Blog (40) posted on March 10, 2008
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Gary and Flavia. It was interesting and joyful to read the mailing
from Flavia. You may not remember, but one time in the late 70s or
early 80s I contacted you in Sao Paulo. I was staying at the Maxsud
Plaza Hotel. Alan Campbell gave me your number because he knew I would
be travelling there. Certainly it would be understandable for you not
to remember it, but it was an event that I’ll not forget. I was a
demonstration pilot flying the Cessna Citation business jet in those
days, and spent many trips and days landing at all the major airports
of Brazil. Even some minor ones. Anyway, you came to the hotel, and
we had dinner in one of the restaurants, and talked about Dunseith and
all the people we both knew. I was so proud to be dining with such a
beautiful woman, and knowing how much the Campbell’s loved having you
with them made it a special occaision. Most of the time we dined late
and left in early hours to get through the day, but for some reason
that day’s flying was over early, so I had an unforgettable dinner date
that stays with me. Wonderful, Flavia, to hear from you through this
magical circuit which Gary has made possible. Undoubtedly, you would
be a most welcome visitor to Dunseith, but as you may have read, the
town is not the same, and yes, we senior citizens who gather there now
and then talk about those other days and those who shared our time in
those eras of innocence and small town wonderment. Cheers and
greetings to you, Bill Hosmer
from Flavia. You may not remember, but one time in the late 70s or
early 80s I contacted you in Sao Paulo. I was staying at the Maxsud
Plaza Hotel. Alan Campbell gave me your number because he knew I would
be travelling there. Certainly it would be understandable for you not
to remember it, but it was an event that I’ll not forget. I was a
demonstration pilot flying the Cessna Citation business jet in those
days, and spent many trips and days landing at all the major airports
of Brazil. Even some minor ones. Anyway, you came to the hotel, and
we had dinner in one of the restaurants, and talked about Dunseith and
all the people we both knew. I was so proud to be dining with such a
beautiful woman, and knowing how much the Campbell’s loved having you
with them made it a special occaision. Most of the time we dined late
and left in early hours to get through the day, but for some reason
that day’s flying was over early, so I had an unforgettable dinner date
that stays with me. Wonderful, Flavia, to hear from you through this
magical circuit which Gary has made possible. Undoubtedly, you would
be a most welcome visitor to Dunseith, but as you may have read, the
town is not the same, and yes, we senior citizens who gather there now
and then talk about those other days and those who shared our time in
those eras of innocence and small town wonderment. Cheers and
greetings to you, Bill Hosmer
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Gary, Bonita Enno would like a update on the cruise as she thought that
sounded like it would be fun. She was a class mate of my daughter. Her
email address is, shopping101@aol.com. I sure enjoyed all the info that
you send. It is quiet interesting what people remember about Dunseith. I
remember when the snow wa so deep on main street that you couldn’t see
the drug store from Hosmers store. That was in the early 1964. I was
working at hosmers store at that time. That storm happened over night.
There were cars completly covered with snow on the north side of the drug
by the hotel.
sounded like it would be fun. She was a class mate of my daughter. Her
email address is, shopping101@aol.com. I sure enjoyed all the info that
you send. It is quiet interesting what people remember about Dunseith. I
remember when the snow wa so deep on main street that you couldn’t see
the drug store from Hosmers store. That was in the early 1964. I was
working at hosmers store at that time. That storm happened over night.
There were cars completly covered with snow on the north side of the drug
by the hotel.
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Florence, I will send Bonita the preliminary info about the Dunseith Alumni Alaskan Cruise that I sent out a while back that is being planed for the 3rd week of July 2009 departing from Seattle. The 2009 Alaskan Cruise schedules are not out yet. When they are available April/May and Sandra Trevers Llewellyn (60), our travel agent, gets a cruise in place, we will be sending out detailed information so folks can start booking. For now folks can be planning. The earlier folks book, the better (more) cabin choices they will have. This will be a fun trip for all. Gary
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Gary and Friends
Bev Morinville Azure’s memory of me and my dog Duke made my
day! It sure sounded like something he would do. I had that dog
from the time I was eight until I was in my mid twenties, 16 or
17 years! He was a character. One time we came home and someone
had left a cleaned, frozen, and wrapped, Northern Pike fish on
our doorstep. We asked the usual people who might have left us
this present but everone said “not me”. We had a great fish
supper from it anyway. At bowling one night a while later Dad
was telling this story to the bowlers. Joe Evans said “that was
YOUR #*^&%(@@_(&%^ little brown dog”!! Duke was out making his
rounds and Joe had laid his fish out on his picnic table to
freeze it when he saw Duke grab it and take off. Joe ran out
and chased him but the more he yelled the faster Duke ran! Joe
didn’t know it was my dog and we didn’t know it was Joe’s
fish!! The guys all had a good laugh, Dad said, when he told
Joe, THANKS!! Thanks Bev and Gary.
Dick
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Connie Peterson Lagerquist’s (74) reply to Gary Stokes’ (65) question asking about Terry Counts (74):
Hi Gary,
I’m really enjoying your e-mails. As for Terry, he is
alive and well. He works at the Belcourt hospital. I
see him now and again. He is married. His wifes name
is Norma, but not sure of her maiden name.
Connie
I’m really enjoying your e-mails. As for Terry, he is
alive and well. He works at the Belcourt hospital. I
see him now and again. He is married. His wifes name
is Norma, but not sure of her maiden name.
Connie
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reply to crystal fassett, thank you so much for the pics of homecoming especially the one with my big bro richard, used to be such a handsome chap wonder what happened, now i am glad that i live in kansas, kind of far for him ti come kick my behind teee heee thanks again p.s. bet they don’t do homecoming like that anymore
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Gary,
Weighing in on the care of the Dunseith cemeteries. I agree most could use some TLC. I to travel up north once or twice a year to stop in at the cemeteries and to quench my craving for a jumbo burger. Dick you and your group have Little Prairie Cemetery looking nice. Good job.
My brothers and I use to take care of St. Louis and Riverside cemeteries back in the sixties for Harry Douglas. The cemetery supplied three push lawn mowers, of which usually 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 whole lot less work. Wheelbarrows still had to be used to get into the tight areas 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 a week or more prior to each holiday and sometimes in between holidays if it rained. Pushing lawn mowers up and down that hill was a real job.
I remember one of my brothers was mowing along when all of sudden he let out a yell. A grave had caved in, and he had went 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 and with three brothers that were both tired and hungry, was enough of a struggle.
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 required to be used by state law, solved most of this 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.
In the later sixties toppling over grave stones became popular among the younger people. Us cemetery people were sure glad when they moved onto cow tipping. I’m sure that this cow tipping activity ticked-off the udder guys. I just want you to know I’m against tipping of any kind, except for a beer or two.
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larry
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| To: | Gary |
| From: | Verena |
| Message: | Gary, Here is our little addition to the family. His nails were so long! His mom cut them now so shouldn’t be scratching his face up any more, lol. He is so sweet! |