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Passing of Mary Rose Morin
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe(’70):  Bottineau, ND

Dear Alice Renault,  Gary and Alumni  friends of Dunseith  Public School,

I offer sympathy to  former  Dunseith Elementary co-worker, Alice Renault on the passing of her sister Mary Rose.

May you find the  warmth of comfort  Alice,  in your  unending  faith,  your loving family and friends.

Sincerely,

Vickie L. Metcalfe
August 20, 2019

https://prod1.meaningfulfunerals.net/obituary/mary-morin?fh_id=14585

 

Spectrum Store on Bottineau Main street is closing
Posting from Vickie Metcalfe(’70): Bottineau, ND

Gary, Karen Larson is shutting down the Spectrum.

I hope others will be bolstered by the photos and story  the tale/story, to go in and see Karen and do the same. Losing the Spectrum and the  expertise of Karen Larson  will be a  great loss to Bottineau and Dunseith. Thanks and take care. Sincerely, Vickie

Gary’s comments
I totally agree with everything you said Vickie. Bottineau and Dunseith too, will be at a loss without the expertise services of Karen and Spectrum.

Thank you Karen for all the services you have provided us and also for the entire community. You are a saint. I for one will miss visiting and seeing you in Spectrum with my visits back to the area.  

 

Posted by Vickie Metcalfe(’70):  Bottineau, ND
Note: This Picture is also attached

 

Bottineau Cabins by Oak Creek: Memories from the past
Posting from Vickie Metcalfe(’70):  Bottineau, ND

Gary and Dunseith Alumni Friends

May through August is prime for walking a dog.  Lochbuie my diabetic senior  Westie when hurting or tired uses a pet stroller.  Aka ‘Buie’s Cadillac’. I purchased for him because it reminded me of the D-John Deere I used in hayfields of summers long past..

My preference is early morning; at least 6:00 am dawn moseying along the walking path.   Much loved are North Dakota’s Changeling Morns. Be it,

-Calm, and quiet

-Gentle misting soft rain.

-Chilling dam p breeze  w in d.

Strong winds bring the hoody up, hat tucked away, with feet amping up to brisk strides whilst the stroller  hood comes down  for Buie’s protection.   Doggedly, I wander like  ‘the bear ‘went over the mountain to see what he can see.’

Halfway destination is arrived at the walking bridge where the D John Deere is pushed to the edges of the walking bridge and we mindfully gaze in all directions of the flowing or …. Not flowing Oak Creek.

I believe, Water is life.

Life in the hearing, seeing, smelling….‘and the feel

-Wee shy cotton tails or startled gigantic  Jack rabbits,

-splish/splash of the Beaver or Muskrat.

-Shushing, trickling, rushing of water where tiny bugs or microisms call water home.

-Various color birds calling the sun to wake up his sleepy head.

Final focus is on a huge many branched thick willow tree. And I wonder back to 72 years ago if a small-determined  willow branch was here, as my parents began their married life witnessed in the company of friends and family at Dunseith Lutheran Church on September 17, 1947.

Once,  while a child my Mom pointed out the area cabins, saying she and Dad’s wedding night was spent in a little cabin.  Hmm, close to  the flowing water, where the huge willow now has grown so strong and tall.

Given into history, I hauled out moms stuff which was long ago packed away, then,  asking Karen at the “Spectrum” to fwd copies of my parents wedding photo graph, signed guest list, and a yellowed curling clipping from the Star. ( I shall miss Karen as she is closing up shop soon)

Wholly Cow! upon sharing the photo’s’ Karen pulled out an old  photo of the cabins at Oak Creek.

My mom all those years kept in her possession every gift card she received at her wedding.

…I wept as I read them………so sincerely personal and kind.  Many of those folks continued to lend laughter, tears and support through to my parents passing.  Friendship treasured-endures.

Many think clutter. Clutter? I think not.   Frail yellow paper scraps of the past symbolize the strong spirituality of  a woman who treasured her marriage vows.    She and dad lived it together, through glad times and bad times, good health and sickness.

Dad was her one and only love.

Mom also valued family and friends kind and gentle folks who witnessed and supported her and her beloved.She never forgot a kindness.

In summary, for what it’s worth I share pieces of  my family history with y’all.  And, thank you  all kindly.

I dare you all, take a walk  mindfully  at dawn.

Sincerely,

Vickie Leona Metcalfe
August 20, 2019

 

Wedding of Clifford  David and Charlotte Harriet  (Lamb ) Metcalfe: September 17, 1947
Posted by their Daughter Vickie Metcalfe (’70):
Note: These Pictures are also attached

 My parents were: Clifford  David and Charlotte Harriet  (Lamb ) Metcalfe
Mom’s roots were primarily English, Irish and ..Penn Dutch…..

.Mom’s name.

Charlotte ……….named in  honor of    Maternal  Irish/Penn Dutch …great-grand mother Charlotte Anne (Plymire )Welch,          and  Charlotte  Ann  (O’Moran) Plymire  Irish immigrant  ( early 1700’s) great- great grand mother.
Midle name Harriet is after her English grandmother Harriet Lamb……..

 

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Blog (789) posted on April 30, 2010

 

Tommy Belgarde Passed away
Forward from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND

Note: I am not familiar with Tommy. I’m pretty sure some of you are though. Please fill us in with Tommy and where he lived etc. Our condolences are with his family with his passing. They are in our prayers. Gary

 

From:Keplin, Denise S.
Date: 4/29/2010 11:09:20 AM

To:undisclosed-recipients:,

Subject: #2 Prayer requests 4-29-10

Tommy Belgarde died early this morning. Please pray for his family and friends. Will let you know about services when I hear.

 

Reply from Cheryl Kester Gaugler (69): North Brunswick, NJ

Gary,

After seeing the map you sent today, I realized how close I was to you a couple of weeks ago – my husband and I visited our son in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He’s taking a year-long language course at Utma Jaya University learning Bahasa Indonesia. He loves the country and may end up staying longer. We saw many sites, one of the most amazing was standing at the top of Borobudur when the mist was rising from the jungle at sunrise – absolute breathtaking.

Just want to thank you again for all the coordinating you do keeping us in touch.

Cheryl Kester Gaugler – Class of 1969 Yes, Indonesia is just to the west of us. We have not yet visited Indonesia. Many folks from here have business connections in Viet Nam which is also a hop skip and a jump to the west of us as well. It’s hard to believe, but labor costs are less in Viet Nam than here in the Philippines.
Reunion reply from Shelley Sime Fossen (84): ?????, ND.

Gary – I read the updates all of the time and went to school in Dunseith till the 8th grade. You really are a saint for all you do with this blog. Just when is the date of the banquet? I am wondering if I could take my mom, Connie Burcham Sime, to the meal? I know that this is last minute but she is much too shy to just go on her own and Dad isn’t much of a social butterfly.

Thanks either way :o) Shelley Sime Fossen 1984 Bottineau

PS: Mom would have graduated about 1963 but I am not certain of that year (close). :o)

It’s great to hear from you Shelley. I have your mother listed with the class of 1962 in my records. It’s wonderful that you and your mother plan on attending the reunion. We have added you to our lists for attending. You can just send your payment, payable to Verena.

 Verena Gillis

Angela Berube Malget (65): Minneapolis, MN

 Folks, I just got a message from Angela Berube Malget (65) letting me know that she and Greg will be attending the reunion.

Note to Vickie From Gary
Vickie, I forgot to post this with the last blog. Sorry for the oversight.

Sympathy to Raphael Poitra (’65)
From Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

Dear Gary, Raphael Poitra, and friends of Dunseith Alumni, 

Raphael, sympathy on the passing of  your sister Cecilia (Poitra) Delorme.

            She  always shared her sweet beatific smile while visiting. She’d  often share  about people she treasured; her children and grandchildren, her family and her friends.

            I  truly enjoyed  visiting with her, whenever we met.

Sincerely, 

Vickie L. Metcalfe

 

Coconut Tree in the Stokes Compound Backyard in the Philippines

Following a long draught, with all the rain in the past several weeks, this lone coconut tree in our back yard has really blossomed.

When we developed our property in 2004, we cut down about 20 mature coconut trees.

This tree is one that has grown back. A mature coconut tree has a trunk length of 60’ to 80’. The fruit is all on the top. There are no branches on the trunks. This tree is still growing. It has a trunk length of about 8’.

These coconuts are heavy. Falling from a height of 80’ can be very dangerous. Before cutting them down in 2004, several fell on our tin roof making big dents.

 

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Blog (788) posted on April 29, 2010

Obituaries

Joseph Frank LaFountain (March 19, 1939 – October 26, 2010) JOSEPH FRANK LAFOUNTAINJoseph F. LaFountain, age 71 of Dunseith, died Tuesday in his home. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Dunseith. Burial will be in the St. Benedict’s Cemetery. A wake will be held on Thursday beginning at 4:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. in the Church. Joe Frank LaFountain, a son of Joe and Mary (Champagne) LaFountain, was born on March 19, 1939 at Belcourt. On January 18, 1959 he was married to Shirley Gunville at Belcourt. This marriage later ended. He is survived by his companion, Shirley LaFountain of Dunseith; 2 sons, Les LaFountain and Jeff LaFountain both of Dunseith; a daughter, Rhonda Poitra of Dunseith; 7 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; brothers, Gerald (Judy) Lafountain, James LaFountain and Benedict (Diane) LaFountain all of Dunseith; sisters, Theresa Tetrault, Dorothy Davis, Virginia LaFountain, Florence LaFountain, Sharon Lafountain, Ramona (Jimmy) LaFountain all of Dunseith, and Rita LaFountain of Rolette. Arrangements are with the Nero Funeral Home of Bottineau. Friends may sign the online register at www.nerofuneralhome.net.

 

 

 

Lucien Casavant

Reply from Lucien Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC

Gary, For sure Lucien Casavant is our Uncle…the nicest uncle ever…and his wife Alma, was a scream…we loved our Aunt Alma. She had this Lucille Ball type personality. Aggie

 

Follow up reply from Aggie

Hey Gary, It’s me again. I think the gal in the picture with Stella S. is her daughter Kathy S. Haven’t seen her 43 years but I’m positive it’s her. Aggie

 

Reply to Dick Johnson (68) form Aggie:

To Dick, Wow those snow picture really were jammed packed with winter memories of N.Dakota. Really caught me off gaurd… I guess just surviving half a dozen tornados ripping through the Carolinas this past couple days makes a person forget that it’s almost Christmas… Loooking at those pictures,I can almost smell the snow…Beautiful… Simply Beautiful..thanks for sharing…Aggie

To Gary, you need to go on that show the Apprentice with Donald Trump…He would probably hire you with all the construction you;’ve been doing. looks Great! Aggie

Aggie, you are right, folks identified the gal standing with Stella as her daughter Kathy. Gary

 

 Reply from Lynn Halvorson Otto (75): Boonton, NJ

Hi Gary, very nice addition to your home! It is fun to see it all come together. Lynn Otto Thanks Lynn,   We currently have our master bedroom upstairs. As we get older we feel it would be a lot nicer to have it on the ground floor. We were limited for real-estate space too, when we build our house. We did not have the adjacent lot at the time. The initial plan was for this to be a temporary house while we built in a development. In the middle of construction, Bernadette decided she would like to live here next door to her sister, so we then made this our permanent home.   Gary

 

DHS Class of 1969 held their 50th Class Reunion
Posting from Marvel Hill Thompson (69):  Bottineau, ND

The DHS Class of 1969 held their 50th Class Reunion on July 26 and 27.  We met at Dales Lounge with the start of visiting and eating.  Saturday, we had our class picture taken at the wheel, toured both the high school we attended and then onto the elementary to tour the new gym, WOW what a fantastic gym,  Capacity is 1985. Finished the event with  a banquet back at Dales and had  more stories and tears remembering our fun times.  We also had a short memorial in memory of the classmates who we lost way too soon.   Dales provided a private area for us.  Food and waitress were soooo great.

Thank you Staff of Dales.  Would recommend to any reunions.

See you later . Take care and safe travels Class of 1969.

Marvel

 

Condolences to Warren Anderson (’65)
From Ron Longie (’65):  Yakima, WA

Warren I’m so sorry to read of the loss of Cora please my sincere Condolences, prayers of strength go out to you, and Family

 

Raphael Poitra’s (’65) sister, Cecilia (Tootsie) Delorme,  passed away
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

Gary and friends of Dunseith School

Cecelia was her family’s matriarch.

Tootsie ( Cecilla)  was from a well-known  Poitra family,  North  of Dunseith proper.

She  was the  daughter of Ralph Poitra, sister of Raphael,

Niece of Alcide Lajimodiere, and mother of  ’70  classmate Carol Ann (Parsien) Lavallie.

I extended sympathy  to her  entire family.

Sincerely Vickie L. Metcalfe

Gary’s Comment;
I didn’t know Cecelia, but Raphael I know well from our DHS Class of ’65.
I extend my condolences to Raphael and all of Cecelia’s family. Being a Brother to Raphael, I know she was a good person too.

Cecilia Mae Delorme
May 13, 1930 – July 21, 2019

Cecelia Mae Delorme, age 89 of Dunseith, died July 21, 2019 in a Belcourt hospital. Her funeral will be held on Monday, July 29, 2019 at 10:00 Am in the St. Michael’s the Arch Angel Church in Dunseith. A wake will begin on Sunday at 4:00 P.M. in the church.

 

NOTE: Historical Event Saturday, July 27
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

Gary and friends of Dunseith Alumni

Tomorrow,10:00 a..m. – 1:30 p.m SATUR DAY, JULY  27, 2019, representatives of  Turtle Mountain Band  of Chippewa and the International Peace Garden will be working in conjunction to raise the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribal Flag.

I just heard  about this event on the Bottineau  Radio Station\ this morning. I understand there will be tribal drumming, slide show stories , traditional and Metis dancing   …….and traditional food.

1.I love history.

2. I enjoy people working  on mutual goals together .
3. I enjoy music.
4. I enjoy  trying different foods.
5. I enjoy the serenity of the Peace Garden.

After the Great Depression,

A paternal Uncle  Archie, like so  many other young men, worked  in the C.C.’s  building up the structures and grounds in the mid-thirties. My maternal Grandfather Robert E. Lamb and my mother (as a child) walked  from #43 East  many miles……

long,  long  ago  the day the  Garden was dedicated. The Lamb/Wicks families gathered at the picnic areas for many  a year.

Alas, the last few years  the cost to enter has grown to be more prohibitive. So I canna truthfully say how much a person has to pay to get in to this event.

Sincerely,

Vickie L. Metcalfe

 

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Blog (787) posted on April 28, 2010

 

Wesley Schnieder Story on a good ole ND Blizzard afternoon.

From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

Gary,

Today, October 27, was a very windy time here in ND. The wind brought wet snows and flung tree branches around.

Finding the school was shut down, I couldn’t walk far with the fear of my dogs flying. OK. Actually, they just turned around and let me know there was no way they’d be enticed to go any where until this afternoon, I said, “Ok lets go see Wes and Ovidia.” I had another story for Wes to approve the final draft.

My neighbors were doing fine, burrowed snug in their house. Buie sat dozing lazily, being gently stroked by Wes for a length of time. Thor relaxed at his feet. It was one of those old fashioned “snow days”. I said Wes, “This afternoon I couldn’t quite complete my “deep cleaning” chore I set out to do. I’ve been laughing, thrown back to a memory of my dad by one of your stories. So, I just had to sit down and put pencil to paper with this recent Wes story. ” For what it’s worth here it is. Vic

 

A Perfectly Good Pair of Pants Story

at first it twasŠever so faint. Then louderŠ.Grunts and slapping continued to ensue ____”ed–uhl UHL”. _____One day, Wes age 10, heard a neighbors voice from a distance. Wes, and it seemed neighbors from miles around heard. “ed—uhl.”

What was that? Another roar louder and more panicky again ! Then a final mighty, great roar! “ed——u!——– ed —–UH!——ED—-UHL!—-‘” “Neighbors uncertain what to do, although they knew the neighbor was yelling for his wife.

Once upon that time, there was this fellow and his wife Ethel, living on land west of the Schneider farm. This fellow had a problem with vermin in his granary. One bright morning, “Lookin at his dog he came to a conclusion much to the demise of the—er ???!”

BRIGHT IDEA? humm-mmm-hmmM-MMMMM? He decided to outsmart those pesky vermin. So, he threw a board over one hole, and stood over another. In anticipation of a show down, he’d brought his loyal dog as back up with him into the wood granary. He had the hopes of the little dog killing the vermin.

The scene that followed was purely. Unfortunate.

When It, Mr. “???” couldn’t get up one hole. Came up the other hole where he found himself lookin up, up, up,at the big man The man who weighed close to 300 pounds. STOMP_____. STOMP____. came down the big mans FEET.

Commotion and pandemonium followed. It seemed to the man it was a long battle. Oh my, that poor little ???! In fear, finally cornered, nearly dying of fright, did just about the only thing “IT” could. He ran up the mans big. booted foot and up, up up, the inside of an overall leg.

HUH???? EEEEEH! SLAP! ,SLAP “eeeEW” yelled the man to his wife at the house. Grunts and slapping continued to ensue “-“ED–uhl”. Neighbors heard. Another, bellowing roar, louder, more panicky , again “ed——u!——–” “ed —–UH!”——“ED—-UHL!”

The man with his big hand had cornered a ??? in his pants —just above the knee. He hobbled to the house, “ed—uhl”, “ED—HUL” “Det da scessors”. “The wife came running, with the scissors, and cut a hole through the fabric . And pulled out —-a very, quite, DEAD-END of a R- A -T.

Sadly, the poor little dog had no more vermin to chase and sadder yet it twas the end of another perfectly good pair of pants.

A Wes Story, as told to, then retold and embellished by Vickie On one fine October Snow Day, 2010

 

Early ND Snow
Pictures from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

We are just now getting the end of a two day winter blast. The only problem is that it’s still fall according to the calender. These are just a few shots I took today around the place. My haying equipment looks like it is now retired for the winter although it still needs to be cleaned up and put inside for the real winter The one picture is overlooking Horseshoe Lake from the north. It’s pretty, but what a mess for a few days ahead! I bet my pal Bill Hosmer is glad he made it back south before this hit! As he says, “It kind of brings a tear to you eye, doesn’t it.” Thanks Gary!

Dick

 

Stokes House addition in the Philippines

Folks, Several of you have requested pictures of our new house addition in progress. This is a 22″ x 40′ addition that includes a living room, master bedroom/bath and and an outside toilet accessible only from the outside.

Note: The blue tarp provides shade from the 90 degree heat.

 

Living room, 22′ X 20′, with 4 large windows & two exterior doors.

The walls are ready for paint.
They are working on the ceiling.

Up to the ceiling, everything is cement.Very labor intense and time consuming.

I could never afford the labor costs back in the states for this kind of construction.

 

 

Looking out from inside the living room.

 

Looking out our kitchen back door into the newly constructed Pantry way entrance to the house. Rather than paint, we decided to tile (ceramic) the walls of this room. The building thru the door is our outside kitchen/laundry building.