Happy Birthday Verena Gillis:  Dunseith, ND

 

Trish Larson Clayburgh (’73) got robbed.
Posting from Trish:

Note: Folks, Please visit Trish’s FB page “Trish Larson Clayburgh” for all of the complete, very interesting and well written details. Trish, you are a gifted writer. I admire your brilliance.  Gary

Gary

Not sure if you saw my FB post, but I was robbed tonight.  I won’t go into all the details again, cause I know you are on FB and can read it there if you’re curious.

But I was robbed of my small purse and it’s funny, It’s an inconvenience, but not that huge a loss.  Unless he does an identity theft kind of crime;  I’ve already cancelled my debit cards and reported my license stolen.  I also made a report to the Sheriff, but they really couldn’t do anything, because I couldn’t prove it.

But I know he did it.

The thing that’s interesting to me is that I am not very upset.  He’s a jerk and will pay his karmic dues, but I’m looking at this as a big lesson for me.  A lesson to be thankful for.  Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Don’t carry much cash.  I was very grateful I didn’t have much in my purse.  Under $100.

2.  Keep passport separate from the rest in a safe place.  I recently had a good idea to separate those IDs, and I am SO glad I did that.  My passport is safe, and I am going to need that to get a new license in Montana.  Also keep phone numbers to call card companies if cards are stolen.  I was lucky to have both bank phone numbers on my phone.

3.  Be more careful around strangers.  I am fearless, have a good character intuition and always have been lucky.  In all my travels, I have never been robbed before.  But there are dangers even and especially in rural places related to the use of meth and the horrible damage it does to the brain.  These people do not recognize right from wrong and will hurt their own children to get a fix.  They are happy to steal from a stranger.  They do much worse things than that without guilt or remorse….there was recently a meth murder of two in Helena (not far from here).  A young couple was brutally murdered while sleeping in their home after a party by a total stranger who broke in and stabbed them to death.  The girl was stabbed IN THE HEAD more than 40 times.  That’s meth.  It makes crazy people out of even nice folks.  It kills among family and friends.  It’s the worst.

4.  I am more certain than ever that The Universe wants me to stay for at least a little while in Montana, although you’d think I couldn’t  wait to get out of here after being ROBBED.  I love the dangerous  beauty of the land and have been making plans to get a little place for a month or two. I want to hole up and finish a book proposal I am working on.  I think I will see about buying a gun as well.

I don’t have a choice because California will only issue a duplicate DL IN PERSON.  Montana requires 30 days of residency before you can apply for a license.  Guess I can only go by horseback from here out.  Lol.  Even more reason to hole up and finish my book proposal.

Anyway, I think you are the only person who might be awake.  So I am sending my thoughts.

I am not sure if it is wise to repost  this to the blog or not.  I will leave it to your discretion.  The story was really just for you:  Hen pecked on my cell phone because I am too freaked out to sleep, although the thief is sleeping soundly just three doors away.  Or maybe he’s over there just tweaking away…

I wonder if I will run into him tomorrow?  Hopefully not tonight!!!

Hope all is well.  I didn’t know you were such a great bowler.  I am terrible but I enjoy lobbing a few from time to time.  My best score EVER was about 150.  I have never been that lucky since.

But it’s a great excuse to drink beer with friends….LOL.  And Zi enjoy trying to knock em down…

Ok, I think I can sleep now.  I don’t know how I am going to eat tomorrow or buy gas.  My card won’t be here for 2-3 days.  I will have to figure something out…

The Adventure continues

Trish Wild

The Equine Nomad

 

Dunseith Skating Rink Story
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (’70):  Bottineau, ND

Years ago, when I came home to the farm, I gathered up clothes and took them downtown to Don’s Laundromat to wash.

As I walked in the front door an older man known as “Tomcat” began talking to me.  I could barely understand him. I did my best to respond politely. Suddenly The back door burst open, Mr. F. hollered, “Get out, don’t be bothering her! Then, Mr. F. asked politely, “ Was he bothering you?” If he is…. I will take care of him.

Rendered speechless, I shook my head and said meekly, “no. no, but Thank, you.”

Mr. F. remained on the premises. He impressed me as a very courteous, polite gentleman.  I felt quite safe.

When the laundry was finally completed, I gathered up the baskets, tucked them in the car one by one, bade Mr. F. goodbye and thanked him. He courtly nodded a reply.

Arriving home I told my Dad about the encounter at the laundry. Dad leaned back in his recliner, with his unlit pipe. He said. “He has always been my friend”.

“Tell me more Dad,” I sat down folding clothes.

Dad tamped on his tobacco and told me of a winter long ago

As a wee child he learned to skate on Rabbit City Lake.  His mother with her younger children moved from the farmstead into town after his father died.

One winter, he found solace skating on the Dunseith Skating rink.

The skating rink had a small brick jail next to it. The one room building had a door and a small window up high.

 

One day as a young boy was skating solitarily lost in thought. He was startled to hear a voice carried by the breeze.  He stopped. Then turned, listening toward the breeze.  Again a GRUFF voice.

“Metcalfe, come! “ demanded the gruff voice.  He warily skated to the window.  He craned his head, looked up, up, up toward the little window. He could not see a face but heard the gruff voice speaking, “Take this to the back of (????). A piece of paper floated down from the window.

My father picked up the paper scrap. He sat down, took off his skates, then ran to the back door of (???) He knocked.  The proprietor opened the door, glanced down at him, taking the paper from his outstretched hand, looked left then right, saying,  “Wait.” The door shut with a pronounced slam..

A short time later, squeak, squeak…the door opened a crack, a hand appeared with a paper bag, a voice saying, “Cliff, take this back to the jail, be quick, and don’t tell anyone.”

Dad said, “I took the paper bag, ran, delivered the brown bag to the man at the  jail. “I told no one.”

It was then, Dad told me, at that time the Faine brothers were well known as the best skaters and hockey players in the region.

Dad never exactly said what was in that brown paper bag.  Now, I don’t suppose a father could tell a teacher daughter. That once upon a time, he was a 12/13 year old bootlegger, for Dunseiths’ legendary hockey star Guff Faine.

Thanks Gary, friends and  the family of a Dunseith hockey legend.

Vickie L. Metcalfe

 

Joke of the day

Ole knows everybody. Ole was bragging to his boss one day, “You know, I know everyone der is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them.” Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, “OK, Ole how about Tom Cruise?” “Sure, yes, Tom and I ver old friends, and I can prove it.” Ole and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise’s door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise, shouts, “Ole! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!” Although impressed, Ole’s boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise’s house, he tells Ole that he thinks Ole’s knowing Cruise was just lucky. “No, no, just name anyvon else,” Ole says. ”President Obama,” his boss quickly retorts. “Ya sure,” Ole says, “I know him.” We’ll fly out to Washington to see him.” Off they go. At the White House, Obama spots Ole on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, “Ole, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let’s have a cup of coffee first and catch up.” The boss is shaken now, but still not totally convinced. After they leave the White House grounds, he expresses his doubts to Ole, who again implores him to name anyone else. “The Pope,” his boss replies. “Sure!” says Ole. “I’ve known the Pope a long time.” The unconvinced boss flies them off to Rome. Ole and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Ole says; “This will never work. I can’t catch the Pope’s eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know the guards so let me just go upstairs and I’ll come out on the balcony with the Pope.” And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican. Fifteen minutes later Ole emerges with the Pope on the balcony. By the time Ole returns,  his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Working his way to his boss’s side, Ole asks him, “What happened?” His boss looks up and says, “I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the Japanese tourist next to me asked, ‘Who’s that on the balcony with Ole?’

 

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Blog (299) posted on December 1, 2008

 

Folks,

Bernadette and I will be leaving for Hong Kong tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. We will be in Hong Kong for 3 nights and 4 days, returning Friday. Wednesday, December 3rd, we will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary.  I can not believe that it has been 30 years since the shipyard sent me over here to Subic Bay for a pre-overhaul ship check on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), when I met Bernadette. Joan Wurgler Salmonson informed me that their son Steve is visiting in Hong Kong this week too. She gave me the phone number to his hotel, so we will try and connect with him too, while we are there. He is actually staying close to where we will be.

While we are gone, I will not be posting any blog’s, but keep the messages coming.  I will catch up when I get back.  Other than for a few days when our phone line was stolen, this will be the first break since December 26th of last year for sending this daily blog.  You guys are doing great providing the memories and material to keep this going. As you can tell, I try to keep things focused on Dunseith and the Alumni to include a few outside things that may be of interest to the majority of you folks.

I’ll be back with you Friday night or Saturday morning

Gary

 

Clarence Hagen’s obituary provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

       Clarence Hagen

Dec. 26, 1914-Nov. 27, 2008 Clarence Hagen, age 93, of Bottineau, formerly of Dunseith, died Thursday at a Bottineau hospital.

Funeral will be held on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith. Visitation will be Monday from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. Burial will be at the Salem Cemetery north of Bottineau.

Clarence Jens Hagen, a son of Henry and Sarah (Waddle) Hagen, was born on December 26, 1914. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He later attended Ackworth country school and later graduated from Dunseith High School. Clarence drove the Standard Oil bulk truck until entering the U.S. Army in April of 1941. He received his basic training in Camp Claiborne, LA and Fort Dix before being sent overseas.

He served with the 5th Army, 34th Division, 135th Infantry during the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre. He received his honorable discharge in June of 1945. He returned to Dunseith and in the spring of 1946 he moved to Wahpeton and worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation District. On July 1, 1950, he married Mary Ann Rodlund in Milnor. In December of 1950, they moved back to Dunseith and built their home in the Turtle Mountains. They lived there until moving to Bottineau in 2005.

Clarence was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith. In addition to his love of farming, he served on numerous community and county boards. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, of Bottineau; 6 children, Susan Froseth of Bottineau, Karen (Dale) Simon of Bottineau, Arthur (Mavis) Hagen of Bottineau, Ellen (Jim) Redding of Minot, Arlan (Denise) Hagen of Bottineau and Henry (Sandy) Hagen of Bottineau; 13 grandchildren, Michelle (David) Saville, Nicole (Clint) Bogden, Jennifer (Andrew) Dittberner, Peter (Denise) Simon, Joanne (Justin) Karch, Devonne (Jon) Leonard, Joshua (Keisha) Hagen, Justin Redding, Sarah Redding, Breien Hagen, Tracy (Brad) Christianson, Melissa (Josh) Van Dyke, and Angela Hagen.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Thelma and Donald Bannister; infant sister, Verna; and son-in-law, Steve Froseth.

Arrangements are with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.

Salem Church & Cemetary: Clarence Hagen’s final resting ground.

 

Reply  from Marie Iverson Staub (60):
Mel Kuhn, take note:

I don,t mind if you post my message tomorrow and we will try and make the reunion. Joyce and I are cousins my mother(Agnes Ronning) and her mom( Minnie Ronning) were sisters and they married brothers

my dad was Adolph Iverson and her dad was Carl Iverson. I think I am related to most of the people in Bottineau area. The Lunds, Sivertsons, Johnsons, Iversons and I’m sure  several others in one way or the other as my dad had 8 siblings and my mom also had 8 siblings.

Joyce’s brother Oliver was a good friend of Marvin Kuhn and when I read the messages from Mel Kuhn I can sure see he is related to Marvin he has the same humor.

Take care.

Marie Iverson(Staub)60

Marie’s initial reply:

Hi Gary,

Yes , I have been getting all of your EMAILS.

I’ve never been interested in the computer until you started sending all these wonderful memories.

I’m not sure yet about the dinner but were going to see if we can rearrange some things to be there.

By the way I talked to Joyce Flaata yesterday and she said to say hi.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season.

Have a great anniversary.

Keep up the good work I really look forward every day to these EMails

Marie Iverson Staub 60

Note: Marie’s cousin, Joyce Flaata, lives south of Vinje church up in the hills. We were all members of the Metigoshe Lutheran Churches.

 

Message from Bob Lykins (Teacher):

Gary, Congratulations to you and Bernadette on thirty years of wedded bliss.  God bless and have a great time in one of my favorite cities in the Far East, Hong Kong. Bob Lykins

 

Message from Sharon Longie Dana (73):

Gary, I just wanted to wish you and your lovely wife a Happy Anniversary!!!!!!  Next August i will be married to my sailor for 30 years !!!! Its always funny to me when people ask how long I have been married and i say 29 years and they a lot of them say to the same guy…makes me laugh, I have a girlfriend who has been married 3 times and she says and i still haven’t hit 29…. Have a great trip!!! Sharon Longie Dana(73)

 

My apologies to Dick Johnson:

Dick, I totally forgot to include this picture with the posting of your message yesterday.  I knew I had seen the picture when you replied asking if it came through after seeing I had not included the picture with the posting.  You are just too polite.  You should have told me I screwed up and didn’t include the picture. When I went looking for the picture, just now, I discovered it was included with your message I posted yesterday. I am so sorry for this mix up.  Gary

Dick’s reply to include picture:

Lloyd Awalt–If Bonnie will keep typing, keep sending memories. We enjoy them. Your mention of the big hailstorm had me remembering the picture of that storm that is in the Dunseith history book so I scanned it for those who don’t have the book yet. The caption under the picture says 1943. Thanks for the memories! Thanks Gary for your tireless posting of these memories of old Dunseith! Dick