Minnie Mary McKay Merrill’s (’48) Husband Ed Merrill passed away
Message from Minnie Mary McKay Merrill (’48): Renton, WA.
Hi Gary,
Just wanted to thank you for the blog you send so regularly. I enjoy it. I wanted you to know that my husband, Ed Merrill died in November of 2014. Things have gotten postponed several times because I have been having cancer treatments since last September. Right now I feel pretty good – will begin maintenance chemo tomorrow. Ed’s memorial will begin at the Tahoma National Cemetery and the reception will follow at the church on April 24th, 2015, in Kent WA. He was 92 and had carved trolls out of “scrap wood “ ( because nobody has ever seen a real troll) until about a year or so before he went into an adult care home. He was left handed and had long arms which made him a fabulous first base man. He played senior soft ball for 25-30 years or more. His team traveled from Phoenix to Winnipeg and places in between in competition. I miss him.
Minnie Mary,
We are so sorry for your loss. Ed was a good man. We met him when he and you were at Phyllis’s when we visited her a few years ago. Our thoughts and prayers are with you with his loss.
Gary
The Klang Family – Reply to Dick Johnson’s posting.
From Minnie Mary McKay Merrill (’48): Renton, WA.
Viola Klang Lohr lives in Townsend, MT. Her sister, Arla and brother, Wayne live in the Seattle area. I do not know about a Viola Klang of the 1910s, but am guessing it is Viola Lohr’s name sake. Viola’s mother, Alice was a sister of my Dad’s—Clifford McKay making Viola my cousin. The family moved to Seattle in the 1940s (my guess). Minnie Mary McKay Merrill
Reply to Aggie Casavant (’69)
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot, Bottineau, ND
Hi Gary and Aggie,
I was busy looking at the birthdays/pictures/etc. in today’s newsletter, when I suddenly saw a big thank you to ME! THAT was a surprise! I wondered what I had done to deserve a big thank you. LOL (Thank you, Aggie and Gary for your kind comments.). I am very happy/pleased for whatever I can contribute to your Dunseith newsletter/blog/etc., Gary. Like so many others, I, too, find it very interesting. I’m still trying to remember who is related to whom, but I’m getting better. LOL I think others have mentioned they appreciate your including former postings. I know I REALLY appreciate it, as I’ve forgotten much of what was posted back then. I had added some information (about pictures) that was provided in the original postings, but I didn’t always get it added and am trying to add it now. MY thanks to all who provide pictures/information/etc. for you to include in your blog.
For those who might be interested, Rose Kavli’s first husband, Roger Gust, passed away. His funeral will be Saturday in Westhope. Roger was in my 4th grade class when I taught in Kramer in 1961-‘62. His sister, Carol, was in my third grade class in Kramer (1962-‘63). Roger’s/Carol’s brother, Ron Gust, is my husband’s (Wally) godson.
Thanks again, Aggie and Gary. Gary, you KNOW how much I appreciate all you do! LOL
Neola
Johnny Crawford – Long Lake
Picture provided by Vonda Melgaard Antonson: Maddock, ND
Many of us Remember Johnnie Crawford very well. Johnny lived next door to Leonard Lund on the North West corner of Long Lake. He used to walk the hills selling garden seeds and miscellaneous items. Often times he had a motorized go cart or bicycle that he rode on. I don’t remember which. I do remember that is was homemade though. Whenever he came to our house we always invited him for a lunch or a meal. Johnny was a man of many talents.
Johnny was a brother to Eva Hiatt and an uncle to Leola Lagerquist.
Gary
Joke of the day
Posted by Diane Rheault (’79): Moorhead, MN
RETARDED GRANDPARENTS—
After Christmas, a teacher asked her young pupils to write an essay on how they spent their holiday away from school.
One child wrote the following:
” We always used to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa. They used to live in a big brick house but Grandpa got retarded and they moved to Batemans Bay where everyone lives in nice little houses, and so they don’t have to mow the grass anymore!
They ride around on their bicycles and scooters and wear name tags because they don’t know who they are anymore. They go to a building called a wreck center, but they must have got it fixed
because it is all okay now. They do exercises there, but they don’t do them very well.
There is a swimming pool too, but they all jump up and down in it with hats on.
At their gate, there is a doll house with a little old man sitting in it. He watches all day so nobody
can escape. Sometimes they sneak out, and go cruising in their golf carts!
Nobody there cooks, they just eat out. And, they eat the same thing every night — early birds.
Some of the people can’t get out past the man in the doll house. The ones who do get out,
bring food back to the wrecked center for pot luck.
My Grandma says that Grandpa worked all his life to earn his retardment and says I should
work hard so I can be retarded someday too.
When I earn my retardment, I want to be the man in the doll house. Then I will let people out,
so they can visit their grandchildren.
====================================
Blog (282) posted on November 14, 2008
Folks, I just got a message from Dwight Lang telling us he is unable to make the cruise with us next July. Dwight and Rene Casavant are paired up with a cabin. Rene needs a cabin mate. Please let us know if any of you are interested or know of anyone that may be interested in taking Dwight’s place on our cruise. Rene is a really easy going gentleman type of a guy. Thanks, Gary
Reply from Tom Hagen (51):
Seeing the picture of Susie and Glenn and the letter from Carmen Richard, I had to write a few lines.. Susie, do you remember when I was your teacher at Wetherault School in the summer of l955 and you were in about the 4th or 5th grade. We had quite the rainstorms that summer and you and the other kids would come to school barefoot through the puddles and mud. When it got too hot we would go outside and have school by the side of the building.
Carmen, when I taught at Cleveland I had your brothers in 4H and
we also used to visit some with you and Floyd. It has been a long time
ago.
Gary, I can’t express how much I enjoy being included and
hearing from so many friends in the past. Julie Knox Seier’s husband
is my 2nd cousin , his mom is Vivian Hagen Seier from Long Lake.
We love E-mail letters, Love Tom and Dot
Request from Deb Morinville’s (70) Daughter Klista:
Deb is recovering from a Stroke.
I am going thru my mom’s email and asking that no forwards come through. She gets a lot of email! If she recovers enough to do email, I will remind her to let everyone know. Thank you!
Klista
From Dick Johnson (70):
Gary and Friends,
Back in the 60s everyone wanted a faster car than the next guy. The car
manufacturers led the way with bigger and faster cars each year. One
test of a cars performance was to see how fast it would accelerate in
the quarter mile. Drag racing is what they called it in California–in
Dunseith, we said, “What will it do to the radar”? Only the guys from
Dunseith will have a clue what that meant! From the corner of Hiways 3
and 5 at Dales, almost exactly a quarter mile west, stood a sign that
said ‘Speed Checked by Radar’. It was our quarter mile! I suppose it is
a bit ironic that we would use THAT sign for our speed check! Most of
the better cars could crank about 80 to 90 MPH. The Mustangs, GTOs, etc,
could do much better so we were outclassed in our old cars by the
factory produced muscle cars! Move up or move over!! Thanks Gary!
Dick
Allen Richard’s (65) reply to Dave Wurgler (64) – Cars:
Dave– That is cool If it can be well tuned and checked — I wonder if he will ever be able to put out 1/6 th the “ponypower” and “twirk” ———–
Allen
Message/Pictures from Crystal Fassett Andersen (70):
Gary I couldn’t resist sending a couple of pictures . The first one is Dick Johnson’s grandpa Hans and me,Crystal Fassett on Thanksgiving Day 1955,reading. My Aunt Dorothy Fassett is Dick’s Aunt,so our families had lots of holidays and get togethers,at each others homes. The next picture is of Dick and the Fassett girls at Grandma Kate and Grandpa “Pappy” Fassetts house. It’s Susan.Kathy, Dick, Crystal, Pam on couch, Paula, Patty & Kim on floor. And the last picture I send was in reference to Vicki’s letter about Mrs. Hansen. She and our Mom Irene were good friends and the girls were at all of our birthday parties.This party was for our cousin Norma Fassett, who had flown from South America to spend the summer with us in Dunseith. She was only 6 at the time and accompanied by flight attendants. The girls in the picture are: Crystal Fassett, Pennie Kester,Heidi Hansen,Norma Fassett, Becky Hansen, Kim Fassett, Paula Fassett and Cheryl Kester.
Folks, I thought I’d through in some memory pictures. These pictures were taken somewhere in the Rolette/Bottineau county areas. I forgot who sent them to me. Gary
