Condolensces to the Zorn family:

From Bob Lykins (60’s DHS teacher):Hutto, TX

Gary,

Please add my name to the list of those sending condolensces to the Myron Zorn family on the death of his son, Ryan. The family can take pride in knowing that Ryan served his nation and all of us with compassion, distinction, and honor.

Bob Lykins

From Mr. Lykins:

Gary,

Let us know what your FPO address is so we can all send you at least a Christmas Card. I’m sure you had a great Thanksgiving. Telling old “war stories” with friends and colleagues is always a blast. You can never lie because they know better but you always have fun stretching the truth.

Being retired to Austin was a good move as I am enjoying it here. There are so many opportunities for a retired dude. This fall I signed up with the University of Texas Athletic Department to usher at their home football games. It’s been a blast. I wear one of those ugly lime polo shirts that says “EVENT STAFF” on them and direct human traffic. I report 3 hours before the game, work through the game and remain until the last person has left the stadium. It all works out to be about 7 hours and they pay me so that’s OK. I also get to see a good deal of the game and with Texas having such a good team this year the fans are usually pretty upbeat. I’ve had very few problems. I usually work the tunnel area in the North End Zone. If you see on TV a fat guy on the walkway just above the field and near the cannon, it is probably me. (see picture below)

So sad about the massacre in regards to local elections there in the PI. I would be interested to know the real story rather than just what is being printed in the newspapers.

My best to Bernadette and my best wishes to her family regarding her brother. I will add him to my list when praying.

Bob Lykins

Here you are Bob – This is my FPO (APO) address

Gary Stokes

PSC 517 Box RS/CC

FPO AP 96517-1000

Yes, that was quite an ambush of killings between two Muslim groups in southern Mindanao here in the Philippines. A private army of the current governor of that province ambushed a strong contenders party of about 70 folks while they were on their way to formally file his candidacy for the upcoming election this next May. It was planned, because they already had dug a big grave about 40′ long and 20′ deep where they buried several of the vehicles with some of the folks in them. They buried the rest in shallow graves. The sad part is that this current governor is allied with Gloria Arroyo, the current president. He got many critical votes, probably illegal, that helped her win the last election. President Arroyo was reluctant to issue an arrest warrant for this guy. At first she just sent an investigative team to the area. Under tremendous pressure she did order an arrest warrant. This guy surrendered and is in custody. There is fear that true justice will not prevail because of his affiliations with the president. The Filipino Army has arrested this guys Army and followers and has taken control of all of his commands.

San Haven Question:

From Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

Does anyone have an aerial shot of the San in color, circa 1950 — 1965? Maybe we need to go to the State Archives or Historical Society. A lot of out spouses and younger people really don’t have a good idea of the beauty of the place in its heyday.

Allen Richard

From Keith Pladson (66): Stafford, VA

Gary,

Just a quick note to you. I continue to be impressed with your apparent knowledge of so many different families. It’s like whenever anyone mentions a family, it jogs your memory banks about so many different details of that family — the spouses, the siblings, the children, where they lived who their friends and neighbors are/were. It’s like a continuing history lesson with all the details included. What I find particularly amazing is that you and I have been away from ND for similar numbers of years. And, we grew up in fairly close proximity within the Turtle Mountains. I knew many of the same families you did and through your Dad’s adoption we are even cousins (though I really don’t understand all that first or second or third once or twice removed stuff). Yet I either never learned of all the connections between families that you did or I have forgotten many of those I may have known. So thank you for keeping me informed.

Many people write in to your blog and some of them (Mel Kuhn, Larry Hackman, and Dick Johnson to name a few), are gifted story tellers and thus make for very entertaining to reading. But I can’t imagine anyone doing what you do better than you do it. If all the readers of your blog had been tasked with finding someone to put this all together and keep it going like you do, I can’t imagine that we could have found anyone better or more perfectly suited for the job. With all the various inputs that you receive, you are able to show genuine interest, compassion and knowledge when and where appropriate and the willingness to spend the time necessary to do all the postings and keep it current and up to date. And all we can do is say thanks. So, thanks again, Gary, keep it going.
Keith Pladson (66)

Thank you so much Keith for this wonderful compliment. I’ve got to get some anti swelling medication to bring the swelling down in my head. I don’t get a swelled head easily or that often. At least that is what I try to think. You’ve got a wonderful way with words. I hope I’m at least part of what you said. Yes, you and I came from the same neighborhood. In our high school days your family moved to the old Stokes place then known as the Thompson place, the family of your mother Ella. Her mother was a Stokes, sister to my Grandfather, Frank. Your family moved around some in your growing up days too. Speaking of the Helgeson’s, I remember well when you guys lived on the Zieman farm west of Salem church. Helgeson’s lived several miles south and a little bit east of where you guys lived. My first memory of your family thou was when you were living on Lester Halstead’s place south of the Willow Lake school. Elwood Fauske farmed that land in later years. How was it that Lester Halstead owned land up there. He was a big time prairie farmer in Bottineau County. He lived near Maxbass as I recall. That’s half way to Minot from Bottineau. My folks were very active in the Metigoshe Lutheran churches. 90% of the Bottineau county hills folks were members of those churches. My folks were very active in Rolette county community affairs as well. My dad had lots of relatives (biological) living in and around the Bottineau area too. My folks were also involved with many of the Bottineau activities. With all these connection and going to school in Dunseith, I learned to know many folks in my growing up days. Being the socialite that my dad was I was able to maintain, thru him, many of these relationships. He died in 2000. I was a lucky guy. Speaking of my dad. Two weeks before his death, he and I were visiting folks in the hills. He was driving. When we stopped by to see Glen and Gladys Rude, getting out of his Pickup he told me, “we can’t stay long because Gladys will think she has to make us lunch.” He said “you know she’s over 85 years old”. She was only 2 years older than he. Dad was a week shy of his 85th birthday when he died. Gladys did fix us a nice lunch and our stay wasn’t short. With that visit, Glen could have been out bailing hay, but he chose to visit with us instead and insisted we stay. When I mentioned this to LaVerne, his brother, his words were, “Glen is a gentleman farmer”. How true those words were. That was probably the last visit Glen had with my dad, so he probably made a good choice in that respect.

Message/Pictures from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.

Several years ago Angelina Duchesneau Forman, former wife of Harland Gottbreht sent me the excellent picture of Myron Evans, Harland and Charles Watkins. I believe it was taken in 1936 at the graduation of Harlan. All three were cousins: Myron the son of Ole Evans and Cecelia Gottbreht; Harlan the son of Fred Gottbreht and Pearl Fassett; Charles the son of Glenn Watkins and Madeline Wolcott [Madeline’s mother Louise was a sister of Wm Gottbreht Sr]. All three lived in the Dunseith area until WWII disrupted their lives. Myron and Alice Tennancour laboring on their farm; Harlan off to the Pacific Theater where he served with the original SeaBees; Charles in the Air Force. Harlan continued as a road and bridge builder in the state of Arizona. At the time a son of Mildred Gottbreht Solomon stayed with him, he was proprietor of a Tavern in Scotts Bluff, AZ. The descendants of Fred Gottbreht know very little about the family. Some of you may be able to tell them more. Susan Fassett Martin sent a quote from the memoirs of Wm. Fassett and I am sure Gary can attach those remarks here.

Wm. Fassett’s quote from Susan Fassett Martin (65):

(1936) Dad said in his history book….” When we lvied on the farm in the twenties, one of my early memories was of watching Fred Gottbrehts threshing rig coming across country to our place. The old steam engine took most of the day getting there and the big column of smoke announced their coming long before they arrived. I remember making several trips back and forth on my pony to check their progress. Both grandma Kate(Fassett) and grandma Goodie(Gudrun Amundson Rennick Watkins) worked on the cookcar at one time or another during threshing season.”

I am trying to date the tractor pictures. These were given me by Arla Gottbreht. She said that her father George worked on this tractor many times. I do not know if they were still in use in 1935 or the date of the car sitting in the roadway. I thought someone might recognize the bee skips in the background or the short approach into the farm. That certainly looks like an ash heap near the tractor.

Myron Evans, Harland Gottbreht, Charles Watkins

Picture taken by Dakota Memories Photography, Bottineau, ND, Clyton Parrill (72) Owner

Former Dunseith Teacher’s – Class of 65 reunion – 7/12/07
L to R: Dennis Espe, Vinian Hewson-Dinius, Art Rude & Bob Lykins