ND Blizzard conditions tonight (11/6/08) from Dick Johnson: 

Gary and Friends,

If you folks would like to see a genuine North Dakota blizzard, tonight
is the night! We have sustained winds that must be 40-50 MPH and blowing
snow that is causing white out conditions. It wasn’t too bad earlier
today, but now the snow has really started coming down. It rained first
and the trees got heavy so with these winds, trees are going down all
over. Just like old times!

Thanks to Ron Longie for the name of his cousin, Della. After I read her
name, I remembered— that was her name! I hope her injury was one she
recovered fully from as it was quite nasty. Thanks Ron and Gary!

Dick

Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

It seems so strange to receive an email this time of the night, and the email says (paraphrasing), “The newsletter is early today.  We have doctor’s appointments.”  Also, when I read it, I pictured the two of you in this wonderfully warm climate, walking with no coats on, the sun shining, beautiful day, and here I am sitting where it’s dark outside, the weather is nasty, no travel around Minot–same time, such different weather/time of day.  The internet is absolutely amazing/wonderful. 

Neola

Neola, what you imagined was pretty much right on with our weather and time of day. We never ever have to wear a coat. Today’s high was 90F. I had to turn the windshield wiper on several times today to wipe the condensation of off the outside of the windshield caused from the Air Conditioning inside the car.  I know those of you from the southern states have probably experienced that. I know I did when I was TDY for 6 months in Florida in 2002.  Gary

Picture (Devils Lake, ND) & comments from Kenny Nerpel (65):

Gary,

The Philippines is starting to look more and more inviting.  I’m
tired of this stuff already.

Kenny

Reply from  LoisLilleby fielding (51): 

To Marshall Awalt:   Marshall, I tried to e-mail you, but it didn’t go through.  I woll look through old photos in case I have one of your car.    Best regads,    Lois

Reply from Randy Flynn (70): 

In answer to Gary Metcalfe’s question about Mr. Woodford and Mr. Cheney.  I am guessing they both used a shotgun as a communication tool to locate a buddy.

Memories of the Bakery/Martinson’s/baseball from Rob Olson (79):

The Bakery was one of my favorite places in town, the others being Campell’s, Malaterre’s and anywhere we could playball.  I seriously do  not know how Hilda Malaterre put up with the pounding of rubber balls hitting the side of the house every five seconds.  At the Campbell’s we played against Granmma Campbell’s garage and we would play all day, go to the Bakery and a bunch of us would pile in the back room where Herman, Terry, Tim and Tara worked their magic. They always let us eat the ends of the bread loafs that were sliced off. What a treat!  We would always try to get there in time to help Tim or Terry load up the pick-up for the trip to the peace Garden and maybe we could catch a ride.

Tara was always so nice. Like Lyle said Tim was an oustanding catcher.  I can still see in my mind like it was yesterday the way he threw the ball to second base, he had a litttle double clutch but WHAT an arm.   Not many tried to steal on him. I can also see Herman sitting directly behind home plate at every home game. He did not say much but when he did you could hear it through the crowd.  And those teams in the late 60′s early 70′s drew crowds.  I learned a lot of baseball from Herman talking with him at the bakery which I did until I left in 1979.  Even when  I came home I would stop by to see him.   That man knew what I was doing 200 miles away in Mayville-even the things I shouldn’t have been doing!  Herman had a knack for making a person feel important even at 10 years old. I miss him.

Terry was a free spirit and had a twinkle in his eye everytime I saw hime.  One time in, I think 1969 or 70, the legion team was playing in Wolford. Terry was driving around and I was riding my bike home when he stopped and asked me if I wanted to go to the baseball game. (OK I begged him if he would take me.) I took my bike home and changed my shirt.  I remember he had a 2 door car green one I think, it was already full of people but I could not say who was in it. I road on the center counsel in front with him. I really thought I was cool. It wasn’t until we got there that he asked me if my mom knew where I was. I said she was working and I did not have time to tell her. I can remember he was not happy with me and told me that I need to be responsible and let her know. After being mad at me he smiled and said, don’t worry I’ll tell her you were with me and it will be fine.  I don’t know what he said to her but she never said a word about it to me. The Martinsons were nuts about baseball.  Years later I was playing in Cando with the Rolla legion team (Dunseith did not have a Legion team in 1978 or 79) and I was up to bat when I heard “come on Robbie get a rip” I looked up in the stands and here was Terry, bushy beard, hair all wild, farmers pants and a huge smile on his face. His smile could light up a room for miles. I am gald I told him how much his friendship and kindness meant to me before he passed.

As for the charging rolls at the bakery.  Herman knew what he was doing.  Bismarcks were a nickel and by the end of one week, one of many, I owed him a dollar-my whole allowance.  That happened for years!

The Bakery, good times, great people, whole lotta love and kindness came out of that place. Thank you to the Martinsons.

Rob Olson

Story/memory from Rob Olson (79):

I was hopping someone else would tell this story but nobody has.  So I thought I would-as best as I can remember The names are not changed because the statute of limitations has run out for trespassing.

Back in the early 70’s there was swimming hole out by the old slaughterhouse.   To get to there we walked across the wheat field just west of the baseball field, went under a barbed wire fence (or over it if you were bigger) and then walked a ways.  The older boys had made a dam so the water was fairly deep. (We typically did not go there when the older boys were there because they liked to dunks us, thow us in with our clothes and generally be mean) We went there after baseball practice was over so about 3:00 p.m. or so. I was not in Babe Ruth at the time but I always hung around during baseball practice shagging balls with the others.  One day I believe it was me, Jeff Campbell, Gordon Malaterre, Clark Malaterre, David Hagel , Keith Fettig, probably Gene and Sylvester Parisien, and likely others that I don’t remember now, were down at the swimming hole having fun.  Most of us did not have swimming trunks so we usually went without.    Someone heard a noise and Clark sneaked up the bank to see who it was. We had been warned by the older boys not to get caught there.   Clark turned and said we have to get out of here fast.  Nancy Bedard and Gail Lamoureux were out riding horses and were coming toward the swimming hole.  We  had left our clothes on the side of the bank that they were coming from so we had to hustle over, grab our clothes, cross the creek and try to put them on while we were running, not a an easy thing to do.  I am not a fast runner. Clark looking out for me like he did was helping me get dressed as we were running. The ladies on their horses were faster and soon were close by and yelling at us to stop running.  Clark and I stopped while the other were about 20 yards ahead in the trees. Clark turned and answered, I think Nancy’s, questions about what we were doing there.  The others kind of hovered around not wanting to get too close. I did not want to say anything because Gail would tell my mom and that would not have been good! After scolding us, both Nancy and Gail looked at each other with a little grin when Gail said “Clark you should zip up your zipper.”  Clark had been too busy helping me that he forgot put his underwear on or zip his fly.  Clark looked down, tucked himself in then looked up at the ladies and calmly said “thank you.”

I still think of that and is one of my best memories when I think of Clark-which is often. Of course we were back there the next day.

Rob Olson

Diane Larson Sjol’s (70) memories: 

Allen’s reminiscing brought back my own memories of Dunseith and my
favorite stops.  I loved going to the drug store and sitting at the
counter with Debbie Morinville and sipping on a coke float….buying
sticks of pink gum that had powdered sugar on it and looking through
all the makeup waiting for the day when we could wear it.  I used to
sneak in my cousins’ room (Janet, Nancy and Colette Hosmer) and put
their make up on….thought I was pretty darn cute.  We stayed in
Dunseith when my dad, Norman Larson, was stationed overseas so we went
to school during our elementary years in Dunseith….making my
childhood a wonderful one.  My mom, Verdellis, used to love to sleep
in on Sat. morning.  Knowing that, my sister and I would wake her and
ask if we could have some money to go to Casey Seim’s and she would
tell us there was some in her purse and to go ahead.  We knew she was
probably still asleep but convinced ourselves we had permission so
would take a few coins and off we would march…uptown.  She would
wake up an hour later and there we would be, watching cartoons eating
a bagful of candy.  Needless to say, we got away with it about twice.

One thing I remember about the Hermann’s bakery was him of course, and
his wonderful Bismarcks and date bars.  I could have eaten my weight
in date bars and at that time I was pretty chubby….Francis
Morinville used to work at the Crystal Cafe and Debbie and I would
wander in through the back and Francis would give us a treat….they
had the best tomato soup!  Remember the school cafeteria and that huge
pile of butter bread sandwiches cut in half….

Playing at the creek and catching tadpoles was great fun too.  We
managed to keep a batch alive until they grew legs and were hopping
all over my room.  My mom had a fit. From then on she later confessed
that when they grew legs, she flushed them down the toilet and told us
they had died so she had to get rid of them…..

I could go on and on ….we are snowed in in Minot today…roads
closed from here to Bismarck…pretty bad all over most of the central
and eastern part of the state, disappointing many deer hunters since
today is opening day…my husband is still trying to figure out how he
can go…

Hope you all have a great day…Diane Larson Sjol

Paula Fassett’s (71) reply to the confirmation picture: 

I love the confirmation photo!!!  In the back: Alan Strong, Greg Hill, Dale Lagerquist – front:  Myra Henning & Shelly Fulsebakke!

If anyone has a photo of the confirmation class from a year prior to this one, it would be fun if you would share it!  The class consisted of those of us who eventually graduated in 1970 & 1971 – Me, Cheryl Haagenson, my sister Crystal, Brenda Hill, Larry Tooke, Larrett Peterson…….to name a few.  For some reason, there had been a year of no confirmation, so the 2 classes were combined.  Pastor Curt Rotto was our pastor/teacher – we all adored him (many of us still do…..).  We had the largest class that was ever confirmed at Peace Lutheran.  Because of the great number of us, we were actually confirmed in the high school gym, as there wasn’t enough room in the church!  I don’t remember for sure, but I’m thinking that perhaps the new church wasn’t finished yet then?  I’ve been communicating too much with Mel Kuhn, his CRS is rubbing off……….

Paula Fassett

Evon Lagerquist’s (77) reply to the confirmation picture: 

In the confirmation picture with Pastor Bakken is Alan Strong, Greg Hill, Dale Lagerquist, Myra Henning , Shelly Fulsabakke.

Lynn Halvorson Otto’s (75) reply to the confirmation picture: 

Hi Gary, the picture of confirmation students:  Alan Strong, Greg Hill and Dale Lagerquist, Myra Henning and Shelly Fulsebakke (sp).  I think I’m correct on the names.  Lynn Otto I think this 1969 Rendahl Confirmation class was part of the Dunseith 1969 class or am I wrong? Message/Picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe:  Hi Gary, This is Lloyd Awalt’s grandson, Brody (Todd and Tracy Baynes Awalt’s son).  There were several pictures of/comments made by people after the election under “Varying opinions of residents mirrors rest of U.S.”  Brody’s comments are in a separate email.  Todd/Tracy live in Minot.  She/I taught at Bel Air School for several years; I retired, she’s still teaching there.  Todd is a CPA in Minot. I remember when Todd/Tracy’s children were born.  I visited Tracy at Trinity when her/Todd’s first son, Brock, was born.  Besides the two boys, Todd and Tracy have a daughter, Drew.  John Bayne, Tracy’s father, was a barber in Bottineau for many years.  I THINK he’s retired. Tracy’s mother, Virginia, worked at Trutna’s. Neola From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Hi Gary, I know you don’t usually put “plugs” in your Alumni newsletter, so I won’t feel bad if you don’t feel comfortable including this poster.  However, if you think people might be interested in seeing it (and attending the event), I’d appreciate if you would include it and mention I’ll be selling caramels.  I think some of your readers have bought caramels from me in the past.  Again, I don’t know if you want to include this, but people are welcome to order from me at neolag@min.midco.net, and I’ll mail caramels to them.  Postage would be between $5.00-$9.00, depending on the size of the order. Thanks, Gary. Neola Neola, I will gladly post this.  We have a number of Bottineau folks on our distribution list.  Bottineau is right next door to Dunseith and I’m sure some of those folks and others in the surrounding area will enjoy attending this event.  I’m pretty sure there will be other Dunseith Alumni Vendors there as well.  This gives folks the opportunity to try your famous caramels and meet you too.  Gary.