6/13/2016 (2396)

Gail Halvorson (’72)
Message from Rod Hiatt (’69):  Bottineau, ND.

Gary,

I did an auction sale on Saturday in the Turtle Moutains just west of the Bottineau/Rolette County line and it was like having a Dunseith Reunion. I think that there was every Hillbilly fron Souris to St. John and a large number of Dunseith people there, with close to 400 people attending. A whole lot of visiting and BS’n going on for them while I was selling. I had the pleasure of seeing Gale Halvorson Shuler for the first time in many years. Gail is still as good looking as always and has the sweetest personality of any gal that came out of Dunseith. Just wish I would have had more time to visit with her.

Rod

 

St. Mary’s Indian Mission
Correction from Ron Peltier (’70):  Dunseith, ND

The picture of the church posted by Bev back in 2009 was not St. Anns, it was St. Mary’s Indian Mission, just east of the Dunseith Day School.  It was called an Indian Mission and later changed to just St. Mary’s.

 

Posting of the day “The Platters”
From Wally Garbe (Neola’s Husband): Minot, ND

The Platters

Little did the Platters know in 1955 that this song would be so popular and appropriate in 2014, 59 years later.

1955 Song


June 12th – Ching Palace Chinese Restaurant, Cebu City, Philippines

We had a wonderful dinner last night with Bernadette’s Great Niece and Nephew, Jasmine 11 and Tyler 9. They are Novie’s kids. Good kids. Lately we have been taking Jasmine with us a lot when we go out so she can assist Bernadette, especially going to the bathroom. That is one task I can’t do. Often times Bernadette needs help dishing up her food too. If it is a buffet we are at Jasmine will go with Bernadette and dish up her plate for her. She likes going with us and we love having her along. Last night Tyler came along too.

Because Novie was unable to go, Jasmine went with us to our last Cebu Expat Monthly dinner. Following the dinner, Bernadette always makes her rounds visiting to all the tables, normally with Novie, but last month it was with Jasmine. She got a lot of attention and lot of hugs, so now she wants to attend all the dinners. I think we will let her.
Stokes 2396

 

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Blog (467) posted on May 23, 2009

05/23/2009

Posted on May 23, 2009

Reply from Diane Fugere (75): Minot, ND

Gary:

I was in Bismarck a couple days at meetings and found it ironic to see all the memories posted about Don and Bernice when I got home.

The reason I found it ironic was that I too had thought about Don and Bernice both on the way to Bismarck and back to Minot.

Everyone who was ever in choir will know what stirred my memory. I was listening to the radio, (Bismarck has a great oldies station) and heard the song both on the way down and on the way back: Monday, Monday by the Mamas and the Papas!

Great song and great memories of a wonderful couple.

Diane Fugere

Reply from Erling Landsverk (44): Portage, WI

HI GARY:

I WAS INTRIGUED BY DAVE SLYTERS COMMENTS ABOUT DON AND BERNICE JOHNSON, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE MENTIONED THE OLD BENNY JOHNSON FARM. I NEVER KNEW DON OR BERNICE JOHNSON, HAVING MOVED AWAY FROM THE HILLS BACK IN THE 40’S. FROM WHAT I READ, DON AND BERNICE JOHNSON WERE AN OUTSTANDING PAIR A CREDIT TO THE COMMUNITY, THE SCHOOLS AND NORTH DAKOTA AS A WHOLE. THE TRAGEDY THAT ENDED THEIR LIFE IS SO VERY SAD AND A LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY AS I CAN ONLY ADD MY BELATED CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, HAVING JUST LEARNED OF IT. GETTING BACK TO THE BENNY JOHNSON FARM; IT WAS LOCATED JUST ONE MILE EAST OF OUR FARM, . OUR FARM BORDERED THE ROLETTE COUNTY LINE. BENNY’S MOTHER DELIVERED SOME OF MY SIBLINGS INCLUDING MYSELF. I GUESS SHE WAS A MID WIFE TO MANY OF THE NEIGHBORS. AS A KID I ACCOMPANIED MY OLDER SISTER TO THE JOHNSON FARM TO USE THE TELEPHONE, SINCE THERE WERE NO TELEPHONE LINES NEAR US. I REMEMBER HER BEING QUITE SHORT, AND CHEERY AND SHE WOULD CALL BURDELLA FOR US, TO GET THE CALL STARTED. I MUST SAY THAT SINCE I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THE DUNSEITH ALUMNI THAT OLD MEMORIES KEEP CROWDING IN FROM FAMILY NAMES WE KNEW SO WELL. IN OUR PARTICULAR AREA WERE THE HAGEN’S, WINDOM’S, WENSTAD, JOHNSON, SATRAND, ANDERSON, BYE, HALVORSON, MIKLESON, CHRISTIANSON, MELHOUSE, FULSEBAKKE, LUND, GREIG, KNUTSON’S, BJORNSETH AND SO ON. OF COURSE, WE KNEW MANY OTHERS AS WELL, THE HIATT’S WERE NOT FAR AWAY, AND NORMAN AND I ATTENDED DEAR OLD DHS AT THE SAME TIME. I BELIEVE MY 6TH GRADE TEACHER, ADAM LANG WAS MARRIED TO CHARLOTTE HIATT. I REMEMBER HIM HAULING US OVER TO THE ACKWORTH SCHOOL FOR A SOFT BALL GAME, WHERE WE , “THE LOON LAKE DUSTIES” GOT SPANKED . I APOLAGIZE FOR GOIN ON, BUT WHEN A FELLA GETS INTO HIS 80’S IT IS NOT UNLIKELY THAT MEMORIES TEND TO BECOME VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK GARY. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. INCIDENTALLY YOUR GRANDPARENTS WERE FRIENDS OF OURS AS WELL AS NEIGHBORS.WELL AS THE FAMILY.

ERLING LANDSVERK

From Sharon Longie Dana (73): MIssoula MT

Reply to Martinson Picture:

He made the best birthday cakes in the world!! Lemon-filled…….And date-filled cookies….Tara got me hooked!!! He was the best!!!!!!

Sharon Longie Dana (73)

Reply from Evon Lagerquist (77): Dunseith, ND

Amos & Annie Hiatt lived where Norris & Arleen Knutson live.

Reply from Florence Hiatt Dahl (50): Anchorage, AK

Uncle Amos lived on a lake just east of Aunt Margie. I still remember an incident at their home. My parents were visiting and I was sitting on a chair waiting and waiting and fell asleep and falling off. The silly things one remembers…………..

Florence, This would be where Norris & Arleen Knutson are now living. They purchased their farm from Little Willie and Maxine Hiatt in 1955 when they moved to Bottineau. The name of the lake is the “Lagerquist Lake”. Gary

Reply from Eileen Brudwick: Fargo, ND

Hi Gary,

According to the 1910 & 1920 census, Amos & Annie lived in the Willow Lake township,Rolette County, North Dakota. Hope this helps.

Eileen

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Replies:

Correction from Bev Morninville (72): Dunseith, ND

Gary, I don’t know where my mind was when I sent you the picture of St Marys and I said it was St Ann’s St Ann’s is in Belcourt and St Marys was up north of Dunseith I am sure alot of people thought OH MY GOD Bev has really lost it. haha in any case It is St Marys.
GOD BLESS YOU …………BEV

Bev, I love it!!! Look at the activity this generated with the attention given to this church. We are all human and we all make our share of blunders. We all know you knew this was St. Mary’s, but what you knew and what got written didn’t quite match is all.

I have attached a Cemetery listing (Excel spread sheet) for this church that was compiled by Vance Bailey (Deceased) in 2002. I received this list from Vance’s wife Doreen. Gary

Reply from Floyd Dion (45):Dunseith, ND

Hi Gary

The picture of the church that Bev. Morninville Azure sent was not St. ann’s Church, it was Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. It was changed from St. Mary’s Church to Immaculate Heart of Mary,because it was confused with St. Mary’s Mission in Dunseith where the Sisters lived.

Floyd.

Reply from Richard Langer: Belcourt, ND

The picture of the church is not St Ann’s, but it was St. Mary’s church located a few miles east of the Dunseith Day School. It was burnt a few years ago. Richard Langer

Reply from Ron Peltier (70): Dunseith, ND

The church pictured is not St. Anns, it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church also once called St. Mary’s Indian Mission Church.

Reply from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

The picture is of St Mary’s Church–It was a mile or so east of Highway 3 — straight east of the Day School. St. Ann’s is the Catholic Church in Belcourt

Allen

Reply fron Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): Dunseith, ND

One of us is losing it!! That sure looks like St. Mary’s to me..it was located just east of the Round House corner north of Dunseith. Let me know if it’s me and not you losing it. Thank you again for the work you do Gary..can’t start my day without you anymore.

ele

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church

Pictures provided by Mark Schimetz (70): Rolette, ND
Louis & Stella (Richard) Schimetz – October 10, 1950

 From Mark Schimetz:

Gary the Man is Arsaine Fontane. born in 1878 in Canada, The lady is his wife, Melinda (Toupin) Fontaine, born in February 1897, also from Canada. They are the parents of Joseph Fontaine Sr. Joseph was one of 16 Children Arsaine and Melinda had.

Joseph married Theresa Masse and had 8 children. Earnest, Alice, Janet, Lucille, Joe Jr. Margaret and (Victor and Mary) were killed in a small plane crash in the Dunseith area.

Hence, Arsaine and Melinda are the Grandparents of Joe Fontaine Jr. Class of 1969, Margaret Fontaine, class of 1971, and sibling listed above.

Arsaine and Melinda are mentioned in the Prairie Past and Mountain Memories, Page 39 and 40. No Photo however. Some of the older, Children may have attended school in Willow City’s Catholic school. I know that Joe Jr. did for a few years.