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Note of appreciation to Dick Johnson from Sharon Zorn Gerdes (62): Windsor, CO
Just a note of appreciation. Perhaps I have missed it, but I was unaware that Dick Johnson and his wife sang. My mom lives in Oak Manor in Bottineau, and several of the ladies there say that they sing very well. I just want to say thank you to Dick and wife, because those senior ladies enjoy and appreciate it so much when people take the time to share their talents. So thanks for your kindness. Sharon Gerdes
Cancer update from Dwight Lang (61): Tucson, AZ
Hi there Friends,
Finally getting around to checking my email. 500 plus in the in box. Been out of commission with my colon cancer surgery thing.
Enjoyed the wild life pictures compliments of cousins, Rod and Brian. Lucky I never met the little squirrel looking fellow while carrying my trusty 22 through the foothills some forty years ago. And Dick J., enjoyed your addition to the Martin story and especially the picture of those super bar tenders. I was a bit young to be a customer but I did poke my head in the door from the bowling alley side many times. Usually to hit my Dad up for a few quarters to play the pinball machines while I was waiting for his card game to end with Johnny Hill, Don Darling and the other regulars.
Well the operation went as good as to be expected. I spent five days in the hospital (without a smoke) and then was sent home as soon as I had bowel activity. It was no fun. But, after a few days home I got a call from the surgeon and he told me that the lab results were all good (no cancer in lymph nodes, etc.). Had the staples pulled last Thursday and he told me to come back in a couple months for another look see. He also mentioned that I should have another colonoscopy next year as well. Guess I can handle that. Oh by the way, the chimney is smoking again.
Would you believe today it is supposed to be in the upper eighties down here in Tucson. That’s a bit too soon for me. I’m looking forward as usual to spending my summer back at Lake Metigoshe but I’m hoping the Tucson heat holds off for at least a couple more months.
Well, take care and thanks to all for your concern. Francie Gottbreht (63) told me it would all be OK.
Dwight
Cancer Update from, and Neola Kofoid Garbe’s reply to Gary: Bottineau/Minot ND
Mom/I are back from Minot; it took longer than I thought it would. I knew I wouldn’t be going back to Minot tonight. Wally says the weather is bad for tomorrow, so after Mom’s appointment, I rescheduled by radiation appointment. I scheduled it for next Monday at 2:00. I’ll be in Bottineau until Sunday. The surgeon got all the cancer. The area around where the cancer was, is “clean”. The treatments are for cautionary reasons, not to kill any cancer that’s there. I started taking anti-estrogen pills a few days ago. I haven’t had any side-effects from them.
 Neola
Reply from Geri Metcalfe Monro (59): Fargo, ND
Gary,
Our friend, Betty (Allard) Heinz, class of 1960, married Ron Heinz, is also a daughter of Olivine Allard. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Betty and Ron and their family. Betty is flying home from Mesa, AZ tomorrow. We are with them in thought and prayer, even though we cannot make the trip back home. Geri Metcalfe Munro, class of 1959; (Betty was class of 1960) and Chuck Munro–Fargo, ND. Note: Gary, it would be nice sometimes if folks would state their current city and state. I have not saved nor could I download all info re: addresses.
Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
Reply to Bonnie:
Rural schools were not as boring as home schooling, but we lost a year or more with eight months school and staying out to harvest and haying. I remember the first day, Dad hooked up to an honest to goodness buggy, with springs and all, naturally he took a short cut to save a mile or so through Erman Striker’s pasture. The water came right up to the floor boards, so we went via the road the next six years. We had three and a half miles, so did Faye and Doris Honsey. Horses are all about competition and old Dewey did very well keeping up that one mile straight north where we parted company with the Honsey girls. It was all bare back in those days and when it would rain, that big mud puddle in the road did me in a couple times, riding double. Dewey would shy around the puddle and I never could be sure which side he would take. Fanny and Dusty were spirited horses of the Honsey girls and Bernice Jasper. The girls were excellant riders. Alas, the buggy was short lived, Martin Evans hooked Dewey up one morning and the barn door was open about two feet, Dewey decided to go back in the barn. Viola…that was the end of the buggy. So now we got a cart with straight schaves and no springs, then a Ford tractor. Sometimes when the weather was favorable they took us to school and we would walk home. As if three and a half miles one way wasn’t enough, we took turns carrying water for school use a half mile. We put a stick through the handle of a 3 gal. pail, with a kid on each side. On Monday morning that three and a half miles was actually four miles, for Dewey had a thick hide and had to go about a fourth of mile and come back home and get a good spanking from a grown up. Then the rest of the week, he was o.k. over the weekend he would forget and have to be tuned up again. A typical lunch pail was a one gal. pail with nail holes in the lid for air. In hot weather, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches became soggy, for variety mustard or a dill pickle sandwich was good. Most teachers had it worse than the kids. Clara Weaver had at least three miles because of no roads and I know Mrs. Graybill stayed at the school lots of times. Enough of that for now. Age 14 life changed. Paved streets, hot lunches and a great job setting pins to pay rent with. Too bad Bertha Vanorny, Bertha Myer and Myrtle Hoopman got a part of that hard earned money. But I did finally learn to hold my own in a game of Smear. Life was great and still is. Reply/Picture from Kenny Nerpel (65): Devils Lake, ND
Gary,
Regarding Rabbit City Lake: The enclosed photo is of my Grandfather, William Bryan Metcalfe. Kenny William Bryan Metcalfe
 From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
I found this article amusing! Just about every move was covered by the Dick  Folks, I’ve got a little extra room today so I want to share a story with you. Gary – Philippines
We currently have a satellite TV dish here in the Philippines, but would like to have cable service too. We are several hundred feet beyond the allowable distance for getting cable. Last Friday I called the worker bee lineman, who had been to our house, to discuss how we could get their service. Following my conversation with him, I called his boss to discuss this topic in more detail for us to be able to get their cable service. The boss told me he would send a field engineer out to our house on Monday. Lone behold, on Saturday we got a visit from one of the cable salesman. I was surprised to see him. I said “did Tony (the Boss) send you” and he said yes. He was a very nice gentleman. He looked everything over and said the extra cost for materials would be $250. He said if I gave him the money then, he’d be able to install the service Monday morning. Knowing he was from the cable company and thinking the boss had sent him, I gave him the money. On Sunday this salesman comes back with the worker bee lineman, I had called on Friday, to get everything set for the installation the next day. Monday morning rolls around and no one is here to install our cable, so I called the boss. The boss says I didn’t send that salesman to your house. In fact he said I sent my field engineer out to your house early this morning to look things over and we can provide you service with no extra material costs like we had discussed when I called him on Friday. He was very surprised when I told him I had given his salesman $250. He said you will get your money back. The salesman did not know I had been talking to his boss. He was trying to give us service under the table and got caught. When they came Monday morning to install the cable, they saw the field Engineer at our house and ran. The worker bee lineman called the salesman and that is how they got involved. They pocketed the $250. They also involved one of the other engineers of the company too. I am currently waiting for the salesman to return the money. I think he has probably spent the money, so he’s probably trying to borrow the money at this time. All three of these guys have been working for the cable company for a number of years. At the moment their jobs are on the line and will for sure be fired and possibly go to jail if the money is not returned. The salesman sent me a text message telling me he is very worried about loosing his job. He said he has 5 children to support. These guys make good wages too, but greed got in the way when they saw this American guy. They didn’t realize that I’m seasoned to their shenanigans. Gary
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Dunseith Alumni
Official Blog of the Dunseith, ND Alumni
