From Cheryl Larson Dakin (71): BEDFORD, TX

A belated Merry Christmas to all and a very Happy Birthday to you Diane (Larson Sjol). I loved seeing the pictures, Gary. We had our first white Christmas in 150 years here in North Texas. It started blowing and snowing early on Christmas Eve and when we left for church I almost felt like I was home in North Dakota. Almost, but not quite. It was still 32 degrees here and I know it’s a far cry from the freezing temps all of you there are having. All the kids and grandchildren were here and we had such a wonderful day. I want to also send my heartfelt wishes to everyone to have a very Happy New Year.

Cheryl Larson Dakin ‘

Happy Birthday Daine Larson Sjol (70): Minot, ND.

Diane, I’ll bet you are glad all this snow came with the holiday break from the College (Forestry)? The commute to Bottineau would be kind of tough today.

Back in our day, one could start school when they were five, provided their birthday was before January 1st. Your birthday is right at the end of that window. Did you start school when your were five or did your parents opt to wait until you were six? Today that rule has been tightened up some. I think a child has to be six when they start first grade?? It’s obvious school came easy for you, so starting at age 5 probably would have been the logical choice for you.

I want to also wish you a happy birthday. Enjoy the snow. When the storm calms, the roads will be cleared enabling you guys to get out and enjoy the winter sports with all the new snow. When I was a kid we used to love to ski with a rope attached behind the tractor. I’ll bet the snowmobilers will have a ball with all this new snow. Gary

Snow Storm:

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND

Hi Everyone,

This email came from my husband (12:09 P.M. today–I’m reading my emails now.). I’m in Bottineau; we didn’t get nearly as much snow as Minot did. I didn’t go “out and about” yesterday because I’d need to shovel a short path between my steps/van, and I didn’t feel like doing it. That’s the same for today. My landlord hasn’t been here to clean the steps/driveway. I’m very content to stay inside my apartment, so I’m not concerned about the snow. When I look out the door, you can see dead grass “sticking up” out of the snow on the southwest corner of the lot. The wind most likely blew the snow away. I don’t know if the roads in Bottineau were completely blocked; I heard they were getting “heavy” about six o’clock last night.

Neola

From Wally

My deck has snow at least 6 feet high and rising.My biggest concern is that there is snow on top of my gas meter.If that cannot “breathe” it will shut down.To shovel this out will be a monster job.Last year I had a friend of Neola’s who came over and shoveled it out twice, but if he will do it this year or not is the question.Than I had to hire a bobcat to come in and move the snow away after it was shoveled out.I will have to do that again this time.Because of the lay of the land it is hard for the bobcat to get into back of the yard.Last year a guy had a bobcat with tracks on and he was able to get here for a 100 bucks.Oh well will have to see what happens.Some young fellows just found out that their Chevey 4×4 will not go thru everything.They did a lot of shoveling and finally got it into a driveway just west of me.It looks like the street has at least 2 + foot of snow all the way up the street.It will take some good equipment to get it open.Listening to the noon news, it is the same way all over Minot.

I have not heard just how much snow we have had, but it has to be a large amount and the wind is still blowing.Nothing in Minot is moving or the surrounding area.All roads are closed.

Wally

1979:
Stokes Farm Yard: