The blog number is 1968 and that has a special ring to it for
several of us. I would like to reply to Aime Casavant’s narrative on
the lack of teaching history to young people and the results of such a
mistake. Having had many older friends and relatives who lived through
tough times, I had a special interest in their insight of how things
are what they are and how they get that way. As we were growing up,
special respect was given to those who served our country to protect us
from losing our freedom to live in peace. It would appear that those
who now have lived in peace and freedom gained for us by these veterans
believe that it was always this way and will always be–so why talk
about it? Let’s just get on with living our lives and let the past go
to wherever pasts go. That will be the greatest mistake ever made and
responsible adults will become rare in our population. The less
informed the population is, the greater the chance of history having to
repeat itself for the new generations. I intentionally start a
conversation with young adults once in a while about World War Two (for
the ones who don’t know what WWII stands for) just to see the
expressions on their faces. If they can get their eyes off their phones
for a second, they usually stare at me like I am somehow talking in a
foreign language. One of my worst fears is that we, as a population in
general, will leave the lessons learned by our elders to sit on shelves
in old books while we go about life believing it was always like this.
Many hard lessons learned throughout time can be avoided by teaching
kids history, along with archival films and pictures, that will instill
in them the evils lurking in the world that are perfectly happy to hear
that we are dumbing down our schools about history. It’s happening and
it’s the new norm right here right now. Nearly every day there is
another lame brain change in education that leads away from the
necessary goals and toward disaster. My humble opinion. Thanks Gary!
Dick
Vickie,Next time you see Ginger please give her our regards.Ginger is one of the most humble loving care giving folks on the face of this earth. This world needs more Ginger’s. She is from the class of ’65 too.Gary
I’m in Kingman, Arizona with my brother Jim and Yoli. We have been golfing in 75 degree weather…every day is paradise!! Im enjoying every moment especially when I hear the weather forecast for ND. You and Bernadette are in my prayers. Margaret.
Margaret,It has been awhile since we have heard from you, so I am posting.Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement.Enjoy your time with your brother Jim in AZ. I am hoping you are planning to spend the rest of the winter there as well too?Gary
I am so sorry to hear of Bernadette illness, I am praying will be better real soon. Lots of rain here in Seattle. We did a bit of snow a few weeks ago but it was gone in a few days. Thanks for this blog I really enjoy it. All for now. Shirley(LaRocque)Wendt
Thank you Shirley.
Gary
Gwendolyn
Thank you GwendolynGary
We’re happy to hear that Bernadette is doing much better. We pray that each day is better.
Gary, thanks for making the offer to help us out with distribution. Our council was very happy to hear of you and that you are so helpful. We’ll check on going independent rather than through Lutheran World Relief, there may be a big difference in shipping. This may be a factor. I’ll let you know more about that. In the mean time our Council will pursue the collection each week of lent and one way or another this will go to the Philippines after Easter.
Take Care,
Martha
Martha,I’d check the local available methods and costs, but I am thinking, with the volumes, that the Lutheran World Relief would be a lot less expensive. I am assuming they rent 40′ container boxes that they load on ships. That is what the companies managing the Balikbayan box shipments do.
If you send the boxes to us, we can distribute however you like. We have several good friends that are doing relief work for the Typhoon victims. For the Philippine’s in general, we know lots of areas that can dearly use the assistance, many of which are in our general neighborhood.Please keep me posted.Gary
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I just received this Obituary of Elvena Robillard’s from my cousin Neola Kofoid Garbe. Jim Robillard (58) and Gloria Robillard Patnaude (69) are on our distribution list. Raphael Poitra, owner of Kelvin, was in the class of 65 and Geraldine Robillard Volker was in the class of 60.
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Elvena Robillard (Obituary)
June 30, 1923-Feb. 16, 2008
DUNSEITH – Elvena Robillard, 84, Bottineau, formerly of Belcourt, Rolla and Dunseith, died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, in a Bottineau nursing home.
She was born June 30, 1923, to Emery and Alice St. Claire in Dunseith. She married Joseph “Bill” Robillard Sept. 5, 1941, in Dunseith. Survivors: sons, James Robillard, Williston, Robert Robillard, Bismarck, Raphael Poitra, Dunseith; daughters, Geraldine Volker, Everett, Wash., Gloria Patnaude, Belcourt; 24 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; stepsister, Cecelia Delorme; stepbrother, Charles Poitra. Funeral: Friday, 10 a.m., St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Dunseith. Burial: St. Louis Catholic Cemetery, Dunseith, in the spring. Rosary service: Thursday, 8 p.m., in the church. Visitation: Thursday, 6 p.m., in the church. (Elick Funeral Home, Rolla) .
To the Elvena Robillard Family. Our condolences are with you with the loss of your mother/grandmother. Of her siblings I personally know Raphael. He was in my class (65) and of coarse he attended our reunion this last summer. Raphael, you are such a wonderful kind hearted spirited guy and being siblings to you, I’m sure the rest of Elvena’s family are the same. Gary & Bernadette Stokes
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Dear Susie, Cam, Sherri, Kip, Linda, and Dale:
It is a tough time for you, and we will all be praying for you. With Gods help and understanding he will get each and everyone of you through this tough time. He has done his hard work on earth and now he must rest at home with all the others. God Bless to you all, Dave Slyter .
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Phyllis, I hope you don’t mind that I’ve taken the liberty to share your letter with the rest of the folks. I think folks will be interested in what you are doing. With your personality, charisma and dedication I know you must be a wonderful teacher. The DOD will be fortunate to have you. Good luck. Gary
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Gary,
I tried to send this e-mail to Bob Lykins but it wouldn’t go through. Maybe I do not have his e-mail in my system. I am at home so sometimes my computer does not work the same as if I were at school. I am hoping you will be able to send the message on to Bob or send me his e-mail address. As you can see, I am putting in my application for teaching overseas. I have completed most of the application. I am waiting on the recommendations from my principal and former principals and then I will need to send my teaching certificate to DoD. I will also need to be interviewed. I am excited about the possibility of teaching overseas. Again I want to thank you for all the e-mails. I truly enjoy reading them. I haven’t had much to contribute this year, but feel as if I am getting to know many of the people from Dunseith that I only knew by name. Reading about how so many of us grew up in a relatively safe environment, makes me wish I would have brought up my own children there. But I was brought up thinking that Dunseith didn’t have anything to offer. (Of course I had the wanderlust in my soul even back then.) The childhood that so many of us have in common and the experiences of a small community are a rare commodity of the city life. I think the idea of sending a donation to help with the up-keep of the cemeteries is a great idea, being we all have loved ones residing one or more of them. I am amazed at the for sight of the Fassett’s vast collections of our Dunseith history. I am not one for keeping things for very long. They didn’t just keep memorabilia on their own families but also on the community. What a wonderful addition their articles and pictures have made to the e-mails. Keep the e-mails coming, Gary, I love them. Say hello to Bernadette from me. She is a super person and I feel lucky to have met her. I also am enjoying your e-mails about life in the Philippines. One of the places that I could teach at is Guam. Because of your e-mails, I think Guam may be somewhat like the Philippines and would be a facinating place to go to. Phyllis .
Letter to Bob Lykins Bob, I am in the process of completing my application for employment with Department of Defense schools. I am excited about going overseas to teach. If there is anything you can do to help me with my application or suggestions, I would appreciate the help. Phyllis McKay, your former student .
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Here are the other pictures that go with the 1955 bowlers. My Dad Bill wrote on them “the support/fan crew”.The 1st pic is Margo Hiatt,Delores Hiatt,Helen Watkins Neslon(my aunt),& Marlys Evans 2nd pic is Marlys,Rita Anderson,my Mom Irene Fassett & Bernice Johnson. These were in the old Woodford bar/bowling alley that I remember being called the snakepit. Crystal Fassett Andersen
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