Reply to Albert LaVallie’s passing from Susan Malaterre Johnson (69):
Hi again, Albert is a brother to Andew, Beverly, Dallas, Leo, and Dennis. I believe that he has other sib’s. He married Ramona Theifault. Susan
| Thiefoe-LaVallie | Ramona | PO Box 52 | Dunseith, ND 58329 | (701) 244-5172 | ramonal@cti-ind.net | 66 |
Susan, I did not realize Albert was Ramona’s husband. I have spoken with Ramona, numerous times, putting all these high school class lists together. She is such a nice person and has always been very helpful with the many questions that I’ve asked of her locating people. Her job is quite demanding, but she has always taken time to entertain my questions. Gary
Ramona, I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your husband Albert. When calling you, I spoke with him several times, when you were out of town. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
For folks info, I have pasted your contact info above. Gary
Reply from Sharon Longie Dana (73):
Reply about Albert LaVallie: If its the Albert I know he is a brother to Dennis and Dallas and Leo LaVallie, his nickname was Swede, growing up. Joyce Nadeau Morin is his neice.
If I have the right one that is. I know someone back home will know for sure.
Sharon Longie Dana(73)
Passing of (Cleo) Letaine Bolen Brandt (former teacher) from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67):
We were saddened to learn of the passing of C. (Cleo) Letaine Bolen Brandt, a former English teacher and coach in Dunseith, Bottineau, and Belcourt. She passed away at Med Center One in Bismarck today, Tuesday. After receiving a kidney transplant earlier this year, she developed an infection and later suffered several heart attacks. She was too weak to operate on the heart and has been in very grave condition for a couple of months. We have no word on the funeral arrangements. Her brother has been with her through most of this critical time. She leaves behind one daughter, Brittany, who is currently a student at Minot State.
Reply from Don Lamoureux (75):
Gary:
Reading Bonnie Awalt’s recollection of getting the bag of candy from Santa reminded me of a time I also went to the city hall to stand in line. I remember being just old enough to “believe”, but was at the point of having doubts about Santa. I was walking in with my mom. and looking up at the roof to try to spot Santa’s Sleigh and Reindeer. I couldn’t figure out how Santa could get there without them. Anyway, my mom put me in line, and I was in back of a couple of older kids. The two older kids got to the front of the line, and I was right behind them. Santa took a little while to really just sit there and stare them down. Then he asked them the ultimate question: Do you believe in Santa Claus? Their answer was yes. Santa’s immediate response was: “You ain’t sh-tten me, are ya?” “Nope”. They each got a bag of candy. Thank God I wasn’t tested, but I chuckle every holiday season as I remember that 10 seconds in Dunseith as a kid. Wish I knew who Santa was. Merry Christmas.
Don Lamoureux(75)
Reply from Patti Metcalfe Woods (67):
Dear Gary and Bernadette,
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and congratulations on your recent wedding anniversary!
I have to add to my brother Gary Metcalfes initiation into Dunseith High School.
We had attended school at the country school “Hilltop” before going to school in Dunseith.
I remember the high heels. Seems I also remember that he had to put umpteen braids in his hair tied with bones.
Yes, he had to pull Lois in a red wagon all the way out to DALES….
Now for a little girl seeing her brother in such attire, made me wonder what in the world this new school was all about.
Twelve years later I graduated with the class of 67. Everyone likes to think their class was the best……..
Patti
Sharron Gottbreht Shen’s (59) reply to Gary Metcalfe’s Question:
I will search today for my treasures regarding Herman Boucher. First hand info might best be had from Barb Rivard of Dunseith. Sharron
Sharron & Gary, I have pasted Barbara Rivard’s phone and address below. Barbara is married to Robert Rivard and they live up in the Beaver Dam area near the Art Rude farm. Gary
Barbara A Rivard
2486 102nd St
Dunseith, ND 58329-9414
Household: Robert J Rivard
From Ele Dietrich Slyter (69):
Perhaps memory isn’t the right word to use for this one, but it certainly touched my heart and brought Christmas home in an instant and will always be a memory of Christmas for me from now on.
I was working a few nights ago when a man ordered 3 large hot chocolates. “And be sure to give me the good, premium ones, not those made with water, I don’t care if they cost more or not. I just saw a car accident down the street, everyone is fine, but it is so cold out here that I thought they could do with a bit of warming up, so I am going to take the hot chocolates to them. Thank you and Merry Christmas.”
I do not know where this man was from, or anything about him, but he has made Christmas a little more special for me this year and in the years to come. I thanked him for the order and also told how special I thought he was to do such a nice thing. May all of us do something nice for someone this Christmas, especially for someone we do not know, Even something as small as a smile and a Merry Christmas greeting can brighten someone’s day.
Wonder if he was Santa in disguise or better yet one of our own Dunseith alumni?
Ele, I’m assuming you are still taking McDonald orders from folks around the nation. Little do these out of state folks realize they are talking to you in ND and up in the Turtle Mountains, when calling in their order. Do you have specific areas of the nation that you work, taking orders from? Gary
Reply from Bill Grimme (65):
Folks, Bill Grimme has listed the ships that he served on while in the Navy. What he did not mention is that the Navy’s elite nuclear program paved the way for a very successful career for him both with his 10 years in the navy and with nearly 30 years working for the General Electric company. He retired from GE’s executive ranks in September of 2007. Bill told me that GE has been offering to hire him back and of coarse with a substantial salary increase, but Bill said he is enjoying his retirement way to much to go back to work.
Gary,
The notes today about the battleships got me thinking about some of my old “homes” so I thought I would share them with you. I was on USS Henderson for a year, the USS Omaha for two years, and the USS Alexander Hamilton for three years. Fond memories of all three. Here is some info on them:
Bill, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, my former shipyard, has the only Submarine recycling facility for the whole US Navy. At one point we had a graveyard fleet of over 100 decommissioned nuclear submarines waiting to be cut up for scrap. The Navy has a very regulated program for the disposal of the nuclear reactors from these decommissioned submarines.
I found this for the USS Omaha “USS OMAHA was the fifth LOS ANGELES-class attack submarine. Decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on October 5, 1995, the submarine is now berthed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., awaiting scrapping.”
I was involved with the Nuclear Refueling Overhaul of the USS Alexander Hamilton when she came to our yard, from the east coast, in 1986. I was again involved with her recycling in 1993. At the time I did not know you had been on this boat. I’m assuming that you were one of the Reactor Plant Operators when you served on both of these submarines. Gary
Posted by Gary Stokes:
John Frykman, This is your old boat, the USS Turner Joy. She is now on display at the Museum in Bremerton, WA.
Folks, I know many of you probably know John Frykman from Bottineau. His family owned the Frykman Ford dealership and garage in Bottineau for many decades. John has been on our distribution list for a few months now. Bill Grimme and John were room mates when they attended UND. Back to John and the USS Turner Joy. Right after the Turner Joy was put on display for the public in Bremerton, John gave my dad the specific location of his bunk when he was stationed on the ship. When dad visited us in Bremerton, he and I located Johnny’s bunk. That was a highlight of my dads trip. For those of you that knew my dad, you know he was thrilled to report back to Johnny that he had located his bunk and of coarse with a few added joking comments.
USS TURNER JOY (DD-951)
Welcome to the USS Turner Joy (DD-951) Naval Destroyer Museum Ship, moored in Bremerton, Washington.
The destroyer USS Turner Joy was the last Forrest Sherman-class destroyer built. While some of these ships were later converted to guided missile destroyers, Turner Joy remains close to her original 1959 configuration. The destroyer has been restored to reflect the appearance during her active years between 1960 and 1982.
Note: For those of you that served in the Navy on ships, please let us know the ship you served on so we can look it up. Most every US naval ship is listed with it’s history and pictures on the NET. Gary
