Thank you to everyone for your support in the loss of my dad, Mensvil Norman Larson. He is now with my mom making sure we do right by him…haha. He was buried with military honors. Here are a couple pictures. As the oldest, I was presented with his flag. Taps resounded around the entire cemetery with two veterans playing the song. The 21 gun salute gave us chills. We were very proud.
Diane
Diane
Gary and friends,
So many new things about life and I continue learning.
I want to share with you, about something that is now not politically correct but years ago was quite common in country school. Black face mistrel shows
Today, during a short visit with a former Holmes Township neighbor of my family, Marie (Eurich) Beechler told me as a small child she attended Oakes School also called Seim School.
She was in a school program which she was featured in a mistrel show.
She said one of her last visits with Art Seim, he laughed as he recalled that school program. Marie in black face with soot from the school chimney, a red crepe paper dress and her shiny black hair curled tight around her face. Art called her the name that she was called in that play! Mosey.
Maries fond memory reminded me of my dad who as a small child, had hair black as a crows wing and natural curls
Dad shared a lot of “feelings” common to a child. He’d explain openly and without reserve that all feelings were normal.
When ever I complained about hand me down clothes I wore, Dad told me, “When his mother washed clothes he had to go to bed. He was a child of the Great Depression, and had only one pair of worn thin hand me down pants.”
So not to complain about nothing to wear.
Once day, he was explaining about the feeling word_____embarrassment.
He said he was a shy boy, coerced to take part in a school mistrel play at HillSide (Bergan) School.
At the teachers signal he was to leap cartwheels onto the stage, do a somersault, a handspring, say only one line, then tumble off the stage.
His face and hands were covered in soot. And he was assured no one would recognize him.
The night of the program, the time came for his part.
He leapt up on the stage made the appropriate maneuvers. Then taking a deep breath, spread his arms wide with a big smile, and clearly said, “It is I, Lil Black Sambo!”
With a nod, he somersaulted off the stage.
RIPPPP!
The plan was foiled ___the back side of his pants ripped wide open.
He said, “Everyone laughed and laughed,at Lil Black Sambo’s “little white arse”.”
He said under the face paint his face was hot and red, he nearly fainted from feeling__ “embarrassed.
He did not quit school. He faced the teases and he learned to laugh at yourself with others.
Lessons of feelings and laughter.
Only a few days more and t’will be “Midsomers eve!
Thanks,
Vickie L. Metcalfe
> Larry’s story about the bakery sure made me laugh! I had forgotten his
> nickname was Half Pint, until now! How did you get that name? I remember
> Russell Pigeon was Sadie, Val Moyer was Kruschev, Dan Bogus was Worm,
> Connie Mellmer was Goose, and poor Marvin Kalk was Scum.
Grimme was Grime, Allen Stokes was Big Alley, John Bogus was Bogie, Ronnie
Johnson was Big Chip, Vernolle Hill was Colonel Klink, Merle Allard was The
Fox, Dwight Coleman was Blackie, Jim Evans was Heifer, Tom Evans was Buff,
Jay Vanorny was Fuzz, Terry Martinson was Grease Pot, Tim Martinson was
Bear, Keith Pladson was Tarzan, Clayton Coleman was C.J., Anton Hackman
was Sluggo, Gary Houle was A.J., Donald Egbert was Lee May, Henry Hackman
was Hank, Andy Patnaude was Jigs, just a few but there were many more.
Who did we miss?
Gary Morgan
Class of 54
I want to relay a story I remember about Lawrence Hetle Jr. and his red
and white 57 Ford two door hardtop. We would have been in high school
but I don’t remember the year for sure. It was around 1966. Lawrence had
decided to put this huge Lincoln or Mercury engine in his car. The
engine didn’t fit in the engine compartment very well but he bent and
twisted things and finally got it in there! There wasn’t any room for
him to hook up a gas pedal so temporarily he had a wire running in from
the carburetor through the dash. We were all hanging out at the drive-in
when Lawrence came cruising in with his car. He was all smiles with his
accomplishment, and rightfully so, it was quite a feat! When he was
ready to leave, we asked if it would squeal the tires! He drove out onto
the street heading east from the drive-in and while looking back over
his shoulder, he jerked the throttle wire and lit up the tires! Now so
far this is cool, however, the wire stuck and the throttle stayed wide
open! He laid rubber from side to side on the street and the car got
wilder and wilder each time it switched directions. He was heading for
Hackman’s house on the corner when the throttle snapped back and he got
it under control! I remember some of the kids at the drive-in covering
their heads, thinking they were about to see a mess! He drove home quite
slowly and fixed his throttle! I ran into Lawrence at Kelvin last summer
and asked him about the incident. He grinned and said, ” I nearly ____”!
I guess he also remembered!! Thanks Gary!
Dick
From: carmel@utma.com
Subj: book
I am so excited, my daughter-in-law Lanette (Mark’s wife) has written a children’s book intitled “Tommy and Sara’s Country Adventures” and it just came from the publisher today. It is geared for the pre-teen age group, probably age 10-14. It is a delightfully wholesome book and deals with life in rural North Dakota. It is illustrated by Max Stasuyk.The book will sell for $10.95 plus postage.If you are interested you may call her at 701-246-3465 or email me and I will see to it that you get one.She just came over this afternoon to show it to me and we had to toast her accomplishment with a glass of sparkling grape juice. I am just delighted for her and wanted to share the joy with you. There may even be a book signing at Barnes and Noble in Bismarck or Minot.
