Condolences to the Bobby Brennan Family from the Hoopman family:
Message from Meryle Vinje Hoopman (74): Prescott, WI
I am sorry to hear about Bobby Brennan, my whole family sends their condolences to the Brennan family. I understand the pain and sorrow you are going through and our prayers are with you. The Hoopman family
Web Link to Tim Martinson’s daughters unique wedding
From Tim Martinson (69): Anchorage, AK
Hi Gary,
My youngest was married recently and I have attached a link to the article about it. I thought you may get a kick out of it. I sure had a good time .
Take Care,
Tim
Folks, Enjoy this very special occasion in such a unique setting.
Tim, This is so special and very different. Thank you for sharing.
A who Question with a horse west of Lake Metigoshe:
Question from Kay Hosmer (77): Crown Point, Ind
I don’t have a horse story per se, but when I was young I had so much fun when Kick McKay took us horse back riding. Later on in life, I loved riding through the Turtle Mountains on a horse with Terry – ?? – I can’t remember his last name – his family lived just west of Lake Metigoshe. What beautiful country to ride through – Kay Hosmer (‘77)
Folks, I’ll bet you guys can figure out who this guy Terry is. If he is close to Kay’s age, I’m assuming he’s be about 50.
Connie Fauske is visiting Jerome (58) and Donna LaCroix (64) Allard in FL.
Message from Connie Fauske Monte (62): Santa Barbara, CA
“We are currently in Cape Coral, FL. Just got here on Thursday, it is so humid, not at all like the west coast. Donna and Jerome Allard say we will get used to it. The past couple days have been humid in the morning but the breezes come in and blow the humidity out. We will be here for 6 weeks to 2 months or until it is more pleasant in Kentucky.”
Connie, Donna is right. You will get used to the humidity. You and Bob enjoy your time with Donna and Jerome while you are there.
SKI-Joring and Wes Schnieder
Posted by Vicking Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
Gary and friends,
SKI-JORING and Wes
Upon my inquiry about ski-joring. Wes did. Wes called any time he put on a pair of skis as skiing. Most of his skis were homemade. Upon further visiting, I learned; Wes cross country skied without ski poles. He with his brother Warren, frequently down hill skied without ski poles, often making jumps coming down off the foot hills around the Scheinder farm. Wes also skied behind horses and behind his brother Warren’s motor cycle. SKI-JORING.
According to Wes, ski-joring behind a horse was hard exercise. Ski-joring behind his laughing brother, Warren, driving the motorcycle hitting the gravel edges, proved to be the bigger challenge. One day, as Warren sped along faster and faster and faster, Wes decided it would probably be safer to swing over the gravel ridge beyond the ditch into the field where there were heavy snow banks. He just made it over the gravel ridge and ditch, but, the front of the skis embedded into the tangled clover growing under the snow. Wes let go of the rope and found himself head first in the cold wet snow. Crawling out he walked the rest of the way home.
Another time, in the hills by Ackworth, Wes was ski-ing by Norman Hiatts, where he stopped to visit. They discussed the deer in a field by a haystack. Over the course of the conversation, Wes said to Norman, “Would you like me to rope a deer for you?” Norman doubted Wes could ever rope deer. Off went Wes ski-ing with a rope in hand. He roped a deer (I’m not telling you Wes’s secret of how, as it is different than roping cattle) Wes came back on skis, leading a roped deer back to the Hiatt door. Norman came out and said in surprise, “Wes wait here until I get my camera and take a picture!” He went back in the house to get the camera. With the rope slack, the deer gave a mighty leap and away he went into the woods with the rope, leaving Wes behind. Perhaps the deer was camera shy?
We in this corner of Bottineau are wintering well. Vickie
Vickie, I talked to my brother Bud today in Bottineau. He said you guys have quite a bit of snow this winter. More than you have had for a number of years. He said some of the streets are quite narrow with the high snow build up from being plowed. Gary
More Crystal Cafe memories
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
Just a couple more short Crystal Cafe stories. I remember in the 50s and 60s how the kids hung out at the Crystal on Saturday nights while their folks shopped at the stores and socialized. The thing I will always remember is the definite difference in the choices of music that the kids from the country had from the town kids. Just inside the door of the Crystal and to the right sat the jukebox. Saturday nights it was seldom not going full bore. I remember the town kids liked the rock and roll doo-wop songs but if one of the country kids, especially the ones from the hills, went over to the nickelodeon you were going to hear Kitty Wells or Sonny James or better yet, Johnny Horton doing ‘North to Alaska’. It kind of became a Saturday night battle of the bands, so to speak. A lot of nickels went down the slot on Saturdays.
One funny story Mom came home and told us was when she went over to the Crystal from the bank for her noon lunch one day. Helen Watkins Nelson came over from Hosmers and sat with her. She said Helen got up and went into the little restroom toward the back of the cafe and when she came back to the booth she was carrying the roll of toilet paper. Mom said she pointed to it and Helen shook her head and headed back to the restroom and came back with her purse. She said, “I knew I was carrying something when I went in there.” They both had a good laugh. Helen was a sweetheart! Thanks Gary!
Frozen Fingers Festival
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
Hi Everyone,
It’s time for the Frozen Fingers Festival again. 
Local groups are “Highway 43” and “Just Us”.
“Highway 3”: Dick and Brenda Johnson (rural Dunseith–near Highway 43, or as I call it, “The Peace Garden Road”) and Ron Hett, former owner of Roba’s in Bottineau.
“Just Us”: David Mettler, Tina Bullinger, Don Boardman
If you are as old as I am (or older), you probably remember Oscar/Sanna Wekseth Vikan. David is their grandson. Dave’s mother, Evelyn, is Oscar/Sanna’s daughter. I’ve mentioned several times that my dad worked for Oscar in the early 40’s. Oscar sold the shop to Arnold Haugerud.
Tina Pladson Bullinger is married to John Bullinger, son of Marvin/Marjorie Johnson Bullinger. John is the younger brother of “The Twins”: Garry and Larry
The third member of the trio is Don Boardman. I remember the Boardman name as, when we drove to Dunseith, we drove past “The Boardman Place”. We knew we were almost to Dunseith then. Don/his wife, Irene, live in Bottineau.
I hope to see some of you at Frozen Fingers. From 1:00 p.m. until closing, I’ll be at the registration desk. Please say “hi” and tell me who you are (Gary’s readers).
Neola
Mystery photo solved
Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44): Bottineau, ND
Hi Gary,
Dick got it right. It’s me on my pony Star. Dick the date is wrong we moved in the spring of 41 so picture taken in 41. They were still working on the house as you can see the mess in the yard I never thought of you getting it, but you recognizing the area had to have a good idea.
Lloyd.
Lloyd Awalt on his horse Star – 1941
Mystery Pictures:
From Mary Eruich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND
Folks,
How many of these folks can you guys identify in these 6 pictures? I think I know several already.
Gary
Picture 1.
Picture 2.
Picture 3.
Picture 4.
Picture 5.
Picture 6.
