08/21/2009

Folks, Yesterday’s blog should have been number 532, not 531. I am continuing with number 532 today.
 
Gina (our travel agent), I am including you with today’s blog so you can see the group picture of those of us that were on the cruise. Some of our folks are already asking about our next cruise. You did an assume job accommodating our group right down to the minor details. It was such a pleasure working with you. You are to be commended for a job well done. Your contributed to a nearly flawless cruise. When things go well, folks have a much better time.
 
Gary
 
 
Reply from Sharon Zorn Gerdes (62): Windsor, CO

Wow what a memory Dick. I remember your parents very well however. And I worked at the creamery for Minnie ?? ( forgot last name). I also waited tables at Rosies cafe until they found out I was underage and made me quit. I really miss my mind alot, and when I hear these stories I am totally amazed. Yes the carmel story was true, I got some permanent scars from that one. There were seven of us kids, and I was the only one who graduated from Dunseith. One of my little brothers ( Bill) married Kim Schmietz ( Marks sister). I have good friends still there however, and wonderful memories in spite of the many I have forgotten.

It was a great way to grow up, poor as church mice but happy. We didn’t have a TV but spent much time around a piano all singing hymns, and people just stopped in for coffee and lunch in those days. Good people who always helped someone in need. I miss those days and treasure those memories. Thanks much. Sharon.
 
 
 
Reply from Sandra Zeiler Vandal (62): Elk River, MN.
 
Hi Gary & Dick, Just thought I would let you know that I was in the same class as Sharon Zorn, which would make Marlys younger, and yes, I also remember her beautiful blonde hair, which went with the great person she was and is. Thanks also to Sharon with info of the Westermans. Bertha was also in our class, and have often wondered where she is. Gary, Mike and I had a great time on the cruise. After we got home we went to Rugby, and helped move move to the LTC at Rugby hospital. She is once again with Dad, and after 67 yrs. thats very improtant , Both are doing well. Lyle Sharon are living in Rugby, a blessing for Mom and Dad, and us also. Gave them your address, and they plan on getting hooked up with the blog. Plan on getting some pics in, but I procrastinate! Are granddaughter (Todd &Mary) is getting married next month, so things won’t be slowing down for awhile as Armentrout family from AZ will be here for a visit. Always a joy when family come home, just don’t see them often enough. Enough, thank you for everything, and thank you Dick for all your memories. Sandy
 
 
 
Lloyd Awalt (44) has new email address: Bottineau, ND.
 
Dear Gary,
Lloyd Awalt has a new e-mail address, lata@utma.com.
Thank you, Bonnie Houle
 
 
 
Reply from Bobby Slyter: Wichita, Kansas
 
GARY: THE ARTICLE ABOUT YOUR DAD PLAYING SANTA CLAUSE WAS GREAT,YA JUST HAVE TO BE PROUD OF A PERSON WHEN THEIR HEART IS AS BIG AS YOUR DADS
 
 
 
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Larry’s story about driving was great. Living in rural ND, we seem to
know about the driving habits of most people and take special
precautions accordingly. When I was going to college in Bottineau and
driving from up here at the farm, I saw a weird deal happen on Thompson
Street in Bottineau. An elderly lady got in her car in front of the post
office and an older man got in his car directly across from her near the
creamery. As I was driving toward them, they both started to back up
directly at each other. It looked to me they were going to hit each
other and then—BANG! They both just looked over their shoulders
slightly and DROVE AWAY! I just sat there for a couple seconds trying to
absorb what I had just seen. With that, I have to tell a story about
Larry Hackman’s uncle, Frank Hackman. Bill Peterson was working in his
field near the highway, when he saw Frank driving east toward the
highway. He said that Frank never stopped at the stop sign when he
crossed the highway, so Bill looked up and down the highway to see if
anyone was coming. Sure enough, here comes a Canadian car. Bill said he
could see what was going to happen—it looked like a tie. Frank went
through the stop sign and right into the side of the Canadian. Bill was
already off his tractor and headed over to the wreck when he heard the
Canadian say, “Why didn’t you stop?” Frank said, “Why didn’t you stop,
you could see I wasn’t going to!” Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Alaska Cruise total group picture:
 
Folks, Bill Grimme has provided us with a picture number key for the group picture located directly below the key. Angelina Metcalfe was not in the original photo, but Bill was able to add her in this copy as number 57. She looks very much a part of the this photo. Great job Bill.
 
In the remarks column that go with the name sort, I have listed the connections of the folks that were in our group.
 
Gary






Alaska Cruise Total Group Picture with number key
Key Number Sort Key Name SortCity, StateRemarks
1 Stokes, Debby   28 Abrahamson, Cindy Estes Park, Co Doyle’s spouse
2 Reing, Marlene   27 Abrahamson, Doyle Estes Park, Co Class of 68
3 Randall, Leona   21 Baldwin, Nancy (Hosmer) Lake Metigoshe, ND Class of 62
4 Galloway, Wayne   36 Cavaliere, Cora Bristol, RI Friend of Gary/Bernadette Stokes
5 Mjelstad, Carol (Hamnes)   31 Cavaliere, Ronnie Bristol, RI Friend of Gary/Bernadette Stokes
6 Mjelstad, Orville   52 Coles, Becky (Sime) Boise, ID Class of 83
7 Van Dyne, Dreama   38 Espe, LeaRae (Parrill) Bottineau, ND Class of 67
8 Van Dyne, Mark   32 Espe, Terry Bottineau, ND Class of 64
9 Sjol, Scott   50 Flynn, Laurice Zeitler Portland, OR Randy’s spouse
10 Kontzie, Keith   54 Flynn, Minnie (Knox) Dunseith, ND Class of 47
11 Stokes, Gary   49 Flynn, Randy Portland, OR Class of 70
12 Stokes, Darrel   55 Flynn, Rio Portland, OR Randy’s Daughter
13 Reing, Oliver   4 Galloway, Wayne Brandon, Manitoba, CA friend of Nancy Hosmer Baldwin
14 Millang, Edna (Susie) (Knox)   34 Gottbreht, Patty (Boguslawski) Dunseith, ND Class of 65
15 Sjol, Diane (Larson)   18 Grimme, Bill Birmingham, AL Class of 65
16 Stokes, Bernadette   22 Haagenson, Cheryl Dunseith, ND Class of 71
17 Richard, K. (Flynn)   29 Hamnes, Mel Bottineau, ND Spouse of Bev Handland Hamnes
18 Grimme, Bill   51 James, Herb Clearwater, FL Doyle Abrahamson’s father-in-law
19 Metcalfe, Gary   Klinger, Becky (not in photo)Seminole, FLDoyle Abrahamson’s sister-in-law
20 Vandal, Mike   Klinger, Chet (not in photo)Seminole, FLDoyle Abrahamson’s Brother-in-law
21 Baldwin, Nancy (Hosmer)   10 Kontzie, Keith Elgin, Manitoba, Ca Nancy Hosmer Baldwin’s fiancé
22 Haagenson, Cheryl   42 Leonard, Bill Mountlake Terrace, WA Class of 52
23 Munro, Chuck   47 Leonard, Lorette Mountlake Terrace, WA Bill Leonard’s spouse
24 Protassevitch, Irina   35 Longie, Al-lyn Vancouver, WA Bill Longie’s spouse
25 Metcalfe, Sue   41 Longie, Bill Vancouver, WA Class of 60
26 Vandal, Sandra (Zeiler)   33 Hamnes, Beverly (Handland) Bottineau, ND Class of 48
27 Abrahamson, Doyle   Mann, Connor (not in photo)Largo, FLGary/Joni Mann’s son
28 Abrahamson, Cindy   Mann, Gary (not in photo)Largo, FLDoyle Abrahamson’s Brother-in-law
29 Hamnes, Mel   Mann, Joni (not in photo)Largo, FLDoyle Abrahamson’s sister-in-law
30 Munro, Geri (Metcalfe)   40 McKay, Phyllis Auburn, WA Class of 65
31 Cavaliere, Ronnie   57 Metcalfe, Angelina Holister, MO Daughter of Leah Metcalfe
32 Espe, Terry   19 Metcalfe, Gary Holister, MO Class of 57
33 Mamnes, Beverly (Handland)   37 Metcalfe, Leah Holister, MO Daughter of Gary & Sue Metcalfe
34 Gottbreht, Patty (Boguslawski)   25 Metcalfe, Sue Holister, MO Spouse of Gary Metcalfe
35 Longie, Al-lyn   14 Millang, Edna (Susie) (Knox) Dunseith, ND Class of 60
36 Cavaliere, Cora   5 Mjelstad, Carol (Hamnes) Arnegard, ND Mel Hamne’s sister
37 Metcalfe, Leah   6 Mjelstad, Orville Arnegard, ND Carol Mjelstad’s spouse
38 Espe, LeaRae (Parrill)   23 Munro, Chuck Fargo, ND Geri Metcalfe Munro’s spouse
39 Shull, Leo   30 Munro, Geri (Metcalfe) Fargo, ND Class of 59
40 McKay, Phyllis   43 Pflepsen, Gloria Dickinson, ND Lee Stickland’s friend
41 Longie, Bill   56 Pladson, Alice Stafford, VA Keith Pladson’s spouse
42 Leonard, Bill   53 Pladson, Keith Stafford, VA Class of 66
43 Pflepsen, Gloria   24 Protassevitch, Irina Birmingham, AL Bill Grimme;s friend
44 Stickland, Lee (Leland)   3 Randall, Leona Brandon, Manitoba, CA Friend of Nancy Hosmer Baldwin
45 Shelver, Dave   2 Reing, Marlene Bottineau, ND Debby Stokes’s sister
46 Shelver, Linda   13 Reing, Oliver Bottineau, ND Merlene Reing’s spouse
47 Leonard, Lorette   17 Richard, K. (Flynn) West Farge, ND Class of 67
48 Sime, Florence (Pladson)   Roblin, Keith (not in photo)Elkhorn, Manitoba, CAFriend of Nancy Hosmer Baldwin
49 Flynn, Randy   Roblin, Marion (not in photo)Elkhorn, Manitoba, CAFriend of Nancy Hosmer Baldwin
50 Flynn, Lourice   45 Shelver, Dave Lake Havasu City, AZ Class of 63
51 James, Herb   46 Shelver, Linda Lake Havasu City, AZ Dave Shelver’s Spouse
52 Coles, Becky (Sime)   39 Shull, Leo Auburn, WA Phyllis McKay’s Friend
53 Pladson, Keith   48 Sime, Florence (Pladson) Dunseith, ND Class of 62
54 Flynn, Minnie (Knox)   15 Sjol, Diane (Larson) Minot, ND Class of 70
55 Flynn, Rio   9 Sjol, Scott Minot, ND Diane Larson Sjol’s spouse
56 Pladson, Alice   44 Stickland, Lee (Leland) Dickinson, ND Class of 64
57 Metcalfe, Angelina   16 Stokes, Bernadette Cebu, Philippines Gary Stokes’ spouse
Mann, Gary (not in photo) 12Stokes, DarrelBottineau, NDClass of 70
Mann, Joni (not in photo) 1Stokes, DebbyBottineau, NDDarrel Stokes’ Spouse
Mann, Connor (not in photo) 11Stokes, GaryCebu, PhilippinesClass of 65
Klinger, Chet (not in photo) 7Van Dyne, DreamaVancouver, WAFriend of Bill Longie
Klinger, Becky (not in photo) 8Van Dyne, MarkVancouver, WAFriend of Bill Longie
Roblin, Keith (not in photo) 20Vandal, MikeElk River, MNSandra Zeiler Vandal’s spouse
Roblin, Marion (not in photo) 26Vandal, Sandra (Zeiler)Elk River, MNClass of 62