Hi Gary, 

I know how much everyone appreciates your colossal endeavour to post all
the messages you receive on behalf of the Dunseith alumni; however, I
would like to add that you have a very special gift, namely your diplomacy
and your people skills.  You are the reason that this blog (is that what
we call this?) is such a tremendous success with everyone who ever
graduated from DHS.  You have the stellar ability to discern what and how
things should be written.

Thank you for your kind words on behalf of my family.  Coming from you,
someone I have the utmost respect for, it meant so much to me and to my
family.

You asked about the rumor you heard about my students being on TV:  The
story is that I took my students on a career field trip.  Since we have a
radio station in Belcourt, some of the students are interested in careers
of this nature.  KXMC-13 does an excellent job demonstrating to students
what people in a TV station do; allowing students lots of hands-on
activities which they think is really sweet.  Anyway, they asked the
students if they would like to be on “Hey Tom, how’s the weather?”  The
students thought that would be really fun and somehow convinced me into
doing it with them.  I think they used my line about “taking a risk”.
Now you know the rest of the story.  Although I didn’t see it; it was
aired last week.

Gary, I just want to thank you again for this special service that you are
doing for all of us.  Every once in awhile someone comes up to me and
says, “Gary, called the other night.”  They think it’s amazing that you
take the time to connect with them personally.  I have seen so many
relationships revived and it’s been a healing for many.

May God bless you always,
Margaret

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Note:  Margaret, Thank you so much for these kind words.  I normally try to direct the spot light to others, but you got me on this one.  Being the highly respected popular teacher that you are with the Belcourt school system, I know folks are interested in stuff, like you being on TV with one of your classes.  I say this in all sincerity, remember, I talk to lots of folks.  Gary

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Gary: 

On Dick Johnson’s fishing pictures, judging from the ears, the kid in the maroon coat is me.  Those were the good old days.
I was talking to my mom a few days ago, and she mentioned she wished she had sent in a note when people were talking about Carl Grimme.  I told her I didn’t think there was a time limit on subjects, but I see she still hasn’t written, forcing me to relate the story and make up what I can’t remember.

Sometime back in the mid 60′s we had a pretty bright red Ford Fairlane.  Mom had some place she had to go, and this is what I can’t remember, so for the sake of the story I’ll assume she either had to go clean out the church or go up to the bar for a period of time. Can’t remember which, either way, it seemed like a good idea at the time to throw one of our high strung german shorthairs in the car while she went off and did what ever.

Coming back to the car, she noted the shorthair, with plenty of free time, had ripped up all the carpeting in the back of the car. She went home to try to figure out what to do before my Dad, Jay, would find out.

Almost on cue to make a perfect day, my Dad callled home to tell her get the car cleaned out right away, ’cause he had just sold it to Alan Campbell, turning this into a 3 alarm emergency.  She had no choice but to race down to the school to track down Carl, being the “dog torn up carpeting in the car” expert in town.  Carl was sympathetic to the urgency, and evidently did a pretty good job, because I don’t remember hearing any comments from the Campbell’s about what 2nd rate floor carpeters Ford Motor Company had.

Don Lamoureux (75)

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American Legion Baseball team of 1971, 

It is interesting reading about the American Legion baseball
team of 1971.  I was out of town that summer, 1st year of
college, but heard the details from my dad, Jack Flynn.  When
you mentioned his watchful eye at the State Tournament, I
remember one of the team members presented Jack with a
sheriff’s badge since he was “riding shotgun” over the players.
My father had that badge in his shaving kit for years.  I
would see it every time he visited my home.  I am certain he
still has it next to his razor at home.  I know Jack was very
proud of all the members of the team and enjoyed going to the
games.  Tim Martinson and Larry Tooke were nephews of Jack and
Minnie Flynn.

Randy Flynn

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Gary and Friends 

Rural mail delivery wasn’t always as easy as it is today! The roads were
more like trails and when the snow came it stayed until the guy that put
it there, made it melt! These two pictures show some of the inventive
ways guys rigged vehicles to travel over the snow. The top photo is of
my grandfather, Henry Olson, with a 1929 Ford Model A that was equipped
with big balloon tires. The tires were surplus aircraft tires probably
from a B-17 of WWII vintage. Given the light weight of this little car
and the huge footprint of these massive tires, the car could just drive
over the snowbanks!  The picture was taken in the late forties { help me
here, Shirley} or around 1950, I think. The second photo is of another
similar unit that was driven by another mailman, Carl Watschke. Several
people drove different routes over the years. There was more than one
route at the same time in the old days. Better roads and faster vehicles
caused the routes to be combined as they are today. Even these primitive
vehicles were a lot better than a sleigh and a horse. They were enclosed
and somewhat heated at least!!

Thanks Gary.

Dick

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This picture was taken of our Dad, Bob Stokes, when he was home on a short furlough before going overseas.  This must have been Jan/Feb of 1943. You can see the Turtle Mountain brush and snow in the back ground.

Dad Cherished his war years and took great pride in being a US Veteran.  Each and every year, right up to his passing, Memorial Day had to have been the most celebrated holidays of the year for him.  He never missed the Memorial day parade in Bottineau and for years carried old glory with one hell of a lot of pride.  He was a very active member of the Metigoshe Lutheran church. I remember him boycotting going to church one time, because they had taken the America flag out of the church.  He said “if the American flag is not welcome, neither am I.”  He let his frustrations be known and they put the flag back in the church.  Gary

 

Fort Snelling Oct. 2, 1942
37308632
Co. B 5oth Engineer Combat.
Basic Training Camp White, Oregon
Invasion of Attu the Aleutian Islands
Christmas Island
Canton Island
Invasion Saipan Island
Invasion Okinawa 

After the war was over we went
to Korea as occupational troops
before the Korean War.
We left Korea on a destroyer
for the states, and I was discharged
at Fort Leavenworth
Kansas. Dec. 12, 1945
after 31 months and 10 days overseas.

Note: Dad (Bob Stokes) wrote the above summary of his service record on a piece of paper shortly before his death.  This is a period of time he did not want gone unforgotten with his passing.  We, his family, found this summary among his personal things, after his death.  He had many stories to tell of his war years, overseas, of which we never documented. If only we had recorded some.  Gary