4/22/2008 (84) | Dunseith Alumni

From Jan LaCroix Kester (59):

We have been following the posting each day of the e-mails. Gary. I hope you won’t mind one more accolade about the fantastic job and service you are doing and giving to us all. Most of the people writing are younger then Mick (my husband) and me. The story about Red Kester and the City Hall burning down from Dick . prompted me to finally write! Red LOVED his job as a volunteer firefighter! I could just visualize him, adrenalin kicked in, and organizing people! The memory of Red, and his boundless energy, brought tears to my eyes. He was very proud of his firefighter volunteering and the award that was presented to him from the City.

It wasn’t until Dick’s Father, Don, was killed that I became aware of Don’s farming interest. Don was unbelievably handsome, I would blush just looking at him. Don was teaching music in Rolette when I accepted a job at the Rolette Clinic. I didn’t have a car. He told my Dad, Henry LaCroix, I was welcome to ride with him on Monday mornings. He never would take a cent for it. He’d always say, whether I was with him or not, he still had to make the drive. I never thought of him as a farmer. We only saw him in a suit, dress shirt and tie. He was also the band director in Dunseith when I was in high school, for a short while. I believe he filled in for Mr. Erickson, who was let go by the school board. Don was very talented, with a variety of interests, a cheerful disposition, did I mention handsome ?, person. I believe he did his share of singing for funerals, weddings, etc. He blessed our community with his life, along with his beautiful wife, Bernice. My sister, Paulette, was in Dick’s graduating class, so I know a variety of Dick’s classmates through my sister.

We would love to see some of our classmates of 1959 write. We planning to attend the Alaskan cruise of 2009, and are wondering if any our high school classmates would be also attending the event. I loved the stories of Cy Kadry & KC Sine, I wish I knew the story of how they ended up in Dunseith

Well, for those who know me, you know I can go on and on, so I will stop for now.

From Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine (73):

Every year on april 22nd I remember and miss my old friend Wanda Medrud.
36 years ago she and Steve were taken from their family,friends and
community. At the time I was doing my own grieving and I never really
thought about how wonderful everyone @ school was. It was my junior year
and I passed that year with all D-. I know I didnt pass one final and I’m
almost positive the grades should have been Fs. I have so many fond
memories of school, things like doing the senior play “pick a dilly” and
making Miss Brooks throw her play book @ us. Anyone else remeber that ? I
know what Tim and Laurie are going through. husband is waiting for a
kidney, and we are doing home diaylsis with a once a week trip to Grand
Forks for hemadiaylsis. Its hard to watch a love one suffer and know what
the outcome will be if a donor isnt available soon. So please all reading
this get the word out SAVE A LIFE BE A DONOR. Last of all thank-you for
this site and all the updates. I can’t help thinking how much my dad would
have enjoyed these, I’m sure he would of had a storie or two to tell.
Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine 73

From Shirley Olson Warcup (49):

Gary, Dick, Luella, Florence,etc., etc.

I look forward to reading every e-mail. There must be something special about Dunseith–my husband spent almost 27 years in Grand Forks but his favorite place to visit is Dunseith. He always enjoyed his association with Don, and now Dick is filling that gap. Our prayers go out to Tim Hill and his family and to Luella Dion.

The picture of Neil and Audrey–I’m not sure where it was taken but I think I have one of Audrey and I in that same place. Audrey and I speak to each other often by phone and used to see each other on some of my trips to San Francisco. Audrey and I did some foolish things when we were in high school. One night we decided to try to singe the hair off our arms–just to see if we could. We not only singed some hair we also singed some skin. Shortly after that we went to the lunch counter by the bowling alley. We had gotten about 10 feet into the room when whoever was working said “Something’s burning. I can smell it.” We glanced at each other and quickly got out of there. We weren’t about to admit what we had done. Speaking of that lunch area–I’ve never had chili anywhere that tasted that good!!

I enjoyed the school comparison –1957 vs. 2008.

I was involved in the Ca. school system from 1959 to 2006–(the last 10 years at a college)—how true, how funny, and how tragic!! As a high school VP I had a front row seat for over 30 years. Once again, Gary, thanks for putting me on the list–you’ve made the days more interesting and pleasant for this “old lady”.

Shirley Olson Warcup

From Ivy Eller Robert (74):

Gary………

Greetings from Washington! I love reading all of these ‘tales’ of Dunseith. I find myself looking forward to coming home from work to get to read new ones. The snow storm Dick Johnson talked about in 68-69, I remember it well! We lived behind Robert’s gas station. There was a snow drift from the top peck of the the front of the station to the back alley at our front door. I remember we couldn’t get out of the door, so Dad helped my sister Julie out a window so she could shovel the snow from in front of the door to let us out of the house. A while later the Robert’s managed to get to the station, and Orphula recruited us girls to help shovel out the gas station. As I remember the snow plow made a pass down the center of main street and everyone shoveled paths out to it.
Also every once in awhile when it would snow alot, Orphula would take a hood off of one of the wrecked cars he had at the station and tie it to the back of his Wrecker with a rope or chain, and drive around town on side streets so kids could jump on the back and go for a ride. I’m sure it was not legal to do it, but Orphula was always very careful driving (he wouldn’t go very fast) so no one ever got hurt as far as I knew!

Ivy (Eller) Robert (74)

Pictures from Crystal Fassett Andersen (70):

Gary Here are some pictures from Dad Bill Fassett’s slides of the snowstorm on March 5,1966. May be the same one Dick mentions. That’s my Mom Irene Fassett & “Little Chip: Johnson standing in the post office window. Crystal Fassett Andersen

Message/Picture from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends

Earlier I sent pictures of our old cabin at Lake Metigoshe and some kids
there. The attached photo is also from there. My uncle Cliff and Mom and
Dad went by the dock and someone snapped this one. It brought to mind
another story! This is Grandpa Hans Johnson’s boat, I think, with a
“big” 18 horse outboard! We soon outgrew this old wood boat because of
waterskiing and double waterskiers,etc. Now for the story. My grandad,
Henry Olson said he would buy a good boat if Dad and Cliff would buy a
motor. I remember riding along { I was 6} to Bottineau to order a new
boat. To me this was big stuff!! We went to Otto Corbin’s shop. I think
it was called Corby ‘s Marine. The three guys picked out a new aluminum
Crestliner boat with a windshield and bright red and silver paint. A big
long 15 footer, WOW! Then when they were ready to sign the order,
Grandpa Henry said, ” Otto, you tell them to put the steering wheel on
the left side of the boat, we are in the USA not England !” I still
remember Otto saying, ” but Mr. Olson, it’s on the right side to
compensate for the torque of the motor.” Grandpa said, ” You put it on
the left side and we’ll buy a motor big enough that it won’t matter
which side of the damn boat we’re sitting on.” I remember thinking, oh
wow were getting a race boat! Dad and Cliff bought a 35 horse Johnson.
It was twice as big as what we had and it did seem like we were flying
on the water! Dad used to race the old boat, with the 18 horse motor,
with a neighbor, Mickey Harrison, who had a twenty horse Merc. They
would rip back and forth across the bay nearly even. When we got the new
boat and motor, dad really gave him a “spanking” the first weekend! The
next weekend Mickey came by with a big grin on his face and TWO 20 horse
Mercs on the back! Here they go again, same old story, neck and neck! It
was a fun time!! Thanks Gary !

Dick