GARY, I too  enjoyed reading  Mr. Landsverk’s story. (Thank You, Mr.
Landsverk ) My dad, Cliff who became blind as a result of  diabetes
was also a WW II  Navy veteran of the Pacific as was your dad, Bob
Stokes  and many other guys from Dunseith.  I always learned so much
whenever visiting  those true “heros” veterans  of our childhood.
Thank goodness,  we “kids” had  dads who were role models in
character building ie work ethics, patriotism, caring and citizenship
etc as kids growing up in Dunseith.  As ever.  Vickie Metcalfe

—
Vickie L. Metcalfe

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Vickie, My Dad, Bob Stokes, was a WW II Vet and proud of it, as I know, he probably told you many of his war stories. He spent over 33 months overseas in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945.  He loved talking and visiting with you every time he’d see you out and about.  He loved your dogs. He always had some good interesting stories to tell, especially from his service years. To bad we didn’t get any of them recorded. As a point of interest, shortly after he died, going through his things, we found where he had written down his whole service record from the time he was drafted until he was discharged.  He did this a short time before his death.  He was proud to have been a WW II vet and did not want that period of time lost with his passing.  He often times would get emotional with some of his war stories.  Gary

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Dear Gary,

Okay, I HAVE to write a quick response to Dick’s
latest story.

I also remember Dennis and “Bogie” (as we liked to
call him) in a different car caper.  Does anyone
remember the year Dunseith days hosted a what do you
call it when everyone has a junk car and they slam
into each other until there’s only one car standing?
– A demolition derby!

Anyhow that hot summer day in what was it, 1970?,
Bogie and Dennis got ahold of an old Grey station
wagon and we all (LaRae?Cheri? and I) painted it to
look like a shark.  It had a huge front end and
suffered little damage in the foray – it was a tank!
Dan drove it well, and though he was hit aplenty, the
“shark” was still running when the others were dead in
the water.  I don’t remember anyone wearing helmets by
the way. We had a great time cheering them on and I’m
sure their big win gave us good reason to celebrate
that evening…

As I understood it, Dan died not too many years after
graduation in a drowning accident.  I have often
remembered him and his special gentle nature with
fondness…

I also have many funny stories to tell about Dennis
Dion- but maybe I should ask permission first?

And Tim Hill – remember the joke about the gorilla in
the gold cage?  I just recently told that joke and
have told it too many times to count over the years.
We used to have such good innocent fun all of us!
Driving around the beautiful farmland, telling jokes,
being friends, supporting each other.

I have too many fond memories to count:  Beer can
alley parties, the Peace Garden Round House and
midnight swims there, Fauske horse rides, crazy cars,
expeditions to Bossevain, snowmobiling adventures, and
swimming at the lakes.

I wonder if Curt Hagel remembers the time his foot
ended up kicking me in the mouth – I remember pulling
skin out from between my teeth – ewww.  I’m sure it
was an accident – I can’t really remember how it
happened, except that I was in the water and you were
on the dock…  I clearly recall we were laughing
pretty hard afterward, even though I was grossed out
and you were bleeding.

And Dick – your Dad was one of the most important
teachers of my life (and I’ve had many).  He got me to
do things I didn’t think I could.  Like sing that song
“The Red Velvet Shoes” at Regional Competition.  I
froze up horribly with stage fright and squawked it
out so poorly – I think it was the worst I’ve ever
sung.  I thought I would faint.  But your Dad had
nothing but praise and encouragement – he knew the
real accomplishment was overcoming my fear and getting
up there because I said I would.

He also made it possible for me to enjoy band.  My
parents insisted that I play the clarinet (which I
hated) because some old aunt had given it to them for
me.  I hated the sounds that I made with it, and Don
allowed me to switch to the Contra Alto Clarinet which
had been donated to the school.  I adored that
instrument, which was huge and heavy.  I had to sit on
a high stool in order to accomodate it’s length.  I
fell in love with the bass rhythms and was hooked.  He
did so many things for so many of us.  I have always
felt that we got such a fine music education.  And
I’ve often marveled at how much he accomplished with
so little resources.  He was such a dedicated,
passionate man.

Poor Mrs. Bakken.  She always got the rough end of the
stick – in part because she was so attractive and
pleasant, and in part such a good sport!

Playing practical jokes was a favorite sport of ours
as I recall.  Do my upper classmen remember the fun
you had hanging “Espe’s Pig” from dissection class in
our lockers?  When biology class was on that section,
we never knew who was going to “get it”.  Shame on you
boys for scaring the pudding out of us younger
gals…are you ready to confess your sins yet??  I
don’t think we ever really knew who had done it, but
we sure had a few ideas…

There are so many memories…and it’s good therapy to
remember them with all of you.

Trish Larson Clayburgh(73)

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Gary,

Thanks for the great pictures, Dick. I have a picture of Dad in his uniform, but the one you sent must have been when he just went in. Looking at those old pictures brings such a smile to my face. Brenda and I were looking at them together while we were on the phone talking.

I remember going to your place a few times. It was always fun there. I think we fished in the lake in front of your house. I couldn’t throw my line out like a normal person does, so I would take my rod with both hands and bring it back over my head and then throw the line out as hard as I could. It would sail out there, and sometimes the line went one way and the bait went the other. And then there was the time I went to throw it out and it got caught in a tree behind me. I think your Dad might have went and got a ladder and got the line out of the tree. He then found me a place where I had more of a clearing behind me. Your parents were great people. When I talk to someone about being in band, I always say we had the best band teacher there ever was. He had so much passion for his job.

Note to David: That is Kim that Richard is holding. I am right by Brenda but the picture just about has me cut off.

As always, Thanks Gary. You are doing a great job with all of this!

Rhonda Hiatt (75)

360-666-3228 home

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Dean Stickland’s (73) reply to Sharon Longie Dana (73): 

You’ll have to refresh my memory about a closeline and cats.  I’ve heard
of tying cats’ tails together and tossing them over a line.  Seems they
tend to blame each other for their predicament and get into a little fuss
about it.  Hmmm, I’m not sure how you tie their tails together though.

Yes, I did like to play marbles.  In the Spring of the year the ground
just south of the east wing of the grade school would melt off and dry out
enough to mark a ring in the dirt.  We had some great marble games out
there and usually played for “keeps”.  I don’t remember ever winning ALL
your marbles though.  My cousin, Scott Peterson ended up with all my
marbles when I cleaned out my room and moved away. (Joy Peterson is my
Dad’s sister).

Dean Stickland

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