5/21/2008 (108) | Dunseith Alumni

Folks, Please don’t miss any of the messages with pictures near the end of this message. Gary

From Dan McKay (69):

Rod,

Fishing pole in the lake – just the makings of great memories. I’ve had a few poles since then that should have been thrown in the lake so don’t loose anymore sleep over that one. What I remember about that time was rowing that flat bottom boat for about 5 hours from our cabin on Rugby Point all the way across the lake to Brian Johnson’s cabin by the bridge. Not bad for a couple of 10 year olds. It was sure great of his Dad to tow us home except when it got out of the wake and flipped up on its side. Why were we riding in it any way? Nice to know your friends are thinking about you. You have great day Rod and we will go fishing again someday.

Dan McKay

From Cheryl Larson Dakin (71):

Hi Gary

We just got back home to Texas from ND last night. We flew to Minot on Friday the 9th. I had expected the cold and drizzle but not the 4 inches of thick white snow we had that night! Diane and I drove to Dunseith on Monday to spend the afternoon with Bev and had a great time. She looks terrific and we laughed so hard! It was really great to be back in North Dakota. I love the emails. Thanks so much!

Cheryl Larson Dakin (71)

PS – the weather cleared and the trees budded out. It was like 3 seasons in 1 week!

From Gwen Struck Dumas (68):

Hi Gary,

A former pastor of ours in Havre sent this to us. I would like to pass it on. It’s a bit lengthy, but worth it.

My spouse, Clint Dumas, was deployed in July 2004 with the 189th Aviation/ Montana Army National Guard to Balad Iraq. He returned the evening before Thanksgiving in 2005. (He had one month to go to retirement.) It was the longest 16 months of our lives…..ever!!! However the last 2 1/2 years since his return have been very, very difficult. Two months ago he suggested that he may have PTSD and sought council. We drive to Helena (200 miles one way) every other week for the help that he needs.

It is my hope during this Memorial Weekend, that those who know a veteran who served in any of our wars, or knows of a family whose soldier didn’t return, pause for a moment and bring to mind all of our freedoms that we take for granted. Freedom really isn’t free.

And…if any know of a veteran who suffers with PTSD….love ‘em thru it!!! They’ve earned it!!!

Gwen Struck Dumas

Subject: Fw: Before You Go

Please read to the end and then click on the website — this is fabulous!

The elderly parking lot attendant wasn’t in a good mood!

Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray
Beach, Fla., eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and
musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event.

He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. “I took
two bullets for this country and look what I’m doing,” he said bitterly.

At first, Bierstock didn’t know what to say to the World War II veteran. But
he rolled down his window and told the man, “Really, from the bottom of my
heart, I want to thank you.”

Then the old soldier began to cry.

“That really got to me,” Bierstock says.

Cut to today.

Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach – a member of
Bierstock’s band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band – have written a song
inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The mournful ”
Before You Go” does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages
people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die.

“If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been
shot,” says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. “The WW II soldiers are now
dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank
them.”

The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on
the Web, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine
countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons
and daughters and grandchildren.

“It made me cry,” wrote one veteran’s son. Another sent an e-mail saying
that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine would he discuss
” the unspeakable horrors” he and other soldiers had witnessed in places
such as Anzio, Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach. “I can never thank them
enough,” the son wrote. “Thank you for thinking about them.”

Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional
singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for so
many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on
the Web. They’ve sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others in
Washington. Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston for a
Veterans Day tribute – this after just a few days on the Web. They hope
every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it.

GOD BLESS every veteran…
and THANK you to those of you veterans who may receive this !

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO HEAR THE SONG AND SEE THE PICTURES:

Before You Go

OR http://wwwmanagedmusic.com/Music/PlayBeforeYouGo.php

From Alan & Phyllis Campbell (42):

Just read the email from Paula Fassett regarding the pop factory in Omemee and have to add a bit….Back when the Legion sponsored Bingo at the old city hall, the Auxiliary took care of the concessions and Chris Rasmusson and his wife delivered pop up to Dunseith almost every week – – for $1.00 a case !!!!Can you believe that? That was 24 bottles if my memory serves me and the variety they offered was wonderful….our Rich’s favorite was cream soda. They had lemon, lime, cherry, strawberry, orange, grape and probably several others. The Auxiliary always served rice krispy bars and maybe brownies and as a result were able to support many of the worthwhile Auxiliary projects!!!! The main reason for a successsful pop factory in Omemee was the adequate supply of very good natural water
and Chris had his own “secret” recipes for making the flavors. Do enjoy all the emails!!!

From Colette Hosmer (64):

Congratulations, Evie! Just getting kids through to adulthood is celebration enough, never mind raising one who graduated from law school. I wish her luck on passing the bar…..

xox

Colette

From Bonnie Awalt Houle (56):

Dear Gary,

Dale Gottbreth had a garage to the south of our home. One of the Lamoureux Brothers stored a snow plane there, his name started with an O- Ophelia (Spelling wrong) any way he used the sno-plane for hunting. I remember my Parents talking about the amount of use it got during snow storms. My Uncle Charles Anderson did a lot with Mr. Lamoureux.

Dale decided that he should move the garage and turn it into a motel. He hired my Dad (John Awalt). The garage was moved to the corner and is now Dales Cafe, and Motel. The slab of cement left was a wonderful place to roller skate. Dale was quite far sighted as to the needs of the community.

Bonnie Awalt Houle 1956

From Susan Fassett Martin (65):

love to see the old pictures. Nice to hear from Rodney Samski. But it was Miss Masvelton in second grade that probably did shake the dickens out of Mark after he threw the scissors. I was always a little scared of her. I don’t think Mrs Conroy had a mean bone in her body. She was a sweet lady.

I have to add a comment to the birthday party picture that Crystal sent. All the kids in the picture are “Cousins” in one way or another. Pam and I (Susan) are first cousins because our dads are brothers, Pam and Dick are cousins, because Dick’s grandma and Pam’s mother were sisters, Mark is a shirttail cousin because his mother and Emery Carbonneau are sister and brother and Emery is married to my mother’s first cousin, and John Morgan was “related” because his mother was a Watkins and so were Carol Carbonneau and Murl Hill who were my mom’s first cousins because their mothers were sisters. Got the idea? Ahhhhh. small town life. My husband always tells everyone that I am related to most of the people in ND. Not so far from the truth—I love it!!!

Keep the memories and pictures coming.

Love and Prayers, Susan

From Gary Metcalfe (57):

Gary, I am sure everyone has heard of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, but I am not sure if anyone has heard of the daytime ride of Jay Vanorny. One summer morning Jay and I agreed that Ranger, that Big Red loaner horse from Johnie Myer had to go back to Johnie as he was making my new quarter horse hard to catch. So we had a semi leisurely ride the first mile or so, when all of a sudden while passing through Eli Demery’s yard the dogs barked and Ranger turned and backed into Eli’s 50 gal. burn barrel, that was the end of leisure. It was all down hill to old Hwy. 5. Ranger made short work of those woven wire yard fences in Shanty Town, each garden probably had at least one set of hoof prints.

Evie, Dale wasn’t only the best truck driver in that country, he was also the greatest story teller by far. Lucian Bedard did a close second on duck hunting stories. Dale said he was coming around that curve where Carlson and Seim’s lived. He looked in the rear view mirror to see if Ray Buck, our old game warden from St. John was gaining or not. What he saw was a pair of antlers raising up in the back seat. I guess he was not quite dead!

Many of you may not know about Orvin Hagen’s nephew, Oliver and Donnie Nelson’s brother, when his chopper mitts caught fire in the old water tank heater.. Dale took him to the hospital, if anyone could have provided that boy with more time on earth it would have been Dale.

Dale had more than his share of business in him. By the way, his dad, Big George and I mean big, was a class act too. My dad had lots of stories about George, Ray Wilson and the rest of the old boys they were the fun and fiber of Dunseith. I worked for Dale a second year because he wouldn’t have it any other way. Gary Metcalfe

Message/Picture From Trish Larson Clayburgh (73):

Hey Gary,

Thanks again to you for facilitating this, and thanks to all who have been brave enough to write in! Goodness knows how many “chicken lurkers” there are out there….c’mon! Out with your stories and memories! Make Betty Garske proud!

It’s been awhile since I’ve written, but this particular group of emails today just struck me – although I’ve been reading every morning just like everyone else and enjoying all the stories immensely.

I have to say that Dwight’s story about taking care of those cattle during the snowstorm was just astounding! And I can relate to the sore shoulder from shooting the gun, as my 24 yr old son recently had me shooting in prep for elk hunting season in Colorado this year, and it reminded me of hunting with my Dad, Harvey, as a little kid. I can still remember the mirth in his eyes as I hugged that gun to my shoulder at what was it, age 8? I have no idea what gauge that gun was, but it hurt like hell and my ears would not stop ringing! I believe my three brothers are all fairly deaf in one ear because nobody had any idea about ear protection back then….

Dick, I just loved the photo of your Dad. I cannot wait for the “dirty” picture…

And Collete, while I don’t believe we’ve ever met, I just want to add my admiration for your work to the list of others that think it’s really neat that a gal from NoDak could bring such incredible, creative beauty to far flung places in the world. I love those fish!!!!

I’m also going to stand up and say, YES. I’m going to sign up for the cruise, and I think it’s going to be great fun to see you all in person!

Will Rod Hiatt agree to be there and get onstage with a rendition of “There was a boy from Arkansas…”

And is Cheryl Haagenson in on the deal??? And Art Rude? I’m sure we could give a rousing round of “oh oh we’re going to the chapel and we’re ….”
It will be AWESOME! And Cheri Evans, I hope you’re bringing your guitar…My only concern is that there probably will be very little sleeping on this cruise. I remember the reunion back in the 80′s – I think a week went by with no sleep. It was hard to drag ourselves away even for a much needed shower….

By the way, is anybody out there (female, lol) interested in rooming with me? I’m single, but I want to share one of those rooms with an ocean view….

I just got back from a wonderful horseback ride in the Colorado Mountains this evening. I’m riding my Morgan Mare in an endurance race in Montana (Ft. Howes) June 8, and we’re training like crazy. I’ve never had so much fun in my life, except maybe back when I rode with Marlys Medlang, the Fauske’s, and Diana Honsey back in the summers of the early 70′s. Those of you who are horse crazy (ie Rod Hiatt) can relate to this. And the Honsey’s grew the best raspberries ever!

Hey – what about Music Camp memories?? Cheryl Haagenson had a leading role in…..Hm. I think the summer of 1970? She was one helluva a preacher!

By the way, I just pulled out a bunch of photos I took at the big parade day in Dunseith at the celebration in the early 80′s. As soon as I get them scanned, I’ll start submitting them here – I think I have a bunch of photos you will all enjoy…How young you all were!

Tim Hill – my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May you be healed and may you be at peace. You are so loved!

Ok, I’ve made up for lost time I think – keep all the stories coming folks! What a phenomenon!!!!

Love to All,

Trish (Larson) 73

Trish Larson Clayburgh (2008)

Message/Picture From Kenny Nerpel (65):

Gary,

This is my daughter after the Hooding & Honors Convocation at NDSU on May 9th. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the College of Pharmacy. We are very happy for her.

The downside for North Dakota parents is that with graduation comes the almost always inevitable flight from the state. I now have a son in Tennessee and my daughter has accepted employment in Colorado.

The upside is that we now have a couple of nice places to visit.

Kenny Nerpel

Kenny, What is your daughters name? Gary

Kenny Nerpel with his Daughter – NDSU 5/9/08

Message/Pictures from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

Paula mentioned Omemee and Chris Rasmusson’s pop factory. From 1953
through 1955 both Mom and Dad taught school in Omemee. Mom had 1-4 and
Dad 5-8, grades. We lived in a big old house next to Darrel and Dorothy
Fassett so I spent the days at their house while the folks were at
school. Darrel was the Standard Oil agent at that time and drove a bulk
truck delivering fuel. The town was nearly gone by this time as most of
the houses had been moved to Bottineau. The story was, as I remember it,
Omemee was supposed to be on the main railroad line but when the
railroad changed directions, the town began to die. There were only
about six or seven occupied houses when we were there. There were many
blocks of sidewalks running nowhere but we had an old wicker baby buggy
that we took turns riding in and pushing up and down these sidewalks.
The big cottonwood trees had lifted the sidewalks and we used to jump
the buggy over these spots and then crash in the tall grass! The
Rasmussons lived about a block away and Mrs. Rasmusson always made
chocolate chip cookies for us kids. But as I recall, she always gave us
milk or water and not pop! Our old house had primitive running water, a
tank upstairs that Dad filled, and then gravity took over from there.
Chris Rasmusson kept losing bottles because people either broke them or
threw them away, so he had a rule; you only get as many bottles as he
got back! A couple years ago one of his daughters put an ad in the Minot
Daily News asking if anyone had any of her dad’s pop bottles as she
would like to have some. A couple months later she had to run another ad
stating she had her basement half full, please, no more bottles! The
pictures below are all taken in Omemee in 53-55. The top two are of Mom
and me in front of our old house. The girl with the scarf on I believe,
is Karen Rasmusson, don’t know the other one.The next picture is Patty
Fassett and me, behind us is Rennick’s house and just north of that is
Rasmusson’s. Pam Fassett is the girl in the black and white plaid
jacket, don’t know the others.The dance picture is Darrell and Dorothy
Fassett in the school gym. All Dunseith folks just temporarily displaced
in Omemee, ND!!

Dick

Top: Bernice Johnson & Dick Johnson

Middle: Patty Fassett/Dick Johnson and ??/Karen Rasmusson

Bottom ??/??/Pam Fassett/?? and Darre/Dorothy Fassett