No blog tomorrow.
Tomorrow I will be getting my new computer, so will not be getting a blog posted
Gary
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Happy Birthday Almo Pladson (DHS ’72): Williston, ND
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Reply to Gary (’57) and Sue Metcalfe
From Dick Johnson (’68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
Thanks to Gary and Sue Metcalfe for thinking my old Model A was
cool. It was kind of cool and the kids at the Bottineau School of
Forestry really got a kick out of riding in it the couple times I drove
it over for class. I painted it with my dad’s old antique paint
sprayer. It had a little compressor pump and an old spray gun that had
no trigger on it. You just plugged the hose onto a barbed fitting on
the gun and the paint was already spraying! I didn’t waste much time
while I painted or my paint would all have been on the floor. I still
laugh remembering that when I walk past the old car that sits in my
building here yet. We made do with what we had and sometimes things
turned out for the best.
On the question of whether my uncle was still living—–My uncle
Cliff Johnson passed away a little over a year ago from cancer. He had
just had his 80th birthday a month before he died. His wife Joy still
lives at Flathead Lake in western Montana. They had lots of good years
in retirement and spent many winters in AZ and Mexico.
Dick
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My Mother’s Story – Part 3
From Vickie Metcalfe (’70): Bottineau, ND
One January evening, Cyndy had just begun walking toddled across the living room floor carrying a glass cup, when she tripped over Uncle Archie’s boot and fell onto shattered pieces of the cup. She cried when she saw the blood running from the long, deep cut. Lottie grabbed her, quickly pressure wrapped the wrist with a snowy clean diaper. Cliff ran outside as Lottie bundled Cyndy in her little red snow suit. Terrifying was the sight of blood soaking through the pristine white now, scarlet as her snow suit! Lottie ran carrying Cyndy outside into the snowy, subzero temperature to join Cliff in the pickup.
In his haste, and worry Cliff got into the wrong side of the ’52 Ford. Finally,as the truck began to move up and around the hill, Nancy and Vickie stared through the window pane as the cuckoo clock _tic-toc ticked away. Uncle Archie off balance when he walked,still healing from surgery, took their minds off the horrifying sight. He told amusing stories, and sang “Clementine” .
The girls rather enjoyed being spoiled by Uncle Archie. He peeled oranges and fed them as he called them his little birds. He did the outside chores as he told Nancy and Vickie sternly to stay in bed. They did until the house grew lonesome………… Then with a sneak peak through a frosty peek hole, Nancy would push Vickie around the kitchen floor on her blue trike,then jump back in bed until she sent Vickie for another sneak peak. Vickie would watch him in the snow watering the team of horses.
Art Seim came, asked where there parents were. When he heard their tale he soon knelt with them and the led them in prayer for Cyndy.
Meantime at Rolette Hospital Cliff and Lottie waited while Dr. Cook’s expertise attended to Cyndy’s wrist. Lottie said, Cliff would pace,sit, then look through the window in the door to surgery”. At one point as she sat waiting, she said, “Cliff became very upset when he saw Dr. Cook started to shake Cyndy while she went through distress.” Cliff left Lottie in Rolette to stay with Cyndy at the hospital Vickie and Nancy had the mumps.
Cliff and Lottie always attributed their daughter’s restored hand and very life to the excellent ministrations of the Rolette family doctor and surgeon; Dr. Stuart J. Cook. Lottie brought Cyndy home to continue healing through the spring.
Uncle Archie left before spring turned to summer.
In the late summer of 1958 Cliff and Lottie left the farm under the care of Floyd and Ella Vaughn. They packed up the girls in the red station wagon and moved to live with Archie in his house in Marysville, WA. Cliff worked construction, Lottie maintained the home with little Cyndy, the older girls attended school, and Nancy started violin lessons with Mr. TImkins. Wise Uncle Archie gave Vickie an instrument too, a “jews harp”. It was again the most fun of times!
One Saturday January night, Uncle Archie said he was going out. He stood at the door, placing his hat on his head. He said, “Be good then gone as the door shut behind him.”
……….He was killed tragically by a hit and run driver who was drunk………… He was really gone.
Cliff was diagnosed with diabetes shortly after. And the entire family grieved the deep and profound loss.
Cliff and Charlotte’s children were fortunate throughout their childhood to became acquainted with all of the Washington cousins. They got to see Kathy, Elaine, Janice and Trav frequently. They experienced connections to ” their kind of cousins” i.e. the George and Betty Johnson family in Montana, ND cousins, extended family, neighbor friends, the Floyd and Ella Vaughn family, and special farm pets. When the family drove back to the farm the summer of ’59, it was with amazement when the black ringneck collie, Skip…..met them at the gate! Somehow Skippy in his dog wisdom knew his family had come home! They were all overjoyed to be home again.
Lottie saved and together with her family continued to build up the farm. Lottie stressed chores, school and music. She drove Nancy to violin lessons with sister Mary Anthony in Belcourt and purchased a piano, which Vickie was to begin. Vickie was not the keenest of pianists….she was more of a jew’s harp musician. During Christmas holidays of 1959-60 the girls performed a recital at Queen of Peace Priory and met many music students of Sister Mary.
The first TV was purchased. In the evenings after chores, he whole family watched T.V together until 10:00 news. Lottie turned off the T.V and turned down personal growth opportunities to earn a GED. She prioritized family first. In her home, the Ten Commandments were always displayed in a prominent place.
Cliff and Lottie purchased many Holstein cattle which also included the last of the San Haven milk herd and later invested in electric milking machines.
As the family grew, Cliff and Charlotte expanded their house, building on additions. Grandma Ingrid Seim told Cliff when he asked her, Well Ingrid,what do you think of the latest addition on to the house? Grandma with strong Norwegian brogue replied,
“Shove the damn ting over da hill Cliffert and I’ll give you da money to build a new one.” Dad laughed with delight because he knew she would! Others, when told of Ingrid Seim’s reply, felt my parents should have been insulted by Grandma’s brashness. Lottie and Cliff both said of Grandma, “We respected and loved Grandma as a wise good friend.” “Yes, She was opinionated, saying whatever came across her mind.” “But, we knew, If she said she’d do something she always followed through.” Lottie said, “Whenever she needed help with someone to look after one of the kids. Grandma Seim was one she could call on both at the farm and at her little house in Dunseith.”
Cliff and Lottie knew they were fortunate to have wonderful neighbors and hired hands who helped out so much when needed. Lottie always cooked good meals of meat and potatoes, and providing favorite foods she knew each of the hired men especially liked. It was common for neighbor’s back and forth helping. Neighbors included Carlson’s, Seims, Petersons, Smiths, Johnson’s and the Morin’s.
Among the seasonal hired help i.e. cutting wood, fencing, animal husbandry, haying, etc. were; Mrs. Evans, Clayton Bergan, Walter DuBois, Alcide Lajimodiere, Ward Anthony, Alvin Nelson, Jack Metcalfe, Larry Metcalfe, Sonny Morin, Uncle Carl Wicks, the Gunville Boys, the Nadeau Boys, Peter W. Poole, John Brennan, Swede Weaver,the Morin kids and their cousins, the St. Claires.
Many of the hired hands, years later volunteered information on the treatment they received by Cliff and Lottie. Most often comments were, “They never asked any one to do what they weren’t willing to do themselves”. “Fair and honest,kind and generous.” “They gave respect and expected respect in return for the people and the livestock at the farm.” Whenever paid, when asked by Cliff said, “How much do we owe you, would tell him.______ Cliff would say to Lottie “No, Lottie write the check for more, they are worth more than that” and Lottie would always smile and write the check for more.”
In Vickie’s memory, that shiney dime………..
On the morning of July 28.
While Lottie prepared noon dinner the firls walked up to get the mail.
To the North, Oliver Nelson and Duane Handland were minding Kelvin store and gas station.
To the West Eva was in her kitchen at the big white Seim house, and Art was gone to town.
While, on the big hay meadow, Cliff……. and Sonny driving the B John Deere, were mowing hay.
Until later.
Vickie
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Joke of the day
Tiger Woods & Stevie Wonder are in a bar…
Tiger says Stevie, “How’s the singing career going?”
Stevie replies, “Not too bad. How’s the golf?”
Woods replies, “I’ve had some problems with my swing,
but I think I’ve got that right, now.”
Stevie: “I always find that when my swing goes wrong,
I need to stop playing for a while and not think about it.
Then, the next time I play, it seems to be all right.”
Incredulous, Tiger says, “You play GOLF?”
Stevie: “Yes, I’ve been playing for years.”
Tiger: “But — you’re blind! How can you play golf if you can’t see?”
Stevie: “Well, I get my caddy to stand in the middle of the fairway
and call to me. I listen for the sound of his voice and play the ball
towards him. Then, when I get to where the ball lands,
the caddy moves to the green or farther down the fairway and
again I play the ball towards his voice.”
“But, how do you putt” asks Tiger.
“Well”, says Stevie, “I get my caddy to lean down in front of the
hole and call to me with his head on the ground and I just play
the ball towards his voice.”
Tiger: “What’s your handicap?”
Stevie: “Well, actually — I’m a scratch golfer.”
Woods says to Stevie, “We’ve got to play a round sometime.”
Stevie: “Well, people don’t take me seriously, so I only play
for money, and never play for less than $10,000 a hole.
Is that a problem?”
Woods thinks about it and says, “I can afford that; OK,
I’m game for that.. $10,000 a hole is fine with me.
When would you like to play?”
Stevie: “Pick a night.”
Woods replies, “I’ve had some problems with my swing,
but I think I’ve got that right, now.”
Stevie: “I always find that when my swing goes wrong,
I need to stop playing for a while and not think about it.
Then, the next time I play, it seems to be all right.”
Incredulous, Tiger says, “You play GOLF?”
Stevie: “Yes, I’ve been playing for years.”
Tiger: “But — you’re blind! How can you play golf if you can’t see?”
Stevie: “Well, I get my caddy to stand in the middle of the fairway
and call to me. I listen for the sound of his voice and play the ball
towards him. Then, when I get to where the ball lands,
the caddy moves to the green or farther down the fairway and
again I play the ball towards his voice.”
“But, how do you putt” asks Tiger.
“Well”, says Stevie, “I get my caddy to lean down in front of the
hole and call to me with his head on the ground and I just play
the ball towards his voice.”
Tiger: “What’s your handicap?”
Stevie: “Well, actually — I’m a scratch golfer.”
Woods says to Stevie, “We’ve got to play a round sometime.”
Stevie: “Well, people don’t take me seriously, so I only play
for money, and never play for less than $10,000 a hole.
Is that a problem?”
Woods thinks about it and says, “I can afford that; OK,
I’m game for that.. $10,000 a hole is fine with me.
When would you like to play?”
Stevie: “Pick a night.”
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Blog (134) posted on June 16, 2008
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Alaska Cruise Update:
Folks, In addition to those listed below, we have about another 20 folks or so (10 couples), that we know of, that are in the process of signing up for our cruise. We are off to a good start. Gina will be giving us weekly updates of which we will be passing onto you. Gary
From Gina Ford, our travel agent:
Greetings All,
You already have 30 passengers confirmed!
M/M Gary Stokes
Wm. Grimme and Irina Protassevitch
M/M Ronald Cavaliere
M/M Warren Anderson
M/M Doyle Abrahamson
Nancy Baldwin/Keith Kontzie
Wayne Galloway/ Leona Randall
M/M Michael Vandal
M/M Scott Sjol
Muzette Fiander/ Trish Clayburgh
Randy Flynn Family – (with 3 cabins)
Dwight Lang/ Rene Cassavant
Florence Sime/ Becky Coles (her daughter)
Thank you,
Gina S. Ford
Executive Cruise Consultant
Cruise At Will, Inc.
1-866-870-6986 (toll free)
954-578-1718 (local)
Hi Gary, I so enjoy the chapters in the life of Dunseith. Alot of memories
have flooded back. I still have pics to send. It has been a zoo here. We had
a tornado come thru our little town May 22, we were very lucky, just roof
and siding damage.The hail that came was the size of baseballs winds were
about 120 to 135 MPH Five blocks away homes were totaly gone.
Clicked on the Red Skelton website it came up as a blank page??? Also in the
picture of the band (massege 132) is it certain that is Lowell Williams in 1st row second
from the rite? Could it possibly be Wallace Longie. Thanks for all you do.
Cecile Gouin Craig (61)
have flooded back. I still have pics to send. It has been a zoo here. We had
a tornado come thru our little town May 22, we were very lucky, just roof
and siding damage.The hail that came was the size of baseballs winds were
about 120 to 135 MPH Five blocks away homes were totaly gone.
Clicked on the Red Skelton website it came up as a blank page??? Also in the
picture of the band (massege 132) is it certain that is Lowell Williams in 1st row second
from the rite? Could it possibly be Wallace Longie. Thanks for all you do.
Cecile Gouin Craig (61)
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I still haven’t heard who the director is in the band picture.
Art
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Art, In message 132 the director is identified as Charlie Ericson. Gary
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Peace and Power, Art Thanks for checking out Art Rude Productions, webpage address: www.artrude.com call and leave a message anytime at 800-XRT-RUDE
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Message/Pictures from Dick Johnson (68):
Gary and Friends,
Folks had fun 50 years ago too!! These pictures pretty well tell the story!
The two top pictures are in the Garden Tap–Margaret Hiatt, Joyce Evans,
Joe Evans, Freddie Hiatt.– Cliff Johnson, Joy Johnson, Bernice Johnson,
‘half’ of Don Johnson.
Bottom pictures–Cliff and Don with each others
hats[ Laurel and Hardy!]– Joyce Evans, Henry Olson, Myrtle Olson,
Loretta Johnson, Thelma Johnson, Darrel Fassett. I think this picture
was in the old Corner Bar, across the street from the Althea Theater.
The top photos are dated May 1960–The bottom left, 1962. The bottom
right had to be before Oct. 1959, as that is when Grandpa Henry Olson
died at 56 years of age. Thanks Gary!
hats[ Laurel and Hardy!]– Joyce Evans, Henry Olson, Myrtle Olson,
Loretta Johnson, Thelma Johnson, Darrel Fassett. I think this picture
was in the old Corner Bar, across the street from the Althea Theater.
The top photos are dated May 1960–The bottom left, 1962. The bottom
right had to be before Oct. 1959, as that is when Grandpa Henry Olson
died at 56 years of age. Thanks Gary!
Dick
May 1960 in the Garden Tap:
Cliff Johnson, Joy Johnson, Bernice Johnson,
‘half’ of Don Johnson.
‘half’ of Don Johnson.
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May 1960 in the Garden Tap:
Margaret Hiatt, Joyce Evans,
Joe Evans, Freddie Hiatt.–
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1962 in the Corner Bar:
Cliff and Don with each others
hats[ Laurel and Hardy!]– 
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October 1959
Joyce Evans, Henry Olson, Myrtle Olson,
Loretta Johnson, Thelma Johnson, Darrel Fassett
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The pics in question in bottom row. I’d guess that is Dale Hoffman, and the other is Debra Mongeon.
Mona Johnson (48)
Mona Johnson (48)
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Gary:
Pictured next to Patty is Mark Anderson. Very nice picture.
Esther
Top: Margaret Metcalfe (65), Dana Henriksen (66), Cecile Berube (65), Angela Berube (65)
Bottom: Mark Anderson (65)? or Dale Hoffman (64)?, Patty Boguslawski (65), Debra Mongeon (66)
