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To the Pladson family! I so sorry to here of Florence’s accident, she will be in our prayers. We pray for a complete and speedy recovery. Lynn Halvorson Otto
Update for Florence Pladson Sime (62) from her daughter Becky Sime Coles (83): Spokane, WA.
Florence remains in ICU. She has had a few surgeries to date. The latest was to place rods in her shoulder and hip. She will have to have another surgery, perhaps next week, to fix her wrist which was severly crushed. She is in a lot of pain, understandably so, but ocassionally feels well enough to give the nurses a bad time.
Letter from Dick Morgan (52): Washburn, ND
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20 Sept. 09
Yet another perfectly beautiful day inNorth Dakota.
Hi Gary,
You could not have conceivably anticipated the incredible pneumonia you would generate and create with your project to compile a directory of DHS graduates.My wife is baffled and bewildered by the outpouring of loyalty and love expressed in your dispatches.Some months ago, Jack Flynn telephoned to inquire why I was not contributing.Jack is well aware that I am a professionally trained and experienced historian and story teller, absolutely dedicated to truth and accuracy.So the following is for “Uncle Jack”.
Few know or care that the Morgan’s, Marjorie and Kenneth lived in Dunseith during the early 1930’s. That is how I came to be born in Bottineau.The first glimpse my mother and of her beautiful lovely boy, my head was covered with blood.Nurse said I was beating it against the circle, no doubt about that.I have not spent a night in the hospital since.Mother always contended that the nurse had dropped me on my head.Mother said that explained a lot.
As soon as I could walk I commenced to run away.Consequently I was tied with a piece of clothes line to the clothes line behind my grandparents, Harriet and Harley Watkins.As I was straining against my leash, around the corner of the house came an older boy running at full speed.He caught my leash across his throat, which stopped and dropped him.I was projected up into the air.As Billy Jack Hosmer observed my graceful arc across the sky, he determined then and there to become a world class flier and pilot. I landed on my head.Mother said that explained a lot.
Dick Morgan (52)
Supt. “Big Ed” Conroy used to say the class of 52 was the “Quality Class”, well of course!We had both Don Hosmer and Kick McKay.
Dick, Thank you so much for sending me this letter. I hope I have typed it all correctly. Please let me know of any mistakes I may have made. I have a question for you. With what you say in this letter, you are getting these daily messages. I don’t have an email address for you in my files though. Gary
Question from Dick Johnson’s Aunt, his mothers sister.
Shirley Olson Warcup (49): Ivans, UT
Gary, Allen Richard or??
What has happened to San Haven? I haven’t heard anything about it for quite some time. I always thought it was such a beautiful place.
Shirley Olson Warcup
Shirley, It has been a long while since San Haven has been discussed. Many folks have been added to our distribution since that topic was discussed. I will let Allen or someone else re-address this subject. I will tell you this much, it’s a shame what has happened.
I got a personal reply from Brenda Hoffman to yesterday’s message telling me her husband is a retired Periodontist (Doctor of the Gums). I’m thinking you have a son who is a dentist as well? You have never said, but I think that is what I heard a while back with something that was said. Gary.
Ricky Kuhn’s address in Kosovo
From his dad Mel Kuhn (70): melkuhn@utma.com St. John, ND.
Howdy Gary,
I remember a while back that someone wanted an address for the guys when they get to Kosovo and my son called from Germany this morning with this address for him.
SPC. Kuhn, Ricky
KFOR-12
TF Falcon-Eng
Camp Bondsteel
APO AE 09340
He said they are really getting into some intense training and will leave Germany for Kosovo next week.
Mel Kuhn[70]
Reply from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND.
Someone mentioned Mr. Lykins yesterday and I, too, had been thinking of him yesterday as I was substitute teaching in the “keyboarding” class. They have to use cardboard keyboard covers so they can’t peek at the letters. I shared with them how our old Royal typewriters did not have the letters on the keys so we did not have any chances to peek. (One kid said he had seen one those typewriters and knew what they looked like!) So where have you been hiding Mr. Lykins. You haven’t been attacked by a Side Hill Gouger, have you? Does anyone else remember celebrating Side Hill Gouger Days? They were introduced to us by Mr. Lykins.
LeaRae, you need to wonder no more with Mr. Lykins reply below. Gary
Bob Lykins (DHS teacher in the mid 60’s) reply: Hutto, TX.
Gary,
I am still alive and very busy. I have been doing a great deal of traveling and just returned from visiting my young son and his mom in Germany. My son took golf lessons through his school. Since golf equipment is so much cheaper here than in Europe I bought him a nice starter set and bag and took it with me on the plane to Germany. We played in a tournament in Garmisch as well as several times at a course near my wife’s home. Most of the time my son played alone with me driving the cart as it was so expensive ($75.00 for one for 18 holes). Since “Dad” was paying it was better for my pocket book not to play. At a municipal course near my home in Hutto seniors only pay $22.00 for 18 holes, a cart, breakfast and lunch. My son and I also spent 4 days in Vienna, Austria touring the sights as well as attending the opening of a major Impressionist art exhibit and an evening concert by the Vienna Mozart Orchestra. Surprisingly, my 13 year old thought the concert his favorite experience in Vienna. One day, while my son was in school, I thought I’d get more culture so I rode the bus down the mountain and hopped a train to Munich and the Oktober Fest. That is always a fun time. While there I was interviewed by a major German TV channel, ZDF. It seems that day the American Government had issued a travel advisory against traveling to Germany because of threats issued on TV by Al Quida to create “incidents” if the German electorate did not vote for political candidates and parties, in elections that next week, that were advocating the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. The reporter asked me how I felt about the advisory. I told her that it did not bother me and that I had full faith and confidence in the German security agencies to handle any threat. (I wanted to say that nothing, not even threat of bodily harm, was going to keep me from drinking the finest beer in the world. But, that might have been too flippant). She also asked me if I was taking any precautions. I told her that I wasn’t going to sit next to any un-attended packages. I forgot all about it until latter that night, after I got home, my wife asked me if I had done an interview for TV. It seems relatives and friends had been calling asking my wife if she had seen the interview on TV (she hadn’t) and so there went my 15 seconds of fame.
I am now back in Hutto enjoying the fall Texas weather. I keep busy by working around the house as well as working part-time with Pearsons Education. They called me back to work and I will be doing a solid 3 weeks starting next week. I need to make enough to pay for my flights to Washington, DC and back to Germany in December to visit family. In the spring I plan to head up to Alaska to visit my daughter and her family at Elmendorff AFB. I’m also working for the University of Texas Athletic Department as an events usher. I work the football games which allow me to see a good deal of the home games. It’s fun and I enjoy joshing with the fans.
By-the-way, I remember buckle overshoes and the long string of yarn that connected both sets of mittens and ran up one arm, across the back, and down the other arm in my coat.
Sorry to learn about Gregg Grimme. My condolences to the family. I remember well the Grimme children in school. It wasn’t difficult to tell who was a Grimme as it seems they all looked alike and they were all good students.
My best to all.
Bob Lykins
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (65): Bottineau, ND.
Gary, A few e-mails ago Ivy (Eller) Robert asked about Hal Dupee. Was she referring to Hal, the son of Midge Cook Henrikson the proprietor of Kelvin Store? Didn’t his older sister write in a while back about him. I relayed that tidbit of info to my sister, Cyndy who recalls him as a nice kid.
Ivy, my sister Cyndy, Connie Peterson, Jesse Marion, Emil Dubois, Alexis Machipiness, Lorraine Cote, and Hal were just some of the kids in the same early grade classes together. At the our supper table every night, Cyndy would exuberantly talk about their wonderful teacher, Mrs.Fortune Berube. Cyndy would also entertain us with talk about her classmates ….. we’d hear tales of exploits of (some) kids. None of the comments were bad, just amusing to my dad. Cyndy thought the world of Mrs. Berube and of her classmates.
Later, Vickie
Vickie, You are so right. What a memory. I am pasting Lynn Henrikson’s message below that she posted with message 367 on February 10, 2009. I have highlighted in bold blue what she has to say about Hal. Gary
Previously posted with message 367 – 2/10/09
Reply from Lynn Henriksen (64):
Yes, of course I remember Dot & Tommy Hagen! Mom loved you both so much. I always remember you as being so nice & fun. The names you just brought up & even the mention of the cabin behind Kelvin bring up so many wonderful memories – it actually brings tears to my eyes and tightens my throat, so I’m glad I can type, not have to speak right now, since I’d break down bawling. Seems like a million years ago – and the stuff we each have tucked inside can be triggered so easily by just the mention of a name. Thank you for think of us!
Briefly, Dana and Rick and families are all happy & healthy – Dana in Idaho, Rick in Oregon (1/3 of the time in Baja developing his “casa” project).
And yes, all the play time & boyhood memories between Markey and Hal. Hal had a horrible, crippling accident about 20 years ago – he is amazing, doesn’t let quadriplegia stop him – has a beautiful “saint” of a girl friend, writes, etc. I’m sure he’d love to hear from Markey & from you two – don’t know if I should put his email address in this reply, so please email me at & I’ll give it to you.
Keeping Spirits Alive,
Folks, this is a personal message that Vickie Metcalfe sent to me with some of our one on one correspondence. I have her permission to share this wonderful message with you.
Alcoholism is a devastating disease. There are quite a few folks I know who lived in tough home situations. After leaving Dunseith, while attending graduate school I came to understand the disease and realized I would have been a perfect enabler. Whooeee. Insight.
As an elementary counselor in Montana, I was fortunate to work for a school board and administration that encouraged all certified staff to gain further education in understanding the disease concept of alcoholism to help children in prevention.
I owe so much to that school system who enabled me to continue growing as a person. But, I owe even more to those kids who shared with me their pain.
This another lesson of life, any time a kid shares emotional pain with me I am humbled and honored.
Particularly kids who live with their unspoken family rules, “don’t trust, don’ feel and don’t talk” . As each layer of education from classes and lessons from kids who’ve walked the walk. I automatically start recognizing family roles; ie “The active alcoholic, the charming alcoholic, the dry drunk, the co-dependent, the perfect child, the lost child,the troublemaker, the family clown.”
I strongly believe in the power of hope. I found through this life journey parents who got involved in their recovery through the 12 step process and ended up in being the most awesome healthy parents I’ve worked with.
Children of alcoholics need to believe in hope. And kids need to learn there’s a genetic pre- disposition in this disease. If they can recognize they are at risk so much can be prevented. Oh boy, here there I go again into the teacher mode bandwagon and you are playing the violin by now. When I start with that business of judging others, I remind myself to STOP, take a deep breath and say to myself,”But for the grace of God , there go I.”
So enough said. Thank you for sharing, it does make one stop and marvel at a life miracle, “some folks change their destiny”
And Justly reaffirms. HOPE. Later. Vickie
Message/Picture from Doreen Bailey (Vance Bailey 46 deceased): Tempe, AZ
Gary Metcalfe Mention the Cota family that lived across the road from the Old Bailey farm on the hill. Vance has this picture of a Picnic at Carpenter Lake 1912 of Bailey, Anderson, Cota, & Wagner ladies and children. I remember him mentioning he was not positive about Mrs. Cota’s husbands first name, he has Joe on the picture. Also that they were neighbors of his Grandparents.
Doreen Bailey
