Shirley Olson Warcup (49) in intensive care:

From Ron Warcup: Ivans, UT

To All

Shirley had to go into the hospital on the 10th of Nov and susequently ended up having surgery for bowel obstruction. As a result, she contracted some infections that later settled in her lungs. That complication has now resulted into what is called Acute Respiratory Distress Syndome. At her age, this condition is especially critical and her prospects are uncertain. I’ll keep you posted. She has been in ICU for almost 3 weeks and I have been spending a lot of time near her. Thanks for the e-mails -it helps to have something to help fill the time when I’m home.

Ron

Reply to Dick Johnson (68):

From Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, WY.

Dick,
Thank you. I look at that of “Pa” and it brings tears to my eyes. He was a good guy. There will never be another like Axel Helmar Johnson. Sybil Johnson (great_grandma2007@live.com)

Reply to Randy Kelly (69):

From Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, WY.

Randy, the last time I saw you, was 25 yrs. ago on June 30th. Nice to see you are still kicking-hahaha! Sybil Johnson

Sybil, now you have us all curious. what is so significant about June 30th, 1984?

Bernadette’s brother Jose:

Folks, Until Bernadette’s brother’s funeral one week from today, things will be pretty active at our house. They started the formal Rosary’s and prayers last night. A lady came in last night at 7:00 PM to do a Rosary. That was followed with a team of 3 lay ministers from the catholic church that went through a series of readings and prayers. In all it lasted nearly two hours. This will be repeated each evening until the funeral. Following this whole process last night, Bernadette served lunch and drinks. Last night she served tuna fish sandwiches and pastries. Following the lunch, tables and chairs were set up for folks to play cards and games. Folks stay until the wee hours of the morning playing cards and games. This is traditional with the morning of deaths in this country. When I went to bed at 12:30 there were still 25 to 30 folks here. It’s nice living in the tropics where all this can be set up outside. Jose’s body has been and will continue to be attended by his family members until he is buried. Two of his daughters in law are currently with him at the moment. His wife and daughter took shifts during the night. The temperature drop several degress below normal last night to about 78F. These folks were chilled. Gary

O.J. Robert Family L to R:
Back: Duane, Russell & Orphela (O.J.)
Front: Carol holding Mike, Dianne, Darla & Dorothy

Jerome LaRocque family picture L to R:
Top row: Curtis, Richard, Ronald, Sylvester, and Brian
Middle Row: Linda, Bernice, Alice (mother), Jeanette, and Joy
Bottom Row: Debbie, Annette, Sherri, and Jackie

Rene & John Bedard (Father & Son)

Roberta Hagen (75) & Kim Hiatt (77)

Randy Kelly (69): Saint Paul, MN

Folks, I just had a nice chat with Randy Kelly. Randy is a past mayor of Saint Paul and he was also part of President George Bush’s staff, so he has been a hard guy to get in touch with. Randy told me he plans on making it back to Dunseith/Bottineau this next summer to celebrate his uncle Elwood Fauske’s 90th birthday. Randy said it was OK to post his email address and add him to our daily distribution. Gary

Cousins Randy Kelly (69) & Donna LaCroix Allard (64)

Latest postings for Bev Morinville Azure from her CaringBridge Web site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bevazure

Thursday, December 3, 2009 4:44 PM, CST

Hello All,

We would like to thank every one for sending letters, cards and of course your support. Mom is still in a sleep like state the Doctors and medical staff here at Trinity have assured us that mom is in a very peaceful state. Her breathing has become more shallow and we can only pray that the Good Lord is ready for Mom. As we all know she is Spiritually ready for him. Thank you all and God Bless

The Azures

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 9:24 PM, CST

To answer any questions about moms state is that she has been given “comfort medications” and they are doing the job very well she remains in a continuous sleep like state. Also her radiation treatments have been stopped. I have added a few photos of mom and family please take a minute to look at them.
And also if you would like to leave your e-mail that would be great. Thank You all so much for your support it is greatly appreciated.

The Azures

Reply from Joan Tremblay Johnson (79): Dunseith, ND.

Gary,

Thanks for adding us to the reunion list. I’m really looking forward to it! My contact info is :

Joan Johnson

Box 296

Dunseith ND 58329
701-244-5549

Roland and Nora Mongeon are my parents. Roland (97) is the oldest of the Pierre and Anna Mongeon family. His siblings are Leo, Janet (Evans), Adrian, Eugene, Armand, Lorraina (Trimble), Germaine(Sister Stephanie), Alfred, and Dennis. Probably too much information but I wanted to give you a little background.

Also, my condolences to you, Bernadette, and her family on the passing of Jose. It must be interesting to live in a country so rich in traditions.

Thanks again for sharing you time and talents with all of us. A lot of work for you but we get to reap the rewards!

Take care, Joan

Joan, Never too much info. I remember our previous correspondence and remember you now that you jarred my memory. Thank you so much for your condolence too. Gary

Axel Johnson:

Reply from Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, WY.

Bill Hosmer and all,
Thank you so much for the stories about “Pa” Johnson. He was a wonderful person and had such love for all of us. I remember him driving that old black car and how we tried to keep him from driving. His eye sight was getting bad and he drived so radically. Finally, the state took his driver’s license and he had no choice. Remember, how he told Augie that if I didnt drive him and “Ma” home from Minot, he wasnt going to go; because Augie drove to fast. So, I drove them home. Augie did have a tendency to drive to fast and not watch the road, like he should (he still does, I bet). Sybil Johnson

Axel Johnson:

Reply/Picture from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.

Gary and Friends,

Sharron’s memories of Axel Johnson bring to mind another story I was
told by my dad. He said Axel was a master with a double bit ax. Dad said
Axel would sit and sharpen his ax with a carborundum stone until it was
razor sharp. Then he would tell Dad, “OK Donald, let’s go and ‘slash’
down some trees. He meant what he said! Dad said that any poplar tree
that was not wider than the width of the ax head came down with ONE
whack! Many years after Axel and even Dad were gone, I moved an old
wooden granary and under it were several stumps of small poplar trees
about 2-3 inches in diameter that were cut off slick, with ONE whack.
They must have cut the trees to move the granary to that spot. Most
people leave a stump looking like a beaver chewed it off, but not Axel!
As Bill Hosmer said he wasn’t fast, but was steady and never slowed down
or quit for hours on end. Grandpa Hans Johnson had a similar pace. Once
when I was around 11 years old Grandpa took me to a 50 acre field and
got me started harrowing with an old ‘boss’ harrow. He told me to go in
second gear. I said, “Fifty acres in second gear, I”ll be here forever!”
He looked at me sternly and said, “Better forever going than forever
broke down–second gear.” Grandpa always used to say ‘Forth and back
across the field’ while we all said ‘back and forth’. I asked Dad why
Grandpa always said it that way? He asked me, “Now who do you think is
right?” I guess you go forth before you come back. More old lessons!
Thanks Gary, Sharron, and Bill!

Dick

Axel Johnson 1965

Dunseith News posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND

 12/1/09

Soldier Christmas cards:

From Brenda Hiatt Parker (73): Wilton, ND

Sharon Longie Dana (73): MIssoula MT

Gary,

Brenda Hiatt Parker(73) sent this to me but I wanted to share and ask you to put it on the blog. What a fabulous way to make a service person smile during this time of year. I have done the Dear Abby thing and sent letters to service people overseas but they don’t allow that anymore so I thought all of the folks connected to the Dunseith blog could send just one card we could make a lot of smiles!!!! I bought a box of cards!! Thanks Brenda!!!

Sharon Longie Dana(73)

CHRISTMAS CARDS THIS YEAR!

When doing your Christmas cards this year, take
one card and send it to
this address. If we pass this on and
everyone sends one card, think of
how many cards these wonderful special people who
have sacrificed so
much would get. When you are making out your
Christmas card list this
year, please include the following:

A Recovering American
Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army
Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,
NW
Washington,D.C.
20307-5001

Folks, Thank you so much for the many condolences we have received from you folks. I have placed them all in a separate folder that I will be reviewing with Bernadette when I can tie her down long enough. I will answer them all later. Bernadette does have an email account, but I’m pretty safe in saying she hasn’t opened it for nearly a year. Many of her local friends are into facebook, so she said she is going to get a facebook account. She can sure find things quick enough on the internet though when the interest arises.

Jose’s body is resting in his coffin on our porch. His funeral will be Saturday December 12th. They had a prayer session for him last night and they will have another this evening, but the formal prayer’s will begin Friday with the 9th day being the formal mass of his burial. The formal prayers are conducted by clergy assistants from the Catholic church. They have a regular reading that they go through each night. The whole process takes about an hour. It’s exactly the same each night. When their Dad died there were 50 to 75 folks that attended the evening prayers. Most of the folks that attend the evening prayers are neighbors. The Majority of Bernadette’s relatives live about 10 miles away in another community. Some of them will attend one or so of the nightly prayers but the majority will wait and attend the funeral. They can not afford the Jeepney ride each night.

With all the added activity at our house, I nearly forgot that today is our wedding anniversary. It was 31 years ago today that uncle Nels Petterson, Dad’s brother and his wife Helga walked Bernadette down the isle in “Our Saviors” Lutheran church in Bremerton, WA. Bernadette had no family in the USA, so Nels and Helga were her proxy’s. Bernie, her son, whom I adopted, was 7 years old at the time. Bernie was the Ring Bearer and can you believe lost the rings. They had fallen off the little pillow onto the floor. We found them, but there was a moment of anxiety. Gary

Posted from Bev Morinville Azure’s caringbridge sight:http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bevazure

From her daugher Shonda Azure Campbell (94): Minot ND.

Sorry for the lack of information but it seems that the server has been on the fritz. My sincere apologies. Mom is currently resting quite well she has been given a medication for anxiety and as a result is sleeping allot. It seems that she is very peaceful. We won’t know what will happen next it is all in the hands of the Lord. But we would like to thank everyone for your great letters and strong support thank you .If you would like to e-mail me I will try and answer your letters the best that I can.

With great love and infinite appreciation, The Azure Family

my e-mail is cody.azure@yahoo.com
shon_campbell@yahoo.com

Request posted on the Dunseith Alumni Web sitehttp://garystokes.net/default.aspx

From: Traci Zahn
E-mail: tracizahn@live.com
Message:
I would like to be added to the email list. My grandmother is Dorothy Pritchard and it is nice to hear news about the area and people I grew up around

Traci, It is my pleasure to add you to our distribution. I believe your mother was Shirely Pritchard, Robert & Dorothy’s oldest child. Your Grandma Dorothy is on our distribution list too. She’ll be having a birthday next month too. She was born in 1913. That’s nearly a century ago. Gary

Dick Johnson (68):

Reply from Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND

Gary

That was a great story that Dick wrote up about his grandpa. I think he deserves to be promoted to the class of 66. I’m sure he is honored. What else could he be? Gary an error to the good side is not really an error.

Larry

Larry as you well know, I know better. I’m not sure if Dick would agree it was a good promotion though??? Speaking of errors, when I was talking to Bill Grimme the other day, he said he had gotten a message from Johnny Frykman complimenting him on his younger age. I had Bill listed as being with the class of 75 on the reunion list. Gary

Axel Johnson:

Reply from Bill Hosmer (48): Tucson, AZ & Lake Metigoshe, ND

Dick Johnson’s piece about his Grandpa was wonderful. When he mentioned the big rocks that he and Axel moved about with their own strength it reminded me of working with Axel at the gravel pit in Dunseith in 1948 after I graduated from high school. We worked on the trap, which was the entry point for gravel being dozed onto the rock crusher. Sometimes a boulder would find its way onto the grill which separated them from the flow onto the belt leading up to the crusher. It was necessary to lift the boulder out of there, up a six foot slope of gravel and metal intake to the crusher. Sometimes the boulders were so big we had to have the belt stopped and wrap a chain around the boulder to have the bull dozer drag it out. Often, I’d try to budge one unsuccessfully, and Axel would say, “Billie, back off, I’ll get that one.” Then he would get his hands and arms under a monster, work it up the steep slope of the trap and roll it out of the way. We did this for ten hours a day at a buck an hour, with time and a half after a week of 40 hours which happened on Friday, and Saturday. On Sunday we made Double time. It was a about 90 bucks a week, and that was fine. Axel showed me alot about staying with it, and encouraging me with great stories about his young years so I wouldn’t get discouraged. I look on that summer with alot of pride and fond memories of a work ethic he demonstrated, which gave me something in life that lasted for years doing other things of challenge. Thanks, Dick and Gary. Bill Hosmer

Bill, seeing your name brings Colette Hosmer to mind. It’s been a while since we’ve heard from her. I’m thinking she may be back over in China with another Art project?? Gary

Reply to Dick Johnson’s messages posted yesterday:

From Sharron Gottbreht Shen: Everett, WA.

Thank you Dick and Gary, I will pass the information on to children of Mildred and Ralph, Fred and Pearl’s descendants. The 41 Dodge sure has a beautiful grill. It seems Dick Larson had personal knowledge of performance. Dick Johnson, I look forward to your contributions. I’m thinking I should seek out a lighted wrench kit for your xmas! There are few of my aquaintance who had the endurance qualities of Axel Johnson. Dad certainly was impressed with Axel who put far more into every task Dale asked or expected. It has been a revelation to hear of his youth and struggles on these pages. Trenching without a backhoe? Unheard of today. Thanks again. Sharron

Gary, I have no sisters or brothers to spare! Although Jose is at peace, I know Bernadette and the family will be remembering and missing many of their departed in the days that come. I sat shiva with a Jewish neighbor a few of her seven nights and I think we all benefit and find comfort from the rituals surrounding our life companions when they pass. Many cares this side of death, that’s certain. Keep well Bernadette and Gary. God bless. Sharron

Thank you Sharron for the comforting words. Gary

Reply from Lorie Hiatt (88): Dunseith, ND

Hi Gary,

The little girl in the picture with dad and I is Vickie’s youngest daughter Cahla. Please add my name to the list I would love to come also please tell Bernadette how sorry I am for her loss you are all in my thoughts & prayers.

good morning to you &

good night from me

Lorie

Thank you Lorie too, for your comforting words

Ackworth Alumni picnic around 1990:
Back: Norman Hiatt talking to Willis Bowers and Russell Fauske. Gary Stokes with the Red cap
Front: Lori Hiatt and Cahla (Vickie Hiatt’s daughter)

Bernadette’s Brother passed away.

Folks, As I’m putting this message together, Bernadette came in the office and said her Brother, Jose, had just drawn his last breath. Bernadette was there. That was about 15 minutes ago. They have called the funeral home and are getting a doctor. He is now at peace with no more pain. He was ready to go and his family had accepted that. It’s currently 9:50 Wednesday morning. I’m expecting the Funeral home will have his body embalmed, in a casket and back to our place by mid afternoon. His body will remain on our porch for the next 9 or 10 days before the burial. They will have nightly prayers with a mass the last night for the next 9 days. Filipino custom, there will be a family member with his body from now until he is buried. Gary

Correction From Dick Johnson (66):Dunseith, ND.

Gary and Friends,

Tonight I spent some time on the web searching for the correct year
and type of car in Sharron’s old steamer picture. Dick and Jerrine
Richard (49) Larson wrote and correctly identified it as a 1941 Dodge,
in fact a model D-19, according to the Dodge folks. I mistakenly
identified it as a 1941 Lincoln. Thanks to the Larsons and Gary!

Dick

Hans Johnson Story with picture

From Dick Johnson (66): Dunseith, ND.

Gary and Friends,

With winter fast approaching, I haven’t had much time to reminisce.
Today something made me remember some of the things my Grandpa Hans
Johnson used to do. He was only in school until about the mid grades
(4-5) and then he had to work. Even as a kid, I was amazed at some of
the things he could do with no more of a formal education than that.
They never had electricity until he was over 50 years old, yet people
used to have him repair their electric devices of all kinds. I remember
watching him take someone’s electric iron apart on his kitchen table
once when I was probably 7 or 8 years old. I asked him how he knew how
to fix it? He said, ” If one man was smart enough to make it, the next
man should at least be able to fix it.” As I got older, I also found out
that most things aren’t as complicated as they at first might seem. He
had a simple way of figuring out what should do what, and why. My
Grandma told me that one night her brother Otto and my Grandpa Hans
decided to build a crystal set radio from scrap parts, wire, wood, and
other junk. They had a plan from some magazine like Popular Mechanics.
She said it was in the dead of winter so they thought it might be
something to do one cold night. I only know enough about a crystal set
radio to know it involves wrapping fine copper wire around a tube and
using a battery for power. She went to bed but woke up in the wee hours
of the morning to the sound of music playing in the kitchen—and two
guys grinning from ear to ear!

They lived through some tough times and knew how to repair things
rather than to buy new. Some of the old farm equipment should have been
replaced but he just kept on fixing what broke and continuing to use it
until there just wasn’t anything left, then he got another one! I gave
an old D John Deere tractor of Grandpa’s to my wife’s uncle, as he was
really into restoring them. Years later he retired and had an auction
sale, selling several restored JD tractors and many parts. I asked him
which one was Grandpa’s old D , thinking I might buy it back if he still
had it? He grinned and said that there was hardly a single piece on the
entire tractor that wasn’t worn completely out! I told him that when
Grandpa couldn’t make it work anymore, it was probably shot! I remember
Grandpa taking the tires off his ’34 Chevy truck, when the cords started
to show, and then putting them on the front of the tractor and running
them some more! This may sound a bit miserly but he always had money for
things that were really needed. He was able to slowly buy land and
expand the farm while others couldn’t make it and headed out for other
places. Most of the people that made it through the tough times, at
least in this area, did so by dedication to hard work and by being
careful with what little money they did have. He was definitely one of
those!

The extremely hard labor of those early days also made him a very
physically strong man. He died when I was 15 so I did get to work with
him for several years here on the farm. There were times when Dad and I
couldn’t quite lift or move some real heavy equipment part or hitch for
a piece of equipment and Grandpa would come over and lend a hand. When
he grabbed on, things were going to move! Later, after Grandpa was gone,
my Grandma sold the house and my parents moved a newer house to the same
location. John Boguslawski and I were tearing out the old foundation to
prepare for the new one. The north wall was made of stacked rock, mostly
bigger flat rocks from along the lake shore. We could handle most of the
rocks by hand, as we were pretty big and healthy guys about 19 years
old, but a few were huge. I would guess they weighed 300-400 pounds. We
lifted them out with the old Farmhand loader and chains. I remember John
asking me how the heck they got them in there in the first place? When
Dad came to see how it was going, I asked him. He shook his head and
told us that Grandpa and Axel put them in there by hand! He was a very
kind and gentle big guy. I once asked Dad if he ever saw Grandpa get in
a fight? He said no, but he saw a guy who was going to hit Grandpa once
and it didn’t turn out the way the guy thought. He said they were
traveling on a curvy mud road and met another car right in a mud hole.
Neither car could stop and they both got stuck just about against each
other. Dad said the guys jumped out of the other car and one said,
“Johnson, I’m going to knock you on your ass”, after which he swung at
Grandpa! Dad said Grandpa caught the guys fist like a baseball and then
just said, with his Norskie brogue, “Oh, I don’t tink so.” He just put
the guys hand down and let go of it. Dad said the guy was suddenly as
sober as a judge! I would imagine his life was flashing before his eyes,
as they say! I’ll attach a picture of my grandparents, looking the way I
best remember them. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Zorn Family

From Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC

To Sharon Zorn Gerdes

Thank you for sharing the details of Ryans funeral with us. I cried as I read the newspaper article and saw the pictures in the paper on the blog. My heart just broke not only for Myrons family,but the Zorn family all together. There is something about the beauty of a military funeral and the support of the people that does make it easier for awhile.,and knowing the honor and sacrifice that Ryan died. My thoughts were with your family alot this past week,because I remember your family so well. I remember Marlys like yesterday,she was in my grade, and you and Dennis,and I remember Myron was best friends with my brother Rene,and Billy,was my youngest brothers Jimmy’s best friend.So to you and your family God Bless you,and Take Care…. Sincerely, Aggie Casavant

Reply to Sharon Zorn Gerdes’ email re: Ryan Zorn’s funeral:

From Marlys Zorn Bryan (69): Fairbury, Nebraska

Gary,

I completely agree with Sharon’s sentiments regarding the funeral; she was able to express it so much better than I could have, and expressed it perfectly. The honor that the military, the citizens of the states of Wyoming and South Dakota (Ryan was buried in the National Cemetary in the Black Hills), fellow veterans, the Patriot Guard, and the United States paid to one fallen soldier was inexpressible. It restored my faith in America, that we are still One Nation, Under God, working for liberty and justice for all. It made me proud and very grateful to be an American.

Marlys Zorn Bryan

Reply from Dick & Jerrine Richard (49) Larson: Seattle, WA

gary—I believe the car in Sharon Shen’s steamer pic is actually a ’41 Dodge-I had one back in the 40’s. It was in fact the car that Jerrine (Richard) and I moved to Seattle with right after we were married in Nov of 1950. Keep up the good work. Dick L

Helen Metcalfe Barden’s (62) struggle with cancer:

From Geri Metcalfe Munro (59): Fargo, ND.

Hi Gary,
Chuck and I visited my sis, Helen (Metcalfe) and Lance Barden at their home this afternoon and we talked about sending an update on Helen’s health issues. Lance had sent the following to us yesterday (Saturday):
Thanks!!!! 
Geri Metcalfe Munro

Helen has finished three of the fifteen radiation treatments on the cancer spots in the brain..the other medication is a steroid pill three times a day to reduce swelling that was there and may be added to by the radiation.. She is perhaps a little less steady on her feet so the “house rules” require her to use her walker even when she is moving around the house..(normally the walker was only used for rests during shopping trips!!!)

Next Thursday we meet with Dr Gaba to discuss her case and probably begin a chemo infusion regimen to work on the increased activity noted before in her liver.. we hope the combination of radiation-chemo will not be too exhausting..

The realities of the situation are really just starting to sink in!! The big reality is, either God grants a miracle cure or we will pray for some relief/reprieve from the onslaught so that we will be able to enjoy some quality family and fun time..It is not fun this way!!!

To anyone who has hesitated to make contact because of the situation please don’t worry about any disturbance!!! She really doesn’t fuction well until at least noon so contact after that would be preferred.. If she isn’t “up to visiting” she is aware enough not to try.. also keep in mind she may not respond to quickly or sometimes totally appropriately but she needs outside contact!!! She’s had a couple calls from friends and enjoyed them immensely.. She also needs people face to face.. ( someone other than the slavedriver husband)

Forgive me if this sounds a bit down and pessimistic.. I don’t want it to be and Helen doesn’t either.. Outwardly at least (and I don’t think it’s different inside) she is completely at peace.. everyone she talks to hears the same message.. If I’m cured it will be terrific but if it is not to be I completely accept that..

This is sent to a limited number of family and friends but if you want to send it on please do so.. the more praying the better!!!!!

Helen, even though you are 3 years my senior, I remember you well from our bus riding days to Dunseith. I always looked forward to when we’d stop by your place and you and your 3 sisters, Margaret, Patti & Lola would hop on the bus. Your charm radiated the whole bus. You girls were always so cheerful and friendly. How could anyone ever forget the Metcalfe girls.

With faith and a positive attitude, you will beat this current turn of events. We are in there with you all the way with these treatments you are going through. Just hang in there. Our thought and prayers will always be with you. Gary

Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59) & Aggie Casavant (69):

From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO

To Sharron and Aggie

My hats off to you Sharron for honoring the past generations with pictures and stories. The picture of the Gottbrecht family is priceless to me. All the stories my dad told, I can now put faces on, like Fred Gottbrecht’s wife, Pearly. She was a force to be reckoned with.

Aggie never forgot where she came from either, very compassionate, what in the world is a higher calling than humanitarian.

Gary Metcalfe

Also From Gary Metcalfe:

Hello All, Last night we went back in time, over a hundred years. Silver Dollar City is a theme park built around a cave not too far from the place that Harold Bell Wright wrote the book, “Shepherd of the Hills”. Branson has over a hundred top notch shows, so I asked my wife how did Silver Dollar City bring in 19,000 people tonight. Answer….the nostalgia such as I have not wanted to lose in my boyhood times. I won’t say much about the park, just that there are not many level places in it….such are the Ozarks. My favorite time is World Fest in early summer, performers come in from all parts of the world. The door to the best hour of nostalgia for me was not marked or lit. The small window showed a faint light, like a match burning. I pushed the ole door opened enough to squeeze in and there they were…..fiddle, banjo, bass and guitar and none of them plugged in. They just absolutely played their instruments and they had written all their own songs. The Appalachian and Ozarks is where country music originated. Someone requested a special song called, “Big Tom”. The bass player crossed the small cabin floor and locked the front door, as they proceeded with the song, I realized why they locked the door. This little cabin reminded me of the winter night, 50 years ago when Doug Striker and I stopped on our way back from St. John after midnight to pay Gus and Bill Hackman a visit. The low ceilings, 4 x 8 joists, kerosene lamp, the old wood burner gave off some light. I thought Gus was sleeping, but pretty soon he came through the front door. I think he left his gun outside. It was a cold, moonlight night….you might guess what Gus was doing.

K.C. Sign spent 40 years making life better for hundreds of kids, and that would be a hard act to follow….but I think Mr. Stokes that you have gone above and beyond to help stir memories for many.

Erling….you said it– our parents were color blind. I doubt that Dunseith was much different than any place else except for diversity. Which as you said, “served you well when you went out to meet the world”. You won’t get too far out there in our wonderful world if you are self over rated in the least way. I have to pay tribute to a few who showed me so much. The Syrian people left an impact on a lot of us and it was a good one! Thanks Gary. Gary Metcalfe

Railroad Round House

From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

Dick’s reply to some of our behind the scenes email exchanges.

Gary,

The old roundhouse was where the train locomotives were serviced and
then turned around to head back south. It was located south of the
elevators and as Sharron says, her dad bought it in ’52-’53. He tore it
down and used the lumber to build their new house right behind Dale’s. I
helped Rick Gottbreht move the house about a hundred feet west. The
timbers under that house are huge! It was well built to say the least.
It was one of the first ‘flat roof’ designs in the area. The high school
(the ’56 addition) was also flat roof design. Rick made an upstairs and
completely remodeled the inside to a beautiful home. I bet Sharron would
know that the old roundhouse lumber was used to frame their house.
Thanks for including me in this email!

Dick

Question from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND

Hi Gary,

I have a question about your address. Does it cost the same to mail something to your address as it would to someone in the U.S.–such as a flat-rate envelope?

Neola

The answer is Yes. Fleet Post Office (FPO) and Army Post Office (APO) mail is treated like regular US mail with a San Francisco Zip code on the west coast and a New York Zip code on the east coast. Other than for prescription medicines, there is a one pound limit that can be sent to my FPO address. Gary

Gary Stokes

PSC 517 Box RS/CC

FPO AP 96517-1000

Darrel (Bud) Stokes (70) & Angus Campbell

From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND.

Gary,
Do you get the courant? Perhaps Neola can e-mail todays paper There
is a wonderful article on Bud and Angus!
Quoting Angus, Bud is like a son…..
What a wonderful pair. And, I’m privileged to know then both! Vickie

Vickie, Neola did scan and send me that article. It gives me great pleasure and with pride to post this too. I am proud to say it was through my affiliations that Angus and Bud connected. I have always known who Angus Campbell is, but it was when I worked for Dave Clark following high school that I learned to know Angus Campbell well. Angus and Dave pooled a lot of their resources with their farming in those days including their hired help. Following HS, I lived with and worked for the Clarks for 16 months before heading west. They are great folks too and treated me very well. After I left for the coast, Angus needed some help so I suggested Bud and the rest is history. Angus says Bud was 17 when he started working for him, but I’m thinking he was several years younger. Bud is a perfectionist of which Angus took great pride in and liked in Bud too. When Bud Started working for Frykman’s, Angus found it hard to part with Bud of which he did not. They worked out a deal where Bud worked for Angus in the evenings and on Saturday’s in the spring and the fall of the years until Bud took over his farming operation in 1990. Angus seldom works Sunday’s. Bud & Angus have been like a father/son team since the first day Bud set foot on Angus’ farm back in the 60’s. Angus totally trusts Bud with anything and everything. Angus takes pride trusting Buds judgment with every situation inclusive of circumstances outside of their farming operation. Bud has never been known to make hasty decisions. Angus spends the majority of the holidays and has for many years, with Bud & Debby and their family. For the past 30 years Angus has been at most all of our family gatherings. He is one of the family. Angus looks pretty good in this picture for being 84 years old. He may have turned the farming operation over to Bud 20 years ago, but he has never ceased to quit working and helping Bud. He has done the majority of Bud’s combining all these years. He’ll fill up all the trucks during the day when Bud is working his other job for the City of Bottineau. Gary

PS – I believe those are all Bud’s grain bins in the picture. I kind of think they are all full too.

Posting from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND

Update on Elmer & Mable (Espe) Striker Family,

Sent by Ken Striker, Dayton Ohio

H1k Elmer Striker b 1907 Rolette Co ND d Sep 1973 Edmonds Snohomish Co WA
+Mabel Espe b ab 1909 Dane Co WI d/o Iver J & Martha (Eriksdatter Myklemyr) Espe. According to Prarie Past and Mountain Memories, A History of Dunseith ND Mable Striker m Elmer Striker and they lived near Kelvin before moving to Seattle where Elmer worked as a building contractor and Mable a clerk. Elmer died in 1973 and Mable now lives in Corona Del Mar, CA. Their children were: Eunice, Gary and Donna born while they lived in the Turtle Mountains; and Jackilyn and Marie born in Seattle. Eunice, Gary and Donna are all married and live in the Seattle area while Jackilyn and Marie and their families are all in California.

H1k1 Eunice Patricia Striker b 15 Sep 1930 Dunseith ND
+Jim Morrison Patsy, as Eunice likes to be called, live in Kaiuai Hawaii (see H1k3 LeaRae Espe (Mrs Terry Espe) wrote the email address for Pat Striker Morrison is:

H1k2 Gary Striker born 7 Mar 1934 Bottineau ND
+C. Carlson m 1953 (divorced 1982) 3ch: see below
+Liliane Morel-Maroger. (1937-2004) m 1983 From Casablanca, Morocco. Gary graduated from University of Washington 1959 MD, Gary wrote in 1985 “Liliane has four children. She is a world recognized authority in renal pathology, who directed a renal research laboratory in Paris, France before coming to U of WA to become a Prof-of Pathology” The Journal of American Society of Nephrology wrote a Tribute to the passing of Liliane in New York on November 18, 2004. (jasn.as journals.org)

About Gary: (from directory.mssm.edu/faulty/faculty 10/1/2007)
Dr. Gary Striker is a Professor of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Professor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. He maintains research laboratories devoted to stem cells, aging and diabetes-related topics in both New York, New York, and Miami, Florida.
After receiving his medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, he completed his Rotating Internship in General Medicine at the University Hospital in Seattle. He then completed a Residency in Pathology at University of California at Los Angeles–Wadsworth General Hospital and the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Los Angeles. He returned to the University of Washington–Seattle for his Fellowship in Experimental Pathology. He is board certified in Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology, and is licensed to practice in California, Washington, Maryland, and Florida.
His academic career began at the University of Washington, where he became a Professor in 1972. He directed the M.D.-Ph.D. program and was the Dean for Curriculum, among many other activities at the University of Washington. He became Director of the Kidney, Urology, and Hematology Division, NIDDK, NIH in 1984 until 1997. He was Director of the Vascular Biology Institute at the University of Miami from 1997-2004. He came to Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 2004, where he is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology.

H1k2a Gregory W. Striker b 11 Jul 1957 Seattle d 29 Jan 2007
Gregory Waine Striker Seattle native Gregory Waine Striker, born July 11, 1957 was killed in an industrial accident January 26, 2007 in Portland, OR. Born to parents, Gary E. Striker of New York, NY and Carlene S. Hartenbower of Yuma, AZ. Greg chose to raise his family in the Seattle area close to his church. Greg was a very active and much loved member of the Foster Tukwila Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, teacher and mentor to many. Greg is survived by his children, Cabrina, age 14, Breanna, age 16, Johnathan, age 18 and Angela Emerson, age 20. He will also be missed by his brother, Gary E. Striker Jr. of Spokane, WA and sister, Kris Betts of Mesquite, NV. Services will be held Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon at The Church By The Side Of The Road, located at S. 148th & Pacific Hwy in Tukwila. Please sign the online memorial at www.bonneywatson.com. Published in print on 2/1/2007. Seattle Times

H1k2b Kristin Striker b 2 Jan 1961 Los Angeles res Mesquite, NV (2007)
+ ___ Betts Mesquite, Nevada
Feb 13, 2008 … Take a gamble on Mesquite, Nevada, a growing golf and gaming …. Instructor Kris Betts gladly gives us a safety briefing and some …

Oasis Gun Club about five miles east of town. Instructor Kris Betts gladly gives us a safety briefing and some instruction. With protective eyewear and earplugs in place, it’s off to shoot skeet and trap. Even with earplugs in place, Kris managed to explain precisely how to use the sight

H1k2c Gary E. Striker Jr b 10 may 1963 Seattle res: Spokane (2007)

I was a little internet surfing and noticed information on a Gary Striker associated with horses training, etc. References to Eastwich Hunters and Jumpers and True North Summer Shows. Wondering if this might be Gary Striker Jr, s/o Dr Gary Striker.

H1k3 Donna Striker 7 Oct 1935 Bottineau ND
+RA Cruikshank
+ ___ Neumeyer? At the Dunseith HS DHS blog 8/25/09, LeaRae Parill Espe email: ‘67 wrote “that on the way back from Alaskan cruise we visited Terry’s first cousin Donna Striker Neumeyer d/o Mable Espe & Elmer Striker. Also, spoke on phone to Pat who is sister of Donna she is 78 years old “(see H1k1) “We have visited Donna a few times in Seattle and Donna has visited us here in ND once. We met Pat in 1972 in Seattle when Terry took his father to see his sister Mabel Espe Striker. Mabel did visit ND either 1974 or 1975. Interestingly “for Elmer and Mabel Striker- his nephew (Douglas Striker) m her niece (Marlene Espe)”

H1k4 Marie Striker b 15 Aug 1937 Mont
+William Lillas

H1k5 Jackie Striker b 19 May 1939 Seattle
+James Martin