Condolences to the Albert Johnson (’70) and David Striker (’70) families
From David Slyter (’70):  Sabin, MN

Gary:

My condolences to the Striker family.   David was a classmate of mine from the class of 70.   In just a couple of weeks we have lost two of our classmates to cancer.    Albert Johnson and now David.   So sorry to hear this news.  Our thoughts and prayers are with both families.

Dave Slyter  (70)

 

Condolences to the Albert Johnson (’70) and David Striker (’70) families
From Mel Kuhn (’70):  St. John, ND

Gary,

I would like to send my condolences first to the Albert Johnson family and then to the David Striker family. The story goes that Albert and I first met when we were babies in Perth, North Dakota. My parents worked at the school and Alberts parents taught. We met up again as freshmen at good old DHS. I met David as a freshman also. I believe we shared lockers that year and Albert and I shared the next year. Albert and I did a lot of chasing in High School and beyond. I would really like to have the Cuda he had in about 1972 or 73. We kind of moved on at about that time and met up again in about 2008 or so. My memory don’t work so good no more. David and I carried on a friendship through High School and beyond and he even worked for me at a lumber yard in Rolla back in about 1989. I had thought of them both through the years.  I now wish we could maybe have gotten together again for a few more laughs about the things we did when we were younger. We just took it for granted that we would be doing those things forever.  I hope now Albert and David can maybe get together and share a good laugh. I will still think about them both as good friends and with a smile as I think about those High School years.

Mel Kuhn

 

Condolences to the David Striker (’70) family
From Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

Gary and Dunseith Friends,

To the Family, Extended family and friends of David Striker,

David, was a neighborhood of the hills friend and classmate,

I recall when  mom and dad would ‘go visiting’ back and forth with Doug and Marlene or with his grandparents, Art and Effie.

David and I were classmates for years beginning within the group of  9 second graders and many first graders in Mrs. Hanson’s stage combination room.

David was always cordial, pleasant and kind  through all the years.

My sincere sympathy as you mourn.

Vickie Metcalfe

A Winter Day at Tractor Supply.

My dog Thor’s stomach has issues. Finally, I found dental treats which his stomach  tolerates.

I  usually just go in and out quick to the treat section at Tractor Supply.

With today’s January  cold,  Thor and Buie  fussed with cabin fever;

I put on their coats, leashes, and took them to Bottineau Tractor Supply store  which welcomes dogs within the store.

Buie and Thor thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hour exercise walking  and exploring every aisle.

Buie’s favorite find? … a big box with big,huge, giant  bone’s _;the greedy little skunk wanted  to drag one home.

T’was not-a-thing I wanted in my living room!

One of the clerks gave Thor a  t-r-e-a-t. He went back again as he’s chosen that clerk for a new friend.

Yup. Just once, Thor goes up, looks him in the eye and the clerk is now trained to give him a treat!

I could  have stayed  all afternoon!  Going way back into the depths of the store I discovered;

Sections for birds, rabbits, dogs, horses, porcine,__ salt blocks for cattle…Yum. lickin salt blocks as a kid on a hot summer day.

We were sidetracked in the poultry section.  Speciality feed,waterers, brown and white clay eggs.

Say what?__Yes, fake eggs so the chicken will be encouraged to lay.

Hmm?   Mom’  never had to put fake eggs in nests.

May be the chickens of yesteryear were smarter. Ours at  the farm were smart and tame.

They perched on our shoulders while we worked..

Recollections of the cold  winter Saturday’s on the farm and choring flew through my head.

Saturday’s outside chores of cleaning gutters and calf pens,  hauling loads of straw bales from the bale pile with the horse or skidoo and stone boat to the barn.

We girls  let the laying hens out to scratch through the straw;  some  chose to sit our shoulders while we worked bedding down the calf pens.

We loved those times of  being out side in the  cold fresh air, crunching through the snow, keeping company of livestock,chickens, cats and dogs.

About this time of year after lunch came inside chores and may be mom would find an extra… it’s time to go to dirt cellar, to sprout potatoes. Yuck!

I believe walking the dogs indoors at Tractor Supply may continue at least until the warm breath of spring.

That’s my thought.

Until later.Vickie

 

 

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Blog (410) posted on March 28, 2009

Posted on March 28, 2009

From Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC Dear Gary, I am so proud of my North Dakota background. I always have been of course…but this last week more than ever. Thoughts of courage, bravery, get ‘er done, love of home and family come to mind when I see the flood info on national news. Many of my family members live in Bismarck and surrounding areas and I received my undergraduate degrees from NDSU. North Dakota is my true home. My heart goes out to those who have been or will be impacted by the floods. Brenda Hoffman Greenville, SC From Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN My heart goes out to everyone in North Dakota who is touched in any way by the flooding. This morning on a local Twin Cities radio station I heard a report by one of their reporters who is in Fargo (getting in the way) reporting on the flooding. She had been to the Fargo dome in the middle of the night and had nothing but praise for the spirit of the people who where there helping with the sandbagging. She also had very positive comments on the spirit of the people of not only Fargo, but of surrounding communities and seemed in awe of the volunteers from all around who showed up to help and are determined to stay until the last minute possible. My sister Crystal’s oldest son, Aaron Gunderson, lives in Fargo. As the flood waters are dangerously close to Aaron’s neighborhood and gradually creeping closer, today he is loading up his wife and four children and evacuating them to Grandma Crystal’s in Walhalla. To Aaron and anyone else who is in a similar situation – we pray for the safety of you and your family. I hope to be able to get up there with my shovel and help with the cleanup!!! PaulaFassett Updated Flood Conditions From Barbara Clark Olson, Fargo, ND Folks, this letter was forwarded to me by Barbara’s mother, Vivian (Dave (Deceased) Clark. Vivian lives 5 miles SW of Bottineau on the original Dave Clark ‘Short Horn’ Cattle Ranch. We have just finished another day of hard labor. Our house is on the wrong side of the contingency dike. If everything holds and the flood crests at 42 or 43 feet we will be ok. If dikes start to break, 42 feet will put water in our basement. 43 feet may or may not hit our first floor. It will probably hit the floor joists. Anything over 43.5 or 44 we will probably have water and inch or two of water on our first floor. It all depends on how it spreads out. The folks from Grand Forks cleared out our basement. Other than metal shelves it is completely empty. Everything is in our livingroom/dining room, Ross’s Office, and the garage. Most of the stuff in the garage is in the trailer. Just some old furniture, file cabinets etc. is on the floor. We are packing our suitcases and organizing to evacuate. There is currently a voluntary evac with a possible mandatory evacuation within the next 24 hours. Our plan is to evac to Detroit Lakes. We will stay at a hotel for the first night or two until we can have the water turned on at the cabin. More later Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO To Doreen Bailey Thanks for the dated picture, and yes all the Metcalfe’s started out in Hillside Township. Little Bill that you have seen pictures of was from the first family, then there were hers and theirs. I know that if you want to understand an area and the people you need to go over and over and over. It took twenty years for my mind to realize how I was really related to the other two parts of that family. So my dad was in school with all Mahlon Bailey’s kids. Then the old stories continued on for another 25 years in the county seat at Rolla. Dad worked with Hulda Bailey in the ASC office. She was Harvey’s wife who was Vance’s uncle. I am sure those Rolla people heard plenty of stories about Hillside Township. Clint Anderson would have a story or two similiar to this one because he did the same thing as a matter of survival, just ten years earlier. One morning in about 1929, my dad and his younger brother Archie had the usual load of wood, poles about 25 ft. in length on a bob sleigh, pulled of course by a team of horses. They had to cut and load that day and take it to town for sale. No chain saws in those days. Scotch Annie was out at the mailbox and she said, “Do you boys know how cold it is this morning?” she said, “It’s 52 degrees below zero.” I have never forgotten something that my dad said. Mr. Gottbrecht told them that if you can’t get your money for the wood uptown, just bring it to the mill and put it on my pile. He was their insurance policy and one person that made things work. Dale had an enormous lot of business in him, but I think young George surpassed them all for a full lifetime of giving to Dunseith. Yes, Mr. Dunseith. Gary Metcalfe Grenier Auction sale posted by Neola KofoidGarbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND Gary & Pennie (69) Kester Grenier USS New York Pictures provided by Alden Allard (59): LAS VEGAS, NV Here SHE is, the USS New York, made from the World Trade Center !