01/03/2018 (2588)

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Reply From Tom Hagen, Orvin’s Brother (’51):  Mesa, AZ

Hi Gary,

Thanks for posting that picture on your blog–I don’t think I know the lady who sent it to you but I contacted here and asked for the picture.  Sadly we have to tell you that we lost our son Tom (Mark) after a 2 year battle with cancer.  He and his wife had twin sons and then they adopted 7 more children plus several foster children.  He graduated from West Point in 1979 and had 21 years ;in the army also was a computer tech.     We really appreciate your  blog and including us..   My sister Joyce is in Bottineau at the Good Sam Home.    Thanks for all the kind things about Orvin, too–he was a remarkable guy and actually raised us younger kids and Don Nelson . Oliver and Norris lived with us for  few years. too.

We love e-mail letters, Tom & Dot
Gary Stokes Comment
Tom & Dot,
So sorry to hear of your Son’s passing. It’s so tough losing a child too. We, the parents are supposed to go first. Our condolences are with you.
Gary

 

Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’7Bottineau, ND

Coldest place on the planet? Today, it might be in North Dakota …

https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/4381493-coldest-place-planet-today-it-might…

(Jesse Trelstad/ Grand Forks Herald). North Dakotans buttoning up against this week’s cold had good reason: according to the National Weather Service, the temperature in Hettinger, N.D., swooped down to negative 45 degrees on Monday morning, Jan. 1—one of the coldest temperatures on the planet, if not the coldest

 

Bottineau Westland Gas Station Grand opening on Nov. 4-5, 1971
Reply from Dick Johnson (’68)”:  Dunseith, ND

Good Morning Gary,

I think the younger guy in the Grand Opening of the Westland station looks like it could be David Slyter.  I might be wrong but he sure resembles David.
Marlin Williams is a first cousin to Freddie Hiatt, David’s stepdad, so I just assumed it could be him?

Dick
David Slyter’s Reply (’70: Sabin, MN

Happy New Year Gary and all

I can see where you and Dick would think it was me,  as scaring as it is,   he is not me.  Ha     Even my wife looked at the picture a long time and said are you sure you didn’t work there.   That sure looks like you.   Ha

Was great to see a picture of Marlin and Mr. Westlie again.

Thanks for all you do.    Hope you find out who the mystery  person is.

Dave Slyter (70)

 

Reply From Kaye Lystad-kirk:  Fargo, ND

Hi Gary,

Does anyone possibly recognize this unidentified person in the photo as an Amsbaugh?

My Aunt Joan (mom’s twin) thought the person might be an Amsbaugh. Her husband, John Wall (originally from Carbury) is going to show it to an Amsbaugh who works at a car dealership here in Fargo this week or next to see if it could be one of his relatives.

Kaye

 

Bottineau Westland Gas Station Grand opening on Nov. 4-5, 1971
Willie Lystad, Audrin Larson, ??, Sonny Larson, Marlin Williams and Donnie Nelson
Westland 2587

 

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Blog (662) posted on December 25, 2009

Posted on December 25, 2009

Question from Sybil Johnson: Cheyenne, WY.

Gary, How close are you and Bernadette to that volcano? I’m curious. I just saw some pictures of it erupting and the dangers. Hope you aren’t close to it. HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE. Sybil Johnson

Sybil, I forgot to answer your question yesterday. Fortunately we are not affected by the Volcano. This volcano is about 200 miles north of us. With the latest news, it’s on the brink of eruption. Gary

Merry Christmas from Jean Nicholas Miller (66): GLENDALE, AZ

I wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here is sunny Arizona our weather will be sunny and temps in the high 50’s. Alot better than ND temps. We are looking forward to Christmas with our children and our first grandchild Joey who is 10 1/2 months. Happy Holidays.
Jean

Art & Emeline Pigeon Richard:

Reply from Dick Johnson (67): Dunseith, ND.

Gary and Friends,

To Allen Richard—Your folks were a very nice looking couple! It
would appear those Frenchmen really liked their ’41 Chevys, three in the
same picture! Maybe, with the heavy French accent, it was easier to say
‘Chevrolet’. Just kidding! As I was growing up (still in the process), I
remember your Dad always driving a Buick. He probably had other makes
too, but it seems to me he liked Buicks. Thanks for the pictures and
story. Merry Christmas to all. Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Diane Fugere (75): Minot, ND.

Gary:

This video is a wonderful tribute to all soldiers and should be viewed by as many people as possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_P6yU_ymFM

Diane Fugere

Diane, This is a wonderful Tribute to our soldiers this Christmas day. Thank you for sharing. Gary

Message/Pictures from Keith Pladson (66): Stafford, VA

Gary,
I hope this comes through okay. I know for those still living in ND this may not seem so bad, but for us, this was quite a storm. Only one other time in the 39 years we’ve lived here, have we gotten more snow in one storm. The attached photo was taken from inside our breakfast nook and looks out over the back yard, the dock and the creek. You can see the railing for our deck on the left and it has several inches piled up on it. I took this and other photos while it was still snowing on Saturday. We got at least four more inches after I took the photos.
Keith

Gary,
Again, I hope this comes through okay. This was taken at the same time the other photo was taken, and it shows the front of our house. I had shoveled some of the drive and while I was shoveling, it kept on snowing so you can see how much additional piled up while I was shoveling. Note the build up on the vehicles too. The weather has been in the high 30’s and low 40’s all this week so plowing has went well and the overall depth has melted down some. But, we will clearly have a “white” Christmas this year. Looks like parts of ND is in for it tonight, so they too may enjoy a white Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all!
Keith

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

Yes Bill, the Fassetts and the Boucher and the Gottbrehts have been friends and neighbors for as long as there has been a Rolette County. I have two pictures scanned that I promised to Susan Fassett so I shall post them this morning. I also have a graduation picture of Laura Fassett as well, taken about 1937. Somewhere I have the exact marriage date of Art Halvorson and Laura Fassett with their witnesses, Frank Higgins Jr and Arla Gottbreht circa 1940. My hunt through old notes failed; there must be some readers that have the facts. I know that my mother and Arla Gottbreht sent Christmas best wishes to these two close friends forever. I am sure Hanna Higgins Loeb will confirm the identity of her half brother Frank Higgins. Cleora Fassett, a close friend of Alma Boucher was the same age and Russell Twp neighbor Dale Gottbreht; his sister Arla was the same age as Kathleen Fassett Grimme! Sure glad you made this association for me Bill.

You might also enjoy pictures of Alice Fassett who married Albert Boucher. I long to have a picture of John Gottbreht’s first wife, Helen Fassett, also of Thorne. Do you know Bruce Fassett of California who maintains a Fassett History web page? I think Gary will paste that address for any interested.

Blessings on you and yours, Sharron

Follow up message from Sharon:

I hope you declared a holiday for yourself! Thanks always for all you do.

Corrections: I should never rely on my poor memory!

1. John Gottbreht was married to Myrtle E Fassett, daughter of Elihu Smith and his first wife; I think her last name was LEE.

2. Pearl Fassett was daughter of Ales and Anna Hughes

3. Alice Fassett was daughter of Ales Chester and Lenora Mason [Ales C was son of Wesley]

I tried to contact Bruce Fassett but mail returned.

Merry Christmas, Sharron

Art Halvorson, Laura Fassett, Hector Boucher

1940
Back: Frank Higgins Jr and Arla Gottbreht circa
Front: Art & Laura Fassett Halvorson

Christmas at the Stokes house in the Philippines:

These are Bernadette’s Great Nieces, Nephews and our helpers 3 kids waiting to get

their Christmas packages.The packages these kids get from us are the only packages

they get at Christmas. They were all waiting outside when we got up on the 24th.

These kids all live in our compound.

Bernadette’s 3 year old Great Niece, Elizabeth, with her packages. She’s the little

computer girl that I mentioned several days ago.

Her Grandpa was Bernadette’s Brother that recently passed away.

Elizabeth’s little 6 year old brother, Joshua.

Joshua wearing his new clothes that he received in the packages above.

Princes, our little dog loves kids.

Elizabeth and Joshua’s mother, Mirasol. She is married to Bernadette’s nephew, Joseph.

Bernadette’s Neice, Novie, with her little boy and husband Louie. Novie’s mother, Berlinda, is Bernadette’s sister who lives next door.

Grace with her packages. Grace’s father is a brother to Bernadette’s sister’s husband.

They live next door. Grace is 7 years old. Grace’s father earns about $140/month with a

job he has had for years. Her brother also earns about $140/month with a job he recently

made permanent status with. They are a family of 7 with Grace being the youngest.

They manage to live on these two salaries. There are times that the going gets very tight,

but they make it.

These are our Helpers, Tata & Aldren (Husband & Wife). Tata’s sister, Gaga, also

works for us. Aldren is a brother to Bernadette’s sister’s husband who lives next door.

Aldren and Tata take good care of us 24/7. They have been with us since the year

before we moved here 7 years ago.