioned  renewing a passport. 
Ah Haw!.  I thought the Stokes traveling days aren’t over. 

Today, I caught the subtle reference to summer reunion.

Here in ND we are hoping,  the winter snows of  of 2013  leaves us  sometime soon.

Blessed Easter everyone. Vickie
 
 
 
Virgil Soland and Lars Sivertson
Reply from Lee Stickland (’64): Dickinson, ND & Mesa, AZ
 
Gary–
 
The late Lars Sivertson was my uncle, he was married to my mother’s sister, Ruby.  Ruby yet lives in Bottineau.
Merrill was/is Lars’ brother.
 
I do recall a Soland gas station here in Dickinson, believe it was a ‘Standard”?  That was a ‘while’ ago’.  Maybe 
in the 70s.  He IS  listed in the most recent phone book.  I have not had the pleasure of meeting him.
 
I think there is a bank on the corner where the Soland station once proudly served Dickinson.
 
Nice to get the facts on the Studebaker.  It was a lovely car.  Think it had a manual transmission.  Other features ,esp.,
the interior, were maybe  ‘ahead’ of the times.  Do not recall what could have precipitated the demise of the Studebaker
model.
 
Lee
Lee and Bob Hosmer,
 
That was my mistake yesterday. I had Lars Sivertson on my mind when I said Merle. I do know those two brothers apart too. In my childhood days, Merle & Marion Sivertson had a dairy farm on the corner of Highway 43 and the Metigoshe road that went up past Bennie Wittmayer’s resort. Marion was a daughter of Lewis Hahn’s.
 
Not sure, but I think Virgil Soland owned a truck stop in Dickinson. Lee, If you look Virgil’s number up agian in the phone book, give him a call. Tell him you know the Stokes Brothers. He will for sure remember me and Bud is his brother-in-law. He knew dad really well too. It  has been 48 years since I have seen Virgil.
 
Gary 
 
 

 

 
Larry Liere (55) Devils Lake, ND & Mesa, AZ
 
Loved those Studebakers!  We had a 1950 Studebaker and I wish we would have had the foresight to save it.  About four weeks ago I saw a two door Silverhawk for sale up at
Wickenburg, AZ and the sign in the window said they were asking $56,000,  Cheryl next time you talk to your dad ask him what he paid for his Hawk back in 1957.  It would be fun
to know what they sold for back then.
 
 
Larson/Moyer Studebaker
Comments from Diane Larson Sjol (’70): Lake Metigoshe, ND

Hey sis (To Cheryl Dakin), Thanks for getting all the info.  It has been great reading the blog about that great car.  We thought we were the coolest kids in town having a fancy car like that! 

To Dick Johnson…you were right!  We did have the car when we lived in Art Rude’s house.  Have a Happy Easter everyone.

Diane

 
Cebu Philippines: Rose (Art Hagen) Bowled a 201
 
Congratulations are in store for Rose bowling her highest game ever this past Wednesday with a 201. I am telling you the excitement level was pretty high in the bowling alley when she rolled her final ball.
 
Gary
 
 
Ackworth School: Christmas 1959
L to R: Lyle Lagerquist, Allen Stokes, Jim Hiatt, Rodney Lagerquist, Arlene Phelps, Sandra Hagen, Susan Hagen, Gary Stokes, Carol Prichard, Karen Hagen, Carol Berg, Marlys Hiatt, Darrel Stokes, Ray Lagerquist and Clifford Longre on the far right.
 
 
 
Mrs. Phelps from St. John:
Ackworth teacher from 1956 to 1960
 
 
Mrs. Phelps with her daughter Arlene.
 
 
 
Joke of the day
Posted by Wally Garbe (Neola’s Husband)
 

NO Speak English

A Russian woman married a Canadian gentleman and they lived happily ever after in Toronto . The poor lady was not very proficient in English, but did manage to communicate with her husband. The real problem arose whenever she had to shop for groceries.

One day, she went to the butcher and wanted to buy chicken legs. She didn’t know how to put forward her request, so, in desperation, clucked like a chicken and lifted up her skirt to show her thighs. Her butcher got the message and gave her the chicken legs.

Next day she needed to get chicken breasts, again she didn’t know how to say it, so she clucked like a chicken and unbuttoned her blouse to show the butcher her breasts. The butcher understood again and gave her some chicken breasts.

On the 3rd day, the poor lady needed to buy sausages. Unable to find a way to communicate this, she brought her husband to the store…

(Please scroll down.)


What were you
thinking?

Her husband speaks English

 

3/27/2013 (1750)

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
Howard Abrahamson
(July 13, 1925 – March 25, 2013)
Guest Book| Sign Guest Book
 
Our condolence are with Maude and her family with Howard’s with his passing.
 
 
 
Request to be added to our distribution
From Raphael Poitra (’65):  Dunseith, ND
  
Gary, please add me to your distribution list for the Dunseith blog. My e-address is rpoitra@srt.com.
                                      
                                      Thanks
                                        Raphael Poitra
Raphael,
 
Receiving your email message today made my day. You are one of the most kind hearted, generous, likable guys anyone will ever meet. Those qualities you demonstrated with the reunions we had in 2007 and 2010. Who knows, maybe we will have another reunion this coming summer too. It is my pleasure to add you to our distribution. 
 
Gary 
 
  
Reply to the Ackworth School Photo posted yesterday
From Diane Larson Sjol (’70):  Lake Metigoshe, ND

Acworth School kids…what a motley crew!  That is the way we all looked…ready for fun at a  moment’s notice…and hey, I don’t see any cell phones, IPads, headphones…..what’s up?  Aww, the good old days.

Diane

 
Val Moyer’s Studebaker – Reply from Norm Larson
Via Cheryl Larson Dakin (’71):  Bedford, TX 
 
Hi Gary
I just got off the phone with my dad…he bought the Studebaker new in 1957 from the Studebaker dealer in Monterrey Calif.  When he got orders for Germany in 1962, he left the car with mom and us in Dunseith. Mom drove it until she sold the car to “Kruschev” aks Val Moyers. We got our orders in Nov. 1963 so it was sometime before that when she sold it. It was a sea green two tone 1957 Silverhawk 2 door coupe with full wheel covers. It seated 5. It had twin radio antennas on each fin. It had a stainless steel machined dashboard. Dad paid $2200 for it new. Last time he looked it up in Hemmings they were selling for about $19,000. It would have been a good car to keep. THe word we got was that shortly after he bought the car, someone t-boned Val and the car was totaled. 
 
Dad also mentioned that sometime after we came back from Germany he was driving to Rolla and somewhere on the East side of Belcourt on the north side of the hwy, he saw a green and white silverhawk parked by a garage. He often wondered if it could have been his original Studebaker but he never did stop in to see. And that’s now more than 40 years ago, so who knows. Anybody?
 
Anyway that’s my story.  
Cheryl Larson Dakin
PS… I am attaching a photo taken in Oct. when I was home in Bottineau last. My youngest son and his wife brought their 6 week old baby, Cooper, to meet Great Grandpa Norm,
Thank you Cheryl,
 
This clears up part of the stories. Now all we need to is hear Val Moyer’s side of the story. Val Must not have been reading the blogs that past week or so. He may be on the road trucking. If anyone sees him, ask him to check his email.
 
Diane, little did know that  little statement you made about your old Studebaker would create so much dialog with so many memories of the past. Isn’t it wonderful. 
 
Gary  
 
 
 
First Day of Spring in the Bottineau Area
Pictures from Arlan Hagen (’75):  Bottineau, ND
 
Thought i would send some pictures of the snow in our yard. This was the first day of spring.
 
Bible School picture posted yesterday
Reply from Doreen Larson Moran: Usk, WA & Hazelton, ND
 
The two teachers were Donna Brandvold Molander and Karen Soland.   I do not remember her married name (and I am in San Antonio and no way to look it up.  Neola probably knows).   Karen died many years ago.
 
 
Karen Soland: Reply to Doreen Larson Moran and Gary Stokes
From Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
Hi to both of you,
 
Karen Soland was married to John Havnik; they owned the Super Pumper gas stations.  As you wrote, Doreen, Karen died quite some time ago.  One of her daughters was planning to attend Karen’s Class of 1960’s 50th Reunion, but something came up, and she was unable to attend.
 
Neola
 
 
 
Veteran’s picture
Reply from Kenny Pederson (BHS ’65):  Michigan, ND
 
The welding class picture.  Standing next to your Dad left with checkered shirt is Merrill Severtson.
Sitting on right second in is Arly Hanson, standing on right fourth in is Melford Jenson.  I don’t think my dad
went to the welding class that I remember.
 
It was nice hearing from you again Gary.  Keep up the Good work .
 
Kenny Pederson
Kenny,
 
It is nice hearing from you too. I can guarantee that a lot of our readers remember you, inclusive of all our Dunseith class of 65 folks that ended up graduating with you guys in Bottineau. It has been over 50 years since we were confirmed together in Nordland too.
 
Thank you so much for the identification of a few more folks in these pictures. I am going to include Dwight Olson with today’s blog too. I kind of think he may know some of the guys in the Veterans picture too. More often than not, collectively we identify most of the folks in these old pictures. Sometimes it takes awhile, but most always we succeed.
 
Gary
 
PS – Lee Stickland: Merrill Severtson, the guy that Kenny identified standing next to my dad, is your uncle.  Bob Hosmer, I know you know Merrill too. I think you spent a summer or two with them?
 
Standing: ??, Thurman Parrill, ??, Bill Gardner, ??, Farrell Knoke, Bob Stokes, Merrill Severtson, ??, Melford Jenson, ??, ??, ??
Sitting: ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, Arly Hanson, ??
 
 
Bible School Picture
Reply from Kenny Pederson (BHS ’65):  Michigan, ND
 
The two Bible School teachers are left Donna Brandvold daughter of Harold and Zelma Brandvold. 
teacher on right is Karen Soland daughter of Lawrence and Agnes Soland.  Agnes was my first Sunday School teacher.
 
I think the boy with motorcycle cap on in Bible School picture is Leroy Rude.
Kenny,
 
My first thoughts were that the guy with the motorcycle cap was Leroy Rude too. Sure resembles him. Talking to Art Hagen today at bowling he seemed to think he is the guy in the picture. I know Art attended bible school and his sisters are all in the picture too.
 
I remember Lawrence and Agnes Soland very well too. They had the dairy farm several miles west of Metigoshe on Highway 43. Virgil, their son and his wife Roberta lived on the Roger Bond farm several miles south of lake Metigoshe on the Lake Road. Virgil later owned the Standard station on Main Street in Bottineau for a number of years. From Bottineau they moved to Dickinson where they owned and managed another Gas station for many years too.  Roberta was sister to my brother Darrel’s wife Debby. Roberta passed away a year or so ago. Virgil is still living in Dickinson. Lee Stickland, you also live in Dickinson. Have your paths crossed?
 
Thanks again Kenny.
 
Gary  
 
Two teachers: Donna Brandvold & Karen Soland
Two girls on the far left: Don’t recognize.
Other four girls: Susan Hagen in front, Ellen Hagen behind Susan, Sandra Hagen
                            and Karen Hagen behind the guy with the cap.
Front Boys: First two don’t recognize. Art Hagen with motorcycle cap 
Three boys sitting upper right on top: Darrel (Bud), Allen and Gary Stokes
Three boys sitting upper right 2nd down: Loren Johnson? Allen Rude and don’t know.
 
Joke of the day
Posted by Don Malaterre (’72):  Sioux Falls, SD
 
Three handsome male dogs are walking down the street when they see a beautiful, enticing, female Poodle.

The three male dogs fall all over themselves in an effort to be the one to reach her first, but end up arriving in front of her at the same time.

The males are speechless before her beauty, slobbering on themselves and hoping for just a glance from her in return.

Aware of her charms and her obvious effect on the three suitors, she decides to be kind and tells them, ‘The first one who can use the words ‘liver’ and ‘cheese’ together in an imaginative, intelligent sentence can go out with me.’

The sturdy, muscular black Lab speaks up quickly and says, ‘I love liver and cheese.’

‘Oh, how childish,’ said the Poodle. ‘That shows no imagination or intelligence whatsoever.’

She turns to the tall, shiny Golden Retriever and says ‘How well can you do?’

‘Um. I HATE liver and cheese ,’ blurts the Golden Retriever.

‘My, my,’ said the Poodle. ‘I guess it’s hopeless. That’s just as dumb as the Lab’s sentence.’

She then turns to the last of the three dogs and says, ‘How about you, little guy?’

The last of the three, tiny in stature but big in fame and finesse, is the Taco Bell Chihuahua .

He gives her a smile, a sly wink, turns to the Golden Retriever and the Lab and says with a strong Mexican accent….
Liver alone. Cheese mine! 

 

3/36/2013 (1749)

Happy Birthday Everett Enno (DHS ’76): Williston, ND
                                   eenno@nemont.net
 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
Marie Nora Mongeon
(July 9, 1916 – March 24, 2013)
Sign Guest Book
 
Joan Trembley Johnson (’79),
 
We are so so sorry to hear of your mothers passing. Having a daughter like you I know she was a good person too. We know she will be dearly missed. Our condolences are with you and your mothers family with her passing.
 
Gary
 
 
Norm Larson’s Studebaker
Reply from Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,     It just hit me like a hammer!  The car Norm Larson had was a
Studebaker Hawk,  if I remember right,  could have been a Silver Hawk or
Golden Hawk and he had it when they lived just to the east of the grade
school.  I could be wrong but I think that’s the car Larsons had.�
Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Val Moyer’s Studebaker
Dennis Dubois (’63): Minneapolis, MD
 
Reply to Dick on Val moyer’s Studebaker; it must have been two cars as Val had a Studebaker in 1960 or 1961 as that was the one I reffer to.
He probably enjoyed that one so much that he got another.
 
 
Val Moyer
Reply from Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (’68):  Dunseith, ND

Just had to put my two cents in on Kruschev—his full name is Valiant Moyer  . !

Boy we sure researched him/ you  huh?  Val?

 
Bible School picture posted yesterday
Reply from Doreen Larson Moran:  Usk, WA & Hazelton, ND
 

The two teachers were Donna Brandvold Molander and Karen Soland.   I do not remember her married name (and I am in San Antonio and no way to look it up.  Neola probably knows).   Karen died many years ago.
Doreen,
 
Just as I’m getting ready to post this, I got a reply from Kenny Pederson confirming these two ladies too. He also identified a few of the guys in the Veterans picture too. His dad is not one of them. I will post his message along with a reposting of the pictures tomorrow. It is getting late now. Time for me to go to bed.
 
Gary
 
Ackworth School Kids – May 1960
 
I believe this picture was taken just below the hill west of the school in Margie Hiatt’s pasture. The back of the picture says May 1960.
I think I recognize most everyone, but there are several that are in question.
Note: Lyle and Ray Lagerquist are not in this picture. They must have been absent that day.
 
L to R: Marlys Hiatt, Dale Lagerquist, Art Hagen?, Sandra Hagen? Karen Hagen, Susan Hagen?,
Darrel Stokes, Allen Stokes, Gary Stokes, Jim Hiatt (Front), Rodney Lagerquist (front),
Arlene Phelps, Carol Pritchard, Carol Berg.
 
 LaVerne Rude (Carrole Fauske): Bottineau HS Class of 1963
     
 
 

3/25/2013 (1748)

Reply to Geri Metcalfe Munro’s “posting of the day” posted yesterday
From Ele Dietrich Slyter (’69):  Dunseith, ND
 
Thank you to Geri for the link to the video…it was awesome…really makes a person think twice about our trivial worries doesn’t it
ele
 
  
Val Moyer’s Studebaker
Reply from Dick Johnson (’68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

         In reading the story about Val’s Studebaker,  I was a bit
confused.  Diane and Cheryl,  was your car a four door?  My dad had a
’58 Studebaker President two door hardtop he bought in about ’62 for a
second car.  It was also royal blue and white and had fins on the rear.�
Somewhere we have a picture of the Studebaker beside our old house in
Dunseith but I would have to look for a while to find it.  If I get
time,  I’ll post the picture.  A couple years later when Dad bought a
pickup,  he sold the Studebaker and I think it went directly to Val
Moyer.  It had a hot little V8 engine and would burn rubber to no end.�
I remember that’s the car I drove it to Bottineau  to take my drivers
test.  I do remember for sure that Val had Dad’s Studebaker so I was
wondering if we might be talking about two different cars.  I remember
one time Val revved that little V8 nearly into outer space and a fan
blade came off and went straight up through the hood and left a slice in
the top of the hood.  I just had a visit with Val about a week ago in
Bottineau and he said he reads the blog every day so he might have to
clear up my question on the Studebaker saga.  I’m betting there are two
cars. The last time I saw Dad’s Studebaker it had caught fire and burned
the entire inside out of it.  All the glass had melted and she looked
pretty sick. I think it might have been at Roussin’s Junkyard on the San
Hill.  Not sure where I saw it but the car was sad to see sitting like
that after having lots of good memories with the old Stude. Once a while
ago,  I told a story about giving Terry Hiatt ride in that car up here
at the farm.  The county was about to build the road north of our farm
so they laid a culvert on the old trail and covered it with dirt.  This
was quite a bump and was rather long so it made a perfect jump with a
car.  Like the kids say today,  you could really get some ‘air’.  It
would have been the summer of ’63 because that was when the road was
built.  Anyway,  Terry was staying with me while Dad and Grandpa had
headed out to the field somewhere so I told Terry we were going for a
ride in the Studebaker.  I headed up the road north and really wound it
up to jump over the culvert.  We made a nice clean jump and I was really
thinking I was a stunt legend in the making when I looked off to the
left and there stood Grandpa and Dad by the tractor out in the field.�
The look on their faces was enough to clear any thoughts I had about the
legend deal completely out of my mind.  I was 12-13 and kids don’t
always think of the possibilities.  It was NOT a good ride back to town
that night!  Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Ackworth School 1961
 
Dagny Haagenson (Teacher) is sitting in the front left. Front center is Darrel (Bud) Stokes. Front right I think is Dale Lagerquist. Lyle Lagerquist is directly behind Dale. Gary Stokes (Me) sitting next to blackboard behind Dagny. The rest are not clear enough to make out.
 
Gary
 
 
 
Bible school at Loon Lake school 1961
 
Some of these folks I don’t remember. I’ll take a stab at what I know and think I know.
Folks, Please correct me if I am wrong and please let us know if any of you recognize any of the unknown or those in question.
 
Two teachers: Don’t recognize
Two girls on the far left: Don’t recognize.
Other four girls: Susan Hagen in front, Ellen Hagen behind Susan, Sandra Hagen?
                            and Karen Hagen behind the guy with the cap.
Front Boys: First two don’t recognize. The boy on the right I think is Art Hagen?  
Three boys sitting upper right on top: Darrel (Bud), Allen and Gary Stokes
Three boys sitting upper right 2nd down: Loren Johnson? Allen Rude and don’t know.
 
 
 
Veteran’s Picture
Reply from Dick Johnson (’68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

       Sybil thought my dad might be in the picture of the Vets class
but Dad was too young by a few months to be in WWII and was married and
had me by the time Korea came along.  I would have to let the Bottineau
folks name the guys in the picture as I don’t know who they are.  I
probably know several of them but that would be in later years so I
won’t even take a guess on them.  Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 

Veteran’s Picture
Reply Linda Gardner (BHS ’67): Vienna, VA

Hi Gary – I think the 4th guy from the left, in the back row is my dad, Phelps (Bill) Gardner.  I forwarded the picture to Lloyd to verify.

 
Veteran’s Picture
Reply from Doreen Larson Moran:  Usk, WA & Hazelton, ND
 
Gary – I tried to identify this picture when it first came through.   I can’t identify the gentleman under the light.  Who was the teacher prior to Manfred?   My dad never missed these classes.   I am wondering if the picture was taken prior to summer 1953 which is the year we moved over to the Larson Farm, Roland township.     I don’t think he joined the classes until we moved “closer to town”.    Those gravel roads made for long trips.
 
I think that Oliver Pederson is the 4th one in on the left – seated, overalls.    I can’t seem to recognize any of the people in the picture except your Dad.   Summer of 1952 – I think – dad had a terrible appendicitis attack and spent many days in the hospital in Bottineau.   So that could have been a time the picture was taken, too.
 
Bob and I have escaped the mud season of Washington  AND the snow season of North Dakota.    We headed south a couple weeks ago.   We stayed the night with Carolyn Larson Cobb (had to wait out that weekend storm).  Then spent about a week in Southeast Missouri.  As we left there last weekend, the forecast for SNOW was hard to believe.  And yes, the storm of this past week left snow as far south as Little Rock Ark.   San Antonio was 95* when we arrived last weekend but the temps have moderated since then.  Last night was a shock temperature of mid forties.    I haven’t watched any news so I don’t know what the weather is doing except from the notes from my siblings.  It is good to be carefree.   Life is good.   We will probably be back to Hazelton just before Easter.    We will spend a few days in North Dakota before going back to WA state.  Doreen
Doreen,
 
I think you are right about Oliver Pederson. That sure looks like Oliver to me too. I am including Kenny Pederson with todays blog too, so he may be able to shed some light on this picture as well.
 
According to Iris Wolvert’s comment below, this picture was taken in 1956 or 57. Those classes ran for a number of years too. my guess is from about 1952 to about 1957. There was a name for that class too of which at the moment I can not recall. I do remember one other teacher other than Manfred Cain. I wasn’t that familiar with him, so I don’t remember his name. Virgil Vandewalle was involved some too. That is where Dad learned to know him.
 
Louie Wagner from the foot hills NE of Bottineau attended these classes too. I am assuming he is in this picture too, but I have forgotten what he looked like.
 
 
Veteran’s Picture
Reply from Iris Wolvert:  Willow City, ND
 
Gary..on the Veters picture ..I see my first husband, sixth from the left in the back row..I remember his taking a class ..I believe Manford Kane was the teacher..This would have been 56 0r 57 ..Not WWII..I think it was a welding class ..He was in for two years leaving in the fall of 53..They had police action in Salsburg..no other action ..His name is Farrell Knoke..Sorry don,t recognize any others..
Could be later because we spent one or two years in San Antonio Texas after he was out of the Service.
Iris,
 
Farrell Knoke is standing next to my dad.
 
I mentioned that I thought this group of guys were WW II vets. This school was open to all vets so there were guys from the Korean war as well.
 

Standing: ??, Thurman Parrill, ??, Bill Gardner, Farrell Knoke, Bob Stokes, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??

Sitting: ??, ??, ??, Oliver Pederson, ??, ??, ??, ??, ?? 

 
 
 
 

3/24/2013 (1747)

Rose just returned from Singapore.
Look at the glow on their faces.
 
 
Carl and Jessie Millang Family photo
Reply from Geri Metcalfe Munro (’59):  Fargo, ND
 

Gary–I sure enjoyed the picture of the original Carl and Jessie Millang family.  We grew up together and we all attended Sunday School and church at Little Prairie–those large families helped to fill up that precious little county church.  The Millang kids went to a country school and my family, the Jim and Ella Metcalfe kids went to Hilltop, School (Carpenter #4) then in 1955 we bussed to Dunseith, along with the Millang family.    Then, those country schools closed.  I think Millangs went to Wetherault or Lockhart.  Maybe they can refresh my memory about those schools.
Keep the pictures coming, Gary
Geri

 
 
Replies to Val Moyer’s Studebaker (’63):  Bottineau, ND
 
Cheryl,
 
You sure jarred some memories with this reply. I have reposted your reply along with all the replies we got from your posting. I have also posted Val’s email address above too.
 
Gary
 
Posted yesterday
Reply from Diane Larson Sjol (’70):  Lake Metigoshe, ND
 
I loved the Siamese Twin joke….I remember when I was in second or third grade back in 1959 or 1960..my dad bought a Studebaker..it was white with turquoise.  We thought it was the coolest car around.  Dad got orders for Korea shortly after that and ended up selling it to a kid they called Kruschev…can’t remember his real name (Cheryl, do you remember?).  Anyway, he ended up wrecking the car.  Considering the outcome of Studebakers, probably not a bad thing.

Replies to Diane’s posting

 

From Bruce Pigeon (’61): Garrison, ND

 

His real name is Val Moyer.  He lives east of Bottineau on the curve.
 
Bruce
 
 
 
From Colette Hosmer (’64):  Santa Fe, NM
 
Cousin Diane,

 
I loved that Studebaker.  Your wonderful parents, Aunt Verdy and Uncle Norman, let me hitch a ride with you from Seattle to Dunseith – 7 of us packed into that little sports car.  Remember singing Thunder Road about a million times?
 
Kruschev’s real name was Val Moyer (or Moyers).
 
XXX
Colette
 
 
From Lee (Leland) Stickland (’64):  Dickinson, ND
 
Val Moyer lived with his Grand Parents east of Dunseith.  Yes, he did have the wonderful opportunity 
to own the Studebaler Diane wrote about.
It was a two-door, lovely, 289 V-8.  One of those priceless vehicles that should have been neatly and
carefully covered and secured for years to come.

Val also once had a new white four-door Ford Falcon.  I shared a roll-over incident in it with he and Diane
Bachman from Bottineau.  When I saw we were in trouble, I pulled Diane’s head into my lap.  Thanks
to my seat belt we remained secure although the right hand door was missing.

Lotza fun growing up in Dunseith.  About 2007, Val came into a restaurant here in Dickinson that is right 
next to a truck stop and Interstate 94. He sat down beside me.  I glanced over and I said hello, not recognizing
him.  He called me by name and I felt very challenged.  I had not seen him since 1964.  He was driving an
18-wheeler at the time and was headed for Wyoming.  I think he lived in Bottineau?
Lee
 
 
 
From Dennis Dubois (’63):  Minneapolis, MN
 
In relation to that Studebaker story, the kid named  Kruschef, his real name was Val Moyer. I’m here to tell you that there never was an automobile that was more abused that than that one. I was in on alot of it too. We hunted jack rabbits , ducks and carried a few kegs around with that machine. If you had that car today and it could talk Val,Johnny Leonard, Jim Evans, Bill Henry, myself and many others would have alot of answering to do. I have never forgotten that car. Thanks for arousing so many memories.
 
 
Ackworth School Picture
Reply from Dale Pritchard (’63):  Leesville, LA

Gary, You really hit the archives on this one.  I guess this was the complete “school” that year.  What is sad is that less than 10 years later, Arnold Hiatt was killed by electrocution and Arlene Phelps died, in high school at St. John, of an aneurism or something along that line.  If I remember right, she complained of not feeling good and less than an hour later she was gone. We go when somebody else says it’s time!

Dale

Dale ,

 

Yes, I think you are right. This was the entire school.

 

Analyzing this photo, I think you were in 7th grade and John in 8th. Bradley Salmonson was a year ahead of John and Bradley is not in this picture. I would have been in the 5th grade. My brother Bud (Darrel) is not in this picture either. He stared school when I was in grade 6.

 

This had to have been school year 57/58. Do you remember what grade Tom Longre was in? I think he was by himself a year ahead of me or he could have been in the same grade as you and Arnie?  Take note of all those 3rd graders, the whole 2nd row.

 

Yes, you are absolutely right about Arlene Phelps. She was our teacher, Mrs. Phelps, daughter. Arnie Hiatt was electrocuted in the summer of 1964 when a truck boom, the cable of which he was holding onto, hit electrical wires. Your brother John is no longer with us either. 

 

Gary 

 

Three ND folks with Bottineau connections living in Cebu

For you Bottineau folks and others too, take note of the last name of the guy in Orange. Dave Sandness was a Cousin to Richard Sandness. Dick was a loan officer at First National for many years. Art Hagen and I had the privilege of meeting Dave Sandness and his wife Esther at our monthly Expat dinner this past Monday at the Marco Polo Hotel. Dave is originally from LaMoure, ND

Gary 

Reply to the Veterans School picture

From Sybil Johnson:  Chippewa Falls, WI

Dick Johnson,

That surely looks like your Dad. Ive seen pictures of him, that surely looks like him.

Gary, In the back row, standing under the white light. That sure looks like Don; even though I only met him a few times.

Sybil

Dick,

 

I don’t remember your dad being with this group, but I could be wrong.

 

Sybil, I kind of think the guy under the white light with a tie is Manford Cain? I could be wrong though. Doreen Larson Moran, are you able help us out here? Manford Cain was your close neighbor to the north.

 

As I remember, most of these guys were WW II vets. For instructional purposes, this class would take on personal projects among members of the class. I remember in the summer of 1953 when we were adding an addtion onto our house, as a learning project, these guys spent several days or more at our house building this addition. With such a large group of guys it didn’t take long to complete the addition.

 

Dad became pretty good friends with Manford Cain too. I remember one time he and one other guy stopped by Manford’s house when they knew he wasn’t home and cleaned his barn, calf pens and all. Needless to say, Manford was pleasanly surprised. That is a story I heard repeated many times and from Manford too.

 

Gary

 
 
 
Folks, Please take the time to listen to this video. Very touching.  Gary
 
Today’s posting: This is truely Beautiful
Posted by Geri Metcalfe Munro (’59):  Fargo, ND
 
Definitely worth watching.    Really puts things into prospective with life and living.    Please enjoy. 
 
If you feel sorry for yourself because………….. well, think again.

WATCH THIS

If you have a few issues bothering you today …

this will make you more thankful for everything you have and as one of the judges said,

“Will make everything you worry about so pathetic”.

Enjoy this! It’s getting 10,000 hits a day.

It will make your day.

 
There is a commercial before the video, about dogs and bad breathe, you can skip that.

www.youtube.com/embed/W86jlvrG54o?rel=0

 
 

3/23/2013 (1746)

Reply from Diane Larson Sjol (’70):  Lake Metigoshe, ND
 
 I loved the Siamese Twin joke….I remember when I was in second or third grade back in 1959 or 1960..my dad bought a Studebaker..it was white with turquoise.  We thought it was the coolest car around.  Dad got orders for Korea shortly after that and ended up selling it to a kid they called Kruschev…can’t remember his real name (Cheryl, do you remember?).  Anyway, he ended up wrecking the car.  Considering the outcome of Studebakers, probably not a bad thing.
 
 
 

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND

LaVerne J. Manning

May 13, 1935-March 13, 2013

March 19, 2013
Minot Daily News
Save | Post a comment |       

A memorial service for LaVerne J. Manning, 77, of Princeton, Ill., was Friday at the Norberg Memorial Home, in Princeton. Mark Manning officiated. Burial will be private and at a later date.

LaVerne Joseph Manning passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at St. Margarets Hospital, Spring Valley, Ill. He was born May 13, 1935, in Thompson, Ill., to Bernard Joseph and Catherine Mary (Haffman) Manning. He attended school in Polo, Ill. He married Shirley Whipple in 1957. She passed away in 1991. He then married Norma Johnson in 1993. He was an over-the-road truck driver for Auto Buyers. He owned his own milk truck for five years, Illinois Valley Trucking, and eventually retired from Consolidated Freightways in August 1998.

He enjoyed woodworking, crafts and spending time with family.

He is survived by: his wife, Norma Manning, of Princeton. Also surviving are children: Mark (Amy) Manning, of Wyanet, Ill., Julie Moore, of Houston, Ladonna (Bill) Fasig, of Dacula, Ga., Margo Grotti, of Princeton, Larissa (Greg) Kramer, of Pennsauken, N.J., Bradley Moore, of San Diego; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; three sisters, Lavonne Blakesley, of Livingston, Mont., Leota Cavanauen, of Polo, Ill., Donna Conklin, of Beloit, Mich.; and one brother, Lyle (Shirley) Manning, of Polo; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; three brothers; three sisters; and his first wife.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice.

Our condolences are with Norma and her family with LaVerne’s passing. He will be dearly missed.
 
Norma’s mother was Ruth Larshus Peterson. She was a first cousin to Art Rude. Ruth was also a teacher in Dunseith.
 
Folks, Norma corresponds with me letting me know that she faithfully reads these daily blogs. Her email address is norski42@comcast.net
 
Gary
 
 
Face Book captures
 
Odell Millang looking pretty darn sharp
 
 
Six original Millang kids
Curtis, Lola, Laurene, Linda, Glen & Dale
 
 
Campbell Family celebrates four Generations
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
 
 
Rod Hiatt named outstanding North Dakotan
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
 
 
Unidentified picture
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
Hi Gary,
 
I received this email from Janell Landsverk.  Will you post this picture and see if you get any results, please?  Thanks!
 
Neola
 
Lorraine Millang found the attached picture and was wondering if you would know who their relatives might be.  She would love to give the picture to the family.
 
Thanks
Janell 

 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
 
Joke of the day
Posted by Bernice Belgarde (’72):  Bemidji, MN
 

Colonoscopy Journal:
 
I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy. 

     A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis ..  

Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring and patient manner.

 

    I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn’t really hear anything he said, because my brain was shrieking, ‘HE’S GOING TO STICK A TUBE 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND!’
I left Andy’s office with some written instructions, and a prescription for a product called ‘MoviPrep,’ which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave oven.   I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of  America ‘s enemies.
I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous. 

     Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began my  preparation.  In accordance with my instructions, I didn’t eat any solid food that day; all I had was chicken broth, which is basically  water, only with less flavor.
Then, in the evening, I took the MoviPrep.  You mix two packets of powder together in a one-liter  plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a liter is about 32 gallons). Then you have to drink the whole jug..  This takes about an hour, because MoviPrep tastes – and here I am being kind – like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon..
The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humor, state that after you drink it, ‘a loose, watery bowel movement may result.’
This is kind of like saying that after you jump off your roof, you may experience contact with the ground.
MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don’t want to be too graphic, here, but, have you ever seen a space-shuttle launch?  This is pretty much the MoviPrep experience, with you as the shuttle. There are times when you wish the commode had a seat belt.   You spend several hours pretty much confined to the bathroom, spurting violently.  You eliminate everything..  And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink another liter of MoviPrep, at which point, as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not even eaten yet.
After an action-packed evening, I finally got to sleep.
The next morning my wife drove me to the clinic. I was very nervous.  Not only was I worried about the procedure, but I had been experiencing occasional return bouts of MoviPrep spurtage.  I was thinking, ‘What if I spurt on Andy?’  How do you apologize to a friend for something like that? Flowers would not be enough.
At the clinic I had to sign many forms acknowledging that I understood and totally agreed with whatever the heck the forms said. Then they led me to a room full of other colonoscopy people, where I went inside a little curtained space and took off my clothes and put on one of those hospital garments designed by sadist perverts, the kind that, when you put it on, makes you feel even more naked than when you are actually naked..
Then a nurse named Eddie put a little needle in a vein in my left hand.  Ordinarily I would have fainted, but Eddie was very good, and I was already lying down.  Eddie also told me that some people put vodka in their MoviPrep.  
At first I was ticked off that I hadn’t thought of this, but then I pondered what would happen if you got yourself too tipsy to make it to the bathroom, so you were staggering around in full Fire Hose Mode.  You would have no choice but to burn your house.
When everything was ready, Eddie wheeled me into the procedure room, where Andy was waiting with a nurse and an anesthesiologist.  I did not see the 17,000-foot tube, but I knew Andy had it hidden around there somewhere..  I was seriously nervous at this point. 

     Andy had me roll over on my left side, and the anesthesiologist began hooking something up to the needle in my hand.
There was music playing in the room, and I realized that the song was ‘Dancing Queen’ by ABBA.  I remarked to Andy that, of all the songs that could be playing during this particular procedure, ‘Dancing Queen’ had to be the least appropriate.
‘You want me to turn it up?’ said Andy, from somewhere behind me.
‘Ha ha,’ I said.   And then it was time, the moment I had been dreading for more than a decade.   If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I am going to tell you, in explicit detail, exactly what it was like.
I have no idea.   Really.  I slept through it..  One moment, ABBA was yelling ‘Dancing Queen, feel the beat of the tambourine,’ and the next moment, I was back in the other room, waking up in a very mellow mood. 

    
Andy was looking down at me and asking me how I felt.  I felt excellent.  I felt even more excellent when Andy told me that IT was all over, and that my colon had passed with flying colors. I have never been prouder of an internal organ. 

On the subject of Colonoscopies…
Colonoscopies are no joke, but these comments during the exam were quite humorous….. A physician claimed that the following are actual comments made by his patients (predominately male) while he was performing their colonoscopies:
1. ‘Take it easy, Doc. You’re boldly going where no man has gone before!’
2. ‘Find Amelia Earhart yet?’
3. ‘Can you hear me NOW?’
4. ‘Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?’
5. ‘You know, in  Arkansas , we’re now legally married.’
6. ‘Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?’
7. ‘You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out….’
8. ‘Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!’
9. ‘If your hand doesn’t fit, you must quit!’
10.. ‘Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity.’
11.. ‘You used to be an executive at Enron, didn’t you?’
12.. ‘God, now I know why I am not gay.’
           And the best one of all:
13.. ‘Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up there?’ 

 
 

3/22/2013 (1745)

Happy Birthday Betty (Hackman) Schmidt (DHS ’68): Mesa, AZ
                          
                                
 
  Happy Birthday Julie Knox Siere (DHS ’82): Minot, ND
 
 
 
Old Cars
Memories from Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,      The story of Marc Gottbreht driving George’s new Bonneville
brought to mind another car from the same time slot—1962.  George got
the fancy two door and Lowell Leonard bought a new ’62 Catalina four
door.  This was a cheaper model of Pontiac but it had what we all
envied—–a 389 cubic inch V8 with tri-power  (three deuces) and a
straight stick transmission.  It was a frosty bluish green so no beauty
to look at but it had more guts than anything in town at that time.  I
drove it to town a few times from the gravel pit where Lowell and I
worked in ’68.  It was an older car then but it still had all the muscle
waiting for a call out.  Of course I had to kick it a couple times just
to see if it was still there.  It was.  We had a few wild New Years
Eve’s in old Dunseith and on one of those nights,  Lowell got stuck in
the ditch right in front of Dales and as he was going back and forth
from first gear to reverse,  he popped the entire bottom out of the
transmission!  Bad night for the Pontiac.

     Another ‘sleeper’  type car in old Dunseith was Vernolle Hill’s ’59
Chevy four door Biscayne.  He got the car from and older guy for not
much money and he replaced the old six cylinder engine with a big 348
engine with two four barrel carburetors.  It had a standard (straight
stick)  transmission and low geared rear end from behind the old six so
it had torque like a dragster.  That was in ’72 when Mel Kuhn and
Vernolle and I worked at Lamoureux Brothers Garage. Mel and I asked if
we could take it to Dales for dinner a few times.  Vernolle always let
us take it if we asked.  He kept one carburetor linkage disconnected to
save gas when he was just driving around town but Ol’ Mel and I would
always just drive out of sight and hook it back up AND ring the old
devil out a bit!  One story I remember was that Vernolle ran out of gas
up east of the Peace Garden,  by George Gregory’s, and called the Texaco
to have someone bring him up some gas.  Merle Allard sent ‘Little’ Chip
Johnson up there with a two gallon can of gas.  Vernolle ran out again
before he made it back to town.  It was about 15 miles.  Good thing gas
was cheap.  Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Veterans Classes?
 
This is a picture I found in my dads stuff. I believe this group of guys are Veterans who were taking VA classes back in the early 50’s. Manford Cain was their instructor. Not sure if that is him with the tie standing on the extreme right or not. My dad is standing right smack in the center in the back. I believe Thurman Parrill is standing 2nd from the left. The rest I don’t recognize, but I am sure some of you will recognize some of these guys. I think this picture was taken in the Bottineau HS Ag building, but not sure. I think that is where they had their classes. I’ll bet Marie Parrill could fill us in on more of the details. She may know some of these guys too.
 
Gary
 
 
 
Ackworth School in about 1957
Back: Dale Pritchard, Tom Longre, John Pritchard & Arnold Hiatt
2nd row from top: Arlene Phelps & Gary Stokes
2nd row from Bottom: Rodney Lagerquist, Carol Pritchard, Carol Berg, Jim Hiatt & Allen Stokes
Front: Lyle Lagerquist & Susan Hagen
 
 
 
Salem Church Sunday School Picture: The final year too
Back: Gladys Rude, Viola Rude, Bob Stokes
Row 3: Joanne Smith?, Allen Stokes, Gary Stokes, LaVerne Rude, Elaine Stokes
Row 2: Sandra Hagen? Susan Hagen, Darrel Stokes, Allen Rude
Front: Ellen Hagen, Art Hagen, Karen Hagen
 
 
 
 
 
 
Joke of the day
 

Siamese twins

 

Siamese twins walk into a bar in Canada and park themselves on a bar stool.

 

One of them says to the bartender, “Don’t mind us; we’re joined at the hip. I’m John, he’s Jim. Two Molson Canadian beers, draft please.”

 

The bartender, feeling slightly awkward, tries to make polite conversation while pouring the beers. “Been on holiday yet, lads?”

 

“Off to England next month,” says John. “We go to England every year, rent a car and drive for miles, Don’t we, Jim?” Jim agrees.

 

“Ah, England!” says the bartender. “Wonderful country… the history, the beer, the culture…”

 

“Nah, we don’t like that British crap,” says John. “Hamburgers and Molson’s beer, that’s us, eh Jim? And we can’t stand the English – they’re so arrogant and rude.”

 

“So why keep going to England?” asks the bartender.

 

 

“It’s the only chance Jim gets to drive.”

 
 

3/22/2013 (1744)

Folks,
 
I don’t have much today, but I will go with what I have.
 
Tomorrow Morning I am going down to the American Consulate to pick up Bernadette’s New Pass Port. They told me to go back in four weeks to pick it up. Tomorrow is exactly 4 weeks.
 
We had a late lunch or an early dinner with Art Hagen today too. Rose will be returning from Singapore on Sunday. Art is Navigating the city, the area and his driving pretty well without Rose this week. The saying here is if you can drive in the Philippines you can drive anywhere. If you see an opening, go for it. If you constantly let the other guy in you will never get anywhere.  
 
Gary
 
 
 
         Happy Birthday Diane Millang Volk (DHS ’77):Sherwood, ND
                                               
 
      Happy Birthday Wendy Strietzel:Sawyer, ND
 
                        
 
Cebu Marco Polo Buffet Dinner – March, 18th
I wanted to share this nice picture of Bernadette with our good friend Em-Em.
 
Folks,
 
I’d say Art Hagen eats pretty well here in the Philippines.  Rose and Art ordered what
they thought would be a light dinner in this new restaurant and this is what they got.
Kind of like the Jumbo Berger at Dale’s in Dunseith.
 
Gary
 
 
 
Joke of the day
Posted by Rosemary Smith: Bottineau, ND
 
TWO BOYS!!!!!!!

Two little boys, ages 8 and 10, are excessively mischievous.

They are always getting into trouble and their parents know if any mischief occurs in their town, the two boys are probably involved.

The boys’ mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually.

The mother sent the 8 year old in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon.

The preacher, a huge man with a deep booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly,

“Do you know where God is, son?”

The boy’s mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open.

So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone,

“Where is God?!

Again, the boy made no attempt to answer.

 The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy’s face and bellowed, “WHERE IS GOD?!”

The boy screamed & bolted from the room, ran directly home & dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.

When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked,

“What happened?”

The younger brother, gasping for breath replied, “We are in BIG trouble this time!”

“GOD is missing, and they think WE did it!”

 
 

3/20/2013 (1743)

No Blog yesterday
 
For the record, I didn’t not get a blog posted yesterday.
 
Gary
 
 
Gottbreht/LaFrance connection
Reply from Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

    LeaRae asked about the Gottbreht/LaFrance connection and hasn’t had
a reply yet.  Dale Gottbreht’s mother was Evelyn LaFrance Gottbreht.
She was the wife of George Gottbreht who was the grandfather of George
Gottbreht who now owns and operates Dale’s Truck Stop and Cafe.  I
recall Evelyn quite well—all 4’10”.  She didn’t drive so it was up to
her grandsons and family members to take her to Dale’s to work in the
kitchen and then take her back home.  There is one story I remember that
involved such a trip one day in about ’62.  Marc Gottbreht was my age
and he was about 12 years old then but got to take ‘young’ George’s
brand new white ’62 Pontiac Bonneville two door hardtop to take Grandma
Evelyn home from work one afternoon.  I was riding a bike with some
other guys when Marc came by just proud as a peacock in that big sled.
He went a block north of us and dropped off Evelyn and then came back
south to the intersection on the southwest corner of the grade school.
He stopped and talked with us for a little while.  Out of the corner of
my eye,  I noticed George and Bud Baker a block south along the fence
where the trailer court now is.  Marc hadn’t seen them and I couldn’t
resist the chance!  I said,  “Will this big sled spin the tires?”  Marc
didn’t hesitate a second when he got the challenge. He turned the wheel
and stood on the gas and spun a complete circle in the gravel
intersection.  I can still remember looking south and seeing George
heading to his pickup.  The dust was still hanging in the air when
George slid up and jumped out and  it didn’t take long for the grin to
disappear off Marc’s face when he saw George through the dust.  We
said,  “See you Marc.”  Time to go man!  We could hear George until we
were nearly a block away.  Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Pictures for Identification
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
These three pictures were in with Alvina Johnson Brudwick’s pictures.  For several years, Eileen/I have been trying to identify the people in the pictures/where the pictures were taken.  I don’t know if the people in the pictures with Alvina are relatives/friends/etc.  To me, the building in the background appears to be a roller skating/dance pavilion, or something like that.  However, it could be a house/dormitory/etc.
 
I think I have better copies of these pictures, but I happened to find these, so these are the ones I’m sending.
 
One of the schools where Alvina taught before she/Milen were married, was at Lake Metigoshe.  She stayed with David/Lillie Laugsand Backman when she taught there.  Lillie was Milen’s aunt, and Milen visited there quite often (probably more when Alvina started staying there! LOL!).  I’m not sure, but I think this is how Milen/Alvina met.  At the time Alvina stayed with Dave/Lillie, they were managing either a dance/roller skating pavilion at Lake Metigoshe.  I’ve asked Luella Backman Shultz, Dave/Lillie’s daughter, if she recognizes the people or the building.  Considering Luella was quite young at the time, it isn’t surprising she doesn’t recognize either the people or the building. 
 
Before (maybe after, but I think before)Alvina taught at Lake Metigoshe, she taught near Kramer, ND.  She stayed with the Ed/Mabel Patterson Korman family when she taught there (Ed/Mabel were the parents of Adele Korman Brandt Douglas and Keith Korman).  Wally doesn’t recognize the people or the building in the pictures.
 
I could look in the book “One Room Schools in/of Bottineau County” by Rena Roland to check when Alvina taught in Kramer and when she taught at the lake, but it’s 3:00 a.m. and I’m tired. :)
 
Perhaps your readers could help with the identification of these people/building.  It might have been taken near Overly, too, as that’s where Alvina grew up, but I don’t know where, in that area, it would have been taken.
 
Thanks.
 
Neola
 
          Alvina Johnson Brudwick and mystery Man (Pavilion)
 
 
 
    Alvina Johnson Brudwick and mystery Man/woman (Pavilion)
 
 
 
                              Mystery Man and two boys
 
 
 
Cebu Expat Dinner at the Cebu Marco Polo Hotel this past Monday
 
This past Monday we had our monthly Expat dinner at the Cebu Marco Polo Restaruant with 70 plus of our group of friends attending. Just for our group, the Marco Polo offered a 50% discount. The magic words were “Cebu Expats“.
 
I have pasted several messages and pictures below to give you an idea of some of the ways of our lives here in Cebu with our friends.
 
Gary
This reply from one of our Expat friends, Ken, pretty well sums our evening up at the Marco Polo.
Ken wrote: “I have to share my experience.. I was still in an arm sling due to my rotator cup injury…but I could just about manage ok… however, the wonderfully inpmressive Marco Polo Staff would NOT let me…they catered to me as if I was royalty…I am so very impresssed and thankful for their care and attention…. that level of service is rarely found nowadays….and coupled with the outstanding quality of the food…and the warm ambience… it made for a GREAT evening… thanks for your efforts in making this happen for all of us Gary!”
 
 
I want to share this from the Marco Polo GM too, not for what he says about me, but about our group

Dear Gary,

 

It was such a wonderful sight to see the ‘Expats’ together at table last night. First and foremost, I must express my sincerest appreciation to you for your total devotion to make this dinner possible, and I mean, down to the last detail of sending your ‘Thank you note’ late last night, right upon coming home, now that speaks for your dedication.

 

We are grateful to everyone who turned up and make it, as per your own observation, one of the most successful dinners. I will take great pride to share your note with our Team here this morning as they know to appreciate your compliments, be it the food, the service or the general ambience.

 

Naturally, the least of gesture we could make was ‘to pre-pay’ your dinner, and we did this without a wink of an eye. It was such a delight to see Bernadette in great spirit and we all pray that this moment is a new level of motivation to good health.

 

Thank you for keeping me in the loop of the coming dinners among the Expats, for me to make it a point to sit down for those precious few moments and getting to know everyone a lot better. Bo had to send her regrets for last night as our Twin-boys are in the final exams before the Easter-break and needed tutorial assistance from whom better than Mom.

 

Warm personal regards,

 

Hans

 

Hans R. Hauri
General Manager &

Area General Manager – Philippines
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3/18/2013 (1742)

No blog the previous two days.
 
Folks,
 
With a dinner gathering we had on Saturday evening I was unable to get a blog posted. Last night when we returned from the Mall I had a message from Rose and Art Hagen asking if we’d like to join them for a St. Patrick’s Day dinner and evening  at the only Irish Pub in the area. In doing that I was unable to get a blog out yesterday either.  This evening we are having an Expat dinner at the Marco Polo Hotel. The Marco Polo is offering our group 50% off for their Buffet dinner just for this evening. They have been rated as having the best Buffet in SE Asia. With their reputation and 50% off promotion for our group, we will have a large gathering. I currently have 71 folks on our list for attending the Marco Polo this evening. There may be a few walk-ins from our group too. In the three years that we have been having these monthly dinners, this, I think, will be our largest dinner gathering yet.
 
Gary
 
 
 
                   Happy 88th Birthday Jay Cooley:  Redmond, WA
                                      
 
Dakota Hotel and George & Margaret Braun
Update from Susan Fassett Martin (’65):  Spearfish, SD
 
I got more information from the daughter of George and Margaret Braun.
  They purchased the Dakota Hotel and cabins in 1946 .   George’s
brother, Joseph was a patient at the San.   Ellen Braun started first
grade in Dunseith in 1947.  George’s sister Rose ran the place for
them for a number of years.   Ellen was also friends with a girl that
lived over the Drugstore but she could not recall her name.   Melmers
bought the hotel in 51 as the Brauns had a farm and five children in
school in  New England ND.   Joseph Braun married Edwina Fugere.  .
Maybe some one else can fill in some more gaps.  How Fun!!    Brauns
daughter Dianne is living in New England still.   And her Daughter is
the young lady who came to visit us and started this whole exchange of
information.      And thanks to Dick for the pictures.     My sisters
probably know more “dirt” on Richard Henry Johnson than I cause about
four of the Fassett girls were closer to his age than I.   I am sure
they could tell some tales.  Susan
 
 
 
Saturday, March 16th
Dinner gathering at the Cebu Parklane Hotel.
 
 
 
Sunday, March 17th: St. Patrick’s Day
Dinner gathering at the Ceby Emerald Isle Irish Pub. 
 
 
Joke of the day
Posted by Don Malaterre (’72): Sioux Falls, SD

Two men ran out to the course for a quick nine after work. They get to the tee and see two ladies playing ahead of them.

One of the men complains that the ladies will slow them down and says he is going to ask if they can play through. He goes halfway to the ladies and turns back.

The other man asked what was wrong. The man said, “I can’t go up there that’s my wife and my mistress.”

So the other man says he will go. He goes halfway and comes back. His partner asked what happened and the man replied, “Small world, huh?”

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

3/13/2013 (1741)

Happy Birthday Rene Casavant (’65): Bismarck, ND
           
                   
 
Lots of questions that I know some of you can answer
From LeaRae Parrill Espe (’67):  Bottineau, ND
 
Hi Gary, I  enjoy the blog each day and am sorry I haven’t taken time to respond,
 
At the Family Bakery this morning I was introduced to Larry (Albert) Baumann.  He was an Immigration officer at Portal and both Wayne Smith and Terry have known him for many years.  He is retired and lives at Lake Metigoshe now.   Anyway, he was asking if I knew anything about the Louis LaFrance family and at first it didn’t ring a bell, but then I thought maybe my mother would know something and, as usual, she did.  Larry Baumann said a relative had taught a country school on the corner of Old Highway 5 and the Willow Lake Road. (In Section 33 of Gilbert Township).  My mom, who is 87, remembers the older kids talking about a school there, however, she doesn’t remember seeing it there.  Mom thought Henry Nelson (dad to Oliver and Don Nelson) may have attended and also some of the Boguslawski children.  Adam and Charlette Lang owned this property for my growing up years.  It is now owned by Guy Garrison of St. John.
 
My mom also thinks that the Gottbreht’s are related to the LaFrance’s.  Was George’s grandmother a LaFrance?  Mom also thinks that perhaps the Tennacours are also related  (Alice Tennacour Evans Berube).  Larry Baumann said that Louis LaFrance is buried at Dunseith Cemetery.
 
Another connection that Larry Baumann mentioned was  a man named Henry Warner was married to Louis LaFrance’s daughter named Dena.  Henry Warner owned a hardware store in Dunseith before he moved to Westhope and opened a hardware there.  He was nicknamed ” Hacole”.  Henry Warner came from one of the New England states and had a heavy accent. Henry and Dena are buried in Westhope. Dena died in 1936, Henry in the teens.
 
Larry Baumann is somehow related to the Morgans and he said that Gary Morgan had given alot of information.  He thought it was Gary’s grandmother who talk that country school.
 
So maybe some of the readers will pop in here with some information.
 
 
Tammy Counts
 
Please add tammycounts@  to the list.  She was a second grade student of my mother and graduated in 1982 (? not sure). She is a nurse and took care of mom at the Good Samaritian Nursing Home here in Bottineau.  She would like to be added to the list.
LeaRae,
 
It is my pleasure to add Tammy counts to our distribution
 
Tammy, Is Counts your maiden name? Is your class year 1982?
 
Gary
 
 
Dakota Hotel
Reply from Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine (’73):  Grafton, ND
 
Oh my the picture of the Dakota Hotel and the apartments bring back such good memories. My moms parents Chris and Jennie Arends lived there, and we use to go visit often. We had to go into the hotel to use the bathroom, and Im not sure if we had to go the bathroom as much as we loved going up all those stairs. Melmers lived there then {sorry if I spelled your name wrong}. We also used to play in a big tree that was back between the hotel and the end apartments. This would of been late 50s early 60s. Thanks for the picture Rich
 
 
Ackworth School
Picture posted by Marry Eurich Knutson (’62):  Dunseith, ND
 
                               Ackworth School – March 2013
 
 
 
Joke of the day
Posted by Wally Garbe (Neola’s husband)
 
While on a road trip, an elderly couple
stopped
at a roadside restaurant for lunch.
After finishing their meal, they left the
restaurant, and resumed their trip.

When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly
left her glasses on the table, and she didn’t
miss them until they had been driving for about forty minutes. 

By then, to add to the aggravation, they
had to travel quite a distance before
they could find a place to turn
around,
in order to return to the restaurant
to retrieve her glasses.

All the way back, the elderly husband
became the classic grouchy old man.
He fussed and complained, and
scolded
his wife relentlessly during the
entire return drive. The more he
chided her,
the more agitated he became. He
just wouldn’t let up for a single minute.

To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant.
As the woman got out of the
car, and hurried inside to retrieve
her glasses, the old
geezer yelled to her, 

While you’re in there, you might as well
get my hat and the credit card.


3/14/2013 (1740)

     Happy birthday Jeff Skjelver (Dave Shelver’s Son): Rugby, ND
                                      
 
Dunseith Customs office
Reply from Rich Campbell (’68):  Minot, ND

Gary,

In the second picture posted on the Dakota Hotel, behind the gas pumps is a building that housed additional rooms and the end unit was the US Customs office.  A sign out front stated “If you are coming from Canada please stop and register” or something like that.  Imagine that today!

Rich Campbell

Rich,
 
I remember well the customs office being in Dunseith. That was what you call the honor system. Coming from Canada, how would anyone have ever known if you didn’t stop at the Dunseith Customs.
 
Gary
 
 
 
Happy St. Patrick’s day
From Evie Gottbreht Pilkington:  Irvine, CA
 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
 
Joke of the day
Posted by Mel Kuhn (’70:  St. John, ND
 
A cowboy, who just moved to Wyoming from Oklahoma, , walks into a bar and orders three mugs of Bud. He sits in the back of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes them, he comes back to the bar and orders three more.

 

The bartender approaches and tells the cowboy, “You know, a mug goes flat after I draw it. It would taste better if you bought one at a time.”

 

The cowboy replies, “Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Arizona , the other is in Colorado . When we all left our home in Oklahoma , we promised that we’d drink this way to remember the days when we drank together. So I’m drinking one beer for each of my brothers and one for myself.”

The bartender admits that this is a nice custom, and leaves it there.

 

The cowboy becomes a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He orders three mugs and drinks them in turn.

One day, he comes in and only orders two mugs. All the regulars take notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, “I don’t want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your loss.”

 

The cowboy looks quite puzzled for a moment, then a light dawns in his eyes and he laughs.

“Oh, no, everybody’s just fine,” he explains, “It’s just that my wife and I joined the Baptist Church and I had to quit drinking.”

 

“Hasn’t affected my brothers though.” 

 
 

3/13/2013 (1739)

      Happy Birthday Rod Parrill (DHS ’73):  Bottineau,  ND
                                   
 
 
Don Darling Memories
Larry Liere  (55) Devils Lake, ND & Mesa, AZ
 
Hi Natalie;  I remember your Dad and even your Granddad very well because I spent a lot of my Summers in Rolette with my Grandparents Tom Leonard in grade school and my Uncle James Leonard in High School, when I was old enough to work on a farm.  I am a charter member of the Devils Lake Elks Community Band.  That means I have been playing in the Elks Band for 53 years less the time I spent in the Army.   After High School, the State Elks Conventions was the next place I got to see your Dad a lot.  Just about every city in North Dakota that had a Elks Club had a Elks Band.  There were Elks Bands in Wahpeton, Fargo, Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Bismarck, Minot,  Dickinson, Williston, and I think even Valley City all had a band for a while.  We would all go to the State Elks Convention every year to do concerts and play in the State Elks Parade.   Your Dad played with the Minot Elks Band for many years and I would always make a point to have a visit with him at these conventions.  He was not only a great Band Master but he was also very good at playing his instrument in the Elks Band and if I remember right he also played in the State American Legion Band.  I was very happy to read the article you had in Gary’s BLOG about Don.  Thank you for sharing this with us.
Natalie,
 
I apologize for listing your dad’s name as Ron instead of Don with yesterday’s posting. I used to work with a Ron Darling at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA. He was on my mind when I posted your dad’s name.
 
Gary
 
 
Dakota Hotel Pictures
From Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

       Susan asked for pictures of the Dakota Hotel and I found a couple
from around the early ’50s which is when Junior and Viola Mellmer took
over operations of the Hotel.  I think the history book said they came
to Dunseith with their little girl,  Connie,  in about ’51-’52.  Too
tired to look it up right now,  sorry.  Susan would make a good
detective and I wouldn’t want her investigating me!  She already knows
too much about  our escapades so I have to be real careful or she might
tell the general population some of the stuff I’ve kept quiet about for
50+ years or so.  Susan,  if you don’t tell—I won’t tell.  Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Clarification to poster posted yesterday
From Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
Hi Gary,
 
I apologize for not being more clear when I sent this poster.  I’m not selling caramels at this sale; I only sell at Tracy’s fall craft sale–sorry about this.
 
I just read this newsletter now, or I would have sent a clarification sooner.  I forward your newsletters from my Bottineau inbox (online) and read them on this computer (Minot), as they are easier to read.  It’s no problem to do this, so just continue to send your newsletter to the address you usually use. :)
 
I really like the picture of you/Bernadette/Bernie/Grandkids. :)
 
I’m in my “stay in the condo” mode again, but that’s OK. :)
 
Neola
Neola,
 
I should have read your message a bit closer before posting. Your message was very clear, it was just me not reading it correctly.
 
Gary
 
 
Joke of the day
From Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

      Brenda Hoffman’s comparison between  ‘Finished’ and ‘Complete’ and
their meanings reminded me of a similar (even though a bit off color)
question of comparison between two other words.  I was only about 16
years old and was fishing on Lake Upsilon one winter day when old Bob
Haas asked me if I knew the difference between the ‘runs’  and the
‘sh*ts’?  I said I didn’t and he said when you really really gotta get
there– that’s the runs.  When you don’t quite get there–that’s the
sh*ts!  I guess there is some truth to that.

Dick

 

3/12/2013 (1738)

No Blog yesterday
 
For the record, I did not get a blog posted yesterday.
 
Gary
 
 
 
Happy Birthday Bernie Stokes: Bellevue, WA.
 
Bernie was 7 years old when he and Bernadette went to Bremerton on October 6, 1978. He was born here in Cebu, but is now a genuine American. He remembers none of the languages from here of which he now wishes he would have retained. When I adopted Bernie they registered his birth in the state of Washington with a new birth certificate listing him as being born here in the Philippines with Bernadette being his single mother.
 
Bernie is single and has never been married. Some day mabe the right gal will come along. He lives in Bellevue, WA and has worked contract jobs for Microsoft for the past dozen or so years.
 
Gary
 
  
 
Duane Fugere’s dog: Reply to Lee Stickland’s posting several days ago
From Diane Fugere (’75):  Minot, ND

Hi Gary:

Lee Stickland is right about dad’s dog, Tony, a pretty collie.   He was almost human.  Dad tells great stories about him.  There was even a write-up in some newspaper about it way back when.

He could walk a tightrope, would shut off the lights at night when dad told him to, jump off the chicken coop into dad’s arms.  He simply seemed to understand whatever you said to him according to dad.

Diane 

 
Ron Darling Memories
From Dennis Dubois (’63): Minneapolis, MN
 
Everybody remembers Don Darling as the music teacher, as I do too, but how many remember him as a real good basketball player? I got to play against him when he played for the Dunseith town team in many of their practices. Dunseith had a real good town team back then, Don Prouty, Bob Jury, Don Darling, Chuck Johnson, Virgil Vanorny, Leonard Mc Cloud and others. I used to referee their games too. Don was a real gentleman.
 
 
 
George and Margaret Braun – Dakota Hotel
Reply from Susan Fassett Martin (’65):  Spearfish, SD
 
I have more information on my inquiry on George and Margaret Braun.
They took over ownership of the Dakota Hotel in Dec of 1947 and lived
there a number of years.   A brother of either George or Margaret was
a patient at San Haven.   When George and Margaret left Dunseith the
brother stayed.   I have looked in the History Book and can’t even
find a picture of the Dakota Hotel.   Who has a good one?   I
contacted Lloyd Awalt and he is doing some investigating.   Anyone
else out there have any memories.   The daughter of George and
Margaret is contacting her older sister to see if she remembers any
details.   I am continuing my search.   I did find one small article
from the Dunseith Journal about the Brauns purchasing the hotel.
Another fun investigative search for the bloggers.   Thanks   ,
Hugs,   Susan
 
Follow up Message from Susan Fassett:
I did find a picture of the Dakota Hotel in the history book with the
Mellmer information.    No other reference to the hotel that I could
find.   I would like to know when it was built, who built it and the
history of it.   HELP!!
 
 
 
Message Picture
From Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND
 
Hello Gary,

This afternoon, 
I’m trying to figure out how to down load photos from the 
Kodak printer to the computer.

I haven’t done this for quite some time.
I got quite  rusty on the  manipulation skills
Most of last year was a healing process.
 I took a nasty fall resulting in a  torn rotator,
 surgery and long-time healing therapy. 

I just sent you one of my favorite memories
of Christmas dinner at Aunt Jean’s , Seattle 1958.

The best of times.

The following month of January 1959

Twas, the bleakest of times.

My immediate  family didn’t much care for January after that.
 
 
                 Janice, Vickie, Archie & Cliff Metcalfe – Seattle 1958
 
 
Neola’s caramels
Flyer posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
 
Posting of the day
From Keith Pladson (’66): Roanoke Rapids, NC 
 
Gary,

I’m sure all those North Dakota recipients of your blog will have no problem taking this little quiz.  I must say I didn’t do so well myself, but at least I didn’t get them all wrong.  Enjoy!!!
Keith Pladson (66)

 

THIS MAY BE A “Little” DIFFICULT FOR ALL WHO ARE OVER 40 ..THOSE YOUNGER THAN THIS WILL HAVE NO HOPE AT ALL.

 

DEMENTIA QUIZ

FIRST QUESTION:

Y
OU ARE A PARTICIPANT IN A RACE. YOU OVERTAKE
THE SECOND PERSON. WHAT POSITION ARE YOU IN?


~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~


ANSWER
 : IF YOU ANSWERED THAT YOU ARE FIRST,
THEN YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG! IF YOU OVERTAKE THE
SECOND PERSON AND YOU TAKE HIS PLACE, YOU ARE IN SECOND PLACE!

TRY TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME.
NOW ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION,
BUT
DON’T TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS
YOU TOOK FOR THE FIRST QUESTION, OK?




SECOND QUESTION:
I
F YOU OVERTAKE THE LAST PERSON, THEN YOU ARE….?
(SCROLL DOWN)


~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~


ANSWER
: IF YOU ANSWERED THAT YOU ARE SECOND TO LAST, THEN YOU ARE…..
WRONG AGAIN. TELL ME SUNSHINE, HOW CAN YOU OVERTAKE THE LAST PERSON??


YOU’RE NOT VERY GOOD AT THIS, ARE YOU?


THIRD QUESTION:
V
ERY TRICKY ARITHMETIC! NOTE:
THIS MUST BE DONE IN YOUR HEAD ONLY.

DO NOT USE PAPER AND PENCIL OR A CALCULATOR
.
TRY IT.

TAKE 1000 AND ADD 40 TO IT. NOW ADD ANOTHER 1000 NOW ADD 30.
ADD ANOTHER 1000. NOW ADD 20
.. NOW ADD ANOTHER 1000.
NOW ADD 10. WHAT IS THE TOTAL?

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE CORRECT ANSWER…..


~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~


DID YOU GET
5000?

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS ACTUALLY 4100


IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT, CHECK IT WITH A CALCULATOR!

TODAY IS DEFINITELY NOT YOUR DAY, IS IT?
 

MAYBE YOU’LL GET THE LAST QUESTION RIGHT…. MAYBE…


FOURTH QUESTION:

MARY’S FATHER HAS FIVE DAUGHTERS: 

1. NANA, 2. NENE, 3. NINI, 4.. NONO, AND ???

2 WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE FIFTH DAUGHTER?


~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

DID YOU ANSWER NUNU? NO! OF COURSE IT ISN’T.
HER NAME IS MARY! READ THE QUESTION AGAIN!

OKAY, NOW THE BONUS ROUND,
I.E., A FINAL CHANCE TO
REDEEM YOURSELF:

A MUTE PERSON GOES INTO A SHOP AND WANTS TO BUY A TOOTHBRUSH.
BY IMITATING THE ACTION OF BRUSHING HIS TEETH HE
SUCCESSFULLY EXPRESSES HIMSELF TO THE SHOPKEEPER AND THE PURCHASE IS DONE.
NEXT, A BLIND MAN COMES INTO THE SHOP WHO WANTS TO BUY A
PAIR OF SUNGLASSES; HOW DOES HE INDICATE WHAT HE WANTS?


~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

IT’S REALLY VERY SIMPLE
HE OPENS HIS MOUTH AND ASKS FOR IT…
DOES YOUR EMPLOYER ACTUALLY PAY YOU TO THINK??
IF SO DO NOT LET THEM SEE YOUR ANSWERS FOR THIS TEST!

3/10/2013 (1737)

Don Darling, Band Director Memories
From Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

      I remember Don Darling as my first band director in about the 5th
grade in Dunseith.  I believe that would have been during the ’60-’61
school year.  He had lots of patience with the beginner’s band as we
squeaked and made all sorts of weird sounds that really weren’t even
close to the right notes.  We went over and over the simple songs until
they kind of resembled something similar to that song.  Don had lots of
ability to get our attention and keep us focused.  One thing I remember
was how Billy Berube was trying to learn to play the bass drum and he
didn’t quite get the beat so he would be off a bit and Mr.  Darling
would start to tap his baton on the top of his music stand to try to get
Billy back on the beat.  He would do it for a while and then stop us and
start again.  Billy would get behind or ahead again and Don would start
tapping louder and louder and then finally just toss his baton at Billy
and bounce it of the top of the big base drum.  Bill could hardly see
over it anyway so didn’t have very far to duck.  I’m sure Don Darling
was frustrated but he would smile and go pick up his baton and start
again.  Anyway,  after a while Bill got to be good on the bass drum and
later went on to become one of the best snare drummers in the area so
Don’s patience paid off.  I remember our first ‘concert’, if you could
call it that,  was in the old gym at the grade school. As we were going
back up those old concrete steps I missed a step and smacked the bottom
of my saxophone on the edge of the step and put a small ding in the
bottom of it.  For the next coupIe years I remembered that night every
time I saw the dent.  It was in the fall of ’64 that my dad,  Don
Johnson,  took over the entire music program in Dunseith and Don Darling
went to Rolette and I think he took over the entire music program
there.  They sort of traded places, so to speak, as Dad lived in
Dunseith and Don Darling lived in Rolette.  He worked at Northwest Music
in Minot for many years after leaving Rolette and I used to stop in and
see him once in a while when I was looking for music or guitar stuff.
He really hadn’t changed much in 40 years and always called  me by name
as soon as he saw me.  I miss seeing him and now the Northwest Music
building isn’t even there on North Broadway anymore.  Time marches on.
Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Reply to Susan Fassett Martin (’65)
From Lloyd Awalt (’44):  Bottineau, ND
 
Hi Gary   
 
Susan I don’t remember any one by that name{Braun} that ever ran a cafe in Dunseith.  For I delivered milk, butter,’ etc, when I was working for the creamery in 50 to 53, in 49 the Peace garden cafe was run by fountains, Crystal by McCoy’s,  theater cafe  hey maybe they could have run that I cant remember their name I thought they came from Bottineau that would of been in 50&51  now you got me curious,  I will check some get back to you.    
 
Lloyd Awalt
 
 
 
Posting of the day
From Brenda Hoffman (’68):  Greenville, SC
 
COMPLETE AND FINISHED
 
No English dictionary has been able to adequately explain the difference between these two words. In a recently held linguistic competition held in London, England, and attended by the best in the world, Samsundar Balgobin, a Guyanese man from Bachelors Adventure, was the clear winner with a standing ovation which lasted over 5 minutes.
 
The final question was: How do you explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED in a way that is easy to understand. Some people say there is no difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED.
 
Here is his astute answer ... when you marry the right woman, you are COMPLETE. When you marry the wrong woman, you are FINISHED. And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are COMPLETELY FINISHED!
 
He won a trip to travel the world in style and a case of 25 year old Eldorado Rum.




3/9/2012 (1736)

Question
From Susan Fassett Martin (’65):  Spearfish, SD
 
I had a visit from a young lady from New England ND today, and while we were visiting she said that she thought her grandparents had a café in Dunseith for a year or so.   Their names were George and Margaret Braun and they were probably there in the 50′ s.  Anyone that remembers that?        Just curious.   Hugs ,   Susan
 
 
Rolette Band Picture posted yesterday: year taken
Reply from Natalie Darling Ulberg:  Minot, ND

My sister and I were trying to figure that out.  Guessing 1962 or 1963.  My dad is no longer living to ask.

 
Message from Lee (Leland) Stickland (’64):  Dickinson, ND
 
Gary and Bernadette, 
 
Hope all is headed in the correct direction for YOU, a fine pair and couple.
    
     I want to mention that when I pulled up YOUR name from my address list it showed that there was    
    1806 messages in that file.  YOU have been so faithful,  consistently helpful, such a great messenger 
    and the tenor of YOUR composition(s) makes it very clear that YOU do all this without a feeling of 
    duress.
 
    It was nice to see the note about the Fugeres.  We all remember the Fugeer/HilI buses; I think
    YOU may have ridden it a few trips?  I recall that Donna was once the administrator of the nursing 
    home in Dunseith.  I think that Duane had a dog that climbed a ladder.  I may have been that same dog
    that would not go to eat a juicy which Duane had put by his food dish until permitted. The dog    
    would sit beside Duane and look at Duane, not at the steak.  He would await the word or gesture of 
    OK for him to WALK to have that special treat.
 
    Some small snow banks here, some green grass, snow expected for this afternoon.  When I lived further north, 
    even only as far as Minot, Dickinson was called the banana belt. Our elevation is 2598  MSL. LaVerne
    Rude knows WAY more about that than I do.  My first attempt to land a plane in Hawaii was not successful; the air 
    was too thick at sea level. A month ago  I called my aunt Joy in Dunseith.  It was +23 degrees here and had been -25 degree
    there the previous night.  She had just entered her home having shoveled her driveway and she is over 80 years old!
 
    I get started writing and it like my speaking, I don’t know when to HALT.
 
    SNUF   Lee
Lee,
 
Yes, I rode the Fugere/Hill buses a few times. My calculations are 1,440 times. I seldom if ever missed a day of school in all four years of HS. I seldom missed a day in Grade school either, at Ackworth. Whenever I see one of Bernadette’s relatives kids home from school, supposedly sick and running around, I stress upon them my values of school and the rules in my house, If you are sick, you stay in bed. It is either bed or school. They hide from me if they are home sick from school. Those values were the same for my working days too.
 
Your aunt Joy Stickland Peterson is a young spry gal for her age. I think I’d have problems keeping up with her.
 
Thank you Lee for the kind words,
 
Gary
 
 
Edna Mae Nelson Olufson-Smith
Picture posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 I think it is a very cute picture.  I’m not sure why/how I have the picture, but I do have it. :)  I don’t think I was taking pictures at this time.  I do remember being at Lokken’s (where EdnaMae/Vonnie stayed), but I don’t remember if it was for EdnaMae’s birthday party.
 Neola
 
 
 
Comparison Summer/Winter Pictures taken from the Stokes Farm.
 
Thank you Mary Eurich Knutson (’62) for taking and sending these winter pictures below to us. There is a lot of snow this winter up in the hills and throughout North Dakota too.
 
I asked Mary for these pictures so I could post them on my Face Book page. Many of my Face Book friends have never seen snow. Now they can see the comparison of Summer and winter from where I came from.
 
Thank you again Mary and also Karen Larson from The Bottineau Spectrum for passing these along to me.
 
Gary
 
Summer Picture
 
 
Winter Picture: March 2013
 
 
 
Ackworth School: March 2013     Note the frost on the High Line wires
 
 
Allen Richard: Here is the soup you requested
 
 
 
 

3/8/2013 (1735)

Folks,
 
It is hard to believe that I am packing around an Iphone 4. It is a hand me down from Bernadette. She recently purchased  A Samsung Galaxy Note II with a two year plan from our phone company.
 
To keep my same number I had the Iphone unlocked so I could use my existing SIM card. The unlocking part went OK, but a couple of days after I had the phone my $10.00 load had expired. I had made fee calls too. Come to find out the 3G feature was turned on. When out and about I can normally find YI-FI, so I don’t need 3G or 4G. I really like the Iphone keyboard for texting. It sure beats using the number pad on my other phone.
 
Gary
 
 
Dennis Espe (’56 & Former DJH Teacher)
Message from Peggy Sime Espe (’60):  Dunseith, ND
 
Dennis has been living w/Parkinson’s for the last 20+ years and he and his doctors finally decided that it was time and that he was a good candidate to have the Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) procedure.  So, on February 26 he found himself @ Regions Hospital in St Paul, MN w/Dr McIver ready for the big day.  The first surgery went well and was followed by a second surgery on March 1 which was the placement of the generator (a pacemaker type of device).  He is back home doing great and anxiously waiting for the device to be turned on and programmed on April 3 with his Parkinson doctor in Bismarck.  Thank you to all who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers and for the many wonderful cards and phone calls.
How wonderful for Dennis.  By the sound of things the worst of this whole procedure is over. Please keep us posted Peggy.
Gary
 
Photo of Arla Hall and Mrs. Carris (Edna) Vandal
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
Hi,
 
On November 19, 2006, I went to the Good Samaritan to hear Hills and Plains Country Gospel.  When I was leaving after the program was over, I happened to see Mrs. Hall.  I see her often when I’m in Bottineau, so it was no surprise to see her that day, either.  However, I happened to have my camera with me that day, and it was a good time to take her picture.  Mrs. Vandal lives at Good Sam and happened to be leaving the cafeteria at that time.  I have one picture of just Mrs. Hall, and this one with both ladies in it.  Many of you know Mrs. Vandal, too, so I’m sending this one.
 
I’ve already told Mrs. Hall to reserve July 2 for our (Class of ’57) 50 Year Reunion at the Norway House, so I hope she attends. 
 
Neola
 
 
 
 
Natalie Darling Ulberg:  Minot, ND

Hi Gary:

This picture and article are from when my dad was the band director at Rolette High School in the early 60’s.  As the article mentions dad also had music programs in Dunseith and Wolford at the time. 

Please feel free to post the picture.  I have some old Rolette/Dunseith area pictures, items, some old new clippings that I’d like to forward as I come across them.  Some of it is way before my time but is fun to look at. 

Natalie Ulberg

 
Lutefisk Soup
Reply from Allen Richard (’65):  Midland, MI
 

Lutefisk soup— Where can I get it?  LOL
 
Allen
 
 
The Lutefisk and Lefse Songs
Posted by Dale Pritchard (’63):  Leesville, LA.

Gary,

The reference to Lutefisk Soup reminded me that I have a little song about Lutefisk and another about Lefse.  Now you can all sing while you work!  I’m sure you all recognize the tunes.  Lefse is OK but I’ve never had a desire to even to try Lutefisk!

Dale Pritchard

“O Lutefisk”

To The Tune Of “Oh, Christmas Tree”

 

O Lutefisk… O Lutefisk…  How fragrant your aroma.

O Lutefisk… O Lutefisk…  You put me in a coma.

You smell so strong.  You look like glue.

You taste just like an overshoe.

But Lutefisk, come Saturday, I think I’ll eat you anyway.

 

O Lutefisk… O Lutefisk…  I put you by the doorway.

I wanted you to ripen up…   Just like they do in Norway.

A dog came by and sprinkled you…

I hit him with my army shoe,

O Lutefisk… Now I suppose…   I’ll eat you as I hold my nose.

 

O Lutefisk… O Lutefisk…  How well I do remember.

On Christmas Eve…  How we’d receive…  Our big treat of December.

It wasn’t turkey or fried ham…  It wasn’t even pickled Spam.

My mother knew there was no risk…  In serving Lutefisk.

 

O Lutefisk… O Lutefisk…   Now everyone discovers.

That Lutefisk and Lefse makes…  Norwegians better lovers.

Now all the world can have a ball…

You’re better than that Geritol.

O Lutefisk… With Brennevin,

You make me feel like Errol Flynn.

 

The Lefse Song

To The Tune Of “Camptown Races”

 

Norsky ladies sing this song.  Uff Da.  Uff Da.

Bake the Lefse all day long.  All the Uff Da day.

Bake it till it’s almost brown.  Uff Da.  Uff Da.

Makes you jump just like a clown.  All the Uff Da day.

 

**  CHORUS

**  Gonna bake all night, gonna bake all day.

**  I’ll spend my money on spuds and flour.

**  To have an Uff Da day.

 

Went downtown for some Lefse.  Uff Da.  Uff Da.

The weather was so cold and brisk.  All da Uff Da day.

Used my Lefse for a mackinaw.  Uff Da.  Uff Da.

Greatest jacket I ever saw.  Lefse saved the day.

 

CHORUS

 

Went to town in my model “T”.  Uff Da.  Uff Da.

Tire went flat and I said “Poor Me!”  It was an Uff Da day.

Used my Lefse for a tire patch.  Uff Da.  Uff Da.

Now I gotta bake me another batch.  All the Uff Da day.

 

CHORUS

 

Last Winter, I lost my underwear.  Uff Da.  Uff Da.

But this Norwegian didn’t care. All the Uff Da day.

Sewed some Lefse into BVDs.  Uff Da.  Uff Da.

Fixed me up so I wouldn’t freeze.  It was an Uff Da day.

 

CHORUS

 

They asked me how to spell relief.  Uff Da.  Uff Da.

I told them Lefse saves me grief.  All the Uff Da day.

Don’t use Rolaids or Di-Gel.  Uff Da.  Uff Da.

Give me Lefse and I’ll get well.  Any old Uff Da day.

 

CHORUS

 

3/7/2013 (1734)

My 2nd grade teacher: Geraldine LaFromboise Marcavage
Message from Warren Anderson (’65):  Rolette, ND
 
Gary your 2nd grade teacher- Geraldine Marcavage is wanting to be on the web.  Her E-mail is: GeraldineMarcavage@yah
 
Thank you so much Warren for sending us Geraldine’s email address.
 
Geraldine,
 
How nice to have you included with our network of folks. I’ll bet you remember some good stories from the year you taught up at Ackworth too. Yes, I was your 2nd grade student. I remember you so well.  How did we ever rate such a beautiful gal like you for a teacher. That  you can not dispute either because I’ve got the picture to prove it posted below. If you look close you can see your signature (Geri) on the picture too. As I remember you were 19 years old at the time too.  You stayed with us that school year too. I believe it was school year 54/55? Do you remember the big blizzard we had that year? I remember we were snowed in for a few days.  I remember dad and someone else shoveling your car out of our yard. I am thinking you had a convertible too. I am sure the top was up though.
 
With our reunion in 2007, which by the way was the first we had met since you taught at Ackworth, I was very impressed with your very detailed level of recall of the Ackworth folks.
 
We are excited to hear from you too.
 
Keep in touch,
 
Gary
 
  
  
 
 
Reply to Cream of Lutefisk Soup posting yesterday
From Norma Manning (Ruth Peterson’s daughter):  Princeton, IL
 
I know a few people that would buy it. Myself included.
Norma, Your email address says it all.  Gary
 
 
 
IT IS A GIRL see picture below!
Posting from Larry Liere:  Devils Lake, ND and AZ
 
Hi
 
We are back in Devils Lake for a few days to greet the new Granddaughter Alice Ann or Anne Thompson 9lbs. 5oz 20 1/2 inches being held by big sister Isabelle.  The debate is to spell Ann or Anne with out without the E.
 
           LARRY & KAREN
  
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
 
 
Joke of the day
Posted by Art Hagen (’72): Bottineau, ND & Cebu, Philippines
 
CAR KEYS
  
                Several days ago as I left a meeting at a hotel; I desperately gave myself a personal TSA pat down.
  
                I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing.
  
                Suddenly I realized I must have left them in the car. Frantically, I headed for the parking lot.
  
                My husband has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition.
My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them.

                His theory is that the car will be stolen.
  
                As I burst through the door, I came to a terrifying conclusion. His theory was right. The parking lot was empty.
  
                I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen.
  
                Then I made the most difficult call of all, “Hi, honey,” I stammered,  ( I always call him “honey” in times like these) “I love you.”
  
                “I left my keys in the car and it’s been stolen.”
  
                There was a period of silence.  I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard his voice.
  
                “Are you kidding’ me”, he barked, “I dropped you off” !!! !!!!
  
                Now it was my time to be silent.  Embarrassed, I said, “Well, come and get me.”
  
                He retorted, “I will, as soon as I convince this cop I didn’t steal your car.”
  
                Yep it’s the golden years………

 
 

3/6/2013 (1733)

No Blog Yesterday
 
Folks,
 
For the record, I did not get a blog posted yesterday. Actually at about 8:00 PM when I was ready to put a blog together, I didn’t have anything to post. By that time it was getting kind of late, so rather than scrounging for something to post I decided to just hold off yesterday’s posting.
 
Gary
 
 
Happy Birthday Dana Henriksen Johnson (DHS ’66): Meridian, ID
            
 
Dana,
 
You are the same nice looking gal I remember from our High School days. What is your formula? I can see you have lived a good life.
 
Gary
 
 
Duaine and Donna Fugere: Face Book Picture from Debbie Fugere Fauske
 
 
 
Photos on the Los Altos Hunt Web Page
From Trish Larson Clayburgh (’73):  Portola Valley, CA
 
Check this out:

 

http://www.losaltoshounds.org/

The banner on the homepage is composed of photos I took this weekend at the hunt near Sacramento.  I’m almost famous…ha ha.


Also, the last photo in the banner slideshow is ME jumping Midnight to his big win as High Point Champion at the Hunter Pace in Waterford, CA two weekends ago.

If you look around the website, you can find other photos and our scores at the Hunter Pace.

I’m living my dreams and finally finding a bit of success.  So much fun, and so far yet to go!

Thanks for your support – Love, Trish
 
 
Campbell’s new soup For all you Norske’s out there
Posting from Eldon Berg (BHS ’66):  Kenmore, WA
 
 
 
Jokes of the day
Posted by Don Malaterre (’72):  Sioux Falls, SD

Ole is on his deathbed. The doctor has told him he has only a few hours to live. He catches the scent of his favorite bars wafting through the air. With all the strength he can muster, he drags himself into the kitchen and sees a fresh pan cooling on the rack. He cuts one out and bites into the scrumptious cookie. Lena comes in, smacks his hand, and says, “Shame on you, Ole! Dese are for after de funeral!”

 
Vell, the marriage didn’t work out, ya know.
The judge had just awarded a divorce to Lena, who had charged non-support.
He said to Ole, “I have decided to give your wife $800 a month for support.”
“Vell, dat’s fine, Judge,” said Ole. “And vunce in a while I’ll try ta chip in a few bucks myself
.”
 
 

3/4/2013 (1732)

No Blog yesterday
 
Folks,
 
For the record I did not get a blog posted yesterday.
 
Gary
 
 
 
Dennis Azure (’70) and Darlene Counts Poitra (’71)
Message from Darlene Counts Poitra (’71):  Dunseith, ND
 
Hi Gary,
Just wanted to let you know that Dennis Azure and Darlene Poitra moved from Woodinville, WA back to Dunseith.
 
Thanks
Darlene
 
 
Dean Stickland has four by-passes
Message from Dean Stickland (’73):  Olympia, WA
 
Gary,

 
Just thought I’d give you a little update from the great state of Washington.  Last Thursday evening, Feb. 21, I had a nasty heart attack.  I had no previous symptoms so it sure takes you by surprise.  Fortunately we had an emergency team here in just a few minutes and they hauled me off to one of the best cardio hospitals in the northwest.  Saturday morning they did four by-passes and I was home on Wednesday afternoon.  All has gone so well and I’m in relatively little pain.  Both Drs. commented on my excellent physical condition and said that sure makes things easier for them during surgery and will be a great asset during recovery.  
 
I’ve temporarily put both businesses on hold and will concentrate on getting full strength back.  Luckily for me my wife, Marion, is a wonderful help and is already trying out new “heart-healthy” recipes on me.  
 
Thanks, Gary, for your continued efforts with keeping all us Dunseith folks informed and entertained.
 
Dean Stickland – Class of ’73 
9542 Marlbrook Ct. SE
Olympia, WA  98513
Dean,
 
You and Marion look so good in this picture. You most certainly resemble your older brother Leland too.  Glad to hear that you are on the mend. Things will only get better too.
 
Gary
 
 
 
 
 
Larry Hackman’s Granddaughters are playing in ND District Basketball Tournaments
Posting from Larry Hackman (’66):  Bismarck, ND
 
Gary

How lucky am I.
I have two granddaughters playing in North Dakota District Basketball Tournaments.
Sadie playing for Velva, in Dunseith, for the District 11 championship game, and
Madison is playing for Hazen, in Dickinson,  for the District 14 championship. 
Win or loose both teams will advance to the State Regional Tournaments
Both games are scheduled to be played on Monday night.
Larry

 

 
Joke of the Day
 
Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business. When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his cancer stricken father died, he decided he needed to find a wife with whom to share his fortune.
>> One evening, at an investment meeting, he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away. “I may look like just an ordinary guy,” he said to her, “But in just a few months my father will die and I will inherit $200 million.”
>> Impressed, the woman asked for his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.

 

3/2/2013 (1731)

Happy Birthday Brenda Hoffman (DHS ‘1968): Greenville, SC
                                
                               
 
Condolences to the Frykman family
From Dennis Dubois (’63):  Minneapolis, MN
 
My condolences to the Frykman family on the passing of John. I played ball against John all 4 years of high school and he was a great athlete and sportsman in all our competitions. I got to talk to John a few years ago at the golf club. It was great to reminisce about old times. He was a good man.
 
 
Larry Hackman’s granddaughter played basketball in Dunseith
Messsage/picture from Larry Hackman (’66):  Bismarck, ND
 
Gary
Its been about 45 years since a Hackman played basketball in Dunseith.
My granddaughter Sadie, a sophomore, seen here being escorted by the Dunseith Dragon,
played basketball and scored in the Dunseith gym.  She played for the Velva Aggies
defeating Drake, Anamoose in their first game of the district 11 tournament. 
Larry
Congratulations to your Sadie and the Velva Aggies. Nice picture too.
 
Larry, when did you find time to play basketball in Dunseith in your growing up days?
A Stokes never did play basketball in Dunseith. They were too busy milking cows and slopping pigs to play basketball. 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
 
Jokes of the day
 
Q1. In which battle did Napoleon die? * his last battle
 
Q2. Where was the Declaration of Independence signed? * at the bottom of the  page

 
Q3. River Ravi flows in which state? * liquid

 
Q4. What is the main reason for divorce? * marriage

 
Q5. What is the main reason for failure? * exams

 
Q6. What can you never eat for breakfast? * Lunch & dinner

 
Q7. What looks like half an apple? * The other half

 
Q8. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become? It will simply become wet

 
Q9. How can a man go eight days without sleeping ? * No problem, he sleeps at night.

 
Q10. How can you lift an elephant with one hand? * You will never find an elephant that has only one hand..

 
Q11. If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in other hand, what would you have ? * Very large hands

 
Q12. If it took eight men ten hours to build a  wall, how long would it take four men to build it? * No time at all, the wall is already  built.

 
Q13. How can u drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it? *Any way you want, concrete floors are very hard to crack
 
 

3/1/2013 (1730)

No Blog Yesterday
 
Folks,
 
For the record, I did not get a blog posted yesterday.
 
Gary
 
 
              Happy Birthday Gary Morgan (DHS ’54): Garrison, ND
                                   
 
Happy Birthday Jean Eurich Roland (DHS ’79): Minot, ND
                             
                            
 
  Happy Birthday Vonda Melgaard Antonson (DHS ’76): Maddock, ND
                                          
  
Happy Birthday Deb Salmonson Metcalfe: Bottineau, ND
             
 
 
Happy Birthday Leap year baby Eldon Berg (BHS ’66): Kenmore, WA
                  
                                   
 
John Frykman (Bottineau HS ’63) passed away.
Message from Vern Sanden:  Minneapolis, MN
 
Hello Gary,

I’m forwarding the email I just received from my good friend Ben Borgen concerning the passing of our good friend John Frykman. This is very sad for us and for John’s and my good friend Bill Grimme. John will be sorely missed.


From: “BEN BORGEN”
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2013 12:05:15 PM
Subject: John Frykman Passed Away on 2/28/13…..
 

We ‘lost’ our dear friend John at 3:00 AM PST last night. Pat called Joyce this morning with the sad news. It had been a very rough week and John was ready ‘to let go’. A positive aspect was that the family was together during the last week plus. They had many important discussions and sharing of love and thoughts.

Lindsey now plans to return to Botno next Thursday – 3/7 and Pat will probably fly home with her. We expect John to be cremated in CA. Pat has not determined any service plans at this time. I will keep you posted.

Please share this note with other friends of John. Thanks.

John was 67. Rest in peace, Friend……
 
John Frykman’s family was the owners of the Frykman dealership in Bottineau. John, Bill Grimme (’65) and Vern Sanden became very close friends when they attended UND in the 60’s.
 
The last time I saw John was when he was with Bill Grimme with the Dunseith reunion in May 2010.
 
Our condolences are with John’s wife Pat and all of his family with his passing.
 
Gary 
 
 
EdnaMae (Abe Nelson) Nelson Olufson-Smith Photo  Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
EdnaMae’s reply
Go ahead.  It’s a few years old, but we still look pretty much the same.  Harvey grew up in southern California.  We live in Edmonds, WA.  Have been married 11 1/2 years.  My husband, Dave Olufson, died 1/5/2001.  Thanks, EdnaMae  
 
 
 
 
Reply from Natalie Darling Ulberg:  Minot, ND

Hi Gary!  Will you please just put my maiden name (Darling) as the name?  I have lots of Dunseith/Rolette/Thorne connections dating back to the early 1900’s if not earlier.  I don’t have time to go into early connections right now.  As is my paternal grandparents were Jim and Mabel (Peterson) Darling of Rolette and my maternal grandparents were Victor and Amy (Almquist) Tyson of Bottineau. 

I lived in Dunseith for a couple years in the early 1980’s and worked at Security State Bank while living there.

Natalie Ulberg

 
Joke of the day
Posted by Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

         Swen ran into Ole in the mall on Valentines Day and asked him
what he got for Lena.  Ole said,  “She told me she wanted something with
lots of diamonds in it so I bought her a deck of cards.”

Dick