Geri, There is no doubt in any of our minds that Orvin is a blessing to Bethany. Orvin is a blessing wherever he is. I’ll bet he was glad to see you too. There is only one Orvin. There will never be another. Gary

“Our Special Christmas, 1958”

In the depths of the Great Depression, and my father Clifford David the seventh son was just 12 years old, his mother “Rose” Metcalfe, became a widow in July of 1935.She soon moved to Dunseith.

As the story was told, she moved into a converted chicken coop. Cliffattended school in Dunseith, along with his sister, Leona Rose in high school and Jean Arleen age six who began first grade.

As a young child, Veronica Rose Ann LeDuc (Metcalfe) had attended Catholic Boarding School at Fort Totten.She honed her fine skills in crocheting and sewing along with grammer and beautiful handwriting skills..As a widow, with dependent children she sought employment and found under the FDR created government jobs movement. She found suitable work sewing under the capable supervision of another widow, Mrs. Hannah Rude.

Rose Metcalfe soon whitewashed her little “coop” and decorated it.I think that look is now called “shabby chic and made it very livable. When Cliff completed grade eight he went to live with the Art and Eva Seim family.Art and Eva became life long mentors to my father.Leona worked at the bakery and in the summers as a farmer’s wife chore girl. Her favorite place of employment was for the Ed and Edna Leonard family.As she got older, Jean worked at Shelver Drug and with her niece, Alice, who was about the same age at Hosmer Store.

Clifford and his friend Maynard “Bill” Peterson embarked for Seattle to find employment.A year later, Cliff sent his sister Leona a train ticket to Seattle.He then, like 3 brothers before him entered the service of his country.He and his brother Emil pooled their money and purchased a home for their mother and Jean.After the brothers, (Emil and Cliff) were released from the service they used the GI bill to learn their trade. They both became master plasterers.

Emil Wallace met and married Elizabeth Ann Oswell the sister of George Oswell who was married to Leona Rose Metcalfe.Cliff married Charlotte Lamb.They brothers both dreamt of little farms back in ND.And they both with their wedded partners succeeded.Cliff and Lottie purchased a small starter farm.. Dad called it Oak Hill or Acorn Hill.It was adjacent to The Seim Farm.

In the fall of 1968 Cliff and Lottie with eyes on the future, moved back tothe Seattle area. Construction was “booming”. And so was their familyThey worked and saved.While there, they made themselves at homein a home in Marysville, with Cliff’s brother ArchieAlbert,who was recovering from a brain tumor operation.

Nancy was in third grade and taking violinlessons.While I, began first grade and also quite musical minded.HA!…….alright you readers!Ok?“I was a wee bit jealous , alright, Nancy got to play fiddle.”But Uncle Archie who was always keenly aware of my feelings, and under his fine tutelegeI wassoon aspiring to playthe “jews harp”.

Grandma Rose was making her home with her daughter, Jean when this photo was taken by my mother on December 25, 1958 at Aunt Jean’s..

 

 

 

 

 

Vickie , Cynthia, & Nancy Metcalfe with their beloved paternal Grandmother.

Veronica Rose Ann LeDuc Metcalfe.Christmas 1958 Seattle, WA