Happy Birthday Betty Bottineau Pina (DHS ’70): Dunseith, ND
Happy Birthday Marlene Richard Parslow (’65): River Falls, WI
Virgil Vandewalle Memories
From Rod Hiatt (’69): Bottineau, ND
Gary
I was one of the fortunate students to have had the opportunity to have Virgil VandeWalle as a teacher. Next to my own Father, I had more respect for Virgil VandeWalle than anyone I have every known.
He had a way about him that kept you interested in his teaching and you dang well had better be paying attention, as he had a way of getting your attention as well. He was the kind of man that if you gave him a 100% he would give you back that and more.
Mr. VandeWalle was respected by his students, teachers and everyone involved with the Future Farmers of America. When he walked into a room, he was noticed and when he spoke people listened. He had a way that just comanded respect and authority.
I can recall one beautiful spring day in May of 69 that just seemed to good to be sitting in a class room, so Allan Rude, Dave Clark, Roger Heidbreider, myself and possibly a couple more, decided to leave our first study hall and go fishing at the lake. Well we had a great day and came back just before the closing of school, with a fairly good story planned and as we walked into the ag shop, Mr. Vandewalle met us. “Where the Hell have you been all day, Bernice Stewart is looking for you guys. She’s going to have you expelled for skipping school. I’ll take care of her, you’ve been working for me all day. You will pay.”
Forgot to mention that we were all officers of FFA as well as being on the livestock judging team or crops team and the following week was the state convention.
He generally took us in his big old car when we went to judgings and such, driving with his knee, looking over the back seat playing cards with us. I’m not sure he would fit in with the school systems of today, because if you needed your teeth rattled, he damn well was the man to do it, and I don’t think that there was a parent out there that would come running to the aid of their kid. They knew that Virgil VandeWalle was a fair and honest man and if you were punished you had it coming.
I could write a chapter on this man and it would only be a tip of the iceburg of his accomplishments and the influence he has been on so many people.
He was a true legend in his own time.
Rod, I know/knew all of the folks mentioned pretty well including Bernice Steward. She and Dave Clark were first cousins. She had that nice big two story house a short distance south of Highway 5 on the Gardena Road. When I went in the service, I stored all of my civilian clothes and other belongings in one of her upstairs bedrooms. I never had her for a teacher, but through the Clark’s I learned to know her pretty well. She was so nice and friendly. As I recall, she was an English teacher in Bottineau.Gary
Basketball memories
Reply from Kenny Nerpel (’65): Rugby, ND
Gary,
I also remember the basketball game that was referred to in the posts by Bill Grimme and Vern Sanden. Judging by the players named in the posts I think it must have taken place in the early 60’s when I was probably in the seventh or eighth grade. When Bill was at UND later on, I remember one weekend he brought a Canadian fellow home with him that I believe was a hockey player. We spent much of that weekend trying to convince the fellow that Canadian’s were basically uncoordinated. I believe he finally replied that if he were uncoordinated he would be playing basketball instead of hockey. Just another funny story from back in the day.
On the subject of basketball, last night Sherry and I attended the much anticipated game between the number one rated North Star Bearcats and the 10th ranked Rugby Panthers at Cando. I ‘m pretty sure that not one more person could have fit in the gym. The Bearcats came out smokin’ and handed Rugby there first loss of the season. Oh well, hopefully the Panthers will get another shot at them at the State Tournament. I have attached a few photos from the game.
Kenny
