Happy Birthday Deb Striker Cubela (DHS ’74): Wahpeton, N 
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Blessing to have been born and raised in Dunseith, ND
Message from Dennis Dubois (’63): Minneapolis, MN
Gary, Bernadette and all our mutual friends from Dunseith, I want to wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR. It’s been a fantastic year for me. Health, wealth and friends are all well. A special thanks to you, Gary, for this blog. It is a wonderful thing that you do for so many of us. I share this with a lot of my non-Dunseith friends and they are very envious of us. We must all remember that the greatest gift we have, is being born in America and the greatest blessing for me, the icing on the cake, is having been born and raised in Dunseith, North Dakota. Yes, I have a lot to be grateful for.
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Don Johnson Memories
From Trish Larson Clayburgh (’73): Portola Valley, CA
Well, Happy New Year Gary! 2014- The Year Of the HORSE!
Ha ha you know this might be my best year EVER.
It is so great getting your blog every day, and I really enjoyed this one, because I hadn’t seen the message about Don Johnson in the previous go round, so I was glad to read Mr. Lamoreux’s story. I love the protest stories! I love it that those girls made it possible for us to wear jeans eventually in those below zero temps,even though we often wore mini skirts instead, and I love the image of all those creative kids wearing those prison numbers to school. I don’t think we did anything like that to protest in my years at DHS, but I do remember those anatomy pigs from science class being hung in a few girl’s lockers after dissection…HA!
Don Johnson was an incredible inspiration to all who were able to have his interest and attention, and he gave it widely. I also “had” to play the clarinet since it was the only instrument my mother had access to, and I was made to stick it out even though I hated the instrument’s sound (the way I played it).
It killed me that Cheryl Haagenson and Muzette Berube could play it so beautifully and I just couldn’t “get it”. I really wanted to play the sax like Stephanie Evans, but I couldn’t bear the idea of trying to learn the fingering changes. Don recognized that I wasn’t thrilled with my instrument and one day, offered me the chance to change my life and to play the Contra Alto Clarinet after a brief stint on the medium sized Alto Clarinet. These were instruments he had available because of his ability to fund raise. I can still see the twinkle in his eye as he watched me open that case in the bandroom for the first time. It was an amazing gift of opportunity, and I’ve often thought of how that sensitive offering of his, without any big deal attached, became a big deal for me, a shy girl with black rim octagonal shaped, coke bottom glasses.
I enjoyed playing music the rest of high school on that big wind instrument. It was so long I had to sit on a high stool to play it. In the beginning, it took so much air, I got dizzy (high?) when I played it. I never became a great musician, but I developed a love of bass rythms and making music with others because of Don. I gave that love of music to my sons, insisting that they each pick an instrument to play. They each developed a beautiful voice, and each still plays an instrument (Sylvain trombone, Jesse Drums, Zak the flute). That legacy of music comes from Don, and I think of him fondly every time I pick up the guitar (I’m still trying to learn how to play it). Thanks for stirring up the memories!
I wish everyone out there in North Dakota land a wonderful New Year full of love and adventure with the power and beauty of the YEAR OF THE HORSE! May your celebrations be safe, your parties be Merry and may the year be full of grace for you and your family!
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New Years Eve at the Cebu Marco Polo Plaza
We had a great evening last night at the Marco Polo. Bernadette got tired so we had to leave about 11:00 PM. She is not doing so well today. Yesterday she was much better. Had NYE been today, it would have been questionalble if we would have gone. In that aspect, things turned out well.
Gary
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Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
Walter John DeCoteau
(January 5, 1955 – December 13, 2013)
Send Flowers Send Sympathy Card
Sign Guest Book..
(January 5, 1955 – December 13, 2013)
Send Flowers Send Sympathy Card
Sign Guest Book..
WALTER JOHN DECOTEAU
Walter John DeCoteau, age 48 of Dunseith, died Friday, December 13, 2013 in a Belcourt hospital. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church of rural Dunseith. Burial will be in the Church Cemetery. A wake will be held on Wednesday beginning at 4:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 8:00 P.M. in the church.
Walter J. DeCoteau, a son of Walter and Isabelle (Vivier) DeCoteau, was born on January 5, 1965 at Rolla, ND. He attended school in Dunseith and completed his education in Belcourt. After his education he worked at Noodles by Leonardo in Cando for a time. Then began working at Turtle Mountain Manufacturing in Belcourt. On October 2, 1998 he was married to Stella Bradford at Belcourt. After their marriage he worked different jobs in the area. They have continued to make Dunseith their home.
He enjoyed going to the Casino, riding 4-wheeler, fishing and going camping with his family.
He is survived by his wife Stella at home. daughters, Amy Ann DeCoteau, Shannell Marie DeCoteau and Tessie Rae DeCoteau all of Dunseith; Mother Isabelle DeCoteau of Dunseith; sister, Caroline (Paul) Deschamp of Minnesota; brothers, Alfred (Rita) DeCoteau, Larry (Theresa) DeCoteau and Jim (Alonda) DeCoteau all of Dunseith.
Walter was preceded in death by his father; a brother, Lyle DeCoteau and a granddaughter, Aubree Marie Counts.
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From Mike Vandal: Elk River, MN
Gary,
This for those men and women who served for our country.
Thank you,
Mike Vandal
3rd grade song!!!! You’ll love it!
Just beautiful !
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Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
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Blog posted on January 28, 2008
1/28/2008
More good news from Deb Morinville (70):
Hi Gary,
Today (Sunday) they removed the breathing tube and discovered that Bev (Moriniville 72) can talk! She can also swallow!! So the feeding tube will come out tomorrow and she will probably be released on Wednesday. We have a lot to be thankful for and celebrate. The scenario could have been so much worse!
Thanks again everyone for all your prayers and support.
Deb Morinville Marmon 70
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Memories from Dick Johnson (68):
To Gary and the masses,In response to the memories of DHS band and choir days, I want
to share a few memories that come to mind. We were in
Boissevain Man. marching for some function (?) and were asked
to march down the street in front of the nursing home. This was
a dead end street as I recall. We had practiced making a 180
degree turn where we marched back between the rows without
stopping and this seemed to word quite well in practice. This
day however when Dave Slyter, who was carring the big bass
drum, turned around, either he or Don Berg (?) turned the wrong
way and there was this loud BOOM in the back of the band and
two guys on the ground. It did seem to entertain the old folks
though and we had a good laugh!Another time as we were in the gym practicing the songs for
graduation, we had a break in the action while the teachers
were deciding how it should go. SOMEONE had a firecracker and
SOMEONE had a lighter. As the fuse was burning the one holding
it tossed it into the open bell of an upright baritone. Our
principal, Don Martel was walking away when it went off and as
I recall he jumped about three feet in the air and came down
facing the opposite direction. I think Dan Boguslawski was the
poor guy holding the smoking horn! I may not have the right
guys but the facts are right as I remember.
to share a few memories that come to mind. We were in
Boissevain Man. marching for some function (?) and were asked
to march down the street in front of the nursing home. This was
a dead end street as I recall. We had practiced making a 180
degree turn where we marched back between the rows without
stopping and this seemed to word quite well in practice. This
day however when Dave Slyter, who was carring the big bass
drum, turned around, either he or Don Berg (?) turned the wrong
way and there was this loud BOOM in the back of the band and
two guys on the ground. It did seem to entertain the old folks
though and we had a good laugh!Another time as we were in the gym practicing the songs for
graduation, we had a break in the action while the teachers
were deciding how it should go. SOMEONE had a firecracker and
SOMEONE had a lighter. As the fuse was burning the one holding
it tossed it into the open bell of an upright baritone. Our
principal, Don Martel was walking away when it went off and as
I recall he jumped about three feet in the air and came down
facing the opposite direction. I think Dan Boguslawski was the
poor guy holding the smoking horn! I may not have the right
guys but the facts are right as I remember.
Dick
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Dave Slyter’s (70) reply:
Hey fellas,
�
You talking about Elwood Fauske and George Gregory got me thinking about the winter of 67. I know you guys probably were already gone after you graduated but that winter was one of the worse that I remember. My dad, Freddie Hiatt had a HD9 International bulldozer that he used a lot on our farm just south of you guys. That winter the county had asked him to clear roads as the snow was so high the snow plows and graders couldn’t handle it all. They sent him about 3 miles south of our place down by the Rendahl church turnoff as the snow was really packed in between some hills. He first had to make a trail in Olsens hay fields so the school buses could get thru and then he had to push the 10 to 12 foot snow banks out from the Willow Lake road. I think we were out of school for about a week straight that winter. My dad also use that cat or bulldozer for logging as we use to have saw mill on our farm many years ago. If you all remember the Birchwood Golf course at Lake Metgoshe. Well just before it was put in my dad and us boys move everything up there to clear the trees so we could have the lumber and they could have the golf course. My dad and uncle Wallace moved a little shack up there as we use to work a lot of summer days up there and my mom Margaret Hiatt and sisters would come up and cook and feed us. It was a lot of hard work.�
�
What memories
Dave Slyter
�
You talking about Elwood Fauske and George Gregory got me thinking about the winter of 67. I know you guys probably were already gone after you graduated but that winter was one of the worse that I remember. My dad, Freddie Hiatt had a HD9 International bulldozer that he used a lot on our farm just south of you guys. That winter the county had asked him to clear roads as the snow was so high the snow plows and graders couldn’t handle it all. They sent him about 3 miles south of our place down by the Rendahl church turnoff as the snow was really packed in between some hills. He first had to make a trail in Olsens hay fields so the school buses could get thru and then he had to push the 10 to 12 foot snow banks out from the Willow Lake road. I think we were out of school for about a week straight that winter. My dad also use that cat or bulldozer for logging as we use to have saw mill on our farm many years ago. If you all remember the Birchwood Golf course at Lake Metgoshe. Well just before it was put in my dad and us boys move everything up there to clear the trees so we could have the lumber and they could have the golf course. My dad and uncle Wallace moved a little shack up there as we use to work a lot of summer days up there and my mom Margaret Hiatt and sisters would come up and cook and feed us. It was a lot of hard work.�
�
What memories
Dave Slyter
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Message from Joan Wurgler Salmonson (61):
Hi Gary,
My sister, Peg sent this to us. Have you heard or read about ND, the Emptied Prairie? That should keep the riff-raff out!
Even tho we had -31 two mornings last week, we wouldn’t trade it for anyplace else. At least we have a variety and something to talk about!
Stan & Joan Salmonson
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From: Peg Wurgler (71)
Subject: ABC World News Tonight
We read the article in the National Geographic on North Dakota titled “The Emptied Prairie”. This video by ABC News was on World News Tonight last Friday, January 18. Thought you would enjoy seeing it.