No blog since last Thursday (4 days)
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For the record I did not get a blog out the last four days. The process of transferring all the files from my old computer to the new one I recently purchased took the tech, where I bought it from, two days. That combined with Sunday being a day off for the Tech and familiarization on my part, it took 4 days.
This is the first Blog posting using Outlook from my new computer. It is a definitely a learning curve. I am getting the hang of it though.
Gary
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Happy Birthday Allen Pladson (’67): adpladson@gmail.com Dunseith, ND
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Happy Birthday Geri Metcalfe Munro (DHS ’59): Fargo, ND
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Happy Birthday Mel Kuhn (DHS ’70): Dunseith, ND
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Happy Birthday Laurie Brennan: Killdeer, ND
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Happy Birthday Denice Casavant: Rolette, ND
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Happy Birthday Janice LaCoix Kester (DHS “59): Fargo, ND 
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Happy Birthday Mick Kester (DHS ’59): Fargo ND
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Almo Pladson
Reply from Allen Richard (’65): Midland, MI
Almo is looking good! Happy birthday bud! Was great having you work for us back when you were a kid!!!!! Don’t be a stranger!
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Gospel Festival at the Peace Garden
Posted by Don Boardman (’60): donboardman@min.midco.net Bottineau, ND
Attached is the poster we use for the Gospel Festival coming up this weekend at the Peace Gardens. If you would like to post this to your blog we would appreciate it. Anyone that wants to see more can go to our website of www.internationalcountrygospelfest.com. We have performers from the US and Canada on Saturday evening from 6-9 and Sunday from 1-6 with a church service from 11-12. There are concessions on the grounds. This is the 10th annual Country Gospel Music Festival we will be having.
Don
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Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 
Bottineau & Minot, ND
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Norway Pictures and History
From Dick Johnson (’68): Dunseith, ND
Gary and Friends,
History is one of my favorite subjects and Norway has some very interesting history over thousands of years. One of Norway’s worst periods was during the 1940s when the Nazis took control of the country and forced the Norwegians to be subservient to their demands. There are several museums and many monuments dedicated to these years of oppression. My cousin knew of my interest in the war years and the Norwegian Resistance so he took us to some of the places of interest.
April 9, 1940 was the day of the Nazi invasion and the king and the royal family fled the palace in Oslo and headed north to try to escape to neutral Sweden. The Nazis sent a division of motorized vehicles north to try to catch up and arrest the king and his family. At the small town of Elverum, the Norwegian Army and several civilian groups of men disabled all the vehicles they could find and placed them on and in front of a bridge over the river. They then took up positions where they could get clear shots at the Nazi troops as they stopped to try to remove the vehicles blocking the road. The Nazis were in force but the Norwegians stood their ground and after much fighting and heavy losses, the Nazis retreated. They came back another day and were able to clear the road and cross the river but by then the King and the royal family and the government officials had already made it into neutral Sweden.
This site is only a few miles from where my cousin lives and the story of the Resistance fighters at Midtskogen bridge is one of their proudest stories in the area. The Norwegian Resistance acquired radio transmitter sets and would spy on the Nazi movements within Norway and then report the activity via wireless radio transmissions to Britain.
The Nazis knew this was going on and would use a tracking device to pinpoint the radio signal and then send a detachment to arrest the operator. Many were shot when they were caught but often they were only on the radio for a few seconds and then got out of the spot and moved to another safer place. The attached pictures show my cousin Terje Ottesen explaining the Midtskogen bridge battle to me. I saw the bridge and the buildings that were there and are still in use today that were the site of the battle. The second picture is of a clandestine radio set that was actually used by the Norwegian Resistance to transmit messages to Britain. The third picture is equipment used by the Resistance to build small concealable machine guns from readily available materials like exhaust pipe and sheet metal. The nickname for these guns was ‘grease guns’ because of their appearance resembling a typical grease gun. The last picture is of what I would call ‘weapons of desperation’ that the Resistance used to fight the Nazis. One is a cut down 30-40 Krag rifle and the other smaller devices are homemade grenade type and booby trap explosives. I have several more pictures on the subject of Norwegian Resistance during WWII that I can send later if others find interest in this matter. We met a Norwegian author at the Hostfest in Minot who had lived through the Nazi occupation of Norway and then wrote books about the Resistance movement. We bought a couple books and they are fascinating reading for anyone who likes this type of subject. Her name is Astrid Carlsen Scott and her books are probably listed on the internet. Thanks Gary!
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Clouds, Thunder and Lighting (Part 2)
From Vickie Metcalfe (’70): Bottineau, ND
Gary and friends,
My nephew who has read the first part of the clouds, Thunder & Lightening story asked me, “What happened to the rest of the story?” Over these many years I gleaned that part of the story from people who were closely connected to that day and listened closely to my Dad.”
On the morning of July 28, while Lottie prepared noon dinner, her girls walked up to get the mail. To the North, Oliver Nelson and Duane Handeland were minding Kelvin store and gas station. To the West, Eva was in her kitchen at the big white Seim house.
In the hay meadow, Cliff drove one tractor and Sonny drove the B-John Deere. They were both mowing hay as the sun rose in the sky straight up shining overhead.
A few clouds suddenly gathered in the sky. Because it look like rainclouds forming, Cliff motioned up at the clouds to Sonny who was driving the B John Deere coming from behind.” In response, “Sonny raised three fingers of his right hand in the air and made a swooping circular motion.” Cliff nodded thought “Okay, just three more rounds.” And waved back to Sonny.
The tractors moved along, “BOOM!” Cliff felt his arm swing up and he jerked up off the seat. He thought, “Whoa, that was a big one! Sonny is going to be laughing at me for that.”
He turned around in the tractor seat to look for Sonny’s reaction. The B-John Deere Tractor with mower was traveling across the meadow over the wind rows of hay. It was moving North, toward the road ditch lined with willow trees, without Sonny driving!
Looking closer Cliff saw , Sonny who was laying splayed over the mower. Frightened, Cliff pulled the clutch, stopping the tractor leapt off and ran after the B-John Deere and mower.
Thoughts, Got … to… get.. to.. Son… ny ___… before the blades get him. Cliff tripped over piles of hay, fell, panicing, stumbled, fell again _running, running. Ran…breathing.. hard.
The B-John Deere came to a sudden STOP when it hit the willowed ditch.
Cliff ran to Sonny. He looked and Sonny was gone. NOoooooo!!
Cliff ran back across the hay field to the Black Ford pickup truck, climbed in, put it in gear, floored it, shifting, again and again, and drove over the ditch up around the curving road to Art and Eva’s.
Driving into the yard he had one thought, call, Get Sonny help!
Eva was in her kitchen when he burst into the house.
“He’s dead,” “Call _, get help, call somebody…Sonny’s dead.” Eva looked up from what she was doing and sternly said, “CLIFFORD!
CLIFFORD, Stop your joking NOW!”
She looked at Cliff whom she knew so well. He was weeping. She knew he was not joking. Eva crossed the room to where the phone was on the wall by the kitchen door.
Cliff felt relief as when Eva picked up the telephone taking charge. She, cranked it. Central…..Eva said to the operator, “Connect me to the St.Louis Rectory in Dunseith!”
Eva like Sonnys’ Morin family was a devout Catholic. She knew Emil and Genevive lived their faith. She knew what was needed for Sonny, and for his parents, Emil and Genevive.
The priest came over a winding and hilly Highway Number Three, ten miles and to give Sonny last rites.
Meanwhile at Kelvin, Oliver Nelson and Duane Handland had been sitting outside on the steps of Kelvin Store to watch a few nasty looking storm clouds gather.
“BOOM”
Oliver said to Duane, “That was a close one.”
A few minutes later a car drove up to a gas tank. The driver rolling down his window said, “The D___est thing down the road!”
“A man’s running behind a tractor.” “There’s no one driving the tractor.”
Oliver with an awareness of a bad feeling, said to Duane, “Watch the store, Cliff and Sonny are is haying the big meadow.”
Oliver got into his car and drove South and turned East at the intersection. Looking toward the big hill, he watched as the black Ford ahead was speeding up around the Carlson curve disappearing in the dust.
Oliver drove on. He saw the B-John Deere and saw Sonny. He went on into Seims to see what he could do to help.
For all many years,I never really knew what dad did for those next days after the lightening bolt killed Sonny. (A couple years ago someone e-mailed me, he had been with Dad. That person told me a missing piece to this story. Perhaps he will share again?)
When Dad was at home, He was, Oh so very still and quiet.
The next day after Martha’s birthday party, mom baked a cake. Our family drove South two miles to Emil and Genevive’s. There were all sorts of cars in the yard. Mom walked to the door with her cake .
Not long, coming back to the car,Mom said there is a “wake” going on.
We girls ‘wondered’ What is a ‘wake’? We knew to be quiet. We were knowledgable from before in our lives, because when Uncle Archie died that same feelings permeated our home, “be very quiet and still, this is not a time to be curious or questions”. All we knew a wake had to to with Emil and Genevives strong beliefs. We loved and respected Emil and Genevive and did not question their beliefs. But I with a thirst for knowledge wondered.
I listened to Dad at later years, when he said, “He went to Emil and Genevive at the funeral and said to them how very sorry he was”.
They put their arms around him, and said, “Cliff, We are fine, we know where Sonny is at now. He is okay. We are worried about you, we want to know you will be okay.”
After most time they visited. When they were driving out the drive, Dad often would in wonder and awe comment, “Emil and Genevive are real Christians, true saints on Earth!
Dad for a time, was wracked with self- guilt. He talked to understanding listeners, like his long time mentors, Art and Eva. Emil and Genevive embraced him the rest of his life with care, concern and love.
What ever happened to the Green B-John Deere tractor?
After the lightening strike, the tractor seat had a dime size shiney mark. Dad said it was where the lightening bolt passed through Sonny’s body. At haying time, I would look at that mark, touch and remember smiling Sonny Morin. I wondered what he would have become had he lived?
Our family never ever was so busy, to ignore clouds, Thunder and Lightening again. That life lesson has been carried down into the next generation.
Stop the machinery. Go for cover, no questions or explaination required just an acceptance that Thunder and Lightening are more powerful than any human.
One summer before Art Seim passed away. We took a road trip through the hills and visited about our memories of
Emil and Genevive and their only son, smiling Sonny Morin.
You know Vickie, Art said, “Sonny was working on his goal to become a teacher when he died. He was in his third year of college.”
Art said the winter before he’d asked Sonny how college was going? Sonny said he’d have to quit because he had run out of money.
Art asked him “How much do you need this quarter?” Sonny told him about $100.
Art told Eva to write out a check to Sonny.
Then Art smiled as he said, “Sonny had been working for Cliff, when he got paid. He came to me that week before he died. And repaid the loan.”
Art and I agreed that smiling Sonny Morin would have made a fine, outstanding teacher.
Thanks again for allowing me share.
Vickie
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Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
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Joke of the day
An elderly couple, who had just learned how to send text messages on their mobile phones. The wife was a romantic type and the husband was more of a no-nonsense guy.
One afternoon the wife went out to meet a friend for coffee.
She decided to send her husband a romantic text message and she wrote:
“If you are sleeping, send me your dreams. If you are laughing, send me your smile. If you are eating, send me a bite. If you are drinking, send me a sip. If you are crying, send me your tears. I love you.”
The husband texted back to her:
“I’m on the toilet. Please advise.”
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Blog (135) posted on June 17, 2008
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From Willy (60) & Al-lyn Longie:
Gary,
I don’t know if you are keeping a running head count but in case you are, we have booked 2 cabins as of today’s date.
Al-lyn (Willy’s wife)
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Thank you Gary for the up date on Dennis. I talked with him at length last September. I also made the reservations for Patsy and myself for the cruise. It should be fun.
School is almost over with for this year. This Friday will be the last day of students. I have two days next week of class and then I will be officially through. I have a wonderful class this year and it will be sad to see them go on to fifth grade.
Phyllis McKay
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Folks, Phyllis is making reference to Dennis Dubois (63).Dennis does not have email, but I suggested to Bernadette, my wife, that she call Dennis and tell him about the cruise of which she did. Dennis is very interested in the cruise and asked Bernadette for Phyllis’ and Margaret Metcalfe Leonard’s phone numbers. He also asked for our travel agent (Gina’s) phone number. Dennis really aprecitated her calling him and wanted to visit. Gary
Dennis Dubois & Phyllis McKay – July 2007
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From Vickie Metcalfe (70): & her sister Nancy Metcalfe Moreno (68):
Gary
“What I remember is Mom telling about how Axel Johnson would get poachers on School Section Lake & bring them to Grandpa Lamb’s while he would go get more. Grandpa fed them pancakes.” from Nancy Metcalfe Moreno(68)
” And I remember my dad Cliff telling the story about Axel walking back and forth on top of the Metcalfe manure pile expressing to the older Metcalfe boys about the illegal practice of poaching of muskrats before the season opening. He was saying something like, “I know they may have been poaching and have no clear evidence, but if he did find the evidence he would turn them in.” With this story I heard, was that the pelts in question were under the manure pile which Axel was walking back and forth over while lecturing to the uncomfortable boys! I’ve often wondered if Axel really knew what the Metcalfe boys were up to and that it was his way of giving the “boys” fair warning he was on to them!”
I do recall our parents having utmost respect for Axel Johnson as a game warden & kind, honest, hard working man. from Vickie Metcalfe
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Folks, I had the identification ofthe folks in these two pictures reversed with yesterday’s message. Gary
May 1960 in the Garden Tap:
Margaret Hiatt, Joyce Evans,
Joe Evans, Freddie Hiatt.–
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May 1960 in the Garden Tap:
Cliff Johnson, Joy Johnson, Bernice Johnson,
‘half’ of Don Johnson.
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From Gerry Anderson (61): and Rita Anderson (mother):
Gary … My mother, Rita Anderson, received this email and asked me to respond. My name is Gerald (Gerry) Anderson – we lived in Dunseith from the late 40’s to 1957. I would have been part of the class of 1961. I attended school in Dunseith from grade 1 – 9 and then attended Willow City Academy and moved to Jamestown, ND for grades 11 and 12.
The lone male picture with all the beautiful ladies is my brother Mark Anderson who died of cancer about 10 years ago. He was 4 years younger and would have been in the class of 1965.
My mother does enjoy receiving the pictures as both my dad (Ed Anderson – deceased) and mother were very active in the community and owned the Gamble store. …Gerry…
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Reply From Esther Murray Flemming (65):
Gary:
Pictured next to Patty is Mark Anderson. Very nice picture.
Esther
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Bottom left is Mark Anderson
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Reply From Debbie Mongeon Cernohous (66):
Hi Gary,
You may have heard from a few people on the graduates for the bottom row. I think it is Mark Anderson, Patty Bogus and Me.
Great job with the emails, love looking at them when I get to work.
Debbie Cernohous (Mongeon)
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Top: Margaret Metcalfe (65), Dana Henriksen (66), Cecile Berube (65), Angela Berube (65)
Bottom: Mark Anderson (65),Patty Boguslawski (65), Debra Mongeon (66)
From Dick Johnson (68):
Gary,
I was just studying the old Dunseith postcard and noticed– almost no
trees! It has to be from 1935-36, the brick addition on the school was
done in ’35 and the City Hall is not there yet and I believe it was
built in ’37. The article from the fire says it was 31 years old when it
burned in 1968 so I can assume the picture is either late 1935 or 1936.
Just thought you might find this interesting. Thanks again!
Dick