From Cecile (Carbonneau) Marchand (51): 

Dear Gary:

Thanks you so much for adding me to your website. I have enjoyed trying to recognize some of the people but I do recognize lots of names. I was talking to my sister Rita (Carbonneau) Anderson last night. She lives in Fargo and I am here in Wisconsin. She reminded me that when she and her husband Edgar Anderson owned the Gamble store they were the first ones to have TV in Dunseith and after school the kids would come over and sit on paint cans in the aisle and watch TV until their parents would call them home for Supper. Boy, that seems like a long time ago now. We will be leaving for Florida after Thanksgiving for the winter.

Cecile (Carbonneau) Marchand
Folks, Tom Hagen recently mentioned Cecile as having been one of their class mates in the class of 51, so I did a search and found her. Cecile and I had a nice visit.  She is such a friendly person and let me know that she was very happy I contacted her.  Tom also mentioned a guy buy the name of Peter Richard as having been in their class.  I believe I have located him living in Snohomish, WA, but no one has been home when I’ve called.  I’ll keep trying.  He too, may be a snowbird and went south for the winter?  Gary

From Rod Hiatt (69): 

Hello Gary

Just wanted to share with you about a terrific evening I enjoyed last
week. All of the Fauske girls were home and I had the pleasure of
spending the evening with them at Brian’s home. I think that it was
probably Elwood and Stubby’s 50th when they were all home at the same
time (at least thats the last time I saw them all) It was really great to
see them all again as when we were growing up we were a very close
family, Lindy and I were like brother and sister rather than just cousins.
Lindy (Arlinda) is still just as tall as she always was (stands on a
Chicago phone book to make the 5 foot mark) but still has that twinkle
in her eye and that warm and friendly smile. Beth, well Beth looks the
same as she did when she graduated. I don’t think that she has aged a
day. Carol, I believe is one of the few Grandmothers that could pose for
a fashion magazine as a model and  Connie is the picture of high society
and sophistication. But you get them all together for that evening and
it was nothing but memories, stories and lots of laughter.(sounded like
a bunch of cackling hens )
We talked about the old hunting days, the school bus, DHS days when
Lindy could get away with anything with Auntie Charlotte and it seemed
that I was always in trouble and I think her favorite words were ” I’m
going to tell your Dad” which she did and well it just wasn’t good.
Something was brought up about Brian and his motorcycles and some how I
think maybe Bud Stokes, Victor Pladson and a bike were in some of that
memory or when Russel tipped his motorcycle in Dunseith with Beth as a
passenger and first thing he did was check out the bike before seeing if
Beth was ok.
Lots of names were mentioned that evening, like Norman and his hunting
antics, the Lagerquist boys and that could be a whole book it self. One
story was Rodney on his 450 Yamaha coming over the hill into Elwoods
yard at about 70 with a damn fool passenger (Me) just as the cows were
let out of the barn. We slid and weaved down through the whole herd, not
touching a single one, but there was s__t flying every where and I’m not
sure that what was on the seat of that bike was all from cows (thats the
last time I rode behind Badger) Stories of the Sylters, Pladsons,
Hagens, and all the other neighbors and friends filled the evening. Oh
did I forget to mention the Stokes, well I will send those another day
and Gary I hope that we don’t do any editing of them. One doesn’t know
how fortunate you really are until you are surrounded by Family that you
haven’t seen in a long time and the good old days seem to appear out of
no where.

Gary’s reply 

Rod, I would have really loved to have spent that wonderful evening with you and all the Fauske’s.  What a precious evening that must have been.  We were close neighbors with the Fauske’s. Actually the Stokes’ and the Hiatt’s were very close for many years, encompassing a few generations back to our great grandfathers.  We attended a lot of the Hiatt reunions.  You guys seemed to have one each summer over at the Peace Garden, in my growing up days.  Other than for the motorcycle days, I think I could have probably related to most all your stories.  I’ll bet you guys had some good ones too. The Motorcycles came into being about the time I left the country.  I remember your aunt Charlotte Lang coming down the halls of the high school, several times, looking for Carrole, being a little upset with something she had seen.  I remember one time it had something to do with a car Carrole was riding in or on. I don’t remember the details.  I think the car may have been over loaded. Anyway, Carrole got a sermon. Being her nieces and nephews, Charlotte kept a close eye on all of you guys. She was your mother away from home. Those were the good old days.  I promise I won’t edit what ever you send. Actually my policy is to not edit or alter anything anyone sends.  I just copy and paste. Sometimes if I see a spelling error, I’ll run spell check and let it do the correcting and not me.  If for some reason I see something questionable that I think maybe should be edited out or changed, I will contact that person first before doing that.  I never ever change anything anyone sends me without their approval. Gary

   Charlotte Hiatt Lang

From Vickie Metcalfe (70):

Gary, I am so very proud of my niece Justene Metcalfe, daughter of Shanon (82) and Deb (Salmonson) Metcalfe, who recently did very well in a barrel racing activity in Texas. She and her mom & “a horse named Jade” went to Texas in early November and came back in a new truck!  Justene  in her 4th year of college at Moorhead State University, is also on the NDSU rodeo team.  Her parents both attended Dunseith School.  Justene is a 3rd generation Metcalfe on the family farm  north of Dunseith, started by her grandparents Cliff and Lottie (Lamb) Metcalfe.

Click this link to see Justene in her NEW TROPHY TRUCK!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42679&l=14a15&id=505083555

Vickie L. Metcalfe

Vickie, You have every right to be proud and her parents too! That’s a beautiful truck that Justene won.  I don’t remember your brother Shanon, but I know Debbie through my dad. She was one of his favorite persons and he always took me up to the Bottineau First National Bank to see her with each of our trips back to ND. Debbie took over as their lead insurance agent when Merle Severtson retired back in the 90′s.  Debbie often mentioned her horses and all the events they attended with them.  Gary

Reply from Bev Morinville Azure: (72): 

Bob   what great photos  thanks for sharing them  you have   very  nice lookinh  kids.   thanks again  for all you do.  I had a  check up on  Friday everything  looks  good  so  far.   Debbie  is coming along  its  slow  she is about  to  go to Billings  and  then they say she  will really take off.  I  will keep you all  updated  been  busy painting the  inside of  my house    what a job  lol   Bev

  GOD  BLESS YOU …………BEV

Bev, I think you were thinking of my dad when you wrote “Bob”,  but that is perfectly OK. It’s telling me folks do remember him.  The name “Bob Stokes” was much more common than “Gary Stokes” in the Dunseith/Bottineau communities. He lived in the community for 85 years where I was only there for 19 years.  Through my dad though, with our annual visits back to the area, I managed to keep up with the community and a lot of the people over the years.  Gary

Reply from David Slyter (70): 

Morning Gary:

Thanks so much for sharing the pictures of your family.  Was great to see the pictures of your folks and Orvin Hagen.   You have two really great looking kids also.  I am sure you will be connecting with them next summer when you go on the cruise.   Congrats on all of your successes.

To Dick:  I do remember a little bit of the hill at the home just south of Dunseith.  The only thing I remember about that place was the big pasture we had for our horses and the creek full of tadpoles. The one thing I do remember was when you and your parents would come and pick us up to go to the lake for a day.  It was always in that big ole black cadillac.  We thought we were pretty special to get into that car.  ha  We always had so much fun at the lakes trying to ski and water board.   Thanks for the memories.

Dave Slyter (70)

Reply from Tom Hagen (51): 

HI, Gary, thanks for the pictures of your family and Orvin.

We love E-mail letters,  Love Tom and Dot

From Bobby Slyter (70):

To dick Johnson: who could forget those days when we lived south of Dunseith, those dern wagons could really fly couldn’t they? like you I am surprised that we did not get hurt in some way, those where the good old days huh, we always had so much fun when you and your parents visited where ever we lived, oh to be young and that care free again

To Gary: those are wonderful pictures, you should be very proud of you children, thanks for all that you do for us on this blog, it is great

JUST LITTLE OLE  ME FROM KANSAS

Getzlaff family picture privided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Hi Gary

I’m quite sure your readers know Gloria Getzlaff Hagen.  I think the Getzlaff family is from the Willow City area, or am I wrong about that?

Neola

Gary’s Comment
Neola, The Getzlaff family does come from Willow City. The only one I recognize is Gloria Getzlaff Hagen standing in the back.

Marsha Getzlaff Bakken (74), I’m thinking this is your Grandparents along with your father and all of his siblings.

Folks, I will repost this photo with names.  Please provide. Thanks,  Gary