02/15/2010

Posted on by
Reply from Dorothy Eurich Strietzel’s (75) Daughter:
Wendy Strietzel: Minot, ND
 
Hey Gary! My folks wanted me to send you a note to let everyone know how much they enjoyed the Frozen Fingers concerts yesterday. They also wanted to let Dick and Brenda Johnson know what a great job they did. Both mom and dad have been commenting on how well the Fauske’s did. As a matter of fact, we are listening to their CD right now and it is great.

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! It’s my son’s 10th Birthday today as well. Take Care!

Wendy Strietzel

 
 
 
Reply from Janice LaCroix Kester (59): Fargo, ND.
 
Enjoyed the 2 pictures of the girl’s basketball team! I found it amazing how Bonnie came up with so many names! It stirred up memories of grade school, and how much I’d admired the gals who played. I don’t think girls’ basketball was offered when I started high school. Thanks, Gary!

Janice Kester
746 Elm St. N.
Fargo, ND 58102
701-237-6385
701-238-5657

 
 
 
Reply from Audrey Hanson Aitchison: Bottineau, ND.
 

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day and hope your day is special. It is nice there are so many people on this blog so we can keep in contact each other. I wanted to explain a little more about the Hope for Humanity that I have worked with for about 20 years. Another name for it is: Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). It Many times they get there before the Red Cross does. 100% of the money collected goes to help millions around the world who are hurting. Overhead expenses are covered from other funds. It is over 100 years old. It is located at :

Hope for Humanity 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904. Thanks. Have a great day!

 

 

 

Commercial Hotel:

Memories/Picture from Gwen Grimme Eltz (68): Spokane, WA.

 

Hi Gary,

I thought you might be interested in a picture of the Commercial Hotel since it’s been mentioned a few times in the blog. Our family moved into the hotel in the fall of 1956 and lived there until 1978. During that time, several elderly men (“boarders”) stayed there long-term; and our mother (Kathleen Fassett Grimme) cooked three meals a day–seven days a week for them, did their weekly laundry every Monday morning, and cleaned their rooms daily. I have a lot of memories of ironing men’s shirts and pressing white sheets and pillowcases using a mangle. Some of the men who lived many years with our family were Bill Sharrett, Ovila Lamoureaux, Charlie Anderson, Ray Anderson, Fred Lamoureaux, among others. The hotel had a front lobby, but in the evenings it was commonplace for the boarders and other hotel guests to join our family in our living room to watch TV and visit.

Always enjoy reading the Dunseith blog, Gary! Thanks for all that you do!

 
 
Frozen Fingers Reply:
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 

Thanks, Gary. :)

 

Nancy Hosmer/friend attended the Hostfest today. She said, “I know you”, or something to that effect. I didn’t recognize her, so I asked her name. It was great to meet her. I had met her daughter a couple of years ago when my aunt, Alvina Christianson, was in St. Andrew’s Hospital in Bottineau. I had not seen her daughter for awhile. She said she is now working in Minot. It was fun seeing Nancy’s daughter again and meeting Nancy.

 

Dick, Brenda and Ron sounded great again–as usual. :) Tomorrow, Brenda and I sell tickets for one shift. I sell tickets from 1:00 until closing. The other ticket seller sells for 2 hours. Today, I Tina Bullinger and I worked one shift together.

 

Speaking of Tina, Florence was at Frozen Fingers today! She uses a walker, but I understand she can walk around the house without her walker. Talk about a miracle. She looks great.

 

Tomorrow, “Just Us” performs in the afternoon. If you recall, “Just Us” is comprised of Tina Pladson Bullinger, Don Boardman and Dave Mettler. More good music?

 

The weather really cut into the attendance at Frozen Fingers today. When Wally/I went to Sleep Inn (We live behind the Job Corps.), it was “blustery” and getting slippery. Out of town was bad. Later in the day, the snow quit falling.

 

I’d better get to bed, as I’m selling tickets again tomorrow. Thank goodness, I don’t need to be there until 1:00. As you know, I don’t “do” mornings. :)

 

Neola

Nancy (Hosmer) Baldwin (62)
with her fiance, Keith Kontzie

  

02/14/2010

Posted on by

Girls Basketball

Reply from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA
 
We must add Marlene Kraft Amentrout to the basketball team. I sure wished to sink baskets just like Marlene and winged many a prayer that I be granted 5 more inches to qualify as a potential player. The girls of Notre Dame Academey did have volleyball however. Sharron
 
 
 
Girls Basketball
Message/Pictures from Bonnie Awalt Houle (56): Becker, MN
 
Gary,
In answer to the Dunseith Girl’s Basketball Coach:
Dunseith had Girl’s Basketball all the years I was in High School. Some of the team members that I remember were:
Doris Peterson, Betty Lou Poepple, Carol Fassett, Betty Counts, Viola Hobbs, Emma Awalt, Viola Klang,Shirley Johnson, Lois Lilleby, Donna Sunderlund, Joyce Burcham, Arlene Lamoureux, Millie Crum, Janice Leonard, Bonnie Awalt, Marlene Kraft, Lois Hiatt, Neva Haagenson, Mickey Haagenson,Elaine Schneider, Marlene Schneider, Joy Nordquist, Arliss Nordquist, Barbara Bott, Arlene Allard, Joanne Kester, Ellen Graff, Tiny Knox: Coaches were first Mr. Conroy, then Mr. Berg and next Virgil Vanorney(sp). Mr. Vanorney had a good knowledge of basketball and was a good coach. The year he coached us we did quite well. Our downfall came in the regional tournament at the Bottineau School of Forestry, when we had to play against Newburg. Newburg were the returning State Champions. They went to State almost every year in the 50’s and we were hoping to get past them, but they went undefeated that year. We had some great players over the years: Marlene Kraft, Viola Hobbs, Arlene Lamoureux, Donna Sunderlund, all had great athletic ability and could have competed with the boys in talent. The years I remember teams were 1951 through 1956.
Marlene Kraft Armentrout could fill you in on the years after we graduated.
Bonnie Awalt Houle 1956
Bonnie, It looks like the names in the 2nd picture got cut off. Thanks, Gary
 

 

 

 

 

Folks,

 

I have a little extra room today, so thought I’d include several pictures of a Buffet dinner we hosted at our place last night. These pictures were taken before our guests arrived. I did not take any pictures at the dinner, but many of our friends did of which they will pass along to me.

 

More Filipino customs and traditions. These are Filipino Catholic traditions. I’m not sure if the American Catholic’s celebrate these traditions to the extent as they are celebrated here in the PI. Each and every community, town, city and many individuals here in the PI have their Saints. Each Saint has their date for celebrations each year of which are celebrated with Fiesta’s. Bernadette’s Saints are Lourdes and Bernadette of whom she is named after. I’m not sure where Saint Bernadette fits into the picture but we have a celebration for Saint Lourdes every February with a dinner fiesta of which we had last night. We hired a catering service to come in. They set up the whole event with tables, chairs, tents and the food. We asked them to set up two buffet serving areas of which they did. We had well over 200 folks that attended our fiesta last night. It was a great evening. Folks were here until midnight. We also hired live entertainment with music.

 

Gary

 

 

 

 

Statue’s of the Saints Lourdes & Bernadette

 

 

Lower Buffet Setup

 

 

Upper Buffet setup (Not fully setup when this picture was taken)

  

02/13/2010

Posted on by
Dunseith Baskeball Team:
Reply from Janice LaCroix Kester (59): Fargo, ND
 
In answer to the question of whether there was a girls basketball team in Dunseith – yes, there certainly was in the early to middle 50’s at least. There was Millie Grem, Joanne Kester Boucher, Elaine Schneider, Marlene Schneider, Ellen Graff, Arlene Lamoureau I think and I can’t remember anymore. I’m sure there is people out there who can give a more detailed list of players. Thank you so much Gary! You are unbelievable in the way you have kept this blog going!
Jan
Janice Kester
746 Elm St. N.
Fargo, ND 5r8102
701-237-6385
701-239-5657
 
 
Bob Lagerquist (58) & Kenrose Medlang: (701) 263-4232 Dunseith, ND.
From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND
 
Hello Gary,
Today I zipped into the Family Bakery for soup to go.
Kenrose and Bob.were eating dinner. I was delighted to see them
because they are always so happy and enjoy even a little visit. I
hadn’t seen them since before Thanksgiving.

Bob told me, “This past week he was very sick. He was very
dizzy, so he telephoned Mark Bernstein (Joanne Millang’s husband).
Mark drove he and Kenrose into Bottineau. Bob ended up staying in
the Bottineau hospital for over two days. Kenrose was very
concerned about him and was able to stay at the hospital in Bobs
room. She said the staff at St.Andrews took very good care of Bob.
And were very good to her too. While away from the farm, Loren
DuBois came over and cared for the dogs. Bob and Kenrose were so
grateful for the friendship of Mark Bernstein, & Loren Dubois and
the care of the Bottineau Hospital Staff!

Bob now will go into Minot these next few weeks for further testing.
I asked Bob if I could let Gary Stokes and the folks on the
Dunseith blog know about his recent stay in the hospital. Bob said,
that it was fine with him. Kenrose said,” Why wouldn’t it be? I
said to Kenrose because some folks get upset about people knowing
their stuff” She said, “Hmm, she did not mind at all that Gary
posted her birthday information, she received over 30 birthday cards
and was was happy to hear from everyone! Bob was happy that folks
would be interested in him.
Thanks, Vickie

 
 
Norman Pritchard & Leslie Harmon:
Newspaper article posted by Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
Outstanding Pictures! I really do not want to recover from the high of Stokes/Thompson/Pritchard entries. Thank you – pictures are truly worth a thousand words. And I would add that the Hanson/Pritchard romance is surely the right “thousand”. Thank you Dorothy Pritchard and Mary Knutson. In browsing old issues of the Turtle Mt Star I have noted items about Norman Pritchard but never enough of his career and destiny. Would Dale or Dorothy sing of Norman? Thanks Gary. Sharron
 
 
Frozen Fingers Festival & Dunseith News:
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
 
Hi Everyone,
 
A final reminder of Frozen Fingers Festival to be held at Sleep Inn, Minot, this weekend. If you enjoy old time/bluegrass/gospel music, this is an event for you.
 
I sell tickets on Saturday/Sunday, starting at one o’clock. If I haven’t met you before, and if you attend the festival, please say hi and tell me who you are. :) I’ll also be selling tickets for the dance on Saturday night.
 
I hope to see many of you this weekend.
 
Neola
 
 
 
 
 
Pictures from Dianne Rober’t Johnson (76): Rolla, ND.
 
Gary,
Yes, that’s me, holding a White Bass caught @ Pelican Lake, part of Devils lake. The guy that is all the photos is my husband, Kevin. In the 1st photo, holding a White Bass, @ Pelican, taken spring 2008. The 3rd photo was taken same year, along Hwy 19 going to DL, Mauvee Coulee, Kevin is holding a Perch, only one caught take year for us!!. In the 2nd, Kevin is holding a walleye caught @ the bridge south of Churchs Ferry, same year, in the spring.
In the last photo, that is Kevin’s youngest brother(from Texas) & his Dad, (from KS) taken in Plains, KS, down for Pheasant season. I did try to send you some more photos, but not sure if you received them.
 
thanks – have a nice day,
Dianne

Kevin Johnson – Pelican Lake

 

 

 

Kevin Johnson:

 

walleye caught @ the bridge south of Churchs Ferry

 

 

 

 

Kevin Johnson:

 

Along Hwy 19 going to DL, Mauvee Coulee

 

 

 

 

Dianne Rober’t Johnson:

 

White Bass caught @ Pelican Lake

 

 

 

Kevin Johnson’s brother (from Texas) & his Dad, (from KS)

 

 
  

02/12/2010

Posted on by
Dennis Dubois (63):
 
Folks, I had a nice chat with Dennis Dubois this morning. Dennis is living in Minneapolis. Dennis for sure plans to attend the reunion on May 22nd. In the course of our conversation he mentioned Mary Bott (62). I told Dennis I’d call her too, of which I did. Mary is living in Linton, ND. She is not sure if she will be able to make the reunion.
 
Gary

 
Girls Basketball question:
From Chris LaFromboise (90): Dunseith, ND.
 
Does anyone have a recollection of girls basketball in Dunseith? Has any team made it to the State Tournament? I am coaching the varsity girls team this year and wondered if Dunseith ever made it to state for basketball.
 
 
Reply from Vickie Metcafle (70): Bottineau, ND.
 
Mary Knutson and Gary,
Thanks for the photo sharing of my namesake Leona Rose (Metcalfe) Oswell. I hadn’t seen that one.
The athlete photo from the Bottineau courant paper is of Trenten James Metcalfe, son of Archie and Sally(Knutson) Metcalfe. Trenten’s maternal grandmother is Mary (Eurich) Knutson. Trenten is blessed to have known his great- grandmother Winnifred(Prichard) Eurich. And knows that his great grandmother Winnifred Pritchard and paternal Great-aunt Leona Metcalfe were life long friends!
Aunt Leona flew back to ND with her son Ron in the early 2000’s to visit. She met and knew many of her extended family.
Aunt Leona spent one day at the Eurich farm with her friend Winnifred. Later that evening, Leona told the story of a skip day many years ago in the 1930’s. She and Winnifred hiked to a nearby popular water area and spent the afternoon on the large rocks sitting comfortably, visiting lazily in the warm spring sun. Two days later at Winnifred’s graduation, Leona said, “Winnifred’s smiling face glowed like a beckon on the stage, standing out from all the other graduates.” “It was shiny red like a stop light, she had a such a sunburn and her white teeth glowed with her smile”
She was able to visit her absolutely favorite Bergan school teacher (Miss Laura Olson) Mrs. Potratz at Dunseith Senior Citizens. Leona was so full of delight at the end of that day,showing us a photo that the former teacher had kept all those many years and brought to give Leona. “Ah….” Leona glowed like a kid when she said “Miss Potratz said, I was a smart intelligent girl!”
Another afternoon was spent with another life long friend Edna (Tooke) Vandal.
Seeing Aunt Leona’s joyous animated face when remembering her fond friendships of yesteryear and telling stories, gave her son Ron and I pure pleasure! I smiled for days. It warms me now again to think of those wonderful fond and life lasting friends. Thanks again for the memories. Vickie Leona Metcalfe
 
 
 
Reply from Lee Struck (66): Hudson, WI.
 
Gary & all subscribers –
 
I wish to correct a comment made by Audrey Aitchison to the note on my volunteer work.
 
I have NOT done any work with Hope for Humanity (ADRA). I maintain a membership with Bethel Lutheran Church – ELCA – (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America).
 
My association – both through local chapters and in the hurricane ravaged Gulf Area of our country – has been with Habitat For Humanity. Founded by Millard & Linda Fuller in Americus, GA in 1976, Habitat For Humanity has built more than 100,000 homes world-wide.
 
To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary (August 29th), the Fuller family had planned an international “blitz build” of 100 houses beginning August 29th in Mr. Fuller’s home town of Lanett, GA. Unfortunately, Mr. Fuller passed away suddenly on February 5, 2009.
 
Following his untimely death, the plans for “the build” remained in place, but the event was re-named the 1st Annual Fuller Legacy Build. I participated in that miraculous event. On Monday morning we drove up to the job site and saw 6 cement slabs. Just before the dedication ceremony at 2 PM on Friday of that week, we were hanging kitchen cabinets, trimming the doors and installing baseboards in the painted rooms!
 
I was blessed to meet Mrs. Fuller, visit with her and receive her note & autograph on “The Theology Of The Hammer”, one of many books written by Mr. Fuller. She is a delightful, charming, Southern woman, living the Fuller Center motto – “Building a Better World, One House at a Time”.
 
The 2nd Annual Fuller Legacy Build will take place this year in Indianapolis, IN, the first week of September. To join us, please visit the Fuller Center web site at http://www.fullercenter.org/.

—
Go In Peace!
Serve The Lord!

Lee Struck

  

02/11/2010

Posted on by
Class of 73:
Reply from Sharon Longie Dana (73): MIssoula MT
 

Reply to Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine,
 
Where is the class of 1973. We are out there BUT as I have mentioned before here in Garys blog the class of 73 doesn’t blog, doesn’t ask questions or reply or make remarks. I have heard that some of our classmates are silent readers. They were a great class…i wouldn’t say that…….there were those of us who were friends and those of us who were outsiders for one reason or another. I would hardly call the class as a whole great. We seem to only remember the good times when someone passes. Life is to short, but only a few of us know that for real. Don’t mean to be a downer Vicki, maybe the class of 73 needed a reality check.
 
Sharon Longie Dana(73)
 
 
 
Pictures provided by Mary Eruich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND.

 

Mary, these Pictures are absolutely wonderful. I have added my guess to several of them as who may be who. It’s a pure guess on my part. Hopefully someone can make a better positive identification than me. Thank you so much for sharing. We are looking forward to seeing any more pictures that you may have too. Gary

 

Folks, Mary has solicited the services of Karen Larson at the Spectrum in Bottineau to scan and send these pictures to me. She does a great job and her fees are very reasonable. Gary

 

Leona Metcalfe Oswell DHS Class of 1939.

October 13, 1921 – November 2, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

Clint Anderson 1881- 1969 Hattie Anderson 1885-1971

 

Clint & Hattie owned & ran the Cream Station in Dunseith. They were married for 66 years.

 

Dunseith Centennial book – page 7

 

 

 

I think Mary has the above picture labeled correctly and in the right order, Gary

 

 

 

This is a pure guess in the above picture, Gary:

Far left: Alice Stokes Thompson sitting in chair with Ulysses Thompson behind.

Center: William Stokes sitting with Oscar Rendahl standing behind and Rebecca Stokes Rendahl Standing in front. Oscar & Rebecca’s daughter standing to the right.

Standing to the far right I have no clue.

 

 

Newspaper articles provided by Neoal Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND

I’m not sure which Metcalfe Family Trenten belongs too?

 

 

 

 

 

  

02/10/2010

Posted on by
Reunion Reply:
From Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine (73): Grafton, ND
 
I have some great concern: WHERE IS THE CLASS OF 1973, as of today it is myself and Jeff Evans Im sure Jeff and I can party enough for everyone lol but it would sure be nice to see more of you at the reunion. As I remember we had a great class. So glad to hear you are coming Gary be great to see you.
Vickie, I have attached the reunion list in a class sort again today so folks can see who among their class mates plan on attending. Gary
 
 
The Schwabe & Schniederman Families:

Reply Mary Eruich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND
 

Hi Gary

I called Erma Eurich Peltier last night to see if she could add anything to the Schwabe info. She remembers them well. They were apparently very close neighbors. She named the kids. Forest, Dale, Howard, Florence. She said Florence was quite a bit younger than she was and she thought forest was the oldest. They went to school together. Forest had a glass eye and it would freak her out when he’d take it out and apparently he knew this and during school he’d take it out and roll it around on his desk.

I figured Art Schneiderman’s wife would turn out to be a Schwabe but apparently not. She actually couldn’t remember who she was. She did remember that her name was Marie. Mary
 
 
Dorothy Pritchard/picture/write-up, The Schwabe & Schniederman Families:
From Mary Eruich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND
 

Gary

Today Marie Eurich Beachler called me regarding the Schwabe family. She said the Schwabes lived in the area for some time when they were kids. And they visited back and forth a lot. Mrs. Schwabe and Mrs. Art Schneiderman were sisters. Schwabe’s went west when the war broke out and would come back occassionally and would always pay them a visit when back here.

 

Art Schneiderman lived with us for quite awhile after his wife had died. He had broken a leg and it wouldn’t heal right and he couldn’t take care of himself. At that time welfare wasn’t that easy to get and you had to live in a county so long before you were eligible to draw. I don’t know all the details but I know he stayed with us till he was eligible in Rolette county then he an Earl found a place to stay but it didn’t last as the Dr said his leg wasn’t healing right and they would have to rebreak it. I don’t remember all the details but I think he came back to live with us a couple of times. If Earl was in the area he’d stay with us to.

 

Dorothy really enjoyed her cards and letters. She said, They just kept coming and coming. Thought you’d enjoy some of her history she shared earlier with staff in Bottineau. That is the cabin her a Robert were in the proces of building when Shirley was born.

 

Here’s a couple more pictures. I thought Gary Metcalfe might enjoy the Clint and Hatty (ie) Anderson one and Leona

Metcalfe. I remember the old cream station. The stove set on a little platform. I remember Ma leaving me at the cream station while she run to Hassen’s for groceries. I sat on that little platform by the stove and never moved.

 

Thought you and Kay and Keith and Dale would enjoy the picture of the Stoke’s again. Kay gave me an address for the Canadian relatives so I will be trying to make contact to get the Pritchard side identified also. I hope you can do a better job of naming the folks on that picture. They are not standing in the order that the names are stated thats for sure. I ‘m going to lay low for awhile and enjoy others input for awhile. Thanks Mary K

Mary,

 

I am cramped for time again today, so I’ll post those other pictures tomorrow.

 

Thank you so much for Dorothy’s write-up. Dale or someone sent this several years ago before we got you on line, but it truly deserves another re-run.

 

Folks, I am so glad to hear of all the cards Dorothy received from all of us for her 97th Birthday last month.

 

Gary

 

PS – Mary, I’m hoping your laying low is short lived. We really enjoy all that you have to contribute.

 

 

 

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

Gladys Rosberg
(Died February 4, 2010)

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Gladys Eva RosbergFuneral services for Gladys Rosberg, age 98 of Bottineau, were held on Wednesday at 10:00 am at the First Lutheran Church in Bottineau. Officiating at the service was the Reverend Glenn Berge. Dianna Bullinger was the soloist and Nancy Olson was the organist. Casket bearers were Dean Rosberg, Erok Rosberg, Larry Rosberg, Kreg Rosberg, Rory Holmes, Dana Larson, Drew Holmes and Joshua Heisler. Honorary casket bearers were all of Gladys’ grandchildren. Burial was at the Oak Creek Cemetery in Bottineau.

Gladys Rosberg, a daughter of Eugene and Anna (Grimstead) McGhan was born on February 28, 1911 at Jackson, MN. In 1916, she moved with her family by train to Bottineau County and settled near Souris. She attended grade school in Peabody Township and graduated from Souris High School in 1929. On June 20, 1931, she married John Oliver Rosberg at the Bottineau County Courthouse. They made their home in Carbury for 10 years and during that time eight children were born. Johnny worked as a carpenter and also did painting and paper hanging. In 1942 they moved a one-room school house into Bottineau. They enlarged it and made it their home. They also added to more children to the family. John passed away on April 7, 1957 from a brain tumor. Gladys continued to live in the family home where she raised the children. In 2002 Gladys moved into the Bottineau Good Samaritan Center and in 2009 she moved to a Wichita, KS nursing home to be closer to family.

She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Bottineau where she was active in the WELCA and the quilters group. Gladys was the matriarch of her family and kept everyone in touch by writing interesting letters and by faithfully sending birthday cards. She always had a baked item ready for friends and family when they stopped by for coffee. Her hospitality, listening skills and gentle, loving personality made everyone feel welcome.

She passed away on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at a Wichita, KS nursing home.

She is survived by 6 daughters, Darlene (George) Gillies of Bremerton, WA, Margaret (Dave) Dawson of Casper, WY, Cheryl Larson of Kent, WA, Olive (Max) Burdick of Overland Park, KS, Glenda (Don) Heisler of Hokes Bluff, AL, and Alysia (Mark) Runnells of Newton, KS; 3 sons, Lonnie (Eunice) Rosberg of Mohall, John (Eleanor) Rosberg of Mills, WY and Dennis (Audrey) Rosberg of Billings, MT; 25 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Mabel Mosing of Bottineau, Evelyn “Sally” Guttu, Tacoma, WA; sister-in-law, Ilene McGhan, Crosby, ND and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter Yvonne Turner; twin brother, Glen McGhan; brothers, Marion McGhan, Art McGhan, Cecil McGhan, Edwin McGhan and Eugene McGhan; sisters, Margaret Van Eckhout, Alma Lexa, Lucille Magnuson, Alice Rebich and Luella Thomas; 3 grandchildren and one great-grandchild

 

02/09/2010

Posted on by
Condolence to Carol LaVallie’s family:

From Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN

I’m just catching up on reading the daily news. I would like to send my condolences to Carol LaVallie’s family. Carol and I went to school together in grade school. I haven’t lived around Dunseith for a long time, but whenever I would be in the area and happened to run into Carol, she always greeted me with “hi sweetie” and we’d have a good gab session.

 

 

Glad to see so many are signed up for the reunion in May. I hope more of the Class of ’71 will sign up!

Paula Fassett

 

 

 

 

Reply to Kathy (Barbara) Kalk Lopez (65):

From Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (68): Dunseith, ND.

Cathy and Al!!- what a beautiful family you have!!– I have many good memories of you kids– Marlene, Marvin and Natalie were closest to my age- nice kids– I have kept I contact with some of them in the area and when they came back to the area=- Marvin died too young!!- throughout the years–

Regards, Lola

 
 
 
Schniderman’s place:
Reply from Tom Hagen (51): Mesa, AZ & Williston, ND
 
Hi Gary, this is a correction that Dick wrote about Schneidermans who were our neighbors in Gilbert Township . Their home was actually where Will Olson (Willard’s folks) used to live just up the hill from where Eileen Eurich Nelson and David live. We walked to Beaver Dam School and visited often as Gene was my friend and Glen was Leland’s friend. Later they moved to the place west where Andy Medruds lived. Gene and wife Shirley live in Nebraska. Thanks for resending the Rural School Reunion form. Tom Hagen
 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
All rights reserved

02/08/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
I got a message from Al & Kathy (Barbara) Kalk (65) Lopez letting me know that they plan on attending our reunion on May 22nd. Kathy was unable to attend our 2007 reunion, so it will be nice to see her and Al. It’s been 45 years since most of us have seen Barbara.
Kathy (Barbara as we all remember you), It will be so nice to see you again. Gary

Kathy (Barbara) Kalk & Al lopez

 

Kathy & Al’s children – 2008

History Memories:
From Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO

Hello all, I guess one opinion is as good as another, so here goes some opinions. I believe the one trait that most people on the blog can thank the early settlers for was sheer nerve and spirit of adventure. Without the PP&MM book we would have lost contact with the past in so many ways. I read somewhere that Louis Bergan was the oldest child and came from Norway at one year old and that there were about six or seven other children. Then I could not remember where I had read this so I looked through the PP&MM again and saw were three or four of the Bergan’s went to Willow Lake School. Then I found an early settlers, Hans Bergan who settled in Holmes Twsp. where we lived.

 

Then I found a George Hack, who was an earlier settler on land that Boardman’s and Sal Schneider occupied in our later years. This might explain your mystery man, Emil Hack.

 

I read about people like Jim Penny, Joe Renauld, and others just like them in that area south of Dunseith. My mother lived neighbors to them in the old days. She was fascinated with Joe’s ability to roll a cigarett with one hand, he blew the other off with a shot gun. Read his story in the PP&MM.

 

You can find a story in there about my old friend, Maggie Cassidy’s hubby when he was 9 years old, written by a supreme court judge. Tom was a hero. So to the Wenstad girl who bought the book, PP&MM, it may take you 10 years or more as it did me to really get into it, but that is alright.

 

To Allen Richard, Pete Richard’s store was known as the Variety Store to us. He was always on the job with his bolo tie and big rings on his fingers. Norman Richard spent the winter of 1945 or 46 up on our farm. Tough duty, no electricity, snowed in while we went back to Seattle for the winter.

 

Read about Frank and Julian Peltier’s grandfather. He had money and did not need to move to ND. Dakota was not much different than when I lived there, frozen solid in the winter and mosquitoes in the summer. We had to build a smudge to even have a 4H meeting in those days. One person had to weild a dish towel so the crew could eat dinner, flies you know.

 

Bonnie Awalt Houle if you read about your grandparents and also Clint Anderson, you will see why you are a survivor. I will talk about Clint Anderson later.

 

We haven’t even mentioned the guy who always said, “Holy Baldheaded” when he got excited. He also would say, “Holy Cat”. I have a feeling Floyd Dion will know who I am talking about.

 

This is getting too long. Thank you Gary, sure do appreciate you and all you do for us. Gary Metcalfe
 
 
The old lumber Yard & Story:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary,

One old story about a deal at the old Great Plains lumber yard, is
worth telling, I think. This is the lumber yard that was mentioned in
recent messages and was located where the Dunseith post office is now.
The back side of the lumberyard building was right up against the alley
behind the bank. I remember how cars would splash mud against the
building when they went down the alley. There was a time when Isadore
(Zike) Boguslawski bought scrap iron and batteries at the old lumber
yard building. There was a little kid ( won’t mention his name) in
Dunseith who found a few old batteries and brought them to Zike to make
a few dollars. One day someone had turned into the alley and slid their
car into the back wall and knocked a hole in the wall right behind the
batteries. This kid was coming up the alley with a battery in the box of
his wagon and found the hole, with the batteries just sitting there for
the taking. He crawled in and set a few batteries out in the alley and
loaded them in his wagon and then went around front and sold them to
Zike. He did this several days until Zike figured this kid sure was
finding a lot of junk batteries for a young kid, so Zike marked a few
batteries and sure enough, they showed up! The part of the story that is
interesting is that the kid had a given name but since that day in the
’60s, he has only been known as ‘Potlicker’. This is what Zike was
calling him as he chased him around town trying to get close enough to
give him a whooping! To this day, he is called ‘Potlicker’! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion:
Posted by Linda Gardner: Washington, DC
 
Hi Gary – I had a call today from Tom Hagan. He asked if you could rerun the announcement about the Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion as he had lost the original e-mail. The announcement is attached.
 
I’m also attaching a picture of the snow we had over the weekend. I live about 20 miles west of Washington, DC and for the second time in the last couple of months we got hit with a bad snow storm – a little over 3 feet. The mound of snow you see in the attached picture between the lamp post and mail box is my car!! Looks a lot like ND don’t you think. Federal Government is closed tomorrow as public transportation is still not up and running!!!
 
Thanks, Gary for all your help!
Linda, That is quite a snow storm you guys had. The snow is piled up pretty high on the mail box and the cars.
I have pasted the Reunion annoucement and registration form below. Gary
 
 

Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion

 

July 10, 2010

 

Plans are underway to hold a Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion on July 10, 2010, at the Twin Oaks Resort & Convention Center atLakeMetigoshe.Anyone who attended a country school in theTurtleMountains or is interested in celebrating an educational life style of the past is welcome to attend.The cost is $42.00 per person.Reservations and advance payment are required.Please fill out the form below and mail to:

 

Linda Gardner

 

 

3059 Sugar Lane

Vienna, VA22181

 

TurtleMountainCountrySchoolReunion Registration Form

 

Name

 

  

Address

 

  

Country School

  

Number of Participants

 

  

 

 

 

Checks should be made payable to Linda Gardner and mailed with the registration form to the address above by June 1, 2010.

 

Registration will begin at 3 PM; Social Hour 4-6:30 PM and dinner will be served from 6:30 – 8 PM.

 

If you are interested in helping organize this event, have memorabilia to share at this event, or have questions, please contact Linda at:

 

Telephone:703/636-6392

 

E-mail:lgardner9@cox.net.

 
 
 
Posted by Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
 
The pixie girl attached is DeAnn Gottbreht at age 5, Clear Lake Canada! It seems right to send a second posting today in view of the generosity of Verena and Pete Gillis who know full well the rough road of cancer. I spoke with Ernie and Cheryl yeaterday; DeAnn and Patrick and the kindness of Verena and all volunteers were the first and foremost subject. Praise God, all continues well. Thank you friends. Sharron
Daughter of Ernie Gottbreht (65) and Brenda Hill Mueller (70):
DeAnn Gottbreht – 1987
 
 
Dick Johnson & Sharron Gottbreht – Conversation about the Schneiderman’s Haagenson’s & others.
Posted by Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
Kind of Dick to think I could incorporate this data on the Haagensons and Schneidermans. I reviewed what I sent and see several typos and grammar problems. I doubt I can be trusted, Dick! Besides, you have first hand knowledge of the terrible events that affected their lives. I should have mentioned that the Schneidermans had moved to Rolette County sometime after the 1930 census. Their centennial entries appear in the Bottineau County book. Obviously, Art Schneiderman and family belong with us! I cannot pinpoint the “Beaver Dam” area, but it must be as Dick ably describes. Many thanks, Sharron

Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 10:35:22 -0600
From: djcars@hughes.net
To: sharron_shen@msn.com
Subject: Re:

Thanks Sharron! One local input item, Schneidermans lived on a farmstead in the Turtle Mts. just south of Rendahl Church. There is still a house standing there. It is located one mile west of the Willow Lake Road and just a short distance north of Elvin Haagenson’s farmstead. I got to know Earl Schneiderman while I was over in my wife’s home town of Sherwood. He was Art’s son, I believe. He rented a trailer house site from my father-in-law and later built a new home right next door to them. Earl said they/he lived in the Turtle Mts. on this farm until he entered the army in 1961. He gave me a ’56 Chevy car that he had left on the place and so that’s how I knew where it was located. Earl died a few years ago. He was divorced and lived with his son, Tim. Tim was one of the young fireman who were burned terribly in an oil field fire several years ago. His face is disfigured but he was one of the lucky ones. Two died from burns and one other is very disfigured. It was on the same land that my wife’s uncle farmed and he was there when the final explosion happened. Terrible tragedy for such a small town.The lightening caused the fire and Brenda’s uncle saw the primary fire and called the fire dept. He was really traumatized by the accident, as I’m sure most people would have been. Just thought that you could maybe use this information while doing the research. Thanks.

Dick

Sharron Shen wrote:

Thank you Dick Johnson for expanding on what we now know of the Schwabe family. In addition to Hans Schwabe who was 19 in 1930, his brother Christ, absent from home, was age 30. This rings a bell and I will check for a Christ Schwab in the TMS. I too made the association of Schwab/Schwabe. Although the father Wm Schwabe, of Louis, Christ and Hans was born in Denmark, his parents were born in Germany. Wm P Schwab, salesman at the lMarchand/Watkins lumber yard for many years, was born in Iowa, parents born in Germany. Many families altered the spelling of there names on arrival USA – Gottbreht/Gottbrecht. The Schwabe/Haagenson names were often associated. I only checked the family of Hans and Ida Haagenson who lived in Gilbert Twp. Hans was 54, Ida 56; children still at home in Gilbert Twp were Willard age 24, his wife, Erma 20, their baby Raymond 11/12; and Alvin youngest son of Hans, age 17. The Haagensons were neighbors of Lillie Kotchevar on one side and Anton Gunville followed by Gilbert Rude on the other; Art Rude was age 6. I sure want to take a second look for teachers, neighbors, ministers who lived near Art Rude; a man among men and anchor of his community.

According to the centennial bio of Wm P Schwab and Hattie Hurst, they had 2 children. Ethyl, 23 in 1930, was married to Wm Gottbreht Jr, also age 23. They lived next door to Ethyl’s parents with their baby daughter Marilyn. I did not note Bill’s employment listed in the census but he did work at the hardware store Higgins and Gottbreht and he also served as USPS carrier from time to time. I must check other files to see of all 3 of their children were born in ND. Their 3rd generation Bill was about EJ’s age. Dale Gottbreht owned the home south of Wm P Schwab and may have purchased it from Wm Jr. This house may have been known as the Thomas home prior to 1930? Mom talked about making sauerkraut with Grandpa Geo G in the small structure at the back of this house! The sloping garden area behind the homes of Gottbreht/Schwab/Tennancour were huge per my childish assessment – Wm P Schwab’s cabbages were amazing.

I found Arthur H Schniederman renting in Bottineau Co, Wheaton Twp in 1930. He and his parents were born in MN. His wife Marie E. age 29 was also b in MN as were her parents. You may remember that Charlotte, age 37, wife of Louis Schwabe was born in MN. I went after the name in MN and have misplace the notes! What surprised me about the census taker in MN of that lost work, his record of towns in Norway where folks haled from! What a boon to historians who try for data after a century or more.

Thanks Dick and Gary. Sharron

  

02/07/2010

Posted on by
Folks, I’m kind of cramped for time today, so I’ll go with what I’ve got for now. Gary
 
 
Virtual Wall:
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70):
 
Gary,
I checked the Virtual Wall today and it is truly remarkable and
sobering. I did not know anyone who was killed there. But while at
NDSU Bottineau in the fall of 1970 met someone whose brother was
killed in Viet Nam the fall of 1969.

I checked for his name and thought of his sister who was very much
affected by his passing.
While at NDSU – Bottineau I met and knew many Viet Nam Vets. They
were my age……………….but….. had old eyes. Thank you to
Larry Hackman for the Virtual Wall information.
Peace. Vickie Metcalfe

 

02/06/2010

Posted on by

 

Condolences to Carol LaVallie’s family:

 

 

Gary, please post this:

 

 

Sending our condolences to Carol LaVallie’s families.

 

 

Dianne (Rober’t) Johnson & Darla (Rober’t) Armstrong. dianne@arrowtechinc.com
Reply from Allen Richard (65): AllenRndmn@aol.com Midland, MI

 

To Collete Hosmer–The Richards had a fair presence in Dunseith years ago. Your mom’s uncle Joe ran the gas station on the south end of town–his sons Vernon and Norman took it over in the 50’s. Uncle Pete ran the dime store. Our great grand parents lived next door to Uncle Pete until they passed away in the early 50’s great Grands dad passed first. I’d need to check the geneology book for dates– or Carmen Richard probably just knows it.

 

 

By the way–your art work is amazing.

 

 

Allen
Tom Cassidy’s House:
Reply from Marshall Awalt (51): jandm@ec.rr.com Newport, NC

 

 

Gary

 

 

We have been in Maryland for the last week and everything came through fine except #705.Dick wanted to know why our pictures were shot in front of Tom Cassidy’s house.My parents rented tom’s house in the early 1930’s and we lived there until around 1940 when my father built a house down by the train depot.

 

 

Thanks Marshall
Schabe’s – Picture:
Reply from Lloyd Awalft (44): Bottineau, ND.
HI GARY . I WILL TRY AND ANSWER DICK ABOUT THE SCHABE. FRIST THE ONE THAT MANAGED THE GREAT PLAINES SUPPLY WAS SCHWAB NO CONNECTION. SCHWABS LIVED IN THE HOUSE THAT DENIS ESPY BOUGHT. FLORENCE THE NAME RINGS A BELL IKNOW THEY LIVED IN DUNSEITH BUT FOR HOW LONG IM NOT SURE ELEANOR HAS NO IDEA WHO THE GRIL IS THE PICTURE THAT WAS SENT OF THE TWO GRILS DOSNT LOOK LIKE THE ONE WITH ELEANOR IM KIND OF INTRESTED NOW WITH IT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO SHE IS. LLOYD
Thompson Family:
Reply from Key Hildebrandt:
Gary,
Just a note to let you know Beulah Hoaglund enjoyed the pictures. She’s another of the “family keepers” and has been generous with her records.
Also, someone emailed me, and it went into my Spam folder. Unfortunately, my hand was quicker than my eye, and it was deleted just as I saw “Dunseith.” Hopefully, it will be sent again.
Thanks for including my messages. Kay Hildebrandt
Reply to Dale Pritchard (63) – Norway:
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
Dale,
I hope you do make it back to Bodo in the summertime. It’s quite an experience to have the sun shining (not brightly, of course) at midnight. I have a slide of our family with the midnight sun in the background (The slide is in Minot.). I’ll try to scan/send it sometime.
Neola
Alex Pedie family photo reposted with correction:
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
Gary,
I sent this picture to you awhile ago; you included it in one of your daily newsletters. Thanks to Dick Johnson, I now have Dianne’s correct maiden name: Volker, NOT Voeller. I don’t know where my mind was when I typed Voeller; it wasn’t on what I was typing! Thanks, Dick.
Neola

Virtual Wall – The Viet Nam Wall w/detail behind every name:

Posted by Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND

 

Gary
I think you should post this and have everyone look at Mark Eklund from Morris, MN and read about what his teacher wrote about him. I guarantee everyone will have a tear in their eye and every teacher will cry.
Larry

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is truly remarkable.
The link below is a virtual wall of all those
lost during the Viet Nam war with the
names, bio’s and other information on our lost comrades. It is a very
interesting link, and those who served in that timeframe and lost
friends or family can look them up on this site.

Please pass this on to all of your fellow vets and their families

First click on a state, then when it opens, a name. It should show you a picture of the person or at least his bio
and medals…… http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.ht

 

02/05/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
Just as I had everything about ready to send today, the power went out. I’m currently running on Generator power. When the power went out I lost a lot of unsaved messages includeing the one I had ready to send. If you sent me something for posting and it’s not posted please resend it to. I’m hoping I retrieved most, but I think I’m missing a few.
 
Gary
 
 
Curt (59) & Denise Quillinan (63) Halvorson:
Request from Floyd Dion (45): Dunseith, ND
 
HI Gary
Denise Halvorson would like to be put on your daily newsletter.
Denise is class of 63 and her husband Curt is class of 59
Floyd
 
Malnourished Philippine family given assistance by a Dunseith Member: http://garystokes.net/SponsorFilipinoFamily.aspx
 
Brenda Hoffman (68) asked us if we could help a needy Filipino if she sent us some money. Please click on our Website link above to see her message and pictures of the family she provided assistance too. Each of the six kids in this family wrote her thank you letters too and asked me to mail them to her. The older kids assisted the younger kids with their letters. The first letters they brought me were written in Cebuano. Knowing Brenda probably wouldn’t be able to read them, I requested they rewrite them in English of which they did. Brenda got those letters after she sent me her message posted on our Website. Gary
 
 
Reply to Mary Eruich Knutson (62) & Neola Kofoid Garbe:
From Dale Pritchard (63): Leesville, LA
 
Mary, Another long lost relative? It’s almost unbelievable what this
system comes up with sometimes.

Neola, I made it to Bodo, Norway one time during the Winter. I guess it
was about 1972. I didn’t even get away from the airport as we were
taking some parts in for another broke down airplane (never did find out
what the other plane was doing there). The snow was piled up 20 to 30
feet around the airport and reminded me of home back in the younger
days. It didn’t look like a fun place in the Winter but I would like to
make it back sometime during the Summer.

Dale

 
 
Schwabe Family:
Reply from Dick Johnson: Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Sharron’s entry about the Schwabe family got interesting when she
mentioned that they lived in Renville County and in Prosperity township.
Small World! This is where my father-in-law was born and raised. I
called him to ask a few questions about the family and he knew quite a
bit of their history. The farm that Louis Schwabe rented and lived on
was just a couple miles west of his parent’s home place. He said that
there is at least one son who was not mentioned. His name was Hans and
he married a neighbor girl by the name of Ethel Douglas. Hans and Ethel
first lived at Norma, which is 15 miles south. Hans ran the Westland Oil
bulk service. They later moved into Sherwood where he worked for
Krueger’s Hardware and Ethel worked at K.R. Flem Inc.–IH dealer. My
father-in-law was the rural mail carrier out of Sherwood for many years
and also lived in town. The connection of Schwabes and Schneidermans is
also interesting. Earl Schneiderman moved from Dunseith to Sherwood and
worked for Matador Field Services in oilfield trucking. I was wondering
if Louis Schwabe moved to Dunseith and was the manager of Great Plains
Lumber? I thought it was a Schwabe or Schwab that ran the lumber yard
where the post office now sits. Gary Morgan mentioned this lumber yard
in one of his earlier entries. The large lumber yard building was sold
to Bromberg and Haas–dba, ‘B&H Lumber’– and now sits along Highway 43
just west of Carpenter Lake, on the Larry Haas farm. The Schwabe family
apparently left the Sherwood area sometime between the 1930 census and
the 1939 Turtle Mt. Star stories, where it said they lived in Dunseith.
My father-in-law said he thinks all of them left except for Hans, who
lived out his life there. Ethel is still living. My wife says they had
at least one child, a girl named Glenda, who was born in about 1947. She
graduated in ’65 from Sherwood High School.

Could the girl in the picture with Marshall and Eleanor Awalt be
Florence Schwabe? It says she would have been about 12 or 13 in 1939.
Without giving away Eleanor’s age—–she would have been about 2 or 3
years older than Eleanor and would appear about that age. Maybe Lloyd
can ask Eleanor if the name ‘Florence’ rings a bell? Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND
 
Carol LaVallie
(September 18, 1952 – February 1, 2010)

Guest Book| Sign Guest Book
Send Flowers

 
 
 
 

 
CAROL LAVALLIE Mass of the Christian burial for Carol LaVallie, age 57 of Dunseith, was held on Friday, February 5, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Dunseith. Burial was in St. Anthony’s Cemetery also of Dunseith. Officiating at the service was the Reverend Father Jeff Eppler S.O.L.T. Special music was provided by Troy DeCoteau, Martin Trottier and Joyce Dumont. Casket bearers were AJ LaVallie, Edward LaVallie, Derek LaVallie, Don Cameron, Don Andrews and Shelly Duboise.

Carol LaVallie, a daughter of Ernest and Cecilia (Poitra) Parisein, was born at Belcourt on September 18, 1952. She was reared and educated in the Dunseith area. On November 7, 1970 she was married to Andrew LaVallie at Belcourt. Carol worked as a cook at Dale’s Café and then managed the Café. She worked 14 years with WIC in the Dunseith area. Carol returned to school and received her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Coding at Turtle Mountain Community College. Andrew passed away on May 29, 2009. Carol retired in 2009 due to ill health.

She was a member of the St. Michael’s The Archangel Catholic Church in Dunseith. Carol was a member of the Jaycee’etts of Dunseith in her younger years.

Carol passed away on Monday February 1, 2010 in her home.

She is survived by sons, A.J. LaVallie and Edward LaVallie (Julie Keplin) Both of Belcourt and Derek LaVallie (Rachel Chepulis) of Dunseith; grandchildren Shakara, Shauntel, Anthony and Shalynn; her mother Cecelia Parisien of Dunseith; sisters Elizabeth (Punky) Morin of Dunseith and Brenda Winters of Grand Forks; a half brother, Charles LaRocque of Rock Lake.

Carol was preceded in death by her father, husband and a sister Mary Parisien

 

Reply from Kay Hildebrandt posted on our Website:

From: Kay Hildebrandt
E-mail:
Message:
Gary,
Thank you for posting my message. I wasn’t sure you would, since I’m not an alumni. I found your site while doing google research on the Thompson family, to see if there was anything I could add to show Beaulah (Lasher) Hoaglund, who is visiting me on Friday. Beaulah is Melvina Thompson’s daughter. My grandmother was Candace Thompson, youngest daughter of Anthony and Esther Thompson. Candace stayed in Wisconsin when they moved to North Dakota, to finish school. On her way to North Dakota, to teach school, she stopped to visit her oldest sister, Clara (Thompson) Graham, who lived in Renville County, MN. Charles Torbert met her there (over a mud puddle–he was walking out to their farm, they were walking into town), was smitten, and followed her to North Dakota. They were married in Somber, ND, and returned to MN, where he farmed.

I have done extensive genealogy work, back to the 1600’s. Esther Thompson was a Julson, and those records go back to the 1600’s. Mary, you posted a picture of children in front of a hayrack. I think those are Ella (Thompson) Pritchard’s children. Ella and Joe Pritchard moved to Alberta in 1910, and farmed south of Bruce in Alberta. Joe Pritchard invented a haystacker while farming there. They were an extremely talented family.

I had the pleasure to attend the reunion that John Pritchard hosted at Lake Metigoshe a few years ago. John shared many stories and pictures of the families with me, and it’s wonderful to see that some of you are continuing those efforts.

Your blog is terrific, Gary. I’ll check it every day, hoping to find more pictures and messages about the relatives. Thank you, K

Kay,

 

You have explained the relationships well.

 

I believe Joe Pritchard was a brother to William Pritchard. William/Ida’s children were Robert, Corbin, Winifred, John & Lincoln. I believe Ella Thompson Pritchard was a sister to Ida Pritchard. This would make the Robert, Corbin, Winifred, John & Lincoln Pritchard double first cousins to the kids in the picture below.

 

Gary

 

Joe and Ella (Thompson) Pritchard’s children

 

Reply to Lee Struck (66):

From Allen Richard (65):

 

to Lee Struck
 
Enjoy NZ! It is a wonderful place. we have friends there and we spent out 10th anniversary with them. Rotorura is lovely. You ought to see the Bay of Islands!!! I’d retire there —- if i could ever afford to retire
  

02/04/2010

Posted on by
Dunseith Alumni Reunion
 
Folks,
 
Bernadette and I will be attending the Dunseith Alumni Reunion on May 22nd. We will be in the area for nearly three weeks. We will be arriving on May 16th and leaving on June 5th. We’ll be spending a few days in Seattle both going and coming. While in ND we’ll be staying with my brother Bud and his wife Debby in Bottineau. We are so looking forward to seeing everyone. This will be a fun trip.
 
Gary
 
 
Tom Cassidy
Reply from Susan Fassett Martin (65): Spearfish SD
 
Tom Cassidy was married to Beatrice Fassett, sister to Grandpa Wilmar (Bill) Fassett. They had three children, Violet, who was born in 1905, Cora May, who was born in 1907 and John Loan, who was born in1913. According to my dad’s history, Tom married Maggie Aubrey after Bea died and he spent the last years of his life in Rolla.
 
 
Reply from Audrey Aitchison (Gary’s cousin): Bottineau, ND.
 
Hi,
 
I wanted to thank Lee Struck for working with Hope for Humanity to help in the projects he’s been working on. Every fall I go ingathering for Hope for Humanity to help in disaster areas and also half of it is used locally. They send 100 % to these areas. This fall I got $200 and it was sent to Haiti to help there. Hope for Humanity (ADRA) is associated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church which I belong to. May the Lord bless you richly.
 
Audrey Aitchison
 
 
 
Reply from Colette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe, NM
 
Thanks, Allen. I had a feeling that you would know the “correct” Richard. I had a feeling that I had chosen the wrong name. Colette

 
 
 
The follow message was posted on our Dunseith Alumni Web site:

From: Kay Hildebrandt
E-mail: Kaisa65@aol.com
Message:
Mary Knutson, I loved the pictures you posted in December. Beulah is visiting me on Friday, (her daughter and family are now living in Temecula, CA) and I’ll be sure to share these with her. Kay

 
Mary Eruich Knutson’s reply to Gary:
 

Hi Gary

Yes I know Kay Hildebrandt. She is Mom’s cousin. She has done extensive geneology research on the Thompson side of the family. She has gone way back into the 1700’s. Very interesting. She probably found out about the Dunseith Blog through John Tangen. I’m sure she’d find lots of useful information as I have. Nice lady. I’m forever grateful she was so willing to share her hard work. I can see just what we’re doing is not easy tracking some of this stuff.

much. Mary K

Kay Hildebrandt, Can you fill us all in where you fit into the Thompson family? You would be related to the Pritchard’s and the Eldon/Ella Pladson family as well as John Tangen and others. Thanks, Gary

 

 

Reply/Picture from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.

 

Every morning I attend to your entries, Gary. Perhaps others are energized by name association with folks we knew or who were spoken of by friends and family. The pictures have been outstanding and sent me rushing back to several of my own mismanaged files. The young lady in the picture of Eleanore and Marshall Awalt seemed familiar, I think it was her dress that reminded me of Evelyn and Alphonsine Gaudette around 1900. I searched the 1930 Census for Schwabe in ND.

Louis and Charlotte Schwabe lived in Renville Co, Prosperity Twp. Louis was 33, born in IL; his parents were born in Denmark. Charlotte age 37, born MN; parents born WI and MN. The children were Howard 11; Forest 8; Dale 7; Florence 4 9/12. All children born ND. Louis was renting his farm.

There are about 10 entries in the TMS for this family in Dunseith News or that of Bever Dam. All the entries were from 1939. Briefly, Forest enrolled in the CCC camp of Kramer in July; Dale the teenager was often mentioned seeking company of Helga Haagenson – Dale brought his sister Florence along to the home of Aminda Haagenson on one occasion. Christmas Eve 1939 the Louis Schwabe family had supper with the Art Schniederman family and Christmas Day the Schniedermans came to Dunseith and dined with the Schwabes. Florence would have been about 12/13 the summer of ’39 which seems a match. I do not know the name of Art’s wife, but two of Louis’ sisters were still at home of parents Wm and Hannah in 1930, Lillian age 21 and Erma age 11.

Thanks Gary, Sharron

Marie Alphonsine and Evelyn Gaudette
 
 

 

Message/Picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

 

Gary,

 

I don’t know if you can use this picture. It was taken on the road between Bergen, Norway, and Bodo, Norway (Bodo is where the sun shines all night in the summer time; we wanted to see this–which we did.). According to the map, it is closer to Bodo. I should narrow it down more, but I’m short on time (I need to get to bed; it’s almost 5:30 a.m.). Dad took this picture when we were in Norway in 1963. He, of course, knew Elwood Fauske; we (Mom/Dad/Jim/I) knew the Dunderland families, so we were excited to see this sign.

 

Neola

 

 

 
  

02/03/2010

Posted on by
Alice Cora Stokes Thompson:
Reply from her granddaughter – Tina Pladson Bullinger (78): Bottineau, ND
 
Gary,
Just a follow-up on the correct name of my grandmother, Alice Cora. I was named after both of my grandmothers, Thyra Alice, and I remember doing a school family history project one time and the name of my maternal grandmother, from my mother, was Alice Cora Stokes Thompson. Hope that’s correct cause I’d hate to have to change my name at this time in my life!! HA HA

Tina Pladson Bullinger

 
 
Reply from Lee Struck (66): Hudson, WI.
 
Gary –

I read with interest your note about travel arrangements you might make for tours in your part of the world.

I am leaving for New Zealand next Wednesday – February 10th – with Habit For Humanity – International. Our group of 12 will work in Tauranga for 9 days and then spend a couple of days in the Rotorua area “catching some rays”.

The group from my church here in Hudson, WI, is making their third trip to Iringa, Tanzania on the 5th of March. I have made that trip twice. This spring I wanted to see another part of the world and was able to hook with with a group from Olympia, WA.

In mid-October, 20008 until the end April, 2009, I lived in Biloxi, MS working on Hurricane Katrina re-build projects. In July I returned to the Orange / Bridge City, TX area where I have spent some times last spring for a couple of weeks, re-building homes damaged by Hurricane Ike.

Our director in these 2 states is looking into how & when we can get into Haiti later this year. I would go with them and see what I can do.

Thank you for all of the work you have done to put this site together for all of us!

Should I decide when I want to travel to Southeast Asia (and I do!) I will certainly get in touch.

—
Go In Peace!
Serve The Lord!
Lee Struck
722 3rd Street # 201
Hudson, WI 54016
 
715-808-1717
 

Reply from Allen Richard (65): AllenRndmn@aol.com Midland, MI 48640

 

The person Colette Hosmer refers to would be Pete Richard Sr. He ran the dime store for many years. He was the a younger brother of her grandfather, Fred Richard.

 

Allen

 

 

Emil Hack

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): djcars@hughes.net Dunseith, ND.

 

Gary and Friends,

Floyd wrote about Emil Hack, the older man who drifted in and lived
in a shack behind the Commercial Hotel. When I was in the hospital in
Fargo back in 1985, I had to go from working from daylight to dark, to
sitting in a hospital room for three weeks with nothing to do. I about
went nuts! During this time I read the entire Dunseith History book and
studied each page as a way to pass the time. This is something I enjoy
doing anyway so it passed the time for me. Anyway, there are a few
things that will really stick in a persons mind and so was the Dunseith
Journal entry from January 1946. It said, ‘Emil Hack Found Dead-His Body
Frozen’. I asked my grandma who this man was and she said he was kind of
a loner and lived in a little shack in the alley behind Henry Hagen’s
house, which was across the alley from the Commercial Hotel. While I
have Floyd’s attention, it also said that he and Luella and their guests
were the one’s who noticed and reported the creamery fire in 1950. This
is the fire that Crystal Fassett Anderson sent the pictures of a while
back. It was in the spot that the Garden Tap and Bowling Alley are
located now. Thanks Gary!

 

 

Tom Cassidy:

Reply Carmen Leonard Richard:carmel@utma.com Rolette, ND.

 

Tom Cassidy had a son named Loan, I do not know where he moved -possibly Fargo. If there were any other children, I can not say for sure. Tom worked on the farm for my dad for many years.

 

 

Tom Cassidy:
Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44): lata@utma.com Bottineau, ND.
 
Hi Gary. Answer to Floyd. We lived in the Tom Cassedy house on the so, corner of the block. North was Henry Hagen next was Steve Cook and behind him Emil Hack and on the corner where Roland Mongeon lives used to be Ernest Horsman. He was the baker in Dunseith. I don’t think anyone really knows where Emil came from. He was a handy man in town and repaired shoes. Us kid used to give him a bad time at Halloween. I’ve been in his shack. Dick, Tom Cassedy had one son his name was lone or lonely could be spelled wrong I believe he passed away. The Girl in the picture with Eleanor & Marshall, I have no clue of who she is. Eleanor doesn’t know either Lloyd Awalt

 

 

 

Folks, I’m running a tight schedule today with today being our bowling and I’ve also got to run up and see the Mayor this morning to get a permit for a project that we are doing. Having been sponsors together in several weddings, Mayor Guggob is my compodray. They generally have 6 to 14 (couples) sponsors in a wedding. They have them listed and seated in the order of importance. We are generally always seated way behind the mayor. Gary

  

02/02/2010

Posted on by
Gary Cota (56): Dickinson, ND
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 

Gary,

 

Awhile ago, I sent the four 8 X 10 family pictures of Gary/Darla Cota’s family (same picture, four of them) to Gary. I received a very nice thank you note from them. I’m not sure who wrote the note, as it’s signed Gary & Darla. I think you said Gary’s vision isn’t good, so maybe Darla wrote it–doesn’t matter. Whoever wrote the note said they have four grandchildren, so each grandchild will receive one of the pictures. I didn’t ask for postage, but there was a $5 bill in the envelope. I’m sure that much more than it cost to mail the pictures–very nice of them.

 

I hope things settle down soon so I can get back to the pictures from the courthouse. I’ve decided I’m going to address the envelopes I have and mail them with whatever pictures are in them–not wait to see if I locate more pictures before I mail them. I think the people will be happy to receive the envelope–I’ll feel GREAT to know I have mailed them I probably have at least 25 envelopes, so it will be good to get them mailed. If I locate more pictures of any of these people, I’ll send them in a separate envelope. Peace of mind will out-weigh what it costs me to mail them. :)

 

Neola
 
Bruce Hill (80):
 
Bruce,
 
Thank so much for your reply. I have added you to our distribution list. For our records, where are you living now?
 
Gary
 
 
 
Update from DeAnn Gottbreht Posted on her CarringBridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht
 
Hello everyone. I wanted to write as soon as I felt up to it to let you know just how well I am doing! Other than some tightness in my chest and arm I am feeling good. Very little pain. I was released from the hospital on Saturday afternoon and we made it home to Mom’s last night about 9.

I went into surgery about 11 on Friday and it took about 2 hours. My surgeon called Patrick right after I was out to let him know how great it all went. The cancer looks to be completely contained in the breast and looks to be DCIS, which is non-invasive. They took four sentinel lymph nodes as well which all came back negative so at this time it looks as though the cancer has not spread at all! The news couldn’t hardly be any better! The baby doctors monitored the baby before and after the surgery and he came through it all great! All of our prayers were truly answered! Thank you all for your love and prayers. I will need a few weeks of recovery now before we start chemo again. Keep in touch everyone. I enjoy hearing from you all.

 
 
Rabbits on the north side of the Commercial Hotel
Reply from Colette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe, NM
 
I think I can solve the rabbit droppings mystery. My uncle Art (?) Richard raised rabbits over there. I was young … maybe it was ’54 or ’55. I had a pet rabbit named Pinky. I nailed some chicken wire across the top of an orange crate and kept her in that. She ate everything I could haul home from the store and soon outgrew her cage so Mom talked me into giving her to Uncle Art across the street. I was very sad about it but he told me I could visit Pinky whenever I wanted to. I did — often — and soon lost count of all the baby rabbits she produced. I also remember a lot of rabbit dinners during that time
 
 

Building on the north side of the Commercial Hotel

Reply from Floyd Dion (45): Dunseith, ND.

 

Gary

I knew of a man that lived north of the Commercial Hotel, but I would not say that is the building he lived in , His name was Emil Hack and he lived in a small shack. Luella says she walked by his place when she went to school, her parents lived on the spot where Roland Mongeon lives

now. I don’t know where he came from, maybe drifted in town He lived there I know in the late forties maybe in the early fifties. Who knows maybe he had rabbits. He died in his shack.

 

Floyd
 
 
Building on the north side of the Commercial Hotel
Reply from Lloyd Awalt (44): Bottineau, ND.
 

Hi Gary. Reading about the commercial hotel maybe I can you in . First off the picture of Marshall and Dave was taken in our front yard when we lived in Tom Cassetys house. The hotel we are looking at the back. Charles Watkins managed the hotel in the 30s later on sold to Grassman’s. Grassman’s had the rabbits for awhile. The storage area was for wood & coal . My dad had the dray at that time and we hauled everything. I shoveled many a ton of coal in there. I believe grassman’s sold to Grimme’s Melba Grassman Marsaa married to Ben Marsaa was a school teacher in Dunseith this is from 1930 to 1941. Winifred Pritchard stayed at our place while she went to high school. When that picture was taken they were problem courting. Lloyd Awalt
 
 
 
 
Reply from Dick Johnson: 68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Marshall Awalt’s pictures of Dave Eurich and himself and of Eleanor,
Marshall, and an unknown girl look as though they would have been taken
in the front yard of Tom Cassidy’s place. Marshall, is this correct and
what connection would there be with your family and this place? The
other girl looks to possibly be of Native American descent, at least to
me. I think Tom Cassidy lived in the house until the mid 50s and I
believe he moved to Rolla and spent the rest his life there. I don’t
know if he had children who could have been this age but thought it
might help in her identification. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 
Carol LaVallie
(September 18, 1950 – February 1, 2010)

Sign Guest Book | Send Private Condolences
Send Flowers

CAROL LAVALLIE Carol LaVallie, age 59 of Dunseith, died Monday, February 01, 2010 in her home. Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery also of Dunseith. A wake will be held on Sunday beginning at 4:00 P.M. in the church, with a prayer service at 8:00 P.M. Arrangements are with the Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau.

 
 
 

Alice Stokes Thompson, not Clara Stokes Thompson:

Correction From Keith Pladson (66): Stafford, VA

 

Gary,
Just a quick correction. In the photo with several of my family ancestors in your 700 blog, you correctly identify my Grandmother as Alice Stokes Thompson. However, in the photo of my Grandmother and Grandfather in your 698 blog, they are identified as Ulysses and “Clara” Thompson. I’m not sure where the name Clara came from, but I’m pretty certain she was never known as or called Clara. I should have caught this earlier, but somehow it just slipped past me until my sister Tina sent me an email to point it out. I would appreciate it if you could correct the photo to say “Ulysses and Alice Thompson.” Thanks, Gary.
Keith

Reply From Mary Eurich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary/Keith
That is my error – the lady’s name is Alice on the wedding picture. Yes the little boys name is Jim Cain (Cane). He was born November 1938 so this picture must be summer of 1939. The Frank Stokes vs William Stokes issue is kind of a mystery to me. It is very possible some of the pictures may have errors. I’m sure we’ll get them hashed out. There is a Clara Rose Thompson that is a sister to the homesteaders in the hills but she never came this far as far as I know. She lived in Minnesota and was married to a man named Graham. Remember the picture of that old car with the people sitting in it. That is labeled Graham’s with friends.
And , yes, Keith you are right about the year of the storm when you stayed at our place. In 64 and 65 my kids wouldn’t have been big enough to ride the sled behind the snowmobile. I am definitely not good with remembering dates. Will dig out more information after I finish working my income tax. Take care. I love the information and will be making a scrapbook from pictures and articles I laminate from your info. Mary K.
 
Mary,
 
I have reposted this picture of Ulysses and Alice Stokes Thompson and the William Stokes Picture too.
 
I’ll bet that whoever was labeling those pictures had Frank on their mind knowing it was William Stokes when they labeled that photo. With this picture being taking in 1939, It has to be William Stokes, because Frank died in December 1932. This picture resembles William Stokes that I’ve seen in other pictures too.
 
Thank you Mary,
 
Gary
 
Ulysses & Alice Stokes Thompson
 
 
 
Standing L to R: William Stokes, Esther Thompson Tangen, Ulysses Thompson,
Rebecca Stokes Rendahl, Lillian Thompson Cain, Ella Thompson Pladson & Lester Cain
Sitting in Wheel chair: Alice Stokes Thompson holding Jimmy Cain
 
  

02/01/2010

Posted on by
Bobby Pigeon:
Memories from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC
 
Dear Gary,
Following recent posts, Paulette LaCroix (Chisholm) and I reminisced about our fourth grade interactions with the “much older” Bobby Pigeon. With his duck tail haircut and The Fonze stride, he made Paulette and I “swoon” at the sight of him walking to or from lunch in the basement of the white school house. Could anyone be more handsome?

Once in a great while, he might smile at us or even SAY SOMETHING. We discussed him for hours comparing him to Cookie on the television series Seventy-seven Sunset Strip and the songs “Cookie, Cookie Lend Me Your Comb” and “Runnin’ Bear….Loved Little White Dove with a Love That Wouldn’t Die.”

Amazingly, I interacted frequently with the song writer and singer of Runnin Bear at Dave’s Brainerd, MN satellite office. He is now in his 80s and continues to be invited to Europe frequently where his Rock a Billy sound remains extremely popular. He’s a very nice man.

Brenda Hoffman Class of 1968
 
 
1955 Football Team Picture:
Reply from Larry Shirk (58): Naperville, IL
 
Gary:

Some are wondering about which class the 1955 football team picture
represents. If you note, the football in the picture has 55 on it. It was
the fall of 55, the start of the 55/56 year The seniors in the picture
would graduate in the spring of 56. So in reality, the picture doesn’t
represent the class of 55 which graduated 3 months earlier, but the 1955
football season. (and the class of 56) Hope this makes sense.

Larry Shirk

 
 
 
Reply/Picture from Marshall Awalt (51): Newport, NC
 
Gary
 
I am sorry but I do not know the girl standing next to me in the picture.I sent you another photo shot in front of the same tree with the commercial hotel in the back ground.It is of Dave Eurich and myself.
 
Marshall
Marshall, I have reposted that picture below. Hopefully someone can identify the girl in the picture with you and Eleanor?

 
This is a wonderful picture of you and Dave Eurich. Dave never changed over the years. He was such a young man too, when he left this world. He was a wonderful man. I remember him well.

 

Dave Eurich & Marshall Awalt

 

 

 

Eleanor & Marshall Awalt and ??? Schwabe

 

 
 
 
Buildings on the north end of the Commercial Hotel:
 
Larry Hackman, Dick Johnson, Bill & Gwen Grimme are looking for the rest of the story from some folks probably a little senior to them.
 
Please read from the bottom up.
 

Gary

I’m just trying to find out the rest of the story?

Larry

 

Bill, Gwen, & Dick:

I’m thinking we went as far as our youth permits us to go on this story. Don’t you also think we should have Gary put this out there to see if we can find out the rest of the story. I’m sure there are some around that know what the out buildings on the north end of the Commercial Hotel were used for?

I didn’t mean to insinuate that Dick was older then us ( Bill and I), just that he might know more then us. “God, I hated to say that!” I hope that sentence makes him feel better.

Larry

—– Original Message —–

Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 11:28 PM
Subject: Re: Rabbits?

 

Larry,

I can remember the building just north of the Commercial hotel. It was a storage building when I first became aware of it. My aunt Joy Nordquist rented the north ground floor apartment in about 1957. This was before she married my uncle Cliff Johnson, but I was over there often. She worked with Mom at the bank and had to raise her younger brother and sister. She was only twenty in ’57. Tough job. Back to your question–the rabbit deal. Maybe the people who ran the Hotel before Bill’s folks, had rabbits. I think this was the building where Greg had stored his old bike. I mentioned to Greg that I really liked old bikes, as we were driving home from UND, and Greg said he would give me one. We went over to that old building and he dug out his old bike with the mud flaps with reflectors and he gave it to me. It was maroon and white with big balloon tires and had a couple chrome springs on the front fork much like an old motorcycle. Like an absolute FOOL, I traded it to a guy who collects bikes and have regretted it ever since! To this day, I am trying to get it back but he just won’t let go of it yet. He still has it in the same condition as it was in 1970. Oh, yeah—rabbits–I don’t have an answer as to who would have had rabbits in the white building north of the hotel. I don’t think there were rabbits there in ’57. I caught the old joke that Larry was hinting at about smart pills. The old Indian got the Indian kid to taste a smart pill. The kid said it tasted like rabbit crap. The old Indian says, “See your smarter already.”

Dick

larry hackman wrote:

Dick
Maybe you know more then the rest us? You have to read this from bottom to top to make sense out of this
Maybe not?
Larry
 
—– Original Message —–

Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: Rabbits?
 
Bill
I don’t believe this. Most older people respond by saying they don’t remember droppings. But You do?
Bill, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t resist making a joke out of the memory. I remember how it was with rabbits. They did produce a lot and droppings too. We always called the droppings smart pills and tried to convince others that they would get smarter if they ate them. I don’t think I ever got anyone to bite on that one. Pardon the pun.
We are going to have to ask someone with a few more years behind them and see if they remember what the buildings were used for and if they remember who kept rabbits in them.
Bill I’m not a psychiatrist but your folks ditching you like that, could be the cause of you being the way you are. Which is not a bad thing?
If nothing else, it gives you an excuse. I don’t know what else I can say to make the hurt go away. Except maybe that Jack Daniels might help. Thats right you said you tried that. Maybe they were right, You just weren’t listening. You know how kids are? If you don’t have an excuse, make one up.
Have a good day and hope the Saints win.
Remember; Laugh and the whole world laughs with you.
Larry
—– Original Message —–
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: Rabbits?
 
That’s what was rattling around in my head – the rabbit droppings. They must have been there before we moved in. Speaking of moving in, Larry, every time a comedian tells that old joke about “my parents moved and never told me”, I think about Dunseith. You see, that’s what happened to me when the folks moved to the Commercial Hotel. I was in the fourth grade and I came home from school to a dark, locked house. I sat on the front porch until dark and the woman that lived across the street from us (can’t remember her name, now) came over and took me to her house and told me my folks had moved to the hotel. I eventually got over to the Commercial Hotel and found it to be true. The folks swear they told me and I wasn’t listening – again, but, I’m sticking to my story that they were trying to ditch me!
 
Bill

From: Gwen Eltz
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 10:29 AM
Subject: Re: Rabbits?
 

Bill and Larry,

 

I remember the rabbit droppings, too–you’re right…the building was full of them–but I have no idea why rabbits had been housed there either. The droppings were there when we moved into the Commercial Hotel in the fall of 1955 ( I was in 1st grade), so I don’t know who would have been raising rabbits. The building was divided into about four parts; two parts on the north end were outdoor biffies. I sometimes wonder why the south wall had an opening with a small wooden swing-out door that looked like a drive-up window.

—– “Bill Grimme” <wgrimme@charter.net> wrote:
>

Larry,
 
I remember the buildings, but, I don’t remember the rabbits, exactly. There is some memory of something in there, but, I don’t recall any details. Maybe one of our boarders kept some rabbits. Ole Melhouse comes to mind as a possibility, but, I’m not sure. Gwen probably has a much better memory – she didn’t soak it in quite as much DAMN ALCOHOL as I did.
 
Bill
  

01/31/2010

Posted on by
Mr. Dan Morgan:
Message/Memories from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC
 
Dear Mr. Morgan,
I so remember what a wonderful teacher you were. Of course, I had a bit of a crush on you at the time, but you probably knew that and handled it gracefully as you did so many other issues ….and teaching as a whole. Your ability to instill pride and an interest in learning were so important to those of us who were your students. Thank you Mr. Morgan.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Brenda Hoffman class of 1968
 
 

Mr. Dan Morgan:

Message/Memories From Aime Casavant (66): Jamestown, ND
 
I was sorry to hear about Dan Morgan’s illness. Although I did not
have him as a teacher, I did have one experience that to me, spoke to
the essence of his character. When his name was spoken by my younger
brothers and sisters, it was always with great respect.

My experience. Several of the Casavant’s served in Vietnam, the first
being my brother Joe. I was home on furlough in the summer of 1968
for several weeks before leaving for Vietnam. Visiting around
Dunseith with Lee Struck and several other friends, we went to the
( Dunseith Community Center? Legion?) to find some older person I
wanted to say “hi” to. I was 20 years old. We were stopped at the
door, asked to provide our ID’s and I explained I was not yet 21, did
not intend to drink anything, but only wanted to speak with an older
couple there. The person at the door, diligently doing his duty would
not let me in. Dan Morgan, by chance was close enough to observe this.

Dan Morgan knew several of the Casavant’s had served in Vietnam. He,
sprang up and quickly came to us and politely informed the door man –
“anyone who is serving his country has the right to socialize and have
a drink with the people he is protecting and any Vietnam Veteran can
have a drink here, I don’t care how old he is.” He sort of had that
natural, affirmative voice. Gee, I barely knew him, I was not 21 yet
and I had not yet served in Vietnam. Then he said ” And I want the
honor of buying him the first drink.” Wow! I did not have him for a
teacher but in that moment, I just felt very good and thought I had
just experienced the “essence” of this man that my brothers and
sisters spoke so highly of.

Thank you Dan- one does not always know when they provide one with
these positive, lifetime experiences. To me – it is in this, that
for life on earth, we live on forever. Although you were not my
teacher in the classroom, you left an impression that on several
occasions, I followed myself in life and the response was always the
same, a positive one , as it was that evening in Dunseith many years
ago.

Aime Casavant

 
 
Basketball games with the Canadian’s
Memories from Bob Lykins (Teather): Hutto, TX
 
Gary,
 
Referencing Dick Johnson’s comments about playing basketball against the Boissevain businessmen. I was a part of a few of those games. There would be two every year and would be held usually in the fall when the Boissevain fellows were getting into condition to hit the ice for their hockey season. They would come to Dunseith to play a game and we would go up there for a game. I remember one time we went to play in their gym that was so small the spectators were seated partially on the playing floor. Besides myself there was Gene Hepper, Bob Jury, Dennis Espe, and Dan Morgan from the faculty with Lowell Leonard and others from the community. As I recall, we almost lost that game as we could not buy a bucket and everything they threw up went in. It was a bit embarrassing but I must confess that the Boissevain boys were good athletes and had improved in their basketball skills a great deal by this time. All was forgotten after the game as we headed for the local “watering hole.” I don’t know what it is like today but, in those days, women were not allowed into the pub portion of the establishment. So, they had built a wall separating the pub from the restaurant side, where women were allowed, and ran the bar through a hole in the wall. The Canadians were such great hosts. No matter how quickly we cleared out of the gym by the time we got to the pub the Boissevain guys were already there seated around the tables leaving empty chairs between them so we had to sit between them and socialize. We always had great fun. Unfortunately, our evenings were always cut short in that we had to race for the border before 12:00 midnight as the port closed at that time and we did not wish to get trapped north of the line. Wonderful memories of wonderful times with great people.
 
Bob Lykins
 
 
Margaret Pigeon Fox being added to our Distribution:
Request from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI
 
Bobby Pigeon’s sister Margret (Pigeon) Fox would like to join the blog.
 
Her e-mail is
Dean, Ken, Curtis, Alva, Bob and Beverly graduated from DHS. Margret, Renee and Lori – the youngest three attended Rolette after district lines were redrawn in 1960. Before that all of Russell TWP. was part of the Dunseith district. I recall it was quite a battle. I think the only families that stayed at Dunseith were the Aamodts, Bae Pigeon, Neameyers, Roland Mongeon and the Casavants. They thought the distance on the bus to Rolette was too far.
 
Allen
Margaret, It’s my pleasure to add you to our distribution. What class were you with when you attended Dunseith? Also for our records, where are you living now? Gary

 

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO

 

To Bob Pigeon

 

I think it is worth mentioning that Bob Pigeon is also a twin and he could walk almost as well on his hands as on his arches. I could be wrong but I think Beverly was his twin and then came Alva.

We had a guy earlier than Bob Pigeon that was more of a Fonz than the real Fonz. His name was Floyd Hill, a pal to Carlye Nelson, only son of Bud Hill, cousin to Kenny Hill. He out Fonzed the Fonz. Floyd had one cool 57 Ford.

Larry Hackman if your mystery man wasn’t Big Iron Kalk, the only guy that I could image would fit that scene, might have been ROBARGE. I think you owe us a clue, sounds like he was before his time.

Gary Metcalfe
 
 
 
Christmas Card:
From Cecile Gouin Craig (61): Windsor, CO
 
Thank you Cecile for this lovely card. It actually arrived a week ago, but I just got down to the FPO office to pick it up. With “Oslo, Norway 7/09”, written on the card, I’m assuming you and Keith were on a trip to Norway? Gary
 
Craig & Cecile Gouin Craig
  

01/30/2010

Posted on by
Philippine & SE Asian Vacation tours:
 
The Philippine and SE Asian Vacation tours that Bernadette and I put together can be customize to your liking. Tour packages to countries and cities in SE Asia, from the Philippines, are very reasonably priced. With us living here, we feel this is an opportunity we can offer those of you wishing to visit this part of the world at a very reduced rate, customized to your liking. We are not collecting any commissions or fees from any one doing this. This is something we have chosen to do with absolutely no profits or kick backs. Please click on the Dunseith Alumni link below to see the latest updated info for these tour packages. We’d love your company too. Gary
 
 
 
 
Dan Morgan:
Reply from Bob Lykins (Teacher): Hutto, TX
 
Gary,

 
Sorry to learn that Dan Morgan is not well. He and I began teaching in Dunseith at about the same time (1962) and I recall him being a rather quiet, thoughtful individual with a winning smile. He had a tendency to be a calming influence in any storm. I wish he and his family the very best.
 
Bob Lykins
 
 
 
Dan Morgan:
Reply from Toni Morinville Gredesky (68): Farimount, ND
 
My prayers are with Dan Morgan and his family as they go through this challenging battle. I consider myself so fortunate to have had Dan for a teacher. He and Dennis Espe were two of the best teachers I had. They were such positive influences during our junior high years. My friends and I spent a lot of time in their little office correcting papers for them. I have evoked their names so many times over the years in my high school English classroom. I have often told the story of the day President Kennedy was assassinated. We were in the big assembly room when the announcement came over the intercom that the President had been shot. Somehow two or three of us girls asked Mr. Morgan and Mr. Espe if we could sit in their office and listen to the radio. We were all sitting in their listening when we heard that the President had died.
These two men were both master teachers and knew what it meant to use a “teachable moment.” They had high expectations for our achievement and treated us as whole human beings. I know that they were very influential in my decision to become a teacher myself.
Toni Morinville Gredesky
 
 
 
Randy Davis (Deceased)
Reply form Denise Lajimodiere: Moorhead, MN.
 
For Mark Schimetz,

Randy Davis is my first cousin. His mother was Theresa Lajimodiere Davis, my father Leo’s sister. Randy’s brother is Kenny Davis, his Belcourt gas station/off sale is called LaDot’s, after a nickname he acquired in high school.

Denise Lajimodiere

 
 
 
Reply from Larry Liere(55): Mesa, AZ & Devils Lake, ND
 
Thanks Janice I had the same question a week ago (blog 1-23-10). I had a gut feeling that some of my 2nd. grade class would be on the 1955 footbal team. I was worried that the class of 55 had a beer bust and they all became ineligible to play sports. I hope some boys from the class of 55 will reply to this and send in a picture of the 1955 team! Larry Liere

Reply from Janice Leonard Workman (55): Auburn, WA
 
Gary, I think that football picture is from 1956, instead of 1955. Of the boys that were in the class of 1955,Barry Shelver, Gordon Neameyer, Wally Hiatt, Marlin Williams, Dennis Brennan somebody must have played football and surely Gary Woodford would have been team manager????? Janice Leonard Workman 

 

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

Thanks to Mona for the info on the Dunseith Independent Team. Maybe
the name was just ‘Dunseith’ on the warm up jackets and the red color is
what confused me, knowing that Dunseith was always blue and white.
Thanks for the reply. I did watch Chuck Johnson play independent
basketball in the old city hall. They usually played on Sunday
afternoons, if I remember right. Les Greener was before my time but I
heard lots about him from Dad. The ‘Harlem Stars’ came to Dunseith once
too and played in the city hall. Some of the players were originally
with the Harlem Globe Trotters and then joined up with knock off teams.
Some of the craziest basketball games were the ones the Dunseith
Businessmen played against the Boissevain Businessmen. The Canadians had
never played basketball before and would run with the ball and
hopelessly try to dribble—we were rolling on the floor laughing. The
laughing changed places though when the Dunseith guys had to put on
skates and play hockey in Bossevain! Those guys could skate circles
around the Dunseith guys and the Canadian folks nearly died laughing!
Dad took me up to one game and I felt sorry for our guys!

The Randy Davis that passed away is not the son of Joyce Poitra Davis
Fandrick. This Randy is from Belcourt and is the brother to Ken Davis.
Mark Schimetz was trying to remember Kenny’s nickname—LaDot. He has
the c-store and lounge in Belcourt that is called ‘LaDots’.

Thanks to Mary Eurich Knutson for the remarkable pictures! I was
thinking about an earlier one that had Bergan, Pritchard, and very
young Bob Pritchard by a log building. Dale Pritchard said it could be a
cabin or smokehouse. My grandpa had a similar short log building with a
dirt covered roof and kept ice blocks from the lake, packed in sawdust
from his old mill. The building stayed cold enough to keep ice for the
ice box nearly until the next fall. I have his old ice saw and a couple
large sets of his ice tongs. Everything was hard work for the folks in
those days. Thanks again Mary, and Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Dan Morin House fire:
From Vickie Metcalfe (68): Bottineau, ND.

 

Gary and Friends,

 

The following information came in an e-mail this morning provided by a source at Benchmark who works with Dan Morin.


“Dan Morin and his family lost their home in a fire Tuesday night. Dan and Punky and their granddaughter were living with his mother-in-law. They will be able to salvage very little from the remains of the home and have been provided temporary living quarters at the Casino and will soon be moving to a two bedroom home. Their most immediate need is clothing. The family is in need of all things for the home. Furnishings including beds, kitchen items – tableware, cooking utensils, etc.“

Dan works at Benchmark in Dunseith. His wife is “Punky” Parisien the daughter of Tootsie Delorme. Toosie, although past retirement age continues to work, I think with head start. Toosie’s mother was the first Mrs. Ralph Poitra, Toosie’s uncle was Alcide Lajimodiere. Punky is also the sister of my classmate, Carole Ann Parisien Lavallie (widow of Andrew Lavalle).

I am so relieved and thankful to hear this family did not suffer any burn injuries, despite the devastation of a home fire in the sub zero North Dakota weather this past week. Vickie Metcalfe

 

If anyone would like to contribute to this family please contact Dan’s supervisor
 
John Hardy
Logistics Supervisor
19 2nd ST SE
Dunseith, ND 58329
701 244 6878 (tel)

 
 
Great snow Pictures – Click on the link below:
From Ellen Graff Myrick (58): Grand Forks, ND.
 
These pictures show snow collected in southwestern N. Dakota. Even though it’s not about your realtives can you post on the email.
 

http://www.slopeelectric.coop/About_Us/Storm_Photos/index.html.

 

 

 

 

Reply to personal message in reference to picture below

From Keith Pladson (66): Stafford, VA
 
Just a couple of comments on your email, Gary. First, the photo in question has to have been taken in 1937, 38 or possibly early 39 as Mom looks to have been around 15 or so. Since she was born in 1923, that would give us a year of 1938 – which is why I said in my earlier response that is was probably 1938. Thus, there is no way it could be Frank Stokes in the photo. Second, I don’t recall Jim Cain being called Jimmy. And as far as tracking him down, that would lead you to his grave. Jim died a few years ago. He was married and he and his family lived in Western Tenn. Finally, I’m sure it was just a slip on your part, but in your first paragraph below, you say that Rebecca (Reba) was the daughter of “Frank” and Fanny. I assume you meant “William” and Fanny.

One further comment: I’m well aware of where Reba lived as we also later lived there. I believe that is where Mom and Dad lived when I was born and though I don’t have any memory of the place, both my Brother, Floyd and my Sister, Florence do. And yes, Mom always referred to her Aunt as Aunt “Reba.”
Keith

Keith, Rebecca (Reba) Stokes Rendahl was the daughter of William & Fanny Stokes. Yes, I remember well my folks referring to her as Reba too.
 
Folks, This is another one of the pictures that Mary Eruich Knutson sent. I held off a day posting this while we got the identities of the folks in the picture correctly identified. Between Mary, Keith Pladson, John Tangen and myself; I think we finely figured out the correct identities of those in the picture.
I remember well, as a kid, seeing Reba Stokes Rendahl’s old house sitting on the county line, on the south side of road, below the Rendahl hill on Highway #43 also known as the Peace Garden Road. Common Sence would tell us that is how the Rendahl hill got it’s name. I’m sure Rendahl church was named after this family too? Willaim Stokes, My great Grandfather, had 2 daughters, Reba Rendahl & Alice Thompson and one son Frank Stokes.
 
William Stokes was 91 years old when he died in 1946. He was in his mid 80’s in this picture.

 
Standing L to R: William Stokes, Esther Thompson Tangen, Ulysses Thompson,
Rebecca Stokes Rendahl, Lillian Thompson Cain, Ella Thompson Pladson & Lester Cain
Sitting in Wheel chair: Alice Stokes Thompson holding Jimmy Cain
 
 
Bertha Kittleson’s passing
Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (68): Bottineau, ND.
 
BERTHA KITTLESON, 86, Bottineau, died Thursday in a Minot nursing
home. Funeral Tuesday, 2 p.m., First Lutheran Church, Bottineau.
Prayer service Monday, 7 p.m., Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau.
Visitation Monday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to noon,
in the funeral home.

Gary, This was posted in the Minot Daily today January 29, 2010.

Bertha is fondly remembered. As, a honest hard working classy
country lady, friend, excellent school cook, grandmother and great
grandmother to many, and former country school teacher in Rolette
and Bottineau County.
Vickie Metcalfe

Bertha’s Obit is now posted on Nero’s Web site too. I have pasted a copy below. Gary

Bertha Kittleson
(May 28, 1923 – January 28, 2010)

Sign Guest Book | Send Private Condolences
Send Flowers

BERTHA IRENE KITTLESON Bertha Kittleson, age 86 of Bottineau, died Thursday at a Minot nursing home. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 2:00 P.M. in the First Lutheran Church in Bottineau. Burial will be in the Salem Cemetery of rural Bottineau. Visitation will be Monday beginning at 10:00 A.M. until 9:00 and Tuesday 9:00 until noon in the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. A prayer service will be held on Monday at 7:00 P.M. in the Funeral Home.

Bertha Irene Kittleson, a daughter of Ivar and Regina (Haugen) Peterson, was born on May 28, 1923 in her home in the Turtle Mountains north of Bottineau. She was reared and educated near her home. She was confirmed in the Salem Lutheran Church of rural Bottineau. Bertha attended Minot State and received her teaching degree. She then taught at the Happy Hill School in Homan Township for two years and then at the Strong School in Rolette County. On June 16, 1946 she was married to Milan Kittleson at Bottineau. She returned to Bottineau County and taught at Whittering #1 until 1950. Bertha remained home to raise her children and help on the farm until 1971 when she began working at the Bottineau Public school as a cook. She retired in 1977 and helped Milan on the farm. Milan passed away on June 20, 1999. In the fall of 2009 she moved to Minot where she has resided since.

She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Bottineau. Bertha was also a member of a quilting club and was a Mission Aide member.

Bertha is survived by 5 daughters, Ann (Harold) Roseneau of Willow City, Connie (Charles) Tollefson of Surrey, Judy (John) Slater of Minot, Marla (Carl) Lee of Bottineau, and Penny (Edwin) Krumweide of Sarles; 4 sons, Donny (Darlene) Kittleson, Ted ( Kathy), Kittleson, Jamie (Kandis) Kittleson all of Bottineau and Terry ( Marilyn) Kittleson of Minot; a daughter-in-law, Lori Kittleson of Bottineau; 27 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren;

She was preceded indeath by her parents, two sons Dennis and Larry; brothers, Pete Peterson and Oscar Peterson; a sister, Dorothy Peterson.

Arrangements are with the Nero Funeral Home of Bottineau. Friends may sigh the online register at www.nerofuineralhome.net

 

From Wendy Strietzel, Dorothy Eurich Strietzel’s (75) Daughter: Minot, ND.

Gary,

I received this e-mail from a friend and thought you might like to share it with all of the North Dakotans you blog to every day.

Wendy

> > THIS IS A HOOT, FOR US THAT WERE BORN AND BRED IN
> > North Dakota
> >
> > Leave it to Jeff Foxworthyto talk about our beloved state!!
> > The funny part is……it’s all true…every bit of it!!

> > Only in North Dakota !!
> > For those of you who do not know, Jeff
> > Foxworthy’s in-laws live in Kief, North Dakota .
> >
> > According to Jeff Foxworthy:
> > If you’re proud that your region makes the national news at least 96
> > times each year because it’s the hottest or the coldest spot
> > in the nation,
> >
> > You might live in Fargo, North Dakota .
> >
> > If your dad’s suntan stops at a line curving around
> > the middle of his forehead,
> >
> > You might live in Butte, North Dakota.
> >
> > If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
> > You might live in Benedict, North Dakota.
> >
> > If your town has an equal number of bars and churches,
> >
> > You might live in Drake, North Dakota .
> >
> > If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with
> > someone who dialed a wrong number,
> >
> > You might live in Sawyer, North Dakota .
> >
> > YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE North DakotanWHEN
> >
> > ‘Vacation’ means going east or west on I -94for the weekend…
> >
> >
> > If you measure distance in hours,
> >
> > You might live anywhere in North Dakota .
> >
> > If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once,
> >
> > You might live in Bergan, North Dakota.
> >
> > If you often switch from ‘Heat’ to ‘A/C’ in the same day and back again,
> >
> > You might live in ,Bismarck, North Dakota .
> >
> > If you can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow
> > during a raging blizzard, without flinching,
> >
> > You might live in Minot, North Dakota .
> >
> > If you see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings),
> >
> > You might live in Velva, North Dakota

> > If you install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked,
> >
> > You might live in Harvey, North Dakota.
> >
> > If you carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them,
> >
> > You might live in Grand Forks, North Dakota .
> >
> > If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
> >
> > You might live in anywhere, North Dakota.
> >
> > If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction,
> >
> > You might live in Washburn, North Dakota .
> >
> > If your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce,
> >
> > You might live in Butte, North Dakota.
> >
> > If Going Down South” means South Dakota ,
> >
> > You might live in Steele, North Dakota .
> >
> > If a brat is something you eat,
> >
> > You might live in McClusky, North Dakoya .
> >
> > If your idea of going out to eat is a tail gate party every Friday,
> >
> > You might live in Garrison, North Dakota .
> >
> > If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car;
> >
> > You might live in Mandan, North Dakota.
> >
> > If you find Zero degrees degrees to be ‘a little chilly’,
> >
> > You might live in Williston, North Dakota .
> >
> > *If you actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to
> > all your North Dakota friends — you might just live inNorth Dakota

 

01/29/2010

Posted on by
Reply from Jim Metcalfe: AZ.

 
Hi Gary, About the Dunseith independent baseball team from the early ’50’s. I was the catcher in 1953 and we were the Dunseith Gardners. Junior Melmar was the playing manager and we had great times and good parties afterward.
Jim Metcalfe, I attended Dunseith HS in 1949-50 but graduated from Rollan in ’52. (Gary’s brother)
 
 
 
Reply from Janice Leonard Workman (55): Auburn, WA
 
Gary, I think that football picture is from 1956, instead of 1955. Of the boys that were in the class of 1955, Barry Shelver, Gordon Neameyer, Wally Hiatt, Marlin Williams, Dennis Brennan somebody must have played football and surely Gary Woodford would have been team manager????? Janice Leonard Workman  

 

 
 
 
Dan Morgan:
Reply Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (68): Dunseith, ND.

We are saddened to hear Dan Morgan is not well– he was one of the best teachers I ever had. He maintained great discipline and yet was very personable. He and his family are in our prayers!-Lola Metcalfe Vanorny

ps- Ole Bursinger was one of the finest persons I ever met-

 
 
Dan Morgan:
Reply from Cheryl Haagenson (71): Dunseith, ND.

 
Hi Gary, I was saddened to hear the news of Mr. Dan Morgan by a post by Mrs. Ardis Horner ( Bakken) I am sure that Mr. Morgan has put up a valiant battle. I recall him as our principal when the class of ’71 was in junior high. I am not as good as the others in our circle to tell a story. I simply know that Mr. Morgan cared about our education. He cared that we behaved, at least that is what I remember and that is what I believe. I would like to thank him for that and wish God’s strength to all his family at this very difficult time.
Cheryl Haagenson
Cheryl, You comment that you can not tell a story like some of the rest, but most have a hard time matching your sense of humor. We truly enjoyed your sense of humor on the cruise as well as your singing and you just being you. We truly enjoyed the great person that you are. Gary
 
Jeanmarie Abrahamson (65): Denver, CO
Message from Doyle Abrahamson (68): Aurora, CO

Gary,

Yesterday my sister, Jeanmarie went into surgery so she can do what is called PD dialysis. She will have to wait about 45 days to heal up before they start her on this new dialysis. She will be able to do PD dialysis at home four times a day.

The surgery went well and I took her home last night.

Doyle

Jeanmarie, I am so glad that you will be able to do your dialysis at home. We know these are not easy times for you. Hang in there. We have not forgotten you. Take care, Gary
 
 
Dunseith Ball teams:
Reply from Mona Dionne Johnson (48): Lake Metigoshe, ND.
 
Dick: The Dunseith team at the time – late 40’s/early 50’s, just went
by “Dunseith Independents”, as most of the small towns around did. Some
of the larger cities, like Bismarck had names like the “Bismarck
Phanthoms” which we played and beat . Dunseith played the Harlem
Globetrotters, and some other colored teams, and they really drew the
crowds. One colored team they played in Dunseith and the team played
them again that same week-end in Willow City. They really drew the
crowds – of course Les Greener drew crowds to watch and also some pick
up teams back home from college on break, who “thought” they could best
him, but they just embarrassed themselves in the process. That in
itself was fun to watch. Paul McCloud and Chuck were fun to watch in
their ball handling, especially when the team thought that Devils Lake
deserved to be shown how to play ball short of fellows.
Seems one year they would only let VFW guys play in the tournament –
that left Darrel Fassett, Leo Murray, and Chuck sitting on the sidelines
and — left Dunseith with only 6-7 players, and Devils Lake wouldn’t
agree to give them more fouls, so they ended up playing with only four
guys and lost. The next year the rules were changed and all could
play. In the tournament, Dunseith was playing Devils Lake, and we were
ahead. Our team convinced the coach, Kenny Morgan to let Paul McCloud
and Chuck Johnson play alone against the Devils Lake team. At that
time, the rule during the last few minutes of the game was if you got
fouled, you took a foul shot and then took the ball out at half court.
Well these two ball handlers were passing it through their legs, past
their ears, etc. and would get fouled and go throught it all over
again. Pretty soon, the Devils Lake team got so mad they one by one
went and sat down on their bench, and the game pretty much ended. So
goes it, when you take advantage in sports rather than be sportsman
like in setting up the game — it may come back to taunt you. Those
independent games were fun to watch and many followed the team when
they went to Canada and to other towns.
Mona Dionne Johnson ’48
 
 
 
Message from DeAnn Gottbreht posted on her Carringbridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht
 

Hello everyone from Rochester, Mn. I got done with my appointments for the day about an hour ago and am back at the hotel resting before we head out to supper. So far the appointments have all went really well. Yesterday we met with my medical oncologist and went over my cancer treatment plan for the future. What it looks like is surgery tomorrow, followed by a few weeks of recovery and then start a different type of chemo for a couple of weeks. Then break for a couple of weeks from the chemo, deliver the baby, recover from the birth for a few weeks and go back to chemo. We would do around 12 rounds of that chemo and then recover a little and start around 6 weeks of radiation treatments. Well that is about the jest of the plan so far. It is up for change.

Yesterday we also met with the OB here that will be monitoring throughout the surgery and weekend after. He was a very great doctor and very informative. He deals with about 3 pregnant patients a year that have cancer so he had a great deal of experience with it. It was all very reassuring. I also received a steroid shot yesterday and today to help speed up the development of the lungs of the baby just in case I could end up in labor from the surgery.

We met with my surgeon this morning and went over all that. I will be heading to the hospital about 6 tomorrow morning for some pre-op and then surgery around 9 or 10. Surgery will take 2 to 3 hours and then I will be in the hospital for 1 or 2 nights. They will be monitoring the baby throughout all of this and he will be the biggest deciding factor on how long I stay in the hospital.

We also met with a doctor in the genetics department today. There is a blood test they can send away to do that will show if I am a genetic carrier of breast cancer. If I am they can test my parents and find which side of they family it came from. Those of you in my extended family reading this can certainly e-mail on your thoughts of this testing. My e-mail is over on the right of this page. I have not done the test yet.The screening tests are only done at one lab in the country and it can be quite expensive if insurance won’t cover it. No matter what I hope all of you women out there are doing at the least self-breast exams. If you think something seems at all a little odd don’t wait. If I would have waited to do something and not got it checked I probably would have been very sick or dead before I made the age 40 mammogram requirements. Please take your health seriously!

What more can I say. Tonight will be a stressful night but I and ready for the next step and tomorrow I will take it. I appreciate all of your support and caring. It really means a lot. I feels so great to know I have so many people in my life who love and care about me. Take Care Everyone!

Love, DeAnn

 
 
 
Reply from Cheryl Larson Dakin (71): BEDFORD, TX
 
Hi Everyone:
 
I always get a kick out of poems about North Dakota because people here in Texas don’t have a clue about how cold it actually gets and that people can still function in that type of weather. I kept a little poem on my desk for a long time (with a picure of a snowstorm in May 2008 when we were there). It says: It’s Winter in North Dakota and the gentle breezes blow
30 miles an hour at twenty-five below.
Oh how I love North Dakota when the snow’s up to your butt;
You take a breath of winter and your nose gets frozen shut.
Yes, the weather here is wonderful so I guess I’ll hang around.
I could never leave North Dakota ’cause I’m frozen to the ground!
Hi to Susan in Alvarado. We’re in the Hurst Euless Bedford area.
Cheryl Larson Dakin
 
P S. It’s also fun to bring back sample crops (wheat, canola, soy beans, sunflowers) to show these city-slickers. They were especially amazed at the canola.
 
 
 
Randy Davis Condolences:
From Mark Schimetz (70): Rolette, ND.
 
The Randy DAVIS in the obituary, was a good friend of mine, his older brother Ken ran the Redman Gas Station years ago in Belcourt, he know operates and possibly owns the bar and take out at Belcourt. Just cannot think of the name of it. Randy had a beautiful flathead Harley tricycle. We did a lot of riding, in years past. He would often be called up to sing as he had a wonderful voice, He sounded like the lead singer of Alabama, well, after a few drinks any. lol, we had a lot of fun, Randy will be sorely missed by many as he was a very likeable person and oved his music. My Condolences to his family.
 
 
 
Message & Pictures:
From Mary Eurich Knutson (62): Dunseith, ND.
 

Hi Gary

Well we survived anaother winter storm in ND. We got about a foot or more of snow in the hills. I didn’t move from Friday till mid morning Tuesday. The county truck came through and opened roads and the blade came yesterday and winged open the roads really good. Sure can get the job done better and faster than 40 – 50 years ago. Maintainers are 10 times bigger and I don’t remember trucks way back when.

Made me remember a storm we had in about 1964 or 1965.It was a terrible blizzard and I was stranded at the San and Bud was stranded in Bottineau and the kids were at my folks. I don’t remember how long it lasted but as soon as highway 5 was open Bud came from Bottineau and picked me up and we went for the kids. Old number 5 was blocked but we could get as far as Chester Hill’s on the Willow Lake road where we called Dean Parrill and he came with snowmobile and picked us up and we went to Dad’s and got the kids and the cream can was full so we loaded that on the sled to take to the creamery for Dad. Bud and the kids road the sled hanging onto the cream can and we made it back to the car ok. We left the cream off with Minnie Alvin and went on home. Keith Pladson was staying with us that winter and when we got home the water was froze up at the barn The pump was in the cellar and the cellar had a dirt floor and he had been working between the barn and the cellar to get the water working. What a mess. Mud from the cellar door to the kitchen door. I can’t remember how long it took to get the water going again but they finally did.

Do you remember that Keith?

You can tell we’re getting old we enjoy spending more time in the past than looking to the future.

 

Pictures: I don’t know who the kids are by the hayrack. I doubt if anybody can tell me either. Notice the wheels on the hayrack and are those caps Canadian?

 

The people sitting on the rocks are identified as Stokes, Oscar Rendahl’s and daughter and Ulysses and wife. That’s not a real specific identification. I think theres some not accounted for. Wasn’t Ulysses killed over at old Kelvin or in the little praire area. He backed into the propeller of his airplane.

 

The picture with the 2 girls and the little guy are Eleanor Awalt and Marshall and the girl ??? Schwabe. Maybe Bonnie or Lloyd could fill in the gaps on that one.

 

The people on the stairs, again, are F. Stokes and Ulysses and I can’t find the picture and can’t remember who they are but I do think it was taken in Oregon.

 

The baby in the photo with the old phonograph is Esther Thompson Tangen. Must be almost 100 years old.

Just thought you’d enjoy. Thanks Mary K

Mary, These are some very precious photos to me. This is the first picture I ever remember seeing of my Grandfather, Frank Stokes. He died in 1932. Dad was 16 years old at the time. That’s a neat picture of your mother, Winifred. with all her brothers too. I’ll bet the Awalt siblings will figure out who the Schwade girl is too. I have heard of this Engalls family, in the picture below, being related to Laura Engalls Wilder too. I think this Engalls family is related to the Thompson’s, but I’m not sure how? Thank you Mary, Gary

 

Eleanor Awalt and Marshall and the girl ??? Schwabe

 

 

 

 

 

 

L to R: Frank Stokes, Ulysses Thompson, Keith Ingalls and either his wife or sister.

 

Somehow this family is tied in with Laura Ingalls Wilder but it carries off into another branch

 

 

 

 

William & Ida Thompson Pritchard’s children:

 

L to R: Robert, John, Lincoln, Corbin, Winifred and Norman

 

 

 

Esther Thompson Tangen

 

 

 

I don’t know who the kids are by the hayrack. I doubt if anybody can tell me either.
Notice the wheels on the hayrack and are those caps Canadian?

 

 

Randy Davis and the Davis Family:

Posted by Eileen Brudwick: Fargo, ND.

 

Hi Gary,
 
I have a Randy Davis, and his mother is Irene Joyce Poitra Davis Fandrick. I don’t have Randy’s father’s name, however I do know Irene “Joyce” married Elmer James Fandrick. Elmer died 1 October 2002 at Dunseith. Irene “Joyce” is Elmer’s 2nd wife as well.

Joyce works as a LPN at San Haven and the Dunseith Nursing Home. Son, Rocky Davis, married Bernadette Gladue and works at Turtle Mountain Mfg. Alen Lee Davis is employed by the Department of Justice in Washington, D. C. Randy Davis works on an oil rig in Gillette, WY., area. Roxanne Davis and Crystal Fandrich are at home; Donna Fandrich is in nursing school in Bottineau. Joyce has foster children: Linda, Courtny, Deland, Peter, Misty.
Apparently, according to her mother’s obituary, Joyce remarried again to a Mr. Dumont. I have no information of him either. More information below;
 
Eileen
 
Source: Prairie Past and Mountain Memories, A History of Dunseith, N. Dak, 1882-1982, page 195
Ernest and Beatrice Poitra
Ernest Poitra was born in 1907 to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Poitra and was married in 1930 to Beatrice Decoteau, daughter of Pete Decoteau’s of Belcourt. Ernest has farmed all his life but he recalls that during the depression he rode horseback for 14 miles one way to work with pick and shovel on a WPA project for $2.00 an hour. In later years, Ernest and Beatrice were both employed at San Haven. They are now retired from outside employment but still are farmers. They had two children: Joyce and James.
Joyce is now married to Jim Fandrich of Turtle Lake, an independent trucker and farmer. Joyce works as a LPN at San Haven and the Dunseith Nursing Home. Son, Rocky Davis, married Bernadette Gladue and works at Turtle Mountain Mfg. Alen Lee Davis is employed by the Department of Justice in Washington, D. C. Randy Davis works on an oil rig in Gillette, WY., area. Roxanne Davis and Crystal Fandrich are at home; Donna Fandrich is in nursing school in Bottineau. Joyce has foster children: Linda, Courtny, Deland, Peter, Misty.
James Poitra married Bernice Morin, daughter of Emil Morin of Dunseith and was killed in a car accident near Bismarck in 1973 while working on a construction project in that area. Bernice now works at the Dunseith Day School. Their children are: LaVonne, a student at Wahpeton SS; Berry, Lee, Karen, Sherry, James Jr., and Tommy Joe.
 
 
Beatrice Poitra – Minot Daily News – (Mar/6/2008)
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Beatrice Poitra
Oct. 28, 1913-March 3, 2008
DUNSEITH – Beatrice Deliah Poitra, 94, Dunseith, died Monday, March 3, 2008, in a Dunseith nursing home.
She was born Oct. 28, 1913, to Pete and Zelda DeCoteau in Belcourt. She married Ernest Poitra May 4, 1930, in Dunseith.
Survivors: daughters, Joyce Dumont and Cecelia Delorme, both Dunseith, Stella LaFountain, Belcourt; sons, Alex, Belcourt, David, South Dakota; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral: Saturday, 10 a.m., St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Dunseith.
Burial: St. Louis Catholic Cemetery, Dunseith, in the spring.
Rosary service: Friday, 8 p.m., in the church.
Visitation: Friday, beginning at 4 p.m., in the church. (Elick Funeral Home, Rolla)
 
 
 
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

 

 

 

  

01/28/2010

Posted on by
Dan Morgan former principle in hospice care: Edgeley, ND
From Ardys Bakken Horner (Teacher): Detroit Lakes, MN.
 
Gary what a beautiful office to work from….continue to enjoy the news, esp like photo of Orvin Hagen…a dear man.
We heard that Dan Morgan former principal and instructor at DHS is on Hospice care, he and Judy read your blog. Ardys Bakken Horner
 
 
 
Alice Vandal Leonard’s reply to the football picture: Minot, ND
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.
 

Hi Gary,

 

I sent the “football” picture to Alice Leonard. Here is her reply: Thanks, Neola: My brother-in-law is Duane Woodford, #3, also in the front with bro Lowell Leonard. Duane is married to my sister Grace and they live in Winston-Salem, NC. All is well here and we’re keeping warm. Alice

 
 
 
Iver Loe and Softball memories:
From Kenny Nerpel (65): Rugby, ND.
 
Gary,

In post 694 Larry Liere asked about Iver Lo. He at one time owned the
Gambles Store in Dunseith. In the early 1940’s my Mom worked there. They
had a hardware department and I think they also sold furniture. She worked
there briefly before she traveled to Portland, Oregon to work as a welder
during the war. Later, I think the store was owned by the Anderson family.
The photo of Dunseith’s south main street cleared up some the fog for me
about the businesses there. I knew that there was a barber shop and a
restaurant on that end of town but I couldn’t remember much about them. How
could I forget Hank the Barber and the Gateway Café. Every two weeks,
whether it was needed or not, I stopped in at Hank’s for a haircut and if
I’m not mistaken Mrs. Hackman worked at the Gateway.

Larry Hackman’s softball memories also brought back some memories for me. I
played on a team in the late sixties that also traveled to Canada to play
some of the fast pitch teams there. I remember most of the players. The
infield was Bill Grimme at first base, Allen Houle at second, and Jim Berube
third. I was the weak link at shortstop. The catcher was Eddie McCloud and
the pitcher was the legendary Leonard McCloud. We made at least two trips
to Canada and although we had some pretty good hitters I don’t think we got
a hit in any of the games we played there. We were used to the slow pitch
stuff and some of the pitchers in fast pitch softball can throw the ball
underhanded as fast as baseball pitchers and they are about 30 ft closer.
Not too many of us managed to get the bats off of our shoulders.

The highlight of those years was the tournament in Rolla. The final game was
played under the lights and one year we advanced to the finals and played
the Dunseith J.C. team for the championship. The only player I remember for
sure that played on that team was John Morgan. I remember him because I
happened to overhear some trash talking between him and Jim Berube. He was
telling Jim that all they had to do to beat us was to hit the ball hard at
the shortstop. Jim made a halfhearted attempt to defend me, but that is
basically what happened. I don’t know if it was the playing under the
lights or if the trash talking had the intended effect. I was getting hard
shots hit at me all night and Jim couldn’t pick up enough of the ricochets
to bail me out. Social activities (banquets and such) for the team
generally took place at the country home of Garrett Myers, located somewhere
along the gravel pit road north of town. I think we were much more adept at
partying than we were at softball. Great memories!

Kenny

 
 
Ole Bursinger:
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

Thanks to Gary Metcalfe for the insight on Ole Bursinger’s life. He
was quite a guy. I can still hear him playing ‘Rubber Dolly’ on his
fiddle and singing ‘Little Footprints in the Snow’. You mentioned how he
liked Hank Williams. He also liked old Jimmy Rogers songs. Ole was
really lost after Glenice (Granny) passed away. He spent hours every day
just driving around in his pickup for no reason. It was sad to see. He
was pretty much one of a kind. Thanks to BOTH Garys !

Dick

 
 
Wrong Randy Davis:
Correction from Evon Lagerquist (77): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary, I don’t think that this is the Randy Davis from our class of ’77 in Dunseith. Seems a little bit older than the rest of us and I don’t believe those were his parent’s names. I know his mom’s name is Joyce…..
Evon
Evon, I for sure didn’t do the math with this one. The Randy Davis from your class would be about 8 years younger. Thank you so much for this correction. Gary
 
 
School Memorabilia:
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

During all my school years, I had John Boguslawski for a constant
pal and cohort. We were at each others places nearly every day and he
and I were always doing mechanical things with cars and motorcycles.
John came along to the farm and worked with me when I needed help.
Another thing that we did was help his dad, Eddie Boguslawski, do things
at the school. We hauled out discarded junk and piled coal and other
jobs. One time we were told to clean out the storage area under the old
concrete bleachers in the old gym. To many of you, this was the area
under the temporary typing room that was built over the bleachers. In
the boxes we were hauling out, I found the old leather football helmets
we just saw in the picture of the ’55 football team. There was also a
box of basketball jerseys and trunks that Dad said were from the
independent basketball team that was from Dunseith in the late ’40s and
early ’50s. The jerseys were red and white and had a name on them. I
have tried to remember that team name for years, but can’t come up with
it. I was wondering if Mona Dionne Johnson or ANYONE else can remember
the name of this team? I think Virgil Vanorny and Chuck Johnson were
both on the team. The name wasn’t the ‘Dragons’ and that’s what puzzled
me when I opened the box. We hauled nearly everything up to the old dump
ground and gave it a toss. Also included in the haul were the band
uniforms we saw in the band picture from 1956. I kept one band cap, one
football helmet, and a box full of old papers and letters dated back to
the ’20s. Everything else got buried in the trash. This was in the mid
’60s and I still have all the stuff! There was also many feet of steam
pipes under the bleachers and they were wrapped with asbestos. The
system was changed so they told us to clean up the pipes and then take
them out. John and I cut the wrap off with linoleum knives and ripped
the covering off with our bare hands. It was so dusty from the asbestos
and dust that we could hardly see each other with the light on! They
always talk about Mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos! If that’s the
case—we didn’t even have a mask and would cough until we gagged, but
never quit until we were done. Wouldn’t OSHA and the EPA love this
deal?? Thanks Gary!

Dick

Dick, You are right. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to Asbestos. It’s an abdominal cancer that is virtually 100% fatal within a few months of detection. Asbestos was very prevalent in the insulation materials aboard the naval ships I worked on. Until 1970, there were few controls. Following my apprenticeship in the Pipe covering and insulation trade in 1974, I became an instructor in the Shipyard for asbestos controls. With my knowledge of the asbestos trade and controls, I was hired into the Production Scheduling department of the shipyard in 1978. I was a supervisor in the Scheduling department when I retired in December 2003. Prior to being inducted into the Service, from Feb 1967 to June 1968, I worked in the asbestos trade with few controls. When I returned to the Shipyard following my active duty service in 1971, there were many controls. I have minimal plural thickening of the lungs as a result of having been exposed to asbestos. I have never smoked, so my chances are 85% greater than those that smoked, for not having asbestos related problems. Gary
 
 
Allen Richard (65) birthday:
Reply from Nathan Richard (2000): Fort Greeley, AK
 
Gary,

In regards to my fathers birthday. Some may know about his illustrious ’74
Dodge charger. This summer we went home to North Dakota and met with dad in
Minneapolis. He drove the old car to see us as we spent a couple days in
town. I had the great opportunity to take a few pictures of all of us
together. The best part however, became a gift I gave him for his birthday
this year. All in all the picture turned out great in the form of a 24″ x
36″ print. I am attaching a small sampling.

Nathan A. Richard

 

 

Ulysses & Clara Stokes Thompson

Photo from Mary Eurich Knutson (62):

 

Folks, I received 7 old photo’s from Mary Eurich Knutson. Karen Larson at Spectrum scanned them for her and sent them to me with a note not to publish until Mary gets in touch with me. Since this one is labeled and I know the picture, I will post this one today and wait for Mary’s reply before posting the rest.

 

Clara Stokes Thompson was my great Aunt. Ulysses and Clara were the parents of Ella (Eldon) Pladson, Esther (Edmar) Tangen & Lillian Bergstrom. Lillian is living Wisconsin. Ella and Esther are deceased.

 

Mary Eurich’s grandmother, Ida Pritchard, was a sister to Ulysses Thompson.

 

Ulysses & Clara Stokes Thompson homesteaded about a mile or so north of the Ackworth Cemetery on the east side of the road. When you turn west into Fauske’s from the Willow Lake road, I believe the Ulysses Thompson homestead was to the east of that turn? If not, it was in that general area.

 

Mary, These are some great pictures. This is the first picture I have ever seen of Ulysses & Clara Thompson. Their names were mentioned many times in my growing up years too. If Lillian does not have a copy of this, I’m sure she’d love to have a one. I’m sure Keith Pladson or John Tangen can touch base with her on this and get a copy to her.

 

Thank you Mary. I’m excited to see the labeling on the rest of the photo’s you sent too. Gary.

 

 

 
 
From:
Ivy Eller Robert (74): Everett, WA
Susan Malaterre Johnson (69): Alvarado, TX
Hi Gary…….
 
I got this from Susan Malaterre Johnson, who lives in Texas. I though it would be great to share it with others that have experienced the great North Dakota weather…………
 
Ivy Robert

COLD IS A RELATIVE THING
 
 
 
 
 
65 ABOVE ZERO:

Floridians turn on the heat.
 
 
 
 
 
 
People in North Dakota plant gardens.

 
60 ABOVE ZERO:

 
Californians shiver uncontrollably.

 
People in North Dakota sunbathe.

 
50 ABOVE ZERO:

 
Italian & English cars won’t start.

 
People in North Dakota drive with the windows down.

 
40 ABOVE ZERO:

 
Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, and wool hats.

 
People in North Dakota throw on a flannel shirt.

 
35 ABOVE ZERO:

 
New York landlords finally turn up the heat.

 
People in North Dakota have the last cookout before it gets cold.

 
20 ABOVE ZERO:

 
People in Miami all die.

 
North Dakotans close the windows.

 
ZERO:

 
Californians fly away to Mexico .

 
People in North Dakota start looking for their winter coats.

 
10 BELOW ZERO:

 
Hollywood disintegrates.

 
The Girl Scouts in North Dakota are selling cookies door to door.

 
20 BELOW ZERO:

 
Washington DC runs out of hot air.

 
People in North Dakota let the dogs sleep indoors.

 
30 BELOW ZERO:

 
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.

 
North Dakotans get upset because they can’t start the snowmobile.

 
40 BELOW ZERO:

 
ALL atomic motion stops.

 
People in North Dakota start saying”Cold enough fer ya?”

 
50 BELOW ZERO:

 
Hell freezes over.

 
North Dakota public schools will open 2 hours late.
  

01/27/2010

Posted on by
Bobby Pigion (57):
Reply from Colette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe, NM
 
Hi Gary,

Just wanted to tell you that I received a nice note from Bobby
Pigeon. He IS the one living in Columbia, South Carolina. It’s
always surprising when I realize that someone who never actually
shares a comment on your blog is still present — reading it every
day. That is somehow beyond amazing … I love knowing that all of
us are silently connected to one another every day.

Thanks,
Colette

PS. I also love it when you share something about your life in Cebu
in with us. We are all enriched when we are exposed to cultures
other than our own.

 

 

From Bob Pigeon(57): COLUMBIA, SC

 
Gary,

Kenneth Pigeon is in the 1955 football picture. I’m sorry if I confused things. Since I’ve already erased that e-mail, I would like to see it again with all of the names. I remembered the faces but could not remember the names.

Thank you for all that you do because you’ve helped bring back fond memories of the past.

Bob Pigeon

Bob, I have reposted the football picture with all the correct names near the bottom of this message. Thanks and it’s great hearing from you. Gary
 
 
 
Ted Brodek:
Reply from Carmen Leonard Richard: Rolette, ND.
 
Ted Brodek was the photographer at our wedding back in 1954. He drove out to the Thorne church where we were married, and then drove to my parents farm where the reception was held, took lots of pictures and only charged us $10. Isn’t that unreal ? As I remember , he had been a patient at San Haven, and then was a photographer for the Dunseith news paper.
 
 
 
Reply to Allen Richard (65):
From Colette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe, NM
 
Hi Cousin,

Happy Birthday, Allen. You’ll always be younger than I am (though not by much!).

xox
Colette
 
 
 
Reply to Allen Richard (65):
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Good detective work there Allen. I had no idea that Curtis and
Kenneth Pigeon were twins. I knew they were brothers but not twins.
Thanks! Curtis called me a few years ago about old cars. I think he was
living in Utah or Nevada, or somewhere like that, at the time. We never
got together on a deal and then just a short while later I heard he had
died. Small world! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Joe Link and George Gottbreht Story:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

I have a story that Sharron Gottbreht Shen might find amusing. When
I was in the lower grades in the old white school, I witnessed my very
first fist fight. It happened one day when we were all out for recess.
Two older guys, probably early high school age, stripped down to their
white T shirts and mixed it up over by the basketball court. The
combatants were Joe Link and George Gottbreht. I have no idea what the
disagreement was about but they smacked each other a few times before
Mr. Conroy and Mr. Jerstad arrived and ended the confrontation. They
both had a few scuffs and one got a bloody nose, although I don’t
remember which. I wonder if George remembers what they were fighting
about? Growing up in old Dunseith, I might have seen a couple more
scraps if my memory serves me right! Saturday nights were usually good
for a round or two uptown! We used to cruise Main street and watch for
fights. The wildest fights were the women after they had been in the bar
for an hour or two. ‘Cat fights’ were nasty although there was
another name (politically incorrect) that these were referred to back
then! Thanks Gary!

 
 
 
Reply from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

 

Thanks, Gary–I was doing my best to forget today–even blocked a move by my staff to take me to lunch–I have another meeting. Never fear–I planted a “bug” on one of them!

 

Only have one question–who the hell is the good lookin dark haired guy with Clinton?????? — Oh — sorry– I dug the picture out of a box in the basement. It was me in ’94 at a meeting at the White house. The woman in the background was my boss at National Farmers Union.

 

 

 

Randy Davis (77) Passed away:

Obituary posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

 

Gary,

 

As you know, I include mailing addresses along with many obituaries, so people can send cards to the family. I found this address for Christy Davis.

 

Christy Davis

PO Box ??

13 Third St W

Dunseith, ND 58329

 

Randy Davis

PO Box 733

Belcourt, ND 58316

Neola

 
Ole Bersinger:
Memories from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 
Musings from Gary Metcalfe…..I am writing this story about a guy who got a lot out of his music. For the new people on the blog, we have already talked about Ole Bersinger. Ole had a better than average story to tell. So here goes, the first time I remember seeing Ole, he was backed up to the ice cream cooler at Kelvin Store along with his wife and a couple of kids. Ole was in new territory for him. This was in the hayday of Kelvin the five years that Mac Williams ran the store. Mac was buying cream, selling groceries and beer like crazy. I guarantee if oak trees were killed by too much urine, that old oak tree by the corner of the bar would be dead! Just about everybody east of the highway went to Rolla, including Ole. Ole was so far back in the woods they had to pump daylight back to him.
Now Ole was an orphan, a German kid, raised by Norweigans for which he seemed thankful. The first year he was married he told me they lived on carrots! When Ole went to Seattle in the 40’s, I am not sure it worked out for him like it did for most of the people who made that move. He told me he had gone to work out in a gym in Bremerton and that big black guy put welts from boxing, all over him. So he turned to the fiddle, lonesome for home, he learned to play.
So here he is back in North Dakota, he must have heard about Peterson’s Hall, south of Kelvin. He met old Max Peterson and his boys and Ole became a celebrity. Ole really thought he was Ole Hank Williams himself, he said when it came to Country Western, none of them compared to Hank. I’ll bet if Ole had not learned to play that fiddle, I would have missed out on three or four of the best working years of my life. He had an absolute love of life and we had a hoot. He had a high respect for our working partner, Robert Rivard. Ole called him “Rhubarb”.
Alan Campbell told me once we don’t all necessarily get to do what we like to do. Ole would have said, “I did!”
Because of the hard times Ole is in the same class as Alcide Lajimodiere….all heart…genuine.
Gary Metcalfe

 
 
Orvin Hagen: (701) 428-3125 Kindred, ND.
 
Folks, We got this lovely Christmas card from Orvin Yesterday. Orvin did not have our FPO address, so he mailed it to our local address. With the Christmas rush it took 5 1/2 weeks to arrive, but we got it. As you can see, at 88 years old, Orvin is still very much into flowers with all his flower gardens. I called Orvin this morning his time. It’s just like old times talking with Orvin. Orvin is very much involved with community affairs and the church. He doesn’t drive at night, but folks pick him up to take him to different events after dark. He attends lots of functions at the school. Orvin told me that when he was about 10 years old he lived with his grandparents for several years. They spoke only Norwegian, so of coarse he had to learn the language of which he has never forgotten.
 
Orvin would very much like to attend the Dunseith reunion in May, but he has no way of getting there. It’s too far for him to drive. Linda Gardner is picking him up for the Turtle Mountain Country School reunion in July. Orvin lives in Kindred, ND., near Fargo. Gary
 
 
 
 
 
Gottbreht Family picture label
From Sharron Gottbreh Shen (59): Everett, WA.
 
You Gary and the readers may smile when I tell you that the Gottbreht girls are all dressed in outfits sewed by Mom. The fabric was some weird green from drapes that Sister Rose reserved for her friend Alma. Very frugal partnership there! The boys had store bought awful western the girls suffered Sears Roebuck envy. Mom had an old pedal Singer and did all parenting and seamstress work with such care.

L-R Dale Gottbreht with Ernie on foot stool; EJ and Sharron on floor; George on stairs; baby Marc on armrest; then Alma with shy Evie at her side. Don’t tell EJ, Evie, that I posted this picture!

Sharron

L-R Dale Gottbreht with Ernie on foot stool; EJ and Sharron on floor;
George on stairs; baby Marc on armrest; then Alma with shy Evie at her side
 

Football picture Identification:

From Bob Pigeon(57): COLUMBIA, SC

Gary,

Please resend the photo of the 1955 football team with a correction. Kenneth Pigeon was mistaken for Curtis Pigeon. Also, please thank Larry for sending it in.

Bob Pigeon

 

 
Back: Coach Ray Stark, Marvin Aamodt, James Robillard, Vince Kalk, David Lo,
Gerald Anderson, Larry Shirk and Coach Lincoln Jerstad.
 
Middle: Lowell Williams, DuWayne Lang, Dennis Espe, Don Conroy, Kenneth Pigeon, Bob Pigeon.
 
Front: Val Bott, Bob Lagerquist, Lowell Leonard, Curt Halvorson, Mick Kester, Duane Woodford.
 
 
All rights reserved

01/26/2010

Posted on by
Happy Birthday Allen Richard (65):
 
Folks, Today, January 26th, is Allen Richard’s birthday. We won’t tell his age, but we all know he was born after 1946 and before 1948, the same as the majority of those of us from the class of 65. It’s so hard to believe that we have grandchildren and some great grandchildren too. These daily blogs make me feel so young.
 
Happy Birthday Allen. Enjoy. I’ll be catching up to you in July. That SS check is nice too. It all comes with age. Gary
 
 
 
Dorothy Pritchard celebrated her 97th Birthday: activitynd@yahoo.com
 
Folks, Dorothy Pritchard celebrated her 97th birthday yesterday, Jan. 25th. The picture below was taken last year.
 
Dorothy, I got rushed yesterday and forgot to make note of your Birthday. I am hoping you had an enjoyable birthday. Did Darald send a cake like he normally does for you birthday? Yes Dorothy, you have a few years behind you, but you are still going strong in spirit and mind. You may not move as quickly as you once did, but again, that comes with age. I hope I’m doing half as well you are when I reach your age. I intended to get there too. I sent you a card too, of which I know has not arrived yet. Gary
 
Folks, Dorothy gets all these daily messages. The hospital staff prints them all out for her. I have pasted her email address above. You can send her a message using the email address posted above. Just print “Attention Dorothy Pritchard” in the subject line and she will get your message.
 
 
Reply From Ruby Krause: Dunseith, ND.
 
Thank you for the birthday wishes. When I approached the entrance to my church–Peace Lutheran–I notiaced the entire congregation had assembled in the narthex. I thought maybe the heat was off, but when I opened the doors, they all burst onto a “happy Birthday” song! It seems Peggy Espe had seen the greeting on your blog, so she arranged the serenade. So you are responsible for two
 
 
 
School Cooks – Stella Schimetz:
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

LeaRae told of the wonderful cooks at the school in Dunseith. We had
lunch for hundreds of kids that two or three cooks made on a couple four
burner stoves under the stairway. This is the most amazing part to me.
It seems nearly impossible. I think these older women were used to
preparing meals for large families and also must have known how to
‘time’ the preparation in order to get that much food out in that little
space. One thing I am personally grateful for was how Stella Schimetz
knew that our son, David, couldn’t eat some things because he would get
sick. On the days she was serving any of these items, she would make up
a plate of something that David could eat without a problem.This of
course was years later. She is a queen, as far as our family is
concerned. Dave always used to go and hug Stella whenever he saw her,
even years later. He grew out of his allergies to certain foods and now
can live on gut bomb hamburgers and whatever liquids available it seems!
We remain forever grateful to Stella for her wonderful extra help.
Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion:
Reply form Linda Gardner: Vienna, VA
 
Hi Gary – The $42 for the Country School Reunion includes registration, happy hour appetizers (cash bar) and a buffet dinner (supper). Let me know if anyone has other questions.
 
 
 
Brodek Family & Pictures:
From Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.

 
The Brodek family became our neighbors just north across the street from former Link home about 1948. Ted and Tessie Brodek were married in Dunseith about 1943, Alice Tennancour Evans was a witness. Ted and Tessie may have met while he was a patient at San Haven. I think their oldest, Ronnie, was about the same age as Ernie born 1946; Yvonne, Vonnie or Sissy was born about ’49. This great couple actually trusted me to babysit their children! I was probably 10 going on 7! These dear people would try to wake me when they returned home, put my boots on for me and set me out the door. I would wake the next morning at home without a clue as to how I got there.

Ted did WITH THE DUNSEITH REPORTER – TMS for a few years, very polished job. Then on to Rugby for a short time before moving to Pontiac, MI. Ted died in ’70s. I gather that Tessie later remarried since her name change in Mom’s address book is Tessie Meade, 580 Grand, Cold Water, MI. We had no reply from Tessie after 2001 and I tried to find Ron without success. His last known residence was Mesa, AZ. I know Tessie and children returned to Dunseith a few times when Ron and Yvonne young adults. George may have more info.

Someone was always snapping pictures around our home but quality photographs were rare. Ted changed that with the addition of his classy work – we treasured his priceless work then and today. Tessie often tinted sepia or black and white portraits. Maybe Evie will scan her’s when she was about age 3. The scans attached are Ted’s work.

Sharron

 

 

 

 

1950

 

This has to be the Gottbreht family.That sure looks like Evie on the far right. I believe Ernie is the

 

little boy on the far left. Sharron, can we get you to correctly identify everyone. Thanks, Gary

 

 

Football Picture:

Rely from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

I checked with Margret (Pigeon) Fox on this–

 

The Pigeon brothers in the football picture are Bobby and Kenneth. Curtis and Kenneth were fraternal twins. Curtis didn’t play that much football. Curtis passed away a few years ago and Ken farms west of Thorne.

 

Curtis worked for Dad one summer.

 

Allen Richard

 

 
 
Back: Coach Ray Stark, Marvin Aamodt, James Robillard, Vince Kalk, David Lo,
Gerald Anderson, Larry Shirk and Coach Lincoln Jerstad.
 
Middle: Lowell Williams, DuWayne Lang, Dennis Espe, Don Conroy, Kenneth Pigeon, Bob Pigeon.
 
Front: Val Bott, Bob Lagerquist, Lowell Leonard, Curt Halvorson, Mick Kester, Duane Woodford.
 
  

01/25/2010

Posted on by
Bobby Pigeon:
Reply from Colette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe, NM
 
My sister, Jan (four years ahead of me in school) “went steady” with Bobby Pigeon for a few years. I possessed all the adoration of a younger sister and thought Bobby was the coolest guy imaginable. Dick is right, Bobby was “cool” twenty years before the Fonz. Anyone know where he is now?

 

Thanks, Colette

Colette, We have a Robert Pigeon, living in Columbia, SC on our distribution that graduated in 1957. Is this the same gentleman? Gary

 

 

Hot Lunch progam – Mrs. Knutson & Stella Schmitz:

Reply from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND.

 

I believe the “Hot Lunch” Program was started in Dunseith the fall of 1955 with Mrs. Knutson as the first cook. This was my first grade year and we did have to bring our lunch for a couple of weeks in September before the program got rolling. As far as I know she didn’t have any helpers at first, but eventually Mabel Aamodt was hired to help especially with desserts. I remember the teachers helping dish up food. I remember the 100 pound bags of potatoes sitting in that little kitchen and I believe Mrs. Knutson peeled the potatoes and kept them in water overnight. For some reason I remember the scene of mom (Mildred Parrill) and I down in the kitchen and Mrs. Knutson sitting there peeling. Now that I think about it, I suppose she would go down and visit in Norwegian as that was mom’s first language.
 
This was also my mother’s first year of teaching in town and she had 37 of us in first grade. The second grade class had only a little over 20 students. I wonder how many ate hot lunch.
 
Mrs. Knutson moved back to Norway in 1966. All of her children still lived there. I don’t know if she cooked up to the time she left. She was a great cook and was replaced by an even greater cook Stella Schmitz. We Dunseith kids and teachers didn’t know how good we had it until we tasted hot lunch in other places. Example: You should have seen Deverde Nicklaus (who taught math in Bottineau after he taught in Dunseith)- he just shook his head in disbelief. He said the two best cooks were his wife (He had to say that!) and Stella.
 
By the way, the price was 20 cents a meal and remained at that price until at least 1975.
 
 
Basement Cafeteria – Reply to Ron Longie:
From Sharon Longie Dana (73):MIssoula MT.
 
I remember that basement cafeteria……its where I got chocolate milk for the first time. You took me to my first day of school there. You probably don’t remember that Ronnie. I do it was a big day for me, my older cousin took me to school.
 
Sharon Longie Dana (73)

 

 

 

Paper Route – Doc Stickland:

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

 

Gary and Friends,

Thanks to all the folks for commenting on the last few entries. It
really helps when those who know the details write in and fill in the
blanks. In Lee Stickland’s posting he made mention of he and his
brothers doing the paper route. I remember it well. Darrell, or ‘Doc’ as
we called him, had the job of delivering the Minot Daily News. One time
I mentioned that I wouldn’t mind having a paper route to make a few
bucks. Doc was quite the businessman. I guess he actually introduced me
to the world of subcontracting. He said that the route was actually in
his name but that the Minot Daily allowed him to have a substitute so he
would let me run the route and I could get the dollar a day payment for
delivering. That’s correct one (1) dollar a day. I did it for a long
time until one of our other buddies told me Doc got $1.50 a day! He was
getting $.50 for holding the contract, so to speak. That’s business!
Even for 12 year olds, it was a smart move. I bet Doc did well in his
future business ventures! The only real added benefit was that sometimes
the person who dropped off the papers at the post office miscounted and
had up to three extra papers. These were ours to sell for a dime each. I
figured out how and where to get the best price out of these extras. I
would go into the bars–Woodford’s, Corner Bar, or the Garden Tap and
ask the guys at the bar if they would like to buy a paper to help me
out? Lots of times they would say, “Sure kid” and throw me a quarter or
more. That was the gravy! Most times though they had the right number of
papers and we got no gravy! Live and learn! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 

 

Brodecks Family:

Reply from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND.

 

Toni Morinville mentioned Brodecks. Yvonne Brodeck started first grade with me in 1955. I believe it was Mrs. Conroy who stopped into the room the first day and said to mom , “Oh, you have twins!” about Yvonne and I. Yvonne’s dad was the editor of the Dunseith Journal which would naturally include taking pictures for the paper. Brodecks moved to Rugby part way through that school year. I believe Mr. Brodeck went to work for Frank Hornstein at the Rugby paper. I wonder how long they stayed in Rugby and what has happened to them since. Were there other children in the Brodeck family? Were they in Dunseith very long? Who remembers?
 
Was that the end of the Dunseith Journal? My mother said that when she was in HS a fellow by the name of Ardis Bailey ran the paper. He married one of their favorite teachers, Miss Hannah Jevne after mom’s sophomore year. They moved to Hazen. This Bailey was not related to the other Baileys from Dunseith as far as mom knows.
 
 
 
Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion:
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 
Gary,
 
I think you’ve mentioned the Turtle Mountain Country School Reunion; here’s a clipping about it from today’s Minot Daily. I’m sending this to my Bottineau list/Kramer list/Brudwick list/other lists, too. As you know, many of my relatives (Brudwick’s/Kofoid’s/Haakenson’s/others) attended country schools in the Turtle Mts.
 
Neola
This is another great reuion that I’d dearly love to attend. Linda sent this to me earlier for posting too. Linda will be picking up Orvin Hagen on her way to this reunion too.
 
Linda, Can you tell us what all is included with the $42 registration fee? Thanks, Gary
 
 

Corner Bar Fire:

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

 

Gary and Friends,

Looking at the picture postcard of Main street stirs so many
memories it’s amazing. I remember the night the Corner Bar burned. Henry
LaCroix had owned and run the bar for many years. When it burned though,
I think Orlan Fuchs was the owner. He was the manager for sure, I do
know that. Dad got me up real early to go up to the Crystal Cafe for
breakfast so we could head up here to the farm to work. When we got up
on Main street we could see the commotion down by the bar so drove on
down a block to see what was up. The building was still standing but was
completely gutted by the fire. Orlan was inside looking around and
trying to see what was left. As we were standing just inside the front
door, I noticed a $20 bill on the floor. We looked further and found
more money scattered between the till and the front door. It was all
black from the smoke but was still recognizable as bills. They figured
that someone had entered through the plank covered opening in the
sidewalk on the north side of the building and then left through the
front door. The plank covered opening was there for unloading kegs and
other heavy things, according to Orlan. I never heard if it was ever
determined if the fire was a cover up for a burglary or not, but it sure
looked that way! I would have to take a wild guess as to when this was
because I really don’t remember the year. Probably mid to late 60s, but
that is just a guess. Maybe someone else has a date on this fire. Thanks
Gary!

Dick

 

 

 

 

Bottineau Lutheran church Class of 58 confirmation picture:

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

 

Gary,

 

I happened to see this picture and thought your readers might enjoy seeing it. Two of Abe Nelson’s daughters (EdnaMae and Vonnie) are in the picture, as is your cousin, Jean Hanson. I KNEW you wouldn’t recognize Jean if I didn’t mention her. Ha!

 

I should have been in this confirmation class, but I attended a few classes at the beginning of confirmation and then quit. I was confirmed with the Class of ’58.

 

Marlys Nelson was a cousin of EdnaMae/Vonnie. She was Lloyd Nelson’s sister. As you know, Lloyd owned a grocery store in Bottineau for many years. Marlys passed away many years ago.

 

Neola

Neola, Our readers know many of these folks. My first cousin and also the Morinville siblings first cousin, Jean Pladson, is pretty well know thru out the area. Yes, I would have recognized Jean in a heart beat in this photo. I’ll never forget the time that Jean visited our house shortly after she and Duane were married. Mom’s cousin and her husband from Niagara had stopped in for a visit on one of their Sunday drives when Jean came. When Jean was in the kitchen visiting with the ladies, Richard, Mom’s cousin’s husband, make the comment that Jean was one of the prettiest gals he had ever seen with her beautiful blond hair and blue eyes. I think her bubbly and friendly personality added a lot to the equation too. Jean was quite young when Duane swept her of her feet. Gary

Back row: EdnaMae Nelson, Loueen Brandvold, Jean Hanson, Vonnie Nelson,
Lynne Bergman, Marlys Nelson
 
Front row: Bob Vinje, Leonell Grimestad, Peter Lilligard, Dennis Monson,
Pastor Estrem

 

Another old picture. :)
Back row: Jean Pladson, Miss Vikan, Beverly Lemieux
 
Front row: Marlys Nelson, EdnaMae Nelson, Neola Kofoid, Margaret Wicken.
 
I seem to have made sure I had enough room! LOL!
 
Neola

 

 
  

01/24/2010

Posted on by
Happy Birthday Ruby Krause:
 
Folks; Today, January 24th, is Ruby Krause’s birthday. Ruby is a former Dunseith School teacher & Librarian. She was hired into the Dunseith School system in 1971. She was the School Librarian in 1982 when the Dunseith centennial book was published. She was with the Dunseith Schools for a number of years. Ruby currently lives in Dunseith.
 
Ruby, We wish you a very happy birthday. This is your special day, so enjoy it to the fullest. Gary
 
 
Dunseith Main Street Picture:
Reply from Dave Wurgler (64): Rugby, ND.
 
Gary: To Dick Johnson about the post card of main street of Dunseith. When I first saw the picture and started to identify the cars I also thought that might have been dads 57 chev, as ole Hank Johnson was his barber, but if you look up the street in front of the Security State Bank you will notice which I think is a 60 chev-biscayne which could also be dads because he traded the 57 chev in 1960 for the coppertone 60 chev-biscayne and he also done all his personal and business banking at the bank. Kind of interesting. Take everyone and God Bless and a healthy and Happy New Year. Dave Wurgler (64).
 
 
Lajimodiere Family:
Reply from Denice Lajimodiere: Moorhead, MN.
 
Gary M.

Yes, my family is related to Julie Lajimodiere. We are descendant from her brother Joseph, his son Modeste, his son, Benjamin, my father Leo. Modeste and Louis Riel were first cousins. The Riel Rebellion split many familes in half, some for it and some were ‘royalists.’ Grandpa Ben refused to speak of Riel or the rebellion – were they royalists?? Our family originally fled to Pembina, Wallhalla, St. Joseph area after the rebellion to avoid prosecution. We are not sure where Joseph is buried. Some say with Riel, others say at St. Joseph church. I will go looking for him. Modeste brought us to Dunseith, and grandpa Ben to Belcourt. My father consideres Dunseith our family home, and we are mostly buried there. We have kept the original Lajimodiere spelling, as it is now Lagimodiere in Winnipeg – the priests at St. Boniface decided that the name will be spelled consistenly with a ‘g.’
I learned more about the Rebellion from my mother’s grandfathers and great uncles, the Plantes. Their grandfather, Francois Azure, fought with Riel at Batoche and I have recorded some wonderful oral stories from them about the battle, along with buffalo hunting stories and run ins with the Sioux. I have extensive files on our families geneology – I just have to sift through them to try and find Alcide’s mom. I’m now the ‘elder’ of the Belcourt Lajimodiere’s, sadly. I’m really a ‘baby elder,’ aye. But I know I need to keep our family’s story alive.

Denise Lajimodiere

 
 
School cook lady Identified:
Reply from Ron Longie (65): Yakima WA

 

 

Gary,

The lady from Norway if I remember right was MRS Knudson, she was the cook when I used to eat in the “Old White School” basement.

Ron

 
School cook lady Identified:
Reply from Marge Landsverk Fish (57): Horicon, WI
 
I GARY,
I JUST READ YOUR LAST E-MAIL AND AM REPLYING TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS.
 
THE LADY WHO MADE THE SCALLOPED POTATOES WAS CONNIE KNUDSON, SHE AND HER HUSBAND HED DID LIVE IN THE HOUSE JUST NORTH OF THE LUTHERN CHURCH. THEY LIVED IN THE BASEMENT A LONG TIME WHILE THEY FINISHED THE REST OF THE HOUSE.
THEY WERE FRIENDS OF MY FOLKS (MINNIE AND KNUTE LANDSVERK) I DON’T REMEMBER HER SCALLOPED POTATOES BUT I DO REMEMBER SHE MADE ALL KINDS OF NORWEGEN GOODIES. I DID’NT LIKE THE HEAD CHEESE BUT GOOD LEFSE’, ROSETTE’S”’ AND FATIMON.AND MUCH MORE.
 
THE ? PIDGEON IN THE PICTURE IS CURTIS.
 
I’M GLAD THAT THEY GOT THE CAR STRAIGHTENED OUT IN TIME TO MISS KNUTE LANDSVERK’S GARAGE
I THINK HE WOULD BE BEEN QUITE DISTURBED.
I’LL BET THE TRACKS WERE INTERESTING.
 
THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO GARY.
MARGE(LANDSVERK) FISH
 
 
 
Ted Brodeck ?:
Question from Toni Morinville Gredesky (68): Farimount, ND
 
Gary,
A recent picture that was posted had the name Brodeck on it. I’m wondering if anyone remembers Ted Brodeck and his family. He was a photographer who lived in Dunseith for a while. I think when they left Dunseith they moved to Rugby. I don’t remember his wife’s name, but they had a daughter named Sissy, I believe. He and my Dad were friends. Ted was probably responsible for getting my Dad interested in photography. Just wondering if anyone can add more about them.
Toni Morinville Gredesky
 
 
 
Reply From Lee Stickland (64): Dickinson, ND.
 

Gary and Dick,
 
I nearly covet YOUR memories; both YOU, Gary and YOU, Dick.
 
I do not recall any of the things that YOU and others are so well-versed in.
 
Guess I was too busy, either trying to reduce my time for the 100/220 yard dash, or Jim Evans and I attempting to make a hole in the defense of the opponent so that Dave Shelver, John Leonard or Bill Henry could make some yardage.
 
Each of the three (3) Stickland boys, Darrel (Doc) and Dean and I had paper routes with 72 Minot Daily News, (I walked to Theresa Kriegs, north of town to deliver a paper each day). She was in the nursing home when I was administrator at Dunseith from Spetember of 1975 to February of 1977. Each of us had the privilege of working in Hosmers’ Store or the Red Owl,;stocking, meat cutting and floor and bldg maintenance.
 
I also began to be able to drive a vehicle in at 7:30 am, grind the valves, replace guides and reinstall the head by noon. I worked for Alvin Moe at the Corner Garage. Age 12 is when I began mechanics and keeping the books for the garage.
 
There was so much to be learned in Dunseith when I was a kid. Just needed to
“keep YOUR hat on straight”.
 
I see that it may be raining now in Cebu. I was in San Diego for four (4) days. Wore a dark long-sleeved shirt with black pants. It was above +70 degrees. By the time I walked to and from the Ramada to the Roadhouse BBQ establishment, I needed dry clothes and another shower.
 
Eric, my son, took me to Target where I bought a white short-sleeved shirt and white pants. Pants were of quality for $6.48. Eric’s wife, Kim took me back the next night to buy 2 more outfits and the price had increased, considerably.
 
ANNIE SWAY, SNUF Lee
 
 
 
Questions about the 1955 football team
From Larry Liere (55): Mesa, AZ & Devils Lake, ND
 
We had 3.25″ of rain in the last three days with wind up to 50MPH here in Mesa. I guess this was more rain then they had all last year. It was needed.
So far one death from the storm. A six year old boy was washed away from his family when their pick-up got stuck in the flooded road.
I remember the name Iver Lo. Would that be David Lo’s Dad? If so what did Iver do for a living because I am sure he was a good friend of my Dad.
Was this an 11, 8, or 6 man football team? Are we sure it is the 1955 team? I was thinking more of my 2nd. grade class would have been on the team.
I noted the old leather football helmets. This team was lucking they had face protection. Our team in Devils Lake only had one face mask. I played
end with a broken nose. I guess there were even 9 man teams back in the old days. Thanks for any information you can give. LARRY
 
 
Football Photo ID:
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Thanks to Karen Woodford Olson for supplying the names of the guys in
the football picture. I think the guy next to Bobby Pigeon is Curt
Pigeon. Bobby is the guy that reminds me of the ‘Fonz’ on Happy Days. I
guess it’s the other way around as Bobby was cool twenty years before
the TV show came around. The football helmets on the ground are the same
ones we hauled from the school to the dump ground and one of which I
still have. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
Back: Coach Ray Stark, Marvin Aamodt, James Robillard, Vince Kalk, David Lo,
Gerald Anderson, Larry Shirk and Coach Lincoln Jerstad.
 
Middle: Lowell Williams, DuWayne Lang, Dennis Espe, Don Conroy, Curt Pigeon, Bob Pigeon.
 
Front: Val Bott, Bob Lagerquist, Lowell Leonard, Curt Halvorson, Mick Kester, Duane Woodford.
 
 

Snowplanes:

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

 
Gary,

This is in response to Floyd Dion’s posting from today about the Renault car bodied snowplane. It is from nearly two years ago but might be something interesting for the folks. Thanks Gary!

Dick


——– Original Message ——–

Subject: Snowplanes
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008
From: Dick Johnson
To: Gary Stokes
 
Gary and Friends

Reading Floyd’s and Tim’s comments about snowplanes really caught my
attention! Although they were abandoned from use in the late sixties,
some have survived. State laws prohibiting hunting from a moving vehicle
basically brought about their demise. The other factor was the invention
of the snowmobile which kind of took the place of the snowplane for snow
travel. I always liked these homemade machines and about 15 years ago I
found two of them that were for sale, so I made a deal and bought them.
I was invited to a snowplane rally in 1995 at Tolna, ND, where other
guys with this same interest were gathered. We had a cross country ride
for many miles and then a chili feed and refreshments on our return. It
was one of the most nostalgic and fun days I have had for many years. We
formed a group we called the Prairie Snowplaners and have had rallies,
annually, up until the last two years when there hasn’t been enough
snow. Since then I have bought several more snowplanes and parts. If any
one is interested, I have a couple VHS tapes from past rallies I would
share.
Floyd wrote about the Renault car body they used for one sled. John
Boguslawski and I asked Curt Halvorson what he was going to do with the
chassis, [ engine, transmission, and steering, etc. ], Curt gave it to
us! We came up to our farm and got a Model T frame off a discarded hay
rack and built a “dune buggy”. We actually scared ourselves once and
THEN built a rollcage. We painted it pastel yellow with house paint and
had quite a rig! Floyd, if I remember correctly, didn’t you break some
ribs or something while hunting in the Renault-bodied snowplane? I seem
to remember something about that, could be wrong! I have attached a
couple pictures taken of my snowplane taken at one of the rallies.
Thanks Gary!

 
 

  

01/23/2010

Posted on by
Folks, Bernadette and I attended a nice wedding yesterday. The couple is from our bowling league. He is from Norway and of coarse she from here, Cebu, PI. This couple has been living together nearly two years now. They had a baby several months ago. There is a little age difference in this couple though. He is 59 and she just had her 22nd birthday. In spite of the age difference, they are a nice looking couple. Of coarse with him being Norwegian, they couldn’t be anything else but. Those Norwegian accents sure bring back some good memories of my dad’s relatives. The demeanors of the Norwegian’s that we have met here, so resembles that of the Norwegian’s I was raised around.
 
Another point of interest. Last week I posted the activity of our Website with a comment that the visits have been steadily increasing. Brenda Hoffman replied with a personal message that she feels there are folks following our messages that have just stumbled upon us browsing the Net. I never gave that any thought, but she may be right. It’s wonderful if there are. We’d like to hear from some of you folks that have found us with your browsing. Gary
 
 

Reply to Larry Shirk (58):

From Jim Robillard (58): WILLISTON, ND

 

Hi Larry good hearing from you. That is a great picture of our football team. The best dang team on both sides of Willow Creek.

I also enjoyed seeing the picture of Dunseith main street with all the old cars parked on the street. Its pretty near how I remember Dunseith.

 

A note to Gary Stokes; Gary I would like to thank you for this great service you provide for the Dunseith Alumni I read this Blog every day and enjoy The stories.

 

 
Snowplane reply:
From Floyd Dion (45): Dunseith, ND.
 
Hi Gary
 
Dick was saying that the Pigeon’s had a Volkswaagen body for a snowplane, Harvey Halvorson had one with a French Renault coupe body , it had a door in the roof so we could shoot out of it, but it was too heavy too, Curt Halvorson and I built one for Harvey, and we had a lot of fun with it. I remember someone (don’t remember who) had a leaky gas tank and took it out to Jim Coleman’s to have it welded, they emtyed the tank and Jim put a hose in the gas tank and the other end on the car exhaust pipe and started the car and begin to weld the tank,ant it did not blow up.
Those snowplanes were a lot of fun
Floyd
 
 
 
Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 

Reply to Larry Hackman

That is a good story about Egbert, Larry. That is what I called him too, his dad called him Donerd. I am sure most people thought I was being funny when I said that Ade was a man amongst men when he was young. That is what my dad called him, Ade. According to Ade, he was a ladies man to the highest degree, so I guess Donald had a real hard act to follow. You should read Ade’s history in the BIG BOOK.

 

I have given a lot of thought about what made those old pioneers stand taller than those who came later. I realize they were much more wise to the world having come from cities and towns out east and overseas.

 

I was thinking about Charles and Marvin Lindberg. I thought they lived near Rose Lake somewhere. Ethel Dubois is their sister. So I looked up their parents’ story, Pete Lindberg was a twin to Ben Lindberg. Cooney McKay’s father-in-law. I loved the way Ben handled the situation when a fellow came into their house party with a gun threatening to shoot everybody. Ben took him outside, straightened him out, then had him come back in for the evening festivities. With people like that they could get by with only one cop in the area those earlier years.

I got off the track. Pete was known as a singer and a man who could keep up to two binders shocking grain. The man that had enough crop to warrant two binders working was my great grandfather, Hans Svingen down at Overly. He was my Grandma Evans father. Hans had two brothers who were pastors and one of them performed the wedding for Ben Lindberg. There was also evidence that Ben met his wife at the home of Andrew Bergen up on the Canadian border.

 

I have a couple things I would like to find out about the Hillside area, one is who Alcide’s mother was???

Denise tells me that old Modeste Lajimodeir had 21 kids and three wives. I think the “e” on the end of his first name changed the meaning of it. I think he was the most prolific of the whole area. His quarter of land sat between Vance Bailey’s home place and Louis Bergan’s, give or take.

 

I guarantee Donald was a good worker. He worked for Cliff Gilles.

 

I am sure when Denise finds time to research that large addition to Rolette County it could prove interesting. I am pretty sure it was one of her relatives that was prominent in Manitoba politics. Most have heard of Louis Riel and Julie Lajimodeir was his mother. Louis was well educated and charismatic.

Gary Metcalfe

 

 

 

Message from DeAnn Gottbreht. DeAnn’s parents are Ernie Gottbreht and Brenda Hill.

Posted on her CarringBridge Website:http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht

 

We had a excellent turnout for my benefit up in Portal yesterday! I want to thank all of the great people who brought soup, sandwiches, dessert, and everyone who worked so hard putting it on. It was sure nice to have so much family there. Patrick parents came over along with Grandma, Mom and Bryant, My Dad and Cheryl, and Blake and Michelle. Lots of people came over from work along with some of the people that work up on the Canadian side and local friends as well. I am so thankful for all the people who donated money there and by mail. Thank You all for your generous support! Patrick and I sure appreciate it. Just saying thank you seems like hardly enough but it is the best I can do for now.

We are leaving for Mayo Tuesday morning. It is snowing steady right now with 4-5 inches by morning and a blizzard by Sunday so I pray that the weather man is right and that the storm will end by some time Monday. I will see my Oncologist, my Surgeon, Baby Doctor, and a few others on Wednesday and Thursday with surgery tentatively scheduled for Friday the 29th as long as all my appointments go well. And before you ask YES this is safe for the baby as long as I am monitored and my blood pressure and oxygen stay normal. I would not choose to do something I know would hurt my baby! Please keep us both in your prayers as we take this next step. It is pretty scary for me but necessary and I am comforted having it done in a place as excellent as the Mayo Clinic. Take care everyone. I will try to keep you updated on my progress.

 

 

 

Alex Pedie:

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND

 

Hi,
 
I think you/someone asked who Alex Pedie is. He’s the husband of Dianne Pedie, who taught school in Dunseith.
 
Neola
 
 
Art Rude Sr. recovering.
From Art Rude (71): Bismarck, ND
 
Gary,
Great job as always! I thought I should fill you in, and I know you will share it with the group. Dad (Art Rude Sr.) has had a real tough fall and winter. Late August he fell off his bike (age 86) and had to be taken to the hospital. I don’t think it was the fall. I understand in talking to him, and a couple of other people who saw him that day, he had been quite upset, and I think he had a mini stroke. The reason I say that is, although they gave him a series of tests, and said he didn’t qualify as a “stroke”, it sure seems as if he lost oxygen to the brain for a while, because Dad has never been so confused.
After a couple of days in the hospital, he went to the Dunseith Community Nursing home for 3 weeks. As he was doing much better, he was out living in his apartment, but we had to move him to a situation where he wouldn’t be alone. Anyway, December 18th I called as usual on the way to work, and Dad wasn’t there, he had been hauled away by ambulance shortly before I called. He was eventually hauled to Minot, where they opened him up to clean out a “hematoma” (I think that’s the appropriate term) around his defibrilator, and they said they cleaned out enough blood clot to make a softball. He had to have fallen
or taken quite a blow for that to happen. Dad has had a defibrilator for almost 20 years, and a pacemaker as well.
So now he is in the Dunseith home. He has lost a lot of his mobility (Dad always walked, and liked to walk with a very vigorous step, so it was difficult to see him walk like Tim Conway) although he is making improvements. I just talked to him on the phone, and Eldon Moors (our neighbor from the hills, who moved in since many of you have left. He bought the Lawrence Wenstad place on the county line.) had stopped in, and he kept saying how much he enjoyed the visit. So that’s the point Gary, I know there are many people still in Dunseith, and around Dunseith who remember Dad, so stop in and say hi, I’m sure he would appreciate it. You probably remember how he likes to visit, and catch up with people, so if you are in town with a few extra minutes . . .
I’ll enclose a picture we took at Christmas break, when more of the family could make it up to enjoy the hills, and see Dad. I spent most of the semester break up in the cabin, so I got to see Dad almost everyday, but he sleeps a lot now.
Thanks Gary.
Art Rude
Bismarck
PS. In the picture, from left to right, is my daughter Hannah, her fiance Brad Wickie, Dad, my wife Grace with grandson Gavin, and myself. I’d appreciate it if you refer to Dad as Art Sr. which is a title of respect. By the way Gary, I like being Art Rude, but hated being called “Junior” (I think that’s why Pete Mellmer left town). That’s one of the things I like about Bismarck, I don’t have to be junior any more, you would think at age 56 you could leave that childhood moniker behind.

Peace and Power, Art Thanks for checking out Art Rude Productions, webpage address: www.artrude.com call and leave a message anytime at 800-XRT-RUDE
Art, Thank you so much for this update and info about your dad. I am glad to here that he is recovering well. Please keep us posted. This is a great photo of all of you. Gary
 
L To R: Hannah Rude, Brad Wickie, Art Rude Sr., Grace Rude W/Gavin & Art Rude.
 
 
Mel Kuhn (70):
Reply from Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND
 
Gary
Just a few items that I have rolling around inside the old cranium that I thought I would put out there. Maybe someone has a answer or two.
I wish I would have known about old Mel having problems? I would have went up and hooked him up to a trickle charger. We could have probably saved him some gas money. Glad to here you are is doing fine Mel. Hang in there old buddy, there is life to be lived.
Larry
Folks, I neglected to include Larry’s Attachment when I posted his message several days ago. I hate it when that happens. Larry, I apologize. I have pasted your attachment below. Gary
 

Rambling Rumblings

 

Does anyone have pictures to post of the swimming area at the east end of Lake Shutte that show the sand beach, dock, and diving board that was built and used during the 50s? Remember how we use to go catch mud-puppies with our bare hands, in the northeast corner of the lake.We would carry the mud-puppies back to the beach and throw them at the girls to make them run and scream? The good old days.

 

 

Anyone remember the cook that use to make them scaloped potatoes that were served to us about once a week ( or maybe it was once every two weeks – it was often) in the lunch rooms in the basement of the old wood two story school house in Dunseith?If I remember correctly; when she retired, her and her husband sold their home in Dunseith and moved back to Norway.Jim Enno, who had a auto body repair shop on the south edge of town, bought their home?I remember them scaloped potatoes and would like a copy of the recipe if anyone has it and could post that.Remember when you came down the stairs into the basement, you had your lunch ticket punched, then you had to make a sharp right or left turn, went around either corner, picked up your tray and selected your butter, or peanut butter sandwich; (take as many as you want) from the plastic baskets with the towel over the top of the sandwichs.Next stop was the window to the kitchen where they handed you your plate or brown bowl of scaloped potatoes.You had to develope a taste for them scaloped potatoes.I guess I did cuz I would like to taste them again.Anyone have the recipe?

 

 

Did Kenny Nerpel move to Rugby?

 

A while back I wrote about some of the happenings that happened to some of the old people in our lives.I tried to make them entertaining and funny.I thought we should laugh at some of these situations now, because as we all know, we will be encountering some of these type happenings.So, be prepared to laugh when it happens to you, cuz it an’t gonna do much good to cry!The reason I brought this up again I thought a few would write about some of the happenings in their lives.Which a few have! Thank You.

 

There were a couple of particular stories I knew of, that happened to a mother-in-law and brother-in-law of a (65er) class member, that I was sure would write and give us the scoop.So Joe, “Joe is kind of a generic name so I don’t think anyone is going to figure out who I’m talking about. Joe this lady told me she was up-town in Rugby doing some shopping.She was driving home from shopping, thinking about her garden.Her and her husband always grow a beautiful, productive garden.Joe, I’m sure you have eaten a lot of vegetables from that garden?Your mother-in-law says she is coming down the street from up-town, hits the button for the garage door to open.She pulls into the driveway, the garage door is almost all the way open, and then she don’t remember anything until she opens her eyes.There she is sitting in her car, in the back yard looking at her beautiful garden.She said, she remembers driving along thinking about her garden before she entered the garage, but she never intended to drive directly through the back wall of her garage to get there.She does not remember going through the wall.Funny?You be the judge.

 

 

Joe, It always seemed to me that if something happened in high school that was funny, it usually involved a member of your family, and I don’t think it had anything to do with the amount of you guys roaming the halls.It always seemed that your family was happy and always ready to have some fun.This story is about your brother-in-law Joey.I know there are a million stories about Joey.I’m just going to tell just one.you can tell the other stories if you want too.According to Joey’s mother, Joey parked his antique auto on the street.Now you have to think about this.What some people consider to be an antique, other people consider to be an eye-sore or junk.The decision is purely in the eye of the beholder.Now this car is sitting there, and hadn’t been moved for months.Someone finally made up a sign and placed it on the antique car.The sign said one word, (FREE).A couple boys came along from Devils Lake and saw this sign.They thought they struck gold (a free old corvette).They went up to the door, rang the door bell, and asked Joey’s mom if it was OK for them to take the car.She said, you can’t take that car, it’s an antique, and belongs to my son Joey.They explained about the free sign on the car.She told them, that it is worth a lot of money and was not free.Poor boys!

 

A few days later somone had moved the vehicle and parked it in the alley behind the house, the sign had been removed.Joe I hope you don’t end up sleeping on the couch because of this story?

 

I and my wife were over visiting my brother Henry (65er) and was telling him and his wife about the above story.We were sitting in his living room.His wife jumps up and points across the street at an antique auto.Apparently the conversation had struck a nerve?She didn’t actually call it a antique.She was basiclly telling my brother to make up a sign and put it on that car.Henry being a calm guy said, why don’t we just call the police dept. and see what they do firstHe said, they made the call, explained that the car had been sitting there forever, and the next day it was towed.So simple!Personally I preferred the sign method.

 

 

The old building, located behind the building that was used as, Richards Variety Store, or Berg’s Electric and TV repair, or Sutton’s Used Auto Parts Store, or Morinvilles Grocery Store, which was located across the street from the Crystal Cafe? Does anyone remember what it was used for originally?I remember Orvile Sutton using it as a auto repair shop, and I think it was torn down after that.Itlooked like it could of been someones house at one time?

 

 

Bill (65er) do you remember the guy who kept rabbits in the building or garages located just at the north end of the Commercial Hotel.I know when we first moved to town we had a lot of pet rabbits that we brought with us from the farm.We didn’t bring them all but just what we had cages for. The rest we just released on the farm.Anyway this gentleman came over and offered to buy them rabbits. Us kids knowing about all that candy in them stores up-town, immediately sold the rabbits to him.Then when we ran out of money convinced Dad to take us back up to the farm to recapture the rest.It took a couple of trips but I think we got most of them.Did that fellow keep and sell rabbits for pets or for food or both?I remember he had a lot of rabbits.

 

 

My sympathy to all thoughs that have lost loved!

I hope and pray that you are doing well!

 

Remember; Laugh and the whole world laughs with you!

Larry

 
Football Photo ID’s:
From Karen Woodford Olson (59): Marana, Az & Bemidji, Mn
 
The folks in the football picture are as follows:
Back row Coach Ray Stark, Marvin Aamodt, James Robillard, Vince Kalk, David Lo, Gerald Anderson, Larry Shirk and Coach Lincoln Jerstad. Middle row Lowell Williams, DuWayne Lang, Dennis Espe, Don Conroy, Ray? Pigeon, Bob Pigeon. Front row Val Bott, Bob Lagerquist, Lowell Leonard, Curt Halvorson, Mick Kester, Duane Woodford.
Hope my memory is correct. Thank you for all of your work. Karen Woodford Olson
 
Back: Coach Ray Stark, Marvin Aamodt, James Robillard, Vince Kalk, David Lo, Gerald Anderson, Larry Shirk and Coach Lincoln Jerstad.
Middle: Lowell Williams, DuWayne Lang, Dennis Espe, Don Conroy, Ray? Pigeon, Bob Pigeon.
Front: Val Bott, Bob Lagerquist, Lowell Leonard, Curt Halvorson, Mick Kester, Duane Woodford.
 
 
 
Main Street Photo:
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.

 

Gary,

With the posting of Bernard Morin/ Rod Armentrout’s postcard of Dunseith’s Main street, there are a couple things shown that I never in my life expected to see again. First, the car on the right is the old Nash belonging to Hank Johnson, the barber. It’s the one Marvin Kalk bought for $25. that I told about in blog message 156. The next car is a ’57 Chevy. John Wurgler had one like it and so did Zike Boguslawski. The car in front of the Althea theater is Leonard Cote’s ’59 Merc four door hard top. Eddie Bogus bought the Merc from Leonard and big John Bogus and I made a few wild trips to Rugby and Bottineau in that sled! The old Merc had a monster engine and really flew. It also had a fuel pump on top of the front part of the engine and if it got hot it ‘vapor locked’ and the car died. We had an old rag wrapped around the fuel pump and when it started having it’s fits, we would open the hood and poor cold water (or beer–what a waste) on the rag and away we went! My guess of the year the picture was taken is around 1963-64. I think Marvin bought Hank’s Nash in about ’64-’65. Hank still owned it when the picture was taken, obviously, as it’s still sitting in front of the barber shop. Thanks Bernard, Rod, and Gary!

Dick

——– Original Message posted with message 156 ——–

Subject: Marvin’s car
Date:
 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:01:31 -0500
From: Dick Johnson <djcars@srt.com>
To: Gary Stokes <gws123456@gmail.com> 
Gary and Friends, There was a barber in Dunseith by the name of Hank Johnson. We called him 'Hank the Barber', and he had a shop two doors south of the Althea theater. This is not the Hank Johnson from Willow Lake, but another guy. Anyway, for years he drove an old 1950 Nash four door car that resembled an inverted bathtub! It was dark green and ugly, real ugly. In those days Nash thought it was cool to be able to lay the front seat down and make the car into a bed, maybe for camping, who knows! Hank decided to sell his old Nash and buy a newer car so Marvin Kalk went down and bought it for $25, if I remember right. It didn't like to start real well but he seemed to get it going most of the time, one way or another! One night a bunch of us were cruising town in Marvin's Nash and we noticed he had a stick holding the rear of the driver's seat up! Someone asked what it was for and Marvin said the latch was broken so the seat fell back to the bed position. He dropped us off by Fortune Berube's house and we were standing by the car talking to Marvin, who was still in his car. Bill Berube had tied a rope to the stick that was holding the seat up and had secretly dropped it out the rear window. We asked Marvin if he could make the old Nash burn rubber? He revved it up and dropped the clutch and sure enough it squealed the tires and took off to the east! Billy gave the rope a pull and poor Marvin fell over backward in the seat and lost his grip on the steering wheel! The car veered to the left and jumped the curb, heading for Knute Landsverk's garage! Marvin sat back up just in time to turn the wheel and miss the garage, but instead of hitting the brakes he just kept going and drove clear across the vacant lot south of Landsverk's and then bounced back over that curb and drove off like nothing happened! We went from being scared to laughing hysterically in just a few seconds! I remember thinking, if he would have hit that garage we would have all been in BIG trouble! But we pulled off another one! Thanks Gary! Dick
 

 

 
Reply from Keith Pladson (66): thepladsons@hotmail.com Stafford, VA
 
Gary,
I found this interesting.

But, first a little background. My neighbor, Dave Humphrey, four houses down the street, asked me a few years ago if I would be interested in helping to collect food for the needy. Since I was retired and had the time, I said yes. So now every Tuesday, he and I (and in the summertime two other retired neighbors also) collect food from several grocery markets. (This consists of things that are reaching there shelf life or the containers are damaged, etc., and that would otherwise be thrown in the garbage – cereals, canned goods, breads, pies, milk, eggs, meats, etc.) The operation was set up several years ago by a guy who had made quite a bit of money in life and wanted to give back so he rented a warehouse and bought a truck and got a local pastor to run the warehouse. It’s called Warehouse Ministries. So on Tuesdays, we drive down from where we live to Fredericksburg, VA to get the big truck and then go from store to store to collect before returning to the warehouse to off load. This also gives us a lot of time to just talk about anything and everything of interest.

Anyway, this past Tuesday I was driving and Dave pulled something out of a folder he had brought with him. He then asked me if I wanted to hear something funny and he started reading what he’d pulled out of his folder: “Dear Sirs: We’re writing this letter to you today because we want to help you get your money out of your Model T. It’s still as good a car…”

Does that ring a bell? Remember your 681 posting?

Dave is originally from the Boston, Mass. area and knows nothing about Bottineau or Maxbass, ND. But through the wonders of the information highway, e.g. the internet, he had somehow gotten a copy of that same post card you posted. Do we live in a small world or what?

Thanks Gary for what you do.
Keith (66)

Keith, This is so interesting. This card, pasted below, has to be on the internet somewhere. I first received it from Sharron Gottbreht Shen that I posted with message 387, I then received it from Bill Hosmer posted with message 404. Then several weeks ago Allen Richard sent it to me again that I posted with message 681.
This card is for sure making it’s rounds all thru the whole country. Last week, out of the blue, a friend of mine originally from Bremerton, WA sent this card out to 50 plus folks that he sends forwards to everyday. I am on his list. He has no idea that I am from ND, Let alone Dunseith/Bottineau. Do any of you know who actually has this card?
 
This story even gets better with this friend of mines daily forwards. Last week one of his forwards was of the deer feeding on the Snow mobile trail near Lake Metigoshe. I remembered seeing that same picture in the Bottineau paper last year. My friend sent it as a joke with the message folks couldn’t ride their snow mobiles because of the deer. This guy had no clue where this picture was taken. I did a ‘reply all’ to that picture too, explaining the picture and where it was taken. The next day I got a message from Jerry Olson, originally from Souris, letting me know he recognized that photo too. My reply to that picture had been forwarded him. He could not believe his eyes. Jerry is currently living in Bremerton, WA. His sister is Nadine Little, also known as the “Cake Lady” in Bottineau. His family owned the John Deere dealership in Bottineau. Gary
 

 

  

01/22/2010

Posted on by
Reply to Mel Kuhn:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

Ol’ Mel Kuhn didn’t listen to me well enough when he was buying
parts. I told him all my engines are equipped with two shafts. The first
one is in the engine and the second one is in the warranty! Mel always
asks,” What’s new?” I always tell him that nothing is new—-everything
is used or rebuilt around here. Besides that, you can’t get many
Cadillac parts to fit an old worn out Stud–ebaker! How about that, Mel
Kuhn?!! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
Picgeon boys & snowplane stories:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND
 
Gary and Friends,

As long as the snowplane reminiscing is fresh, there are a couple
more memories I could throw in. I was out at Pigeon’s farm one time and
looked at one of the snowplanes they were working on. Gary had rigged an
old double barrel shotgun under the dash and pointing forward through a
hole in the nose. He had sawed off the stock to a pistol grip and then
soldered two rods to the barrels. On top of these rods he had welded
circles so that when you lined up the circles, through the windshield
and had a fox or coyote in both circles, you pulled the trigger! I
remember how he couldn’t stop giggling while I was checking it out. He
was quite the inventor!

Another snowplane they built was made with a Volkswagen Bug body. It
turned out to be way too heavy and got stuck every time they hit deep
snow. That one went in the junk, I think. They also chased fox and
coyotes with cars when there was no snow. They took a pretty nice 1950
Lincoln four door and cut the top off so they could stand up and shoot.
Russell told me he was driving once and Gary stood up in the back seat
to shoot at a fox just when Russell hit a washout in the tall grass. The
car made a wild bounce and threw Gary up in the air. When he came back
down he was laying on the trunk lid with just his heels holding him from
falling off! They were both laughing when they were telling me about it.
I’m sure stories could be written about the episodes of the Pigeon boys!
Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
1955 DHS Football picture:
From Larry Shirk (58): Naperville, IL
 
Gary: Read your blog daily and came across this picture of the 1955
Dunseith football team. The folks might enjoy naming the players.

Larry Shirk, Class of 58

Larry, I will repost when we have all those in this picture identified. This is a great picture! Thanks, Gary
 
 
 
 
Dunseith Main Street Picture:
From Bernard Morin (76):Dunseith, ND
 
Hi Gary, I was visiting with Rod and Marlene Armentrout recently and came across this post card that Marlene had in a photo album. It has no date and hasn’t been used. Just thought it might be something you could put in the blog. Also could you add Marc Pigeon to the May reunion, he is a “75” graduate. At the current time he doesn’t have Internet access.

Thanks. Bernard

 

 

 

Eldon Hiatt & John Kofoid Picture:
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 
I happened to see this clipping when I was looking for something else. I may/may not have sent it before.
 
Neola
Neola, This is a great picture. Eldon Hiatt is the son of Walter & Julia Hiatt. He was also a brother to Freddie and Wallace. Eldon was living in Renton, WA. I’m not sure of his fate at the moment? I’m sure his many nieces and nephew’s on our distribution can fill us in with more info about Eldon. Gary

 

 
 
 
Dennis Haakenson’s Haflinger Horses:
From Vivian Clark: Bottineau, ND.
 
Folks,
 
I received these pictures from Vivian (Mrs. Dave – deceased) Clark. These pictures are from Scott Wager, the editor of the Bottineau Courant. Scott ran a great article about Dennis (Hawkeye) Haakenson and his Haflinger horses in the January 5th edition of the Courant.
 
Dennis and Sharon Haakenson live in the hills a few miles north of the golf course on the Lake Road. Dennis built the covered cutter that the horses are hitched to. He’s got all the comforts inside his cutter with a wood stove and all.
 
Dennis’ mother was Mabel (Arnie) Kofoid Haakenson. Being a Kofoid, she was a cousin to my dad and also Neola’s Dad, Johnny. The highlight of our family reunions is going to Dennis and Sharon’s for a wagon ride thru the back woods with Dennis and his Haflinger team.
 
Sharon is cousin to Sandy (Rick) Gottbreth too.
 
Gary

 

 

 
 
  

01/21/2010

Posted on by
Mel Kuhn (70):
Reply from Larry Hackman (66): Bismarck, ND
 
Gary
Just a few items that I have rolling around inside the old cranium that I thought I would put out there. Maybe someone has a answer or two.
I wish I would have known about old Mel having problems? I would have went up and hooked him up to a trickle charger. We could have probably saved him some gas money. Glad to here you are is doing fine Mel. Hang in there old buddy, there is life to be lived.
Larry
 
 
 
DeAnn Gottbreht, Dughter of Ernie Gottbreht & Brenda Hill, has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer:
Posted by Verena Gillis: Dunseith, ND
 
Gary, would you please post this on the blog? I know this is Super Bowl
Sunday but we will be quite finished with everything before 5:00.
Thank you-Verena :) PS-currently working on vender bids for the reunion meal.
 
 
 
Reply from Barbara Tent (Bergan) Riehm: San Diego, CA.
 
Yes – thank you for adding me to your distribution list. You do such a great job – time consuming I know, but we all do appreciate all the hard work.
Folks, Barbara was a first Cousin to Clayton Bergan. Oscar Bergan was her uncle. Alfred Bjornseth was her first cousin too.
Barbara, In my growing up days I really didn’t know you, but Oscar and Sylvia Bergan mentioned you often. I felt as though I knew you well thru them. My dad knew your mother, Julia Bergan Trent, pretty well too. Gary
 
 
Snow Planes:
Reply from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI
Wow– Does that bring back the 60’s!!! Gary Pigeon had one with a 125 hp Lycoming (sp?) We were over run with jack rabbits back then and there was a bounty. Gary’s plane had a “pop top” and he would ride shotgun and I would drive. It was way more fun than I ever had on a snowmobile — (I won’t talk about a few trips to Metegoshe :-)) Anyway, Gary had a two ton truck load of rabbits at the end of the season. We got 45 in a couple hours one afternoon–and quit. There was no more room in the plane for either of us.
 
Gary went to Canada with a note pad and came back and built a prop machine that would cut props from a laminated block of wood. That was kind of important since the ejected shotgun shells sometimes went into the prop and knocked the leading edge off. Major vibration. We would take a vice grip and break off a similar sized piece form the other side of the prop so we wouldn’t trash the engine on the way home.
 
I recall one day when we were heading home from town on the soil bank when Gary told me to put my foot in it. John Bedard was next to us on highway 3 in the 60 Pontiac he had– we went side by side until I had to let off because I ran out of “road.” I never did ask John how fast we were going, but it was one of my quicker trips home!
 
One “snow planer” mounted a mower sickle to the front of his so he could slice through barbed wire fences–I took his name in vain a few times when I “fixed fence” in the spring.
 
It all begs the question–why am I still alive to write this????????
 
Allen
 
 
 

Snow Planes:

Reply from Susan Fassett Martin (65): Spearfish SD
 
#1 is Bernard Morin and the Harley Davidson guy is Travis metcalfe (married to my cousin Debbie Armentrout)
 
 
 
Snow Plane folks identification:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary,

It appears I overlooked listing the guys in the snowplane picture.

L-R Bernard Morin, Roger Humphries, Travis Metcalfe, and Gib Donovan.
Bernard is from here and the other three are from Arizona. Travis is
originally from here and is the son of Emil and Ann Metcalfe and is the
only brother of Elaine and the late Kathy and Janice. Thanks Gary!

Dick

L-R: Bernard Morin, Roger Humphries, Travis Metcalfe, and Gib Donovan
 

The following postings are posted by
Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND.

 

Lester and Marian lived for a number years on Lester’s home place located several miles NW of the Ackworth cemetery. Lester’s dad, James Johnson, was a brother to Sander, Eddie, Mrs. Jacob Bjornseth & Mrs. Art Bjornseth. I must be getting old because I remember all those folks all so well. Gary

 

 

  

01/20/2010

Posted on by
Reply from Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine (73): Grafton, ND
 
I smiled so over the red hats picture. When my mother-in-law Lillian LaFontaine was @ the Bottineau nursing home I gave her one of my red hats. Come on Ladies 50 and over grab a red hat, laugh, and dont give a darn what anybody thinks. If younger then 50 grab a pink hat and do the same. I hope everyone reading is having a blessed winter season. Vickie Hiatt LaFontaine
 
 
 
Message/Request from Pam Wenstad Lane (78): Dunseith, ND.
 
Hi Gary,
Is it to late to sign up for the reunion? I hope not. Don Wenstad would like to be signed in. He is from the class of “66” and lives in Overly. Thanks for everything you do. I can’t imagine how much time you take out of your day to keep everyone in contact with each other. I don’t know many of the people , but its nice to be in a close and Proud relationship of people.
Thank You, Pam Lane “78”
Pam, I have added your brother Don to the reunion list. I will be posting an updated copy tomorrow. Gary
 
 
 

Email address change:

From Michael (59) & Jan LaCroix Kester (59): Fargo, ND
 
Hi Gary! My e-mail is now: Thank you.
 
 
 
Email address change:
From Marshall Awalt (51):
 
Gary
 
After fighting this computer thing for so long we just got a new E-mail address. Please make the change.
 
Thanks for every thing.
 
Have a great day Marshall
 
 
 
Reply from Barbara Trent Riehm: San Diego, CA
 
Thanks for sending the pictures of your wife and you. Looks like you live in beautiful green surroundings. It is finally raining here in southern california – we have needed it so badly. Really enjoy watch it come down.
I had a lovely visit in Montana with my family – all on ice however. I was so careful walking to and from cars and homes not wanting to fall. Then on my last night there fell down some stairs inside my daughter’s home. Landed on my left shoulder and arm. Thanks goodness I didn’t break anything,but was one armed for awhile. Still bothers me some but I golfed last Saturday !!!
Happy New Year to you. I always look forwad to your e-mails.
Barbara Riehm
Barbara, I know this was a personal reply, but with you being related to the Bergan’s and some of the Bjornseth’s I’d like to share your reply with our readers. I’m sure many others know you too. I know many folks remember your mother, Julia Bergan Trent. She was pretty well known in the Bottineau community. With this reply, I have added you to our distribution list. Please let me know if that is OK. Gary
 
 
 
Picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 
As you can see, this is “yours truly”. It appears I’m talking–what a surprise!! Neola
Neola, This is beautiful picture! You look absolutely wonderful! You are good for another 70. Gary
 

 
 
Replies to Picture below:
 

 

Reply from Roger & Connie Zorn Landsverk: Bottineau, ND

 

How fun to look @ the photos on the Dunseith alumni.

I know Ina Johnson. She does well of her age. She’s out driving yet & does well!!I knew her brother Maurice & his wife Adeline & children. I know their daughter Karen the best. I think they have one boy living yet but not quite sure (Terry)? I know Janice ( Kersten) Bjornseth & her parents.

Is Virgil Rude a brother to Glen Rude?? I know a little bit. I visited his mom when working as a home health nurse.

I knew all the Red Hat Ladies pictured with Alice Kuhn. They are all deceased but Alice.

I had a nice visit with Marie Lafromboise on Monday afternoon. She had been to her brother,s funeral in the morning

take care Connie & roger

Connie; Virgil and Glen Rude are first cousins. They are double first cousins. Viola Bjornseth, Virgil’s, mother and Gladys Bjornseth, Glen’s mother were sisters. They were also sisters to Ralph Bjornseth. Viola and Gladys married Twins, Alfred & Albert Rude. Glen’s brother, LaVerne is married to Carrole Fauske.
 
 
Reply from Mel Kuhn (70): Saint John, ND.
 
Howdy Gary,
 
A big thanks to Neola for the picture of my Mom. It feels good to be back home reading your daily mailings. The week before Christmas I was in Bismarck for a regular doctor’s visit and I flunked my stress test. An appointment was set up for me for last Wed. the 13th. to checkout some suspected blockages. They went in and found 2 and put in 2 stints, everything went well until I got put into a room and I crashed. A heart attack and 2 more stints and I’m back at home. Total 4 stints. Now this story just leads up to what happened back in “95” when I had a heart attack and a by-pass done. What I’m thinking is that I should have sprung for all new parts last time instead of going with the used Ford parts from Dick Johnson. He says no warranty, what do you think?
 
Mel Kuhn [70]
Mel, Since we had not heard from you in a while, I was wondering what happened to you. I am sorry to hear of your heart attack. You were in the right place when you had it. I am hoping those 4 stints will do the trick forever. I’ll bet you are feeling better now too.
 
Speaking of Dick and used car parts, I recently got in touch with Kenny Pederson. Kenny and I were confirmed together in Nordland. His parents were Fern and Oliver Pederson. When I mentioned Dick Johnson’s name to him, he said “I know Dick. We’ve done a lot of horse trading.” I’m not sure if it was Kenny or Dick that told me Dick had bought a whole bunch of ‘Model – A’ ford car parts from Kenny. It was like a grab box with a collection of what ever. So I know Dick has a collection of car parts and a nice collection of old classic cars too.Gary
 
 
Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70: Bottineau, ND.
 
Gary,
Alice (Cote) Kuhn (Mel Kuhns mom) is still living, in the photo shes
across the table from my mother. They both were from Dunseith area.
My mother moved to St. Andrews on her birthday, 3 years ago, where
she lived until she passed away two years ago. Vickie
 
 
 
Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 

Hi Gary,

 

When I took the picture of the “red hat” ladies, the only one I knew at that time, was Mrs. Block. She was (has now passed away) from the Gardena area. I met her/her daughter/sons “way back” when I was in high school. When I saw the picture today, because of your newsletters, I recognized the names Metcalfe/Kuhn. I didn’t realize this was Vickie’s mother. Actually, at the time this picture was taken, I didn’t know Vickie, either. I recognize the Juntunen name because of Linda Juntunen.

 

Neola

 
Gary and Friends,

This past Sunday, I had some old and new friends up here at my place
for a nostalgic afternoon. Nostalgic for me, but new and exciting for
them. Travis Metcalfe and a couple buddys from Mesa, AZ and Bernard
Morin from Dunseith came up and took turns driving my old snowplane
around on Horseshoe Lake. Trav had asked me several times if there would
be a rally where he could get to see a snowplane in action. We haven’t
had a snowplane rally for two years so I just got the old beast going
and turned them loose here on the lake. They were up for a couple days
and were also ice fishing on Carpenter Lake and visiting friends and
family. I took a few pictures for the rest of you to see. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Dick, These are great Pictures! Which of the four are Travis Metcalfe (76) and Bernard Morin (76): Gary

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
  

01/19/2010

Posted on by
Johnson picture:
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 
Gary,

 

 

 

This was taken at Ina Johnson Jensen’s 90th birthday party. I don’t know how many of the girls your readers know, but I’m assuming they would know Ralph/Luella’s daughter–Luella provided the information.

 

 

 

Again, the world is so small. Ralph/Luella’s daughter is married to Brian Kersten. Brian is from the Gardena/Kramer area. I was his third and fourth grade teacher when I taught in Kramer, 1961-1963. Brian/Janice live in the Max, ND area. Karen Johnson was in my Sunday School Class of five-year-olds MANY years ago at First Lutheran in Bottineau.

 

 

 

Thanks to Luella Boardman Bjornseith for identifying these ladies.

 

 

 

Neola

 

 

 

The girls are from left to right: Janice Bjornseth Kersten (our daughter) with the striped shirt), Karen Johnson (Maurice Johnson’s daughter); Amber Kirkeby Hedstrom (Adeline Johnson’s daughter) & Mavis Gronneberg Siem (Sylvia Johnson Gronneberg’s daughter). All four cousin’s daughters. and they are all nearly the same age. Amber is just a little younger than the other girls. The picture turned out real good.
Luella
 
 
 
 

Virgil Rude:

 

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

 

Note: Virgil is also a cousin to the gal’s pictured above, thru his grandparents, Jacob and Cora Johnson Bjornseth.
 
Gary, I’m sending this update on Virgil’s health, with his permission to include it in your newsletter.
 
Neola
I am almost back to my previous health except I tire easily.
I will be working at the college again in couple weeks, but will only
see 7 students. Gerry (Virgil’s wife–also a retired teacher)and I are again
doing some work with the National Assessments. We are doing a pilot
program on testing with computers in 5 schools. Bottineau is one of them.
Virgil
Folks, Many of you know Virgil Rude. He is the son of Alfred and Viola Bjornseth Rude. They lived about 3 miles east of Lake Metigoshe on the south side of highway 43. Virgil is recovering from a stroke. He was an educator/administor in the Minot school system for years. He is also a retired Senior Officer from the ND National Guard.
 
Virgil Rude
 
 

Dorothy Block, Charlotte Metcalfe, Betty Juntunen, Alice Kuhn Picture

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

 

Hi Gary,

 

 

Have I shared this picture with you?

 

 

 

One day I was visiting

 

at Good Samaritan in 2005, they were having “Red Hat” Day. I had my camera with me, so I took many pictures of the ladies/gentleman who were attending the event.

 

 

 

Neola

 

Neola, I have never seen this picture before. Another Jewel to be treasured.
I’m not sure about Dorothy Block & Betty Juntunen, but the other two I am.
Charlotte (Lottie) is Vickie’s mother and Alice Kuhn is Mel’s mother.
Thank you Neola, Gary
 
 
 
Added Metigoshe Pickup sinking picture posted yesterday:
From Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): Dunseith, ND.
 
Here, I hope I did things right, is another picture to add to the Metigoshe pickup file.
Thank you for all your hard work and sticking with us through all these emails.
ele

 

 

 

  

01/18/2010

Posted on by
Folks,
 
With today’s posting of the Pickup truck breaking thru the ice in the middle of Lake Metigoshe, I have included a lot of my relatives and friends with today’s message that are not normally on our distribution. For you folks, I thought this would be of interest to you as well. Those stories and pictures are near the bottom of this message.
 
Gary
 
 
Dorothy Pritchard’s 97th Birthday:
Previously posted with message 676 on 1/5/10
 
Note: Folks this is just a reminder of this message that was previously posted. With this being a suprise, again, I will delete this posting with Dorothy’s copy today. Let’s make Dorothy’s day.

Birthday Card shower for Dorothy Pritchard:

 

 

Folks,

 

Dorothy Pritichard will be 97 years young on January 25th. Dorothy has been a resident at Saint Andrews long term for several years now. She’s a little slow moving around, but her mind is sharp as ever. The hospital prints off all of these daily messages for her to read, however the copy they get from me today for Dorothy will not have this posting of her. This card shower will be a surprise for her.

 

Dorothy and Robert Pritchard and family were our Neighbors to the south up in the hills. Their children John (62), Dale (63), and Carol (67) graduated from Dunseith. Robert was a brother to Corbin Pritchard and Winifred Eurich.

 

If at all possible, please send Dorothy a card. Your cards will for sure brighten her days.

 

Gary

Dorothy Pritchard
Room 109
316 Ohmer St
Bottineau, ND 58318
 
 
Marie Graber:
Posting from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 

Hi Gary,

 

I think someone mentioned Marie Graber awhile ago, and I said there was a Mrs. Graber who lived across the hall from Mom. It is Marie. If someone would like to send a note to her, they can send it to this email address. I’ll print it and give it to Marie the next time I visit Mom. I’ll be in Bottineau until about January 25th and then back again about a week later.

 

Neola

Neola, Marie is a sister to Willie Lafromboise, who recently passed away. Gary
 
 
Dunseith Baseball stories from the 60’s:
From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary and Friends,

Larry’s story of the baseball in the park got me thinking of a few
stories from that same field. I remember watching Don Egbert playing in
a game and what happened to him is still real clear in my mind. Don was
up to bat and was wearing the normal batters hardhat for those days. It
was just about like a baseball cap and had no ear and side protection
like the newer ones have. There was a fast pitcher and he whipped one in
that caught Don right on the left temple. Don dropped like he had been
shot! I helped butcher here at the farm and saw how animals drop so this
made me think he was a goner! The coaches game on the run and both teams
ran to the plate but poor Don just laid there for a minute or two.
Pretty soon he started to move and got up and stumbled over to the
bench, much to my relief. In another game a couple years later there was
a car parked directly behind the catcher and a foul ball went over the
back fence and came down on the roof of the car. The guy in the car
backed out of the spot and headed for a safer spot along the west fence.
Ernie Gottbreht came driving in, in his dad’s copper colored ’60 Olds,
and saw the perfect spot to park–right behind the catcher. He hadn’t
even shut the car off when a high foul ball came down over the fence and
landed right in the middle of that big windshield. There was a ‘spider’
from top to bottom and both ways to the side. It seems I didn’t really
understand all the terms Ernie was muttering about the mishap!

There was another time when there were several teams of softball
players made up of local guys who played in the evenings. Lots of us
kids would walk or ride bikes down behind the city park to watch. I
remember a game when Bobby Pigeon was playing in the outfield. He was a
guy who looked like the ‘Fonz’ on the TV show called ‘Happy Days’. He
had his hair combed back and was wearing a white T shirt and we thought
he was cool! Someone hit a high fly over the snow fence and Bobby took
off toward the fence and jumped it and caught the ball. The people were
blowing their car horns like crazy for this amazing feat. A few innings
later there was another high fly over the fence and my old buddy Lowell
Leonard took off to catch it like Bobby Pigeon had done. He jumped the
fence but only got one foot over and landed straddling the fence—not
good! He pulled the fence over and landed on the ground in agony. I
still remember how he pulled his leg off the fence and let the fence
stand back up and then had to lay behind it while all the people were
blowing their horns and laughing! Poor Lowell!

One more memory of baseball. In a Babe Ruth game in the park, Don
Mongeon was pitching for Dunseith. He was a good fast pitcher and put
out lots of batters. He wound up and sent in a fast pitch and the big
guy batting hit a line drive right back to Don’s knee cap! It hurt
everyone that saw it, including Don! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 

Pickup truck breaks thru the Ice in the middle of Lake Metigoshe:
 
Folks, I received all of the pictures pasted below of this incident from Neola Kofoid Garbe, Dick Johnson & LeaRae Parrill Espe. When I first saw these pictures I did not think this was for real, but it is and this did happen. What a genius recovery. I’ll have to say the ND folks were pretty cleaver with this rescue. It’s a wonder this did not make national news. I’m curious as to the extent of damage to the pickup? I’m hoping to get that feed back.
 
I remember back in my days, up in the hills, folks used to drive on the lakes all the time in the winter months. I never remember hearing of any vehicles going through the ice. I know Lester Johnson used to drive the Bottineau School bus across Bergan Lake when he got snowed in to the east. Since he lived right by the lake, I’m sure he did not have any kids on the bus crossing the lake. This has been a cold winter too. The ice should be pretty thick, I’d think.
 
Gary
 
 
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 
This email was forwarded to me; Chad is not my brother-in-law. :) ng

These are pictures from Lake Metigoshe over by
Larson Marine. My brother-in-law Chad dived under the ice
to hook the pickup up to lift it out of the lake.

 

The pickup fell through the ice about two weeks ago. It was 364 yards off shore
and the ice was too thin to pull it out so we ran ropes under the ice
for over 1000 feet and dragged it to shore and cut a bigger
hole close to shore and pulled it out. I helped cut holes, run
rope and dive under the ice and hook the ropes and straps to
the pickup. What a great day. It went really well, something
that not everyone gets to experience. Hope you enjoy the
pictures.
Chad
 
 
Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary,
This pickup went through the ice by Masonic Island. It appears they brought it out in front of Larson Marine, which is next door to our place. They had a diver go down and hook a rope on to it and take it to another hole in the ice near the shore. They pulled it along the bottom and then cut a hole near the shore and lifted it out. I heard about it going in but didn’t hear when they got it out.

I understand it is Chad Driscol from Sherwood. He is married to Dana Feland from that area and is originally from Australia. My brother-in-law knew he was called to dive for the search. This is according to him though so I hope it’s correct.

Dick

 
 
Reply from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67): Bottineau, ND
 
We heard the guy who drove the pickup in the lake works for Larry Tooke. Larry bought Merle Allard’s business which was selling and putting up steel buildings. There was alot of talk about fines for pollution if they left the pickup in the lake. It was supposedly going to be very costly to get it out. No one was hurt.. Maybe the Metigoshe Mirror will have more.
If we get anything else I’ll let you know.
 
Yes Vickie will know if it is Chad Miller, but he works in Bismarck for the State Health Dept. , Environmental Division and so does my son Brady. Brady is pretty sure the Health Dept was not involved with the incident.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Folks,

 

Going thru some pictures I noticed this one taken on mothers day 2009 that I thought I’d share with you. It’s a nice picture of Bernadette. I also thought I’d include the one of me so you can see where all these daily messages are originated from.

 

Gary

Cebu, Philippines – Mothers day 2009

Gary & Bernadette Stokes

 

 

 

Cebu, Philippines – 2009

 

Gary Stokes

 

  

01/17/2010

Posted on by
Clyde Chase correction:

Reply from Bill Hosmer (48): Tucson, AZ & Lake Metigoshe, ND
 
Gents, It is MY error in this case and I am sorry for any ill will or embarrassment I may have caused.
Indeed, Clyde and my uncle Fred Hosmer used to work together on paint projects in the Dunseith area. I’ll be more careful in the future. Gary, you can sure put this out in your offering, to clear the issue, and I sincerely apologize for my error. Bill Hosmer
Bill, These errors happen. I’m sure the family understands. I know you did not have Clyde on your mind when you replied. Because his name is the most familiar Chase family name to you, his name is the one you absentmindedly listed. I am so famous for doing that very thing. I catch most of those errors before posting, but a few get out and that’s OK, even though I kick myself in the butt for doing it. You and everyone else do a remarkable job of remembering so much from the past. This stuff all happen 70 years ago or there about. These errors grab folks attention and generate comradery. That’s the big plus side to all of this. Gary
 
Clyde Chase:
Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO
 
Hello, I know it was an unintentional error, but Clyde Chase did not kill anyone. As no one responded yesterday, I will offer some information about Clyde. Clyde had 13 children and he was the number one painter in the Dunseith area all his life. He lived north of San Haven in Chaseville.
Gary Metcalfe
 
 
Clyde Chase:
Reply Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND.
 
Gary,

I’m pretty sure the man convicted of the murder was Fred Chase, not
Clyde Chase. I hope the family isn’t upset with the mistake. Clyde was
a painter of houses and buildings. Fred went to the penitentiary for the
crime.

Dick

 
 

Clyde Chase:

Reply From Cloette Hosmer (64): Santa Fe
 
I had intermittent internet contact for a couple of weeks during “reentry” back into the USA from China and due to my great old age, it has taken me awhile to catch up. Thanks for your responses, Gary and Dick, to my comments about Dad’s ’54 Red Jeep.

 

Can anyone tell me if Clyde Chase was the house painter? As a young kid, I remember him as a kind man (with one lame arm?) who painted some inside walls of our house when I was a small kid. He generously showed me how to dip the big brush in the bucket just so, and would even let me paint a little. Thanks, Colette

 

 

 

Reply from Marshall Awalt (51): Newport, NC

 
Gary, Thanks for 685. Had 28 degrees this a.m., got up to 60 this afternoon and expect 1-2 inches of rain tomorrow.
 
Marshall

 

 

 

Message posted on our Dunseith Alumni Website: http://garystokes.net/default.aspx
From Carol Boucher Lorenz: North Myrtle Beach, SC
 

From: Carol Boucher Lorenz
Phone:
E-mail:
Message:
Gary, I want to thank you for this great blog. Although I didn’t attend school in Dunseith, we lived only 5 miles away in Russell township. So many of the names are familiar because my parents talked about them. We are related to Gottbreht’s, Mona Johnson and Roland Mongeon.
I was especially happy to see a picture of Pearl Pigeon. She was my 4-H leader in the 50’s. She was a wonderful woman and taught me so many life skills. To this day, I remember her every time I sew or cook. What a special person who died too young.
Does anyone have pictures of Russell school? I’d love to see some.
My sister,Peggy, and I also worked at the San during the mid 60’s as did our mother when she was young.
Carol Boucher Lorenz

Carol, When I received your message last night, I forwarded a copy to Sharron Gottbreht Shen. I have pasted her reply below. Where did you go to school? With your phone number I see you are living in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Gary
Sharron’s reply: Everett, WA.
Yes Gary, thanks for sharing this message from Carol Jean, youngest daughter of Hector and Celia Poitier Boucher. At first, I would forward items to Peggy, and she would pass them on to Carmen and Carol. Carol and her husband spend their winters at shore of N Corolina. Bad case of beach envy here. Uncle Hector left each of those girls a chapter of his life and times growing up in Russell Twp. Hint, hint, Carol! Sharron

 

 

Another great Donald Egbert Story:

From Larry Hackman (66):

 

Gary

Glad to see that you are doing well. Them little fellows running around in the buff reminded me that we use to have that happen in Dunseith once in awhile, also. But, old man winter usually solved that problem purity fast. Actually a nice cold winter does cause people to do a lot of things that they would not ordinairly do, and quit a lot of things they ordinairly do. Well, you know the story. I’m sure you froze your donkey off a few times. +75degrees -cold, Does that even go together in the same sentence? What would Mr. Grossman say?

Have a nice day, Gary.

Larry

Larry, I’m sure that someone will share this story with Donald and it will for sure make his day. He has good recall of the past with great detail. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story. Gary

Donald Egbert Story and More

 

Donald Egbert was quite a young man.I really didn’t do him justice with the story about the kinds of automobiles he once owned and that he was a outstanding basketball and football player in his younger days.He did play varsity when still in grade school. He also played baseball with the older fellows when he was about a 5th grader.

 

Don was also a young fellow that loved the ladies.He made more then one girls father nervous and caused some to drive the streets and roads in and around Dunseith looking for their daughters.One fellow told me that in the halls of Dunseith High, Don was also a terror.A gal meeting him in the hallway didn’t know whether to carry her books up high or down low?I,ll let someone else who knows more then I was told, finish this paragraph?

 

Don was never afraid to attempt anything.If he needed or wanted a job and if hefound out a contractor or business man, who needed a certain type worker.Thats what Don would become.I remember a contractor needed painters.Don told him that he was a painter, and was told to show up the next morning to go to work.Don went and walked around the construction site, finding out what kind of equipment he would need to have of his own, to perform the work.Then he went to the hardware store and bought all the necessary brushes and equipment that was required to do the job.He was hired and worked all summer as a journeyman painter.

 

I remember Don coming by the house one evening in the late 50’s.He asked me to go for a walk with him to the south part of town.Apparently there was a new girl in town and he wanted to check her out.We got down to her house and I think over half the boys in town were there.They were everywhere you looked.The girl was out visiting with a few of the boys and most all the rest were on standby and in a purelyobservation type posture.Then as if on cue into the yard pulled this vehicle, and out jumped this fellow.It was the girls father.He yelled, ” What hell are you?A bunch of dogs in heat?Get the hell out of here”.It didn’t take us long, we and the other boys scattered, and the girl disappeared into the house.Everyone was gone.

 

Being a young fellow and only an observer on this occasion, I just took mental notes.How was I to know, that about 30 years later, that I would be able to put to good use, the information I had gathered from that incident?

 

I had moved my family back to Harvey, ND and had bought a house.I came home after a long hot day at work.As I pulled into the driveway, I couldn’t help but notice that my house, and the entire property was crawling with boys.They appeared to be circling.I swear, some even appeared to be marking their territory, and others sniffing and remarking the same spot.My daughter was standing on the step visiting with a few of the boys.I immediately had a flash back to that time in Dunseith.I got out of my pickup and growled. ” What the hell are you?A bunch of dogs in heat?Get the hell out of here”.To my surprise and satisfaction it worked.Them boys all disappeared in less then a heart beat.My children occasionally remember and bring this experience up in conversation, and remind me howembarrased they were.But, as I leave the room, I smile to myself, thinking back and remembering , how well this worked for Mr. Fassett.I bet he was chuckling to himself too, and a little surprised, at how well it worked.It sure worked for me! When the same situation presented itself to me.A lesson learned!By the way, I’m sending a copy of this to my kids, and if their replies aren’t to bad, I’ll foreward them onto Gary.

 

I remember another time when Don came upon two girls fighting.The loser was left sitting on the ground crying.Don walked over to her and picked her up.As she wrapped her arms around Don’s neck, she looked up into his eyes and stated to him. ” your just like superman”.Don walked a little taller that day.However, it was rumored a few years down the road that the same girl called him a banana-nose.I don’t know what Don did or was attempting to do to cause this responce.Actually I do, but I’ll let someone else tell that story.It seemed that it took Don, and everyone else a long time, before everyone forgot this moniker. (thanks Kenny).

 

Don was also a outstanding baseball player.Don’s nick-name at the time was Lee May.I don’t recall why the other team members gave him the name.It may be that Don hadn’t quite grown into his ears yet and resembled the fabled baseball players look.Have you noticed that boys at a certian age have ears that stick straight out from their heads.They kind of look like a semi coming at you with both doors open?Girls, I suppose have the same problem, but are able to hide them with their hair.

 

Don played the position of either second base or shortstop.Which in itself says he was good baseball player.I think John Morgan and George Gottbreht were assistant coachs for the summer baseball team, andClarence Michaels, who was the cop, was the coach for the team.Some of the other players on the team were John Leonard (right hand) and Julian Kalk (left hand)- pitchers, and Jim Evans -catcher, and Lyle Lamoureux -first base, and Dave Shelver-third base.I don’t recall who the other players were and I may have some of their positions wrong, but I do remember that there were two or three more cousins of John Leonard’s that played on the team.I think there family ran the restaurant that was located along Main, where Wayne’s Grocery store is now located.Because, after baseball practice, The Leonards and I would wander up there and the people running the restaurant would give us each a chocolate ice cream sundae.I remember that summer (1957?) as being really hot.Them ice cream sundaes tasted real good.In the afternoons we would all make our way down to the creek, straight west of the new high school.The school wasn’t built yet, so this statement is for the benefit of the younger crowd.For the older crowd, the swimming hole was straight north of the slaughter house, intersection of highway#5 and Willow Creek.There was a small crook in the creek with a tree on the east bank with a slopeing trunk you could walk up and a large branch that hung out over the creek that we dived off.The area was shaded and was a great place to swim and hang out during the hot sunny afternoons.How did a young fellow like me get involved with the baseball team.Well, John Leonard would come walking by the house every morning on his way to baseball practice and invite me along.We lived in the large two story house (Richard House) just west of the Methodist or Stone Church.The ball field was located in the large flat area west of the creek, straight west of the Catholic Church, as was the football field and the track field at that time.What did I do there with all them kids?Apparently they needed someone to run down the foul balls and return them to the playing field and apparently I thought it was worth doing for a chocolate ice cream sundae.Of course the ice cream was better back in them days as everything was.

 

Don, “We never called him Don, we always called him Egbert” was a good softball player also.We played for John Awalt’s(65er)Standard Service Station in the late 60s.Don played second base or shortstop and I was a outfielder.Snowflake (Gene) Poitra was our pitcher.

The most fun game was a game we played up at Deloraine, Manitoba.Unknown to us was that they played fast pitch up there and we always played slow pitch.So, it was decided that when they pitched to us at bat, that they would throw fast pitches and when we pitched to them, we would slow pitch.It was a great experience, was fun, and we also won.I think their team consisted of mostly Goodons and Mcleods, so some of players did know each other.

The worst game was a game we played a tMylo, ND.They had erected a snow fence in the outfield and ruled that every ball hit over the fence was a automatic home run.There was no opening in the fence and it seemed, that every pitch them farmers hit, went over the fence.Being a outfielder and having to retrieve the ball meant I had to run all the way around the end and back the same way.After about 5 trips like that I was getting a little tired of that fence and it looked like I was going to be chasing homerun balls all night.During these bouts around the fence I was trying to figure out a shortcut, and I began checking and looking for a spot I could work with.So, when the next fly ball went sailing over my head, I started running toward the fence, went into a horizontal position, and drop kicked the supporting fence post.Ya, I didn’t think I could do it neither.Well wouldn’t you know it?Them farmers were some damn good homerun hitters, but not very good fence erectors.That fence started falling, and it was like watching dominoes, it kept on falling until it was mostly all down, and was no longer a barrier.They complained about the fence, and they also still won the game.They killed us!We got even though!We went to their bar after the game and drank up most of their beer.

 

The greatest game was a game we played in Rolla against the Dunseith Teachers.They had beat us every game up until this tournament in Rolla.That game, we could do know wrong and we beat them.What a great feeling.In fact John, didn’t we win the championship?

 

Damn, this story kind of reminds me of the comment on my term paper that had to be in before they would let us graduate high school, “A conglomeration of material leading to nowhere”, byMr. Grossman.

 

Laugh and the world laughs with you.

Larry

 
 
Frozen Fingers Festival:
Posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.
 
Hi Everyone,
 
It’s Frozen Fingers Festival time again. :) There will not be a dance on Friday night this year; there will be a jam session instead. The jam session is open to anyone who would care to participate.
 
As you can see, there is a dance on Saturday night.
 
Highway 43 is performing on Saturday. They are Dick/Brenda Johnson and Ron
 
Tina Pladson Bullinger, David Mettler, and Don Boardman are “Just Us”. They perform on Sunday.
 
Don Lee is a friend of mine from Minot.
 
I plan to be at the festival from 1:00 until closing both days–most likely I’ll be selling tickets. :) If you see me, please stop and say “hi”; tell me who you are if I don’t know you. :)
 
See you at Frozen Fingers!!
 
Neola
 
 
Dunseith News posted by Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.