Happy Birthday Diane Larson Sjol (’70): Minot, ND
From Lynn Halvorson Otto (’75): Boonton, NJ
Merry Christmas Gary Stokes family and also to all those who use this blog. Lynn Halvorson Otto and family
From Trish Larson Clayburgh (’73): Portola Valley, CA
Merry Christmas to all my Dunseith friends. May all our dreams come true in 2015!
Trish Clayburgh
The Christmas Buffalo Story
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’70): Bottineau, ND
The Christmas Buffalo
The holiday mostly observed in my father’s childhood home was not Thanksgiving or Christmas it was New Years. I have since discovered, Hogmany, is a Scots tradition and the French observed New Year’s Eve.
Perhaps t’was, the influence of the Scots forebear. Or then again, maybe living in the days of the great depression, gift giving as it is now was not really observed.
My father told me as a child, he received only one newly purchased store purchased gift. I’d say, “Dad who gave it to you?” He could not remember. (twenty years after his passing where it came from)
One Christmas, when he, Leona and Emil were all small children, they each received store bought Christmas gifts! The gifts were little cast iron toys. Dad could vaguely remember for sure; he thought maybe, Emil a little wagon, Leona an iron girl toy.
His gift was an iron buffalo! He treasured that buffalo more than anything, and played with it often.
In those days of no TV or electricity, neighbors came “visiting”. He’d show his present proudly.
One night, after the visiting neighbors left he found the treasured buffalo had also left. He went to his mother, wailed and carried on. He told his mother he was quite sure that the young Lajimodere boy, had stolen it!
His mother was not so sympathetic. She said, “Hush! Do not accuse, you don’t know for sure if he took it! If he took it he probably needed that toy more than you.”
He certainly did not agree with his mother THAT boy needed his toy more than he? But soon realized “whining to his mother would get him no where. His mother would not “fix” this problem. Nor would she tell or take it up with the other boys parents.
He bided his time.
One evening, he was very happy to ride along in the wagon with his mother and father to the neighbors, on a return “visit”. In the final, moment, while the grown ups were bidding their goodbyes, and crawling into the wagon.
He stealthily searched and found. Then his toy buffalo was quietly tucked it up under his shirt. He ran and caught the wagon.
He crawled forward in the back of the wagon, and making himself small, quiet holding his breath, in the stillness of the fragrant hay.
Good bye. Goodbye. The parents said. But he said not a word. The buffalo was safe. His father, clicked his tongue and the horses moved along. Yes, going home.
The wagon was just moving, moving, moving away and away. He heard when the Lajimodeire door burst open. a faint, “OHHHH no….” crying Francis as he came running out of the house. “Where he go dat buffalo”?
My father said not a word. He just quietly stroked his buffalo. He had stolen his buffalo back. His mother did not chide him nor did his father.
Many years later, every New Year’s eve, dad received a long distance telephone call. Dad would enjoy a nice visit, then hand mom or I, the phone to hang up.
I’d say, “Who was that? He’d say, “Francis Lajimodiere, the boy who said, where he go dat buffalo.”
The old childhood friendship remained intact through all those years.
On my last visit with Aunt Leona I asked her if she remembered her first store boughten gift?” “Why Yes,” said my
Aunt Leona. “Do you remember who gave you. Emil and Dad those gifts?”
“ Ah”, she said, “Scotch Annie’s paramour , _____…..”… Wow. Another part of a story I had never heard.
Thanks Gary and friends.
Later. Vickie
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Blog (220) posted on September 12, 2008
Thelma Medlang from the class of 1941 (deceased):
Folks, Many of you are doing research trying to find Thelma Medlang’s (41) married name. We knew Thelma was diseased and had lived in the Seattle area. I just got a call from Duane Bjornson who lives in Anchorage, Alaska. His mother, Inga Medlang Bjornson was a cousin to Thelma. Duane told me Thelma’s married name was Wozniak. I was able to find her death record. Thelma Medlang Wozniak was born 11/13/23 and died 7/15/98. Thanks to all, for all your help. Gary
| From Bev Morinville Azure (72):
I have gottn shingles for years they are very very painful . One year I got them six times I always get them on my shoulder,,,,,I happened to be talking to my cousin Jean PLladson one time as I was suffering with them and happen to tell her about them…..Jean as many know is a very very smart Lady and she said let me do some research on them and I will get back to you she called me back the next day and told me to take vit B 12 but take the kind you put under your tounge. I went to GNC and got some and took them everyday and I have not had shingles since. just wanted to pass this infor on . |
Reply from Diane Larson Sjol (70):
First of all I would like to say that I love the way you write cousin Bill (Hosmer). You certainly have a way with words that makes the reader want more! And thank you to Neola Kofoid for providing the article about my participation in the 3Day breast cancer walk. I
would like to thank those of you that donated and enabled me to
participate…and now just a short quick prayer that my feet hold up
(lol)…the ole gray mare ain’t what she used to be….I will keep you
posted and provide some photos upon my return. I leave a week from
today (next Wed. nite) on the train from Minot to Mpls…and will meet
my friend Paula there. We will stay in a hotel that night and then we
are off the next morning and it’s 20 miles a day and sharing with
thousands of others and then a night at camp in our tent (2 to a
tent..we pitch them upon arrival to camp) and start over again no Sat.
and then on Sun. Home on the train Sun. Night …..arrive in Minot at
8am and teach from 10am to 4 at the college…that should be
interesting!!! Lucky nurses will probably get out early that
day..haha. Thanks again for all your support, each and every one of
you.
Diane
Message from Dick Johnson (68):
Gary and Friends,
With the interest shown in the James history, I have a couple more
articles some may find worthy of reading. It was said that a family
trait was brilliant blue eyes that most family members had. I read this
and then over the years have noticed that it is quite true and prevalent
down through the generations. One time a few years ago we had a family
reunion at my Grandma’s place in Bottineau. Otto Strietzel, several of
his sisters, and his brother Carl all were there. Otto was sitting out
in the yard with us when his nephew, Clinton Jr. ‘Butch’ Strietzel,
walked up behind him and said, “Hi Otto, I bet you don’t know who I am”?
Otto hadn’t seen him for years,but looked at Butch for a while and then
said, “No, but I can tell by your eyes, you’re a damn James of some
kind”. This certainly ran true with the accounts and stories I had read
and heard for years. Many of the descendants of the James family, who
are around my age, still live in the St. John area. Every time I see
them the first thing that I notice is the steel blue eyes.
Another note of interest is that after Jesse James’s cohort shot Bob
Ford in Colorado, for bragging how he killed Jesse, several folks put
money together and bought a tombstone for Bob Ford. Jesse had lived in
St. Joseph, Missouri under the alias of
J.D. Howard, so the folks who liked him and bought Ford’s stone, put on
it, ‘Here lies the coward who shot Mr. Howard and sent Jesse James to
his grave’. This may not be the exact wording but it is close. Jesse
James lies buried in the yard of his home place at Kearney, MO. They dug
up the grave within the last couple of years and DNA proved it is him
buried there, after a dispute with a family from Texas who claimed they
had the real Jesse James buried there in 1921. Jesse was married to
Zerelda Mimms and had two children, a boy and a girl, Jesse Edward and Mary.
The reason the James family from St. John didn’t acknowledge the
relationship to the James Gang until later, was simple. They moved here
to live normal lives, and remember, this was the NORTH! They feared
reprisal for what their cousins had done in Missouri, not that long
before. I’m sure there were still many Civil War veterans, who fought
for the North, still living in this area. My Grandma used to say that
when, as kids, they would ask their mother about being related to Jesse
and Frank James, she would give them a stern stare and then change the
subject.Grandma said she never said NO, just ignored the subject. I can
understand completely. The first ‘public’ acknowledgment of the
relationship that I know of, was in 1973 in the obituary of Harvey
James, from St. John, where it said he was a distant cousin to the
infamous Jesse and Frank James. Harvey was a first cousin to my
grandmother, Cynthia Strietzel Johnson. Thanks Gary!
Dick
From Vickie Metcalfe (70):V
Hi Gary, Hiatt descendents, and the Slyter Brothers who written in, What wonderful loving memories you,the Hiatt descendents and Ackworth community neighbors hold in your hearts for Willie and Margie. Dad plastered their house and also enjoyed the gift of working for them so much! Margie stories were like Jennie Handeland, stories, “tell it like it is…absolutely….priceless! ” You guys are wealthy with both the memories, stories to pass on and share, and the knowledge you were well loved by Margie and Willie Hiatt. Later, Vickie
Message/Picture from Dick Johnson (68):
Gary and Friends,
With all the talk of Margie ( Mar-Gee not Mar-Jee) Hiatt’s popcorn
balls, I thought I should sent this nice picture of them taken June 30,
1970. I know they were very close neighbors to the Stokes and Pladsons.
Several years ago I was on the same bowling team as their son, Norman,
and we had a blast every Thursday night! Norman was a joker so we pulled
tricks on him all the time. He was a good sport and took it as well as
he passed it out! One cute story he told us was that when he was a kid
and World War II broke, his uncle Harry was staying with them and
helping on the farm. One night at supper, Harry opened a letter telling
him he was drafted. I think he was in his forties so Margie sure
wondered why in the world he would be drafted. They were all serious but
Norman exclaimed, “They probably just want to get the lead out of his
ass for bullets”! He said he thought it was funny but Margie sent him to
bed without supper! Thanks Gary!
Dick
(Part 6) CARROLL CARLSON’STRAVELING YEARS, BY VICKIE METCALFE (70):
MILITARY ACTION
Africa and Italy
This ship was the first troop convoy to North Africa, landing in Casablanca. Carroll rode a train over 1,500 miles on to Tunisia to take part in the defeat. and capture the Afrika Corps. They moved on through two invasions; in Sicily supporting the 3rd infantry division at LeCata Beach and across the island to Messina.
Carroll attained the rank of PFC. And his job was to set the elevation. Throughout the war he was on a 24 ton S. P.Howitzer He remained with some of the same men, in the 62nd Battalion FA B Battery 4th Gun Section. Carroll says it some ways it was an ideal job, as they didn’t have to walk or carry provisions. Carroll continued with the same job/same kind of gun all the way through the war, setting elevation on the big gun. He was the number one man and assistant gunner. John Lewis was the gunner who set the gun, left to right. There were usually three or four others handling the ammo which was contained in round tubes. There was also a driver. (Another guy in his battalion was, Fritz Iverson from Velva, N.D. Carroll said Fritz went all the way through WWII, after which he was reading meters for an electric company when a pole fell on him and he was killed.)
Carroll’s Traveling Years will Continue with part 7 tomorrow: