Jerry Kavlie
Posting from Margaret Metcalfe Cassavant (’65): Rolette, ND
Hi Gary,
First of all, I am so sorry to hear that Bernadette is going through such a difficult time;I can only imagine how hard it is for you to watch the one you love suffer so much. We trust that God knows what we do not know. You are doing an amazing job of caring for her through all these years and I’m sure tears. Thank God for giving you the strength that you need. I send up prayers for both of you and your family.
Secondly, I must tell you that I went to Bob and Judy Martinson’s 50th Wedding Anniversary last Saturday. This man came in with his wife and I wondered why I thought he looked familiar. When he came over and knew my name, I recognized him as Jerry Kavlie. I had not seen him since 7th Grade. He was a year ahead of us, and went to High School in Minnesota at a Lutheran School. He was Bob Martinson’s roommate. Bob was born and farms here in Rolette, so I’ve known him and his wife since I came to town in 1969.
Jerry was born to Violet (Gregory) and Carl Abrahamson; Violet suffered from post-partum depression
after he was born. Leonard Kavlie’s lived just south west of Little Prairie Church and they took care of Jerry for five years and then adopted him. I know Carl Abrahamson’s other children who were too young to care for a baby. I remember Carl and Violet visiting Mike and Olga Jasper when I was at their house with Carol. You might remember Elaine Abrahamson going to school in Dunseith and she graduated with the class of 1962. Another brother, Don and Marlene Abrahamson have lived in Rolette and Dunseith all their married life.
Duane and Phyllis Kavlie lived only about 1/2 mile from me; so I knew their family very well. He would be Jerry’s brother by adoption. Duane has passed away but Phyllis lives in the Rolette Care Center. Their daughter Jewel owns the Tesoro Town and Country Store in Rolette and is married to Dale Honsey and he owns Pinky’s Aggregate. Denise is married to Ted Gottbreht, and another daughter is married to one of the Tooke boys.
You probably remember Jerry very well since he grew up close to your father’s farm. It was truly a pleasure to visit with him and his wife of 50 years.
May God bless you,
Margaret
Gary’s comments
Yes, Margaret I remember Leonard and Dot Kavlie very well living SW of Little Prairie church very near Odin Medlang’s too. Their children were all a little older than me and went to different schools, so I didn’t really know them. Leonard had a cattle spraying business. He sprayed a lot of cattle throughout the area for flies and bugs including ours each spring of the year.
I knew Jerry was adopted too. I think he is a year or two older than us.
Thanks for this message Margaret. It’s always a pleasure hearing from you. You are one I always looked up to, too in our school days and still do.
Wally, 88th birthday, Edgewood Vista, 2019
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot, ND
Hi folks,
I think all of you know I’m married to Wally Garbe. On November 26, we’ll have been married 50 years–we were a little “older” when we got married. lol Wally’s 88th birthday was on June 20th. Thanks to all who left birthday greetings for him on FB. 
As of mid-May, Wally has lived at Edgewood Vista (assisted living facility in Minot) for a year. The activities department at Edgewood takes a picture of residents on their birthday or anniversary and posts the pictures on Facebook. This is Wally’s picture.
Neola
Gary’s comments
Congratulations Neola for your upcoming golden Anniversary. You most certainly have a peach of a husband too. Wally is a wonderful man. Happy belated birthday to Wally too.
Stephan “Big Bird” Timothy Renault II | 1961 – 2019 | Obituary
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’70): Bottineau, ND
Gary and Friends of Dunseith Alumni
I wish to express sincere sympathy to the Renault family. I recall Alice, a much respected para educator at the Dunseith Elementary speaking fondly with love of her sons.
Sincerely,
Vickie L. Metcalfe
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Blog (783) posted on April 24, 2010
Obituary:
Posted by Larry St. Clarie (66): Anchorage, AK
Frederick Belgarde
Anchorage resident Frederick Anthony Belgarde, 70, died peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones on April 19, 2010.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Legacy Funeral Home’s Witzleben Chapel, 1707 S. Bragaw St.
Fred was born Jan. 20, 1940, in Dunseith, N.D., and was a proud Native American of the Chippewa Tribe. He attended Dunseith Grade School, Wahpton Indian Grade School, and graduated from Flandreau Indian High School in South Dakota, where he was trained as a bricklayer. Although his academic achievements provided him opportunities to attend Harvard University, his true passion was bricklaying. Fred trained and worked passionately with his relatives and brought them to Alaska after moving here in 1965. He established his own company, Big Sky Masonry.
He served three years in the Air National Guard in Montana.
Fred married Lillian “Pepsi” Roy Davis on April 16, 1960, in Conrad, Mont.
His family wrote: “They shared 50 years together, raising a family, devoted to each other, their three children, and nine grandchildren. He loved his wife and family more than words can convey, but one visit with him and you would feel it.
“If you worked with Fred, and lasted on the job, you left a better person. Besides the robust, larger-than-life presence, he was the most caring, generous and loyal person. He would offer words of wisdom, motivation, and honesty. He also loved cribbage, craps and coffee and the annual trip with Pepsi to Las Vegas. Fred loved hunting with his dogs, grandchildren, son, friends and relatives.”
He is survived by his beloved wife, Pepsi; daughters, Dawn Yeager and Carol Belgarde; son, Conrad Belgarde; son-in-law, Joseph Yeager; former son-in-law, Brian Snow; grandchildren, Arielle, Kyra and Tosca Yeager, Scott Snow, Drew Yeager, Dustyn Belgarde, Morgan, Bayley and Dalton Belgarde; brothers, Roderick and Patrick Belgarde; sisters-in-law, Norlene Belgarde and Jan Persicke; and many nieces and nephews.
He was looking forward to the birth of great-grandson Peter Keel III.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Willie Persicke.
Arrangements are with Legacy Funeral Home, Witzleben Bragaw Chapel.
Lester & Marian Johnson picture posted yesterday:
Reply from Robin (Dan 75) Pladson: Dunseith, ND.
Hello Gary,
The picture that Neola placed within this email is Lester and Marian Johnson. Their family, including Daniel and I celebrated this past Sunday at the Norway house in Bottineau at 1pm. A few of us ladies, their daughter-inlaw’s Dee (Loren) and Carrie (Brian), daughter – Linda, Violet (Marian sister) and I (and a few others) were dressed in a 50’s style clothing – poodle skirts and all the finery to go with. Dinner was served and then of course a beautiful cake. Before we ate, there was alittle program put on by the girls for Lester and Marian.
Love Robin
Robin, It is so nice that you and Dan were able to be with Lester and Marian with the celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary. It’s been years since I’ve seen any of their children. I briefly saw Loren in the Bottineau Bakery about 10 years ago. However, I have seen Lester and Marian, many times, over the years with our trips back to the area. They live kiddy corner across the street from where my folks lived on Main Street. I remember Lester’s dad, James Johnson, really well. He was such a brilliant man. He walked with a limp that did not slow him down one bit. In his Mid 70’s, in the late 50’s, he decided to start farming again. He bought a W-6 International tractor and farmed all his property located 1 mile west of the Ackworth Cemetery. He had two or 3 quarters of land. He rode that tractor from sunrise to sunset. James, with his brilliance, was a great business mind man. He always had everything calculated right down to the last detail. I remember him telling my dad that the tires on the right side of a vehicle get more wear than on the left. He explained his logic for that analyses too. In 1961, my Dad was the administrator for James’ brother, Sander Johnson’s, estate. Two of James sisters married Bjornseth’s. Cora was married to Jacob and Emma was married Art. Jacob and Cora Bjornseth’s children are Gladys (Albert) Rude, Viola (Alfred) Rude, Clifford & Ralph (Luella Boardman 49). All but Ralph are deceased. Gladys & Albert Rude’s son, LaVerne, is married to Carrole Fauske (66). Virgil Rude’s parents are Viola and Alfred. Clarence Bjornseth’s parents were Art & Emma. Gary
Motor Cycle Story:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
Gary and Friends,
Today something stirred an old memory from 40+ years ago. John Boguslawski and I were square baling hay here on the farm one summer and had come in to eat some noon lunch in the old farm house. We were both riding on my first old army surplus Harley Davidson. There was only one seat so Big John just sat on the rear fender to ride back to the field. We were roaring down a rutted road and I decided to switch ruts and get a smoother ride. Well, the front wheel crossed the center grass strip in the old mud road but the rear tire caught a rut and whipped us around broadside. I laid the bike down on it’s side and felt John slide off the back. I was sliding along thinking things were going to work out just when the bike caught something and proceeded to flip over, throwing me ahead of it and then cartwheeling right over the top of me. The handle bar jabbed into my gut with the full weight of the bike on it and shut out my lights for a while. I still remember coming to and hearing the old Harley still thumping away off to the side and Big John asking if I was OK. I said I was and he said, “Well it doesn’t look like it.” He pointed to my elbow and I looked to see a big gash bleeding down my arm to my hand. The worst part of the deal was when he grinned at me—he hadn’t even lost the toothpick he had in his mouth! I wrapped my arm with a bandana handkerchief and we went back to baling hay–all busted up!
Dick