Reply from Connie (Roger) Zorn: Bottineau, ND.
Hi Gary, It’s allot of fun reading the Dunseith news. I didn’t go to school in Dunseith so I don’t know allot of the people who write in the news. I do know the Christianson’s. Helen was a Rivard huh!! Is she related to Robert Rivard?? I knew Lillian Houle. She was a neat lady. I know her daughter Shirley. Doris Kessler wrote in the Botno Courant & did a good job. I see her allot @ Good Sam. take care Connie
Connie, Yes Helen Christenson is a sister to Robert Rivard. Both Robert and Helen are from my class of 65 too. Robert is married to Barbara Boucher. Her father and Mrs. Dale (Alma) Gottbreht are siblings. Robert and Barbara live on the Rivard home place near Rendahl church. Robert/Barbara and Helen/Duane plan on being at the reunion too. I’ve talked to them all, several times, in the past couple of weeks. Gary
Sylvia Bergan – Metigoshe Store:
Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
Hi Gary,
Sylvia Bergan baked pies (and other pasteries) for the “coffee shop” section of the Metigoshe Store. They were the BEST pies! I had never liked raisin pie; Mrs. Bergan’s sour cream raisin pie changed that. To this day, sour cream raisin pie is one of my favorites (along with lemon).
Neola
Brian Fauske’s (70) Wedding:
From his cousin Rod Hiatt (69): Bottineau, ND.
Hello Gary and all the Dunseith family
I believe Friday was the perfect day, the clear sky’s, the sun shining for the first time in like months and the total warmth of the day. I actually felt that nothing could top this beautiful day, until my wife Suzy and I walked into the Vegas Motel banquet room in Minot to help celebrate the wedding of Brian Fauske and Deb Middaugh.
The happy couple met us at the door and the glow on there faces was by far more enlightening than the days sunshine, and the warmth you could feel from their love and sincerity was more soothing than the hottest sun rays of midday.
Arriving somewhat early(unusual for us), we had the opportunity of noticing how Brian and Deb greeted each and everyone that came to share in their joyous day. Both the bride and groom must be well known and very much liked as the banquet hall was filled to capacity with friends and family from Dunseith to the west coast, including Brian’s sister’s Connie, Carrole, Carrole’s husband Laverne, and their daughter Melissa who drove in from Washington to surprise Brian and his new wife. Its always a great time when you have the opportunity to bring back the memories of cousins growing up in Dunseith.
I personally would like to welcome this beautiful woman into the Hiatt Family and thank her for putting that spark in my cousins eye.
Rolette County History:
From Bill Grimme (65): Birmingham, AL.
A little bit of history…..
Dakota Territory was created in 1861 by a bill signed by President Buchanan just before his term ended. Two days after the territory was created, one of the first official acts of the new president, Abraham Lincoln, was to appoint his old friend, Dr. William Jayne, as Governor of the Territory, of which Yankton was then the capitol. By 1873, an act of the Congress divided North Dakota into counties and what is now Rolette County was then known as Buffalo County. Since then the boundaries were changed twice to form the present county and the name Rolette was given in honor of “Jolly Joe Rolette”, a French-Indian fur trader who was a vital part of the development of the Great Northwest and what is now North Dakota.
In 1883, settlers were coming into the area locating primarily near St. John and Dunseith. Many of them felt the time had come for the county to be organized. In 1884 Arthur Foussard, M. Welton and Fred Schutte were named as County Commissioners. The newly formed board met near Dunseith to organize, Fred was named Chairman and Dunseith was established as the County Seat.
There were citizens who were not content to see Dunseith set up as the county seat of Rolette County. It soon became apparent that the people of St. John were prepared to make trouble. At any rate, St. John was determined to get the county seat at any cost. Although there is no record of any petition for a county seat vote, an election was held May 6, 1885. Much campaigning on both sides preceded the election and considerable ill feeling was engendered. Neither the Dunseith or St. John partisans had much respect for the intentions of the other.
On election day a committee from St. John came to Dunseith to watch the voting and a committee from Dunseith went over to St. John. But despite this vigilance, a large amount of repeating is said to have taken place. Although both sides accused the other of illegal tactics, St. John appeared to have been the worst offender — the charge being that 1,125 votes were cast by approximately 225 voters. Before the issue could be settled in court, St. John proceeded to set up their county government, even though a second county government was still functioning.
The county records for this period have the unique distinction of containing the minutes for two rival county boards of Commissioners. When the issue had finally been settled in court, officials from St. John went to Dunseith for the records. On the way back, one of the big safes fell into a creek, important books and papers scattered. The Dunseith citizens felt they had the last laugh even though they had lost their bitter fight. In 1889, the northern part of Dakota Territory was admitted to statehood as North Dakota and in the general election of 1889 the county seat was changed to Rolla and moved from St. John in 1890.
More cars:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
Gary and Friends,
Just wondering how many folks can remember the winter evening in
about ’62-’63 when a guy, coming south on Main Street, lost control of
his car and slammed into the back of Rod Armentrout’s blue and white ’60
Pontiac. Rod’s car was parked in front of the Garden Lanes. This
happened because of the built up ice on the street and a little too much
speed for the conditions. Rod’s car was parked behind Dennis Espe’s
nearly new blue ’62 Ford four door so Rod’s Pontiac slammed into
Dennis’s car and slammed it into another car in front of it. About like
a freeway pileup! I think Rod’s car was totaled out as the back end was
smashed nearly up to the back window. Rod bought another identical car
and then made a sheet metal trunk portion on the wrecked car and drove
it back and forth to town as a work car. The story goes on. In the fall
of ’67, Rod took a temporary position teaching automotive mechanics in
the newly built DHS school shop. His good car needed an engine overhaul
so he had the kids in shop class rebuild the engine. He used the engine
from the wrecked car and the engine from the good car and took the best
parts from each for the rebuild. When the good car was done, he told the
kids to put the old parts engine back together and put it back in the
wrecked car, just for the practice. John Bogus told me that when they
finished, the junker engine ran just as well as the new one! I remember
Rod put lots more miles on the old wrecked car with the homemade trunk
section—and with the junk parts engine! Anyone remember any of this?
Thanks Gary!
Dick
Lagerquist family – 1982 Dunseith Centeniel Book:
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
Folks, Neola asked me to combine these two scans into one for her files.
In doing that, I thought I’d also post. Gary
