11/13/2008 (281) | Dunseith Alumni

Update on Richard Slyter (67), from his wife Ele Dietrich Slyter (69), following his heart attack:

He’s home!!! Doning well — has a stress test scheduled on the 19th, so we will know more when that gets done and I will update you again then.

Thank you for your prayers

Reply from Shirley LaRocque Wendt (59):

WE WILL HAVE TO GET TOGETHER WHEN YOU GET TO SEATTLE AS I AM ONLY A MILE OR TWO NORTH OF AIRPORT. WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE BOTH OF YOU. I AM RECOVERY BUT BUT THE PROCESS IS TO SLOW FOR ME, BUT I DO KNOW IT WILL BE HERE. RAINING LIKE CRAZY AROUND HERE TODAY, YES I KNOW SO WHATS NEW IT’S SEATTLE. HAHA WELL GARY YOU BOTH HAVE A GREAT DAY. GOD BLESS. SHIRLEY

Shirley, There are a whole bunch of us that would enjoy seeing you this next July. As it stands now, I think we will be making arrangements with the Ramada Inn Hotel, at SeaTac, for our folks going on the cruise and also for those that may need a room, that will be attending the Seattle Dunseith Alumni Reunion. We’d love to see you at our Alumni Reunion too, that will be held at the Best Western, just a few miles north of you. I will be sending detailed info out for that and the hotels within the next day or two. Gary

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

There is a lot of local history here in the hills and foothills. A
couple years ago we were flying a small plane out of Bottineau and just
looking over the hills and lakes, here in the area. As we flew over the
foothills by Lake Schutte , we could easily see the circles of rocks
that were placed on the bases of teepees to hold them from being blown
over by the winds. It seemed amazing to me that in well over 100 years
and with both humans and cattle inhabiting the area, these are still
very visible from the air. We used to fish on the north side of Lake
Schutte and another interesting thing there is the remnants of the old
original Dunseith cemetery. There are divits in the ground from where
the graves had been before they were dug up and moved to the ‘new’
Riverside and St. Louis cemeteries, south of town. Only one grave is
still there. There is a small tombstone with the name of Viola Klang on
it. I think the date of death was 1910, and that she was very young. The
white stone had been broken in two many years ago, as I set it back
together several times when I was a kid in the early 60s. I suppose
cattle knock it over as they graze or possibly kids that have little
respect for these things. Another Viola Klang graduated from DHS in
1953. I have always wondered why this last grave wasn’t moved and
remains unattended for all these years. The Klang family is somehow
related to the McKays, if I remember correctly. Maybe they can give us
some insight on this long forgotten gravesite. Thanks Gary!

Dick
From Dave Wurgler (64):

Gary: I thought I would forward this as it is very impressive and I am sure Dick Johnson, Allen Richard and any car buff will be amazed after viewing this. I am still hitting on your e-mails every day and enjoying it. Lets hear more from the class of “64″. Dave Wurgler

This is almost beyond comprehension. Unbelievable. This man has talents bordering on the supernatural. This goes beyond what most of us can only dream about. And he did it all on a Bridgeport milling machine. Sureal.

After viewing all of the pictures, be sure to catch both of the film clips of it actually running.

Subj: Hand made 1/6 scale chevy 327 engine

Moyer Made – Projects: 1/6th Scale Chevrolet V8

Question from Gary Metcalfe (57):

I am not big on accuracy, as you can probably tell. But, seeing as how such a lot of effort was put forth to get the names of the 1956 band picture correct, I want to add my thoughts. Even though I was not a band member, I remember Jean Lake as having a crippled leg and she would have been at least 4 years younger than DuWayne Lang or myself. I am guessing a call to DuWayne would satisfy my curiosity. Thanks. Gary Metcalfe

Gary, I believe the picture your are referring to was posted with message 139. Please let us know what DuWayne Lang has to say and we will repost that picture with the corrected name. I too feel it is important to have stuff labeled properly or to the best of our knowledge. Future history and genealogy folks will be looking at all this stuff we are putting out today. Can you imagine the hay day they will have years from now. Gary

Reply to picture, from Vickie Metcalfe (70):

GARY AND MARK, Thanks for the memories of this photo!

THIS WAS OUR SECOND GRADE CLASS. OUR TEACHER WAS MRS. HANSEN. OUR CLASSROOM WAS A COMBINATION ROOM WITH 1ST GRADERS,SOME WITH 2ND GRADE SIBLINGS. ie MARK AND REID SCHIMETZ, & ALAN AND TERRY FUGERE. THAT CLASSROOM WAS LOCATED ON THE STAGE. THE UPPER CLASSMEN WERE IN THE GYM. AH….BABY BOOMERS, ARRIVED IN DUNSEITH!……AND THE SCHOOL SWELLED! AT NOON HOUR THE PLAYGROUND WAS FLOODED WITH KIDS IN GRADES 1ST -12. I DON’T RECALL ANY TEACHERS OUTSIDE SUPERVISING THE PLAYGROUND. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD TO BUILD. AND SOMETIME, THAT YEAR I BELIEVE THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MOVED TO THE NEW BUILDING.

ONCE A WEEK, WE’D WALK DOWN TO MRS.MILDRED PARRILL’S ROOM IN THE BIG WHITE SCHOOL HOUSE FOR MUSIC WITH THE OTHER SECOND GRADERS. I THINK THE 1ST GRADERS WENT IN WITH MRS. EVA SEIM WHO HAD ALL THE OTHER 1ST GRADERS. DAVY CROCKETT AND BLUE BIRD WERE FAVORED SONGS.

SINCE WE 9, WERE GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED FROM THE OTHER 1ST AND 2ND GRADERS OUR LITTLE GROUP HAD TO PLAY TOGETHER. WE KIND OF BECAME A LITTLE FAMILY. WE’D USE THE BACK DOOR AT RECESS AND ALSO PLAY UNDER THE STAIRCASE, PRETEND WITCHES ETC.

MANY AFTERNOONS, WE’D BE VISITED BY THE TWO BEAUTIFUL LITTLE SISTERS OF MARK AND REID. KATHY AND KIM SCHIMETZ, EACH HAD LONG BROWN HAIR IN RINGLETTE CURLS. THEIR MOM, STELLA DRESSED THEM LIKE DOLLS.

IT WAS IN THAT 2ND GRADE CLASS I LEARNED A LIFE LESSON. OFTEN, MRS. HANSEN WOULD HAVE OUR GROUP OF 9 LINE UP AT HER DESK AND CHECK OVER OUR WORK. ONE DAY WHILE STANDING BEHIND GORDIE NERPEL I NOTICED HIS PHONICS ANSWERS AND MINE WERE TOTALLY DIFFERENT. I WAS CERTAIN I MINE WERE WRONG. PANICING I ERASED AND CHANGED ALL MY ANSWERS AND COPYED HIS. WHEN MY TURN CAME FOR WORK TO BE CHECKED, MRS. HANSEN JUST QUIETLY TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO MY DESK, ERASE MY ANSWERS AND DO MY WORK OVER. SHE DID NOT SHAME ME, JUST QUIETLY SAID, DO NOT DO THAT AGAIN.

As a teacher/counselor I share that tale of woe with my students. I tell them how I learned the lesson of not cheating in second grade from Mrs. Hansen and I honestly recall that strong feeling of shame.

WE WERE THE CLASS OF ’70. Oft TIMES OUR NUMBERS SOARED TO APPROXIMATELY 90 STUDENTS IN 7TH GRADE. There was 7A, 7B, and 7C, MOSTLY GROWING, WITH THE INFLUX OF STUDENTS FROM THE DAY SCHOOL. THE CLASS OF ’70 STILL CAN BOAST AS BEING THE LARGEST GRADUATION CLASS!

MRS. HANSON TAUGHT IN DUNSEITH THEN WENT TO WILLOW CITY AND AFTER MANY YEARS RETIRED THERE. SHE, AND HER HUSBAND LIVE ON A FARM OUT OF WILLOW CITY. THEIR DAUGHTER IS CURRENTLY THE BOTTINEAU SCHOOL LIBRARIAN.

Picture – Class of 70 folks from Mark Schimetz:

Top row: Mark Schimetz, Dean Lamb, Gordon Nerpel, Alan Fugere & Vicky Medcalf
Bottom: Janice Allard, David Striker, Maryls Medland, and Joann Millang.

I am not sure what grade we are in here, Maybe 2nd grade. Vicki will probably know.

Message/Pictures from Karen Loeb Mhyre (65):

Hi Gary,

Jim and I also have a new granddaughter born on Thursday, October 30th!! Our son Andrew and his wife, Jennifer welcomed Katelyn Elise Mhyre. She was born at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, Wa. They live in Kenmore, WA and are both scientists. They are both PhD researchers in the biotech industry.

We also have a three year old granddaughter, Fiona, who lives with her folks in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We will all be together here for Christmas!! Such a fun time.

Karen

Katelyn with her Grandma, Karen Loeb Mhyre(65)

Katelyn with her Great Grandmother – Hannah Loeb Higgins (39)

The Little Family’s First Halloween
Andrew, Jeniffer & Katelyn Mhyre