Florestine and Martin Belgarde were my aunt & uncle (Florestine was my dad’s sister) Frank Allery was my dad, and Clarence was my uncle, all these people are deceased. Yes, Ronnie they were related to you also, as our dads were 1st cousins. My uncle Martin did serve in the service and so did my Uncle Clarence Allery.

Hope you all have a wonderful 2009…

Judy

Judy, I can see now where you got your good character, being related to Martin & Florestine. Because you had to work, we missed seeing you at our 2007 reunion. I’m hoping we will see you in future reunions. I remember you well and it’s been over 45 years since I’ve seen you.

Folks, Judy, after dropping out of High School, went back and got her GED and from there went on to graduate from college. She told me her major too, but I forgot. Judy lives in Fargo.

Reply from Bobby Slyter (70)

Comments about ND folks from Cheryl Larson Dakin (71):

You just don’t find the same friendliness that people from North Dakota display anywhere else. And I don’t think that it’s because most of us are related in some way. They just are. When I got married 32 years ago and my in-laws came out from California, I gave them directions to get from the airport in Minot to Bottineau. I even told them about the 2 curves in the road. What I forgot to tell them about was Thompson Street. So after they got to Bottineau and drove around for a few minutes, they decided to stop at someone’s house and ask for directions. The lady who answered the door made the comment “Oh, are you here for the double wedding? Well let me just get my buns out of the oven and I’ll take you right over.” So she pulled her batch of bread out of the oven and led my in-laws the few blocks to my Dad’s house. They talked about this for a long time. Six years ago friends of ours from here in Texas came up for my mom’s funeral and it was way below zero and snow was blowing like crazy. They ended up drifting into a snow filled ditch. They called us on their cell phones and a couple of our husbands went to rescue them. Meanwhile, every single car that passed them on the road, and there were several, stopped to see if they could lend a hand. I could go on and on with examples but you all know them too. I’m just saying…….. what wonderful, kind and generous people!

Cheryl Larson Dakin

Cheryl, I have been around some in my day, and yes ND folks are well know throughout the nation for being really friendly folks. I am well know by the PI folks as being an above average friendly American and that is a fact. It’s my ND roots. Gary

Reply from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

The picture of Herman Boucher and the other soldier, unknown, in #333
looks a lot like Dary Ryan in #336 to me. Could he have been in the same
training camp at the time? I could be wrong but the facial features are
similar. Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Sybil Johnson:

Good morning all from Wyoming. Its now 23 and we got our first snow for winter of about 2 inches. I woke up and looked out and to my surprise, there was snow on the ground. I had to even go out and brush off the food for my

squirrels and birds.
I was appalled, when I saw what they are calling “pork spending” to the Peace Gardens. I use to drive from Minot,
just to visit them and feel the serenity of the Gardens. Of all the sites in North Dakota, the Peace Gardens were
my favorite. Sometimes, I would go up and I would feel the Canadians were doing a better job on their side,
than what was happening on our side. For, I would see where visitors threw their garbage on the ground/ not
even bother picking it up. What I like mostly were the Bell Towers and the Chapel, but yet, the whole Gardens
are so Peaceful, I just wish more people would learn about them. Sybil Johnson

Warren Anderson’s (65) reply to picture posted below by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Gary, They are Belcourt people. Nice folks, Ron Laverdure is the Groom and Jeanie Jollie is the Bride. The gentlemen 3rd from the right is Doug Gourneau, I knew him some before we were drafted togeather in ’69. was in viet nam togeather and both wounded in the same area. He has left us now. Kind of a sad ending, like Cliff Henrey. Have fun, Warren

                  Ron Laverdure & Jeanie Jollie Wedding