GARY,

Wanted to let YOU know that my Dad, BOB, passed away on Wed evening about 9 pm.

Dad suffered from many maladies that could have contributed to this final exit.

My girl friend, Gloria, and I were at the local Perkins sharing a bran muffin when I received the call that Dad’s vital signs were upside down. The ambulance was summoned but he was gone a few moment later.

Dad was 87, born on July 6, 1921, ‘near Dunseith ND’.

His parents were Edward Lee Stickland and May Striker Stickland. They lived near the Beaver Dam school, below the hill and to the north of; down the lane from Iver Larson.

My brothers, Darrel (Doc) and Dean will arrive FR for the Sat funeral here in Dickinson. Mom passed away in April of 2002; now Dad and she will be beside one another. again.

It is one thing to have had a career in nursing homes where I witnessed many deaths but YOUR own Dad passing is much more striking.

Dad and I had good visits about the mail route, the roads, the snow, the people on the route and the such.

-21 degree wind chill here right now. 3-5 inches of snow forecast for FR by pm.

Thanks, I read and enjoy each entry by all. Lee

Hi Gary,

I really enjoyed reading the blog this morning – I loved the stories about Tickled Pink. I missed that era because I was already off to college, but I remember singing many songs with Cheri Metcalfe …..In fact she taught me the complicated words to “I’ve Been Everywhere Man” and I’ve been known to pull that song out at campfires ever since.

“I’ve been to Reno, Chicago, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota……..”

Anyhow – we sang a lot of songs huddled together against those freezing nights as we drove to whatever game in whatever town…..some of them were a bit more colorful –

Maybe Cheri remembers the one about Rats**, Bats***, gobble nibble nibble chew-

Oh yes – we just laughed our heads off. Who made up that stuff?

99 bottles of beer on the wall – I used to work in Chicago?

Throw em out the door head first, eh?

That should stir some memories…

I WOULD LOVE A COPY OF TICKLED PINK! What fun!

Trish

Reply from Margaret Metcalfe Leonard (65): Rolette, ND

Hi Gary

It totally amazes me that each day there are messages to read from
Dunseith folks. This has become a ritual…it’s like a lifeline to the
past as well as the present. I have learned so much about life in
Dunseith from so many different perspectives that it’s like reading a live
account of small town North Dakota. (reminds me of the Mitford Series)

Tickled Pink was pure fun. Cecile Berube Reynolds would tell us that
there was live music at the AC, Fortune’s bar, and we would come from
Rolette to dance to Tickled Pink’s music. I can still hear Kathy singing
Kalijah. I would love to receive a copy of that CD, a treasure to be
sure.

Thanks,
Margaret

Folks, Bill Grimme, with his elite computer abilities was able to shorten and reduce the file size of this CD to an acceptable size to be included with this message. For your enjoyment, please click on the attachment.

Margaret & Trish: I will send both of you the full size electronic copy of that CD that I received from Mel. It sounds like Shelly Fulsebakke Albertson has an original CD that she gave a copy of to Mel Kuhn. I’m sure Mel shortened the CD version considerably for sending as an email attachment.

Margaret, whether you realize it or not, you are a major contributor to the development of this daily blog. Had it not been for you and John Bedard contacting my brother Darrel in Bottineau to get in touch with me for the 2007 Q-centennial, I would have never been inspired to locat and contact our 65 classmates. You were also one of the major contributors with the planning of the very successful class reunion we had in 2007. The rest is history.

Margaret, You mentioned in a message to me a while back that you are retiring from teaching the end of this school year. With all your years of teaching at the Belcourt High School, now teaching 3rd generation students, you have created quite a following. Folks are saying, “Margaret can not retire until my kids finish HS”. That in it self says a lot about you and also your teaching abilities. You will be missed by students, parents and staff alike. Gary

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO