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Reply from Diane Fugere (75): Minot, ND
Gary:
I was in Bismarck a couple days at meetings and found it ironic to see all the memories posted about Don and Bernice when I got home.
The reason I found it ironic was that I too had thought about Don and Bernice both on the way to Bismarck and back to Minot. Everyone who was ever in choir will know what stirred my memory. I was listening to the radio, (Bismarck has a great oldies station) and heard the song both on the way down and on the way back: Monday, Monday by the Mamas and the Papas! Great song and great memories of a wonderful couple. Diane Fugere Reply from Erling Landsverk (44): Portage, WI
HI GARY:
I WAS INTRIGUED BY DAVE SLYTERS COMMENTS ABOUT DON AND BERNICE JOHNSON, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE MENTIONED THE OLD BENNY JOHNSON FARM. I NEVER KNEW DON OR BERNICE JOHNSON, HAVING MOVED AWAY FROM THE HILLS BACK IN THE 40’S. FROM WHAT I READ, DON AND BERNICE JOHNSON WERE AN OUTSTANDING PAIR A CREDIT TO THE COMMUNITY, THE SCHOOLS AND NORTH DAKOTA AS A WHOLE. THE TRAGEDY THAT ENDED THEIR LIFE IS SO VERY SAD AND A LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY AS I CAN ONLY ADD MY BELATED CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, HAVING JUST LEARNED OF IT. GETTING BACK TO THE BENNY JOHNSON FARM; IT WAS LOCATED JUST ONE MILE EAST OF OUR FARM, . OUR FARM BORDERED THE ROLETTE COUNTY LINE. BENNY’S MOTHER DELIVERED SOME OF MY SIBLINGS INCLUDING MYSELF. I GUESS SHE WAS A MID WIFE TO MANY OF THE NEIGHBORS. AS A KID I ACCOMPANIED MY OLDER SISTER TO THE JOHNSON FARM TO USE THE TELEPHONE, SINCE THERE WERE NO TELEPHONE LINES NEAR US. I REMEMBER HER BEING QUITE SHORT, AND CHEERY AND SHE WOULD CALL BURDELLA FOR US, TO GET THE CALL STARTED. I MUST SAY THAT SINCE I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THE DUNSEITH ALUMNI THAT OLD MEMORIES KEEP CROWDING IN FROM FAMILY NAMES WE KNEW SO WELL. IN OUR PARTICULAR AREA WERE THE HAGEN’S, WINDOM’S, WENSTAD, JOHNSON, SATRAND, ANDERSON, BYE, HALVORSON, MIKLESON, CHRISTIANSON, MELHOUSE, FULSEBAKKE, LUND, GREIG, KNUTSON’S, BJORNSETH AND SO ON. OF COURSE, WE KNEW MANY OTHERS AS WELL, THE HIATT’S WERE NOT FAR AWAY, AND NORMAN AND I ATTENDED DEAR OLD DHS AT THE SAME TIME. I BELIEVE MY 6TH GRADE TEACHER, ADAM LANG WAS MARRIED TO CHARLOTTE HIATT. I REMEMBER HIM HAULING US OVER TO THE ACKWORTH SCHOOL FOR A SOFT BALL GAME, WHERE WE , “THE LOON LAKE DUSTIES” GOT SPANKED . I APOLAGIZE FOR GOIN ON, BUT WHEN A FELLA GETS INTO HIS 80’S IT IS NOT UNLIKELY THAT MEMORIES TEND TO BECOME VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK GARY. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. INCIDENTALLY YOUR GRANDPARENTS WERE FRIENDS OF OURS AS WELL AS NEIGHBORS.WELL AS THE FAMILY.
ERLING LANDSVERK
From Sharon Longie Dana (73): MIssoula MT
Reply to Martinson Picture:
He made the best birthday cakes in the world!! Lemon-filled…….And date-filled cookies….Tara got me hooked!!! He was the best!!!!!!
Sharon Longie Dana (73)
Reply from Evon Lagerquist (77): Dunseith, ND
Amos & Annie Hiatt lived where Norris & Arleen Knutson live.
Reply from Florence Hiatt Dahl (50): Anchorage, AK
Uncle Amos lived on a lake just east of Aunt Margie. I still remember an incident at their home. My parents were visiting and I was sitting on a chair waiting and waiting and fell asleep and falling off. The silly things one remembers…………..
Reply from Eileen Brudwick: Fargo, ND
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Replies:
Correction from Bev Morninville (72): Dunseith, ND
Gary, I don’t know where my mind was when I sent you the picture of St Marys and I said it was St Ann’s St Ann’s is in Belcourt and St Marys was up north of Dunseith I am sure alot of people thought OH MY GOD Bev has really lost it. haha in any case It is St Marys.
 GOD BLESS YOU …………BEV
Reply from Floyd Dion (45):Dunseith, ND
Hi Gary
The picture of the church that Bev. Morninville Azure sent was not St. ann’s Church, it was Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. It was changed from St. Mary’s Church to Immaculate Heart of Mary,because it was confused with St. Mary’s Mission in Dunseith where the Sisters lived.
Floyd.
Reply from Richard Langer: Belcourt, ND
The picture of the church is not St Ann’s, but it was St. Mary’s church located a few miles east of the Dunseith Day School. It was burnt a few years ago. Richard Langer
Reply from Ron Peltier (70): Dunseith, ND
Reply fron Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): Dunseith, ND
Pictures provided by Mark Schimetz (70): Rolette, ND
From Mark Schimetz:
Gary the Man is Arsaine Fontane. born in 1878 in Canada, The lady is his wife, Melinda (Toupin) Fontaine, born in February 1897, also from Canada. They are the parents of Joseph Fontaine Sr. Joseph was one of 16 Children Arsaine and Melinda had.
Joseph married Theresa Masse and had 8 children. Earnest, Alice, Janet, Lucille, Joe Jr. Margaret and (Victor and Mary) were killed in a small plane crash in the Dunseith area.
Hence, Arsaine and Melinda are the Grandparents of Joe Fontaine Jr. Class of 1969, Margaret Fontaine, class of 1971, and sibling listed above.
Arsaine and Melinda are mentioned in the Prairie Past and Mountain Memories, Page 39 and 40. No Photo however. Some of the older, Children may have attended school in Willow City’s Catholic school. I know that Joe Jr. did for a few years.
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Dunseith Alumni
Official Blog of the Dunseith, ND Alumni
