Bernadette Stokes
Folks,
Bernadette had a really bad spell or seizure. She hasn’t been well the past several weeks. This past week was the worst by far. She was to the point of being totally bed ridden and not really being with reality. At times she remembered nothing. Most of the time her short term memory was pretty short too. Yesterday while I was playing pool she had a really bad attack. The gals got scared and called the Ambulance and took her to the hospital. Her BP was 175/49. Extremely high in the high and extremely low on the low. Very strange. In a few hours her BP returned to normal 110/70. She was in the Emergency Room for 6 hours. They attributed her condition to her sickness of which there is nothing they can do for. We brought her back home. This morning she was able to stand and walk with assistance. Her speech is very much improved and she isn’t nearly as confused. What a remarkable comeback.
Message from Colette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe, NM
I am thinking of you and Bernadette. Close family and friends are invaluable in these difficult times and you are blessed with an abundance of both. Take care, Colette
Class of 1965 Home Economics teacher
Question from Ginger LaRocque Poitra (’65): Belcourt, ND
Gary,
I would like to ask our 7th or 8th grade Home Economics teacher probably ’61, ’62 or ’60, ’61 school years.
She taught us in those grades and years. Someone mentioned her not to long ago. Well anyway I remember we made a large fish I am sure it was for a parent night. It was shaped into a fish, mixed with a mayonnaise. I don’t know if she made her own. It was a wonderful flavor, I was wondering if she still has the recipe I would appreciate it, if she does. I am probably reaching to out of the way.
Thank you Gary
Ginger
Melvin Pederson Obituary (Jenny Handeland’s Nephew???)
Posted by Doreen Larson Moran (BHS ’61): Spokane, WA
Gary. So sorry for the suffering and sadness for you and your family. You are a strong person from very strong stock. Life is not easy. Peace to and be with you through these rough times.
I just took time to look at the Spokane Obit section. I hope you can open and read this one on Mr Pederson. The born Ackworth ND alerted me. His son and daughter in law had come to one of the American Legion/VFW breakfasts in Priest River ID. I still have the history you sent to me. I expect one of these times they will be back in Priest River for the breakfasts. (As will Bob and I be back there too. We are in ND until Mid Oct.) At that time I will give him the history.
Gary’s comment
Thanks so much Doreen for your concerns. I guess you could say I come from strong stock. Didn’t we all from that part of the country.
About Melvin Pederson. As I remember from hour blog discussions a few years back, I think Gary Metcalf mentioned that Melvin’s father, Sam, was a brother to Jenny Handeland. I can’t readily find that posting though. So Bev Handeland Hamnes and Melvin Pederson were first cousins.
The Pederson farm was located a mile west of our farm in the Ackworth community. They moved from there in the early 50’s so I don’t remember much about them.
PEDERSON, Melvin F.
Born at home in Ackworth, ND on February 19th, 1926 to Sam and Edith (Hurst) Pederson. Melvin passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on September 13th, 2016 at Hospice House North in Spokane, WA., at the age of 90. Growing up on a farm in North Dakota, he joined the Navy at 18 years old and got in on the last of World War II aboard the Destroyer, the USS Kendrick. After being Honorably Discharged in May 1946, he moved to Spokane where he made his home for the rest of his life. He worked in construction and owned a service station for a few years until November 1949, when he hired on at Kaiser Aluminum, Trentwood, and worked there until his retirement in February 1987. Melvin married Katherine (LeClare) Orchard on February 16, 1963 and they raised four children on a 15 acre quarter horse ranch north of Spokane. Katherine passed away in 1993. He was preceded in death by four of his siblings. He leaves behind a son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Mary Pederson, daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Bernard Jones, daughter Judy Pederson, son Russell Pederson; daughter-in-law, Tiffany Peterson; and six grandchildren: Mitch and Nathan Pederson, Hayley Blank, Macie Jones, Noah and Kyan Pederson. Melvin is also survived by one brother, Lowell Pederson and close friend, Kathy Estes. Melvin’s favorite hobbies were dancing and horseback riding. He participated in the Gentlemen on Horseback ride for over 20 years. He was an active member of the Back Country Horsemen and completed the entire route of the Chief Joseph ride which entailed a distance of one hundred miles a week each year for 13 years. He participated in other rides spanning Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Arkansas. He also rode for two years with the High Country Horsemen in Wyoming. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 23rd from 5-7PM at Hennessey Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division. The Rosary will follow at 7PM. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Paschal’s Catholic Church, 2523 N Park Rd, on Saturday, September 24th at 12:00 noon, followed by a Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, 7200 N. Wall St, at 1:45 PM. The family would like to express special thanks to the staff at Hospice House North for their love and support. Online condolences may be expressed at hennesseyfuneralhomes.com
DHS State championships
Posting from Terry Marion (’75): Dunseith, ND
Gary, Here is a little history for Dunseith High School (see picture), I am not sure if there were any other state championships that DHS teams had during our schools history in the sports of Football, Basketball and Baseball? Maybe someone out there might know the answer to this question. I and (Jeff (Evans) noticed that there might have been some players names that might have been left off of this trophy if so who were they? The other question I have, were there any other state championships in the other towns in Rolette County. I am aware of a 2nd, 3rd and 5th in the state Basketball tourney for Dunseith boys teams but maybe only one state Championship in baseball for Dunseith. Thanks, Terry L. Marion
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Blog (508) posted on July 1, 2009
Posted on July 1, 2009
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Reply from Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC
To Dick,that story was soooo funny,when you first described putting all differnt sizes of tires on that car, I just lost it laughing,just trying to picture it.Then when I scrolled down and actually saw the car you can see that there is 2 different size tires on it…What a scream…As I was reading it I was cringing thinking of how dangerous that whole episode was,but kids being kids just don’t think that far ahead,but it was obvious Keith Smiths dad realized it,but I guess thats what parents are for,to protect us from ourselves.That was really a great story and I can see how that picture would be priceless to you. Keep the stories and pictures coming…. Aggie Aggie, I was in a bit of hurry yesterday and didn’t take time to comment to your message posted yesterday. You too had me in stitches with your comments as quoted:
“We use to be able to talk our Dad to go on a Sunday drive with the whole family??? I’m not real sure how we managed, but I remember about one Sunday a month he would pack us all in and drive down to Yellow Corners and get dixie cups. It kinda reminds me of this reality show on T.V called, How’d They Do That??? Well thanks for all the great entertainment Gary! Aggie”
Aggie, I’m sure most know, but some don’t, that there are 16 kids in your family. Most of us knew that is what you were referring to. Now the rest know. Aggie, the humor just rolls out of you. You really have a way with words. Your folks did a wonderful job raising such a large family. One can not ask for a nicer bunch of caring compassionate roll model folks than you guys, the Casavant kids. That was very obvious with the conversations Bernadette and I had with your brothers Rene, Joe & Gerald at the 2007 reunion. We had a nice long and very enjoyable lunch together one day at Dale’s. Gary
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends, In reply to Aggie’s question about the big white building by the Dick
Reply from Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, WY
Gary,
Reply from Bev Morinville Azure (72): Dunseith, ND
Reply from Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): Dunseith, ND
Today’s blog brought back many memories for me…Patty, I too learned to drive on a Ford tractor, but perhaps Dad was a safer instructor than Dick???? lol as I don’t remember trees being in the wrong places. Verena, I heard my parents and grandparents talk many times of the use of Agent Orange to clear the border line in this area, but I have no proof that this is true. If it is true, I think it may have been used somewhere around the 30’s or 40’s from what I remember them saying. I hope that someone will be able to find the information as it may help people in this area understand why so many are sick. Gary, I don’t think this will be of interest to many people, but feel free to include it if you wish. I am including a picture of my grandfather Anton Dietrich with his fiddle. The picture was taken somewhere in the early 1900’s, which would make this instrument around 100 years old now. After my parents passed away, I found the fiddle in Mom’s things and decided it deserved to be heard again and enjoyed, so I gave it to Jim Birkland, who as you all know is a fiddle player. He did a bit of fixing and played it for me. I wanted to cry the first time I heard it. To think I was hearing the same sounds my grandparents and parents had heard was awesome. Jim called me last night and asked if he could pass the fiddle on to his son, who also plays. What an honor to know the fiddle will stay in the family and be enjoyed for many years yet!!! Thank you Jim. And thank you Gary for all you do for each of us each day. ele Ele, By all means I will post this picture of your Grandfather Anton Dietrich. Are you related to Jim Birkland? I have not seen Jim and Ruby for close to 50 years. They lived up on the Johnny Hiatt place, now the Fauske’s, when they were first married. Ruby is a sister to Mel Kuhn’s (70) dad. I think this is a picture of Jim Birkland that Kenny Nerpel sent a year or so ago? Please correct me if this is not Jim. Gary
Anton Dietrich Jim Birkland
Reply from Paula Fassett (70): North Branch, MN It was interesting to read Verena Gillis’ note about agent orange. Once upon a time, Joe Evans told me that years ago when the US/Canada border was cleared at the Peace Garden and beyond, agent orange was used to rid the area of foliage, and he swore that that was the reason for the high cancer rate in the area. At the time he told me this I thought it sounded like a valid reason, but I’d never heard that from anyone else until now. So Verena, maybe there is something to that!
Paula Fassett
Reply from Eileen Brudwick: Fargo, ND Hi Gary, Here is a link to a website regarding the agent orange sprayed in Canada. I don’t have a clue whether this is the area Verena is talking about, but thought I would pass this on to you.
Eileen
http://www.agentorangecanada.com/ WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE Over one billion grams of Agent Orange, Agent Purple and Agent White were sprayed on CFB Gagetown and surrounding communities from 1956 to 1984 consisting of 3.3 million litres and kilograms of Dioxin, Picloram, 2,4-D + 2,4,5-T, and Hexachlorobenzene During the 28 years that DND sprayed, the enormity of the spray exposure and drift became evident as thousands of civilians and military personnel became sick and were/are dying from being poisoned by the carcinogenic toxins in Oromocto, CFB Gagetown and all of the communities surrounding CFB Gagetown
Toni Morinville & Randy Kelly
Dan McKay & Pam Lagerquist
Comments: This picture must have been taken in 1950. With 3 candles, this must be Pam Fassett’s 3rd birth. Her birthday is November 30th and I think she was born in 1947. I think Dick Johnson was born in 1950 and by the looks of this picture he’s not even a year old yet. Gary
Picture (11/30/1950) L to R: Mark Anderson, Susan Fassett, Pam Fassett, John Morgan & Dick Johnson
Don Johnson (46)
Ramona Dionne Johnson (48)
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