06/19/2010

Posted on by
Art Rude Sr. is in the Minot Hospital.
 
 
Reply from Art Rude (71): Bismarck, ND.
 
Glad to hear he had such a good time. Thank you for sharing, I had heard good things from a few others as well, so that is great.

As I write this, he is in surgery. Since he had his last defibrillator (his third), the site of the incision never healed properly. That was one of the reasons for the nursing home, his dressings needed to be changed twice daily. It hasn’t healed.

Last weekend, Dad and I were at the Hawk Museum Farm Show near Wolford, and he had a great time there too. That place is very important to Dad, he was on the board of directors for many years, and brought Dunseith kids out there on 8th grade field trips for many years, the first time about 50 years ago.
Anyway, his incision had opened up, so the nurse told me she could see metal from either his pacemaker or defibrillator. That’s not good, and so they are going in to remove one or both, and replace one or both, I guess we won’t know until he gets a look under the hood so to speak. This is becoming quite routine for Dad on one level, in that this is the seventh time they have opened him up to install, reinstall, replace batteries, and I’m assuming, change the filter.
He was in great spirits on the way in, and this point we assume the procedure is routine. However, at age 87, I don’t know many things that are routine in the same way they used to be.
Thanks again for your concern.

Peace and Power,

Art

Thanks for checking out Art Rude Productions,
webpage address: www.artrude.com
and Art Rude TV at: artrudetv on Utube!
 
 
 
Reply to Larry Hackman’s (66) Story:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
 
Beautiful fun loving couple. This picture was taken the last night of our visit
at the Pizza Inn. Gary
 
Gary and Friends,

This same story was told to me by my dad, but not in the detail that
Larry brought out. He also mentioned who it was but I am not sure
anymore who he said. He was really laughing when he told me how the
thing went down—it was funny! Good one, Larry! Dad also told about a
guy, back in the late ’40s, who was driving an old single axle gravel
truck and was really a wild man on wheels. He came tearing back into the
old east gravel pit and slid the empty truck sideways and caught a ridge
and tipped the truck on it’s side. As the workers were running toward
the overturned truck, the guy threw out the grease gun and climbed out
and said, “Looks like a hell of a good time to give it a grease job!”
The boss grabbed the grease gun from him and said, “It probably is, but
you won’t be greasing it—your fired!” I DO know who that was, but
better leave it alone! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Trish Larson Wild heads south, on horse back, on her 10,000 mile journey:
 
 
From Trish Larson Wild (73): FORT COLLINS, CO
 
Hi everyone,

Click on the link below to the Loveland reporter/herald news story about my ride that came out on Tuesday.

Also, I now have the beginnings of a website at www.equinenomad.com.

My last day at work is June 27. I start living on horseback July 1.

Should be a great summer!

http://reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=28448

 
 
 
 
Gary Fulsebakke (71):
Posting from Larry Liere (55): Devils Lake, ND.

 

Hi Gary

 

Sounds like you had a good time being back in the states for a while.

 

I saw this story in the Devils Lake Journal about Gary Fulsebakke and since he grew up in the Dunseith area I thought your readers would like to see it.

 

LARRY

 
Larry, Thank you so much for sharing.
 
Gary Fulsebakke, Congratulations. You have come a long way and have done very well from your childhood days being raised on your family farm adjacent to the Peace Garden. Gary
 
 
 

Folks,

 

 

These are several news paper articles and John Tangen’s picture that were among the pictures we recently found in my Grandmother, Julia Stokes’, suit case.

 

 

My Grandmother, like most of the Ackworth community, was Methodist. I remember well, in my really younger days, the Methodist church services that were held in the Ackworth school. Do any of you remember Rev. Samuelson?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Esther Thompson Tangen’s mother was a

 

Stokes, sister to my Grandfather, Frank.

 

Esther Owned the original Stokes Place

 

where the Cemetery is. A few years back

 

she sold it to her Nephew, Dan Pladson.

 

Esther passed away several years ago.

 

 

I think Esther and Edmar got married in

 

about 1950. John, can you verify that please?

 

 

John Tangen, Son of Esther and Edmar. John lives in either Oregon or California. John, I’m sorry I forgot which. I don’t have your address. Please let us know.

 

John attended school and graduated from Bottineau. He is a first cousin to the Eldon/Ella Pladson children. John is also on our distribution.

 

John, this is a beautiful picture. I remember you being so faithful to your mother when she was in Good Sam. Your mother was such a kind hearted sweet lady. She had a sharp mind remembering our family history well. I picked her brain shortly before she passed on about some family stuff of which she remembered well. Gary

 

Reunion Pictures:

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.

 

Gary and Friends,

Great response on the folks in the pictures! Picture #12 — Harvey
and Eileen Sebelius, Marcie (Mrs. Henry) Hackman, Marion (Mrs. Larry)
Hackman, Larry Hackman, and in front Armella and Lawrence Hetle. I
didn’t know the Hackman boys married sisters until the reunion. They are
Schneiders from south of Rugby, Larry told me.I think he wanted to keep
the German genetics going. Right Larry? Thanks Gary!

Dick

Thank you Dick, This almost wraps up the identification of this batch. We still need to ID the gal on the right in Picture #14. I have a few more pictures that I will be posting in days to come. I will repost Myra Henning Halvorson’s pictures too, that I posted from ND with no identifications. Folks, again please send pictures. Gary

 

Picture twelve:

 

Back: Harvey and Eileen Sebelius, Marcie (Mrs. Henry) Hackman,

 

Marion (Mrs. Larry) Hackman, Larry Hackman

 

Front: Armella and Lawrence Hetle

 

 

 

 

 

Picture Fourteen:

 

Front Left: Eric & Sandra Poitra

 

Sitting behind: Bernice Belgarde

 

Front Right: ???? Belgarde

 

  

06/18/2010

Posted on by
Folks, I have some other postings, but I have limited today’s message to the reunion pictures. Gary
 
 
Reunion Picture replies with identifications:
 
 
Thanks folks for all the replies and help with the identification of these pictures.
I am posting your replies with a reposting of the pictures with the correct identities.
 
Again folks, please send pictures.
 
Thanks, Gary
 
Note: Pictures twelve and fourteen are the only ones not fully identified.
 

 

 
From Alan Poitra (76): Bloomington, MN
 
Hey Gary, in pics 14, I know the front 2 people are Eric and Sandra Poitra and the woman behind Eric is Bernice Belgarde I think, the one right of Sandra not sure but I believe another Belgarde. In pic 3, the two ladies sitting on the left are Pam Wenstad and Delorie Enno and the 2 handsome men on the right of course that is me Alan Poitra next to Delorie and my partner Mark Larsen and behind us is Bernard and Robin Morin and I think the lady behind Del and Pam is Mrs Espe, (Robin’s Mom)

Hopefully that will help you out!

Thanks Alan, It was a pleasure to finely see you face to face after all these email exchanges. I dearly love the CD that you sent me last year too with the good old ‘honky tonk’ tunes recorded by your family. It may not be Bernadette’s taste for good music, but it’s mine, so I listen to it when she is not around. Gary
 
 
 
From Susan Fassett Martin (65): Spearfish SD
 
#10 -Olynda(Eurich) and Ydola Pigeon, #8 Terry Halvorson on the left, Gwen Struck in the brown jacket, #7 Gwen Grimmes husband in the rear, #3 Peggy (sime)Espe in the green jacket, Alan Poitra sitting in the plaid shirt talking to Bernard Morin, #12 Lawrence Hetle in the blue t shirt and his wife in the pink jacket, #13 Lowell leonard visiting with connie burcham, Judy De Pew, Eva Eurich –That’s all the help I can give.
 
 
 
From Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): Dunseith, ND
picture 3 top right side is Bernard Morin
picture 4 is Richard Slyter, Dan McKown and Bobbie Slyter, Dan is a friend of Bobbie’s from Kansas
picture 5 in the backround is Diane Wenstad and Ele Slyter
picture 9/10 is Mr and Mrs Ydola Pigeon
picture 12 guy with glasses is Harvey Sebelius and his wife on hiis left..don’t recognize the rest
hope this helps
ele
Ele, It was a pleasure seeing you too after all these email exchanges. I recognized Richard from the pictures when you guys walked in. Had it not been for the pictures, I for sure would not have ever known him. He looks great, but not the way I remember him. My, how we all change and some more than others.

 

From Lynn Halvorson Otto (75): Boonton, NJ
 
Hi Gary, in the picture with the speaker, the guy on the left with the cap on is Terry Halvorson. That is all I know. Thanks, great pictures. FYI: I am now in Boonton, NJ. We just moved back to the states May 29th from Seoul. New beginnings again.
Lynn Halvorson Otto (75).
Welcome back to the states Lynn. I will miss getting your messages from this side of the pond. Gary

 

From Bobby Slyter (70): Wichita, Kansas

 

Gary, the lady in #3 in the white blouse is Pam Wenstad in #4 next to Richard is my friend Dan Mc Kown and I am next to him in # 5 next to Diane Wenstad is Ele Slyter great pics thanks for all that you do

Bobby, It was so nice to see you again too after all these years. You Slyter boys are looking great, but not the way I remember you guys and I knew you well in our growing up days. Gary

 

 

From Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

 

Picture 10 Olynda and Ydola Pigeon.

 

 

 

From Keith Pladson (66): Stafford, VA

 

Gary,
A couple of identifications that may help. In picture eleven you caught my brother Dan and his wife Robin. To the right of Robin and only partially visible is my sister Tina Bullinger in the pink sweater and to the right of Dan is Tina’s husband John Bullinger. In picture thirteen the lady at the back side of the table pointing to something is Shirley Bercham Sime spouse of Larry Sime (not present).

Hope that helps.
Keith Pladson (66)

Keith, Those were some great old pictures that you were showing me that you got from your Aunt Lillian Thompson. When you get a chance, please scan and zap me copies. I’d love to share those. They included some of my/our Grandparents that I have never seen before. Thanks, Gary

 

 

 

From Marie Iverson Staub (60): Seattle, WA

 

Gary,

 

picture 2 Lady in green standing is Peggy Espe (Sime)

 

picture 13 in back is Lowell Leanord, next two don’t know Eva Eurich and Cleo Kelly

 

picture 15 Barbara Iverson (lyonais) Helen Boguslawski

 

Marie Staub

Marie, It was so nice seeing you too.

 

 

From Gwen Struck Dumas (68): Havre, MT

 

Picture #8
Terry Halvorson
Gwen Grimme
Monte Espe
Brenda Hoffman
Dick Johnson
Gwen Struck

Gwen, I should have recognized you and Monte too. Gary

 

 

From Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC

 

Hi Gary!

Photo eight: Terry Halvorson, Gwen Grimme, Monte Espe, Brenda Hoffman, Dick Johnson and Gwen Struck either shortly before or after we took the class of 1968 photo.
Brenda

 

 

 

Reply from Tina Pladson Bullinger (78): Bottineau, ND

 

Number Eleven John Bullinger

 

 

 

Picture Three:

 

Sitting: Pam Wenstad, Delorie Enno, Alan Poitra & Mark Larson

 

Standing Left: Peggie Sime Espe

 

Standing right: Bernard & Robin Espe Morin

 

 

 

Picture Four:

 

Richard Slyter, Dan Mc Kown & Bobby Slyter

 

 

 

Picture five:

 

Front: Kenny & Sherry Nerpel

 

Back: Diane Wenstad, Ele Dietrick Slyter, Richard Slyter.

 

 

 

Picture six:

 

John/Margaret Bedard, Cora (Warren) Anderson,

 

Kenny Nerpel & Ele Dietrick Slyter

 

 

 

 

 

Picture Seven:

 

Front: Ernie Gottbreht & Cheryl Bailey

 

Behind Geroge Eltz, Standing Gwen Struck Dumas

 

 

 

Picture eight:

 

Terry Halvorson, Gwen Grimme Eltz, Monte Espe, Brenda Hoffman,

 

Dick Johnson, Gwen Struck Dumas

& Ernie Gottbreht.

 

 

 

 

Picture Nine:

 

Olynda(Eurich) & Ydola Pigeon, Brenda Johnson & Ron Hett.

 

 

 

Picture Ten:

 

Mildred Parrill, Olynda(Eurich) & Ydola Pigeon and Brenda Johnson

 

 

 

Picture Eleven:

 

Nancy Hosmer, Robin/Dan Pladson & John Bullinger

 

 

 

Picture twelve:

 

Larry Hackman pointing his finger at the camera.

 

 

Lawrence Hetle in blue T-shirt, Armella Hetle in pink – Need some help with the rest

 

 

 

 

Picture thirteen:

 

Around the table L to R:

 

Sharon Zorn Gerdes, Lowell Leonard, Connie Burcham Sime,

 

Judy De Pew, Eva Eurich Paulson & Cleo Kelly

 

 

 

Picture Fourteen:

 

Front Left: Eric & Sandra Poitra

 

Sitting behind: Bernice Belgarde

 

Front Right: ???? Belgarde

 

 

 

Picture Fifteen:

 

Harlan/Joyce Flaata, Barbara Iverson Lyonais,

 

Marie Iverson Staub& Helen Boguslawski

 

06/17/2010

Posted on by
Message with another good story
From Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND
 
Hello Gary
Happy to see you made it back to the PI safe and sound.
It was great to finally get to meet you and your wife.
My brother Henry (class of 65) and his wife, and I (class of 66) and
my wife had a great time.
We all wish we could of did a lot more visiting, with more people.
These type events are always tough to make time for and too attend.
Once you are there, you are happy that you made the decision to go.
Once they are over its sad, because it too, becomes a part of the past.
I thought I would write a funny little story that took place many years ago.
I hope you and everyone else enjoy the story and if nothing else it
puts a smile on your face for a little while.
Larry
 

The Backseat Driver

It was the 1960’s.This young fellow and his wife were headed for Bottineau to do some shopping.His wife was a back beat driver, who sat right beside him as most backseat drivers do.She, as usual was on his case from the beginning of the trip to the end of the trip.You know, the usual stuff, you’re driving too fast, watch where you’re going, slow down, stay on your side of the road,and of course, turn here,signal before you turn, pay attention.This went on until they parked on

Main Street

in Bottineau.

 

His wife got out to go do her shopping, and with a smile and a cheery goodbye she was on her way.He stayed in the car, lit a cigarette with the push in car liter and put the radio on, as he did not like having to wander around through the stores.Sitting there on

Main St.

, Bottineau with not much to do, He began going through the glove box.To his surprise, he found a vice grips.Upon finding the vice grips a thought immediately passed through his brain.He had noticed while sitting there, that the steering shaft between the dash and the floor of that old car was exposed, and when he turned the steering wheel, it also turned…

 

He wandered if he could steer that car with the vice grips attached to that steering shaft.He attached the vice grips to the exposed steering shaft, and pushed it back and forth and the steering wheel turned.He was getting excited as he knew he could make his idea work.

He was able to remove the horn button from the center of the steering wheel with his fingers.He used a screw driver that he had also found in the glove box to disconnect the electrical wiring for the horn.He then removed the nut holding the steering wheel onto the end of the shaft.To his surprise, as he lifted up on the steering wheel.The steering wheel just slipped off and on to the end of the shaft with ease.He was getting excited, this was possible and his plan was going to work.He replaced the steering wheel on the end of the shaft.Then he installed the horn button.He did not hook up the electrical wires to the horn.He put the nut to hold the steering wheel onto the shaft, into his pocket.He was ready!He was excited!He wanted his wife to hurry-up and finish her shopping.He was ready to head back to Dunseith.

The man could hardly contain himself as he saw his wife coming back to the car, loaded down with sacks.He got control of himself and greeted her pleasantly.He got out and happily, helped her put the sacks into the trunk.He made no comment about the stuff she bought or how much money she had spent.He even opened the door and let her in, and closed the door after her.He was happy.She was a little surprised, and asked him if he had gone to the bar while she was she was shopping.He replied, no, and that he had stayed in the car and enjoyed the country music that was being broadcasted.She not wanting to spoil a good thing, happily said, lets, head for home.

He happily drove out of Bottineau and headed east down highway #5 toward Dunseith.His wife was her usual self, telling him when and where to turn, to slow down, and to stay on his side of the road.He would smile at her and say yes dear to keep her comfortable and happy.As he drove he would feel down beside the seat to make sure the vice grip had stayed where he had put it and to reassure himself that everything was in position to implement his plan.

While driving east on highway #5 toward Dunseith, he finally came to the stretch of road that he was looking for.It was long and straight and as luck would have it, not another car in sight.He would have to distract her for a little while.He asked her if that was a coyote running out in that field as he pointed off to the south.While she was gazing off trying to locate the coyote, he calmly reached down grabbed the vice grips and locked them onto the steering shaft between his knees.His wife turned back to him and said she couldn’t see the coyote.He calmly said it had disappeared back there.

While driving he loosened his hand hold on the steering wheel and moved his knees back and forth and the wheel turned with the movement of his knees.He was ready.She noticed the car swerve side to side and told him to drive straight.He purposely now let the car drift toward the center of the road.She noticed immediately and told him to get on his side of the road.He argued with her, saying he was on his side of the road.She went onto say that he never keeps his eyes on the road or watches where he is going.He says to her, “Do you want to drive,” and calmly[1]y lifts off the steering wheel and places it in her hands.She looks at the wheel.She looks at him.Her eyes kept getting bigger.They look like they were going to fall from their sockets.Her face was going through all kinds of contortions, she was gasping for air and her mouth was open and moving.You could tell that she wanted to say something, but nothing was coming out, not a sound.She kept looking at him and then back at the steering wheel in her hands.Then all of a sudden she found her voice and emitted this horrible sound of terror.A scream that chilled you, and made you shiver, a scream of pure terror.It surprised and scared him to the point, that he almost lost control of the car.It scared the hell out of him.He got so surprised by her look of pure fear, that he forgot where he was and what he was doing for an instant.

Remembering where he was and assuring himself that he still had control of the car, he reached over and took the steering wheel from her and slipped it back onto the end of the steering shaft.Removed the vice grips and continued driving.His wife who had watched him put the wheel back on and remove the vice grips in silence all of a sudden remembered how to talk and emitted a tirade of language that would have made a preacher blush.She pounded on his shoulder until it was numb.He laughed so hard that he was crying and could barely see the road.

This fellow , who is no longer with us,I’m sure, still laughs at this, and will appreciate me telling this story, so that everyone else can imagine how his wife felt, and how funny and proudhe was and is of his accomplishment and his method of treating a backseat driver to some of her own medicine.

I think he is still laughing?

I was also reminded at the reunion that this fellow was also an excellent shot.That he once shot a hole through his neighbor’s ear, at distance of over 100 yards, with a 22cal. rifle.I don’t think his neighbor had asked for a piercing?Now, I have read somewhere that women, voluntarily started having their ears pierced in the year 1966.Apparently men started a little earlier and it was involuntary.

Larry

 

 

[1] It occurred to me that some people reading this might not know what a vice grip is and what it is used for.It is a hand tool with adjustable gripper jaws that can be set to the dimension of the object you are grasping with a screw you turn in the handle.The handles of the tool are spring loaded and so when you set the jaws to the object size and grasp the object with the jaws, and lock the handles, by squeezing them together.The tool stays locked onto the object until the tool is released by pulling the spring loaded handles apart.I still remember how proud my dad was to get his first vice grip tool to use on the farm.Before the vice grip came along, there were a lot of knuckle busting tools like the adjustable wrench.

 

 

Nut

When referring to a nut in the above story, I was not referring to the guy that lives down the street from you.I was referring to the fastener that is usually applied to the end of a bolt to hold something in place. In this case it was used to hold the steering wheel securely to the steering shaft that is connected to a lot of other stuff that makes the front wheels of your vehicle turn when you turn the steering wheel.

Larry,
 
Story writing is a gift you have that we all enjoy. This one was no exception. Your stories are so bonding focused around Dunseith. Most of us walked the same turf, some at different times is all. That is what makes all this stuff so bonding.
 
Yes Larry, it was a pleasure to finely see you face to face, after 45 plus years, at the reunion. As you noticed, I did not recognize you, even when you said Larry. It was a pleasure meeting your wife too. I did not realize that you and Henry married sisters. I’ll bet they’ve got some good stories they could tell too???
 
 
Reply to Mel Kuhn (70):
From Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

Mel–

 

At least you are loyal to Mopars and didn’t “pollute” it! Nicely done!
 
 
 
Reunion Pictures:
 
Folks, I don’t recognize everyone in these pictures. Please provide feed back so I can repost with the correct identities.
 
Again folks, please provide any pictures you may have. I am nearing the end of mine for posting that we took at the reunion.
 
Thanks, Gary
 
 
Dale’s Bill board sign.
I was pleasantly surprised and honored when I saw this. Thanks George

 

 

 

Jerry/Susan Pladson & Keith/Alice Pladson

 

 

 

Picture Three:

 

Need some help with identification.

 

 

 

Picture Four:

 

Richard Slyter, ????,???? – need some help

 

 

 

Picture five:

 

Front: Kenny & Sherry Nerpel

 

Back: Diane Wenstad, ????, Richard Slyter.

 

 

 

Picture six:

 

John/Margaret Bedard, Cora (Warren) Anderson, Kenny Nerpel, ?????

 

 

 

 

 

Picture Seven:

 

Front: Ernie Gottbreht & Cheryl Bailey

 

Behind ????, Standing ????

 

 

 

Picture eight:

 

????, Gwen Grimme Eltz, ????, Brenda Hoffman, Dick Johnson, ????

 

& Ernie Gottbreht.

 

 

 

 

Picture Nine:

 

????, ????, Brenda Johnson & Ron Hett.

 

 

 

Picture Ten:

 

Mildred Parrill, ????, ???? & Brenda Johnson

 

 

 

Picture Eleven:

 

Nancy Hosmer, Robin/Dan Pladson, ????

 

 

 

Picture twelve:

 

I beleive that is Larry Hackman pointing his finger at the camera.

 

I will not guess on the rest.

 

 

 

 

Picture thirteen:

 

Sharon Zorn is the beautiful blond in front. She has not changed.

 

I dare not guess on the rest.

 

 

 

Picture Fourteen:

 

I dare not guess with this one either.

 

 

 

Picture Fifteen:

 

Harlan/Joyce Flaata, ????, Marie Iverson Staub& ????

 

  

06/16/2010

Posted on by
Jim & Judy Olson (Former Teachers) finely located:
From Curt & Ann Rotto (Pastor): Fergus Falls, MN
 

Someone requested information on a former teacher, Jim Olson. We do correspond with Jim and Judy at Christmas time. Jim and Judy Olson, 311 Crescent Dr., Sheridan, Wyoming 82801; 307.672.2565. Thanks for the blog!

Curt and Ann Rotto

Thank you Curt & Ann, Early on when I first started putting class lists together and locating former teachers and folks, several folks were asking about Jim and Judy. At the time we exhausted all our leads unable to locate them. That was before you guys were onboard. I believe that was about the time I was putting the 67 class list together. I think LeaRae Parrill Espe is one of the folks that I was working with trying to locate Jim & Judy?
 
I just got off the phone with Jim. He is very interested with what we are doing and has given me permission to post his email address and their contact info listed above. I have also added them to our daily distribution.
 
Mr. Lykins, I believe Mr. Olson was your replacement? He started teaching in DHS in the fall of 1965, I believe as the head of the business department.?
 
 
Congratulations to Harvey and Alice Hoffman:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

Congratulations to Harvey and Alice Hoffman on their 65 wedding
anniversary! While they were touring the museum, I had a chance to talk
with them and reminisce about the old days spent snowmobiling here with
my folks. They are both as sharp as a tack! Alice and Brenda were
looking at dates in the San Haven register of patients and I was amazed
how Alice and Harvey knew the exact dates when Alice and Brenda were
hospitalized and released. They flipped to the page and instantly
pointed to their names and the corresponding dates etc. Harvey and I got
to the subject or old cars (imagine that) and he gave me the
information, in detail, of Dale’s and Brenda’s cars that he found for
them while they were in high school. He remembered every little detail
that I remembered about those vehicles—did I say sharp as a tack?!!
Congratulations, Harvey and Alice! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Reply from Mel Kuhn (70): melkuhn@utma.com St. John, ND
 
 
Gary,

 
For Allen Richards. The old Plymouth is a 52. I replaced the front part of the frame with the frame from a 90 Dodge Dakota and dropped a 318 in it. Also the Dodge rear end. I pretty well dethroned it also. I’ve got the interior to finish yet but I got sidelined by my next project. Which is a 31 3 window Plymouth Coupe.
 
Mel Kuhn
 
 
 
Reply from Phyllis McKay (65): Auburn, WA.
 
 
 

Gary and Bernadette,

 

Thank you for the pictures. I had a good time seeing you two again. I also enjoyed meeting your grandkids. They both are delightful, kind to each other, and they certainly livened up our dinner. That is one of the most wonderful things about children, they make you so happy to be around them. I bet Tyler will enjoy the laptop and Nevaeh will love her doll. It is awfully hard to be so far away from grandkids. For one thing, they seem to grow up so fast when you only get to see them once in awhile.

 

 

I have been enjoying all the pictures of the reunion. I was sad I wasn’t there to see everyone. But the notes and pictures help me feel like I am still in the loop.

Thanks again,

Phyllis

Phyllis, I know this was meant as a personal message, but I want to post it so folks and you too, know you are very much still in the loop. You will really be in the loop, as a group leader, once we get started planning our next cruise scheduled for Presidents day week in 2012. Gary

 
 
Correction:
From Florence Pladson Sime (62): fes1944@hotmail.com Dunseith, ND

Gary that picture of the two women in the beauty shop is named wrong. That is Esther Murray and Susan Fasset not Connie Halvorson. Florence
Thank you Florence, This was another careless error on my part. I was with both Susan and Connie a lot last month, so I should be able to tell them apart. Gary
 
PS – Folks, when you see these errors don’t be afraid to bring them to my attention. My feelings are absolutly not heart in doing so.

Esther Murray Fleming (65) & Susan Fassett Martin (65):

 

 

Repost of this article

 

Folks, this article and picture was folded over when I sent this picture several days ago. I did not realize there was an article attached as well. In all fairness to everyone mentioned, I am reposting to include the whole article.

 

 

 

 

 

Willie & Maxine Hiatt family:

 

 

Folks, this post card was included with a bunch of pictures we just discovered in a suit case from my grandmother, Julia Stokes. She pasted away in the early 70’s. She lived Alvarado, MN. Willie and Maxine moved to Bottineau in 1955 when Barbara started high school. Norris Knutson bought their farm. Harvey graduated from Bottineau in 1961, so this must have been the Christmas of 1960. Willie/Maxine and their children Barbara, Harvey & LD all attended Ackworth. Doug had not yet started school when they moved to Bottineau.

 

 

Maxine celebrated her 90th birthday this month. Her children had a nice celebration for her that was held at the Bottineau Senior Center. We were there and were able to attend. It was a wonderful event and I saw so many folks that I had not seen for years. Maxine looks great and seems to be doing quite well. I had not seen LD for years. It was so nice seeing him again. Gary

 

 

 

 

 

  

06/15/2010

Posted on by
Sister Stephanie:
 
Folks, when we were in Dale’s one day for dinner, we struck up a conversation with these two very nice beautiful ladies that were sitting at the table behind us. The one lady introduced her self as Sister Stephanie. In the course of our conversation she said she was a sister to Armand Mongeon. We had a nice chat. She was so friendly and nice. I can sure see where the Mongeon kids got the genes for their good looks. She said Armand periodically forwards our daily messages to her. Gary
 
 
 
Reply to Brenda Hoffman (68):
From Jean Nicholas Miller (66): Glendale, AZ.
 
Brenda,
It was so nice to see the picture of your Mom and Dad, they look wonderful!! I remember them well. Your dad made some of the most awesome desserts at the San. I have alot of good memories of living at the San. I had forgotten that Dad shuttled the kids to school then. We too lived in the childrens building after our apartment over the dining room. My Dad passed away in 1993 at the age of 78 and Mom in 1978 at the age of 65. Take care and greet your parents for me.
Jean Nicholas Miller
 
 
 
Error correction:
Folks I mislabeled this picture with message 820. The gal in the center is Susie Knox Millang, Not K. Flynn Richard. That was a dumb careless mistake on my part. Thank you folks for pointing this out so I can make the correction. Gary
 
Minnie Knox Flynn (47), (Edna) Susie Knox millang (60) & Phyllis McKay (65)
 
 
 
Dunseith Alumni Reunion 5/22/2010

 

 

 

 

Dunseith Alumni Reunion 5/22/2010

 

Ginger LaRocque Poitra (65) and Esther Murray Fleming (65)

 

 

 

Dunseith Alumni Reunion 5/22/2010

 

 

 

Dunseith Alumni Reunion 5/22/2010

 

Sandy (Rick) Gottbreht & Bernadette Stokes

 

 

 

Dunseith Alumni Reunion 5/22/2010

 

Verena Gillis & Bernadette Stokes

 

 

 

Dunseith Alumni Reunion 5/22/2010

 

Sandy Gottbreht, Verena Gillis & Bernadette Stokes

 

 

 

 

 

Dunseith Alumni Reunion 5/22/2010

 

Very spacious and nicely decoratedset up for nearly 300 folks

 

 

 

Dunseith Alumni Reunion 5/22/2010

 

Very spacious and nicely decoratedset up for nearly 300 folks

 

 

 

 

Dunseith Alumni Reunion 5/22/2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steak Dinner at John/Margaret Bedard’s:

 

Gary & Bernadette Stokes. John Bedard barbequing steaks

 

  

06/14/2010

Posted on by
Folks, I am kind of rushed today with our friends from Bremerton visiting. I will post more reunion pictures tomorrow. Gary
 
 
Touching story – PI donations for the needy:
 
Folks, I try to keep the postings in the daily blogs to a minimum for the Dunseith PI donations given for the PI needy. This one is an exception though. I have a page listed in our Dunseith Alumni Web sight for the PI needy. Last month when we were back in Dunseith a very generous Dunseith couple gave us a donation to be used however we saw fit for the PI needy. I am sharing with you my reply to this couple for how we used their money. We raised $480 with the raffle we had at the reunion for the PI needy. Bernadette has that money ear marked for the elderly in need. Gary
Hello (Dunseith couple),
 
When we got home we were informed that the wife of the Hayag family that lives across the street from our garage had miscarried at 7 months. This would have been child number seven. This is the same family we have chosen for Brenda Hoffman’s donations. She miscarried the same morning we got back. We arrived late on Wednesday the 9th. She miscarried at home, but with complications had to be hospitalized for a D & C. In this country no medical attention is rendered until the funds are available. She is/was placed on a bed in the back of the hospital with no treatment until the funds are available. If funds do not become available and she gets infection, in all likely hood, she’d died right there in the hospital with no medical attention. This happens everyday in this country. He husband canvassed the area soliciting for funds with virtually no success. Because of who we are and all the solicitations we get hit up for, we are normally the last resort. Even at that, we can not possibly help all. We have to draw the line. When her husband came to us last night he said he needed 5,000 peso’s to cover the D & C and all hospital expenses. That’s about $108.00 with the current exchange rate of P46.3 to the dollar. With that all said and done, we decided to use your hundred dollar donation to cover her medical expenses. We siphoned a little from the other donations to cover their remaining $8.00. He walked out of our office last night with P5,000, in hand, headed for the hospital. Thanks to you folks, Mrs. Hayag is getting the medical attention needed. We will keep you posted. We were also told that her tubes have to be tied too, so she will not be having anymore babies.
 
We see and hear of these situations very often. We have learned to say no without feeling guilty. We will do our part, but we realize there is no way in the world that we can help all and these folks realize that.
 
Thank you (Dunseith couple),
 
Gary
 
Alice and Harvey Hoffman are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary today.
 
Posting from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC
 

Wedding Photo June 14, 1945

 

 
They met on a blind date in Bismarck in December 1944 and were married the following June 14, 1945. The day they met Alice was a clerical employee at the State Capital in Bismarck and Sargent Harvey Hoffman was on leave from the army. Following Harvey’s release from the army in September 1945, they lived in Bismarck, moved briefly to McClusky, ND (Harvey was from McClusky and Alice from Denhoff), returned to Bismarck and then on to Lodi, California.

It was in California that doctors discovered both Alice and Brenda (born in 1950) had tuberculosis. The California doctors strongly suggested Alice and Brenda return to ND for treatment (each state provided free treatment for residents – Alice and Harvey were considered residents of ND). Unfortunately, San Haven, the North Dakota Tuberculosis Sanatorium, was filled to capacity. The San Haven Superintendent, Dr. George Loeb, promised both Alice and Brenda beds if they could return to San Haven by a specific date – just a few days away. Harvey hired a driver and Alice, Brenda, Dale (born in 1946) and the hired driver, drove night and day from California (including over the mountains in winter) to North Dakota to meet that deadline. Brenda and Alice were admitted on March 4, 1950 (Alice’s bed was the fifth in a room designed for four patients).

Brenda was released in 1952 and Alice in 1953. During their hospitalization, Harvey worked in the hospital kitchens and Dale lived with his grandparents in McClusky. Dale joined the family when Alice was released in 1953. Their first home as a family at San Haven was in the Children’s Building.

Other families living in the building at that time included the Jay Vanorney, Charlene and Sharon Pearson, Carol Jasper, John and Alan Boguslowski and Jeff Olson families. Most of the families shared one of the two central bathrooms on each floor and the one telephone in the hallway. The Children’s Building was also the school bus stop. San Haven school children were bused by Herc Nicholas (father of Jennie and step-father of Ellen G) to and from school in Dunseith including a trip home for lunch.

Cindy, Alice and Harvey’s third child, was born in 1959 after they had moved to the cottage next to the hospital.

Harvey took over the San Haven bakery in the mid 1950s and Alice started her work life babysitting Chuck and Mona Johnson’s boys (Brian, Craig and Kevin), moved to Occupational Therapy with Barbara Schaalt (sp?) and then accepted her position of more than 20 years, Executive Housekeeper. Alice and Harvey retired from San Haven in the early 1980s, wintered in Truth or Consequences, NM for years and maintained a summer home in Rugby where they now live. Alice is 84 and Harvey will be 87 in October. Both are healthy, active and continue to enjoy their retirement
 

April 2008:

Alice & Harvey Hoffman

 

 

 

 

Phyllis McKay (65):

 

 

Folks, We called Phyllis and she was able to join us at the at the “Old Country Buffet” in Federal Way, last Sunday the 6th, when we had our grandkids with us for dinner. She lives in Auburn, just a short distance away. Phyllis was in ND the day of our reunion too. Her Granddaughter, who lives in the Fargo area, graduated the same day as our reunion, so she was unable to attend. She would have dearly loved to have attended, but she could not be two places at the same time. These are several pictures we took with Phyllis. Phyllis is a 4th grade teacher and loves kids. Gary

 

 

Phyllis McKay & Gary Stokes

 

 

 

 

Phyllis McKay and Bernadette Stokes

 

 

 

 

Phyllis McKay with our two Grandkids, Tyler 12 & Neveah 5.

 

  

06/13/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
I would dearly love to be able to attend Elwood’s Birthday celebration, but unfortunately we are unable to attend. I congratulated him though, when we had dinner with them at Dale’s last month. Both Elwood and Eleanor look so nice. They for sure do not show their ages. They are like family to us.
 
The Country School reunion is being held the same day as Elwood’s Celebration of which many of you are signed up to attend. Looking at the time lines you can attend both. The Country School Reunion is being held at the Twin Oaks at the Lake. Registration & social time is until 6:30 PM with the Dinner being served from 6:30 to 8:00. I am very sure that Orvin Hagen will be attending both celebrations. He and the Fauske’s have remained good friends over the years.
 
Elwood, you are a Pillar & Icon to the Dunseith community and the whole area from the Turtle mountains to Bottineau and beyond. You have done so much for so many over the years. You were always there for my folks and our family in our growing up days, especially in the latter years when you farmed our home place. Dad spoke highly of and had the utmost respect for you. In his eyes you were the best farmer to have ever been on this universe. You had farm land all the way from your place north of us to the prairie. I remember well when you worked for the Rolette county Soil Conservation running their Cat. First it was a D-7, then they upgraded you to the D-8. You did a whole lot of brushing for us and a whole lot of others in the years that you worked for them. You are a saint in our eyes. Enjoy your celebration with family and friends of which you are most deserving of. It couldn’t be for a nicer kind hearted guy and Stubby too. We can not forget her. Gary
 
PS – I will make a special attempt to attend your Centennial in 10 years. Just for you I’d make the 9,000 mile journey across the Pacific from the Philippines to Bottineau. You can hold me to my word with this one.
 
 
 
Fauske family in about 1960:
Back: Carrole, Russell, Connie
Front: Eleanor, Arlinda, Beth, Brian & Elwood

 

 

 

Fauske family – November 2008:

 

L to R: Carrole, Brian, Connie, Eleanor, Elwood, Beth, Russell & Arlinda

 

 

 

Folks,

 

Having mentioned Orvin Hagen above, I thought I’d share this with you. We found this in a suit case full of pictures from my Grandma Julia Stokes that had been left in the barn up on the farm when dad sold it to Larry and Mona Marchus in 1996. Larry discovered this suit case several months ago and left it at Bud & Debby’s. There were some other interesting pictures in that suit case too that I will share with you in days to come.

 

Orvin was the 4-H leader of the Mountaineer’s for well over 20 years. I think closer to 30 would be more accurate. He was a great leader and family friend too.

 

Gary

 

 

 

 

Question for Mel Kuhn:

From Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

 

To Mel–
 
Is that a ’51 or ’52? We had a dark blue ’51 coupe like that — the Cranbrook package. Dad traded in ’59 and I think Albert(?) Bedard bought it.
 
Allen
 

 

 

 

Reunion & Scotland Pictures:

 

From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

 

 

 

Geri Metcalfe Munro (59), Sharon Zorn Gerdes (62) & Gary Stokes (65)

 

 

 

Travis Metcalfe (76) and Chuck & Geri Metcalfe (59) Munro

 

 

Patti Metcalfe Woods (67) & Travis Metcalfe (76)

 

 

Bernard Morin (76) & Travis Metcalfe (76)

 

 

Geri Metcalfe Munro (59) and Vickie Metcalfe (70)

at Luss, Loch Lomond. Scotland

 

 

 

Chuck and Geri Metcalfe Munro on the boat “Lady of the Lake”. Sir Walter
Scott, loch Lomond, Scotland

 

 

 

Gary,
We returned from Scotland one night, the next morning I rang up
Larry Metcalfe. He invited Geri and I to visit with them. We went
at 9:30 a.m. and left at noon. I then drove home to Bottineau and
got home to Bottineau about 5:15. Here are photos I am sharing.

Vickie 

 

Geri Metcalfe Munro (59), Larry Metcalfe (59) & Vickie Metcalfe (70)

 

 

 

Lise Rousseau Metcalfe (64)

  

06/12/2010

Posted on by
Hannah Loeb is not well:

 

 
Message from Karen Loeb Mhyre (65): Bellevue, WA

Hi Gary,

 

 

Sadly, I am writing to tell you that my mom is sick. She had been having abdominal pain since the later part of April. I returned home the 19th of May after a stay with our daughter in Ann Arbor. we saw the surgeon on 5/21 and she had a bunch of tests. She had surgery on June 2nd & is still recovering @ Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland. She has a bad diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the bowel with +. nodes and spread throughout the abdomen. It is a stage IV cancer. She has been followed closely by the cancer center with extensive lab work every 6 months, and had a normal workup December 9, 2009. she had a colonoscopy three years ago. She is 89 years young and has lived a full and wonderful life. She has raised 5 great children and now we will take good care of her. Up until June 1st, she was reading, playing scrabble or pinochle. She is a fighter and we hope for some time to be together, probably 6 months to a year. She is pretty mad about the whole thing as you can imagine! Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Mom’s address. We hope to have her home by early next week.

It is:
23321 8th Place West
Bothell Wa 98021

Thanks again for all of your wonderful communications!! Mom’s inner strength from her North Dakota days will serve her well as we make this journey.

Karen

 

 

Take care,

 

Karen Mhyre (daughter of Hannah Loeb)

 
 
Reply from Ron Longie (65): Yakima WA
 
Gary,
It looks like I missed a terrific time, and nice to see pictures from the reunion. I am going to Dunseith the first week of July to see old friends, I will be going back with my kid brother Donnie he hasn’t been back in 30 years so it’s time for a trip, as for me all I need is a reason. I am really looking forward to this trip it should be a blast.
Ron
 
 
Vickie Metcalfe & Chuck/Geri Metcalfe Munro’s trip to Scotland:
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 
Gary,
Chuck and Geri Munro and I returned yesterday evening to the
USA. Both the very first day and the very last day of our journey
were hectic stress.
Ah, in-between was pure magic. More sunshiny days than i
could have ever wished for or imagined.
Flying into Glasgow, we spent the first two days on the at
Luss on Loch Lomond, the Fargo First Presbyterians were part of the
church service celebrating it’s 1,500 year anniversary. (we missed
Prince Charles by 3 days) From Loch Lomond and the River Clyde,
traveling by bus, we stayed at a bed and breakfast on the Isle of
Mull, where our great Grandmother, Jean (Mclean) Metcalfe’s clan
hailed from.
Ferrying to the Isle of Iona we mingled with people from
various parts of the world who were also making pilgrimages. On that
isle, St. Columbe introduced Christianity to the Druids, Picts and
Celts. We found it to be a truly special spiritual place.
Through the busy days, often one track trails led us to many
castles, some in ruins, others very opulent. We stayed at Knock
Castle. We saw an old cathedral where it is believed one of the
oldest Yew tree survives in a kirk yard, just a mere 5,000 years
old. We photographed Highland Coooo’s…….
Venturing down history trails to that last battle field. We
listened to bagpipes, learned of Culodian and the Jacobites, Bonnie
Prince Charlie and Sir William Wallace, Rob Roy MacGregor, and
Robert the Bruce etc..
Throughout the highlands, among castle ruins, cottages and
rock fences we saw gentle long woolly long tailed sheep who patiently
wait til late July to be sheared. We learned there are over 7
million sheep in Scotland, the wool market throughout the world is
dipping downward. Central Scotland has its’ own silicon valley as
the number one export is technology ………..followed by #2 export
….whisky.
While Chuck and Geri visited a monastery existing for
centuries. I went off to find the ever reclusive,Nessy who has also
existed for centuries……. I spent two hours exploring the
sometimes 560 foot deep Loch Ness. While aboard,I met a teacher on
school holiday, from Wales and her daughter. Francesca, the
daughter, was wearing a Cooooo hat and preferred to be called Mosey
the Coooo. We made exchanges about the school systems in each
country and I believe, “We are more alike and have more in common
than we have differences”.
The last three days of our journey found us crossing the
Firth of Forth to Edinburgh.
By this time I was weary of castles. Walking through the
rain, we searched to find the grave of Greyfriars Bobby, walked a
bit of the royal mile and listened in the magnificent acoustics of
St. Giles Cathdral, finally hoppong a double decker city bus where
we got a birds eye view for a couple hours.
Food each day began with a full Scottish breakfast. Bacon,
eggs, sausage, black sausage, grilled tomatoes, toast, Sottish
jams,…..or cold cereal, ham, cheese, or…..kipper, or salmon.
Often the fish and chips were favored for dinner. Supper, we had
choices of venison, mussels, roast beef, chicken, haggis, cullen
skink, carrot soup. In between was tea time…… Scottish food
is fantastic!!!
Finding a wealth of treasures to be brought home; Red Hot
Chilli Pipers and Mclean of Lochbuie tartan ties for the Metcalfe
men. Golf hats and tees from St. Andrew’s. Linens, wool, and books
for the women and wee children.
Yes. We three agreed; the history, culture, scenery and food
rate across the board high marks.
The people of Scotland made the magic as they were
welcoming, warm friendly to animals and people, honorable, and
containing healthy doses of vibrant humor and wit.
I came home to my Lochbuie. Whom, thank goodness is not
purring having spent the last 2 weeks with Cyndy’s family and her
cats. But… me thinks, I find Buie has developed a fine taste for
people food. Acht! Another-r- r tomorrow to be filled with dog
walking, picking ticks and r-r-reminiscing.
Vickie
 
 
Pictures taken at the Rolette County Museum in St. John:
 
Folks, these are a few pictures that we took when we visited the St. John Museum on Friday, May 21st.
 
Thank you Dick Johnson and Mel Kuhn for your hospitality, allowing us to make this tour possible of this great facility of exhibits. I was impressed with all that you have.
 
Gary

 
 
Gary Stokes & Art Rude
 
 
 
Angela Berube Malget, Connie Halvorson Kester & Gary Stokes
 

 

 

 

Gary Stokes, Harvey Hoffman, Dave (Husband – Brenda Hoffman),

 

Alice Hoffman, Brenda Hoffman (68) & Esther Murray Fleming

 

 

 

 

Greg Malget, Angela Berube Malget (65),

Connie Halvorson Kester (64) & Gary Stokes

 

 

 

Susan Fassett Martin (65), Dick Johnson (68) & Paula Fassett (71)

 

 

 

 

Esther Murray Fleming (65)

 

 

 

Angela (Berube) & Greg Malget

 

 

 

Esther Murray Fleming (65) & Connie Halvorson Kester (64):

 

 

 

Gwen Grimme Eltz (68)

 

 

 

L to R: Mel Kuhn, Bill Grimme, Greg Malget, Dick Johnson,

Connie Halvorson Kester, Gary Stokes,

Angela Berube Malget & Jim Kester

 

 

Mel Kuhn’s Classic that he restored and drives

 

  

06/11/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
I am putting this out a bit early today. We have friends from Bremerton, WA staying/visiting with us. They will be here until Tuesday. Bernadette is fixing Breakfast, so hopefully I can get this distributed before she is ready for us to eat and our friends get up.
 
Please send any pictures that any of you have from the reunion.
 
Gary
 
 
Reply from Marie Iverson Staub (60): Seattle, WA
 

Gary,

 

It was wonderful seeing everyone at the reunion. Peggy & Dennis Espe had a nice get together for the class of 1960 at there house before the big reunion and it was great seeing people I had not seen in over 50 years. I wish I could have stayed around the area longer but Barbara is still working so we had to leave the next day. I also want to add my thank’s to Verena for all the work to set this up it was great fun. Hope you and Bernadette had a nice trip getting home and many thank’s for all you both do to keep us informed. Thank’s to Peggy & Dennis Espe for having the class of 1960 at there house. I found out I ‘m related to Peggy, I guess it is a small world.

 

Marie Iverson Staub

Marie, It was so nice to see you. There were a number of your class of 6- folks in attendance. We’d like to see some pictures. It was so nice seeing your cousin Joyce & Harlan Flaata too. I remember them well from my younger days when we attended the Metigoshe Lutheran churches of which my folks and them were very active members of. They look the same and yes they do live on Bear Butte. Joyce confirmed that.
 
Address & Phone number change:
For Mona Dionne Johnson: Bottineau, ND.
 
I am now living in Bottineau.

Address: 325 5th St. E., Bottineau, ND 58318

Tel. No. 702-534-0131

 

 
Folks,
 
On Thursday afternoon/evening, before the reunion, John and Margaret Bedard invited us up to their home on Lake Metigoshe for a 10 plus course steak dinner. They prepared some might fine dishes with some of the most tender steaks I’ve ever eaten. John did a might fine job barbequing. Then they toped it all off with June Berry Pie and ice cream.
 
Shortly after we got to John & Margaret’s, Susan Fassett Martin called me. She and Esther Murray Fleming had just arrived in Dunseith and were at Dale’s. John and Margaret invited them to come up and join the party too. Later on Les and Myra Henning Halvorson came over too. They have a cabin next door to John & Margaret’s. It was a most enjoyable evening and a kick start for the rest of the reunion days to follow. We need to dearly cherish these type of gatherings, because they are so few and far between.
 
John and Margaret, you are great hosts. We thank you so much for this enjoyable evening. We will remember this day for years to come.
 
Gary

 
 

L to R: Bill Grimme, Sherry Nerpel, Irina Protassevitch, Ken Nerpel,

Brenda Johnson, Dick Johnson, Susan Fassett Martin & Gary Stokes

 

 

Bill Grimme with his Fiancé Irina Protassevitch

 

 

Esther Murray Fleming, Brenda Johnson,

Sherry Nerpel & Susan Fassett Martin

 

 

Kenny Nerpel & Brenda Johnson

 

 

Dick Johnson & Esther Murray Fleming

 

 

Esther Murray Fleming, Susan Fassett Martin & John Bedard

 

 

Irina Protassevitch

 

 

Bill Grimme & Sherry Nerpel

 

 

Dick Johnson & Susan Fassett Martin

Note: Dick must have caught a big one???

 

 

Esther Murray Fleming & Gary Stokes

 

 

John Bedard

 

 

John and Margaret Brennan Bedard

 

 

Front to Back: Irina Protassevitch, Les Halvorson,

Myra Henning Halvorson & Esther Murray Fleming

  

06/10/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
We got back home to the Philippines last night about 11:00 PM. When we landed they announced that it was 86F. That is about 4 degrees warmer than normal for that hour of the day. It’s currently 94F at 4:00 PM. This is the warmest that I have ever seen it here in Cebu.
 
We most certainly had a great trip seeing so many of you folks. It was absolutely wonderful. We so enjoyed the many small gatherings before and after the reunion as well. Last Friday, the evening before we left ND, we gathered at the Pizza Inn, in Bottineau, with Dick/Brenda Johnson, Jim/Connie Halvorson Kester, John/Margaret Bedard and Darrel/Debbie Stokes for Pizza and some good conversation from years past. When we were leaving, one of the workers in the back said to Dick, “You guys are leaving”. What was he thinking, we had only been there a little over 5 hours! We sure had fun reminiscing old times and stories from the past. Some day we’ll have to pick up from where we left off. We weren’t finished by any means, right Dick, Margaret & Connie.
 
I have not had a chance to down load any pictures from our camera that we took in the states yet today. I need to download and get them all separated. Hopefully I’ll get that done later this evening so I can post a few tomorrow.
 
I have posted some pictures, at the bottom of this message from our Alaska Cruise, that Phyllis McKay provided. When we were in Federal Way on Sunday with our Grandkids, we called Phyllis to join us for dinner at the “Old Country Buffet”. It’s always a pleasure visiting with Phyllis.
 
Gary
 
 
Reply from Verena Gillis: Dunseith, ND
 
Gary,
I went and cleaned up on Sunday and didn’t find any camera so someone may
have picked it up Saturday evening. They may respond to your posting on
the blog, I hope.

Got everything all cleaned and put away and returned to key to George plus
$100.00 to cover any electric expenses. He told me anywhere from $30.00
to $80.00 so I just gave him $100.00 and that seemed to satisfy him.

I have been getting so many compliments on the food, the organization, the
decorations, etc. from people in the community that attended and this
makes everything all worthwhile! I am so happy it was a huge success and
this makes my heart soar like an eagle!

Later,
Verena (*-*)

Verena, Your heart has every right to soar like an eagle with the huge success of this wonderful reunion. You made it happen and we so appreciate you going the extra miles to make this whole event the success that it was. When I visited you at that school several days before the reunion, I can not for the life of me figure out how you manage to do all that you do with all the things that you have on your plate. To top things off you were tasked by the school to make up graduation announcements, banners, etc for the DHS gradation the day following our reunion. How do you manage to do it all and so efficiently? You are most certainly a super woman. DHS will be lost when you retire someday.
 
We want to thank George Gottbreht too, for letting us use the Bingo Barn rent free. He only ask that we pay the utilities that were incurred for this event. Thank you George. I was also pleasantly surprised to see my name on Dale’s Bill Board out by the road too “Welcome Stokes Bogglers”. Bernadette first noticed it when we drove into Dale’s several days after we were in the area. Her words were “Look at that, your name is posted on that sign!” Sure enough it was and for three weeks too. Again, thank you George.
 
 
Reunion:
Reply from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC
 
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. What a great reunion. I missed talking to so many people- just ran out of time even though the lights were shut off on Dick, Brenda, me and Tim Hill! I thought Bernadette was probably a lovely lady but know so now – a entire week of listening to our stories PLUS manning the reception area. Way to go Bernadette. And I can’t even begin to tell you how important the San Haven info at the Museum was/is to me. Kudos big time to Mel and Dick and Kudos to you for using the blog to tell us about it. Great weekend that I wish had been longer.

Love Brenda

You are so welcome Brenda. You were among those of us that were there to the most enjoyable end. We all had to leave about 12:30 AM so they could lock the place up. Brenda, you are a hoot and so much fun. I am so glad that you were able to attend. We enjoyed seeing Dave too, at the Museum. Gary
 
 
Message from Aime Casavant (66): Jamestown, ND
 
Gary,

Not sure if your checking your blog on vacation.

I have been assigned a bus charter run to Oklahoma City next week.
Were supposed to be back around 1:00PM on Friday – I’m hoping for no
problems so I can make it to Dunseith. Hope to see everyone there.

I drive charter tours in the so called semi-retirement.

 
 

Wild Weasel Mission in Viet Nam

Bill Hosmer’s (48) reply to DIck Johnson (68): Tucson, AZ

Bill Hosmer wrote:
> Dick, Thanks for your reply. Yes, the Wild Weasel mission is somethingthat I, personally, initiated by way of recommendation to the general who asked each of us flight leaders what we thought of a mission the day before in 1965 when six of us got shot down attempting to kill SAM sites very near Hanoi. Forty eight F-105 “Thuds* attacked two sites. We had to fly at very low level in order to not be shot down by the missiles themselves, but the AAA guys had a ball. My wing man was hit and had to eject as we were attacking one of the sites. I was leading eight birds and were supposed to hit everything left standing after the other forty had attacked. My guy was the only one not killed or taken prisoner that day, out of the six shoot downs. I was pretty pissed when the general asked me what I thought of the mission. I told him it was the f—ing dumbest thingI’ve ever experienced in my life. He said, ok, you get a meeting set up with representatives
> from all the units involved and give me a recommendation on how to kill SAMs. By the way, you will be leading the next effort to get them. Igot the other guys together and we put together a long range and short range plan to kill SAMs. The long range one was to get a group of fighterpilots, with stuff already on the shelf,trained to do just that one specialty and develop tactics to lead the attack force into those high threattargets close to town. The F-100 was the first bird they had available to do this. The commander of that first outfit was and is a good friend of mine, Gary Willard. Later F-105s were modified with more advanced avionics to try to do it better, and finally F-4s got into the act. I led a twelve ship flight of F-105s on the next effort after the bad day of losses. I was able to develop my own tactical approach to getting the job done. We damaged the site and guns around it and did not lose one bird. I got some recognition
> for doing it, and was proud of the people who volunteered to go with me on that one, in the face of the bad day with all those losses. So, Dick, I got carried away when you mentioned Wild Weasel and got a little offthe track. By the way, I flew the F-100 my second time over there, and it was all strikes against targets in Laos, and close air support for troops in South Vietnam. The president called off strikes in North Vietnam which boiled my blood. Cheers, Bill

Dick’s reply to Bill:
 
Bill,

Gary Willard was the guy they we interviewing, I’m quite
sure—Brig. Gen. Gary Willard–if my memory serves me. Thanks for the
info and you can ‘get off track’ with me anytime—I love it!! It’s too
bad they didn’t ask you guys the day BEFORE rather than after the black
day. Thanks again.

Dick

Dick’s reply to Bill:

 

Bill,

I will certainly greet the reunion goers on your behalf. We will
miss you and Pat . The news about Pat’s improvement is great! This is a
step in the right direction for her and just being home will be
therapeutic in itself. Tonight the Military Channel ran a documentary on
the Wild Weasels in Vietnam. It told the in depth course of action you
guys did in the F 100s to decoy the SAMs ahead of the strike force. The
entire NVA trick with ‘off and on’ radar to hide their sites was
explained in detail. It was interesting but made me realize even more
the danger you guys faced on a daily basis. It sounded like the Wild
Weasels started the sorties in late ’65. Were you in the initial
squadrons? We bought a new satellite TV system and now get some real
good channels—-for history and aviation buffs, anyway. Hope things
keep improving for Pat. Give her our best!

Dick

 

Mike Hill:

Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

 

Gary,

 

I think I’ve mentioned Wally’s nephew was married this past Saturday. Once again, it’s a small world. Shane’s “best man” was Mike Hill, Tim Hill’s son. I met Tim at the reception.

 

Neola

 

 

 

Message from Cecile Carbonneau Marchand (50): Kenosha, WI & Clearwater, FL.

 

Welcome t5o the states. I can not be there for the reunion but I will be looking forward to hearing all about it. Wish you good weather and good times.. Cecile Marchand (1950)

 

 

 

Message from Marge Longie Langan Wilcox (56): Vancouver, WA.

 

Gary/ Bernadette,

hope you both have a great time at the reunion.

one of these years I will try and make a reunion.

tell everyone hello for me.

 

Marge Langan Wilcox tigerlady414@aol.com
 
 
Message from Donald Malaterre (72): Sioux Falls, SD.

Hi Gary,

This is Donald Malaterre from the class of 1972.

 

Would you please add my name and my wife’s name, Joann Malaterre to the list of attendees of the Dunseith Reunion next week.

 

Joann is not a Dunseith alumni, but she thinks you are some kind of a legend.

 

We live in Sioux Falls, SD.

 

Thank you, and we will see you there.

 

Donald Malaterre

Donald, I am so glad that your were able to make it to the reunion. I enjoyed meeting you and Joann. It was nice of you to stop by at Dale’s to visit with our class of 65 folks on Friday too, the day before the reunion. I noticed you knew a number of folks and they too were glad to see you. Gary

 
 
Message from Paulette LaCroix Chisholm (68): paulette.chisholm@verizon.net Newark, Delaware
 
Gary,

Have a safe and pleasant trip back to the US! You and Bernadette should have a great time visiting family and staying in the area. Better bring a jacket, it’s been downright chilly in the US. Thank you so much for keeping the blog going and for the opportunity for the extended community of ND to stay connected to their roots, memories, and old friends. You are a peach without the pit!

Paulette LaCroix Chisholm

 
Posted on the Dunseith Alumni Web Site:
From Beverly Hamnes Handeland Hamnes (48): Bottineau, ND

From: beverly hamnes
Phone:
E-mail:
Message:
DEAR GARY;
HERE IS MY EMAIL ADDRESS WE SURE HAD A GOOD EVENING WTIH EVERY ONE SATURDAY NITE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND ALSO BERNADETTE.
BEV

 
 
 
Reply to the pie postings sent from ND.
From Gwen Struck Dumas (68): Havre, MT

I just made my first ever angle food “pie”! Not sure how that happened, but it’s definitely different!
Clint went outside to cut firewood. It’s raining pitchforks and hammer handles and has been all week. I think he needed to get away to have a good ol’ belly laugh!! I may do the same…..some day.
 
 
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 
Thank You Gary for making things happen.
Your blog continues to be like the old General store where folks gathered or Central Telephone Exchange of yesteryear. Many folks use quite frequently (other folks just listen in /view). All of us benefit by the exchange of positive communication.
I sincerely hope you and Bernadette had a good vacation. I here stateside felt it was great seeing you both again.
Happy Trails to you until we meet again……….Vickie
Vickie, Thank you so much for this nice compliment. It was most certainly a pleasure seeing and visiting with you both at the reunion and at the Bakery hashing out days gone by. I am hoping you are enjoying your trip back to Scotland with your cousin Geri Metcalf Munro and her husband Chuck. You may be back now. Please fill us in? Gary
 

 

Note from Bob Leonard (51): Lake Metigoshe & Dunseith, ND.

 

Hi Everyone:

 

Just a quick note to let you know I will be moving my computer to Lake Metigoshe, effective today, 5-23-2010. I am assuming I will have my same Metigoshe e-mail address, which is

 

If I find that I have to use another address, I will let all of you know.

 

Plan on having it up and running tomorrow afternoon, perhaps best if you do not use it until Tuesday.

 

We plan on making our physical move this week, perhaps on Wednesday or Thursday.

 

Hope all is well with all of you, have a good summer.

 

Sincerely,

 

Bob

 

 

Trying to locate Jim Olson – Former Teacher

From Larry Nagel (Former Teacher): Shields, ND

 

I have been trying to locate Jim Olson for sometime. He taught at Dunseith High School Business Department until the spring of 1966.

Thank you!

Larry Nagel

 
 
 
July 2009 Alaskan Cruise pictures:
Posted by Phyllis McKay (65): phyllis.mckay@kent.k12.wa.us Auburn, WA

Note: I think the date on these pictures must have defalted to the wrong date when Phillis took these.

 

 

 

Class of 65 members:

 

Back: Gary Stokes, Patty Boguslawski Gottbreht & Phyllis McKay

 

Front: Bill Grimme

 

 

 

 

Gary Stokes & Phyllis McKay

 

 

 

 

Darrel (Bud) 970)/Debby Stokes, Phyllis McKay (65) & Oliver/Marlene Reing

 

Note: Debby and Marlene are sisters.

 

 

 

Gary (57) & Sue Metcalfe

 

 

 

 

LeaRae Parrill Espe (67) & Terry Espe (64)

 

 

 

Cheryl Haagenson (71)

 

 

 

Cheryl Haagenson (71), Florence Pladson Sime (62), Becky Sime Coles (83) & Phyllis McKay (65)

 

 

 

Lee Stickland (64), Phyllis Mckay (65) & Gloria Pflepsoen (Lee’s Friend)

 

 

 

Patty Boguslawski Gottbreht (65) & Phyllis McKay (65)

 

 

 

 

Minnie Knox Flynn (47), K. Flynn Richard (67) & Phyllis McKay (65)

 

Note: Minnie & K. are mother/daughter

 

  

05/10/2010

Posted on by
Leaving for the States today:
 
Folks,
 
Bernadette and I will be leaving for the states a little past Midnight tonight. We’ll have a 12 hour lay over in Seoul Korea of which the airlines will be putting us up in a hotel for that time. That will be a nice break. From Seoul we have a direct flight to Seattle. We’ll be arriving in Seattle a little past noon on Tuesday. We’ll be spending time with our kids, grandkids and friends in Bremerton for a few days. On Sunday we’ll be flying to Minot. We’ll be in ND until June 5th before heading back to Cebu via Seattle. While in ND we’ll be staying with my brother Darrel (Bud) and his wife Debby in Bottineau.
 
When we get to Seattle, Bernadette and I will be getting Cell phone AT&T SIM cards for our phones. I will be posting those numbers when I get them. I’m hoping we can get local Dunseith/Bottineau numbers?
 
While back in the states, I will be posting limited daily blogs.
 
We are looking forward to seeing you folks.
 
Gary
 
 
Reply from John Tangen: California.
 
Gary, What a fascinating piece! While I have long ago become a “mountain country” fan, I still enjoy driving across my home state, North Dakota and relaxing in the tranquility. One of my favorite travel memories, one summer evening a few years back, was driving east through the badlands along I-94. To the south was a spectacular display of sheet lightning, something I’d not witnessed before except in Texas; then to my left I noticed another light display, and after pondering a few moments realized I was beholding the Northern Lights, which I hadn’t seen since we moved to town (Bottineau) in 1965. The double display was so mesmerizing I had to pull over and stop a while to enjoy. Not a single other car appeared to interrupt the show. Anyway, those mental snapshots are still in memory’s photo album.

Hope you have a great time back in the “home country”!

John

Folks, John Tangen’s mother was Esther Thompson Tangen, sister to Ella Thompson Pladson. John is a first cousin to Keith Pladson and all his siblings.
John, It’s great hearing from you. Gary
 
 
Message from Mel Kuhn (70): St. John, ND.
 

Gary,

 

Larry Hackman asked me in an e-mail why I wasn’t writing anymore of those fuuny stories about my wife. Now Lola-when you see Kathy at work you don’t have to tell her all about this-OK. So here goes. A few weeks back my wifes dad passed away[probably why I didn’t think to pass this on] and she was gone to Indiana for a week and a half. Ayway-when she left she gave me the checkbook saying only to use it if I really needed stuff[this is the first time I’ve seen the checkbook in over 20 years. After about a week I ran out of clean dishes and preety near run out of clean clothes. This was mostly due to the fact that she left in kind of a hurry and didn’t wash everything before she left. Well anyway I went and bought some new plates and silverware and stuff[I didn’t get any new kettles and frying pan as if you cook the same thing you can use them over] and a few pairs of pants and some shirts and underware. When she got home she seemed a little upset about this saying that the checkbook was for buying more laundry detergent and dish soap not for buying clean things to use. I still don’t understand what I did wrong. Maybe you can help me out here Larry, you are just a little older and maybe a little wiser than me in these matters.

 

Mel

Mel, we are excited to see you. We are looking forward to the tour that you and Dick will giving the Alumni folks of the Museum too. Gary
 
 
 
Reply from Marlene (Lilleby)Palmquist Larsen (53): Ephrata, WA
 

Hope you and Bernadette have one grand time!!!Thanks for all the Blogs, even though there are many I don'[t know —it is surprising how many I do know and how you make us all part of the Dunseith family. Would love to be there at the reunion === will be a lot of good times. Thanks again for creating this Blog.

Marlene (Lilleby)Palmquist Larsen

 

 

 

Reply from Blanche Wicks Schley (42): bschley@medicine.nodak.edu Grand Forks, ND

 
Hope that you and the classmates listed in your daily e-mail will have a wonderful reunion. The town will be busting at the seams for a few hours!
 
Can you see if the history of Dunseith that has been mentioned several times is available? Thanks.
 
Again, thank you for starting this daily e-mail!
 
Blanche
 
PS: You have a really beautiful wife!
Yes, Bernadette has inner beauty too with a heart of gold. She loves to give.
 
 
 
Update from DeAnn Gottbreht O’Hara: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht
 
Happy Mother’s Day everyone! I’m am looking forward tomorrow to my first Mother’s Day and my Birthday all in the same day! It will be very special. I will be able to celebrate it with my Mother and Grandmother so that is pretty special as well.

I had another chemo Friday and it went good. Only one more chemo treatment to go!! I can’t wait. The hormone treatments should be a lot easier on my system without all the side effects of the chemo. I saw my doctor and she was sure excited to see Connor and hold him for the first time. She said Connor is our Miracle Boy and he sure is! He went through a lot with me already and came through it just fine. He is also a great traveler in the car! Thank goodness since we are driving all over the state pretty much every week.

I put up a couple new pictures of Connor on here for you all to see. He is sure changing fast. He is also starting to sleep better at night the last couple of night so that sure helps me out. He is eating larger amounts to so I think that helps. Take care everyone and enjoy the weekend!

  

05/09/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
This is a very rare day with not having anything to post. Bernadette and I are meeting some of our friends for lunch at 11:30 AM this morning at the Mall. This is mothers day too. We celebrated mothers day a bit early with a buffet dinner last night with some other friends of ours at the Marco Polo Hotel.
 
Tomorrow night we will be heading to the Airport for our 12:30 AM flight back to the states. Bernadette has our bags packed and ready to go. Tomorrow will be the last daily blog that I will be sending before leaving. I plan on sending a few messages while back in the states as time permits, but will probably keep them to a minimum. When I don’t have all my tools at my finger tips, it’s a bit more clumsy. In ten minutes we’ll be leaving, so I better get this sent and posted on the Website.
 
Gary
 
4/29/10
Bernadette Stokes at a monthly potluck dinner.
 

05/08/2010

Posted on by
Blog numbering.
Folks, I screwed up yesterday with the blog numbering. It should have been 791, not 781. I am continuing on with 791 today. Gary

Verena Gillis Appreciation:

From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

 

Gary,

I’d like to express my appreciation to Verena. Wow! Thank-you for all the thoughtfulness, communication and hard work you are doing to make such an organized school homecoming!

Cool rainy, weather has been in our picture the past 2 weeks . Rhubarb was coming up nicely, as it likes the cool spring moisture. I woke up today wondering if my rhubarb crop will fail as it’s peeking through a light snow covering. Then, I wondered about juneberries which can be touchy about frost.

Oh well, looking at the positive, the cold clime keeps my mind on school! And I’m not longing to be outdoors in the frosty muddy glop yard cleaning.

Take care when re-filling your cuppa …. fill your day with some laughter too.Vickie

Vickie, I 2nd your words of appreciation for Verena. She has done and is doing a wonderful job coordinating all of the logistics and organizing for our reunion. She’s a super woman with great communication and organizational skills. Thank you Verena. Gary
 
 
Email address change:
From Leland Hagen (50): Bryan, TX.
I am changing internet service effective today, 7-may -2010. Please make this correction to your address book.

lghagen1@ verizon.net

Thanks,
Leland

 
 
 
David Houim, Cousin to the Hackman siblings, was killed in a tree cutting accident:
Posted by Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND.
Note: Larry, Neola sent me David’s obituary several days ago. I was waiting for more info and connections before posting. Thanks, Gary
 

Gary

Since David Hoium was brought up and some people know him.

I thought I would send my first cousins obituary.

He was the youngest son of my mothers sister.

He died much to young and left a wife and three children behind that will miss him.

He joins his daughter, and his mother and dad in heaven.

He was a good guy.

He will be missed.

God bless him, his family and all of you,

Thank you for your prayers.

Larry Hackman
 

David Houim

Dec. 5, 1965 – May 1, 2010

David Wesley Houim, 44, of Rugby, died at the Trinity Medical Center in Minot, North Dakota, on Saturday, May 1, 2010, from complications related to injuries he suffered during a tree cutting job on Tuesday, April 27.

David was born Dec. 5, 1965, to Virgil and Frances (Kraft) Houim of Rugby, N.D. He was raised in Rugby and after high school went on to Bismarck State College to complete his training as an electrical lineman. He spent four years working for the Boylston Municipality in Massachusetts before returning to Rugby, the community that was always home to him.

On April 29, 1989, he and Nancy Heilman were married at Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby, and made their home in Rugby and started a family of their own. Over the years, many people came to know David through his business, “Dave Houim Tree Service,” and from the rental properties that they owned and managed in Rugby. His wife, Nancy, was always proud of the integrity and honesty that David brought to their businesses.

When away from work, he enjoyed a number of outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, canoeing, downhill skiing and particularly camping. He also took great pride in the remodeling jobs that he completed, not only with the rental properties, but his family home as well. We will always remember his trademark laugh and a smile that made you feel at ease when you were with him. He had a great sense of humor and always had time for a good joke or recalling an amusing situation.

David was a man of conviction, committed to doing what was right and instilling that in his children. His kind heartedness was extended to so many people. He was willing to do anything for anybody, even if they were complete strangers. The unfailing devotion he had for his family was even more evident when they went through some difficult days and challenging times. He was always willing to make sacrifices in order to care for his family. They were his priority and they brought a great deal of love and joy to his life.

Survivors include: his wife, Nancy; his children, Joshua, Ashley and Amber, all at home; three sisters, Darlene (Garry) Rose, Rugby, Karen (Stacey) Koster, Mayville, and Carol (Don) Clarkson, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; five brothers, Garry (Lana), Mandan, Donald (Judy), Grandin, Bill (Brenda), Minot, Bob (Monica) and Ken (Kathy), all of Rugby; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Raymond and Rosanna Heilman, of Portage, Wis.; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Abby, on May 31, 2001; and his parents.

Mass of Christian Burial: Will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, in Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby, with burial in the church cemetery. Fr. Tom Graner will be the Celebrant.

Friends may call today, May 4, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby, and Wednesday, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., at Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby. There will be no reviewal in the church on Wednesday.

Rosary and vigil prayers: Will begin at 7 p.m. today in the church.

Music: Little Flower Church Choir.

Casket Bearers: Garry, Donald, Bob, Bill and Ken Houim, Joseph Ramedan, Steve Braaten and Brooks Houim.

Arrangements with Anderson Funeral Home of Rugby.

 
 

 
North Dakota forever:
Posted by Mike & Sandra Zeiler Vandal (62): Elk River, MN
 
Here’s an article by Chris Jones from a Dec. ’09 issue of Esquire that I thought you might appreciate:

The Emptiest, Loneliest, Highway in America

There are only about 640,000 people in North Dakota. For five hours — unbroken by a pause, a turn, or even a lane change — I was blissfully one of them.

I’ve never believed it’s about the journey; for me, it’s always been the destination that counts. My destination was Montana, so I wanted North Dakota to disappear.
Even before I found myself on the otherwise empty I-94, I’d been told that the 352 miles of four-lane between Fargo and Beach were among the most desperate in the country to cross. Except for Bismarck, rising above the middle of the state, there would be nothing to mark the distance.
I’d made things harder on myself by crossing Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, and Minnesota before I tackled our most barren country. After so much uninterrupted green, my Corolla had already become a kind of sensory-deprivation chamber, like one of those metal tubes in which divers get over the bends. I’d even turned off the radio. (When I caught myself singing along to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” outside Brainerd, I feared permanent damage to my self-esteem.) In Moorhead, I stopped to top off the tank and buy a bag of beef jerky. I had five hours to empty them before North Dakota would fall along with the night.
At first, the prairie opened up in a way that made it seem romantically panoramic. Through the dead bugs on my windows, I scanned a massive blue sky and great flats of grass. But after twenty minutes, it all became too overwhelming, too anti-mountain, for my mind to take in anymore. To get by, I tried to home in on the details, catching them the way a climber finds cracks in the face of a rock. I convinced myself that there was a beauty in power lines and the undersides of overpasses. And maybe there was something beautiful about them, those small artifacts of industry. Watching North Dakota’s human landscape pass by was like watching a noble but ultimately futile fight. The sky and the space were always going to win, but there was something in the struggle against them that took hold in me. By the time I’d put Bismarck behind me, its lights just coming on to fend against the semidarkness, it had somehow become about the journey after all.
Because how often do we sit for five hours, chewing beef jerky, watching the sun set? In silence? In dreams? It never happens anymore, except in Canadian hospital emergency rooms, but even then, there’s something to watch other than the sunflowers turning west. Without having to make so much as a single lane change, I’d entered the closest thing to a runner’s high that a fat man can feel. I had rolled clean into bliss, my mind as open as the fields around me. Squinting into orange, I thought about those things that we never let ourselves think about — those things that we actively defend ourselves against thinking about by having so much other stuff to look at and listen to.
On that godforsaken highway, I had revelations. I witnessed miracles. I saw every mistake I had made. I made peace with my regrets. And then I looked forward, ahead to the first few folds in the earth, to the canyons and the Continental Divide. I saw the rest of what I wanted out there. I saw the battles I still wanted to wage, the people I still wanted to meet and meet again, the trophies I still wanted to hang on my walls. I saw nearly every place I wanted to go between now and the end, and by the time I saw that big blue sign in my headlights, WELCOME TO MONTANA, I saw, too, that I wanted North Dakota to last forever.
 
  

05/07/2010

Posted on by
Message from Bill Hosmer (48): Tucson, AZ
 
Gary and Good Friends. I have watched the growth of the attendance list of the May Reunion which is being managed so well by Verina Gillis, who is a miracle all by herself. I have been going back to Lake Metigoshe for twenty years and spent time in Dunseith with my golfing and poker friends over that time. The event which is coming up is just wonderful to know about and I hope that the friendship and loyalty of our entire community gives the attendees a new sense of our common heritage. I won’t be going back to our Hills and Prairies this year because my wife, Pat, is not well enough to travel. By the way, she and I were both born in Rolette in 1930, three weeks apart.

Pat and I wish for a wonderful celebration of a community of folks with a tremendous value system, unmatched anywhere else.

I am proud to have been a part of your heritage and wish for the best of times for all attendees, and those who could not make it. Bill Hosmer

 
Bill, I am hoping pat’s health will improve in time. We are sorry to hear of her health set backs. You are one guy I was hoping to see too. We’ll have to take a rain check on that. When I get back from the states an on a slower day, I am going to post a rerun of the Dunseith folks replies, with your comments, to the air show you performed over Dunseith in the early 60’s. Gary
 
 
 
Jerry Pladson:
Request from Keith Pladson (66): Stafford, VA
 
Gary,
My brother Jerry would like to be added to your distribution list for the daily messages. He and his wife, Susan (Sue) are also going to attend the reunion dinner. I advised him to contact Verena and since I notice they have now been added to the latest update list, guess he was able to get in touch with her to get that taken care of. Thanks Gary
Keith
Jerry & Sue, Yes I saw your names on Verena’s list for attending the reunion. We are excited to see you guys. She also had you listed as living in Fargo. Is that correct? I have added you to our distribution starting with today’s message. Gary
 
 
 
Reposting to include picture that I forgot to attach.
Mrs. Conroy:
Reply from Dick Johnson: Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

I think Paula has been holding out on us! That’s a great memory you
shared about Mrs. Conroy’s 4th grade. She was my favorite grade school
teacher. The other teachers were very good too, but Mrs. Conroy really
knew how to make school interesting. The sick room Paula mentioned was
also kind of a library too and was also used now and then for ‘private’
discipline by Mrs. Conroy. There were two doors to the cloak room (sick
room) and one was from the hallway balcony. I remember some younger kid
tried to slide down the banister and fell over backward, landing on the
cast iron radiator in the hallway below. He got hurt but I can’t
remember the extent of his injuries anymore. Diane Larson Sjol
remembered the shaky fire escape on the back of the school. When I think
about it, I don’t think it was real safe to send a full load of kids
down there at once. We did it for many fire drills without a
problem.Before the school got a new automatic fire alarm system, there
was an old hand crank siren on the wall in the downstairs hallway and
Mr. Conroy used to crank it for a fire drill. I remember how some of the
first graders would start to cry when the siren started. It was an
exciting time for the rest of us, we got out of class and went outside
for a while! Diane, I never really liked to look down either when I went
down the old rickety fire escape. The steps were metal strips and you
could see down through them to the ground— a long ways down for a
small kid! Paula mentioned the ‘Plaster of Paris’ wall hangings we made
in Mrs. Conroy’s crafts (art) class. I’ll attach a picture of the one I
gave to my mom for Christmas 1959. I still have it. Thanks Gary!

Dick


 
 
 
Reunion
 
Folks, This is Verena’s official list of those that have paid. This list is several days old, so there have probably been more added. Please let us know of any discrepancies so they can be corrected. Thanks, Gary
 
Note: The dead line for payment of the catered dinner is the 14th. That’s one week from today.
Verena’s list of those that have paid.




1 Albertson Fulsebakke, Shelly St. John, ND 1972-Paid
2 Albertson, Michael   Spouse-Paid
3 Abrahamson, David St. John, ND 1972-Paid
4 Abrahamson, Marsha   Spouse-Paid
5 Anderson Fassett, Crystal Walhalla, ND 1970-No Dinner-Paid $5.00
6 Anderson, Dale   Spouse-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
7 Anderson, Warren Rolette, ND 1965-Paid
8 Anderson, Cora   Spouse-Paid
9 Armentrout, Rodney Dunseith, ND 1955-Paid
10 Armentrout Kraft, Marlene   Spouse-1957-Paid
11 Awalt, Lloyd Bottineau, ND 1944-Paid
12 Awalt, Theresa Bottineau, ND Spouse-1948-Paid
13 Azure, Lisa St. John, ND 1983-Paid
14 Parisien, Marshall   Fiance’-Paid
15 Baldwin Hosmer, Nancy Lake Metigoshe, ND 1962-Paid
16 Kontzie, Keith   Fiance’-Paid
17 Bear, Stephanie Dunseith, ND 2001-Paid
18 Bedard, John Lake Metigoshe, ND 1965-Paid
19 Bedard, Margaret   Spouse-Paid
20 Belgarde, Bernice Bemidgi, MN 1972-Paid
21 Benson Belgarde, Anita Dunseith, ND 1985-Paid
22 Berube Reynolds, Cecile Minot, ND 1965-Paid
23 Berube, Tom Bottineau, ND 1963-Paid
24 Boardman, Don Bottineau, ND 1960-Paid
25 Brennan, Shirley Y. Minot, ND 1960-Paid
26 Bullinger Pladson, Tina Bottineau, ND 1978-Paid
27 Bullinger, John   Spouse-Paid
28 Casavant, Rene Bismarck, ND 1965-Paid
29 Casavant, Aime Jamestown, ND 1966-Paid
30 Casavant, Gerald Jamestown, ND 1966-Paid
31 Frieze, LaRae   Spouse-Paid
32 Casavant St. Claire, Tracy Rolette, ND 1992-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
33 Casavant, Travis   Spouse-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
34 Dailly, Arlene Federal Way, WA 1955-Paid
35 Dailly, Bob   Spouse-Paid
36 Dion, Floyd Dunseith, ND 1945-Paid
37 Dion Halvorson, Louella Dunseith, ND 1947-Paid
38 Dubois, Dennis Coon Rapids, MN 1963-Paid
39 Dumas Struck, Gwen Havre, MT 1968-Paid
40 Dumas, Clint   Spouse-Paid
41 DuPre DePew, Judy Rugby, ND 1962
42 Egbert, Donald Dunseith, ND 1965-Paid
43 Eltz Grimme, Gwen Spokane, WA 1968-Paid
44 Eltz, George   Spouse-Paid
45 Enno, Del Fargo, ND 1978-Paid
46 Enno, Everette Williston, ND 1976-Paid
47 Espe, Dennis Dunseith, ND 1956-Paid
48 Espe Sime, Peggy Dunseith, ND 1960-Paid
49 Espe Parrill, LeaRae Bottineau, ND 1967-Paid
50 Espe, Terry Bottineau, ND Spouse-1964-Paid
51 Espe, Monte Burlington, ND 1968-Paid
52 Espe, Bonnie   Spouse-Paid
53 Evans, Jim Dunseith, ND 1963-Paid
54 Evans Metcalfe, Cheri Dunseith, ND 1974-Paid
55 Evans, Jeff Del Rapids, SD 1973-Paid
56 Evans, Joyce Dunseith, ND 1948-Paid
57 Fassett, Paula North Branch, MN 1971-Paid
58 Fassett, Darrel Boynton Beach, FL 1947-Paid
59 Fassett Strietzel, Dorothy Boynton Beach, FL 1946-Paid
60 Fix Hiatt, Jacqueline Springfield, VA 1979-Paid
61 Fleming Murray, Esther Flint, MN 1965-Paid
62 Flynn Knox, Minnie Dunseith, ND 1947-Paid
63 Fuchs Smith, Joanne Bottineau, ND 1965-Paid
64 Fugere Fauske, Debbie Bottineau, ND 1975-Paid
65 Fugere, David Dunseith, ND 1978-Paid
66 Fulsebakke, Gary Devils Lake, ND 1971-Paid
67 Fulsebakke, Joel Dunseith, ND 1977-Paid
68 Garbe Kofoid, Neola Minot, ND Auxiliary-Paid
69 Gerdes Zorn, Sharon Windsor, CO 1963-Paid
70 Gillis, Michael Dunseith, ND Paid
71 Gillis Jerome, Carlene   Spouse-Paid
72 Gillis, Peter J. (Sr.) Dunseith, ND 1965-Paid
73 Gillis St. Claire, Verena   Spouse-Paid
74 Gottbreht, Ernest Dunseith, ND 1965-Paid
75 Bailey, Cheryl   Fiance’-Paid
76 Gottbreht, George Dunseith, ND 1961-Paid
77 Gottbreht Metcalfe, Rose Dunseith, ND Spouse-Paid
78 Gottbreht Boguslawski, Patty Dunseith, ND 1965-Paid
79 Grimme, Bill Birmingham, AL 1965-Paid
80 Protassevitch, Irina Birmingham, AL Friend-Paid
81 Haagenson, Cheryl Dunseith, ND 1971-Paid
82 Haas Neameyer, Lorraine St. John, ND 1972-Paid
83 Haas, Larry   Spouse-Paid
84 Halvorson, Terry Dunseith, ND 1968-Paid
85 Halvorson Henning, Myra Bottineau, ND 1972-Paid
86 Halvorson, Les Bottineau, ND Auxiliary-Paid
87 Halvorson, Curtis Dunseith, ND 1959-Paid
88 Halvorson Quillinan, Denise Dunseith, ND 1963-Paid
89 Hamnes Handeland, Bev Bottineau, ND 1948-Paid
90 Hamnes, Mel   Spouse-Paid
91 Henning, Alan R. Minot, ND 1971-Paid
92 Henning, LouAnn K.   Spouse-Paid
93 Hett, Ron Bottineau, ND Auxiliary-Paid
94 Hiatt LaFontaine, Vickie Grafton, ND 1973-Paid
95 Hiatt Hill, Arla Bottineau, ND Relative-Paid
96 Hiatt, Lorie Dunseith, ND 1980-Paid
97 Hiatt, Marlys Dunseith, ND 1971-Paid
98 Hill, Kenny Dunseith, ND 1956-Paid
99 Hill Watkins, Murl Dunseith, ND 1950-Paid
100 Hill, Troy Bottineau, ND 1980-Paid
101 Hill, Robin   Spouse-Paid
102 Hoffman, Brenda Greenville, SC 1968-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
103 Pazandak, David P. Greenville, SC Spouse-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
104 Johnson Rober’t, Dianne Rolla, ND 1976-Paid
105 Johnson, Kevin   Spouse-Paid
106 Johnson, Dick Dunseith, ND 1968-Paid
107 Johnson, Brenda   Spouse-Paid
108 Johnson Dionne, Mona Lake Metigoshe, ND 1948-Paid
109 Johnson Tremblay, Joan Bottineau, ND 1979-Paid
110 Juntunen Johnson, Linda Perth, ND 1972-Paid
111 Juntunen, Dale Perth, ND Spouse-Paid
112 Kelly, Cleo Woodbury, MN 1960-Paid
113 Kester Halvorson, Connie Long Lake, ND 1964-Paid
114 Kester, Jim   Spouse-Paid
115 Knutson, Mary Dunseith, ND 1962-Paid
116 Krause, Bill Dickinson, ND 1974-Paid
117 Kuhn, Mel St. John, ND 1970-Paid
118 Kuhn, Kathy   Spouse-Paid
119 Lamoureux, Don East Bethel, MN 1975-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
120 Lamoureux, Elizabeth   Spouse-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
121 Lane Wenstad, Pam Dunseith, ND 1978-Paid
122 Leonard, Lowell Dunseith, ND 1959-Paid
123 Birkland St. Claire, Audrey   Fiance’-Paid
124 Leonard Metcalfe, Margaret Rolette, ND 1965-Paid
125 Leonard, Robert Dunseith, ND 1951-Paid
126 Leonard Sunderland, Donna Dunseith, ND 1952-Paid
127 Malget Berube, Angela New Hope, MN 1965-Paid
128 Malget, Greg New Hope, MN Spouse-Paid
129 Martin Fassett, Susan Spearfish, SD 1965-Paid
130 Medrud, Rod Dunseith, ND 1971-Paid
131 Medrud, Mary   Spouse-Paid
132 Metcalfe, Vickie Bottineau, ND 1979-Paid
133 Metcalfe, Travis Mesa, AZ 1976-Paid
134 Morgan, Gary Garrison, ND 1954-Paid
135 Morgan, Mary Lou   Spouse-Paid
136 Morin, Bernard Dunseith, ND 1976-Paid
137 Morin Espe, Robin Dunseith, ND 1980-Paid
138 Munro Metcalfe, Geri Fargo, ND 1959-Paid
139 Munro, Chuck   Spouse-Paid
140 Nerpel, Kenny Rugby, ND 1965-Paid
141 Nerpel, Sherry   Spouse-Paid
142 Olson Bedard, Nancy Hillsboro, ND 1967-Paid
143 Olson, Gary   Spouse-Paid
144 Parisien, Dennis Dunseith, ND 1965-Paid
145 Paulsen Eurich, Eva Rugby, ND 1960-Paid
146 Pederson Walter, Erna Minot, ND 1955-Paid
147 Pederson, Arlin   Spouse-Paid
148 Peltier, Bernadette Dunseith, ND 1970-Paid
149 Perry Boppre, Ann Dunseith, ND 1972-Paid
150 Perry, Mark   Spouse-Paid
151 Pladson, Daniel Dunseith, ND 1975-Paid
152 Pladson, Robin   Spouse-Paid
153 Pladson, Keith Stafford, VA 1966-Paid
154 Pladson, Alice   Spouse-Paid
155 Poitra, Eric Dunseith, ND 1983-Paid
156 Poitra, Sandra Dunseith, ND 1983-Paid
157 Poitra, Raphael Dunseith, ND 1965-Paid
158 Poitra, Alan Bloomington, MD 1976-Paid
159 Larsen, Mark   Partner-Paid
160 Poitra LaRocque, Ginger Belcourt, ND 1965-Paid
161 Poitra Olson, Marsha Dunseith, ND 1973-Paid
162 Poitra, Dwight   Spouse-Paid
163 Prichard, Dale Leesville, LA 1963-Paid
164 Prichard, Jackie L.   Spouse-Paid
165 Prichard, Wayne   Family-Paid
166 Rainey, Neva Dunseith, ND 1956-Paid
167 Rheault Berg, Diane Fargo, ND 1979-Paid
168 Rheault, James   Spouse-Paid
169 Richard, Joan Dunseith, ND Auxiliary
170 Salmonson St. Claire, Renee Minot, ND Relative-Paid
171 Salmonson, Greg   Spouse-Paid
172 Salmonson, Stan Dunseith, ND 1961-Paid
173 Salmonson Wurgler, Joan Dunseith, ND 1961-Paid
174 Sedlacek Haagenson, Janet Great Fall, MT 1961-Paid
175 Sedlacek, Bernd   Spouse-Paid
176 Shining One Side Belgarde, Joyce Dunseith, ND 1981-Paid
177 Sime Pladson, Florence Dunseith, ND 1962-Paid
178 Schmaltz, Klem   Friend-Paid
179 Slyter, Bobbie Wichita, KA 1970-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
180 McKown, Dan   Friend-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
181 Slyter Dietrich, Ele Dunseith, ND 1969-No Dinner
182 Slyter, Richard Dunseith, ND 1967-No Dinner
183 Spillene Wenstad, Arliss Michigan, ND Auxiliary-Paid
184 Staub Iverson, Marie Seattle, WA 1960-Paid
185 Flaata Iverson, Joyce Hobart, WA Relative-Paid
186 Lyonais Iverson, Barbara Bottineau, ND Relative-Paid
187 St. Claire, Gary Minot, ND Relative-Paid
188 St. Claire, Jason Fargo, ND 1994-No Dinner-Paid $5.00
189 Belgarde, Crystal Fargo, ND Fiance’-No Dinner-Paid $5.00
190 St. Claire, Larry Anchorage, AK 1966-Paid
191 St. Claire, Robbie   Spouse-Paid
192 St. Pierre, Teresa Dunseith, ND 2001-Paid
193 Stokes, Gary Cebu, Philippines 1965-Paid
194 Stokes, Bernadette   Spouse-Paid
195 Strong, Jerry Dunseith, ND 1960-Paid
196 Strong Bedard, Margaret Dunseith, ND 1962-Paid
197 Strong, Ron Dunseith, ND 1960-Paid
198 Thomas, Les Rolette, ND Auxiliary-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
199 Tooke, Linda K. Bottineau, ND 1981-Paid
200 Vandal Zeiler, Sandra Elk River, MN 1962-Paid
201 Vandal, Mike   Spouse-Paid
202 Vanorny Metcalfe, Lola Dunseith, ND 1968-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
203 Vanorny, Jay Dunseith, ND 1966-Paid $5.00-No Dinner
204 Wall Neameyer, Loretta Bottineau, ND 1972-Paid
205 Wall, Gary   Spouse-Paid
206 Watkins Carbonneau, Carol Bottineau, ND 1946-Paid
207 Wenstad, Diane Portage La Prairie, MB 1969-Paid
208 Wenstad, Don Overly, ND 1966-Paid
209 Wenstad, Pete (Melvin) Michigan, ND Auxiliary-Paid
210 Wenstad, Terry Grand Forks, ND Auxiliary-Paid (Arliss Spillane
 

05/06/2010

Posted on by
Tee Shirt info for those attending the reunion who attended Dunseith schools
Message from Verena Gillis:Dunseith, ND
 
Information for those that haven’t yet paid: I will be ordering the
shirts on Friday of this week, this is the deadline they gave me. If they
haven’t sent payment yet for the reunion–they will not be receiving a
shirt as there is officially no commitment. I had to earn money for this
and I will not be ordering extra.

Verena

 
 
Picture request of former Superintendents
From Verena Gillis: Dunseith, ND
 
Gary,
I am trying to get a picture of all the superintendents that have been at
DHS. Do you have any idea how this can be done or maybe you might have
some of them? I do have Mr. Les Jensen but when I try to get the others
they turn out pretty distorted. I would like to use them at the Bingo
Barn.
Folks, if any of you have any pictures at all of the any of the former Superintendents, please share.
Thanks, Gary
 
 
Dunseith Senior Citizen’s food
Reply from Larry Hackman (66):Bismarck, ND
 

Gary

I’m thinking a slice of sour cream raisin pie to start things off with. Then a bowl of bullets w/homemade bread with real butter. Haven’t had that for decades. Then finish with another slice of sour cream raisin pie. I suppose I’ll have to pick up a jumbo and take that home in a box.

Sounds like a plan Gary, We’ll see you there!

I hope it warms up and there are some rodents out for the benefit of some of them other classmates of yours. I don’t think the ducks are laying yet either. I’m sure someone will bring down some road kill from the Turtle Mountains that might tempt their pallets?

We’ll see you there.

Larry

Larry, It’s a deal. We’ll meet you at the Dunseith Sr. Citizens for Lunch at 11:00 AM Sunday, May 23rd.
Folks, you are welcome to join us. Gary
 
 
 
Mrs. Conroy:
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

I think Paula has been holding out on us! That’s a great memory you
shared about Mrs. Conroy’s 4th grade. She was my favorite grade school
teacher. The other teachers were very good too, but Mrs. Conroy really
knew how to make school interesting. The sick room Paula mentioned was
also kind of a library too and was also used now and then for ‘private’
discipline by Mrs. Conroy. There were two doors to the cloak room (sick
room) and one was from the hallway balcony. I remember some younger kid
tried to slide down the banister and fell over backward, landing on the
cast iron radiator in the hallway below. He got hurt but I can’t
remember the extent of his injuries anymore. Diane Larson Sjol
remembered the shaky fire escape on the back of the school. When I think
about it, I don’t think it was real safe to send a full load of kids
down there at once. We did it for many fire drills without a
problem.Before the school got a new automatic fire alarm system, there
was an old hand crank siren on the wall in the downstairs hallway and
Mr. Conroy used to crank it for a fire drill. I remember how some of the
first graders would start to cry when the siren started. It was an
exciting time for the rest of us, we got out of class and went outside
for a while! Diane, I never really liked to look down either when I went
down the old rickety fire escape. The steps were metal strips and you
could see down through them to the ground— a long ways down for a
small kid! Paula mentioned the ‘Plaster of Paris’ wall hangings we made
in Mrs. Conroy’s crafts (art) class. I’ll attach a picture of the one I
gave to my mom for Christmas 1959. I still have it. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 

Additional info to yesterday’s posting of Ronald Oswell’s Passing, son of Leona Metcalfe:

Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

Vickie & Ardis,
I don’t have an email address for Dianne, so could one of you forward this? Please pass along to anyone you think should know or would be interested. I don’t know if anyone has contacted Tiny & Ann Oswell — maybe Travis?

Here is the information from the obituary, which will run in Wednesday’s Seattle Times — www.seattletimes.com

Viewing at Evergreen-Washelli Funeral Home May 6th 1-3pm. Graveside May 6th 3pm. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Northwest Junior Pipe Band via paypal at www.nwjpb.org or mail a check to 509 NE 165th St. Shoreline, WA 98155.

Here is the funeral home memorial website: Please note that the time listed for the viewing is incorrect (they put 8 am or something weird. The correct times are in the obit above.

http://www.washelli.com/obits/obituaries.php/obitID/117112

 
 
Reunion Name tags
 
Folks, I have put off one more day for printing out name tags. I will be printing them out tomorrow.
 
Please check your name and others too for any errors or changes that you’d like made. I will be including your residence and class year/affiliation on your name tags as well.
 
For those attending without a preprinted name tag, we will be hand printing when they register at the reception desk the day of the reunion.
 
I will be posting Verena’s list of those that have paid tomorrow.
 
Note: Several of you replied letting me know that your computer would not display this whole list. There are currently 301 names on this list. If they are not all displayed this list can viewed on our Website under the 2010 message tab http://garystokes.net/default.aspx
Sorted by first name





  First Name Last Name Residence Class YR.
1 Abe Murray Tacoma, WA 1959
2 Aggie Casavant Fort Mill, SC 1969
3 Aime Casavant Jamestown, ND 1966
4 Al Lopez Inver Grove Heights, MN 1965 Spouse
5 Alan Henning Minot, ND 1971
6 Alan Poitra Bloomington, MN 1976
7 Albert Johnson Rolla, ND 1970
8 Alice Lilley Dunseith, ND Friend
9 Alice Pladson Stafford, VA 1966 Spouse
10 Angela Berube Malget Minneapolis, MN 1965
11 Anita Benson Belgarde Dunseith, ND 1985
12 Ann Boppre Perry Dunseith, ND 1972
13 Ann Gottbreht Flaata Rolette, ND 1960 Friend
14 Annette Casavant Boucher Minot, ND 1960
15 Arla Hill Hiatt Bottineau, ND 1979 Mother
16 Arlene Lamoureux Dailly Federal Way, WA 1955
17 Arlin Pederson Minot, ND 1955 Spouse
18 Arliss Wenstad Spline Michigan ND Auxiliary
19 Audrey Birkland Dunseith, ND 1959 Fiance’
20 Barbara Boucher Rivard Dunseith, ND 1965 Spouse
21 Barbara Iverson Lyonais Hobart, WA 1960 Relative
22 Bernadette Peltier Dunseith, ND 1970
23 Bernadette Stokes Cebu, Philippines 1965 Spouse
24 Bernard Morin Dunseith, ND 1976
25 Bernd Sedlacek Great Falls, MT 1961 Spouse
26 Bernice Belgarde Bemidgi, MN 1972
27 Betty Allard Heinz Rolette, ND 1960
28 Bev Handeland Hamnes Bottineau, ND 1948
29 Bill Grimme Birmingham, AL 1965
30 Bill Krause Dickinson, ND 1974
31 Bob Dailly Federal Way, WA 1957
32 Bob Leonard Dunseith, ND 1951
33 Bobbie Slyter Wichita, KS 1970
34 Bonnie Espe Burlington 1968 Spouse
35 Brandon Longie Dunseith, ND 1998
36 Brenda Hoffman Greenville, SC 1968
37 Brenda Johnson Dunseith, ND 1968 Spouse
38 Candace Peltier Dunseith, ND 1991 Spouse
39 Carlene Jerome Gillis Dunseith, ND Spouce
40 Carol Peltier Breland Rolla, ND 1975
41 Carol Watkins Carbonneau Bottineau, ND 1946
42 Carolee Casavant Halvorson Bismarck, ND 1975
43 Cecile Berube Reynolds Minot, ND 1965
44 Char Wurgler Rugby, ND 1664 spouse
45 Cheri Metcalfe Evans Dunseith, ND 1974
46 Cheryl Bailey Dunseith, ND 1965 Spouse
47 Cheryl Haagenson Dunseith, ND 1971
48 Chris Peltier Bismarck, ND 2000
49 Chuck Munro Fargo, ND 1959 Spouse
50 Cindy Hoffman Sante Fe, NM 1977
51 Cleo Kelly Woodbury MN 1960
52 Clint Dumas Havre, MT 1968 Spouse
53 Colette Pigeon Schimetz Lake Metigoshe, ND 1970
54 Colleen Peltier Poitra Dunseith, ND  
55 Connie Burcham Sime Dunseith, ND 1962
56 Connie Halvorson Kester Long Lake, ND 1964
57 Cora Anderson Rolette, ND 1965 Spouse
58 Crystal Belgarde Fargo, ND 1994 Fiance”
59 Crystal Fassett Andersen Walhalla, ND 1970
60 Curtis Halvorson Dunseith, ND 1959
61 Dale Andersen Walhalla, ND 1970
62 Dale Juntunen Perth, ND 1972 Spouse
63 Dale Pritchard Leesville, LA 1963
64 Dan McKown Wichita, KS 1970 Friend
65 Daniel Peltier Dunseith, ND 1991
66 Daniel Pladson Dunseith, ND 1975
67 Darlene St. Claire Took Milton, ND 1968
68 Darrel Fassett Boynton Beach, FL 1947
69 Dave Nadeau Dunseith, ND 1982 Spouse
70 Dave Pazandak Greenville, SC 1968 Brenda H
71 Dave Wurgler Rugby, ND 1964
72 David Abrahamson St. John, ND 1972
73 David Fugere Dunseith, ND 1978
74 Debbie Fugere Fauske Bottineau, ND 1975
75 Debbie Peltier Dunseith, ND 1970 Spouse
76 Del Enno Fargo, ND 1978
77 Denise Peltier Dunseith, ND 1971
78 Denise Quillinan Halvorson Dunseith, ND 1963
79 Dennis Dubois Minneapolis, MN 1963
80 Dennis Espe Dunseith, ND 1956
81 Dennis Parisien Dunseith, ND 1965
82 Diane Berg Rheault Fargo, ND 1979
83 Diane Larson, Sjol Minot, ND 1970
84 Diane Wenstad Wiebe Portage La Prairie, MB 1969
85 Dianne Rober’t Johnson Rolla, ND 1976
86 Dick Johnson Dunseith, ND 1968
87 Don Lamoureux East Bethel, MN 1975
88 Don Wenstad Willow City, ND 1966
89 Don Boardman Bottineau, ND 1960
90 Donald Egbert Dunseith, ND 1965
91 Donna Sunderland Leonard Dunseith, ND 1952
92 Doris Peterson Williams Bottineau, ND 1953
93 Dorothy Hiatt Swanson Moorehead, MN 1946
94 Dorothy Strietzel Fassett Boynton Beach, FL 1946
95 Duane Christenson Bottineau, ND 1965 Spouse
96 Dwight Poitra Dunseith, ND 1973 Spouse
97 Elaine Peltier Dunseith, ND 1974
98 Ele Dietrich Slyter Dunseith, ND 1969
99 Elizabeth Lamoureux East Bethel, MN 1975 Spouse
100 Ellen Cushing Bottineau, ND Spouse
101 Eric Poitra Dunseith, ND 1983
102 Erna Walter Pederson Minot, ND 1955
103 Ernie Gottbreht Dunseith, ND 1965
104 Esther Murray Fleming Flint, MI 1965
105 Eva Paulson Eurich Rugby, ND 1960
106 Everett Enno Williston, ND 1976
107 Fern Peltier Dunseith, ND 1977
108 Florence Pladson Sime Dunseith, ND 1962
109 Floyd Dion Dunseith, ND 1945
111 Frank Gillis Dunseith, ND 1984 Spouce
112 Friend of Fern Peltier Belcourt, ND 1977 Friend
113 Gaillord Peltier Turtle Lake, ND 1980
114 Gary Fulsebakke Devils Lake, ND 1971
115 Gary Morgan Garrison, ND 1954
116 Gary Olson Hillsboro 1967 Spouse
117 Gary St. Claire Minot, ND  
118 Gary Stokes Cebu, Philippines 1965
119 Gary Wall Bottineau, ND 1972 Spouse
120 George Eltz Spokane, WA 1968 Spouse
121 George Gottbreht Dunseith, ND 1961
122 Gerald Casavant Jamestown, ND 1966
123 Geri Metcalfe Munro Fargo, ND 1959
124 Geri Peltier Bottineau, ND  
125 Ginger LaRocque Poitra Belcourt, ND 1965
126 Gladys Roussin Azure Dunseith, ND 1965
127 Greg Malget Minneapolis, MN 1965 Spouse
128 Greg Salmonson Minot, ND  
129 Gwen Grimme Eltz Spokane, WA 1968
130 Gwen Struck Dumas Havre, MT 1968
131 Harold Gillis Dunseith, ND 1989
132 Harvey Bristol Bottineau, ND 1953 Fiancé
133 Helen Parisien Dunseith, ND 1974
134 Helen Rivard Christenson Bottineau, ND 1965
135 Henry Hackman Mandan, ND 1965
136 Irina Protassevitch Birmingham, AL 1965 Friend
137 Iris Nadeau Dunseith, ND 1983
138 Jackie Pritchard Leesville, LA 1963 Spouse
139 Jacqueline Hiatt Fix Springfield, VA 1979
140 James Rheault Fargo, ND 1979 Spouse
141 Janet Haagenson Sedlacek Great Falls, MT 1961
142 Jason St. Claire Fargo, ND 1994
143 Jay Vanorney Dunseith, ND 1966
144 Jeff Boucher Rolette, ND 1967 Spouse
145 Jeff Evans Dell Rapids, SD 1973
146 Jeff Halvorson Bismarck, ND 1975 Spouse
147 Jennifer Peltier Dunseith, ND  
148 Jerry Pladson Fargo, ND  
149 Jerry Strong Dunseith, ND 1960
150 Jerry Williams Watertown, SD 1954
151 Jim Berube Lake Metigoshe, ND 1967
152 Jim Evans Dunseith, ND 1963
153 Jim Kester Long Lake, ND 1964 Spouse
154 Jim Tooke Milton, ND 1966
155 Joan Richard Dunseith, ND Teacher
156 Joan Tremblay Johnson Dunseith, ND 1979
157 Joan Wurgler Salmonson Dunseith, ND 1961
158 Joanne Smith Fuchs Bottineau, ND 1965
159 Joe Fulsbakke Dunseith, ND 1977
160 John Bedard Lake Metigoshe, ND 1965
161 John Bullinger Bottineau, ND 1978 Spouse
162 Joyce Hagen Evans Dunseith, ND 1948
163 Joyce Iverson Flaata Bottineau, ND 1960 Relative
164 Joyce Shining One Side Belgarde Dunseith, ND 1981
165 Judy DuPre DePew Rugby, ND 1962
166 Kamie Poitra Longie Dunseith, ND 1998
167 Kathy Casavant Ellingson Bismarck, ND 1974
168 Kathy Kuhn Saint John, ND 1970 Spouse
169 Kathy Williams Watertown, SD 1954 Spouse
170 Kathy (Barbara) Kalk Lopez Inver Grove Heights, MN 1965
171 Keith Kontzie Lake Metigoshe, ND 1962 Spouse
172 Keith Pladson Stafford, VA 1966
173 Kenny Hill Dunseith, ND 1956
174 Kenny Nerpel Rugby, ND 1965
175 Kevin Johnson Rolla, ND 1976 Spouse
176 Klem Schmaltz Dunseith, ND 1962 Friend
177 Kristie Barbot Fargo, ND 1996
178 LaRae Frieze Jamestown, ND 1966 Friend
179 Larry Ellingson Bismarck, ND 1974 Spouse
180 Larry Haas, Saint John, ND 1972 Spouse
181 Larry Hackman Bismarck, ND 1966
182 Larry St. Claire Anchorage, AK 1966
183 Laurel Hiatt Bottineau, ND 1963
184 LeaRae Parrill Espe Bottineau, ND 1967
185 Les Halvorson Bottineau, ND Teacher
186 Les Thomas Rolette, ND Auxiliary
187 Linda Berube Lake Metigoshe, ND 1967 Spouse
188 Linda Gunville Dunseith, ND 1979
189 Linda Johnson Juntunen Perth, ND 1972
190 Linda Tooke Bottineau, ND 1981
191 Lisa Azure St. John, ND 1983
192 Lloyd Awalt Bottineau, ND 1944
193 Lola Metcalfe Vanorny Dunseith, ND 1968
194 Loraine Neameyer Haas Saint John, ND 1972
195 Loretta Casavant Aamodt Rugby, ND 1961
196 Loretta Neameyer Wall Bottineau, ND 1972
197 Lori Hiatt Dunseith, ND 1980
198 Lowell Leonard Dunseith, ND 1959
199 LuAnn Henning Minot, ND 1971 Spouse
200 Luella Halvorson Dion Dunseith, ND 1947
201 Madonna Peltier Yawakie Brooklyn Park, MN 1977
202 Marc Pigeon Dunseith, ND 1975
203 Marcie Hackman Mandan, ND 1965 Spouse
204 Margaret Bedard Lake Metigoshe, ND 1965 Spouse
205 Margaret Bedard Strong Dunseith, ND 1962
206 Margaret Metcalfe Leonard Rolette, ND 1965
207 Marie Iverson Staub Seattle, WA 1960
208 Marion Hackman Bismarck, ND 1966 Spouse
209 Mark Larsen Alan Poitra’s Partner 1976 Partner
210 Mark Peltier Seattle, WA 1984
211 Mark Perry Dunseith, ND 1972 Spouse
212 Marlene Kraft Armentrout Dunseith, ND 1957
213 Marlys Hiatt Dunseith, ND 1971
214 Marsha Abrahamson St. John, ND 1972 Spouse
215 Marsha Olson, Poitra Dunseith, ND 1973
216 Marshall Parisien St. John, ND 1983 Fiancé
217 Marvin Aamodt Rugby, ND 1957
218 Mary Allard Hiatt Bottineau, ND 1963 Spouse
219 Mary Eurich Knutson Dunseith, ND 1962
220 Mary Medrud Dunseith, ND 1971 Spouse
221 Mary Ann Casavant Boucher Rolette, ND 1967
222 Mary Lou Morgan Garrison, ND 1954 Spouse
223 Mel Hamnes Bottineau, ND 1948 Spouse
224 Mel Kuhn Saint John, ND 1970
225 Melvin Yawakie Brooklyn Park, MN 1977 Spouse
226 Michael Albertson St. John, ND 1972 Spouse
227 Mike Gillis Dunseith, ND  
228 Mike Vandal Elk River, MN 1962 Spouse
229 Minnie Knox Flynn Dunseith, ND 1947
230 Mona Dionne Johnson Lake Metigoshe, ND 1948
231 Monte Espe Burlington 1968
232 Murl Watkins Hill Dunseith, ND 1950
233 Myra Henning Halvorson Bottineau, ND 1972
234 Nancy Bedard Olson Hillsboro 1967
235 Nancy Hosmer Baldwin Lake Metigoshe, ND 1962
236 Neola Kofoid Garbe Minot, ND Auxiliary
237 Neva Haagenson Rainey Dunseith, ND 1956
238 Pam Wenstad Lane Dunseith, ND 1978
239 Pat Peltier Bottineau, ND  
240 Patty Boguslawski Gottbreht Dunseith, ND 1965
241 Paula Fassett North Branch, MN 1971
242 Peggy Peltier Gillis Dunseith, ND 1984
243 Peggy Sime Espe Dunseith, ND 1960
244 Pete Gillis Dunseith, ND 1965
245 Pete (Melvin) Wenstad Michigan ND Auxiliary
246 Raphael Poitra Dunseith, ND 1965
247 Rene Casavant Bismarck, ND 1965
248 Renee Peltier Turtle Lake, ND 1980 Spouse
249 Renee St. Claire Salmonson Minot, ND  
250 Richard Slyter Dunseith, ND 1967
251 Robbie St. Claire Anchorage, AK 1966 Spouse
252 Robert Poitra Dunseith, ND  
253 Robert Rivard Dunseith, ND 1965
254 Roberta Wilkie Belcourt, ND 1965
255 Robin Espe Morin Dunseith, ND 1980
256 Robin Hill Bottineau, ND 1980 Spouse
257 Robin Pladson Dunseith, ND 1975 Spouse
258 Rod Medrud Dunseith, ND 1971
259 Rodney Armentrout Dunseith, ND 1955
260 Ron Heinz Rolette, ND 1960 Spouse
261 Ron Hett Bottineau, ND Auxiliary
262 Ron Strong Dunseith, ND 1960
263 Ronald Peltier Dunseith, ND 1970
264 Rose Metcalfe Gottbreht Dunseith, ND 1976
265 Russell Davis Dunseith, ND 1983 Spouse
266 Sam Breland Rolla, ND 1975 Spouse
267 Sandra Poitra Dunseith, ND 1983
268 Sandra Zeiler Vandal Elk River, MN 1962
269 Shannon Gillis LaVallie Devils Lake, ND 1989
270 Sharon Zorn Gerdes Windsor, CO 1962
271 Shelley Sime Fossen Jamestown, ND 1984
272 Shelly Fulsebakke Alberson St. John, ND 1972
273 Sherry Counts Dunseith, ND 1991
274 Sherry Nerpel Rugby, ND 1965 Spouse
275 Shirley Brennan Minot, ND 1960
276 Stacy Counts Dunseith, ND 1989
277 Stacy LaVallie Devils Lake, ND 1989 Spouse
278 Stan Salmonson Dunseith, ND 1961
279 Stephanie Bear Dunseith, ND 2001
280 Stephanie Gillis Davis Dunseith, ND 1983
281 Susan Fassett Martin Spearfish SD 1965
282 Susan Pladson Fargo, ND Spouse
283 Sylvester Azure Dunseith, ND 1965 Spouse
284 Tasha Peltier Bismarck, ND 2000 Spouse
285 Teresa St. Pierre Dunseith, ND 2001
286 Terry Espe Bottineau, ND 1964
287 Terry Halvorson Dunseith, ND 1968
288 Terry Wenstad Grand Forks, ND Auxiliary
289 Theresa Cote Awalt Bottineau, ND 1948
290 Tina Pladson Bullinger Bottineau, ND 1978
291 Tom Berube Bottineau, ND 1963
292 Tracy St. Claire Casavant Rolette, ND 1992
293 Travis Casavant Rolette, ND 1992 Spouse
294 Travis Metcalfe Mesa, AZ 1976
295 Troy Hill Bottineau, ND 1980
296 Verena St. Claire Gillis Dunseith, ND 1965 Spouse
297 Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine Grafton, ND 1973
298 Vickie Metcalfe Bottineau, ND 1970
299 Warren Anderson Rolette, ND 1965
300 Wayne Pritchard Leesville, LA 1963 Son
301 Wendal Cushing Bottineau, ND Forestry Teacher
 

05/05/2010

Posted on by
Tour the Rolette County Museum on Friday, May 21st
From Mel Kuhn (70): St. John, ND.
 

Gary,

 

Dick and I were talking and if anyone that is coming home for the reunion would be interested we would open the Rolette County Museum in St. John for people to go through. Friday the 21st. works best for us. We would just have to pick a time. We don’t have it open for the season yet so we may come across some dust.

 

Mel

 

 

 

Folks,

 

We have decided on the time to be 1:00 PM

 

Thank you so much Mel & Dick for doing this for us.

 

What a great opportunity for us that Mel and Dick are doing enabling us to see this site.

 

We’ll see you guys there at 1:00 PM on Friday, the 21st.

 

Gary

I found this on the Net. Gary
 
 

 

One of the most interesting sites in Rolette County is the Rolette County Historical grounds located on the south edge of St. John as you come into town from the South. It consists of 12 lots, part of which is surrounded by a chain link fence.

The Rolette County Historical Society was organized by a small group of interested people in 1974. Its goal and purpose as an active organization is to help preserve some of the relics of the early pioneers–historical monuments, landmarks, buildings, etc., that have historical value. The initial grounds were donated to the Society in 1975 by the Mill Lake Cemetery Association and consisted, at that time, of 6 lots and the Mill Lake Lutheran Church, which was built in 1911. There are now several buildings on the site; the Church, a little one-room school house which dates back to early 1900’s; a little pioneer log cabin; a display building containing many different memorabilia; another display building with larger antique machinery; an immigration building, toy shop, boxcar, caboose, and an outdoor stage.

 
Dunseith Sr. Citizens will be serving lunch on Sunday May 23rd.
Posted by Jackie Peterson Hansen: St. John, ND
Folks, Jackie’s parents are Jack (deceased) & Nettie Peterson.
 
Jackie, this is wonderful that the Sr. Citizens are doing this for the community and those of us visiting the area. In 2007 they had some of the best home baked goodies ever. Their pies were out of this world. I had several plus pieces. I was reminded of this by non other than Larry Hackman. Larry we’ll have to pay them a visit again for some more of those great home baked goodies if they’ll be serving them again. Bernadette and I plan on attending the Sr. Center for lunch on Sunday May 23rd. This is another great opportunity to see more of the Dunseith Alumni folks. Thank you so much Jackie for this posting. Gary

From: jackie hansen
Phone: 701 477 5780
E-mail: jackie.hansen@sendit.nodak.edu
Message:
Would you please post this for my mom {Nettie) and other Sr. Citizens:
A lunch is being served at the Sr. Citizens’ Center on May 23, starting at 11:00 AM. The seniors in the community welcome visiting alumni as well as those from the area.

 
 
Baptismal of Connor O’Hara, DeAnn Gottbreht’s son:
Message from DeAnn Gottbreht O’Hara: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht
 
We are going to be getting Connor baptized on Saturday May 15th at 11am at Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith, ND. All are welcome. We will be having a meal afterwards at the church. Thanks Cheryl for the reminder to get it posted on here. Take care everyone
 
 
The Conroy’s
Reply from Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN

Thanks to Don Martel for the great photo of the principals – brings back memories! I wonder if Don & Colleen have photos of Mrs. Conroy, too, that they would like to share? I remember learning to count money in her 4th grade class by playing “store” with a cash register and toy money – buying cans of soup, etc. that she had brought from home just for that purpose. We had singing in her classroom on Fridays – with Mrs. Elsie Schneider coming in to play the piano. Mrs. Conroy also had the best arts & crafts – we made candles, plaster wall-hangings, corsages for Mom at Christmas and grew petunias in paper cups for Mother’s Day. She also read aloud to the class every day after noon hour – “Little House On the Prairie” was always my favorite.

And remember the “sick room” between the 3rd and 4th grade rooms – upstairs in the old Dunseith School building. I think we hung our coats in there and I remember lots of bookshelves, but there was a bed in there so if you got sick there was a place to go until the bus came, or your mom came to get you………..

Paula Fassett-Pfuhl

 
 
Joy Bashara (Teacher)
Question from Diane Fuger (75): Minot, ND.

 

Gary:

I have a question for the class of ’75. Does anyone remember Ms. Bashara(sp?) or know where she is nowadays?

Diane Fugere

 

 

 

Ronald Oswell, son of Leona Metcalfe, passed away:

Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

Ronald George Oswell
August 07, 1947 – May 01, 2010

Ron Oswell passed away May 1, 2010. He was born in Seattle on August 7, 1947 to George and Leona (Metcalfe) Oswell. Ron grew up in Seattle, and graduated from Shorecrest High School, where he was the school’s first bagpiper and gave himself the rank of Pipe Major. He attended Shoreline Community College before receiving his draft notice in 1967, precipitating his enlistment in the U.S. Army, where he served four years in the Army Security Agency. [He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967, serving four years in the Army Security Agency] He also served four years in the Army Reserve, achieving the rank of Chief Warrant Officer II. He married Christine Gaston, a former Shorecrest Pipe Band member, in Basle, Switzerland on November 10, 1970. After returning to Seattle in spring 1971, he worked in construction, first as a union carpenter, then as a foreman, and in due time as a superintendent. He was generous with these carpentry skills, helping family and friends with household projects.
Ron always had many interests, and was talented in many areas. He had a beautiful tenor voice, and learned musical instruments easily. He had a lifelong love of photography, and always had a darkroom to work in, wherever he lived. In recent years, he was working to master PhotoShop. He also continued his interest in bagpiping and things Scottish. He played with the Washington Scottish Pipe Band for many years and was a very good piper. He also spent time over the years dirt biking and trap shooting. He coached a girls’ soccer team for 15 years, bringing a core group through three team name changes and from mod soccer to high school graduation.
He always dreamed of owning a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and finally purchased a beautiful bike a few years ago that was his pride and joy. He always had a big smile on his face as he drove into the driveway after a ride.
Ron is survived by his wife Chris, and two children, Bergman, born in 1974, and Katie born in 1978. Also by his brother Ken Oswell and sister-in-law Carol.

Funeral Information

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 10:00 to 8:00 PM in the family service suite in Evergreen Washelli. Graveside service at 3:00 PM in Evergreen Memorial Park.
Gary,
Ron has many Metcalfe cousins in Turtle Mtn.area.
Ron Oswell was a kind, compassionate, honest ,hard working man,
with a wonderful sense of humor. Aunt Leona at times, when he was 17
often slipped and called him Cliff. She felt he was alot like my dad
at that age. Each of my nephews and nieces met and spent good times
with him. He always took time to get to know and mentor kids. Ron
was also a double first cousin to the children of Emil and Ann
(Oswell) Metcalfe. Our family mourns. Vickie

 

  

05/04/2010

Posted on by
Dave Houim Passed Away. This came from Ann/Denise Keplin. Neola
Posted By Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
Please pray for the Houim family in Rugby. Dave Houim died on Saturday after surgery for injuries sustained in a fall. Dave was the husband of Nancy Houim, she is a TECite and made Life in the Spirit, a truly wonderful person. Dave is also the father of Ashley Houim who made TEC in Belcourt this past year.
 
 
 
Dunseith Schools Superintendents Picture
Posted by Don Martel (Former Principle): Rosemount, MN
 
Don has shared photos with you.
Hope this helps with your didplay, and we are still looking for pictures of Mr. Conroy.
Don & Colleen (Conroy) Martel
 
 

 

Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion  

 

Posted by Linda Gardner: Vienna, VA

 

Hi Gary – was wondering if you would mind posting a reminder about the country school reunion. Have been receiveing many, many inquiries so just want to remind everyone the deadline is June 1!

 

Thanks!

 

Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion

 

The Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion will be held on July 10, 2010, at the Twin Oaks Resort & Convention Center at Lake Metigoshe.Anyone who attended a country school in the Turtle Mountains or who wants to celebrate an educational life style of the past is welcome to attend.The cost is $42.00 per person.Reservations and advance payment are required.June 1, 2010, is the deadline to submit registration information and payment.Registration information is available on the Bottineau web site at

www.bottineau.com (News Releases page http://www.bottineau.com/countryschoolreunion.htm).Please contact Linda Gardner at 703/636-6392, lgardner9@cox.net(email), or

3059 Sugar Lane,Vienna,VA,22181

, for additional information.

Registration will begin at 3 PM; Social Hour 4-6:30 PM and dinner will be served from 6:30 – 8 PM.Please come and share this special time of celebration.

 
 
Free Admission to the Peace Garden this Sunday:
Posted By Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
Taken from www.peacegarden.com.

May 9: Mother’s Day: Free Gate Admission, Plant, Green House Tour & Entertainment.

For your enjoyment, the Lund Family performing: Country Gospel, Blue Grass, Old Time Country and a Special Song for mothers. Sign-up and draws. 2:00 p.m. in the Burdick Performing Arts Center.

Sunday Buffet: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Roast Beef, Yorkshire Pudding & Gravy, Oven Roast Potato, Mixed Vegetables, Vegetarian Lasagna, Oven Roast Chicken, Dinner Roll, Tossed Salad- 3 dressings,

Greek Salad, Macaroni Salad, Jelled Salad, Pickles

Dessert-Fruit cup, carrot cake

$13.00 – Children under the age of 12 yrs. @ .75 per yr.

Season Pass discounted $5.00 Today $20.00

 
 
 
 
 
All rights reserved

05/03/2010

Posted on by
Update from DeAnn Gottbreth O’hare: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht
 
Only two weekly Chemo treatments left! Patrick’s dad brought me down for my latest treatment on Friday while Connor stayed with Grandma Jan. All the help from our family is greatly appreciated. I don’t know what we would do without them! The chemo is running me down more and more so I am looking forward to a break. I will switch to one treatment every 3 weeks after I finish these next two treatments so that will be nice. Hopefully the side effects of the chemo will be easier then. I meet with my doctor again this week when I go for my treatment to make our final plans for my future treatments. It will also be nice to spend more time at home as a family. All this traveling really runs me down.

Connor had his 2 month appointment at his Pediatrician’s Office this last Monday. He was up to 8lbs 10oz already! He is growing so well. Of course he looks more like a newborn than a 2 month old but he is filling out nicely. He had his shots that day as well and he only cried right when the nurses gave him the shots so it wasn’t so bad. I didn’t even cry this time while I watched and his daddy comforted him afterwards so Connor was just fine. Connor is still only eating about 2-3 ounces every 3 hours but I’m hoping to start increasing it some so he will maybe sleep a little longer in between feeding. I really enjoy those times when he sleeps for more than an hour at a time! His reflux will be a problem for probably the first year of his life but we have plenty of burp rags and bibs to keep up with it. Doing his laundry will definitely keep me busy.

Thanks again everyone for all of your cards, gifts, and support. We appreciate you all so much. It has been quite a journey but things are improving, life is getting better every week!

 
 
 
Mark Peltier (84):
 
Gary,

Please include Mark Peltier (1984) graduate to your list.

His email is


Thank you
Mark, It is my pleasure to add you to our distribution list. Doing a find for your name I found locations for you in Dunseith, Anchorage, Kirkland & Seattle. I’m assuming you are living in one of those places? It looks like you have lived a lot of same places as Larry St. Claire? Gary
 
 
 
Pictures from the achieves:

 

 

Hubert Allery DHS class of 52

 

 

 

 

Marlin Williams DHS class of 55

Born July 10, 1935 – Deceased April 6, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

Marlin (55)/Doris Peterson (53) Williams Family

  

05/02/2010

Posted on by
Reply from Blanche Wicks Schley (42): Grandforks, ND.
 
The couple at the end of this message are one handsome couple…you both look so relaxed and enjoying retirement. Have a wonderful life. I enjoy the daily items, even though I don’t know the people…recognize the last names. Having left Dunseith in 1938, it is interesting to read about the school and community changes in that time. I have been to only one of the all school reunions. I note that many people say that their day starts with reading your daily alumni news. The stories that are told by everyone would really make an interesting book. Keep up this project … You have certainly have a great following!
 
Blanche Schley
Thank you Blanche for the nice compliment. Bernadette does take good pictures and always looks great. On my part, pictures can be deceiving. Yes we are relaxed and enjoying retirement. I’ll tell you a little something. Bernadette and I were counting the days leading to our retirement here in the PI so we could enjoy all the inexpensive services that are available in this country. Now with everything being done for us, that leaves a lot of time to really do nothing. We went from overload to nothing. That isn’t all necessarily a good thing. I have managed to keep pretty busy with what I’m doing, but Bernadette does, at times, have a lot of extra time on her hands. CSI reruns get a little old. Gary
 
 
Cell phone Number correction for Verena Gillis:
 
Gary,
We have a mistake on my cell phone-it is 278-5167
 
Verena
 
 
 
Celia Walter Story:
From Vickie Metcalfe (68): Bottineau, ND.
 

Gary,

Next week is Mother’s Day.

Yesterday, I was moving files and came across a story of my mom’s of Celia Walter. Mom and I wrote the story at the request of Celia’s granddaughter. I noticed on Verena’s list this morning the name Erna Walter Pederson. I don’t recall Erna, but my mom’s recollection of Celia was of a proud, devoted mom . I’d like to share the following story written about Ceila.

 


Charlotte Metcalfe’s, Remembrances of Celia Hackman Walter
Charlotte (Lamb) Metcalfe grew up one mile west of the Hackman family on old unpaved Highway 43. Celia’s family home was also directly across the road from Charlotte’s grandmother, Elizabeth Wicks, with whom Charlotte frequently stayed with.
Celia,was nine years older than Charlotte. Charlotte said, “Celia was kind and fun to be around.”
Charlotte recollects when she was about 5, going across the road to visit Celia and her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Hackman. Celia’s mother, was a short plump lady and Celia, was the baby girl of the family.
Mrs. Hackman would sew dresses for herself and Celia. There was no electricity, so the sewing was probably done on a pedal sewing machine and/or by hand. Celia and her mother would save the fabric scraps and sew doll clothes for Charlotte’s dolls.
Stohl or Long Lake which it is known now, was adjacent to the Hackman’s. The east side was a nice swimming place where sometimes,Celia would take Charlotte wading.
Hilltop School was located 1 mile north and 1/2 miles east of the Hackman Place. About the summer of Charlotte’s first grade at Hilltop School, Celia and her cousin, Antoinette Deitrich were brushing up on studies to complete the final eighth grade exams.
Celia had a horse which she rode bareback. Often she would hitch up the horse to a cutter in the winter or a cart in the summer. She would drive the horse to school. That summer she gave Floyd and Charlotte rides to and from school whenever they stayed with their Grandma Wicks.
Sometimes, Celia would take her horse and buggy to her Grandpa Deitrich’s or Uncle Henrys to get chicken feed. Charlotte say’s, “Celia would invite me to go along. We just went riding along, it was an adventure to go with her, Celia’s Grandfather’s seemed so far away.”
Charlotte remembers a few years later going with some other youth, to visit Celia at her home. She was then married to Ed Walter. They were living close to Kelvin Store and Ed was working for Cook’s. Celia had a tiny, small, cute baby girl, her name was Erna.
In later years Charlotte said she would visit with Celia at Peace Lutheran Church. Many times, Celia would be quietly washing dishes for church functions
Charlotte said, after her passing on March 30,2005, “Celia was always a friend, and I’ll miss her. She always made me happy to see her.”
Written for Patsy Walter Mogk, on her Grandma Celia’s passing.__by Charlotte Metcalfe
Vickie L. Metcalfe written on March 31, 2005

Vickie, I was glad to see Erna Walter’s name on our reunion list too. Erna knew my Dad’s family pretty well. She lived with my Dad’s brother Emil and his wife Lillian for several years in the foot hills of the Turtle mountains NE of Bottineau. She was teaching school at the time. That would have been in the 1956/57 time frame. I remember Erna living with them. I was only about 10 years old at the time. I had totally forgotten she had lived with Emil/Lillian until she brought it to my attention when I got in contact with her putting class lists together. Erna is currently living in Minot. Gary

 
 
 
Tommy Belgarde’s passing:
Reply from Claudette McLeod (80): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary,
Yes, it is Tommy Belgarde the musician. It was a very sad day in our community, Tommy was the son of the late Jimmy and Emma Belgarde. His brothers were Rene and Clifford, he had others as well but Rene and Clifford lived her all their lives.

Claudette McLeod

Turtle Mountain Outreach

Office (701)244-0199

Fax (701)244-0215

 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 
 
  

04/30/2010

Posted on by
Tommy Belgarde Passed away
Forward from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
Note: I am not familiar with Tommy. I’m pretty sure some of you are though. Please fill us in with Tommy and where he lived etc. Our condolences are with his family with his passing. They are in our prayers. Gary
 

Date: 4/29/2010 11:09:20 AM
Subject: #2 Prayer requests 4-29-10

 

Tommy Belgarde died early this morning. Please pray for his family and friends. Will let you know about services when I hear.

 
 
 
 
 
Reply from Cheryl Kester Gaugler (69): North Brunswick, NJ
 

Gary,

 

After seeing the map you sent today, I realized how close I was to you a couple of weeks ago – my husband and I visited our son in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He’s taking a year-long language course at Utma Jaya University learning Bahasa Indonesia. He loves the country and may end up staying longer. We saw many sites, one of the most amazing was standing at the top of Borobudur when the mist was rising from the jungle at sunrise – absolute breathtaking.

 

Just want to thank you again for all the coordinating you do keeping us in touch.

 

Cheryl Kester Gaugler – Class of 1969

Yes, Indonesia is just to the west of us. We have not yet visited Indonesia. Many folks from here have business connections in Viet Nam which is also a hop skip and a jump to the west of us as well. It’s hard to believe, but labor costs are less in Viet Nam than here in the Philippines.

 

Reunion reply from Shelley Sime Fossen (84): ?????, ND.

 

Gary – I read the updates all of the time and went to school in Dunseith till the 8th grade. You really are a saint for all you do with this blog. Just when is the date of the banquet? I am wondering if I could take my mom, Connie Burcham Sime, to the meal? I know that this is last minute but she is much too shy to just go on her own and Dad isn’t much of a social butterfly.

Thanks either way :o) Shelley Sime Fossen 1984 Bottineau

PS: Mom would have graduated about 1963 but I am not certain of that year (close). :o)

It’s great to hear from you Shelley. I have your mother listed with the class of 1962 in my records. It’s wonderful that you and your mother plan on attending the reunion. We have added you to our lists for attending. You can just send your payment, payable to Verena.

Verena Gillis
PO Box, 785
Dunseith, ND 58329

(701) 263-3302 C(701) 378-5167
 
 
Angela Berube Malget (65): Minneapolis, MN
 
Folks, I just got a message from Angela Berube Malget (65) letting me know that she and Greg will be attending the reunion.
  

04/29/2010

Posted on by
Pictures from The Archieves:
 

Pictrue L to R:

Back: Sandra & Mike

Front: Todd, Dawn, Teri & Kelly

 

 

 

Toni Parisien has identified those in the Azure Family Portrait:

 

The Azure Family Portrait:

 

Back Row – Toni (Azure) Parisien, Denise (Azure) Marcellais, Agnes (Jerome) Azure, Wade (LaBoy) Davis – deceased, Marla Davis, Francis (Lito) Davis – deceased, Becky (Davis) Bliss, Terry (Tooners) Plumage, Keifer Plumage, Joseph (Chick) Plumage, Joey Plumage, Lyle Davis,

 

Middle Row – Peter J. (Butch) Azure – father of Toni and Denise, married to Agnes Jerome,

Caroline (Azure) Davis – deceased mother of Wade, Marla and Becky, married to Francis Davis, Agnes (Decoteau) Azure, Fabian Azure, Agnes (Dolly Azure) Plumage – mother of Terry, Keifer, Joey and Kevin, married to Joseph Plumage, Francis (Sammy) Azure, Lila (Davis) Gourneau,

 

 

 

 

RACHEL BERUBE’S Wedding, CECILE BERUBE, AND EVIE GOTTBREHT 1965

 

 

 

Alma and Dale Gottbreht1938

  

04/28/2010

Posted on by
Folks, I screwed the numbering up with yesterday’s message. It should have been 782, not 781, so there are now two 781’s. I’m continuing on with 782 today though.
 
Today is our bowling day. With that and having to run a few errands before going, I’m making this kind of short today. Gary
 
 
 
Wendal Cushing (Retired Forestry Teacher) plans to attend the reunion:
 
Folks,
 
Wendal Cushing got in touch with me expressing a desire to attend our reunion. I told him he is very much welcome. I know many of you will remember Mr. Cushing from the Forestry. He was a science teacher there for many years. I took a Chemistry class from him when I attended there in 1966. Wendal’s mother is a Fassett, sister to Kathleen Fassett Grimme. Wendal is a first cousin to Bill and Gwen Grimme. He was born and raised on a farm between Dunseith and Bottineau. Wendal lives one block from my brother Darrel (Bud) and Debby in Bottineau. With my walks of the neighborhood when I’m there, I’ll often times see Wendal out working in his yard. With one of my walks in 2007, Wendal invited me to sit down and have a chat, in his yard, as I was passing.
 
Gwen Grimme Eltz was a teacher at the Forestry (NDSU & MSU Bottineau) for many years too. She is currently teaching computer application and other classes at a college in Spokane.
 
Wendal would love to see any old albums, etc, that any of you may have.
 
Gary
 
 
 
Pictures of Dunseith Superintendents:
Request from Verena Gillis: Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary,
Is there any way you can get me pictures of all superintendents that have
been at DHS? I have Mr. Jerstad’s but without having to take the wall pics
down I thought maybe you can help me here. I plan on doing some things
with the pictures on the walls at the Bingo Barn.

Verena

Folks, Can you help us out with any pictures you may have? Thanks, Gary
 
I have these two pictures that Phyllis Jerstad provided. When I get a chance I’ll see if I can crop a decent picture of Mr. Jerstad from our class of 65 matrix.
 

 

 

  

04/27/2010

Posted on by
Lester & Marion Johnson:
Congratulations from Joan Richard (Teacher): Dunseith, ND
 
I would like to congratulate Lester and Marian on a milestone anniversary,
Happy 60th Anniversary. It was great that the family could be together
and enjoy each others presence. God Bless You all. Joan Richard,
Dunseith.
Lester & Marian Johnson
 
 
 
Reply from Keith Pladson (66): Stafford, VA
 
You are so right about not knowing where you are calling anymore. Several months ago, I had been dragging my feet on making some calls on a few things. None of them were real serious, but after putting them off for several days, I finally decided it was time to make the calls.

We had been having some trouble with our computer firewall package, so called their number for customer service. The lady I spoke with was very helpful and was able to diagnose and fix the problem. She spoke with a very heavy accent, so I asked her where she was located, to which she responded with the name of a city in India.

Next our dishwasher had been acting weird when you ran it through it’s cycle. We have an extended warranty on it so I called the warranty company and the gentleman I spoke with ran me through the steps to reset the computerized electronics that control the cycling of it and it’s run fine ever since. In any case, he spoke very good English, but had a distinctive accent. So I inquired where he was located and he said in Honduras.

My final call that day was to the Credit Union through which we have our credit card and I ended up speaking with a lady in Omaha, NB.

Then, a few days later our house phone went dead, so I used my cell phone to make a “local” call to Verizon to report the outage. I really thought I was speaking to someone right here in Stafford county, VA and couldn’t understand why she didn’t seem to understand where I was located. So I asked her “aren’t you here in Stafford, VA?” She laughed a little and said, “Oh no, I’m in Dallas, TX.

Yeah, it’s a small world … and getting smaller every day.

Thanks Gary.
Keith (66)

 
 
 
1983 Dunseith Dragons Boys Basket Ball Team L to R:

 

 

 

Back: Brother to George Bruce, #40 Gerald Counts, #24 Mark Peltier, #14 Roger Cree, #44 Pat Peltier, #42 Travis Davis, #32 Mitchell Cree, #30 Brian Azure & Gilbert Peltier

 

 

Front: #12 George Bruce, Coach James Keating & #34 Dean Gillis

 
Cebu, Philippines
 
Several have been asking where we are located in the world, so I thought today would be a good day for reposting this map that Bill Grimme provided about 3 years ago. We are located in Cebu with the big red star. We are about 400 miles north of the Equator. The island of Cebu is nestled between several other islands. It’s kind of hard to tell looking at the map. The island of Cebu is banana shape. It’s about 150 miles tip to tip with a girth of about 20 miles at the widest point near the center. There are about 4 million folks living on this island, so we are not lacking for people. Gary
 
 
  

04/26/2010

Posted on by
Call Centers:
The other day a friend of ours from the states called his credit card company to let them know he is living in the PI. The gal at the call center taking the call said she lives in and was taking his call from right here in Cebu. When calling for technical support one never knows what part of the world you are calling. Gary

Important reminder – Dunseith Alumni Reunion
 
For those of you that attended Dunseith schools, planning on attending the reunion, Verena needs your Registration payment by the end of the month (4 more days) enabling you to get a Tee Shirt. Those attending that do not have their Registration payment to Verena by April 30th will not be getting a Tee Shirt.
 
You can mail your $5.00 registration fee and $10.00 if you want the catered Roast beef dinner ($15.00 Total per person) to Verena at the following address
 
Verena Gillis

PO Box, 785
Dunseith, ND 58329

(701) 263-3302 C(701) 378-5167
 
 
 
 
John Boguslawski (68) Memories:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

When Trish said she could just see John Bogus standing there, I know
what she means. We did so many things together that the memories stay
clear. He certainly did have a quiet sense of humor and sly smile. I
often wonder what he would be doing now if he was still with us. He had
finished college and worked for Bobcat in Bismarck for a while and then
had taken a job with a tool and die manufacturer in the Minneapolis
area. That type of work was right up his alley as he was always
designing some mechanical device of some kind. He had married a very
nice gal named Christy and things were going good when he lost his life
in the river drowning accident. That was in the spring of 1981. It
really doesn’t seem possible that it’s nearly 30 years ago. I guess our
good memories of our old pal John will have to fill the void. The
upcoming reunion will be a good place to reconnect and reminisce with
old friends and classmates before time thins our ranks even more. There
is an old saying—-‘Time waits for no man’—it seems to be more true
by the day. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Previously posted by Dick Johnson in message 500 (Class of 68 folks)
Those in the pictures: John Bogus with the multi colored shirt, Rich
Campbell with the block of wood, Greg Grimme with the hat on, and Tim
Hill with the ‘ I think we made it ‘ look!
Note: Dick was taking the picture
 
 
Reply/Picture from Trish Larson Wild (73): FORT COLLINS, CO
 

Hi Gary,
 
I’m sorry to say that there was just not enough time for me to make the ride to Dunseith next month. I’m still working full time in the Loveland Emergency Room through May, and hyperfocused on fundraising and preparing for my exodus in the fall. I’m sorry to miss all the fun I’m sure you’ll be having, but rest assured, I’ll be reading your blog and looking for photos!
 
Things are coming together very well for my ride to Argentina. I will be putting a website up sometime in mid to late May which I hope will make it fun and easy for people to follow along and communicate with me on my ride. My old desk top computer broke down a few weeks ago, but one of my sponsors has promised to deliver a new laptop by the end of April. Once that is aquired, I will be up and running full steam on the internet. Meanwhile, I’m making occasional entries on my blogsite, listed below. People can now sign up as charter “followers” and receive notification when new entries are posted.
 
The plan is still to head south from Colorado on 10/10/10. In the meantime, I’m planning to increase my riding time gradually, cutting back at work and riding more each month until finally I am full time in the saddle (living in the Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain National Forests) by August, or September at the latest.
 
Thanks for your interest in this epic adventure! All are welcome to join me on my ride electronically. I will also be taking reservations along the way for friends who would like to join me in person, as I will have an extra horse for that purpose. I expect to be riding through some spectacular scenery, including the Inca Trail in the mountains of Peru….
 
I’ve included a photo I took this morning in my back yard as I was leaving for work. These are my friendly geldings, Magic and Midnight. I call them the Prince and the Pirate, based on their personalities! As you can see, we still have snow on the mountain. Spring is on the way however, and I expect there will be many sunny days ahead this summer!
 
All kinds of fun stuff coming together. Sorry I won’t be able to join you in North Dakota, but I really enjoy our connection, and hope to hear from some of you as time goes by.
 
Your Friend in Adventure,
 
Trish Wild
The Equine Nomad

Hi Gary,
 
Here’s another photos of me with Magic, after a 25 mile ride over the mountains into Fort Collins last week.
 
Trish

 

 

Folks, These are some pictures from the achieves:

 

2007 Class of 65 reunion

L to R: Bernadette Stokes in Back, Margaret Metcalfe Leonard, Bill Grimme,

Cecile Berube Reynolds & Phyllis McKay

 

 

 

 

December 1973

 

Rene & John Bedard

 

 

Agnes Berg & Dick Johnson (68)

 
 

04/25/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
Marge Johnson Pladson (deceased) was Dan Pladson’s former wife. Marge’s parents were Lester and Marian Johnson. Marge sent me this email message in March 2006. A few months after she sent me this letter she died with a relapse of Breast Cancer. She thought she had it licked, but it came back.
 
With the posting of Lester and Marian Johnson’s 60th wedding anniversary several days ago, I have gotten permission from Dan Pladson’s current wife, Robin, to post this letter of Marge (Johnson) Pladson’s and picture.
 
Dan and Robin were married in Salem Church. Salem was our family church of which my folks were members of until they departed this earth. I spent many hours, in my childhood days, sitting in those pews attending chruch services.
 
Marge was working at the court house in Bottineau when she sent this letter. She sent this letter from her work. I had not yet started putting class lists together when she sent this letter to me. She just happened to see Neola and got my email address.
 
Gary
 

From: Marge Pladson (now deceased)

Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 7:53 AM

Subject: Hi Gary Stokes from Marge Pladson in Bottineau!!

 

Got your email address from Neola and thought I’d drop a few lines.

 

I am married to Daniel Pladson – Elden & Ella’s son. I used to be a Johnson – Lester & Marian’s daughter. All of us old neighbors of your mom and dad’s.

 

Did you hear we moved up to the Pladson farm? Dan & I bought the land about three years ago and one year ago decided to move a house up there. What a busy year it has been. The house we found was across the street from us in town! It was vacant for a few years and they finally decided to move it (the basement had a lot of damage). Perfect timing for us.

 

It is so wonderful to be in the hills. If you remember where the cemetery is, we are just on the west side of the cemetery fence on top of the hill. What a view we have looking out of our living room window.

 

The Pladson’s & Johnson’s had their Christmas parties up at our house this year. We had so much fun. Especially the Pladson’s. We pulled out a bunch of sleds and away we went for several hours. Listening to the laughter and seeing their joyful faces was so wonderful. It had been 20 years since anyone has spent time on the farm – after Elden died & Ella moved to town.

 

Well, I better get to work. I hope you and your wife are doing fine.

 

Here’s a picture so you know who you are talking to. Dan & I belong to “Hills & Plains Country Gospel” singing group. We recently played in Minot at an Old Time & Gospel Music Fest where this picture was taken – over 400 people were there that day. It was so much fun for all of us.

 

Marge Pladson

RR

1 Box 140

Dunseith ND 58329

 

 

 

 

Dan and Marge (Johnson) Pladson

 

Reply/Picture From Robin Pladson: Dunseith, ND

 

Gary,
I am fine with you posting the letter. I am a woman whom is very understanding. I too, lost a spouse in 1994, so I know what’s it is like to lose someone you dearly loved. And I’ve been told, if Margaret had to pick someone for Daniel, it would of been me. We are alot alike in different ways, so that helps.

No, Marian and Lester don’t have email.

Attaching a picture of Daniel and I at our wedding in September of 2007. We were married at Salem Lutheran Church.

Thanks so much for asking me thou.

Love
Robin

 

Dan and Robin Pladson

 

 

 

 
 
John Boguslawski:
Reply from Trish Larson Wild (73): trish.wild@yahoo.com Fort Collins, CO
 

To Dick,
 
Thanks so much for the story about John B. He was such a great guy, and all of us enjoyed his quiet sense of humor so much. I can just see him standing there in your story. Thanks for sharing that one!
 
Trish
Trish, I was thinking about you the other day wondering if you’d be riding into Dunseith on horseback for our reunion? Please fill us in. Gary
 
All rights reserved

04/24/2010

Posted on by
Obituary:
Posted by Larry St. Clarie (66): Anchorage, AK
 
 
Visit Guest Book

Frederick Belgarde

Anchorage resident Frederick Anthony Belgarde, 70, died peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones on April 19, 2010.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Legacy Funeral Home’s Witzleben Chapel, 1707 S. Bragaw St.

Fred was born Jan. 20, 1940, in Dunseith, N.D., and was a proud Native American of the Chippewa Tribe. He attended Dunseith Grade School, Wahpton Indian Grade School, and graduated from Flandreau Indian High School in South Dakota, where he was trained as a bricklayer. Although his academic achievements provided him opportunities to attend Harvard University, his true passion was bricklaying. Fred trained and worked passionately with his relatives and brought them to Alaska after moving here in 1965. He established his own company, Big Sky Masonry.

He served three years in the Air National Guard in Montana.

Fred married Lillian “Pepsi” Roy Davis on April 16, 1960, in Conrad, Mont.

His family wrote: “They shared 50 years together, raising a family, devoted to each other, their three children, and nine grandchildren. He loved his wife and family more than words can convey, but one visit with him and you would feel it.

“If you worked with Fred, and lasted on the job, you left a better person. Besides the robust, larger-than-life presence, he was the most caring, generous and loyal person. He would offer words of wisdom, motivation, and honesty. He also loved cribbage, craps and coffee and the annual trip with Pepsi to Las Vegas. Fred loved hunting with his dogs, grandchildren, son, friends and relatives.”

He is survived by his beloved wife, Pepsi; daughters, Dawn Yeager and Carol Belgarde; son, Conrad Belgarde; son-in-law, Joseph Yeager; former son-in-law, Brian Snow; grandchildren, Arielle, Kyra and Tosca Yeager, Scott Snow, Drew Yeager, Dustyn Belgarde, Morgan, Bayley and Dalton Belgarde; brothers, Roderick and Patrick Belgarde; sisters-in-law, Norlene Belgarde and Jan Persicke; and many nieces and nephews.

He was looking forward to the birth of great-grandson Peter Keel III.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Willie Persicke.

Arrangements are with Legacy Funeral Home, Witzleben Bragaw Chapel.


http://www.legacy.com:80/obituaries/adn/obituary.aspx?n=frederick-belgarde&pid=142082615#ixzz0lySou5DC

 
 
 
 
Lester & Marian Johnson picture posted yesterday:
Reply from Robin (Dan 75) Pladson: Dunseith, ND.
 
Hello Gary,

The picture that Neola placed within this email is Lester and Marian Johnson. Their family, including Daniel and I celebrated this past Sunday at the Norway house in Bottineau at 1pm. A few of us ladies, their daughter-inlaw’s Dee (Loren) and Carrie (Brian), daughter – Linda, Violet (Marian sister) and I (and a few others) were dressed in a 50’s style clothing – poodle skirts and all the finery to go with. Dinner was served and then of course a beautiful cake. Before we ate, there was alittle program put on by the girls for Lester and Marian.

Love
Robin

Robin, It is so nice that you and Dan were able to be with Lester and Marian with the celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary. It’s been years since I’ve seen any of their children. I briefly saw Loren in the Bottineau Bakery about 10 years ago. However, I have seen Lester and Marian, many times, over the years with our trips back to the area. They live kiddy corner across the street from where my folks lived on Main Street. I remember Lester’s dad, James Johnson, really well. He was such a brilliant man. He walked with a limp that did not slow him down one bit. In his Mid 70’s, in the late 50’s, he decided to start farming again. He bought a W-6 International tractor and farmed all his property located 1 mile west of the Ackworth Cemetery. He had two or 3 quarters of land. He rode that tractor from sunrise to sunset. James, with his brilliance, was a great business mind man. He always had everything calculated right down to the last detail. I remember him telling my dad that the tires on the right side of a vehicle get more wear than on the left. He explained his logic for that analyses too. In 1961, my Dad was the administrator for James’ brother, Sander Johnson’s, estate. Two of James sisters married Bjornseth’s. Cora was married to Jacob and Emma was married Art. Jacob and Cora Bjornseth’s children are Gladys (Albert) Rude, Viola (Alfred) Rude, Clifford & Ralph (Luella Boardman 49). All but Ralph are deceased. Gladys & Albert Rude’s son, LaVerne, is married to Carrole Fauske (66). Virgil Rude’s parents are Viola and Alfred. Clarence Bjornseth’s parents were Art & Emma. Gary
 
 
 
Motor Cycle Story:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Today something stirred an old memory from 40+ years ago. John
Boguslawski and I were square baling hay here on the farm one summer and
had come in to eat some noon lunch in the old farm house. We were both
riding on my first old army surplus Harley Davidson. There was only one
seat so Big John just sat on the rear fender to ride back to the field.
We were roaring down a rutted road and I decided to switch ruts and get
a smoother ride. Well, the front wheel crossed the center grass strip in
the old mud road but the rear tire caught a rut and whipped us around
broadside. I laid the bike down on it’s side and felt John slide off the
back. I was sliding along thinking things were going to work out just
when the bike caught something and proceeded to flip over, throwing me
ahead of it and then cartwheeling right over the top of me. The handle
bar jabbed into my gut with the full weight of the bike on it and shut
out my lights for a while. I still remember coming to and hearing the
old Harley still thumping away off to the side and Big John asking if I
was OK. I said I was and he said, “Well it doesn’t look like it.” He
pointed to my elbow and I looked to see a big gash bleeding down my arm
to my hand. The worst part of the deal was when he grinned at me—he
hadn’t even lost the toothpick he had in his mouth! I wrapped my arm
with a bandana handkerchief and we went back to baling hay–all busted up!

Dick

  

04/23/2010

Posted on by
Highway 43 CD request:
Request from Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): Dunseith, ND

I hope that Dick and his band will have some CD’s for sale at the reunion…I think a lot of people would like to have one.

ele
Ele, I know a lot of folks are hoping Dick will have some CD’s available at the reunion too.
 
Dick is very careful not to mention his CD’s with our Blog. He prefers not to have this sight turn into a marketing sight.
 
Dick, with Ele’s request and others, we are certainly hoping you will have some of your CD’s available at the reunion? Gary
 
 
Esther Murray Fleming (65) will be attending the reunion: Flint, MI
 
Reply from Susan Fassett Martin (65): Spearfish SD
 
I am ready to go. Will be staying at the Super 8 in Bottineau. Please add Esther Murray Fleming to the list of attendees. I will pick her up at the Minot airport on my way up.
Folks, I replied with a separate message to the class of 65 with Esther’s attending. Esther has only been back to Dunseith several times since graduating in 1965. She was able to attend our 2007 reunion with her husband. At that time she had not been back to Dunseith since about 1968. We are so glad that she will be attending our reunion next month as well.
 
 
 
Ann Gottbreht Flaata:
Request from Connie (Roger) Zorn Landsverk: Bottineau, ND
 

Hi Gary, fun looking @ the Dunseith alumni,

My friend Ann (Gottbreht) Flaata is married to Harlan & Joyce Flaata,s son Mark. Ann went to school in Dunseith & would like to receive the Dunseith alumni & sign up for the school reunion (DHS) this is her email address Ann Flatta@utma.com Connie (Zorn) Landsverk

Thank you Connie for including Ann.
 
Ann, I believe Francie Gottbreht Dutra (63) and Mary Ann Gottbreht Brennan (58) are you aunts. What class year were you with when you attended Dunseith? Your husband Mark’s mother, Joyce Flaata, is also signed up for attending the reunion. Will Mark be joining you as well? Please let us know so we can add him to our list of those attending. Thanks, Gary
 
 
 

 

Pictures/Articles:

 

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

 

 

 

Folks, Neola sent this picture to me for Identification. I am 98% sure that this is Lester and Marion Johnson. Since the Johnson’s have been in our conversations in the recent past and with this being such a great photo, I want to post it.

 

 

Lester and Marian lived on the James Johnson home place located 1 1/2 miles west and a 1/2 north of the Ackworth Cemetery. Their home was on the north side of Bergan Lake. Their children Attended Dunseith for a number of years before transferring to Bottineau. Loren is their oldest. I’m not sure if he graduated from Dunseith or Bottineau?

 

 

Lester and Marian have lived in Bottineau for a number of years now. They live on Main street one block south of the Senior Center.

 

 

I would like to congradulate Lester and Marian on their 60th Anniversary. Gary

 

 

Lester and Marion Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Danny Schimetz is a grandson of Stella’s. I’m not sure which one of her children he belongs to though? Colette (Reid Deceased) Pigeon Schimetz, is Danny by chance your son?

 

  

04/22/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
I didn’t have an internet signal yesterday morning, so I was unable to post a blog. It was our bowling day too. Following bowling, we were invited out for dinner with several of our friends, as guests, at a local members only club. We didn’t get home until nearly midnight. We attended an all you could eat Prime Rib buffet. I have never eaten better Prime Rib. It was so moist and tender.
 
Gary
 
 
Dick/Brenda Johnson & Ron Hett (Highway 43 Band)
 
Message from Floyd Dion (45): Dunseith, ND
 

Gary

Hwy 43 played at the Dunseith Sr. Center today, with people from Bottineau, residents from the Dunseith Nursing Home and local people . Dick, Brenda & Ron did a wonderful job with their instuments, If anyone likes REAL country music you will be able to hear them play May,22

nd at the Bingo Barn during the reunion. Dick is a wonderful singer.

Time is going fast, only a month until the reunion.

 

Floyd
Floyd, I have one of their CD’s. They’re great!! As you said, Dick is a wonderful singer. I can not wait to hear them in person.
The reunion is getting close, one month from today. We’ll be leaving two weeks from this coming Tuesday. We’ll be spending a few days in the Seattle/Bremerton area before going to ND. We’ll be arriving in Minot at 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 16th. From there we’ll be getting a rental car and heading for Bottineau. We’ll be staying with my brother Darrel (Bud) & Debby. Gary
 
 
 
Reunion attendance list:
 
The folks listed below were added to my list with an update from Verena yesterday. These folks were not listed with day before yesterday’s posting.
 
For name tags, please verify that everything is correct. Please get back to me with any corrections.
 




Diane Larson Sjol Minot, ND 1970
Jim Evans Dunseith, ND 1963
Cheri Metcalfe Evans Dunseith, ND 1974
George Gottbreht Dunseith, ND 1961
Rose Gottbreht Dunseith, ND 1961 Spouse
Linda Gunville Dunseith, ND 1979
Bernadette Peltier Dunseith, ND 1970
Carol Peltier Breland Belcourt, ND 1975
Sam Breland Belcourt, ND 1975 Spouse
Elaine Peltier Dunseith, ND 1974
Fern Peltier Dunseith, ND 1977




Don Lamoureux East Bethel, MN 1975
Elizabeth Lamoureux East Bethel, MN 1975 Spouse
 
 
Pictures from the Achieves:
 
Folks,
These are pictures from Jared and Geraldine (Gee) Steele’s wedding. They were married, here in Cebu, on July 28, 2008 in beautiful ceremony in the presents of about 200 friends and relatives.
 
Following their wedding, It took 9 months or so for Gee’s Visa to be processed, enabling her to go to the USA. Jared came back here last May for her to accompany him back to Bottineau. Those were nine long months for both of them waiting for the Visa process. The average processing time is one year, so they beat the average.
 
By now, for those of you in the area, you have probably met Gee at the Bottineau Wal-Mart. She started working there, as a cashier, shortly after arriving in Bottineau. Gee has a bachelors degree for teaching too. I’m not sure if she has plans in pursuing her teaching career in the states or not.
 
Bernadette has promised to take Gee some dried fish with our trip back next month. I’m pretty sure there is not much demand for died fish in Bottineau. Without rice and dried fish these Filipino/Filipina’s have withdrawals.
 
Jared is originally from the Bismarck area. He works for Terry Moe (72) at “T’S Yamaha” in Bottineau.
 
Gary
 
 
Cebu, Philippines – July 28, 2008

 

Jared & Geraldine (Gee) Steele

 

 

Cebu, Philippines – July 28, 2008

 

Gary Stokes, Jared & Geraldine (Gee) Steele, Bernadette Stokes

 

 

 

 

Back: Roberta Hagen Striker (75)
Front: Kim Hiatt Hermann (77)

 

 

 

 

  

04/20/2010

Posted on by
Condolences to the Schimetz family

From Judy Morgan (Former Teacher): Edgeley, ND.

 

Dear Stella and family,

I am so sorry to learn of Bryan’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this very difficult time.

. .The memory of a life well lived lives on and on. May you remember the love and the happy times and find comfort in these memories. Judy

 

 

 

Condolences to the Schimetz family

From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.

 

Gary and Friends,

I would also like to extend my condolences to the Schimetz family.
Bryan fought a long hard battle with this dreaded disease. He was trooper.

Dick

 
 
 
Reply from Keith Pladson (66): Stafford, VA
 
Gary,
This is in response to Ivy Eller Robert’s input in the 775 issue. Thank you for that beautiful poem.
Keith Pladson
 
 
 
Reply from Gaillord Peltier (80): Turtle Lake, ND.
 
Mrs. Kofoid;

Yes, Garry Counts Jr. is the son of Garry and Theresa Counts. Garry and
Theresa are my Uncle and Aunt, Garry Jr. is my first cousin.

Have a great day!

Gaillord Peltier
“Class of 1980”

 
 
 
Reply from Verena (Pete 65) Gillis: Dunseith, ND.
 
> In reply to the Gary Counts question-PVT. Garry W. Counts graduated in
2004 from DHS and entered into the service, his dad is Gary Counts & mom
Lucinda Counts. So he would be a grandson to Garry and Theresa
(Peltier) Counts.
Hoped that helped.

Verena ((*-*))

 
 
 
Reply from Dale Pritchard (63): Leesville, LA
 
Gary,

You mentioned American TV in the Philippines. In Japan in the late 60s,
they had American TV series but they all in Japanese with no English
captions at the bottom. I remember “Bonanza” in particular. You had to
use your imagination to figure out what was going on!

Dale

 
  

04/19/2010

Posted on by

Condolences to the Schimetz family

From Lorraine Richard Nelson: Mesa, AZ

 
Thank you so much for all the news from Dunseith and around.. I feel so badly for Stella, she is my first cousin as I was a Richard, my dad had the service station in Dunseith when I attended high school in Dunseith. I find many memories from your web site. Thank you again.. I will be contacting Stella. Lorraine Richard Nelson..Mesa AZ.
 

 

Condolences to the Schimetz family

From Sharon Longie Dana (73):

 

So sorry to hear of Bryan’s passing. Thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this time.

 

Sharon Longie Dana(73)
 
 

 

Condolences to the Schimetz family

From Shirley LaRocque Wendt (59): Tukwila, WA

 
I TOO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO SCHIMETZ FAMILY, MY DAD AND MOM WERE GOOD FRIENDS WITH STELLA AND LOUIS AS I WAS GROWING UP BACK THERE .
 
 
 
From Marge Longie Langan Wilcox (56)Vancouver, WA.
 
Gary,
 
I saw on the game channel this week that deal or no deal was in the Philippines.
 
Marge
Yes, The PI does have it’s own version of “Deal or no Deal”. We get a lot of the American channels too. We get “The Price is Right”, Jeopardy, “Wheel of Fortune” and most all of the detective shows of which Bernadette is hooked on. The CSI series, I think, are her favorites.
 
 
 
From Ivy Eller Robert (74): Everett, WA.

Hi Gary……I received this poem from Susan Maleterre (69) today and it really touched my heart. I thought that others might like to read it as well, that is, if you want to post it!

Also, it’s kind of funny, all of these years that I have been away from Dunseith (34), my sister Julie, who lives in Bottineau, would always keep me informed with who passed away in the greater Dunseith area. But since you started this blog a few years ago, I seem know it before she does now.

Thanks again for all you do……

Ivy Eller Robert (74)

APoem

He wasgetting oldand paunchy And his hair was falling fast,
and he sat around theVFW, Telling stories of the past.

Of a warthat heonce foughtin And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploitswith his buddies; Theywere heroes,everyone.

And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors His tales became a joke,
Allhis buddies listened quietly For they knew where of he spoke.

But we’ll hear his tales no longer, For ol’Bob has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer For aSoldier died today.

He won’t be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary, Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family, Going quietly on his way;
And the world won’t note his passing,’Tho a Soldier died today.

Whenpoliticiansleave this earth, Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing, Andproclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories From the time that they were young
But thepassing of a Soldier Goes unnoticed, andunsung.

Is the greatest contribution To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country And offers up his life?

The politician’s stipend And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate, To the service that he gives.

While theordinary Soldier, Who offered up his all,
Ispaid off with a medal And perhaps a pension, small..

It’s soeasy to forget them, For it is so many times That
our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys, Went to battle, but we know,

It isnot the politicians With their compromise and ploys,
Whowon for usthe freedom That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out, With his ever waffling stand?

Or would youwant a Soldier— His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier, Who would fight until the end.

He was just acommon Soldier, And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us We may need his like again.

For whencountries are in conflict, Wefind the Soldier’s part
Isto clean up all the troubles That the politiciansstart.

If wecannot do him honor While he’s hereto hear the praise,
Then at leastlet’s give him homage At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just asimple headline In the paperthat might say:
“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.”

 
 
Tarsus School
Picture posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
Hi Gary,
 
Waiva Bergeron, Cherrille’s mother, taught at Tarsus. One day when Bottineau didn’t have school/or we were out for the year, Cherrille/her brother, Mike/Marvin Monson/I spent the day at Tarsus. it was great fun.
 
Neola
 
 
 
 
50 year news:
posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
Folks, Is Garry Counts from the class of 76 any relation to PVT Garry Counts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Counts, who entered the Army in April 1956? Gary
 







Counts Garry PO Box 451 Dunseith, ND 58329 (701) 263-4758   76