Hello Dunseith Alumni and Friends,
I returned this past Sunday from a one month trip to the states. Angel spent the time I was gone visiting her Family and Friends in Mindanao, about 500 miles from Cebu, on another Island. I have now filed a spousal Visa for her, so hopefully she will be with me next year.
The highlight of my trip was with the three weeks I spent if the Bottineau/Dunseith area. I had my daily coffee and often times Dinner at the Bottineau Bakery. There I’d often Dunseith folks, i.e. Vicki Metcalfe, Wayne Smith, Terry Espe, Lorenzo Anderson, Les Halverson and others.
Being a lifetime Bottineau VFW member, I also spent time at the Bottineau Vets Building, having coffee and conversation with those folks.
I had the pleasure of meeting up with the following Dunseith folks too.
- Warren Anderson for dinner, in “Minot Denny’s”: Warren Anderson called me the night before my Minot Doctors appointment. He is now living in Minot. We agreed to meet at Denny’s in Minot. Warren is looking very good. We had a wonderful chat.
- Margaret Metcalfe for coffee, in “Maria’s Restaurant” in Bottineau: Margaret called me when she was in Bottineau. We had a wonderful, memorable three hour chat. Margaret is always so cheerful and nice. She’s retained her High School beauty too.
- Dick and Brenda Johnson, at the “Kelvin Clinic Bar and Grill” north of Dunseith: Dick and Brenda are looking and doing very well. My cousin, Jim Kofoid from Bottineau, who knows Dick and Brenda, joined us too. Causin Jim loaned me one of his Vehicles to drive, the entire 3 weeks, while I was in Bottineau too.
- Art Hagen, at the Bottineau “Chinese Inn Buffet” in Bottineau: Art is doing very well. He spends the winter months in his house in Arizona and his Summer months in Bottineau working for a Farmer.
5. Weekly (9:30 AM) Cenex Bottineau Tuesday Cenex Coffee Gathering.
Jim Evans (DHS 1963) Obituary
Posted by Dennis Dubois (’63): Minneapolis, MN
Gary Stokes Comment
I was so saddened to hear the passing of Jim.
His full obituary is not published yet. Please monitor the Nero funeral home obituaries for his complete obit.
Ginger Theresa LaRocque Poitra (DHS 1965) Obituary
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’70): Bottineau, ND
Obituary
Ginger Theresa LaRocque Poitra, age 76, of Belcourt, North Dakota, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2024, at her home surrounded by family.
Ginger was born on November 11, 1947 in Dunseith, North Dakota to Joseph and Madeline LaRocque. She graduated from Dunseith High School in 1965 and married the love of her life, Anthony Louis Poitra on June 5, 1965. They were married for 50 years making their home in Belcourt, North Dakota raising their three beautiful children. When the children were in school, Ginger went on to earn a degree as a paraprofessional from Turtle Mountain Community College.
She pursued a career as a paraprofessional (Special Education Department), working at Turtle Mountain Elementary School for 35 years, where she was known for her patience and love of her students.
Ginger loved shopping and was passionate about Elvis/Patsy Cline, bingo, and listening to old country music. Christmas was always her favorite holiday, with her big tree in the living room and her house decorated! During the holidays, her grandchildren were always excited for her famous butterscotch pie with homemade cracker crust. She will be dearly missed and forever remembered for her love of family and friends. She was a proud mother and grandmother constantly sharing stories of their accomplishments. She brought joy to their lives and loved them all so very much.
Ginger is preceded in death by her husband Anthony Louis Poitra, her parents Joseph and Madeline LaRocque, siblings, sisters: Shirley Wendt, Joanne Eden, Lana Ueke, and brother Gary LaRocque and is survived by her three children: Todd (Geraldine) Poitra, Roxane Poitra (Morin), Michaela Poitra, and 10 grandchildren: Brandon (Jessica) Poitra, Tonie Jay, Codey Poitra, Kelsey (Matt) Baustad, Dominic (Michelle) Poitra, Veronica (Trevor) Dionne, Kari (Jonathan) Wallette, Lance (Presley) Jay, Nick Dionne, and Aaivyn Morin and 14 great grandchildren: Kaid, Porter, Brantley, Jessa, Alauni, Ryder Rose, Brooklyn, Brody, Logan, Dakota, Sylvie, Alayah, Havlin, and Ian. Many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 A.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Dunseith, ND with rosary at 9:00, Mass at 10:00, followed by burial at St. Louis Cemetery, Dunseith and meal at the church.
“To my mother in heaven, thank you for always loving me and guiding me. Even though you are no longer here with me I can still feel your love guiding me. You are always in my heart. We love you and miss you dearly.” Todd, Roxane, and Michaela
Vickie’s comments
Gary and Dunseith friends,
Ginger’s mom, Madeline and my dad Cliff were childhood friends on Rabbit City Lake and at Hillside School.
In years before he passed away, dad, mom and I would go to Kelvin whenever there was dance music,
Every time, I came home from Montana. I went home every 2-3 weeks when I lived in MT. There were many folks of the hills dancing…. all “Kind Hearts and Gentle Souls”.
Two stepping, Waltzing etc…….
Then, during the dancing, if mom pointed out,Madeline and her husband dancing, Dad would ask me to walk him over to their table. He would greet them and ask for 1 dance with his childhood friend.
A Two step or Waltz. They’d dance, and reminisce fond memories of childhood friendship while dancing gliding across the floor, so smoothly……..
Dad was always happy to visit with Madeline and her husband, Joe.
Later in the evening, if Jimmie LaRocque was playing fiddle with the Tommy Belgarde band, Jimmie would stike the fiddle, then,shout out, “Here is some stepping music for Cliff!”
Out to the dance floor we’d go. Raising my hand in the air as a touch stone and my Dad step danced
….a Turtle Mountain JIG!.
The end of the evening band would play and Tommy would sing the song…….”I Saw the Light!”
Until later, Vickie
Gary Stokes Comments
I was very surprised and saddened to hear of Ginger’s passing. So Sorry I missed seeing it until today. I Will forever remember Ginger from our Dunseith Highschool days and from the past 17 years that we’ve been reunited with our DHS Class of 1965. She was a sweetheart of a person always seeing the best in all her friends. I will miss all of her very kind informative messages. The last message I recently received from her was the passing of our class mate, Gladys Rousin. I express my censer condolences to her family. She’ll be forever missed