Ruth Belgarde, age 81, of Dunseith, ND passed away on Monday, October 31, 2016 at the Rolette Community Care Center, Rolette, ND.

Ruth Marie Belgarde was born on July 2, 1935 in Belcourt, ND to Pierre and Alvina (Nadeau) LaFountain. She was raised in Belcourt and completed her education there as well. Ruth was united in marriage to John Belgarde. Together they raised a large family in which she was very proud. Ruth was a wonderful homemaker and mother. She enjoyed playing cards, going to the casino, and going to rummage sales. Ruth liked to go out riding, often checking on the old homestead. She loved her family dearly, especially her grandchildren. Ruth will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by many.

Ruth is survived by her children, Francis (Sherry) Belgarde, Geraldine (Gordon) Munoz, Karen (Terry) Davis, Natalie (Michael) Grant, Duane (Loretta) Belgarde, Betty (Jeff) Charbonneau, Sandra Belgarde, Gail (Tom) Krause, all of Dunseith, and Mary Ann Henry of Dunseith, whom she also raised; step daughter, Debbie Koster of Center; 28 grandchildren; 95 great grandchildren; five great great grandchildren; and a sister, Cecelia McCloud of Grand Forks, ND.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Sharon Henry, and great grandchildren, Alexis Amyotte, Josh Charbonneau, Angel Marie Charbonneau, Ruth Belgarde, Sheron Henry Jr., and Ashlyn Haggerty.

Casket Bearers are Duane Belgarde, Gilbert Martell, Dustin Charbonneau, Jonathan Grant, Francis Belgarde Jr., Jace Amyotte, Todd Grant, and Stetson Davis. Honorary Bearers are Anthony Grant, Thomas Poitra, and Joshua Charbonneau. Music by Richard Turcotte and Troy DeCoteau. Readers are Misty Davis and Patricia Allard. Eucharistic gifts by Janelle and Kelly Karnopp. Rosary led by Vincent Grant.

A visitation will begin at 6:00 PM on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Dunseith, ND with a Rosary Service at 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass will be Friday, November 4, 2016 at 10:00 AM in the church with Fr. Jeff Eppler, S.O.L.T. presiding. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, Belcourt, ND.

Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.

Verena Gillis’ sister, Dira Marie St. Claire Hosie, passed away

Verena (Pete 65) Gillis: Dunseith, ND

Hi everyone,
My sister passed away yesterday morning at 3:15 am surrounded by all her
loved ones. We are so thankful her suffering is over. I will send a copy
of the obit I wrote up for the papers. And thank you all so much for the
responses I have been getting on Agent Orange.

Verena

Verena, We are so sorry to hear of the passing of your sister. Our condolences are with you and your whole family with her passing. How is Larry St. Claire (66) related to you guys? Are you first cousins? Gary

Reply from Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (68): Dunseith, ND.

Dave and Gary–

OK David– tell it like it really was– you always got me laughing and sometimes that got us in trouble — remember??? ha!!_ Actually I don’t think I have ever seen you when you were not in a good mood!!

Larry Hackman– – there are so many stories Jay has of his Grampa “Joe” ( our Joe’s namesake) He sure laughed about the Onion story– I think he said he remembered that– Grampa Joe was such a big gentle guy didn’t talk a whole lot that I remember– But he told of being nightwatch at San HAven and someone had devised a plan to get a “bottle of spirits” up to a TB patient — however Grampa Joe was watching this, so he went up on 2nd floor and when the rope came by the window he cut it– spoiled someone’s fun!- ha–Yes, usually you could find him in “His” chair at the bowling alley– I think Dick told about him tapping him on the shoulder for a phone call so he could get his chair back- Jay said he did that to a lot of kids–

Jay tells about one day Grampa was complaining that as soon as he would try to sit down and eat his dinner some of the neighbor kids would come and keep ringing his doorbell – he would get up to see who was there and they would run away- well, Jay was there one day and this started up so Jay chased them down and pounded on them a bit- I think they all got in trouble- even Jay! ha!

Just some other thoughts about items I’ve read in the blog and never get much time to reply- so many memories come back– thinking about teachers that really made an impression on me leave warm memories ——like Miss Hewson, Charlotte Lang, Jess Hosmer, Mrs Conroy, Dan Morgan, Mrs Judy Olson, Don Johnson, and others– you knew they really cared and remained friends even as we got older.- —- Also the main street store people – SHelvers, Edna Leonard- the HOsmers- Morinvilles- Bill Evans and Armand Mongeon-Herman Martinson- KC- Sine- and the others- treated us like their own kids– and Helen Nelson!!- she was “one of a kind”!!- She made us feel so comfortable- no matter “what” we had to buy!!- In those days you didn’t even say “underpants” in public!! ha

I think of neighbors we had- all moved or gone now- the Lambs—– (Dorothy always had ice cold lemonade for us horseback riders) , Zeilers, Simes,Strikers- Espe’s ,Strongs- Petersons- Millangs, Fulsebakkes (like a bakery!)– such good memories- I don’t ever remember my folks ever having a bad thing to say about any of them that we ever heard! — the big gatherings we would have- like church In the homes In the wintertime and then the adults would visit and the kids play all afternoon and pot luck dinner– they were almost like family!- Well, enough babbling once I get started!!– Thanks Gary!! this blog is wonderful= I love the good old stories especially!!—Lola

Reply from Mary Eurich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND

Gary

Boy do I remember the old crank telephone! When Bud and I were first married thats what we had. Of course it was there long before I was. I don’t remember the long rings or short rings of anybody (except central – hers was 1 long. I just remember being home alone with nothing to do so when the phone would ring I’d pick it up to hear what I could. Those turkeys all talked Norwegion and I couldn’t understand a word they said. When there was an emergency or alert for the neighborhood the lady at the central ofc rang 3 longs which meant everybody on the line was to pick up . I only remember that happening once when there was an unscrupulous peddler in the area.

Mary K

Mary, All the other central operators, but Kelvin, in those days had one long for central. Kelvin’s was two longs. I think when you guys were first married my cousin Audrey Aasness was the Metigoshe central operator at that time. I am including Audrey with today’s blog. She is living in Bottineau. Audrey is also a first cousin to the Morinville siblings. Audrey was the Metigoshe central operator for a number of years. I remember well, her living in that drafty old central office with her family that was located about 3 miles or so east of Lake Metigoshe on the north side of #43. Gary

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): djcars@hughes.net Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

I hope Dave Slyter didn’t think I was putting down our drummers. They
were the tempo keepers for the entire band and were the very core of
every song. I think my dad just wanted me to learn to play notes and
scales etc. We always had good drummers when I was in band, starting
with Dale Hoffman. Lola was good on the tympani set too. I think she was
the first drummer at DHS to ever play the tymps. I remember it was quite
a deal when we first got them, no other sound just like that! Other
instruments debuted too, like Toni Morinville on the oboe, Elaine
Metcalfe on the Bassoon, Cheryl Kester on the bass (or contr-bass)
clarinet, and as mentioned before, I played the new baritone sax and
then the real odd valve trombone. It all made for a more full and
distinct sound. I remember Don Darling teaching beginning band. Billy
Berube was the bass drummer and was trying to keep time. Don would first
start to pound his baton on his music stand and then if poor Bill didn’t
get in time, he would grab it by the other end and ‘wing’ it at Bill,
usually clicking it off the drum as Bill was ducking. Bill became one of
the best, it was just hard for us all to get started in like the 4th or
5th grade. Again Dave, I certainly didn’t mean to imply that the drums
and drummers weren’t important. They were and are the heart of a school
band. Some of the other songs for basketball games were, Sugar Lips,
Slow Boat to China, Wipe Out, and others. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Posted By Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
Devin is the grandson of Glen/Edna (Susie) Millang and Richard/Ele Slyter.

Ele Dietrich Slyter’s (69) reply to Gary: Dunseith, ND