Personal message from Diane to Me (Gary)

We are on an emotional roller coaster. Based on the evidence we saw the day of his disappearance, we were pretty certain he had been killed. They do have someone in custody so I am hopeful we get answers. We are happy they found him, because without the tip due to the $30,000 we posted, we would have never found him. But we are so sad that he was killed senselessly. Jack was an awesome human being…loved his horses and his ranch and he and Scott were business partners and very close. They have one other brother, Jason, who is Jack’s twin. On top of this we are getting ready for Scott’s youngest daughter’s wedding (Kendra lives with us) which is on May 25. She is so sad but trying to be happy for her wedding…so life is pretty much a mess right now. That is why it is so important to have everyone’s support and prayers, so we thank you. I don’t mind if you post this. Take care Gary.

Cemetery Story

 

It’s that time of year again.  Time to make our annual trip up north to stop in at the cemeteries to say some prayers, and  and to put some flowers on the grave sites of relatives and  friends. 

Then just prior, to heading for home, to stop at Dale’s Cafe, and quench my craving for a jumbo burger.

 

 thinking about visiting the grave sites and with the recent stories on the news about sink holes appearing here and there

around the country, and these sink holes actually swallowing up cars, people and houses, I just couldn’t help recalling the story

about my brothers and me cleaning up and mowing the grass at the Duns eith Cemetery south of town.

 

My brothers and I while in our teens, had jobs taking care of the St. Louis and Riverside cemeteries,

back in the sixties, for Harry Douglas.  Harry ran the funeral home at that time, and supervised the care of the two cemeteries.

The cemetery supplied three push la wn mowers, of which usually only two would run and hand operated grass

clippers, plus a couple of spades and wheelbarrows. We supplied the labor. Mowing that hill was a real job.

Clipping around the grave stones was always slow and time consuming. The wheelbarrows and spades were

used to haul topsoil from a stockpile at the southwest corner of the cemetery, to fill in over the graves that had

settled.

 

We soon tired of the wheelbarrows. My oldest brother attached a hitch to his car bumper and went got a

two wheeled trailer we had on the farm. We then used it to haul topsoil to the grave sites. This method was a lot

faster and a whole lot less work. Wheelbarrows still had to be used to get into the tight areas between grave markers

but we didn’t have to push them as far. It would take us 3 to 4 days to do both cemeteries and we would have to get them  

done at least a week or more prior to each holiday. Them  hand clippers caused a lot blisters, and pushing lawn mowers

up anddown that hill took a lot of energy.

 

I remember an instance when one of my brothers was mowing along, when all of sudden he let out a yell.

A grave had caved in. He had gone down with it. He thought something had a hold of him?

He did not know whether to shit or go blind? Thank heaven he did neither.

After all, we all had to ride home together in the same car.  With the three of us brothers riding together

and being tired and hungry, there was usually enough tension. 

 

I remember Harry Douglas explaining to us that each grave usually settled three times. First when the wooden

Vault would give way, then when the casket gave way and then the body. The concrete vaults that are now

used, solved most of thi s problem. Aren’t we lucky?

 

My older brother use to also accompany Harry Douglas to Devils Lake whenever he had to pick up a new grave

stone. He had to do the heavy lifting for Harry. He said, He never did enjoy the trip, as Harry would drive all the

way there and back on the shoulder of the road and at a speed of 35 mph. He still remembers hitting and

crossing every road approach there and back.

 

Them sink holes are some terrible things??????

 

Remember to laugh,

Larry                                                                                                   

Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Bottineau & Minot, ND

 Jam session

Bottineau Sr. Center

Sunday, May 19, 1:00-4:00