Dear Dunseith Alumni and Friends,
I am leaving for the USA today. I will be going to the Seattle area first, then ND. I will be in ND from July 13th until August 4th. I expect to see many of you local folks while I am there, most likely Bottineau bakery too. Same as before, I plan on having Breakfast at the Bottineau bakery every morning about 8:00 AM. I have a Doctors appointment in Minot on Monday the 18th. I will be staying with my Brother Darrel (Bud) and his wife Debby. July 2015 is the last time I was back. A lot has changed since then. Looking forward to seeing you folks again too.
Gary
Alice (Keith Pladson ’66) Passed away.
Message and Obit from Keith Pladson (’66): Roanoke Rapids, NC
Gary, this is an update to my previous email to you.
A month ago on May 29th, Alice and I celebrated our 51st Anniversary. Little did we know then that it would be our last. Yes, she had pancreatic cancer and yes we knew how deadly that cancer is, but her most recent scans had all shown no indication of her cancer being back or appearing anywhere new. Based on this we expected that once she completed her second cycle of chemo infusions (of which she had only two more to go) she would be able to truely enjoy some quality in her life for a while.
So it was a shock when lab blood work for her chemo infusion on the 13th showed extremely high numbers for bilirubin (that was a clear sign that she was retaining her bile – which in turn was poisoning her entire body).
Later that day, she was admitted to the Virginia Commonwealth University (VICE) teaching hospital in Richmond, VA. Once admitted, they began a series of ultra sounds, scans, x-rays and even MRIs. Yet they could find nothing. There was no indication on any of the scans, etc., of any blockage or build up in her bile duct and there didn’t appear to be anything wrong with her liver (or what remained of her pancreas after her surgery in Jan 2021).
Their last suggestion was a biopsy of her liver. This can be a very painful and risky procedure so they usually only do it as a last resort. They scheduled the procedure for Tues morning, Jun 21st. Unfortunately, by Tues morn her condition had deteriorated to the point that the biopsy had to be cancelled. Throughout the day we sat helplessly by her bedside and watched her life drain away. Fortunately, my family was there with me and we all drew strength from one another.
After 52 years together (we knew and had dated each other for a year before we were married), I will miss her much. She was my confidant, my partner, my soulmate and my friend as well as my wife and my lover. And I dread the days ahead without her by my side.
Keith
Obituary
On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, Alice Charlene (Wyne) Pladson gained her angel wings and went to fly with the angels, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 71 years old.
Born in Louisville, Kentucky on May 29, 1951, Alice was the fourth child in the large family of Charles Clermont and Mary Ardelle (Robbins) Wyne. Alice was always an active child with an inquisitive mind and a love for reading. She continued with that same mindset upon graduation from high school and chose to enlist in the US Army where she could learn new things and see new places.
In July 1970, while stationed at Fort Myer, VA, she met the love of her life, Keith O. Pladson. In some ways, they were opposites, but as they say, opposites do attract. That attraction apparently worked as it led to a long, happy and successful marriage. Together, they had three children. Alice loved being a mother and enjoyed the challenges of raising her children. However, being a mother was just not enough for Alice. She chose to go back to school to further her education. So, even though married with many family responsibilities, she earned not only an Associate’s Degree, but followed that with a Bachelor’s and later a Master’s Degree.
Alice was also a hard worker outside the home. She spent 30 years as a civilian employee of the US Federal Government working in a number of different agencies where her specialty was working as a contracting officer. Over her career she purchased a wide variety of products for the Government to include computers, printers and other electronic devices as well at Naval weapons systems, small arms and ammunitions and a variety of petroleum products. After her retirement in 2008, she and her husband Keith chose to relocate to North Carolina where they purchased a lakeside home in which to enjoy their retirement. In addition to water activities on the lake, they both enjoyed traveling and seeing new and different areas of the United States. It became their goal to be able to say they had seen every one of the states. Though Alice’s traveling years were cut short, she was still able to see over forty of the states.
Alice also enjoyed working with her hands, creating things to give to others. She would crochet blankets, dresses for dolls, as well as many cross-stitching projects. And, she never lost her love for reading, so when she wasn’t working on something, she had her nose in a book. She also enjoyed visiting and playing cards and just spending time with her family.
Alice is survived by her husband, Keith O. Pladson of Roanoke Rapids, NC, her daughters, Kerry L. Burnette (Douglas) of Dale City, VA and Angela D. Jones (George) of Ruther Glen, VA, her son David K. Pladson of Stafford, VA, her grandchildren Robert N. Arrington, Nathaniel K. Arrington, Tyler J. Pladson, Austin L. Jones and Ella C. Jones and her great granddaughter Londynn N. Pladson. She is also survived by sisters, Patricia McNally, Elizabeth Goeing, Dana Wyne and a brother, Keith Wyne, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mary Wyne, sister, Judy Compton and brothers, Robert Hume and Steven Wyne.
The family invites you to join them for a viewing and memorial service at Mountcastle Turch Funeral Home and Crematory in Dale City, VA on Thursday, July 7th at 10 am. All are welcome. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the North Carolina Zoo. Checks should be made payable to: North Carolina Zoo Society and sent to the same with the notation that it is in Memory of Alice Pladson, 4403 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205
Gary’s Comments
Keith, We extend our condolence to you and your family with the loss of Alice. She was a great person. You will miss her dearly.