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Blog (144) posted on June 27, 2008

Blog (144) posted on June 27, 2008

Reply from Shirley LaRocque Wendt (59): 

Obituary

DELLA NELSON

JULY 24, 1922-JUNE 16, 2008

POSTED: June 20, 2008

Della Nelson, Minot, 85, formerly of Lansford, passed away Monday, June 16, 2008.

Della Evelyn Nelson was born July 24, 1922, in rural Nanson, to Carl and Ellen Lunde. She was baptized and confirmed at Ox Creek Lutheran Church in Nanson.

She attended grade school in Nanson and graduated from Rolette High School in 1939.

Della was once married to Donald Cobler of Rolette, and together they had three children: Dennis, Diane and Donnie. Don was transferred to Bastrop, Texas, where Della attended nursing school and worked at a local hospital in Bastrop.

Della returned to Rolette in the early 1950s and worked at the Rolette hospital. While living in Rolette, she met John Nelson and they were married July 3, 1955. They had four children: Sherry, Jana, Bob and Jeff. The couple lived in Rolette and New Rockford before settling in Lansford and retiring there. In 2003, they moved to their current home in Minot.

Della and her brother, Howard Lunde, owned and operated D&H Market in Lansford from about 1969 until 1973. Following the sale of the grocery store, she managed Broken Spoke Western Wear.

As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansford, she served on the church council and was active with the Ladies Aid. She was president of the Lansford Senior Citizens for several years, joined Eastern Star while living in Rolette, volunteered at Taube Art Museum and belonged to a birthday club. For many years, she was a member of the Potter’s Bar bowling team.

Della had many interests and was rarely bored. She loved to cook, bake and entertain. She spent many hours in her flower gardens and enjoyed silk flower arranging. She was a member of a bridge group and loved playing pinochle with her family. She and John were avid Minnesota Twins fans.

She is survived by: her husband, John Nelson, Minot; daughters, Diane Botton, Great Falls, Va., Sherry (Tim) Coutts, Colorado Springs, Colo., Jana Nelson, Minot; sons, Dennis (Kathleen) Cobler, Muskegon, Mich., Don Cobler, Bob Nelson, of Craig, Colo., Jeff Nelson, Minot; grandchildren, Amy Cobler, Mike Cobler, Brian (Renee) Botton, Teresa (Pete) Gilbert, Carla (Brian) Safigan, Ilona (Ryan) Goltz, Tricia (Tom) Luebesmier, Charisse Cobler, Jake Coutts, Casey Coutts; and six great-grandchildren.

The family will be forwarding memorial contributions to various organizations in Della’s memory.

Memorial service: Thursday, July 3, 2008, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansford.

Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

Visitation: There will be no reviewal, however, friends may sign a register book on Wednesday, July 2, 2008, from noon until 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

                        John Awalt – Class of 65 – July 12, 2007

Ernie Gottbreht, Cecile Berube & Margaret Metcalfe – Class of 65 – July 14, 2007

     Susan Fassett & Angela Berube – Class of 65 – July 14, 2007

      Happy Birthday Pete Gillis (DHS ’65): Dunseith, ND

   Happy Birthday Shirley Anderson Doan (DHS ’60): Yakima, WA

Cebu City Marco Polo Plaza Hotel
These are few pictures from our last Cebu Expat dinner this past Monday at the Marco Polo.
There were about a 100 folks that attended.

                Bernadette & Lorelie Stokes

Standing: Edelyn, Thess, Em-Em, Novie, Mirasol, Annalyn & Lorelie
Sitting: Gary and Bernadette

 General group picture. The guy in the white shirt is from France. He is 88 years old

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Blog (143) posted on June 26, 2008

Folks, Dick Johnson and Judy Allery have identified the folks in these pictures that Neola Kofoid Garbe provided with yesterdays message.  Neola has made contact with Linda LaRocque Poitra and made arrangements for her to get Eddie’s picture and a few more pictures of other folks that she has.  I have pasted Eddie’s death info at the bottom of the pictures.  Gary

From Dick Johnson (68):djcars@srt.com

Gary,

The serviceman in the middle photo, I believe, is a kid from our class,
named Eddie Nadeau. He quit school and went into the service. He was
married to another classmate, Linda Larocque. She is now married to
Curtis Poitra and still lives in this area. I heard that Eddie is no
longer living but no confirmation on that yet. The guy in the first
picture sure looks familiar but I can’t say for sure. Someone will know
and hopefully reply. Oh, by the way, Ronnie Larocque is Linda’s twin
brother and lives in Beulah or Stanton, ND and I believe is on your
mailing list. Thanks!

Dick

From Judy Allery Azure (65):

Gary the picture dated April 4, 1967 is Rick Williams, the picture dated March 11, 1967 I believe is Eddie Nadeau (deceased) , and Sharon Martin of Belcourt, her brother Dennis was Principal in Duneith.

Judy

Rick Williams – Dated April 4, 1967 Eddie Nadeau – Dated March 11, 1967            Sharon Martin 1971   Edward NADEAU     Birth Date: 23 Nov 1948     Death Date: 3 Jan 1996     Social Security Number: 502-54-5836     State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: North Dakota     Death Residence Localities     ZIP Code: 58329     Localities: Dunseith, Rolette, North Dakota   San Haven, Rolette, North Dakota   Message/picture from Mel Kuhn (70):

Howdy Gary,

Sure Paula, you women could be getting along like a couple of old alleycats until it comes time to pick on one of us old dogs, then you all pile on——HA! HA! It probably was some woman’s idea to put in the skylight, I had to talk like crazy to convince my wife that we didn’t want one when we put new windows in. Yes, I was first in my class in advice giving.

While everyone is taking a tour through the Hawk Museum head straight north to St. John and walk through the Rolette County Historical site. Art Sr. collected things for years for it and stills attends all the meetings. It is open every Sunday in the summer from 2:00PM til 4:00PM. If Sunday doesn’t work out for you just let me or Dick know and we’ll get you in. Dick is Pres. of the group now that Art. Sr. has slowed down and I’m one of his flunkies. There are old buildings to look at as well as two large builds full of goodies and machinery to investigate, Dunseith and San Haven included.Hopefully I’m including a picture of an original old Trappers Cabin that is at the site.

Mel Kuhn

Pictures/message from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

My aunt Shirley ‘Snookie’ Warcup’s story about Hank Johnson was great!
Mom always talked about him as being a very ‘nice’ drunk! He wasn’t mean
in any way, just liked to get loaded once in a while! I remember her
saying that one Christmas during World War II, they were all at Grandma
Johnson’s on Christmas Eve. Hank left with some of his old buddies and
didn’t make it home. The next day they all went up to Mac and Gladys
William’s place for dinner, on what was later the Bob Pritchard place.
Gladys was Hank’s sister, and sister to Grandma Myrtle Olson [Snookie
and Mom’s mom]. About the time everyone was ready to eat, the phone rang
with six longs [ for those of you who don’t know, the crank phones had
long and short rings.] The six long pattern was for emergencies only.
This was reserved for fires, medical, the attack on Pearl Harbor, etc.
Grandpa Henry Olson grabbed the phone and said he could hear all the
phones in the hills being lifted, click,click,click! When it got quiet,
there was this big voice saying, ” Where the HELL is everybody?” Hank
was home! Thanks Gary and Snookie!

Attached are photos of Grandma Johnsons house, through the years.

No Blog yesterday

For the record I did not get a blog posted yesterday.

Gary
Happy Birthday Phyllis McKay (’65): Auburn, WA.

Happy birthday Carrole Fauske Rude (’66): Vancouver, WA

Happy Birthday Cathy Campbell Springan (’73): Stanley, ND

Happy Birthday Betty Lamoureux Badgett (’49): Fountain Valley, CA

Norwegian Traditional Costumes
Posting/pictures from Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND.

Gary and Friends,

One of the things I find interesting about Norwegian traditional customs is the purpose behind the customs.  Aggie asked about the Midsomer tradition of dressing kids in wedding attire and marching in a mock wedding procession.  The tradition is done near the summer solstice so it is actually the beginning of summer rather than the mid-summer as it is called.  It was to bring happiness to people as the blossoming of new life through young people.  I thought it was neat the way they consider it an important event that has a purpose.  Once the procession has made the way around the neighborhood where lots of folks are outside to watch it go by, they come back to the place of origin for a large bonfire and games so it’s kind of a block party so to speak.  The kids aren’t quite as enthused as you might think about being chosen to dress as the married couple but they know it’s supposed to be an honor so they do it anyway.  As the procession came by where we were standing, Brenda’s cousin Tove said,  “You look good Bente.”  Little Bente looked at us and lightly stuck out her tongue.  She would have rather been riding her bike I think.  I’ll attach a picture from a museum in Voss that shows the traditional costumes for this event. Thanks Gary!

Norwegian Traditional Costumes
Posting/pictures from Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND.

Gary and Friends,

The traditional costume worn by women in Norway is called a ‘bunad’  (pronounced–boo-nod) and these differ in appearance and color depending on which area of Norway they represent.  Each area has a different bunad and most Norwegians know which area they represent even though there are many different bunads.  Brenda’s grandmother brought material back from Norway and helped Brenda make her bunad in the exact fashion of the area she came from in the Voss district/area of Norway.

I didn’t care much about it until I started to understand what it all means.  It needs to be correct too or it is frowned upon by Norwegians if someone changes or puts something from the wrong area into the costume.  They jokingly say the ‘bunad police’ will get you if you change things around.  These Norskies take this seriously and once at the Hostfest in Minot,  I sat and watched the bunad show (I’ll admit it publicly guys) as I had talked Brenda into wearing hers for the show.  I must say,  I was actually impressed.  Our good friend Diane Larson Sjol was also at the Hostfest wearing a pretty light blue bunad from the Tromso area of northern Norway where her grandparents came from.  She said it belonged to an older friend of hers from Minot and she had asked Diane to wear it.  Do I have that right Diane?  It was very nice.

Anyway,  before you car guys think I slipped a cog,  I found this tradition interesting in it’s own way so it got my attention. Things on a bunad and the jewelery that is worn all has a particular meaning.

Some things mean the woman is single or married and other things mean what time of the year it is–summer bunad or winter etc.  I’ll attach a couple pictures so you can see some on display at a museum in Voss, Norway and one of Brenda wearing her bunad. Two Norwegian dolls–one in a case and the other one in real life! See any similarities? Thanks Gary!

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

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Blog (140) posted on June 24, 2008
From Shirley Warcup Olson (49):

Gary and Dave Slyter,

Dave’s comments brought back memories of my Grandma Johnson’s farm.  Freddie Hiatt is my cousin so that would make Dave my nephew (by marriage).  Freddie ,I believe, is Dave’s step-father. Dave, I’m sorry you didn’t meet my uncle Hank.  He was quite a character!!   Hank came to town every couple months and always proceeded to get pretty drunk.  He usually ended up in jail, not because of fighting, but just because of being falling down drunk.  The next morning when he was sober,he would be released from jail and he would go back to the farm.  One day when I was probably in 5th or 6th grade, I and someone else (can’t remember who it was) decided to go uptown to get some candy during the lunch hour.  As we were starting to cross the street in front of KC Sine’s store I heard some yell “Hi Snookie”.  It was my Uncle Hank–he was sweeping the street in front of Lamoureux’s Garage.  I quietly replied “Hi” and for about 2 seconds wondered why he doing what he was doing.   I then realized he must have ended up in jail as usual and Frank Flynn decided to have him do a little work before he simply released him–perhaps thinking that would have a positive effect on Hank’s drinking.  I don’t think it worked, however . On one of Hank’s later trips to town, I guess Hank decided he was drunk enough, so he went to Frank Flynn’s home, sat on the front steps and I believe went to sleep, and just waited for Frank to come home and take him to the jail–at least that’s what I was told.     My Grandma Johnson died in May, 1953.  Hank died in Nov. 1952.  My mother said she thought my grandmother felt she had to stay alive as long as Hank was living because he needed someone to  “look after” him.  Once Hank died, my grandmother died soon after.  Hank was a good natured man.  He probably caused a lot of concern for my grandmother but he always made us smile–he was a carefree guy.

Thanks Gary, Dick, Dave and many others for bringing back good memories!!

Shirley Warcup

From Deb Morinville Marmon (70):

Hi Gary,

I was so upset to hear about the storm and the capsizing of the ferry.  I am sponsoring a little boy through World Hope and pray that he and his family are OK. He is from the B’laan tribe of Southern Mindanoa in the Philippines. I haven’t heard anything from WH so I hope that is good news.

Life in Montana is fine except for the weird weather we have had this year. Usually no rain so far this 10 inches!  Now we are hitting the hi 80’s and lo 90’s.  Go figure.  I have a very weird sweat gland disease and sweating is very bad for me so I spend most of the season in my house.  It affects my joints and I am facing a hip replacement very soon.  It’s always something. But I am not complain!  I have a very blessed life with a wonderful husband of 29 years, 4 terrific children who are swamping me with grandchildren (2 due -1 in Sept and1 in Jan) We already have 4.

I wonder if anyone remembers the little carnivals that used to come to town and set up in the skating rink. That was when we got to see friends from school that we usually didn’t see except at school.

Gary we shared an aunt and one of the funniest things I remember about her was the party line.  Aunt Olga never quite got the hang using it.  When she would call my Mom she was already talking when Mom answered the phone and when she was done talking she would just hang up!  One time she won some bedroom furniture at a Bottineau store and when Uncle Bert came home she was building a room onto the house to put it in.

I loved being around her with her Norwegian accent and her stories. She made some of the best bread and baked in an an old wood cookstove.  She was quit a gal!

Keep the stories coming.  They are absolutely wonderful!

Deb Morinville Marmon 70

Gary’s reply
Yes Deb, Olga was my dad’s sister married to your mother’s brother Bert Hanson. Some of our Dunseith folks will remember her.  Everything you have said about Olga is absolutely true. Olga was well known for just hanging up the phone when she decided she didn’t want to talk any more.  It’s not that she was upset, that’s just the way she was and everyone knew and accepted it.  After Bert died she married Emil Haseldahl also from the Bottineau turtle mountain area.  She was a character.  Before going to the hospital for the very last time in her life to have surgery, she took a piece of tablet paper and wrote at the top, “In Case I Kick the Bucket”.  Then she wrote a very detailed list of all of her possessions of who was to get what and left it in her apartment.  Olga did not survive the surgery and died.  Dad was with Jean and Audrey when they split things up using her “In case I kick the Bucket” list.  The Olga stories are endless.  We miss her dearly.  Olga’s granddaughter, Amy, is the one that recently put together the Dunseith WEB site.  As I have mentioned before, The Petterson (dad’s biological family) gatherings were never dull. Gary
From Paula Fassett Pfuhl (71): 

Thank-you Art Rude (jr) for the great photos of your dad – who looks great, by the way – and of the HawkMuseum.  For any of you who haven’t been to the HawkMuseum, next time you’re in the area, you really should go and spend some time there.  They’ve done a great job – and I know Art Rude Sr has been a driving force getting it established and keeping it going.  It’s well worth the trip!

Mel Kuhn, I’m taking sides with your wife!!!  I have a disabled husband, so I’m the one who goes up on the roof and seals the leaking skylights (whoever invented those stupid things), I’m the one who cusses and swears at the weed whip, lawnmower and all the other tools that have a pull start that NEVER starts on the first, second OR third pull…………and my husband is ALWAYS there with the sound advice to give me as I’m preparing to smash one of those handy tools with my hammer!!!!!  Do you guys take a class in advice giving?????????  Maybe it’s similar to the nagging class that wives attend – ha!!!!!

Are there any parades going on in August???  Some of us Fassett-types are hoping to get ‘home’ then……

Paula

From Bob Lykins (former teacher):

Gary,

How well I remember those typhoons. I was more than once stranded at Subic Bay Naval Base because of the weather.  I vividly remember taking the bus from Subic to Clark Air Base after a typhoon and traveling over the one major highway in the area that was for miles completly covered in water.  The only way the driver knew to follow the road was because of the posts jutting out of the water on each side of the highway.  It was all just one hugh lake for as far as the eye could see.  It was not just for natural air conditioning that the houses were built on stilts.  It is amazing how people learn to adjust to living and surviving under such conditions.

Bob

Reply from Dick Johnson(68): 

Gary and Friends,

The one picture of Neola’s (message 141)is Larry and Lise’s wedding, with their
parents Mr. and Mrs. Billy Metcalfe and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Rousseau. The
others are unfamiliar to me. Thanks Gary, glad to hear the typhoon kind
of missed your place!

Dick

From Bill Grimme (65): 

Gary,

This photo was sent to me by my dear friend, Vern Sanden. The photo was taken in 1910. Vern lived in Bottineau.

Vern and I met at UND after Vern returned from his service in the US Army. We tended bar together at Whitey’s Cafe in East Grand Forks for a while and we had a lot of adventures there. One night I accidentally locked Vern and John Frykman in the beer cooler at Whitey’s. They were in there for several hours, I guess, and when they got out, neither one of them complained, for some reason or another; the stock of small bottles of Mogen David that we kept in there was pretty low after their stay.

I got such an education from Vern and John that I quit school and joined the US Navy. Actually turned out to be a good move, eventually, after about 10 years. It was a funny choice – graduate from UND in one year or join the Navy for 10!

Anyway, can you put Vern on the mailing list? I’m sure a lot of our folks know Vern from his high school days in Bottineau.

Bill

From Mel Kuhn (70):

Howdy Gary,

Dick’s eyesite is getting bad. That was a shiney old 1975 Corvette that I was riding in. It belongs to Duane Gourneau who about in 1968 or so was a cop in Dunseith on his first assignment. My wife was riding ahead of us with Duane’s wife Cindy in a 1973 Porche. I could have gotten Dick a little wetter but he moves pretty quick for an old man.

Mel Kuhn

Picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

No Blog yesterday

For the record I did not get a blog posted yesterday.

Gary

I too would like to express my condolences to the Cliff Gillis family.
From Kenny Nerpel (’65):  Rugby, ND

I have a memory of him to share that I hope will bring a smile in a time of sorrow.  I don’t remember the exact time frame for this one but I think it had to be either 1970 or 1972 because these are time periods that I spent in the Dunseith area.  Cliff had hired my father and me to build some cabinets for him.  To further clarify, my father built the cabinets, as he was the skilled craftsman, and it was my job to hand him whatever particular tool he needed and to sweep up after he had finished using it.  While we were busy with this, Cliff and Donald Egbert were working on what I think may have been a driveway as Donald, to the best of my memory, was running a cement mixer.  Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, we noticed that Cliff and Donald were in a heated discussion.  It ended with Donald taking off on foot across country towards Dunseith.  It was revealed to us later, at the end of the day, as we were sharing a beer with Cliff, that Donald was aware that Cliff had purchased some beer for the crew.  The disagreement was that Donald wanted a beer immediately and Cliff had decided he was not going to share his beer until after the day’s work was done.  I’ve heard Cliff described as being stern.  I think you could also add fair and generous to that.

regards,

Kenny  

Reply to Dick Johnson (’68)
From Aggie Casavant (’69):  Fort Mill SC

Hey  Dick,  Just  want  to  tell  you, how  much  i  enjoy  your  post  about  you  and  Brendas  trip  to  Norway.  It  is  all  very  interesting.  This  last  post  of  the  little  girl  and  boy  dressed  up  in  wedding  attire  I  found  most  interesting. Now  that  would  of  been  so  interesting to  see ,  like  how  did  this  tradition  get  started  and  all. I  sure  hope you  didn’t  explain  it  in  your  post  and  I  spaced  it  out…..Hmmmmmmmmmmm  anyway  keep  sharing  cuz I  find  all  your  pictures,  post,  and  stories  very  interesting…. Blessings  to you  and  Brenda…Aggie

Another ALS story
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/marilyn-hagerty-god-bless-ice-bucket-brigade

Gary,

The article by Marilyn Hagerty is from today’s Grand Forks Herald. Marilyn Hagerty  a wonderful writer, became well known in recent years.

She’s won national recognition with her commentaries on food at local Grand Forks dining places.  In the article she shares her personal family experience with ALS.

I too decided to  save pennies, to meet the  ALS ice bucket challenge.

Why?  A very personal  reason,  a fond remembrance.

I  once had  a banjo pickin cousin.   His name was John, but everyone who met him called him Jack.  Every one liked to hear him play.  I’d say to him,  “Play a song for me cousin Jack!”

Jack with a gentle easy smile, eyes which  crinkled with amusement,  reddish  brown hair and a splattering of freckles. A proud veteran of Korea….another Navy man.

He  came to work for my parents a couple times before I was old enough for school.    It was Jack who took my sister on a stone boat through the snow, pulled by Barney the white percheron, on her first day of First Grade.

Jack and my dad batched for a week while my sister and I stayed other places when my youngest sister was born. Me, with Uncle Jim and Auntie Ella and the girls, my elder sister stayed with King Fraa and FaFa and kept attending  “Seim”

i.e. Oakes Country School.

Later they’d tell stories filled with laughter  about  eating 1 home cured ham 3 x a day, breakfast, dinner and supper.  Dad and Jack were relieved  when  dad drove to Bottineau brought  mom and the new  baby home, my elder sister

and I were both home again.  They were both tired of dad’s cookin….. ham!  Ham and eggs. Ham sandwiches. Eggs and ham. They were  both pleased to be eating Mom’s cooking  again..

I was just 4 years old when I bonded with Jack.  With an awareness,  I watched  him  teaching himself to  “pick”. He was  talented and determined when he practiced.   He stayed at his parents and came over each day to work.

Cousin Jack always had a  kind heart for our “family”.  When he moved south to work he had the opportunity to venture into the hills of Appalachian Georgia,

On time off,  he’d drive into the hills, and stop at little general back woods stores, and “pick” with others who were also  fond of  music.

One June,  I had an accident, Jack called every day  for three weeks from Georgia, “just checking up” he’d say.  One day, no phone call.  There was a knock on the door. And there stood Jack.

He said he needed to see for himself that I was Okay.  He brought his banjo,laughter and various stories.  He  talked  about people who worshiped with snakes on every street corner.

I said,  “JACK, You   are so  full of baloney!”  But like my dad,  Jack could tell a story. Just when I thought it was an amusing tall tale,  I’d realize it was the absolute truth.

I started to notice Jack becoming  increasingly reluctant to take his banjo out, choosing not to play. He wouldn’t say why.  except, I  recall Jack saying,  he noticed something wrong with  weakening of  his talented banjo picking

fingers.    After a time our family heard  news about that ugly hideous disease……… A.L.S.  Jack  stayed in his home for a time. Then one day, my mother said told  he had gone into long term care.  I had to work on wrapping my grief away.

Finally, I gutted up my courage, drove to the hospital to see him.

I bawled  walking across the floor of long term care…while Jack sat  limp in his chair. he could not raise his head, move his limbs… Snottering, “I am so sorry I did not come sooner.” I said to him.  Jack’s kind quiet voice spoke to me,

“Vickie I knew why you couldn’t  come.  I knew you’d come when you  could.”

I understand.”    Cousin Jack and I had our last long talk..

________________________________

One day we let him go,  to his final place to Rest.

______________________________________

A few years after Jack’s passing, while listening to the radio, I heard  a banjo “picking ” a song.   It was the Foggy  Bottom Boys  on the sound track from “Brother Where Art Thou?”

I kept listening for that song again and again and again.  Each time,  thoughts turned to  Jack; his story telling, his kindness, his kind of  “picking” and his understanding of my sorrow at the unfairness of it all.

When I hear that song, I again remember Jack  fondly, and wonder what he would have thought about the ice bucket challenge……. “The Man of Constant Sorrow”.

Thank you Gary

Later, Vickie

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Blog (140) posted on June 24, 2008

Updated Dunseith Alaska Cruise list:

Folks,

I just received this updated list from our travel agent, Gina Ford. This is looking really good.

We have had one fuel surcharge increase since we started booking our group. With the price of crude oil on the rise the way it is, I’m expecting more and a lot higher fuel surcharges in the future.

For those of you even contemplating going on this cruise, I suggest that you lock in your cabin, ASAP, to avoid paying future fuel surcharge increases and also to be more assured of getting the cabin selection of your choosing. All of your moneys are fully refundable up to 90 days prior to the cruise. Hopefully Gina will be able to reserve additional cabins when we get the hundred we have reserved, filled. The quicker we get them filled, the greater her chances will be of being able to reserve more cabins.

Think of the fun we will have on this cruise with so many Dunseith folks on board.  We will have 7 days to enjoy each others company and get reacquainted with folks we have not seen for years, in some cases more than 50 years.

I’m hoping I heard things right when I heard through the grape vine that Minnie Flynn is also signed up to go.  I’m sure hoping we can get more of our former teachers signed up as well.  It will be great having Minnie onboard with us.  Maybe we can twist Art Rude’s hand and a few others too.

Take care,

Gary

From: Cruise At Will (Gina Ford)

To: Gary Stokes ; Grimme, Bill ; Leonard, Margaret Metcalf

Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:58 PM

Greetings All –

The newly booked (in green) were sent statements on Sunday June 22nd. I apologize that it took me a couple of days to get the new list to you.

You now have a total of 27 cabins.  GREAT WORK team!!

M/M Gary Stokes

Wm. Grimme and Irina Protassevitch

M/M Ronald Cavaliere

M/M Warren Anderson

M/M Doyle Abrahamson

Nancy Baldwin/Keith Kontzie

Wayne Galloway/ Leona Randall

M/M Michael Vandal

M/M Scott Sjol

Muzette Fiander/ Trish Clayburgh

Randy Flynn Family  – (with 3 cabins)

Dwight Lang/ Rene Cassavant

Florence Sime/ Becky Coles 

M/M Greg Malget

M/M Keith Pladson

Cheryl Haagenson (who would like a roommate)

M/M Mark Vandyne

M/M Wm. Longie

M/M Charles Munro

M/M Dave Shelver

M/M Terry Espe

M/M Darel Stokes

M/M Robert Berube

Phyllis McKay/Pat Heggen

M/M Gary Metcalfe

Thank you and kind regards,

Gina S. Ford

Cruise At Will, Inc.

Cruise and Travel Planners

1-866-870-6986 (toll free)

954-578-1718 (local)

www.CruiseAtWill.com

No blog yesterday

For the record I did not get a blog posted yesterday

Gary

Condolences to Cliff Gillis’ Family
From Allen Richard (’65):  Midland, MI

I am sorry to hear of the passing of Cliff Gillis.  I enjoyed him and I know he will be missed by an awful lot of people.

Allen Richard

Louis Longie (’58) Passed away ( 8-22-2014)  at 0700.
Message from Jim Robillard (’58):   Williston, ND

I’ll send more if needed when I get it.

you can E-Mail me if you want.

God Bless

Jim

Follow up message from Jim Robillard

Funeral arrangements have been made.

http://www.fulkersons.com/ObituariesDisplay.aspx?ID=2260

St Thomas Church   Tioga N.D.

Friday 1 pm

cards can be sent to;

Carol Longie
P.O. box 728
Tioga, N.D.  58852

Norway Pictures/message
From Dick Johnson (’68): Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

Traditional customs and costumes are still much appreciated by the Norwegian people and they have one where a small girl and boy are dressed up as a bride and groom and walk around the neighborhood with families and friends.  A young boy plays a march type cadence on a snare drum and leads the procession.  This takes place during what is called midsomer or mid-summer which is around the equinox of late June.  We happened to be with Brenda’s cousins and the daughter of one of the relatives was dressed as the bride so we went along to watch as the little procession came past.  It was typical of kids this age though as the bride and the groom didn’t want to be too close to each other!  The groom wears a tall black hat, red vest, and black pants and the bride has a traditional costume call a wedding bunad with a fancy headpiece or hat.  It was neat to see them do this old custom.  We didn’t get to know the name of the boy who was the pretend groom but the little girl’s name was Bente (which is pronounced Ben-ta).  She actually went along with us one day as we explored several historic places, her aunt said she could speak fairly good English but she was too shy to while we were along so she only spoke Norwegian.  Here are a few pictures of the event. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Reply to Mel Kuhn (’70)
From Larry Hackman (’66): Bismarck, ND

Gary

Here is my reply to Mel, right below his recollection of the HACKMAN BROTHERS VISIT.

Hope you enjoy it?

Larry

Hackman brothers visit Mel Kuhn
Message from Mel Kuhn (’70):  St. John, ND.

Gary,

I suppose that you have heard about the Riff Raff that North Dakota has been seeing quite a bit of since the big oil boom. Up here around St. John we kind of keep an eye out for these kind of people. We even had the Mexican Mafia shoot a fellow about a quarter mile down the road from me a while back. So we’ve kind of been in the habit of keeping a loaded gun kind of handy. I was just not prepared for what happened to me yesterday. I was busy working in my shop and I thought I heard a car pull up. I looked out the door and here was this shiny red pickup full of unsavory looking characters. Here it was a pickup full of Hackman’s. I had forgotten my gun in the house when I went in for lunch so I looked around for something to protect myself with and grabbed a tire iron. My dogs were going crazy when they got out of the pickup. My big old dog grabbed one of them by the leg and I saw this look come over his face like he just got a bad taste of lutefisk or something and he kind of let out a yelp and headed for the trees. I haven’t seen him since then. I hope he gets the taste out of his mouth and comes home soon. Well it didn’t turn out too bad once everything got settled down. They were just lost and a little scared. Once I got them calmed down and told them that I’d help get them straightened back around they seemed to be OK. I got a piece of paper and a pen and tried to write down directions for them but that didn’t work. So I went to the house and found a color crayon and a bigger piece of paper so I could draw them a map and they seemed to be good with that. And they say nothing interesting happens around St. John on a Monday afternoon. I was invaded by the Hackman boys, Larry Sr., Larry Jr. and Henry. I hope you guys had a good time touring the old Turtle Mountains. It sure was good seeing you and it was a good visit. You didn’t have to rush off when my wife got home, I’ve got her trained pretty well now and she hasn’t bitten anyone for a long time now. She even keeps the dishes washed up so I don’t go out and buy new ones when I run out. Later Guys.

Mel Kuhn

Larry’s reply to Mel:
Hi Gary!  I hope this note finds you and your family doing well.  I had to reply to Mel’s recollection of what happened when we (my brother Henry, my son Larry Jr. and me Larry) entered his yard on on our recent stay at Lake Metigoshi and a trip down memory lane through the Turtle Mountains.  Yes, we did pull into Mel’s yard about mid afternoon.  It was a quiet serene yard, a yard where someone else might want to sit down and do a little bit of yoga.  Then we got out of the the pickup and all hell broke loose.  A little dog started barking  and a big dog, and I don’t know how many other dogs gathered in the parking lot.  My brother grabbed a handful of sauerkraut and threw it at the dogs and they scattered.  Lutefisk? The St. John Health Department would have had to condemn the place if it had been Lutefisk.  Lutefisk?  You could tell them dogs weren’t use to enjoying the nectar of the Germans.

The next thing that happened was an old guy (I say old because I sensed myself being a teeny bit respectful of this gentleman. I guess its because of the third grade.  We had this teacher Miss Rhode who wanted her class, to have the best manners in the whole school.  I remember being a little down one day and her taking me to that room for the sick kids next to the 4th grade room on the second floor of the old wood school house.  She asked me what was wrong and I told her, “I had a belly ache”, and she replied “you mean you have a stomach ache”.  I knew it hurt and I’m still trying to figure out the difference.  Is there more then one organ in that part of the body?) Anyway this gentleman  appeared out of the dark of this shop and stood in the garage door opening, rubbing his eyes and soaking wet.  From what I gathered, from his muttering and sputtering and rubbing water from his eyes, is that he was watching TV and got inspired to do the ALS challenge, and before he knew or understood what happened, he had challenged himself, and had dumped a bucket of ice water over his own head. Strange, but we were quests and we remained respectful.

You know we did have a little trouble finding Mel’s place in St. John, ND.  I remember him telling me once that he lived on the highest hill in St. John, ND.  Well, I couldn’t find the right hill and being a man, I didn’t think I should have to ask for directions.  Well after awhile, I decided to ask this fellow at the local gas station where the highest hill in St. John is located.  He said his dad lives on the highest hill in St. John.  I asked him, “your dad Mel Kuhn”.   He said “hell no, but my dad lives on the highest hill in St. John”.  I told him that I was looking for Mel Kuhn.  The fellow just laughed and told me where to go.  He said Mel has to live on a hill?  I followed the fellows directions and thought I had been driving for to long of a time and so pulled into another fellows yard and ask him where the highest hill in St. John is located?  He said that he knew where the highest hill in St. John is, and asked why I was looking for it?  I explained to him that I was looking for Mel Kuhn and he had told me that he lives on the highest hill in St. John.  The fellow just started laughing and said, he has to live on a hill, but its not the highest hill in St. John and that Mel lives on the third approach down the road.  Well, wouldn’t you know it, we found Mel’s place and he does live on a hill.  Now I don’t know if it’s the highest hill in St. John, but I found out why he has to live on a hill.  It isn’t what I thought at all.  I thought that he would have to live on a hill to keep from burying himself in his own bull, and this way it would all run into the valleys below. Yes, things appear to be leveling out in that area. But that’s not the reason he lives on a hill, apparently its because when Mel gives directions, he always starts out by saying, “you go down this hill”?

We did ask Mel for directions to some old friends farm up north of St. John and he did start out by saying that you have to go down this hill?  Then after that things got a little shaky on directions and which roads to take, so Mel went and got some paper and pencils.  But the lead was broke off, of all the pencils so we picked up some crayons that the dog was chewing on and used them to draw out some roads and directions.  The picture did look purity nice when we were done.  You know with different color crayons and dog slobber and everyone trying to draw out directions.  Mel’s  wife did come home about that time and wanted go for a walk with him, before it got to late.  I don’t know why she had plastic bags hanging out of her back pocket and a leash in her hand?

Well we had our directions and were ready to take off anyway, so we thought we would hit the road again.  We did not want to deprive Mel from his walk.  We grabbed the map we had made, but Mel grabbed it back,  “saying he really liked the picture and wanted to keep it”.  He even asked his wife if she would put it up on the dining room wall so as he could look at it while he ate.  He said it reminded him of a Picasso painting he had saw one time.  He said he thought it was in one of them little buildings that use to sit behind one of them little one room school houses, with a light that was shaped like a moon over the door..

We without any other directions, followed Mel’s directions and went down the hill, took a left, went a half mile turned around, and went in the opposite direction and somehow ended up at the casino.  The three of us are still wandered about that map Mel drew up for us.  This wasn’t where we had intended to end up.  Maybe, going down that hill was a mistake.  Anyway, making butter out of lemonade, we continued on down the road to Dale’s restaurant at Dunseith, ND.  We each ordered and ate a jumbo to settle our nerves and quench our hunger. Mel was sure right about having to down that hill first.

It was a good time in the hills, we enjoyed our visit with Mel and several other people we ran into by chance and some we just went and seen at their homes.  The three days we spent visiting  for the second time this summer went way to fast.  Enjoyed every minute of visiting with everyone and still haven’t seen everyone, that  I would like to visit with.  One of these days we intend to do it again.  I wander if that picture Mel put on his wall is worth anything?

Thanks to all and you too Mel for a good time.

Until next time,

Larry

Joke of the Day

Jack and Bob went skiing. After a few hours of driving north, they got caught up in a terrible blizzard and pulled into the driveway of a farm owned by a very rich widow. They went to the door and asked the attractive lady who answered if they could spend the night there.

“Oh, it’s such a terrible weather out there and I have this huge house all to myself. But I am recently widowed,” she said, “and I’m afraid of what the neighbor will say if I let two attractive young men stay in my house.”

“Don’t worry,” Jack said, “We’ll be happy if you just let us sleep in your barn if the weather breaks, we’ll be gone at first light.”

The lady agreed and the two men found their way to the barn and settled in for the night. Come morning, the weather had cleared, and they left and had a great skiing weekend.

Nine months later, Jack got a letter from an attorney. It took him a few minutes to figure it out, but he finally determined it was the attorney of the attractive widow whose barn they stayed at with Bob. He drove to see his friend and asked him:

“Bob, remember nine months ago when we went skiing and stopped over at that beautiful widow’s barn to wait out the bad weather?”

“Yes, I do,” said Bob.

“Did you get up in the middle of the night, pay her a visit at the house and stay overnight?”

Bob, getting a little embarrassed, confirmed that’s what happened.

“And did you happen to use my name while you were with her?”

“I am sorry buddy, I am afraid I did,” replied Bob whose face turned red by now.

“Why do you ask?”

“She just died and left me everything,” exclaimed Jack.

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Blog (140) posted on June 24, 2008

From Art Rude (71):

Just a note, to let  you know, you may enjoy the pictures I just published of my dad on Father’s day.  He was the grand Marshall at the parade at the Hawk Museum by Wolford.  www.artrude.com and follow the link to regular webpage photos.
Art

Peace and Power, Art Thanks for checking out Art Rude Productions, webpage address: www.artrude.com

Art,  These are wonderful pictures that you have posted on your WEB site.  I love your Solo too. Your Dad is looking great!  You are not looking bad your self. Gary

From Gary Metcalfe (57): 

Sue and I just made a trip 2,900 miles to Almonte, Ontario Canada to research some of my heritage.  We found a beautiful little town with a river running through it and many rock waterfalls that ran down to Metcalfe Park.  I  stopped anyone who looked over 70 years old and got lots of good stories of a great uncle, A.A. Metcalfe who had been a dr. in Almonte for 65 years.  He was from a family of 12 and he was the youngest.  His mother, Jean McLean Metcalfe lived to 97 yrs. and smoked a clay pipe.  They were of Scotch decent.  I looked in the library and found at least 5 generations documented….somebody cared.

That is one reason I am enjoying these letters so much as we touch on so many families and memories.  Keep ’em coming.

Now only one more endeavor along this line, I need to know more about my Grandma, Veronica Rose LaDuc or LaDuke.  Her father Louis LaDuc seems to have gotten away, so I will try to find a trace of her brother, Joe LaDuc. She was of Native American decent.   Anyone out there that can make my work easier, please help.  I wish I had had more time with her because she was a very loving person and added a lot of joy to our family.
Gary Metcalfe

From Dave Slyter (70): 

Dick:

Thank you so much for sharing the old pictures of the house that we use to live in.  Before we bought Bennies farm, I remember many times of Terry Hiatt and I going up while my dad went up to help Bennie cut wood and help do some other chores.  Terry and I usually went out on the lake and ice skated or roamed around the farm yards.

The picture of the organ that Agnes is playing still exists.   Mom and Dad moved it down to Rugby and had it in their home.  After mom passed it went on the auction sale and my sister Kim bought it and now has it in her home.  We spent many hours ourselves pumping the pedals and playing the keys.  Brenda became pretty good at it.

It was good to see everyone in the pictures.  Benny was a really nice person as was all his sisters.  I never got to meet Hank but heard a lot about him.

Again thanks
Dave Slyter  : )

Bobby Slyter’s reply to the Philippine Typhoon (70): 

From Mel Kuhn (70): 

Howdy Gary,

Well the wife and I made it through the weekend without killing each other. Although after her bout with a weed sprayer that didn’t want to work and wondering why she had to do this in the yard and that to the garden and burning herself making BBQ sauce that she just had to have[I do 90% of the cooking]. She has decided that she doesn’t want my job. Well I don’t want hers either, even our dogs are wondering why I’m not playing with them. The incident with the weed sprayer brought me close to killing myself and then her so we had to quit that project. Women just can’t understand that we are not being bossy, that our ADVICE is for their own good and yes we do know everything. Right guy’s?

Mel Kuhn[70]

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

I suppose Mel thinks he is one up on this old joker with his Boomerang
joke! Mel when your boomerang is broken, you have what we call–a STICK!
Did you hear about the Aboriginie who got all beat up the other day,
Mel? He got a new boomerang and tried to throw his old one away! Nuk,
nuk, nuk!! Old broken down Mel was riding in a new yellow Corvette in
the St. John Days parade on Saturday. He had his hands all bandaged up
but the jerk was still able to shoot us judges with a water cannon! So
folks, don’t spend too much time feeling sorry for him! Actually it felt
pretty good, it was hotter than blue blazes out there in the sun! And
Mel’s wife IS a good cook! She is also a very nice person, she was just
having trouble with her eyesight when she met Mel! Thanks Gary! 😛

Dick

Pictures from Ardys Bakken Horner (former teacher):

hi Gary!   Thought you would like to see what I look like, I am not good at putting photos on the web, but there is one of Jon and I with the Packers flag, he’s a fan, I root for the MN Vikings –anyway this is his 70th birthday party  Ardys Bakken Horner  former teacher (68-70)

Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:44:00 -0500

These are a few of the better pics from today. Good to see you all–M

            Jon & Ardy Heather, Chad & Ardys

Subject: Capsized Philippine ship that sunk with Typhoon Frank killing hundres for folks:

This letter was forwarded to me by a friend.

I was truly upset when I saw the news. My heart cried for the victims and relatives.

Is there really a dearth of common sense anymore in our native country, the Philippines?

I now live in the US  and I see how safety of passengers is a priority here.

If there is a typhoon coming, and I am Sulpicio lines, would I let my ship go? If I am the Coast guard and a typhoon is coming, will I clear the ship to sail?

I  live near the Dallas Airport and even if a storm is not that strong, the planes are not allowed to fly. I went on a cruise from Houston and the ship was not allowed to leave until the hurricane path was ascertained.

Should we wait for other similar disasters to happen to react or take action

No Blog yesterday

For the record I did not get a blog posted yesterday.

Gary

Clifford Gillis
Message from Verena (Pete ’65) Gillis:  Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends-

It’s been awhile since I have been on the blog.  Have been very busy, 1st my granddaughter’s wedding in July and spent time getting ready for that.

Then just when we thought we could relax for a bit, my brother-in-law Clifford passes away.  Pete and I were so shocked and devastated we could barely think straight.  Yes, Pete and Cliff were very close, more so than any of the other brothers.  I think it was because Pete was the only one who wouldn’t give up on him despite his stern ways.  But I also know how much they loved each other as they would relay the message through me who in turn told them, lol.  This went on for years and years, never did figure out why they couldn’t tell each other this.  And I of course, loved him like I would my own brother and cried my heart out.  Pete would always tell me, you go talk to him about this or that, he won’t holler at you, he likes you, lol.  Yes, he was very stern, but was also a very loving person.  You just had to take the time to get to know him. Anyway, the funeral was beautiful and I’m sure Clifford was smiling down upon us all.

Things like this, family gatherings, rather it be reunions, weddings or funerals, when he saw all the people in attendance, well, this made him very happy.  He will be truly missed by all family and friends.

Posting from Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

ALS please watch if you can 

This guy tells it like it is.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/the-only-ice-bucket-challenge-video-you-need-to-watch-1.1969598

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau, ND


Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau, ND

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Blog (139) posted on June 21, 2008

Folks,

First of all, thank you so much for your concerns, I will attempt to answer your questions that I have pasted below.

I listed yesterdays message as 160.  It should have been 140.  I realized the mistake after I had already sent it.

Typhoon Frank hit parts of the Philippines hard.  We were spared from the brunt of the storm.  We had a considerable amount of rain with, I’m guessing, no more than 40 MPH winds.  Areas to the north of us had winds as high as 120 MPH with lots more rain than we had. A passenger ship with over 800 passengers and crew left Manila, headed to Cebu, our island, knowing they were going to have to pass through Typhoon Frank, but they left anyway. They didn’t make it.  Their ship sank to the bottom of the ocean.  Reading today’s paper, there are only 4 known survivors. That’s such a tragedy for the ill judgement of the ship captain that is also missing and assumed dead.

Here in Cebu, we are spared from most all of the typhoons that pass through the PI.  Most all of them pass to the north of us.  We are located about 400 miles south of Manila and about 1,200 miles south of Hong Kong.  Saigon, now Ho Chi minh City, Vietnam is about 400 miles west of us.

Gary
From Geri Metcalfe Munro (59):

Gary,

I received #139 and now #160–have we missed something or were they mis-numbered??
We did sign up for the cruise on 6-18-08–now we’re excited.
Geri Metcalfe Munro

Ivy Eller Robert (74): 

Gary…….

I just read about the typhoon that hit the Philippines, more so Manilla? I hope you are OK? Did the water get to you? The pictures I just viewed are unbelievable…….WOW! I pray everything is OK with you and your Family!

Ivy (Eller) Robert

From Susan Fassett Martin (65): 

Gary and Bernadette,  So sorry to read of the loss of life with the typhoon that hit your area.  I have been praying for you and hope that all your friends and loved ones are safe.  Did you get any of the damage??  Hope all is well there.  Hugs and prayers.   Susan

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary,

This morning I saw a weather report of typhoon conditions for Cebu and
am wondering if things are still OK there? Hope it misses your place!!

Dick

From Joyce Murray Anderson (73):

Hi Gary,

Thank you  so much, it was more than 30 years since Bev, Rita and I were all together.  All those years melted away with the first hug.

As a matter of fact, Gary, my cousin Ivy (Eller) Robert, found me the same way.  I can’t tell you how wonderful it feels to be reunited with loved ones. Ivy lives a few miles up the road, and has been there for 22 years, we just did not know. Being able to see everyone again is a shot directly from the “Fountain of Youth”.  Thank you again.

I love reading all the blogs, thanks for adding me to your list.

Joyce

From Kenny Nerpel (65): 

Gary,

I need to respond to the latest Larry Hackman story.  I also attended the party which he referenced.  I remember it just a little differently though.  I believe that I actually came to the party with the young man, who left the party shoeless, that was central to his story.  The lady also got me with a pretty good shot upside the head, then after I picked myself up and dusted myself off she actually invited me to attend the party, feeling I guess, that she had made a mistake.  The thing I remember about her was that she hit hard and often.  I’m thinking the animosity between her and the then young man were things that went back for a generation or more having to do with differences in the German and Norwegian cultures that existed along highway 43 and exacerbated by the consumption of Schlitz.  I never did understand what it was all about and I am sure that it was all resolved shortly after the incident.  The party was actually in the house, although I’m sure there were a few that slipped off for brief encounters in the hayloft that could technically be termed a barn dance( As Merle Haggard would say, “holding hands and pitching woo”).  Anyway, I actually went into the house and visited for awhile before making a hasty retreat.

Later, I believe that same year, I was involved in another skirmish along highway 43 that was the result of two young men vying for the affections of the same cute young Canadian gal.  After that I pretty much avoided the social life along highway 43 (much too violent).

Thanks for the memories Larry

Kenny Nerpel

From Lynn Halvorson Otto (75): 

Hi Gary, I’m sitting here at my in-laws in Lester Prairie, MN enjoying our summer break from Seoul.  Over the weeks I read all of these memory postings and I have to tell you, the ones from Mel Kuhn make me laugh out loud.  I know the last name but don’t know the man.  I’d like to meet him just to say how much laughter he brings into my day.  Also I’m amazed at Dick Johnson’s ability to recall all the stuff he recalls.

I’m hoping to get together with other classmates this summer for more reminiscing while I’m in ND.  Thanks Gary and thanks to your lovely wife for all her support of your time on the computer.

Lynn Halvorson Otto (75)

Lynn, Joe Casavant from the class of 65 lives in Lester Praire.  Joe and his wife were at our class of 65 reunion this last summer.  Joe comes from the Casavant family of 16.  I do have all of the 16 casavant siblings in my files, many of which have email and are on this distribution.  Gary

From Mel Kuhn (70): 

Howdy Gary,

Good news, I was allowed out of the dog house last night. The wife made a passable spaghetti and meatsauce with some slightly burned garlic bread and a salad. The good news is that she didn’t hurt herself getting the can of pasta sauce open or anything. She did make me sit out on the deck with the dogs so that I wouldn’t be tempted to offer advice. You know when you try to offer a women advice it’s always taken as being bossy

More good stuff from Larry H. The barn dances and house parties are a thing of the past. Along with the big family picnic’s with softball games and horseshoes and all kinds of food. Grownups and kids all playing in the same games. I remember many a picnic at Butte St. Paul and the Peace Garden. Could you imagine a big family picnic at the Peace Garden now days? You would have to allow about 8 hours for everyone to clear customs on the way out. I think I know where my birth certificate is but what about the elderly like my mom. Good luck! Sorry, didn’t meen to put a down side to a good old memory.

Hey Dick, What do you have when your Boomerang is broken?

Mel Kuhn[70]
From Susan Fassett Martin (65):

The parade picture is Red Kester in the car. The house is the one that the Mongeons used to live in and then the Awalts and John and Bonnie Awalt are both in the picture.     Susan

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Gary’s mention of Charles Hagen and Bennie Johnson had me back sorting
pictures again! Although Bennie Johnson was my grandmother’s brother, I
am not the same ‘Johnson’ name. My mom’s mother was a Johnson, who then
married an Olson and had my mom, who then married a different Johnson!
Are we confused yet? Anyway, Grandma Johnson’s place on Willow Lake was
the gathering place for Mom’s family for many years, especially at
Christmas. Grandma Johnson’s husband died many years before she did, so
we called the farm ‘Grandma Johnson’s’ for as long as I can remember.
She lived to be in her eighties, and died in 1953. She had two sons who
stayed at home and did the farming, Bennie and Hank. Hank died in 1952,
so after 1953 it was just Bennie on the farm. There were about 12 kids,
if I remember correctly, and many stayed in the area and had families.
If anyone wants to read the history of the family, it is in the Dunseith
History book on pages 251-252. The pictures attached are from a
Christmas gathering in about 1952. The picture with Bennie playing the
fiddle and Agnes Salmonson [his niece], on the old pump organ, also
shows Loretta Johnson Quillinan [another niece, mom to Denise and
Darlene] standing in the next room. The other picture with the fiddle
shows Denise on the right and Darlene behind Bennie, both about 7 years
old.  Sitting at the table are Hilda Strong [another niece], Grandma
Johnson, and Myrtle Olson [my grandmother]. The last picture shows
George Cota [with the surprised look] and in the back, Henry Olson [my
grandpa]. They always got out the fiddle, and sometimes an old guitar,
and played old time music. Just a year and a half ago I had the honor of
playing some of the old songs with Agnes Salmonson at her birthday
party. She passed away not long after that so it will remain a highlight
for me for a very long time. Thanks Gary!

Happy Birthday Susan Fassett Martin (’65): Belle Fourche, South Dakota                      

Condolences to Pete Gillis
From Ron Longie (’65):  Yakima WA

Pete,

Our prayers with you and yours during this time of sorrow, God Bless you and your family.

Ronnie Longie
 

Memories of Cliff Gillis
From Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (’68):  Dunseith, ND.

JAY AND I  are both so saddened  by the news of CLiff’s death- !!! we pastured alongside him for the 40 years- and were pretty good buddies all those years  – !_ He tried to act rough and tough but was a big teddy bear with a heart of gold !!_   WE heard of this death on SUnday and here his funeral was on Tuesday  already –  !!_ so we missed it —  !!- which we were both felt very bad about – !!-    BUt our hearts go out to his family and they can find peace in that he passed gently into the night-  and into God’s hands with out any pain or suffering- !!!!  —    Peter and Jay were pretty good friends in high school also!!  =  so  we want to extend our sincere sympathy to him and Verena also !!_  – Cliff  would call occasionally   and usually about an issue with the cattle – either his bull was in our pasture or vice versa-  usually i was the only one home  – and we would visit – !!!  — he was quite a character – tried to talk tough but   as we visited –  he would chuckle and showed his true self- !!- I remember once when he called and asked me why his bull  was always in our pasture – !!_ and asked if we had a bull in with our cows and i said well of course we do !!_ and he said “WEll, then why is my bull always going up there- and i told him – “Maybe You better tell your cows to get cleaned up  and pretty for him !!_  “–  and then he had to laugh!!!! –  He loved to talk about days when the kids were little and about Alice and would give me grief about why i was still working out- !!! —  – H e would tell me we should be enjoying life instead of working all the time like he did –  !!-    and i Told him well, i guess cause everyone else does – bills to pay and food for the table !!_  He really was pretty lost without Alice after she passed- !!_ but he was a very good neighbor and we got along pretty great !!_ and we will miss him !!!_  God Bless his soul !!!_  he was a good man !!—Lola

Albert Johnson (’70) was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer
Posting from Linda Johnson Juntunen (’72): Perth, ND

Gary,

Attached are snapshots from Albert Johnson’s birthday party.  It was a wonderful celebration of life.  Al is suffering with pancreatic cancer and the prognosis was that he would not have this birthday.  Today he is actually doing quite well, feels good and is looking forward to more birthdays!

Linda

Hackman brothers visit Mel Kuhn
Message from Mel Kuhn (’70):  St. John, ND.

Gary,

I suppose that you have heard about the Riff Raff that North Dakota has been seeing quite a bit of since the big oil boom. Up here around St. John we kind of keep an eye out for these kind of people. We even had the Mexican Mafia shoot a fellow about a quarter mile down the road from me a while back. So we’ve kind of been in the habit of keeping a loaded gun kind of handy. I was just not prepared for what happened to me yesterday. I was busy working in my shop and I thought I heard a car pull up. I looked out the door and here was this shiny red pickup full of unsavory looking characters. Here it was a pickup full of Hackman’s. I had forgotten my gun in the house when I went in for lunch so I looked around for something to protect myself with and grabbed a tire iron. My dogs were going crazy when they got out of the pickup. My big old dog grabbed one of them by the leg and I saw this look come over his face like he just got a bad taste of lutefisk or something and he kind of let out a yelp and headed for the trees. I haven’t seen him since then. I hope he gets the taste out of his mouth and comes home soon. Well it didn’t turn out too bad once everything got settled down. They were just lost and a little scared. Once I got them calmed down and told them that I’d help get them straightened back around they seemed to be OK. I got a piece of paper and a pen and tried to write down directions for them but that didn’t work. So I went to the house and found a color crayon and a bigger piece of paper so I could draw them a map and they seemed to be good with that. And they say nothing interesting happens around St. John on a Monday afternoon. I was invaded by the Hackman boys, Larry Sr., Larry Jr. and Henry. I hope you guys had a good time touring the old Turtle Mountains. It sure was good seeing you and it was a good visit. You didn’t have to rush off when my wife got home, I’ve got her trained pretty well now and she hasn’t bitten anyone for a long time now. She even keeps the dishes washed up so I don’t go out and buy new ones when I run out. Later Guys.

Mel Kuhn

==========================================================================
Blog (139) posted on June 21, 2008

From Mel Kuhn (70):

Howdy Gary,

Did you know that Lola V. is a tattle tale, tattle tale? She just had to go and tell my wife about the Hamburger Helper crack. Thanks Lola! I had to share some dry dog food with my dogs for supper last night [was about the same as her Hamburger Helper]. She did give us a big bowl of water to go with it, so that helped. I hope my hands heal up fast, although I do need to loose some weight I do miss being able to scratch where,what and when I want to.

Mel Kuhn[70]
From Marshall Awalt  (51):

Hi Gary

While there were pictures of the parades going around I figured I might add a couple.Red Kester and Art Sime were two of Dunseith’s finest.

Your doing a great job Gary keep up the good work.

Marshall

                                            Art Seim

                    Red Kester & ???? (Need some help)

From Larry Hackman (66):

Gary

I remember attending a barn dance west of Kelvin along Highway #43 back in the sixties. These cousins of the people putting on the dance came cruising and parked in the farm yard much the same way everybody else had parked.  I don’t know how the lady of the house knew they were there. But, she came rushing over into the parking area and insisted that they leave the property right now.  This young man, her cousin who was about 20 years old at the time, argued with her and tried to convince her to let them stay and enjoy the dance.  This lady about 30 years old at the time was’t buying what the young man was selling.  She pulled back a fist and let it fly, hitting that  young man so hard that she knocked him right out of his shoes.  It’s hard to believe, but his shoes were left there sitting in the exact position they were in when he was standing in front of this lady and the young man was laying on the ground about 10 feet behind his shoes.  Needless to say the young man grabbed his shoes and left the premises with his buddies.  At least I think he picked up his shoes?  Anyway, this story in the Pierce

County Tribune reminded me of this little adventure.  Maybe it will jog some other memories?

Larry

No Blog yesterday

For the record I did not get a blog posted yesterday.  We had one of our Monthly Cebu Expat dinners last night at the Marco Polo, So I ran out of time.

Gary

Happy Birthday Dennis Dubois (DHS ’63): Minneapolis, MN

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

 CLIFFORD ROBERT GILLIS
(July 27, 1932 – August 15, 2014)

Clifford (Cliff) Gillis, age 82 of Dunseith, died in his home on Friday, August 15, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 9:00 A.M.. on Tuesday at St. Michael’s Catholic Church of Dunseith. Burial will be at the family cemetery located on his farm near Dunseith. A wake will be held on Monday, beginning at 4:00 P.M., with a 7:00 pm prayer service and rosary at the Eagle Heart Cultural Center of Dunseith.

Clifford Robert Gillis, the seventh child and fourth son of John and Lucy (Davis) Gillis Sr., was born on July 25 or 27, 1932 in his parents’ home near Dunseith. He attended school at the Dunseith Day School until he transferred to Flandreau Indian School. He left early to enter the US Marines on January 17, 1951; he served in the Korean Conflict, received a Purple Heart during his tour, and was honorably discharged on February 7, 1953. He returned to complete high school at Flandreau Indian School, where he was trained in masonry by George Ray. Cliff met Alice DeCoteau in Flandreau and married her in Stanley, ND on June 2, 1955. He moved his family with him to various job sites until 1957, when he settled his family north of Dunseith. He continued in masonry for Don Fretty Construction and began to do small masonry jobs (basements, fireplaces, chimneys, etc); in 1962 he also began to raise cattle; and experimented with different types of livestock. In 1970, Cliff established Dunseith Masonry and contracted masonry work until his retirement in 2005. He contracted for projects that included the Dunseith Public Schools, Dunseith Day School, Garden Gate Clubhouse, Dunseith Nursing Home, Belcourt Hospital, Belcourt schools, Cross Road Range, Rolla Hospital and Turtle Mountain Community College. Alice passed away on January 20, 1994. Later, he was married to Tina Allery for a time. Cliff was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church of Dunseith. He enjoyed gambling, playing whist with family, racing cars, golfing, and picking Tiger Lilies.

Cliff was preceded in death by his parents John and Lucy Gillis; wife of 39 years, Alice; daughter, Sandra Gillis; son, John Gillis; brothers, Frank, Ray, Dave, and Fred Gillis; and sisters, Mildred Crasco, Angelique Olmscheid, Viola Grinnell, Phyllis Schock; and Margaret Belgarde.

He is survived by daughters, Lynn Gillis of Eagle Butte, SD and Stephanie (Russell) Davis of Dunseith; sons, Clifford “Butch” Gillis Jr., Randy Vivier, Frank Gillis, and Mike (Carleen) Gillis, all of Dunseith; 31 grandchildren; 50 great grandchildren; sisters, Mary Ann (Bernie-Deceased) Hamley of Rolette and Geraldine (Walt) Luhr of Montana; brothers, Peter (Verena) Gillis of Dunseith, Joseph Gillis of New Town, ND and John (Karen)Gillis of Chamberlain, SD; and sister-in-law, Iva Gillis.

 Our condolences are with Clifford’s family with his passing. I know Pete and Clifford were very close too. Pete and Verena, we are thinking of you.

Gary

Laurel Hiatt
Message from Rod Hiatt (’69):  Bottineau, ND

Monday August 18th would have been Laurel’s 69th Birthday. I have this picture of him in my office & think about him each and every day. One never knows when you are going to lose somebody close to you, and you always regret not telling them how much they meant to you and how much you love them. Sad but true!

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Cebu, Philippines 8/16/2014
Bernadette Stokes – Bowling Banquet

Marco Polo 8/18/2014: Gary, Bernadette & Novie

Zip to Zap
From Larry Liere (55):  Devils Lake, ND

I remember Zip to Zap very well because I was member of the North Dakota Army National Guard at the time. I was in a military school at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland when Zip to Zap took place so I missed out on all the excitement.  I think the National Guard was on alert for crowd control, because of the size of the expected crowd, so they got there fast when the problems started.  The thing I thought was kind of funny was how the National News covered the story.  Our Company 1st. Sergeant called me into his office and said “what the hell kind of a State do you come from?” as he showed me a Baltimore News Paper.  This paper had two pages of pictures and stories all about Zip to Zap so I couldn’t wait for my Devils Lake Paper to arrive because I thought they would have even a larger coverage.  I told the 1st Sergeant I would bring in the D. L. paper when it came so he could read more about the story.  Well guess what?  The D. L. paper came with a very small article.  (I didn’t even dare show it to our 1st. Sergeant) I guess the other papers around the state didn’t make a big deal of the Zip to Zap story either.  Don Malaterre is correct when he says “an event which helped put North Dakota on the map.” because the East Coast, Papers, Radio and TV Stations were all a buzz about this story.

I didn’t know that the student governments of UND & NDSU paid for all the damage. That is good news if they did!
Axel Johnson
Reply from Sybil Johnson:  Minot, ND

That was a great picture of “Pa”. It was at the same time, that Augie and I was married. Have very many fond memories of Axel and I do think of both him and Bernice quite often. I was in Colorado, when Bernice passed and by that time, Augie and I was divorced (1994). Havent been back to Dunseith for many years, but hopefully will make it up there, sometime soon.

Thanks again,

Sybil Johnson

==========================================================================

Blog (139) posted on June 21, 2008

Letter from Charles (Chuck) Hagen (48): No email address

Dear Gary,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the gradation class list of 1948 you sent to me.  I sure have enjoyed looking it over.

Gary, I got married 3 weeks ago today, May 19, 2008.  Still on my honeymoon.  Call me sometime.

Good to hear from you,

2917 Collins Ferry Rd
Gladys, VA 24554
Landline(434) 283-5825
Cell (434) 941-3119

Note: Following his retirement from the Air Force, Chuck Hagen moved back to his home place up in the Ackworth/Willow Lake community in the hills. I think he told me he purchased the Freddie Hiatt farm too, formally the Bennie Johnson place that connected his property to the south.  He farmed that property (4 quarters) for years before moving back to VA.  Chuck lost his wife a few years ago, but is now remarried. Even though I did not know Chuck, he was sure glad to get my call. We both knew of each other though. Gary

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

I guess I forgot to mention the horses in the parade, I was just showing

the stores. Brian Fauske is in the chariot and just above his team is
Norris Knutson. I think the Mexican is Wayne Barbot, and the guy behind
Norris is Bob Brennan, although I could be wrong . If anyone knows for
sure, please tell us. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Albert Johnson

Reply from Pamela Fugere Schmidt (’73):  Bismarck, ND

Happy Birthday, Al!

Axel Johnson
Reply from Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

Bill Hosmer’s story about working with Axel at the gravel pit was

so typical of how Axel was.  He was a hard physical worker and that,

over many years, had made him extremely strong.  My dad used to say that

when they were finished with a long day out in the hayfield,  Axel would

tell him,  “You get on the horse and I’ll race you back to the house.”

Dad said Axel could run like a deer and the old workhorse had his work

cut out for him to beat Axel back home. Our family has many stories of

Axel’s physical feats and also his humor.  Couple Axel’s stories

together with his Norwegian brogue and he was hilarious!  I’ve already

posted a few of his stories on the blog and they might come around again

as we repost those from before, but one I didn’t tell yet was when Axel

dug Dan Kalk’s well just across the street from our house in Dunseith.

Of course,  it was the biggest happening on our block so I had to be

over watching it. He had a hole dug about maybe 10-12 feet deep and was

putting the dirt into a bucket that Vince Kalk would lift out with a

hand crank ‘windlass’.  This had a rope wound around a crankshaft that

someone on top would crank to lift out water or in this case, dirt.

Well,  as Axel was digging, we saw a seep of water start coming into the

hole and then all of a sudden the side of the well near the bottom just

opened up like a gusher.  Axel knew he was as deep as he needed to be so

he stepped into the bucket to keep his feet from getting soaked.  He

looked up and Vince just stood there and stared at him.  The water was

then about half way up the side of the bucket but Vince still just stood

there.  Axel smiled up at us and said, ” Wince,  do you tink you could

crank me up den?”  And then he let go with his loud laugh that could

make anyone laugh even if they didn’t know the reason they were

laughing.  He was fun to be around. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Axel Johnson
Reply from Sybil Johnson:  Minot, ND

Thanks Dick, “Pa” was a great guy and well loved by all who knew and met him. He use to spoil my kids, when we would go up. They would be down for a nap in the well room, but, instead Pa would be in there feeding them cookies and coffee. When I would try to scold him, he would laugh and say, “they have to have their coffee before going to sleep” and like you said, he had the heartiest laugh. He would just sit there and let the kids finish their cookies and coffee.

Sybil

Golfing in the Philippines.

Many of our friends are golfers. This is a picture of our good friend Dean, with the goats, at one of the local golf courses. With the goats they don’t need lawn mowers. Dean is from Australia.

Cebu Philippines

Last night, on our way to the Cebu Expat Bowling banquet

Bernadette        Gary                Novie 

Zip to Zap
Posted Don Malaterre (’72):  Sioux falls, SD

Gary, I found this article in the archives. Dunseith mayor Jesse Marion’s wife Kim, is from Zap, ND and can actually recall this event

Before Woodstock there was ZIP to ZAP!

Forty five years ago was the rock festival which defined a generation and which has become a major part of our national culture, especially since most of us who have any sort of direct memory (or like me, could only buy the album) are now approaching or have reached the age of 60.

Wow! And this from a generation who 45 years ago lived by the mantra “Don’t trust anyone over 30.”
While I was being reminded of Woodstock, another more obscure rock festival (and using the term loosely) came to mind. It predated Woodstock by 3 months but perhaps helped (at least in the upper Midwest) set the stage for what was to come.

I’m referring to “Zip to Zap”, an unlikely event held in an unlikely location—Zap, North Dakota on May 9-11, 1969. I remember this event and the build up to it. I was a high school senior in Grand Forks, North Dakota. I couldn’t go to the event 350 miles away because that was the weekend of the state track meet in which I was competing. (Yeah, like my parents or the parents of anyone else I knew were going to let me go!).
Zip to Zap was the brainstorm of a student at North Dakota State University who first wrote about the idea in the campus newspaper. The idea was picked up by the University of North Dakota campus paper and soon spread to other campuses in the Midwest, eventually even being reported by national media.

It was promoted as an alternative Spring Break to the long, expensive travel to Daytona Beach. Note here that most spring breaks are in late March or April and this event was scheduled for mid-May. Well, it’s just too damn cold in North Dakota to do an outdoor event like that until May.

The townspeople of Zap were enthusiastic about an event like this in their town of 250 people. They readily agreed to host it. More than 2500 college students and other assorted young people from across the Midwest poured into Zap for the event. Trouble started when the only 2 places in town with liquor licenses both overcharged for and ran out of beer very early. And of course, as so often happened during that era, the trouble and violence was attributed to “outside agitators”.
Near riots ensued and there never was much of a rock festival. A few scruffy bands which wouldn’t even be classified as good bar bands were scheduled. Revelers went to nearby Beulah and Hazen in search of more beer where “rioting” supposedly took place. A few angry souls took it upon themselves to trash a tavern in Zap and set it on fire (although some reports say that it was left over from a demolition project which were burned as a bonfire in the street that night to warm participants in sub-freezing temperatures). Ultimately the Governor called out the National Guard to quell the “rioting”.
Zip to Zap was the lead story on NBC and CBS news on Saturday. Damages to the town were estimated to exceed $25,000 and were ultimately paid by the student government groups at NDSU and UND.

And that is the short-version of the Zip to Zap—an event which helped put North Dakota “on the map” and which “foreshadowed” Woodstock.

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

==========================================================================

Blog (137) posted on June 19, 2008
From Joe Johnson (77):

Gary,

Joe Johnson (77) – a note for Julie Knox Seier (82) and Linda:

I had Mike Bostic as a teacher and as I recall he always had a smile on his face and he did have a great big joyous laugh.  I never knew he married, Julie’s aunt, Linda Millang.  Through the years I have thought of Mike often because his business class I attended taught very many practical skills that I have used since high school.  Mike’s class, an elective course, brings back many memories because my brother Jeff attended the same class, I believe it was first or second period, Jeff was a sophomore and I was a senior.  I’m very sorry to hear of Mike’s unfortunate passing, but it seems he had placed his faith in the Rock, Jesus, so Mike will be spending his eternity in a very healthy body.

For Dick Johnson –

Thanks for the 1976 parade photos.  When I saw them my first thought was, “That is the Dunseith I remember growing up in.”.

Additionally, Dick, thanks for all the dialogue and history you bring to this email list and Gary thanks for being such a great editor and publisher.  Just want you both to know your contributions are highly valued, even by those of us that don’t post messages to this list very often.

Joe

From Don Martel (Teacher):

Hi,

First of all let me thank you for the time and effort that you put into this to make it work, Gary.

Secondly,I feel very blessed in that I knew most of the Dunseith graduates of the mid to late 50’s (58 graduate from Rolette) as well as those of the late 60’s and early 70’s, as a teacher/Principal.

As a past teacher, it is so great to see and hear about the many accomplishments of our students.  It gives me a little pride in hopeing that somehow we had something to do with it.

Also as many of you know I am married to Colleen Conroy, daughter of Ed & Florence Conroy, so find it so gratifying when they are recognized for there many years dedicated to the youth in Dunseith.  As their son in law I can say they were just great people and I am so thankful for being part of their family.

As an addition to the Email list, Arthur Martel, teacher in the late 60’s, is: 

Don Martel

Don, I have added Arthur to our distribution list.  I noticed he was hired, as a teacher, in Dunseith, in 1966.  How are you guys related?  Gary

Message from Mel Kuhn (70):

Howdy Gary,

Just thought I’d let you know that I had carpol tunnel surgery on both hands yesterday so I’m gonna be trapped in my house for a couple of days. I will really be looking forward to the everyday e-mails, so don’t go off on another copper selling spree for a while. Having to count on my wife to cook for me is bad enough without having any contact with anyone else. She has mastered 3 differant kinds of Hamburger Helper though, so I won’t starve. You may have to read this real slow because I’m typing real slow. Keep up the good work and thanks again for all the hard work.

Mel Kuhn

Dick Johnkson’s (68) reply to a message of Neola’s (her reply follows Dick’s message):

Gary,

Neola is partly right, there is a ‘Weasel’ Counts and his brother
‘Gopher’ Counts. They were Louis and Eugene, respectively. Refer to page
24-25 of the Dunseith history book, under Ernest and Helen Counts. I
hope this answers her question.

Dick

Very interesting reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe to Dick Johnson:

Thanks, Dick. I wasn’t aware there were two brothers.  I knew very little about the family except for the time Weasel/Renae were at Fred/Wilma’s home.  I actually wrote the next paragraph and then came back and added to this paragraph, so it probably doesn’t make much sense!

I was quite young when I first met Weasel, and that nickname fascinated me!  I had never heard anyone called Weasel.  Wilma Bosch was married to Fred Kofoid.  Wilma’s sister was married to Bob Chilton.  I think Renae was their daughter, OR I’m mixed-up and Renae is Wilma’s younger sister.  The memory fades after 55 years!!  I have to admit I don’t know where Mom’s Dunseith book is; it could be in Minot, or it could be here in my apartment somewhere.

I, along with everyone else, really enjoy the pictures/stories you send to Gary for his website, even though I don’t know many of the people–just have heard the names.  However, I HAVE learned what fabulous parents you had, and that you must have enjoyed a wonderful childhood/life because of them/your other relatives.  From what I know of you/your stories/pictures your send to Gary, “they” did a good job raising you.  All are to be commended.  Also, from what I gather, you are practicing/carrying on the same values you were taught.  To me, there is no higher compliment than that, or better way to honor your parents.  I didn’t mean to ramble; I sometimes get “carried away”.

Thanks again to both of you.  I am now a little wiser. 

Neola

From Phyllis McKay (65):

Gary,

I am wondering who is in the chariot that was in the parade picture. My brother, Kick, raced chariots but I don’t think that is Kick in the picture.

Phyllis

From Rod Hiatt (69):

Hello Gary and the rest of the Dunseith readers,

Reading some of the stories is about like watching reruns of Andy
Griffith, about half way through you kind of remember what is going to
be said or what happened.
The picture of the horses in the parade shows Brian Fauske driving his
chariot team. In the mid 70’s we had about 20 different teams from
Dunseith and Bottineau running chariots and chuckwagons  in Bottineau
and Towner every week. My brothers Laurel and Rick as well as my
Dad(Howard) and myself had hitches and others from Dunseith were Brian
and Russel Fauske, Wayne Barbot, Kick McKay, Bob Brennan, Ernie
Gottbreth, the Lagerquist boys(not sure on who all was driving) old Art
Longie, and Keith Coleman.
We would race every other week in Bottineau and the opposite weeks in
Towner. With Dad buying horses in a number of different states we always
had new ponies coming in to be tested for racing and our club always had
the fastest. It seemed like Ray Nerpel new when he was coming with them
as he was always at our farm to help harness and break new teams. At one
of the first  finals in Towner the Botno/Dunseith drivers took all the
trophies except for a couple of classes that we didn’t have teams in.
Dad said he wasn’t sure what was harder, breaking some of these wild
ponies to drive or teaching some of the guys how to drive. When he sent
Ernie G. out of the yard on his first solo drive, we wasn’t all sure
that he and the horses would be coming back together, but we could hear
him hollering for half mile or better.At the end of the evening people
from the stands would come down to the hitch rails to look over the
horses and everyone would sit around and swap lies about how they won or
why they didn’t(sounds kind of like fishing)
Anyway it was a great part of the past that alot of people enjoyed both
drivers and spectators

Gary I forgot to mention 1 other driver and that was Stormin Norman
Hiatt. I don’t think Norman ever won a race but he was always there. At
our year end awards night Norman was presented with the Sportsmanship
buckle. He told everyone that he was going to look it over really good
because once he put it on he would never beable to see it. I do have a
picture of Norman in the lead, but that was at the start of the race
right before the flag was dropped.

 Message/picture from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

In reply to Susan Malaterre Johnson’s question about Axel Johnson, I
would believe there was a mix up. Axel and his mother and sister and
brother [my grandfather] came to America on a steamship, but not the
Titanic. They arrived from Norway in May of 1907 and entered through the
famous Ellis Island in New York Harbor. Axel was about 13, and Hans [
Grandpa ] 9, and Louise about 6. The Titanic actually sank in 1912 on
her maiden voyage. I suppose the ship they were on seemed like the
Titanic to kids that age! I guess Susan’s question was if Axel told me
the story? He told me about seeing the palace of the King of Norway when
they arrived in the capitol before they boarded the ship. He told of the
rough seas and cold weather on the trip. My Grandpa Hans also told about
the palace, etc. He died in 1965 and I never got to really ask him about
the particulars. I sure wish I could have had that chance! The picture
below is of Axel Johnson in 1965. It was taken in the Rolette Hospital
just before my Grandpa Hans died of cancer. The family was all there to
see him. Another sad time. Thanks Gary.

Dick

                                  Axel Johnson – 1965

  Happy Birthday Albert Johnson (DHS ’70): Rolla, ND

San Haven Posting

Reply from Mona Dionne Johnson (’48):  Bottineau, ND

As I  viewed these pictures, the picture towards the end that is labelled the “old administration building”  is labelled wrong, as it is the Refectory Bldg.,  and the old administration bldg “Ad Bldg.” is in the

back ground.   My family and I lived in the apartment in the Refectory

Bldg in the mid 50’s as well as in an

apartment in the Ad Bldg  before that.   So, I don’t know where they got

their info ?   We later moved to what they used to call the Girls

Cottage.  We lived there for 14+ years  at San Haven.

Mona Dionne Johnson ’48

Axel Johnson

Reply from Dick Johnson (’48):  Dunseith, ND

“You get on the horse and I’ll race you back to the house.”

Dad said Axel could run like a deer and the old workhorse had his work cut out for him to beat Axel back home. Our family has many stories of Axel’s physical feats and also his humor.  Couple Axel’s stories together with his Norwegian brogue and he was hilarious!  I’ve already posted a few of his stories on the blog and they might come around again as we repost those from before, but one I didn’t tell yet was when Axel dug Dan Kalk’s well just across the street from our house in Dunseith.

Of course,  it was the biggest happening on our block so I had to be over watching it. He had a hole dug about maybe 10-12 feet deep and was putting the dirt into a bucket that Vince Kalk would lift out with a hand crank ‘windlass’.  This had a rope wound around a crankshaft that someone on top would crank to lift out water or in this case, dirt.

Well,  as Axel was digging, we saw a seep of water start coming into the hole and then all of a sudden the side of the well near the bottom just opened up like a gusher.  Axel knew he was as deep as he needed to be so he stepped into the bucket to keep his feet from getting soaked.  He looked up and Vince just stood there and stared at him.  The water was then about half way up the side of the bucket but Vince still just stood there.  Axel smiled up at us and said, ” Wince,  do you tink you could crank me up den?”  And then he let go with his loud laugh that could make anyone laugh even if they didn’t know the the reason they were laughing.  He was fun to be around. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Joke of the day

Posted by Mel Kuhn (’70):  St. John, ND

THE OSTRICH !

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him. The waitress asks them for their orders. The man says, “A hamburger, fries and a coke,” and turns to the ostrich, “What’s yours?” “I’ll have the same,” says the ostrich.

A short time later the waitress returns with the order. “That will Be $9.40 please” The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment. The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, “A hamburger, fries and a coke.”

The ostrich says, “I’ll have the same.”

Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.

This becomes routine until the two enter again. “The usual?” Asks the waitress. “No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and a salad,” says the man. “Same,” says the ostrich. Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, “That will be $32.62.” Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.

The waitress cannot hold back her curiosity any longer. “Excuse me, Sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change in your pocket every time?”

“Well,” says the man, “several years ago I was cleaning the attic and Found an old lamp. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there.”

“That’s brilliant!” says the waitress. “Most people would ask for a Million Dollars or something, but you’ll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!”

“That’s right..Whether it’s a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there,” says the man.

The waitress asks, “What’s with the ostrich?”

The man sighs, pauses and answers, “My second wish was for a tall chick with a big butt and long legs who agrees with everything I say..”

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Blog (137) posted on June 19, 2008

Question from Susan Malaterre Johnson (69):

Hey Dick,

Did your Uncle Axel tell you about his time on the Titanic?  He used to tell my mom, Hilda Malaterre, all about it.

Susan Johnson

Passing of Michael Bostic, Former Dunseith teacher and husband of Linda Millang (63):

From Julie Knox Seier (82):

Hi Gary,
First of all thanks for sending out all of the “stuff” that you
do to all of “Dunseith folks”.  Very nice of you, keep up the
good work.

Many people may or may not remember my Aunt Linda Millang
Bostic. She graduated from Dunseith in 1963. Her husband,
Michael Bostic, passed away May 29, 2008 in Buffalo, MN. I am
going to enclose his obit. that was written by their son,
Arthur for anyone who may be interested. Mike taught for a few
years in Dunseith so a few people may remember him as well.

Lola Knox, Susie Millang, Julie Seier, Wayne Olson, Willard &
Laurene Olson, and Dale Millang traveled to Buffalo, MN to
attend the memorail service that was held on June 5th.

Thanks again and send up some prayers for Linda as she deals
with this difficult time.

Julie (Knox) Seier

Julie’s reply to my message. Gary

Gary,
I don’t know if there is anyone near Linda that has email.
Maybe her son Arthur does but I don’t have his email address.
If anyone wanted to send her messages they could send them to
me and I would print them and send them to her in the mail.
Linda will be in the Dunseith area at the end of June. We are
having a 70th birthday party for my Mom, Lola (Millang) Knox on
June 28th at Metigoshe. Mike’s obit is at the end of my message
instead of attached. I got his picture to attach as it wouldn’t
come up with my message. Thanks so much.

(I do live in Minot. Have lived here ever since I graduated in
1982.)

Michael Bosic’s Obituary: Former Dunseith teacher.

Michael Bostic, 63, passed away in the comfort of his home in

Buffalo Thursday, May 29th, 2008 with his family by his side.

On March 19th, 1945 in Pipestone, Minnesota, A. A. and May
Ellen (Regan) Bostic was blessed with a son and named him
Michael D. Bostic.

Michael spent the majority of his professional life as a Social
Studies teacher and football coach in North Dakota. In the
later years of his career in education, he also served as a
Business Administrator. He truly enjoyed interacting with young
people, both in the classroom and on the football field.

Michael will leave a legacy of perseverance. Despite a
courageous battle with several chronic diseases, including COPD
and Diabetes, he touched many with his sense of humor and
larger than life laugh. He was active in the Buffalo United
Methodist Church, where he enjoyed strengthening his faith and
sharing plenty of laughs with his Sunday School class.

Family was the most important thing to Michael. He married
Linda Millang on June 16th, 1979 at a ceremony in the Peace
Lutheran Church in Dunseith, ND. Linda was truly his life long
companion and best friend. In their nearly 29 years of marriage
they were rarely apart, and that held through to the very end.
Michael also loved his children, Michael Patrick, who was taken
too soon, and his son Arthur. He was also a “soon to be
Grandfather” and will be looking down from heaven with great
pride in November.

He is preceded in death by a son: Michael Patrick Bostic; his
parents: A. A. and May Ellen Bostic; and two brothers: Arthur
Lane Bostic and James Bostic.

Michael is survived by his loving wife: Linda (nee Millang)
Bostic of Buffalo; son: Arthur (Amy) Bostic of New Hope;
brothers: Steven (Sharon) Bostic of Mesa, Arizona and Patrick
(Cassandra) Bostic of Tigard, Oregon; sister-in-law: Barbara
Bostic of Watertown; and many nephews, nieces, other relatives
and good friends.

The memorial service for Michael will be Thursday, June 5th,
2008 at 6pm at the United Methodist Church of Buffalo.
Visitation will begin at 4pm.

A private family interment will take place the following Friday.

From Bev Morinville Azure (72):

I would just like to thank  all of  the people  who are  sharing  the  pictures  it  is  nice  to  see .    Thank you  Gary for  what you  do for  us.  Joyce  Murray (Anderson) and  Rita Parisien (Anderson)  and I  spent the  last  2  days  together at  my house  visiting and  getting  caught up. We  were  all very  good friends in  HS . Joyce  found us again  because  of  the work you have done Gary ………thanks again Bev  Azure (morinville) 72

From Bill Hosmer (48):

Gary and Friends.  Dick Johnson’s pictures of main
street 1976 and the airborne shot of Dunseith brought
to mind the density of the main street compared to the
widely spread neighborhoods of town.  Then the
attractiveness of the businesses along main street
that are apparent in the parade shots. These are great
viewing for us senior citizens.  Yesterday I ran into
Art Rude, Sr.  He is definitely senior, but gave me an
excellent report on his activities which are oriented
toward celebrations around the county, including
parades, and his constant search for drivers to
participate.  If there ever was a Mr. Dunseith, Art
Rude would sure be in the running.  Cheers, and
thanks. Bill Hosmer

No Blog yesterday

For the record I did not get a blog posted yesterday.

Dunseith Alumni Website  link http://dunseith.net/blog/

Some of you mentioned that with my new system the messages are not contained within the screen causing you to have to scroll to the right to  read the hidden text.  I think pictures posted larger that the screen may be the cause of some of this problem. I try to keep the pictures to a reasonable size so as to fit on most screens. With the band picture below, today’s message is an exception. If I reduced that picture to fit everyone’s screen, it would be too small to recognize the folks in it.

For those of you having problems, I strongly suggest that you view these blogs on our Website http://dunseith.net/blog/ .  The blogs on the Website seem to be a lot cleaner and easier to read too. The neat part about the blog is viewing pictures. If you  click on the website pictures they will be enlarged.

Happy Birthday Flavia Moraes (’73):  São Paulo, Brazil

Foreign Exchange student

Happy Birthday Val Moyer (DHS ’63): Bottineau, ND

Reply from Bill Hosmer (DHS ’48):  Tucson, AZ

Gary and Friends,

This issue was full of terrific stories and recollections.    Dick Johnson”

interesting description of his Norway trip and the events of WW  II that he described

should be of interest to my brother Bob.  His wife, Katrine (RIP) often spoke of the Germans

who took over her parents’ house and set up positions on and near their land.  Her  family

lived in a small structure from where she could see German soldiers during their daily activities.

Dick, I hope you continue sending those pictures.

The other story about Axel Johnson brought fond memories of working with him in the Dunseith

gravel pit, keeping the gravel flowing onto a belt carrying it to the rock crusher, controlled by

Bob McCoy.  Sometime the caterpillar would push a load that had hidden big rocks that were

caught by the large grill work at the bottom of our “trap” about seven feet below our working

elevation.  We would have to go down the slope , stand on the bars of the grill and try to get

the rocks back up the slope.  The rocks were too big for the crusher.  Sometimes I’d be the

one down there first and try to man handle a boulder that I absolutely could not budge.  Axel

would come on down, bend over grab that heavy bugger and work his way up the slope,

and roll it down our hill.   He seemed to be too elderly to be doing that and I felt like a wimp,

but he’d say,” Billy,  I don’t want you to hurt yourself with those big ones, you’ve got more road

to go”.  His accent was terrific, and his heart was bigger than any of the rocks we dealt with,

and he is a figure I will never forget.,  Just as a matter of interest, we made a dollar an hour

for the first 40 hours of a week Mon-Thur at 10 hours per day.  Friday and Saturday was a

buck fifty and Sunday was double time.  When the weather allowed a full week that amounted

to $120.  So working all summer of 1948 until I joined the Army in Sep. I felt pretty flushed with

cash.  Whenever I came home from somewhere, I would always  find a chance to have a chat

with Axel Johnson, a wonderful man. (the gravel was used in making black top to re-cover #3

north to the Canadian border.)

The picture of Dunseith shows the gravel pit area above the elevators down at the depot, where

we used to go to watch our train ,  The Galloping Goose arrive, from it’s daily trip to York and back.

We’d get aboard the one passenger car to ride around the Y, which was a turn around area of track to

get headed back south for the morning trip.  We thought we were really living it up, and all the

people in town watched out for us, including the  conductor, mostly Al Molgard in my time.  Of course

the thing about watching out for us also meant a quick phone call to our parents if we were doing
something a little out of order.   So it was, and so it is.     Bill Hosmer

1940 San Haven Post card with 16 Comments

Link provided by Eldon Berg (BHS ’66):   Kenmore, WA

http://www.ghostsofnorthdakota.com/2013/01/13/san-haven-postcard-1940/

Memories

Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

Gary and friends,

Running water and indoor plumbing came to our farm in the summer of 1961.  One fall day, Cliff after morning chores, dropped Lottie off at Rolette hospital and went on to plastering.  That night Cliff came home and did the evening chores.  The ringer telephone was not working again, so he gathered his girls to the red station wagon and drove to Dales in Dunseith.  Cliff got change and used the pay phone outside the motel to called Rolette hospital. The girls sat in the car and tried to guess what the baby would be. The older girls wanted a brother.  The littlest girl wanted a little sister because she had a perfect name picked out for a sweet baby…… Angel .  Cliff came back to the car and said they had a little brother.   He started the car, turned it north up highway number three to tell his brother Jim’s family.

Immediately the baby had a name, Jim’s girl’s called the baby, “Little Cliff.”  Cliff and Lottie had other ideas, his name would be Archie.

Good neighbor and Lamb family friend, Cynthia Johnson, baby sat Little Archie while the rest of the family attended Priscilla’s wedding  at United Methodist to Charles Anklam the following June.  Lottie was matron of honor for her sister.   They had a sister connection which continued through their adult life.  Whenever someone in the family was sick, Priscilla, ( the family LPN ) was informed.  She always provided  immediate  care and concern for Lottie, one of her kids, or Cliff.

The next couple summers, Cliff driving west, and his brother Emil driving east, met in Glasgow, MT when they plastered at the Air Force Base.  One Saturday morning, the girls were delighted to awake to find, Uncle Emil gentle snoring on the living room couch.   He’d come home with their dad. Of course, they did their best to be quiet. The eldest sister found a piece of Timothy grass and began stroking it under Uncle’ s, “a.k.a Gentle Giants” nose. The girls sought to contain their giggles at the twitching of his nose. He continued his gentle snores as his nose wiggled. They all got to take a turn, and enjoyed the odd faces their uncle Emil made.  ACHT- hoo! He was a tolerant, kind, soft spoken gentle man, with a great sense of humor!

In the fall of 1963, after purchasing a brown and white Chevy Biscayne Wagon, the family moved again to Marysville , WA for a year.  Cliff worked plastering jobs,  including on the Pacific  coast  prison.  He would leave  early Monday morning before dawn, along with Emil Metcalfe and Bob Filmily be gone until late Friday night.  Mrs Filmily, Ann  and Lottie packed lunches for each of the men and one casserole. Monday through Friday the men would eat  their packed lunches and homemade casseroles, they ate out only one night of the week.  They drove home after work on Friday’s and the families waited for supper with Dad.

The girls all went to local Marysville schools. The youngest got homesick a lot at school missing the farm. Lottie learned how to knit, sewed and continued saving. Weekends were wonderful family adventures going on the ferries of Puget Sound, to Whidbey Island, Deception Pass, beach clamming or the over the Mountains to pick apples at Wenatchee and visiting cousins.

1963-1964 was a time of serious social upheaval across the country.  The kids and Lottie got to watch Gower and Tina’s color T.V. for the first time the day of President Kennedy’s funeral. Where ever they went, Lottie made friends quietly but most often life time.   The Gower Hansen’s the landlords, lived up the road became solid friends.  Another neighbor, a guitar teacher, lived  a few houses down was cousin Kathy’s, teacher. Every Wednesday after school, all the  Marysville cousins gathered for hamburgers from a hamburger joint, after Kathy’s lesson!

Sometimes on weekends, the kids would eavesdrop listen to  their dad and uncle discuss work and the crew they worked with.  Emil always worked as a “foreman” and Cliff a “pacer”.  Emil had power to hire or fire.  Cliff had the power to fire anyone who couldn’t keep up the pace he set.  Some of the men began grumbling about a Canadian immigrant working on the crew.  They didn’t like him because he kept the pace. They began calling him  names.  Still he  kept up with the pace.  Some younger men began picking on him more and more often,  continuing to make disparaging remarks, called him a Nazi. Then, they discovered he had fought in WWII…for the other country!

One day it finally came to a boiling point.  The men lined up on one side against the immigrant verbalizing, taunting, name calling looking to get physical.

Neither, Cliff and Emil  could stand  bullying. They often stood up for “the underdog”.  They’d make comments like, what is right is right and what’s wrong is wrong.

The two of them put down their trowels, walked over and stood, one on each side of Otto.   They looked across at the crew. Then made their point, asking questions, “Did you fight for your country  in WWII??”  None on the other side could say they had ever fought or served.  “Well, then,” Cliff  remarked he had fought for his country on the Pacific front, and Emil said he  had fought for his country on the Italian and German front.”  They both turned, looked and pointed to Otto, and said, “And he fought for his country”.  “That war is over.” “Otto, like us wants peace.”  That brought the end of  “bullying” on the job.

When the Christmas holidays came, Otto and his wife,  invited  cliff and Lottie, Emil and Ann, and the Filmley’s to their home for a New Year’s Eve gathering.  They all went, where they heard of Otto’s past in the German military, and of his wife when she was taken prisoner and  spent tough time in a Russian prison camp.

Wishes for that New Year’s 1964?  All Otto  wanted; was to live in peace,  become an American, drive a Chrysler and live in California.   Metcalfe’s  just wanted little farms back home in rural ND.

To each of you  on this blog, who’ve provided me feedback, and personal comments, your support has mean the world to this farmers daughter of  Dunseith, ND!

My thanks to you  and Gary for providing the opportunity.
Until later, Vickie

Joke of the day

Posted by Mel Khuhn (’70):  St. John, ND

Three Contractors Bid On The White House Fence

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House.

One is from Chicago, another is from Kentucky, and the third is from New Orleans.
All three go with a White House official to examine the fence.

The New Orleans contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil.

“Well,” he says, “I figure the job will run about $9,000. That’s $4,000 for materials, $4,000 for my crew and $1,000 profit for me.”

The Kentucky contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, “I can do this job for $7,000.
That’s $3,000 for materials, $3,000 for my crew and $1,000 profit for me.”

The Chicago contractor doesn’t measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, “$27,000.”

The official, incredulous, says, “You didn’t even measure like the other guys. How did you come up with such a high figure?

“The Chicago contractor whispers back, “$10,000 for me, $10,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Kentucky to fix the fence.”

“Done!” replies the government official.

And that, my friends, is how the Government Stimulus plan worked.

Remember… Four boxes keep us free: the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.

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Blog (136) posted on June 18, 2008

From Jim Robillard (58):

GARY,

IN RESPONCE TO BONNIE AWALT’S STATEMENT ABOUT WHO IS STANDING NEXT TO THE BAND DIRECTER ERICKSON. SHE THOUGHT THAT IT COULD BE ME.

WELL IT IS NOT ME, (JIM ROBILLARD) AND, I DON’T KNOW WHO IT IS EITHER.

SORRY.

BONNIE I HOPE YOU ARE WELL.

GOD BLESS

JIM

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary,

Stan Salmonson says the girl by Dwayne Lang
is probably a girl named Jean Lake. Her dad was Ray Lake and she was in
band at that time. The Dunseith history book mentions Lakes on page 164.

Folks, All we need now is the identfication of that one guy.  Is that Jackie Spaeth or Mick Kester?  Gary

Picture L to R: 1956 DHS Band

Front row: Gayle Bedard, Caroleen Lider, Janice Lacroix, Marjorie Landsverk, Lowell Williams, Lois Hiatt.

Row two: Karen Woodford, Colleen Conroy, Gerald Lamoureux, Marlene Schneider, Duane  Woodford, Jackie Spaeth or Mick Kester?, Shirley LaRocque, Susan Brew, Connie Bedard, Joanne Kester.

Back row: Charlie Ericson, Ernest Kundart, Charlotte LaCroix, Barbara Bott, Ronnie Link, Lowell Leonard, Dwight Lang,

Curt Halvorson?, Don Conroy, Neva Haagenson?, John Morgan, Ellen Graff, BIG DAVE SHELVER, Jean Lake, DuWayne Lang

Pictures/message from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

These are pictures Brenda took at the Bicentenial Parade in Dunseith in
1976.  I just thought it was nice to see the old stores the way they
were then. The old tan 52 Chevy was driven by Eugene ‘Gopher’ Counts and
the Model A was driven by Bob Leonard with Bernice Johnson inside and
Violet Campbell in the rumble seat. Thanks for posting these Gary!

Dick

No blog since last Thursday (4 days)

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For the record I did not get a blog out the last four days.  The process of transferring all the files from my old computer to the new one I recently purchased took the tech, where I bought it from, two days. That combined with Sunday being a day off for the Tech and familiarization on my part, it took 4 days.

This is the first Blog posting using Outlook from my new computer.  It is a definitely a learning curve. I am getting the hang of it though.

Gary

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Happy Birthday Allen Pladson (’67): adpladson@gmail.com Dunseith, ND

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Happy Birthday Geri Metcalfe Munro (DHS ’59): Fargo, ND

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Happy Birthday Mel Kuhn (DHS ’70): Dunseith, ND

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Happy Birthday Laurie Brennan:  Killdeer, ND

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Happy Birthday Denice Casavant: Rolette, ND

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Happy Birthday Janice LaCoix Kester (DHS “59): Fargo, ND  

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Happy Birthday Mick Kester (DHS ’59): Fargo ND

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Almo Pladson

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

Almo is looking good!     Happy birthday bud!   Was great having you work for us back when you were a kid!!!!!  Don’t be a stranger!

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Gospel Festival at the Peace Garden

Posted by Don Boardman (’60): donboardman@min.midco.net Bottineau, ND

Attached is the poster we use for the Gospel Festival coming up this weekend at the Peace Gardens.  If you would like to post this to your blog we would appreciate it.  Anyone that wants to see more can go to our website of www.internationalcountrygospelfest.com.  We have performers from the US and Canada on Saturday evening from 6-9 and Sunday from 1-6 with a church service from 11-12.  There are concessions on the grounds.  This is the 10^th annual Country Gospel Music Festival we will be having.

Don

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Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND

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Norway Pictures and History

From Dick Johnson (’68):  Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

History is one of my favorite subjects and Norway has some very interesting history over thousands of years.  One of Norway’s worst periods was during the 1940s when the Nazis took control of the country and forced the Norwegians to be subservient to their demands.  There are several museums and many monuments dedicated to these years of oppression.  My cousin knew of my interest in the war years and the Norwegian Resistance so he took us to some of the places of interest.

April 9, 1940 was the day of the Nazi invasion and the king and the royal family fled the palace in Oslo and headed north to try to escape to neutral Sweden.  The Nazis sent a division of motorized vehicles north to try to catch up and arrest the king and his family.  At the small town of Elverum,  the Norwegian Army and several civilian groups of men disabled all the vehicles they could find and placed them on and in front of a bridge over the river.  They then took up positions where they could get clear shots at the Nazi troops as they stopped to try to remove the vehicles blocking the road.  The Nazis were in force but the Norwegians stood their ground and after much fighting and heavy losses, the Nazis retreated.  They came back another day and were able to clear the road and cross the river but by then the King and the royal family and the government officials had already made it into neutral Sweden.

This site is only a few miles from where my cousin lives and the story of the Resistance fighters at Midtskogen bridge is one of their proudest stories in the area.  The Norwegian Resistance acquired radio transmitter sets and would spy on the Nazi movements within Norway and then report the activity via wireless radio transmissions to Britain.

The Nazis knew this was going on and would use a tracking device to pinpoint the radio signal and then send a detachment to arrest the operator.  Many were shot when they were caught but often they were only on the radio for a few seconds and then got out of the spot and moved to another safer place.  The attached pictures show my cousin Terje Ottesen explaining the Midtskogen bridge battle to me.  I saw the bridge and the buildings that were there and are still in use today that were the site of the battle.  The second picture is of a clandestine radio set that was actually used by the Norwegian Resistance to transmit messages to Britain.  The third picture is equipment used by the Resistance to build small concealable machine guns from readily available materials like exhaust pipe and sheet metal.  The nickname for these guns was ‘grease guns’ because of their appearance resembling a typical grease gun.  The last picture is of  what I would call ‘weapons of desperation’ that the Resistance used to fight the Nazis.  One is a cut down 30-40 Krag rifle and the other smaller devices are homemade grenade type and booby trap explosives.  I have several more pictures on the subject of Norwegian Resistance  during WWII that I can send later if others find interest in this matter. We met a Norwegian author at the Hostfest in Minot who had lived through the Nazi occupation of Norway and then wrote books about the Resistance movement.  We bought a couple books and they are fascinating reading for anyone who likes this type of subject.  Her name is Astrid Carlsen Scott and her books are probably listed on the internet.  Thanks Gary!

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Clouds, Thunder and Lighting (Part 2)

From Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

Gary and friends,

My nephew who has read the first part of the clouds, Thunder & Lightening story asked me, “What happened to the rest of the story?” Over these many years I gleaned that part of the story from people who were closely connected to that day and listened closely to my Dad.”

On the morning of July 28, while Lottie prepared noon dinner, her girls walked up to get the mail. To the North, Oliver Nelson and Duane Handeland were minding Kelvin store and gas station. To the West, Eva was in her kitchen at the big white Seim house.

In the hay meadow, Cliff drove one tractor and Sonny drove the B-John Deere. They were both mowing hay as the sun rose in the sky straight up shining overhead.

A few clouds suddenly gathered in the sky. Because it look like rainclouds forming, Cliff motioned  up at the clouds to Sonny who was driving the B John Deere coming from behind.”  In response, “Sonny raised three fingers of his right hand in the air and made a swooping circular motion.” Cliff nodded thought “Okay, just three more rounds.” And waved back to Sonny.

The tractors moved along,  “BOOM!” Cliff felt his arm swing up and he jerked up off the seat.  He thought, “Whoa, that was a big one! Sonny is going to be laughing at me for that.”

He turned around in the tractor seat to look for  Sonny’s reaction. The B-John Deere Tractor with mower was traveling across the meadow over the wind rows of hay. It was moving North, toward the road ditch lined with willow trees, without Sonny driving!

Looking closer Cliff saw , Sonny who was laying splayed  over the mower. Frightened, Cliff pulled the clutch, stopping the tractor leapt off  and ran after the B-John Deere and mower.

Thoughts, Got … to…   get.. to.. Son… ny ___… before the blades get him.  Cliff tripped over piles of hay, fell, panicing, stumbled, fell again _running, running.     Ran…breathing.. hard.

The  B-John Deere came to a sudden STOP when it hit the willowed ditch.

Cliff ran to Sonny.  He looked and Sonny was gone.  NOoooooo!!

Cliff ran back across the hay field  to the Black Ford pickup truck,  climbed in, put it in gear, floored it, shifting, again and again, and drove over the ditch up around the curving  road  to Art and Eva’s.

Driving into the yard he had one thought, call, Get Sonny help!

Eva was in her kitchen when he burst into the house.

“He’s dead,”  “Call _, get help,  call somebody…Sonny’s dead.”   Eva looked up from what she was doing and sternly said, “CLIFFORD!

CLIFFORD, Stop your joking NOW!”

She looked at Cliff whom she knew so well. He was weeping. She knew he was not joking.  Eva crossed the room to where the phone was on the wall by the kitchen door.

Cliff felt relief as when Eva picked up the telephone  taking charge.  She, cranked it.  Central…..Eva said to the operator, “Connect me to the St.Louis Rectory in Dunseith!”

Eva like Sonnys’ Morin family was a devout Catholic. She knew Emil and Genevive lived their faith.  She knew what was needed for Sonny, and for his parents, Emil and Genevive.

The priest came over a winding and hilly Highway Number Three, ten miles and  to give Sonny last rites.

Meanwhile at Kelvin, Oliver Nelson and Duane Handland had been sitting outside on the steps of Kelvin Store to watch a few nasty looking storm clouds gather.

“BOOM”

Oliver said to Duane, “That was a close one.”

A few minutes later a car drove up to a gas tank. The driver  rolling down his window said, “The D___est thing down the road!”

“A man’s running behind a tractor.”  “There’s no one driving the tractor.”

Oliver  with an awareness of a bad feeling, said to Duane, “Watch the store, Cliff  and Sonny are is haying the big meadow.”

Oliver got into his car and drove South and turned  East at  the intersection.  Looking toward the big hill, he watched as the black Ford ahead was speeding up around the Carlson curve disappearing in the dust.

Oliver drove on. He saw the B-John Deere and saw Sonny. He went on into Seims to see what he could do to help.

For all many years,I never really knew what dad did for those next days after the lightening bolt killed Sonny.  (A couple years ago someone e-mailed me, he had been with Dad.  That person told me a missing piece to this story. Perhaps he will share again?)

When Dad was at home, He was, Oh so very still and quiet.

The next day after Martha’s birthday party, mom baked a cake. Our family drove South two miles to Emil and Genevive’s.  There were all sorts of cars in the yard.  Mom walked to the door with her cake .

Not long, coming back to the car,Mom said there is a “wake” going on.

We girls ‘wondered’  What is a ‘wake’?  We knew to be quiet.  We were knowledgable from before in our lives, because when Uncle Archie died that same feelings permeated our home, “be very quiet and still, this is not a time to be curious or questions”. All we knew a wake had to to with Emil and Genevives strong beliefs.  We loved and respected Emil and Genevive and did not question their beliefs.  But I with a thirst for knowledge wondered.

I listened to Dad at later years, when he said, “He went to  Emil and Genevive at the funeral and said to them how very sorry he was”.

They put their arms around him, and said, “Cliff, We are fine, we know where Sonny is at now. He is okay. We are worried about you, we want to know  you will be okay.”

After most time they visited. When they were driving out the drive, Dad often would in wonder and awe comment, “Emil and Genevive are real Christians, true saints on Earth!

Dad  for a time, was wracked with self- guilt. He  talked to understanding listeners, like his long time mentors, Art and Eva. Emil and Genevive embraced him the rest of his life with care, concern and love.

What ever happened to the  Green B-John Deere tractor?

After the lightening strike, the  tractor seat had a dime size shiney mark. Dad said it was where the lightening bolt passed through Sonny’s body.  At haying time, I would look at that mark, touch and remember smiling Sonny Morin. I wondered what he would have become had he lived?

Our family never ever was so busy, to ignore clouds, Thunder and Lightening again. That life lesson has been carried  down into the next generation.

Stop the machinery. Go for cover, no questions or explaination required just an acceptance that Thunder and Lightening are more powerful than any human.

One  summer before Art Seim passed away. We took a road trip through the hills and visited about our memories  of

Emil and Genevive and their only son,  smiling Sonny Morin.

You know Vickie, Art said, “Sonny was working on his  goal to become a teacher when he died. He was in his third year of college.”

Art said the winter before he’d asked Sonny how college was going? Sonny said he’d have to  quit because he had run out of money.

Art asked him  “How much do you need this quarter?” Sonny told him about $100.

Art told Eva to write out a check to Sonny.

Then Art smiled as he said, “Sonny had been working for Cliff, when he got paid.  He came to me that  week before he died.  And repaid the loan.”

Art and I agreed that smiling Sonny Morin would have made a fine, outstanding teacher.

Thanks again for allowing me share.

Vickie

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Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND

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Joke of the day

An elderly couple, who had just learned how to send text messages on their mobile phones. The wife was a romantic type and the husband was more of a no-nonsense guy.

One afternoon the wife went out to meet a friend for coffee.

She decided to send her husband a romantic text message and she wrote:

“If you are sleeping, send me your dreams. If you are laughing, send me your smile. If you are eating, send me a bite. If you are drinking, send me a sip. If you are crying, send me your tears. I love you.”

The husband texted back to her:

“I’m on the toilet. Please advise.”

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Blog (135) posted on June 17, 2008

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From Willy (60) & Al-lyn Longie:

Gary,

I don’t know if you are keeping a running head count but in case you are, we have booked 2 cabins as of today’s date.

Al-lyn (Willy’s wife)

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From Phyllis McKay (65):

Thank you Gary for the up date on Dennis. I  talked with him at length last September. I also made the reservations for Patsy and myself for the cruise. It should be fun.

School is almost over with for this year. This Friday will be the last day of students. I have two days next week of class and then I will be officially through. I have a wonderful class this year and it will be sad to see them go on to fifth grade.

Phyllis McKay

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Folks, Phyllis is making reference to Dennis Dubois (63).Dennis does not have email, but I suggested to Bernadette, my wife, that she call Dennis and tell him about the cruise of which she did.  Dennis is very interested in the cruise and asked Bernadette for Phyllis’ and Margaret Metcalfe Leonard’s phone numbers.  He also asked for our travel agent (Gina’s) phone number. Dennis really aprecitated her calling him and wanted to visit. Gary

Dennis Dubois & Phyllis McKay – July 2007

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From Vickie Metcalfe (70):  & her sister Nancy Metcalfe Moreno (68):

Gary

“What I remember is Mom telling about how Axel Johnson would get poachers on School Section Lake & bring them to Grandpa Lamb’s while he would go get more. Grandpa fed them pancakes.” from Nancy Metcalfe Moreno(68)

” And I remember my dad  Cliff telling the story about Axel walking back and forth on top of the Metcalfe manure pile expressing to the older Metcalfe boys about the illegal practice of poaching of muskrats before  the season opening.   He was saying something like, “I  know they may have been poaching and  have no clear evidence, but if he did find the evidence he would turn them in.” With this story I heard, was that the pelts in question were under the manure pile which Axel was walking back and forth over while lecturing to the uncomfortable boys! I’ve often  wondered if Axel really knew  what the Metcalfe boys were up to and that it was his way of giving the “boys” fair warning he was on to them!”

I do recall our parents having utmost respect for Axel Johnson as a game warden & kind, honest, hard working man.  from Vickie Metcalfe

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Folks, I had the identification ofthe folks in these two pictures reversed with yesterday’s message.  Gary

May 1960 in the Garden Tap:

Margaret Hiatt, Joyce Evans,
Joe Evans, Freddie Hiatt.–

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May 1960 in the Garden Tap:

Cliff Johnson, Joy Johnson, Bernice Johnson,
‘half’ of Don Johnson.

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From Gerry Anderson (61):   and Rita Anderson (mother):

Gary … My mother, Rita Anderson, received this email and asked me to respond.  My name is Gerald (Gerry) Anderson – we lived in Dunseith from the late 40’s to 1957.  I would have been part of the class of 1961.  I attended school in Dunseith from grade 1 – 9 and then attended Willow City Academy and moved to Jamestown, ND for grades 11 and 12.

The lone male picture with all the beautiful ladies is my brother Mark Anderson who died of cancer about 10 years ago.  He was 4 years younger and would have been in the class of 1965.

My mother does enjoy receiving the pictures as both my dad (Ed Anderson – deceased) and mother were very active in the community and owned the Gamble store.   …Gerry…

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Reply From Esther Murray Flemming (65):

Gary:

Pictured next to Patty  is Mark Anderson.  Very nice picture.

Esther

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From Allen Richard (65):

Bottom left is Mark Anderson

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Reply From Debbie Mongeon Cernohous (66):

Hi Gary,

You may have heard from a few people on the graduates for the bottom row.  I think it is Mark Anderson, Patty Bogus and Me.

Great job with the emails, love looking at them when I get to work.

Debbie Cernohous (Mongeon)

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Top: Margaret Metcalfe (65), Dana Henriksen (66), Cecile Berube (65), Angela Berube (65)

Bottom: Mark Anderson (65),Patty Boguslawski (65), Debra Mongeon (66)

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary,

I was just studying the old Dunseith postcard and noticed– almost no
trees! It has to be from 1935-36, the brick addition on the school was
done in ’35 and the City Hall is not there yet and I believe it was
built in ’37. The article from the fire says it was 31 years old when it
burned in 1968 so I can assume the picture is either late 1935 or 1936.
Just thought you might find this interesting. Thanks again!

Dick

Tiger Woods & Stevie Wonder are in a bar…

Tiger says Stevie, “How’s the singing career going?”

Stevie replies, “Not too bad. How’s the golf?”

Woods replies, “I’ve had some problems with my swing,
but I think I’ve got that right, now.”

Stevie: “I always find that when my swing goes wrong,
I need to stop playing for a while and not think about it.
Then, the next time I play, it seems to be all right.”

Incredulous, Tiger says, “You play GOLF?”

Stevie: “Yes, I’ve been playing for years.”

Tiger: “But — you’re blind! How can you play golf if you can’t see?”

Stevie: “Well, I get my caddy to stand in the middle of the fairway
and call to me. I listen for the sound of his voice and play the ball
towards him. Then, when I get to where the ball lands,
the caddy moves to the green or farther down the fairway and
again I play the ball towards his voice.”

“But, how do you putt” asks Tiger.

“Well”, says Stevie, “I get my caddy to lean down in front of the
hole and call to me with his head on the ground and I just play
the ball towards his voice.”

Tiger: “What’s your handicap?”

Stevie: “Well, actually — I’m a scratch golfer.”

Woods says to Stevie, “We’ve got to play a round sometime.”

Stevie: “Well, people don’t take me seriously, so I only play
for money, and never play for less than $10,000 a hole.
Is that a problem?”

Woods thinks about it and says, “I can afford that; OK,
I’m game for that.. $10,000 a hole is fine with me.
When would you like to play?”

Stevie:     “Pick a night.”

Cliff Johnson, Joy Johnson, Bernice Johnson,
‘half’ of Don Johnson.

Top: Margaret Metcalfe (65), Dana Henriksen (66), Cecile Berube (65), Angela Berube (65)

Bottom: Mark Anderson (65)? or Dale Hoffman (64)?,  Patty Boguslawski (65), Debra Mongeon (66)