Dear Dunseith Alumni and Friends,

I wanted to get this posting posted before we leave on our Cruise.

We are leaving Early Monday Morning for Singapore where we will board the Diamond Princess Cruise ship on Dec 26^th for a 10 day SE Asia cruise. We will have 4 port call, 2 each in Thailand and Vietnam. We are going with two other couples. This is Angel’s first cruise, so she is very excited. We will be returning home early on January 7^th.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. This will be my last posting for this year.

Gary Stokes

Posting From Cheryl Larson Dakin (’71):  Bedford, TX

Hi Gary

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

I hope you and Angel and your friends have a wonderful cruise. I’m sure we will all want to see pictures!

George and I just got back from our bucket-list trip to the Oregon coast. It was rainy and cold and wonderful. Next coastal trip will be Maine with my sister Norma and Brother -in-law, Bob Nelson. Hopefully in the next year or 2.  Retirement = travel for us and we love it.

Cheryl Larson Dakin ’71

Ellen Sharon Graff Myrick (DHS Class 1958) Condolences / Memories

1. From Dianne Leier Fichter – DHS (1963) Teacher: 

Ellen was one of my best friends in college at Mayville. She introduced me to her home town of Dunseith and was instrumental in my accepting a teaching position there. Over the  years we lost touch but I will always remember our friendship and fun times. RIP my old friend.

      2. From Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

Thank you Gary,

Merry Christmas to you  too. uhm  TWO!
A few years ago before COVD,
I was fortunate to meet Ellen one Memorial Day at Dales.
Nice lady who treasured Dunseith memories/

Happy travels to you and Angel.

Vickie

David Peder Sebelius, (DHS “1974)  Obituary
Posted by Don Malaterre (’72): Sioux Falls, SD:

David Peder Sebelius, DHS “1974) aged 67, of Leeds, peacefully transitioned to the eternal world on November 20, 2023, following a courageous battle with Multiple System Atrophy.

Born on May 16, 1956, to Manvil and Dorothy (Gebeke) Sebelius of rural Dunseith, ND, David was baptized and confirmed at Willow Creek Lutheran Church in Overly, ND. He proudly graduated from Dunseith High School in 1974.

Growing up on a farm south of Dunseith with his seven brothers, David cultivated a love for cattle, horses, and the art of tinkering with automobiles and snowmobiles.

In high school, David met his lifelong companion, Darlene. On July 25, 1975, David married his sweetheart, Darlene Marie Myrum, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rolette. The couple moved to Leeds, ND, in the early 80’s to raise their three children Jeremy, Kristy, and Andrea. It was here that David established his trucking career and business, Mr. D’s Enterprise. His first Semi, the “Old Yeller,” traversed the US, accumulating over a million miles. Throughout his lifetime, David explored various paths including plumbing, working at BTR Elevator, and trucking in the oilfields with runs in Alaska, Canada, North Dakota, and other destinations in the US. His small business extended to David’s Performance Shop and an authorized Bravo Trailer Dealer.

Darlene and David shared the joy of experiencing many beautiful landscapes during their travels. In their later years, they settled back in Leeds.

David had a multitude of passions in life; from supporting Andrea in her basketball career, spending summers working on computers with Jeremy during his visits from Iceland, and engaging in snowmobile racing with Kristy. His love for snowmobiles and jet skis was evident in the countless hours spent in his shop, talking, tinkering, fixing, building his own snowmobile, creating patents, and inventions.  His heart yearned for snowmobile trips to Cooke City, MT, Idaho, Wyoming, and the unforgettable “Trip of a Lifetime” to Alaska with his buddies. His one and only granddaughter, Macie, held a special place in his heart. He cherished every moment spent with her, whether it was on a snowmobile adventure, jet skiing on Buffalo Lake, or enjoying movies together.

David was a man of resilience, intelligence, kindness, and above all, determination. Despite a recent diagnosis, he refused to let it slow him down. He was determined to make regular trips to his shop to visit with friends or work on projects, also continuing to make trips to visit his family as his body allowed.

He is survived by his loving wife, Darlene, of 48 years, fur baby Boomer and their children: Jeremy of Reykjavik, Iceland; Kristina (Wade) of Bismarck; and Andrea (Jon) of Minot. Also surviving are his cherished granddaughter, Macie, and her father, Matt Sogge. His mother, Dorothy, and six brothers: Harvey (Eileen), Daryl (Donna), Marvin (Cheryl), Dennis (Donna), Dean (Sherry), and Jeffrey (Tiffany) also survive him. Sisters-in-law include Margaret Sebelius of Fargo, Karen Sigvaldson of Cavalier, Denise (Larry) Kolterman of Hartford, SD, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

He is preceded in death by his father, Manvil; brother, Duane; brother-in-law, Rodney Sigvaldson, and his nephew, Kalvin Kolterman.

Funeral Services for David will be on Friday, December 1, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Leeds Lutheran Church with Military Honors to follow.

Grandma Ingrid Seim
From Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

November 19, 2023

Hello Gary and friends of Dunseith,

I was fortunate growing up amongst  the rolling hills of Rural Rolette County. My parents instructed each of  their children to respect and behave appropriately wherever we were.

They gave us expectations on how to  behave, each time before we went to various gatherings or  events. If they were not  to be present, Dad would say something like, “When you are out in the community , if you are acting inappropriately, your aunts, uncles and family (role model)adult  friends can correct you. And you need to listen!”  I listened and knew what dad meant.”

One of the first memories I  recall was a consequence of a behavior.  It was just my parents, me, and my older sister one sunny summer in a back pew Sunday at Little Prairie. I,  chubby little “Miss Be Haven”, without one word, dad took my hand walked  down the aisle, out  the door. We walked round and round, hand in hand circling the  little church.  Nary a word.

Oft times when I visit the  local cemeteries I visit final resting places  of  kind and gentle people from my childhood. I say Thanks.  Grandma Seim was a special lady the  grandmother of our hearts to our family. She  spun, carded ,dyed wool red and knit me mittens. She baby sat me. When I was  an 3rd grader, She  walked up the alley from her little  white house, to  big white school house the day mom and dad  attended Jim Anthony’s funeral.

Ingrid Seim was also  my little sister’s Godmother. One day  about year  ago, granddaughter by birth, Margaret, gifted Cyndy, Grandma  Ingrid’s lefse rolling pin.

Later, Vickie L. Metcalfe

Hello Dunseith Alumni and Friends,

I was saddened to hear of Ellen’s passing. We exchanged a few messages over the years too.

This will be the last posting for this year.

Angel and I along with two other couples are leaving the day after Christmas on a 10 day Royal Caribbean SE Asian cruise. On Christmas day we will fly to Singapore, where we will board the ship the next day. We will have 4 ports of calls. 2 in Thailand and 2 in Vietnam. This will be Angel’s first cruise, so she is very excited.

The “Cebu Expat” (Monthly dinner) group that I started 14 years ago has become pretty active the past while too. We had 300 folks attend our Thanksgiving dinner last month at the Bai Hotel. The Bai was well organized and handled our group very well serving a traditional Thanksgiving buffet dinner.

This month we are having our Christmas Buffet dinner / dinners at the Marco Polo hotel. Their limited capacity for us is 100 each night. We are going 3 nights this week: Monday (105), Tuesday (103) and Wednesday with 60 folks. Angel and I will be attending all three buffet dinners too. We will cut back on our intake though. We (Angel and I) are now planning January’s dinner that will be held at the Holiday Inn on 1/26/2024.

We are an Expat group with members from many countries of the world. Most of the guys are foreign with local wives/partners. We are English speaking. Having done this, solo, for so many year, it’s time for me to start turning some of this over to Angel so she can keep the group and monthly dinners going well into the future. I/we arrange each discounted dinner with extra perks and amenities, mainly with the 4 and 5 star hotels in the area. Then I post it to our members for their replies to attend. My current distribution is about 850. We are a registered nonprofit group with the Philippine Security and Exchange commission. All that we ask for is a free dinner at each of our dinners.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Gary and Angel Stokes

Ellen Sharon Graff Myrick (’58) of Grand Forks, North Dakota
Obituary Posted by Don Martel (Former DHS Princ):  Rosemount, MN

Ellen Graff Myrick (DHS ’58)

April 16, 1940 – December 10, 2023

Ellen S. Myrick, age 83, resident of Grand Forks, ND, died at Altru Hospital on December 10, 2023.

Ellen Sharon Graff was born to Agnes Graff on April 16, 1940, in Fargo, ND. She was raised with family in Starkweather and later Dunseith, ND. She graduated high school in Dunseith with the Class of 1958. Following her high school graduation, she attended the State Teachers College in Mayville, ND. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education in 1962. She taught English in many schools including, Devils Lake High School, Lake Region Junior College and in Cannon Falls, MN. She also served her students in many capacities including Speech Coach and Theatre Director. Ellen met and later married the love of her life, Richard Myrick on December 20, 1975, in Burnsville, MN.

She later returned to school furthering her education by earning a Master of Education degree from the University of North Dakota in 1978. Ellen and Richard moved to California where she began her new career working alongside the United States Air Force.  She gave birth to her only child Matthew on July 12, 1983. They returned to North Dakota in 1985. She served her students in multiple capacities at the Grand Forks Air Force Base and was most well known as a Guidance Counselor and for working in the Education Office. Ellen was very active with Boy Scouts of America, Zion United Methodist Church, where she served in a multitude of capacities with the United Methodist Women. She also took every opportunity to cheer for the Minnesota Vikings and UND athletic teams.

Ellen is survived by her son, Matthew (Libby) Myrick of Grand Forks, ND; sister, Jean (Steve) Miller of Glendale, AZ; niece, Amy Delano of Peoria, AZ and nephew, Joshua Miller of Glendale, AZ . She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard and her parents, Agnes and Hercules.

A Funeral Service will be held at Zion United Methodist Church in Grand Forks on Wednesday, December 20, at 11am with Rev. Chang H. Yi officiating. Visitation will take place one hour to the service at the church. Interment will take place at Memorial Park South Cemetery following the service.

Don Martel’s comments.

Ellen and my wife Colleen were classmates all through school and  graduated from DHS with the class of 1958.

They remained friends throughout their lives.

It became a tradition to get together for lunch at Dale’s on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, along with several other classmates. However the numbers have declined over the years. This year there were only 3 classmates in attendance.

Bottineau Memorial Hall
KFYRTV link Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’70): Bottineau, ND

Read more on Those who serve: Bottineau’s veteran hub at
https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/12/01/those-who-serve-bottineaus-veteran-hub/ 

Gary Stokes comments: Bottineau Memorial Hall.

What a wonderful facility for Bottineau and the surrounding areas.

With my trips back to the area, I too, visit and chat with these guys on a daily bases. Often times for a short time in the mornings and afternoons. Often times all in the same day too.  I know most of these guys from my childhood days and also with my trips back to the area over the years. My father was instrumental with me knowing so many too.  What a wonderful friendly bunch of folks. There are the same ones that are there most every day, but there are always some that appear a little less frequently too. I will be back again this coming July 2024 too. Hopefully with my wife Angel too.

Memories: Lefse rolling pin and Lefse

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

November 19, 2023

Hello Gary and friends of Dunseith,

I was fortunate growing up amongst  the rolling hills of Rural Rolette County.

My parents instructed each of  their children to respect and behave appropriately wherever we were.

They gave us expectations on how to  behave … each time before we went to various gatherings or  events.

If they were not  to be present, Dad would say something like, “When you are out in the community , if you are acting inappropriately, your aunts, uncles and family (role model)adult  friends can correct you. And you need to listen!”  I heard and knew

what dad meant.

        One of the first memories I  recall was a consequence of a behavior.  It was just my parents, me and my older sister one sunny summer

in a back  pew on Sunday at Little Prairie. And  I, “Miss Be Haven”, without one word, dad taking my hand walked  down the aisle, out  the door.

We walked round and round, hand in hand circling the  little church. …. Nary a word.

Oft times when I visit the  local cemeteries I visit final resting places  of  kind and gentle people from my childhood. I say thanks.

Grandma Seim was a special lady to our family. She carded and dyed wool red  and knit me mittens.  She baby sat me,  She walked over to the big white school house when I was in 3rd grade  the day mom and dad went to Jim Anthony’s funeral.

She was my little sister’s Godmother.  One day  about year  ago her grand daughter, Margaret, gifted my sister, her Grandma  Ingrid’s
lefse rolling pin.

My sister just sent me a photo of “Grandma Seim’s” lefse rolling pin  and lefse she  made today.

Later, Vickie L. Metcalfe

Dear Folks,

I was so saddened to hear of Martha’s passing. She passed today.  Marth is the last of the Dean and Dorothy Lamb family.

In our growing up days, with 4-H and the Kelvin Home Makers,  The Lambs were a big part of our family circle. We’d see and be with them many times each month. They were good respectable folks.

In hind sight I kick myself in the rear end for not seeing and visiting with more with the Lamb’s than I did in my adult years. I knew Marth was is Saint Andrews long term when I was there this summer too and I didn’t visit her. My goal was to see her this next summer and now it’s too late.

Thank you Vickie lamb, Martha’s first cousin, for posting her passing so soon.  As soon as her Obit is available, I will post. In the mean time please keep abreast of Nero’s posting of her funeral services.

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

Martha Lamb Schepp (DHS -68)
July 28, 1949 – December 7, 2023

Martha Schepp, age 74 of Newburg, passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at a Bottineau hospital.
Vickie Metcalfe’s comments

Gary and Friends of Dunseith,

In Memory of Martha  Irene  Lamb Schepp;

She was a wonderful wife, mother , grandmother, daughter, sister, cousin, friend, and neighbor.

She was well known  as a beloved teacher, church and community member.

Martha  left a legacy in her wake and will be fondly remembered.

GOD Bless Martha.

December 7, 2023

Vickie