Vietnam Picture
Reply from SGM (E-9) (Ret) Jim Kofoid (Neola’s Brother):  Bottineau, ND

Good Evening to you folks on the other side of the mtn!  I just keep rethinking about that picture of the two Garys!  It’s a keeper!  I see CPT (Dr) Wall around town quite often.  I’ve told the story many times about how you and he, by coincidence , ended up together in that far away place!  I was over there, too, at pretty much the same time (Mar 69 – Apr 70).  I spent my time in Saigon (terrorist’s territory)!  Greetings to your family and friends!

Jim K

To Lee Stickland
From Aggie Casavant (’69):  Fort Mill, SC

I  was  happy  to  hear  you  taking  your  situation  all  in  stride, it  is  rare  that  people  accept  situations  in  life  with  that  much  grace.   I  remember  when  you  were  the  Administrator  of  the  Dunseith  Nursing  Home  when  Arla  Hiatt  and  I worked  there.  I  will  never  forget  when  you  came  into  the  break  room one day and  hung  this  sign  on  the  wall, that  said, “Before  You  Say  It…..Is  It  Kind,  Is  It  True,  Is  It  Necessary”  you  have  no  idea  how  many  places  I  worked  at  all  over  the  United  States since  then,  where  I  hung  that  very  quote  in  the  break   rooms, and  by   time  clocks.  It just  goes  to  show  the impression  a  person  leaves  in  another  persons  life.   I  always  admired  you when  you  were  the  Administrator wheather  you  knew  it  or  not,  cuz  you  always  carried  yourself  with  such  integrity.  I Hope this  message  finds  you  doing  well, and  that  your  health  improves  with  each  passing  day.  God Bless You, and  Keep You, Sincerely  Aggie  Casavant’

 

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Blog (152) posted on July 6, 2008

From Joanne HIll Evans (74): 

Gary,

This is Joanne (Hill) Evans.  Tim and Laurie have been living with us in Owatonna since the end of May, waiting for the transplant.  We received the call early Friday morning and Tim’s transplant surgery was completed and he was back in ICU at St. Mary’s Hospital by 6:45 Friday evening.  He is doing very well.  He received a young, strong and healthy heart.  Laurie and I were blessed to listen to Tim’s new heart through a stethoscope last night ~ what a miracle!  God has certainly blessed Tim and all our family.

This morning (Saturday – by 9:00 a.m.) they had removed the ventilator tube and Tim was talking.  The nurse was impressed with how well he is doing.  He is responding as expected, and even better.  His color is good, he is alert and is well aware of everything.  The care at St. Mary’s Hospital is tremendous.

We do not yet know how long Tim will be hospitalized.  When he is released, Tim & Laurie will live at the Transplant House in Rochester for approximately 3 months.  I will keep you posted as we proceed.  Laurie & I will be creating a CaringBridge site, hopefully before too long.  Will advise when it is available.

Thank you so much for all your prayers.  This is the happiest Fourth of July I have ever experienced!

God’s blessings to all.

Joanne & Greg Evans

 

From Susan Malaterre Johnson (69): 

Hi Gary, Thank you to Dick for letting us know about Tim’s updates.  I’m sure that he’s had many prayers today.  Richard is also in manny hearts.  Bless them both and the physicians who work with them.  Dick, My mom used to relate storied that your uncle told us of his time on the titanic. If nothing else, it has provided us with many rich memories of what might have been.  He most certainly was interesting.  Such a diverse group we’ve turned out to be and with you, Gary, still close.  Susan Johnson

Susan, It’s been quite sometime now since I talked to you.  Please update us with your life in Texas.  When I talked to you, you were in the process of purchasing a 2nd home near your daughter.  Do you still have your trucking company?  I know it’s been very traumatic for you with the loss of your husband.  Gary.

 

From Kathy Schimetz-Wood (72): 

Thank you so much, Dick, for the information on Tim Hill’s surgery.  I was at his benefit in Burlington, had a very nice visit with him, but I was so concerned, as he looked so very ill.  I prayed that he wouldn’t have to wait too long.  My prayers were answered.  You are so right, in that he is so deserving of a chance for good health!  My prayers go out to Tim and his family.  Praying for a speedy recovery. Thanks again, Dick!

From Bobbie Slyter (70): 

Richard is undergoing some more tests today and if all is o.k., he may get to go home tonight or tomorrow, the doc says he wont be able to work for about a month so pray for Ele having him around the house that long  ha ha just kidding.

 

From Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): 

We got home from the hospital today about 5pm–Richard is doing very well and hopefully is looking forward to his forced vacation for the next 4 to 8 weeks.   I want to thank all of you for your prayers and notes of concern.  It really helps to know that people are thinking of you and praying for you.

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Thanks to Bonnie and Neola for the pictures of our serviceman. I know
the Awalts and Bob Stokes were very proud of their country and of their
time in the service. Lloyd Awalt and Bob Stokes were both very active in
the American Legion in Bottineau.
They led the parades for years on Memorial Day. The pictures of Marshall
and Lloyd were taken in the vacant lot directly east of Awalt’s house on
the east side of town. The house behind the picture of both of them
together, is Ed Leonard’s. In the picture of Marshall alone, our house
is directly behind him and Egbert’s house is to the right. Between the
two you can see the old elevator at Myron Evan’s. True, when these
pictures were taken it wasn’t our house, it was still Arnold and Hattie
Lilleby’s. I would like to venture a guess as to the year of the photos,
about the 1948-1950 range, I think. Is there a date on them, Bonnie? Thanks!

Dick

From Shirley Olson Warcup (49): 

Gary,

That was welcome news about Tim Hill!  Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim and Richard and their families.

Last year we made an unplanned stop at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck.  I told the ER personnel we were on our way to a school reunion and I hoped I could get things taken care of rather quickly so we could make the reunion.  One of the Drs. on duty that day was a surgeon.

He asked where the reunion was.  I said it was in Dunseith.  He said that’s where he grew up–north of Dunseith.  His name was Gaylord Kavlie.  His father was a minister.  I think he left before he was of high school age.  He came to my hospital room the next day and we spent some time talking about Dunseith and the UND Medical school.  He also gave me more helpful information, healthwise, than I had received from previous doctors.  I haven’t seen a dr. since then.

Again, thanks for getting this newsletter going, Gary.  I look forward to it every day.

Shirley Warcup

 

Shirley, Gaylord Kavlie’s grand parents would have been Leonard & Dot Kavlie and his father is Hampton Kavlie. The Kavlie’s lived West and south of Little Prairie church up in the hills.  I remember Leonard and Dot well, but their children (boys) were enough older than me that I don’t remember them that well.  I remember Leonard coming to our farm every year to spray the livestock.  I think one of Leonard and Dot’s boys was adopted from one of the Abrahamson’s?  I think that is what I was told.  Someone please correct me if I’m wrong or confirm if I’m right.  All four of the Kavlie sons attended high school at Hillcrest Academy in Fergus Falls, MN. One of Leonard and Dot’s granddaughter’s works in the Bank in Dunseith.  Gary

Note: I don’t know who’s who of the boys in the picture.

Leonard Kavlie Family (Leonard, Dagny, Hampton,
Duane, Curtis & Jerry)