Reply from Sandra Zeiler Vandal (62): Elk River, MN

Hi Gary, and new to the list Brent Vandal. Joe Vandal, married to Josephine Davis lived by Belcourt. Joe was a brother to Leonard Vandal, who was Mikes dad. So do you come from that branch? That would be interesting to find out if there is a connection. Looking forward to seeing even a small part of Alaska. Sandra

Reply from Brent Vandal: Anchorage, AK

My grandfathers name is Louis Vandal, he married Corrine Davis now Corrine vandal from Dunseith, I am related to the vandal’s from Belcourt and St.. john. I have lived in Alaska now for two months. I like it but it is tough to get on my feet I’m transferring my job from the lowes in Alaska to the lowes in Bismarck to stay with a friend there.

Are Corrine and Josephine Davis related? How are Joe and Louis Vandal related? Gary

Message from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

Kith and Kin,
If you are interested there is a photo of our dear family friend..(
Conrid’s uncle) Art Seim today on this Dunseith Alumni blog. If you
please, go to… http://garystokes.net/message513.aspx

Also, a photo today and on previous Gary Stokes blogs of Dick
Johnson’s great-uncle Axel. One photo is in the early 1900’s. In
youth, after his real father was murdered in Norway, Axel came over
on a shIp, with his mother and 2 siblings. ( this according to his
daughter Mary Johnson (Seigrist), who told me her family story.)
Axel’s 1st wife died of the Spanish flu in 1918. His second wife,
Bernice Kelly was Mary’s mom. There is another photo of Axel, aged,
as folks would recall him the night watchman at Dales.

Axel Johnson had many fine character attributes and was very
respected and highly regarded by our Metcalfe Kith and Kin, and also
his many friends and neighbors in the Dunseith area.

My dad , Cliff and Uncle Bill Metcalfe, would visit and tell the
family story of, “Axel the Game Warden” In the 20’s or 30’s Axel
was attempting to solve a case, and find information on a
continuing mystery. Who was apparently illegally trapping muskrats
at area lakes and sloughs? Axel came in a buggy, to the Metcalfe farm
north of Rabbit City Lake. He stopped his horse in the barn area.
Getting out of the buggy, he stood and greeted various members of
the Metcalfe family, he stated his business. He said he was working
on his game warden job. Axel began to lecture the group assembled
before him about the seriousness of criminal activities such
as………out-of-season trapping. He led them to believe he was
suspicious of some local youth and was hot on their trail. He wasn’t
going to name any names..not quite….yet…. until he had real
proof. Maybe when he caught them in action. As he sternly lectured,
he walked back and forth over……the manure pile……under-which,
one or more of the boys had secured…a stash in a box…a big stash
buried just… a wee bit… under the surface of the Metcalfe manure
pile. Very nervous Metcalfe youth kept still, extremely quiet, as
they stood attentively, listening,….held their breath, and
wondered if Axel would start pitching manure or if he heard a
telltale clomping muffled sound while he paced over the
box….After giving them this fine lecture and the stern warning that
he was continuing his pursuit, Axel finally got in his buggy and
left the quiet lot…..in the barn yard.
Whoooeee, relieved… those boys exhaled. The “stash was never
uncovered by Axel”. He never caught his man?
Many years later at Dales, Axel told dad his side of the tale…..Dad
came to the conclusion that the whole time, as he paced….. Axel
knew.

Does else remember this Metcalfe tale?
HAPPY JULY! LOVE, Vickie

Vickie, you referenced the Dunseith Alumni site.http://garystokes.net/default.aspx Since developing this site a few months back, we have had in excess of 3,000 visitors. We had over 900 visitors just in the month of June. After seeing these numbers I will be a bit more disciplined in posting the daily blog in a timely manor on this sight. For everyone’s info I don’t always post everything on the WEB site that is sent out in the email blog. I do not post email addresses and personal contact info on the WEB site either. Gary

Reply from Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, WY

Gary, that was a fabulous picture of Pa Johnson. Thank you, so much. I hadn’t seen that one. Who was the person next to him?
That was the Pa I remember. He was the best! Sybil Johnson

Thurman & Marie Parrill Family:
Back row: Janet ’68, Clayton, 72 and Thurman
Seated: Lynda ’69, Rodney ’73, Myron ’76 and Marie

Previously posted with message 148 on 7/1/08

Picture/message from Dick Johnson (68):Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

I have quite a few pictures of my mom’s that were taken in the mid
forties. I think she was a ‘shutterbug’ as there are many pictures that
are not for any real occasion, that I can see. It would appear she just
liked to take pictures! Now, 60 years later I’m glad she did! These two
attached pictures are of Mom’s sister, Shirley Olson Warcup [black
skirt] and Shirley Sunderland and both were taken in 1946. A couple
cuties! [Sorry Snookie!] Thanks Gary!

Dick

Shirley Olson Warcup (49)

Mike & Josephine Poitra family:
Top row : Virginia, Dale, Ina, Antonio, Vita, Gene, Raymond
Second Row: Peter, Ester, Josephine(Mother), Mike(Dad)Mabel
Bottom row: Maryann, Linda and Gerladine

Dave Kraft Family:
Annie, Bertha, Dave, Lester (Bud), Bertha, Marlene, Dorothy Kraft – 1969

Rodney & Marlene Armentrout Family – 1969
Marlene , Rodney, Debbie, Brent & Bryan

I thought I throw this strange picture in for a filler. Gary

Elaine, Darrel (Bud), Allen, Gary & Bob Stokes – 1969