Hello folks,
I had a wonderful time in the Bottineau, Dunseith and the area. I saw lots and lots of folks. I had Breakfast most every morning at the bakery. Sitting at the locals community table I saw and visited with so many folks. There were days that I’d get there at 8 am and before I knew it, visiting with everyone, it was noon and time to eat dinner.
Our class of 65 50th reunion went over well too. We started the day at John and Margaret Bedard’s, in the afternoon, with refreshments and a pontoon ride. Thank you John and Margaret for your gracious hospitality. From there we went to our reunion banquet at the Birchwood, Lake Metigoshe. Henry Hackman and Ron Longie were sick and could not make the reunion banquet, but they were able to be at a little gathering we had at Dale’s the next day. With those two we had 15 folks attending. We graduated 27. Three have passed on, so there are 24 living.
My trip home went well. I arrived in Cebu on Tuesday 11:40 PM. It was about 12:40 AM when I got home. It was a 28 hour journey.
Benefit for Jay Vanorny
With Lola’s passing the decision was made to still have this benefit
Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (1968) Pasted away.
LOLA RENAE VANORNY
(August 21, 1950 – July 22, 201
Lola Renae Vanorny, age 64 of Dunseith, died on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 in her home. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 27, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. in the Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith. Burial will be in the Little Prairie Cemetery, also of Dunseith. Visitation will be held on Sunday beginning at 4:00 P.M. in Peace Lutheran Church of Dunseith.
Lola Renae Vanorny, a daughter of Jim and Ella (Evans) Metcalfe, was born on August 21, 1950 at Bottineau. She was reared and educated North of Dunseith near the International Peace Gardens. On June 22, 1968 she was married to Jay Vanorny in Dunseith. After their marriage she began working at San Haven. Lola began working at Rolette County Social Service after San Haven closed. She worked over 20 years for Rolette County, retiring in 2013. Lola was the heart of the family farm and manager of the family business.
She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, and the ladies organization within the church. Lola dedicated her life to caring for and helping others.
She is survived by her husband, Jay of Dunseith; daughter, Tina (Christian) Corley of Olathe, KS; sons, Jason (Monica) Vanorny of Des Moines, IA and Joe (Darci Nelson) Vanorny of Bottineau; 6 grandchildren; brothers, Gary Metcalfe of Branson, MO and Jim Metcalfe of Yuma, AZ; sisters, Geri Munro of Fargo, Margaret Leonard of Rolette and Patti Woods of Dunseith and her dog, Duke.
Preceded in death by her parents, sister, Helen; brother-in-laws, Chuck Leonard and Dwayne Coleman.
I was so saddened to hear of Lola’s Passing. She has contributed a lot to our blog too with her many postings. She had a great memory and enjoyed sharing her many memories of the past.
I was able to attend the viewing of Lola on Sunday afternoon too, before leaving for Cebu the next morning. It was so nice seeing the Jim Metcalfe too. They are great folks, so friendly and nice.
Loosing Lola was pretty traumatic for the entire family, especially for Jay. Our prayers and condolences are with Lola’s entire family.
Gary
Ron Longie and Henry Hackman were ill the day before and were unable to attend our banquet, but were able to make our gathering at Dale’s the next evening.
It was so nice seeing Larry and Henry Hackman at Dale’s.
Not sure, but I think Larry ate the whole hamburger too.
Story from Larry Hackman (’66): lmhackman@bis.midco.net Bismarck, ND
Gary I started this story back when several people were sending in stories about their wood gathering and cutting days in the Turtle Mountains. I just never finished the thing. Doing some wood cutting over at my brother Henry’s reminded me .so I did a little work on it and forwarded it to you. I hope the window is still open for another story. I know you are in vacation and I didn’t want to bother you and was going to wait to send in to you after return to the PI. But, after visiting with you up in Dunseith and you encouraging me to send it to you. Here it is. Hope you enjoy it. Open attachment for pictures.
Larry
Cutting and Hauling
By LARRY HACKMAN
They were the days. I loved all the recent stories about getting the wood out, and then cutting it for use in the heaters and cook stoves. It brought back a lot of great memories of great times. On my younger days on the farm, in the fall of the year dad would haul tree trunks in a wagon pulled by the ford tractor or sleigh loads when there was snow, pulled by a team of horses. Each tree trunk minus their branches and leaves, were about twenty to thirty feet long. He would stack these tree trunks in a large pile about five or six foot high and about thirty foot wide in the farm yard, near to where he wanted to make the wood pile. Then he would arrange for his brothers to come over and block up the wood. Frank would bring over his 1949, A-John Deere that he bought new from Evans Hardware and John Deere Equipment in Dunseith, ND. Frank had equipped the tractor with a front mounted buzz saw (a circular blade about three feet in diameter) powered by the tractor it was mounted on.
The photo shows a B-John Deere with a front mounted buzz-saw that is powered by the belt shown. On the photo the belt is shown on a hanger for transport when moving the tractor. When blocking up wood the belt is put around the pulley, on the side of the tractor, in front of the back wheel and pulled tight to power the saw. When powered up the saw would sing, the buzz, whirrs song each time it sliced through the log, to make a new block of wood. It seemed like the faster the men worked the faster the saw would cut. There was the smell of fresh cut wood in the air along with noise of the saw, the popping of the John Deere and the laughing and joking voices of men as the wood pile grew larger. In no time they were all gathered around the kitchen table for a meal and more visiting and more laughter. It has always seemed to me that the harder men work, the more they enjoy life!
Two or three Hackman Brothers would pick up tree trunk after tree trunk and feed them into the saw. The saw would whistle as it cut through the log. A brother on the other side of the saw would catch the sawed off block of wood and throw it into the wood pile. During this procedure none of their feet would move. The three men holding the log would sway back in forth in unison so as not to bind the saw blade. If someone got out of time usually one of the brothers would growl (“If you want to play in the band”, probably not that term used, but I’m sure you get the idea?) at the other. The fellow on the other side of the saw catching the block would just twist at the waist, catching the block before it fell, and toss it into the wood pile. He also had to be in time with the other fellows feeding the tree trunk into the saw or the block of wood, would fall to the ground and you didn’t want to be bending down to pick up a dropped block with that buzz saw going, or you could end up with a crew cut like that Dick Johnson kid use to sport around town in his younger days, or worse.
I grew to love going after wood and cutting and splitting it for firewood. As a teenager I would go up in the hills and help my uncles. No chain saws in them days or at least they did not have any to use. Everyone would just grab an ax and away we would go to find a good stand of timber. My uncles always used a double bit ax to chop down trees. If one blade got dull they would just flip it over in their hands and keep on chopping. The axes that they gave us younger fellows to use were the single edged kind. I guess they figured us young bucks had more energy to wear off anyway. I remember we would cut down so many loads of green trees (trees that were still growing), and we would chop down and gather up so many loads of dead trees. If you wanted a fast hot fire you used the dried out dead blocks of wood. If you were going to town or away for the day you threw a large green block of wood in the heater and one in the cook stove. The green block would burn slow so that when you got home there would still be red hot ambers in the stove, you just had to add some dry split kindling to the stove or heater and in no time at all you had a nice warm house and the cook stove was ready to make a meal.
I moved my family to colorful, Colorado back in the 80’s and there I found heaven. Everyone burned wood. Friends and neighbors would get together, pick up some Kentucky fried Chicken and head for the mountains. Everyone would pack their families in their pickups along with their chainsaws and what a time everyone had. The men with their chain saws cutting down trees and helping each other load their trucks. The women visiting and keeping a watchful eye on their men and the children, as they kept them all safe and separate from each group. Picnicking together and visiting while the children were running everywhere and playing games. We never lost a kid that I remember anyway. I guess that’s a good thing? When we arrived back in town we dropped the women and kids off at their homes to get the kids cleaned up and supper started. We men would go and help each other unload the logs from their trucks into the backyards. It defiantly was a full day of fun, work and good times.
Larry & Norris
Now, I don’t know if this is true or not but during the sixties there were a lot of young fellows sporting afro type hairdos. A lot of young fellows were being swayed by that movement. The story goes that Dick was thinking or actually was going in that direction. Everyone knows that Dick’s dad took particular care with his appearance and as it should be, he expected his offspring to do the same. Now, young Dick wasn’t paying too much attention to his dad in them days as most teen agers know it all, and don’t have to be told anything by anybody. He just wasn’t listening! Don perplexed, informed his Dad, “Hans” about the situation and that he just didn’t care to have his son running around with a curly perm especially in the woods ,can you imagine the stuff a mop like that would pick up. Can you imagine the job his mom would have checking for ticks? Anyway as the story goes, Dick’s Grandpa Hans told Don that he thought he had a way to handle the situation and that he would see how it goes. Well Grandpa Hans took young Dick out to the wood pile one day and started up the John Deere, the B-John Deere with the front mounted buzz saw. His Grandpa had young Dick catching cobs (I guess, cobs is a Norwegian term for wood blocks). Well Grandpa Hans just knew a few tricks about sawing wood and let one of them cobs fall to the ground, when young Dick least expected it. Dick bent down without much thought, to catch that cob and well-a a crew cut. After that whenever Dicks hair started getting a little long there was always some wood to be blocked up for the long cold winter. I don’t know if Dick ever caught on or not? (From an unapproved source).
I still enjoy cutting wood. I always have my chain saw in the tool box in the back of my pickup just in a case an opportunity would present itself. Well guess what? The other night my wife and I were invited over to my Brother Henry’s for supper (dinner-whatever) and afterward we went outside as it was a beautiful evening in North Dakota, (a slight breeze without mosquitoes). He was showing me a project he had been working on for the last few weeks by himself. An elm tree that had died in his backyard needed to come down. He had removed all the branches and the lone tree trunk was just standing there doing nothing, about 2 ft. in diameter and about thirty ft. tall. Well, I just walked off to my pickup and got out my trusty old McCulloch chainsaw and with about two pulls it started. I was amazed as I haven’t used it for years. Well, I went back into Henry’s backyard and took care of that tree. Which should have been a fifteen minute job, however, took over an hour. Well, you know whenever you do something outside in town it becomes a spectator participating job. I patiently waited for Henry to explain to each neighbor and passerby before starting the chain saw in between the conversations. Anyway that old tree trunk hit the ground with a huge thud that even surprised me and a few of the neighbors, but I had it cut up in manageable chunks in no time. I love it!
It use to be that whenever I got the urge to knock down a few trees, I use to jump in my truck with the chain saw in the tool box and take trips up to the old farmstead in the Turtle Mountains. I guess I was doing it, a little more often than I thought as people began calling me, “Chain Saw Larry”. So I quit! Now, they just call me Larry. Keep on laughing!
Dick Johnson’s reply to Larry
Larry,
Most of it is almost, somewhat, kinda, a little bit–true. We all still have our thumbs and fingers, as far as I know, but it’s really a wonder with the way the old buzz saw blade was whistling just inches from our hands.
Dick
Larry Hackman’s message to Mel Kuhn.
Mel
You are little more familiar with with this than I am. What is almost,somewhat, kinda, a little bit—true.
Is that Norvegian speak for something Maybe you could enlighten the rest of us?
Larry
Stone Masonic Lodge and United Methodist Church
Purchased by Melvin L. Nokleby: l
Dear Gary
My name is Melvin L. Nokleby, and we were able to buy the beautiful stone Masonic Lodge and United Methodist Church in Dunseith, as we wanted to preserve this great building for the city, community , county, and state. We are at the present, doing our best, to put on a new roof. paint, and restore, much of the inside of the building. It is our wish to get pictures, stories, and the like, of meetings held there, such as weddings, funerals, local, city and lodge meeting over the past 103 years. We would like, to have these items, so families friends and visitors, may come in and see, and read about much of the history that took place, in this beautiful building. We want this building, to be a drawing point for many, and make the city of Dunseith and the surrounding community proud. If you and others can get the word out, it would be such a great help to us.
You can contact me by phone 760-485-1078 or lnokleby@dc.rr.com
Thank You
Melvin L. Nokleby
We do not expect people just to hand over, pictures and the like, and would pay for prints made, unless they would like to have them placed in this Historic building.
====================================
Blog (323) posted on December 31, 2008
Birthday party for Winifred Eurich and Dorothy Pritchard – Posted by Jean Eurich Roland (80):
Good morning and a belated Christmas greeting to you and your family! The Season this year is reminiscent of Christmas’ years ago…the snow fall that is! In Minot we received another 5 inches last night. I’m not sure what our season accumulation is so far but the snow banks along my driveway are higher than my car and I had snow banks as high removed earlier this month!
I thought I might use the Dunseith Alumni blog to make an announcement. My sisters (Eileen Nelson, Mary Knutson, Sharon Hanson and Dorothy Strietzel) and I are hosting a birthday party/card shower for our Mom, Winifired Eurich, and our aunt, Dorothy Pritchard, on Sunday, January 4, 2009. In January Mom will be 90 and Aunt Dorothy will be 96 – both are residents of St. Andrew’s Health Center Long Term Care in Bottineau. We’ll serve cake and coffee from 2-4; for those who can’t make it, cards may be sent to them at 316 Ohmer Street, Bottineau, ND 58318.
Thanks so much and Happy New Year!
Regards – Jean (Eurich) Roland
Jean, It’s so wonderful that you gals are having a birthday party for your mother and Dorothy. They are both great ladies and are well known in the Dunseith/Bottineau communities. I visited Dorothy when we were back in 2007 and I last saw your mother at my mother’s funeral in July of 2004. They are sharp ladies. Gary
Reply from Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine (73):
I loved the little poem about North Dakota, I remember the looks on my girls faces the first time I told them ” you know its really cold when your nose sticks together when you take a breath ” Its amazing they are all grown up and I still get that look when I say somethings go figure. I enjoy the stories of gamble store. I worked in the store when dad owned it and what a sales person I was, just ask David Fugure. He came one evening for a case of shells and I was going to sell him the box which he explained to me was 12 cases. Thank God he was honest our I’m sure Norman Hiatt would of had a heart attack. Another time I was left to do the weekly ordering and I orderes 100 of potting soil. Well guess what I ordered 1oo cases not 100 bags, Well I didnt get fired but I did make him laugh and swear at the same time. I hope all of you have a wonderful New Year Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine
From Sybil Johnson:
HAPPY NEW YEAR, to all you from North Dakota. This pictures were fabulous. For all those who lost loved ones this year, I send my condolences. I must
say, I don’t miss your winters. The winters down here in Wyoming are enough for me. Keep warm and safe.
Sybil Johnson
Reply from Bill Hosmer (48):
GARY, YOU BROKE THE CODE ON THE CONFUSION OF WHICH YEAR. IT WAS BOTH, OF COURSE. MAYBE THERE IS A WAY TO MAKE THAT CLEAR, ALTHOUGH THE INTEREST IN THE MATTER IS ALWAYS FLATTERING. THANKS FOR A BLOG WITH REAL INTEGRITY. BILL HOSMER
Reply from Gary Morgan (54):
Gary and All,
Dick Johnson was right when he said it really doesn’t matter what year The Thunderbirds buzzed Dunseith. It was a wonderful gesture and will forever be a part of Dunseith lore. I think they did appear in Minot in 1961 and that was probably Bill’s only point of reference. I figure anyone who has flown 240 combat flights is entitled.
According to Google, the Cuban Missle Crisis was in 1962 but later in the fall.
We hope to get out of here today to spend at least three months in Mesquite, NV but we got dumped on again last night and travel is questionable. For sure I’m going to have to blow out my driveway before I can go anywhere. That will be the ninth time this winter. Anyway, I think my internet goes down tomorrow so I’ll probably be out of touch for awhile but keep those emails coming, Gary.
Hoping you all have a prosperous and healthful 2009!
Gary Morgan
Follow up reply from Gary Morgan:
Gary & All,
One last side note while I’m snowbound on the banks of Lake Sakakawea…..when I was looking for that article on the Thunderbirds, I needed help to make a copy from the microfilm. The fellow from the State Library expressed surprise that there wasn’t more of a write up for such a momentous event. He wasn’t aware, of course, that at least at that time, if Dunseith was to get any recognition for anything, it certainly wasn’t going to be from the Rolla paper.
Gary Morgan
Gary, All three local papers gave us great support with our 2007 reunion, however, I have to agree with you for their lack of Dunseith coverage back in the 60’s. Something as significant as the famous Thunderbirds buzzing Dunseith should have been big front page head lines, with or without pictures. I’m sure some folks must have had a few pictures that could have been published. I’m surprised that the Minot daily didn’t pick it up either. In today’s environment, I’m sure this event would have been front page news in all of the papers. For the 40’s & 60’s to present ‘ Turtle Mountain Stars’ are published on the WEB. I was very surprised when I could not find anything at all in the achieved papers about this event other than what was mentioned in the Dunseith News section submitted by Marlene Armentrout. Gary
The following are replies to the Getzlaff Photo posted in Blog (286) on 11/18/08 by Neola Kofoid Garbe:
Identities for the Getzlaff photo from Marsha Getzlaff Bakken (74):
Hi,
Sorry it has taken me so long. Row 1 siting: left to right
Marilyn, Marlis, Cora Delvina, Row 2 (dad) Darrell, Grandma Lillian, Grandpa Walter, Alvin Row 3: Darwin, Myron, Gloria, Norman, Virgil
I will send more information later just wanted to get this to you.
Thanks Marsha (Getzlaff) Bakken
Reply from Ron Link (58):
Gary: If my memory serves me right I believe the 1st man in the middle row is Darrel Getzlaff. I can remember his face but sometimes the name is not quite as easy to recall. RON LINK-1958
Reply from Bobby Slyter (70):
| gary: i am thinking that the first guy in middle row of the getzloff picture is darrell getzloff, his kids are lester and marsha getzloff, they lived just south of dunseith when we lived there
JUST LITTLE OLE ME FROM KANSAS |
Reply from Dick Johnson (70): djcars@srt.com
Gary,
The guy on the left in the middle row is Darrel Getzlaff. He has been a
‘fixture’ at Dale’s since the 50s. He still drives the bulk truck and
delivers fuel. Of the gals, I only knew Gloria. One of the bearded guys
was in Dunseith for a while in the mid 60s and I only knew him by the
nickname, ‘Sonny’. I don’t know if he is Mike, who works for the
Bottineau Courant, or if it is the other guy with the beard. Someone has
to know–out of your 600+ readers! Thanks Gary!
Dick
Reply from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67):
Getzlaff family picture: I can identify some of them. Back row-Darwin, Mike (Turk), Gloria Hagen, Norman. Center Row-Darrell, Lillian, Walter. Front Row: I don’t believe I know any of these sisters.
Darrell worked at Dale’s Truck Stop for years. All of his kids attended DHS. Marsha, Lester, and Arlinda are three of his children and I believe I am missing some (Kevin?). (Sorry I can’t think of the others right off hand-someone help me out!) Arlinda is married to Allan Suchan and they live near Botno.
Darwin died of a sudden heart attack when he was very young. His wife Phyllis (Jenson )babysat for my oldest son Brady. Their son Curt was the Brady’s hockey coach for several years. Curt lives just a couple miles east of Bottineau on Hwy 5 and has his John Deere repair business there.
Turk or Mike was the editor of the Bottineau Courant for a number of years. He was also the main one to cover the sports. I think he retired for that job around five years ago.
Norman now lives on the town line North a Botno. He is married to Phyllis’ sister Margaret (Jenson). They were one of the first places on the right side at the crest of the first hill as one heads North. They have it lookin’ good with all the trees and the landscaping they have done.
I believe most of the hillbillies know Gloria (Mrs. Orville Hagen). She passed away from colon cancer about three years ago. Her daugher Kristie Brooks now teaches in Bottineau. I got to know Gloria when she was an aide at Bottineau School. She worked at San Haven for many years prior to that.
Someone else will have to identify the other sisters.
Identities provided by Marsha (Getzlaff) Bakken:
Row 3: Darwin, Myron, Gloria, Norman, Virgil
Row 2: (dad) Darrell, Grandma Lillian, Grandpa Walter, Alvin
Row 1: siting: Marilyn, Marlis, Cora, Delvina
