Happy birthday Esther Murray (DHS ’65): Flint, MI
Picture
Reply from Bradley Salmonson (’61): Idaho Falls, ID
Gary,I’m pretty sure that the guy in the middle is not Dad (Henry Salmonson).
The guy on the left reminds me of Corbin Pritchard.
The guy on the left reminds me of Corbin Pritchard.
Brad
Thank you Brad,
That does look like Corbin Pritchard. Bill and Keith, does this look like it could be your dad?Any guesses for who the middle guy may be? I am guessing this guy was a neighbor of the Stokes’ and Pritchard’s too.Gary
Bedard/Robert picture posted by Iris Wolvert
Reply from Carol Robert Braun (’69): Oseceola, WI
Gary,
I may have a copy of this picture of Antonio Robert this was my Grandfather. With the names of those missing will check and post.
1959 Snow storm
Reply from Warren Anderson (’65): Rolette, ND
Gary, I believe that “59 oct snowstorm started on the 2nd of Oct. The same day of opening of duck hunting season. I remember dad’s first words to me on the 2sd mourning of the storm, the cattle had all come home and he told me to go shovel snow and open a big hole in the front lake for them to drink. He put his snowshoes on and went to find the horses because we had no tractors in the yard, they were all out in the fields. We needed a team to get things done. Four days later we went out to get the little tactor as dad was bailing 2nd cutting alfalfa when the rain stated. All we could see was the muffler sticking out of the snow—sadly thats where it sat until spring. Anyway, I did open a big hole in the lake for the cattle and started walking back to the barn. I thought I heard ducks quacking and turned around and there were hundreds landing by the water hole I just opened for the cattle. There was compitition between the cows and ducks for open water. As a 12 year old boy, I got excited ——so i ran to the house and argued with mother that i needed dads browning auto 12 ga. shotgun instead of my single shot 410 or the ducks would get away to quick. I won! and I can still remember me jamming two coat pockets full of shell, at lest I thought i did; snuck up behind the cows and started shooting and the first thing i remember is i was out of shells. But I did kill 13 big green head mallards and i was a proud duck hunter. It was hard finding them in 30in of snow. We did have some hunters that did come in from Mpls but they never came that year. That was a hard winter, it lasted 7 months and we did alot of work with the team that year. It was a year that Dad sold hay to five different farmers. Oh, I do remember the 1961 football game between Dunsith and Rolla.—-Rolla won 14 to 12 and i had never heard so much profanity by Dunseith players.. all thought Dunseith got the scr** job. Denis D. do you remember it that way?
Texas Hunters
Reply from Colette Hosmer (’64): Santa Fe, NM
Willie and Homer were the names of the Hunters in the old bus. They arrived like clockwork every fall as far back as I can remember. They were great hunters – they never took more than the limit and they cooked those delicious birds on a real stove in the bus. There were two big beds and two big pillows in the very back for their hunting dogs (pointers). There was also a refrigerator and they added a table to a few bench seats up front and saved a few additional seats for company. They never left a camp site without finding something additional to clean up. Sometimes they had to search pretty hard to find a buried bottle cap or something (especially in ND). I loved having supper in their bus and listening to the hunting stories, etc.
After Homer died, Loreen (Willie’s sister) joined him on the hunting trips. The hunting trips expanded into fishing trips in northern Saskatchewan and in Toledo Bend in Texas. My mom and dad (Bob and Lee Hosmer) joined them on these adventures and Texas friends of Willies began to visit us in North Dakota as well.
There are so many stories – one I remember clearly is the time Willie lost a bet to dad – he carved out a rectangular piece of birchbark, filled it out like you would a check, and sure enough – his Bank in Dumas, TX cashed it.
Reply from Dick Johnson (’68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends, Cheryl Larson Dakin was correct with the big October snowstorm
being in 1959. I see some of the article headings say ’58 but it was
definitely 1959. Although I don’t remember the man, I think the
Dunseith barber that was a brother to Mrs. Nostdahl, was Floyd Nelson.�
People used to talk about him and I remember the name. Last point of
interest (mine anyway) is that my grandmother was a good friend of
Oscar and Sylvia Bergan and once I took her up to their place east of
Metigoshe. I think they were staying in Bottineau during the winters
and at the farm in the summers at that time. Sylvia and my grandmother
were both members of the Bottineau Garden Club (I think that was the
name) and I took Grandma up to see Sylvia’s flowers. I don’t remember
a thing about the flowers– BUT– Oscar had a ’56 Ford Pickup which is
the year model I have coveted since I was a kid. My craving has lead me
to collect several of them and I am still on the hunt for more. Some
people would call it compulsive hoarding but the ’56 Ford is the coolest
truck on the planet and I just can’t see one go to the crusher to become
a Toyota Camry or the like. I’m not alone in my like of these little
trucks as they’re also the hottest seller of all the ’50s series Ford
pickups. One little red ’56 came to this area in the early ’70s and I
was there to try to buy it but the owner wouldn’t let go for any price.�
Over the next few years, I tried several times but to no avail. He sold
it on a whim to another guy and I tried for several more years to buy it
from him. Again, not for sale! This guy died a year ago and his wife
sold all the vehicles to the car crusher–including the ’56. Guess
what?? The crusher is a friend of mine and remembered me telling him I
had tried for years to buy the truck. He called and asked if I was
still interested in the little red ’56? I told him I was at any cost
and he laughed and said he already was on his way to my place and would
only need about $300. for it! How about happy endings after 40
years??? Thanks Gary!
being in 1959. I see some of the article headings say ’58 but it was
definitely 1959. Although I don’t remember the man, I think the
Dunseith barber that was a brother to Mrs. Nostdahl, was Floyd Nelson.�
People used to talk about him and I remember the name. Last point of
interest (mine anyway) is that my grandmother was a good friend of
Oscar and Sylvia Bergan and once I took her up to their place east of
Metigoshe. I think they were staying in Bottineau during the winters
and at the farm in the summers at that time. Sylvia and my grandmother
were both members of the Bottineau Garden Club (I think that was the
name) and I took Grandma up to see Sylvia’s flowers. I don’t remember
a thing about the flowers– BUT– Oscar had a ’56 Ford Pickup which is
the year model I have coveted since I was a kid. My craving has lead me
to collect several of them and I am still on the hunt for more. Some
people would call it compulsive hoarding but the ’56 Ford is the coolest
truck on the planet and I just can’t see one go to the crusher to become
a Toyota Camry or the like. I’m not alone in my like of these little
trucks as they’re also the hottest seller of all the ’50s series Ford
pickups. One little red ’56 came to this area in the early ’70s and I
was there to try to buy it but the owner wouldn’t let go for any price.�
Over the next few years, I tried several times but to no avail. He sold
it on a whim to another guy and I tried for several more years to buy it
from him. Again, not for sale! This guy died a year ago and his wife
sold all the vehicles to the car crusher–including the ’56. Guess
what?? The crusher is a friend of mine and remembered me telling him I
had tried for years to buy the truck. He called and asked if I was
still interested in the little red ’56? I told him I was at any cost
and he laughed and said he already was on his way to my place and would
only need about $300. for it! How about happy endings after 40
years??? Thanks Gary!
Dick
Dick,You are absolutely right about Oscar and Sylvia Bergan spending their winters in Bottineau. All the years I knew them they spent the summers on the farm and winters in town. In later years they moved to town permanently.Sylvia was a perfectionist and very talented with all of her crafts. She had a green thumb too.Gary
Bible School picture
Reply from Donna Brandvold Molander: Crosby, ND
Yes, I think this was about 1960-61, but Bible school was held at Salem church, not Loon Lake School. Sorry, but the few I thought I could name have already been identified. And, yes, I do remember your family from Metigoshe church days.
I live in Crosby, ND (northwest corner). We have lived here most of the time . . . it is my husband’s home town. We are both retired.
Kind of fun to go through old pictures!
Donna
Thank you Donna for this reply.You are right, that is Salem. Knowing that brings back a few memories too.As I recall there was a Fusebakke girl and I think her name was Mavis that attended bible school that year too. I think she is the first girl on the left. I am inclined to think that the 2nd little girl in from the left is Roberta Hagen Striker. She would have been about 4 years old.The first guy in front on the left sure looks like Dale Lagerquist. He and Art Hagen, on the right in front, were class mates. I don’t remember any of the Lagerquist boys attending Salem Bible school, but none the less this sure looks like Dale.First boy on the left, 2nd row down sitting next to Allen Rude, I think is Loren Johnson. The only other mystery guy is the guy on the right, 2nd row down sitting next to Allen Rude.
Two teachers: Donna Brandvold & Karen Soland
Two girls on the far left: Mavis Fulsebakke and Roberta Hagen.
Other four girls: Susan Hagen in front, Ellen Hagen behind Susan, Sandra Hagen
and Karen Hagen behind the guy with the cap.
Front Boys: Dale Largerquist?, Leroy Rude with motorcycle cap, Art Hagen
Three boys sitting upper right on top: Darrel (Bud), Allen and Gary Stokes
Three boys sitting upper right 2nd down: Loren Johnson? Allen Rude and don’t know. 
February 1961
Bob Stokes putting chains on the Ford tractor. That is the frame of a 2 bottom plow with horizontal bars welded across the plow beams that dad used for moving snow. It worked pretty well too. This was his invention.
My brother Bud now has this ford tractor on his farm. He had it totally restored so it looks as good as new. Dad bought this tractor brand new from Lamoureux in 1957. It is a 600 Ford with a five speed transmission and a live power take off that he needed for bailing hay.
Gary
Gary Stokes’ 1928 Model “A” Ford – 1961.
In 1961, my dad’s brother, Uncle Emil Petterson, gave me this car. It was sitting on his North 40. With each of our visits, I’d always go over and examine this car. With my interest in this car he said I could have it. We had some old Ford wheels with tires on them at our house that fit. After putting the wheels/tires on the car and putting some gas in the tank and oil in the engine we gave it pull and it started. We then drove it home. Like a fool, I didn’t realize the treasure he had given me. I cut the back part of the body off behind the front doors making it into a pick-up. In hind sight that was a very foolish thing to be doing to such an old classic car. Eventually the car became total scrap. Really sad too. Being young and naive I didn’t know any better.
Speaking of Emil Petterson’s farm. When you are head north on highway 60 towards #5 from Willow City, looking straight north into the hills, in direct line with the road, you will see a high tower on top of a hill. That is Emil’s Hill on his north 40. His buildings were just across the road to the south. Emil wanted that north 40 to remain in the Petterson name after his death, so he gave it to his nephew, Norman, who is/was, out of 27, the only niece/nephew with the Petterson Name. Norman’s dad was Nels. He lives in Everett, Washington. Emil and Lillian’s ashes are spread out on this hill too.
Gary
Joke of the day
Posted by Bob Hosmer (’56): Lynnwood, WA
Minnesota farmer named Ole had a car accident. He was hit by a truck owned by the Eversweet Company, a Harley Westover Company.
In court, the Eversweet Company’s hot-shot attorney questioned him thusly:
‘Didn’t you say to the state trooper at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine?”
Ole responded: ‘vell, I’lla tell you vat happened dere. I’d yust loaded my fav’rit cow, Bessie, into da… ‘
‘I didn’t ask for any details’, the lawyer interrupted. ‘Just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine!’?’
Ole said, ‘vell, I’d yust got Bessie into da trailer and I vas drivin’ down da road…. ‘
The lawyer interrupted again
and said, ‘Your Honor, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the police on the scene that he was fine. Now several weeks after the accident, he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question. ‘
By this time, the Judge was fairly interested in Ole’s answer and said to the attorney: ‘I’d like to hear what he has to say about his favorite cow, Bessie’.
Ole said: ‘Tank you’ and proceeded. ‘vell as I vas saying, I had yust loaded Bessie, my fav’rit cow, into de trailer and was drivin’ her down de road vin dis huge Eversweet truck and trailer came tundering tru a stop sign and hit my trailer right in da side by golly. I was trown into one ditch and Bessie was trown into da udder ditch.
By yimminy yahosaphat I vas hurt, purty durn bad, and didn’t want to move. An even vurse dan dat,, I could hear old Bessie a moanin’ and a
groanin’. I knew she vas in terrible pain yust by her groans.
Shortlyafter da accident, a policeman on a motorbike showed up. He could hear Bessie a moanin’ and a groanin’ too, so he vent over to her. After he looked at her, and saw her condition, he took out his gun and shot her right between the eyes.
Den da policeman came across de road, gun still in hand, looked at me, and said, ‘How are you feelin’?’
‘Now wot vud you say?’