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.

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 ——–

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!

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 ——–

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

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

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

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

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

Message Posted on the Dunseith Alumni Website:

From Jackie Peterson-Hansen, Daughter of Jack (deceased) & Nettie Hiatt Peterson

From: jackie Peterson-Hansen
Phone:
E-mail:

Message:
Thank you Gary. You’re blog is so informative and entertaining that I had to read all of them. I’m not a Dunseith alumnus, but I have family ties to Dunseith and was a Mountaineer 4-Her under the fine leadership of your mom and Orvin.
When I’m curious about something that shows up in you communications, I talk about it with Mom (Nettie). I think it was Dick Johnson who asked about a mattress factory. Mom told me that there was a mattress making project in a building on the north end of Dunseith during the 30’s.( Dick probably doesn’t remember that far back  ) The first nonstraw mattresses they had in their home came from there as her parents both participated in the project. She also said that the person who headed up the project was murdered by a Chase. There was some communication on this site about that event also, but Mom read the story in an old detective magazine too.

Jackie, How wonderful to hear from you. You are most certainly Dunseith Alumni having lived up in Dick Johnson’s neck of the woods. I know your address was Saint John, but you guys were Dunseith folks. Your dad was on the very top of my dad’s list of friends. They’d call each other at least once, and often many times more, each day. With your mother being a Hiatt (sister to Leola Lagerquist) your folks were very active in all of the Ackworth community events in my growing up days. You were very young in my days, so I don’t remember you quite as well as the older kids of my error back there. Your dad was tops in the Lagerquist boys eyes too and Evon’s as well. In their eyes he was the greatest uncle on the face of this earth, of which he was. They’d often mention all the good things Jack had done for & with them and their family. These are conversations I remember hearing from Rodney and Lyle at the good ole Ackworth School. Ackworth was your mothers school too. She and all of her siblings and Hiatt cousins accounted for more than half the enrolment of 45 plus kids that attended Ackworth in her day.

Many of your Peterson and Hiatt relatives are on our distribution. I know they will be delighted to see your posting. Where are you living now? We’d love to hear some of your mothers memories too. I see your mothers name frequently mentioned in the Dunseith News that is posted in the local papers. Gary

DeAnn Gottbreht Fund Raiser:http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht

Posted by Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN

Gary:

I mentioned earlier a fund-raiser for DeAnn Gottbreht that is to be held in Portal, ND, on January 21^st. For those of us who would like to contribute but cannot attend, you can mail donations to the organizer of the event:

Jake Douts

P.O. Box 425

Powers Lake, ND 58773

Please make your check out to TRIVENT FINANCIAL. They will make each dollar amount that is donated……

Thanks!

Paula Fassett

Nordland Church:

Reply from Cheryl Larson Dakin (71): BEDFORD, TX

Hi Gary

Were you confirmed at the Nordland Church up near Lake Metigoshe? If so, that’s the cemetary where Martin and Nikolina Larson, (my Greats) and Mensvil and Alma Larson (my Grands) along with lots of other relatives are buried. My Dad helped to build that church. If we’re talking about the same place, it’s one of my very favorite places in the world. Just down the road across from the Christian Center is my Dad and Uncle Dick’s homeplace, the farm my Great Grandfather homesteaded and my Grandfather took over. A little farther down the road on the same side as the Christian Center is the Roland Township School that belongs to the Larson Brothers also. Dad talks about having to go to school early to start the fire in the schoolhouse before the teacher and children would get there. I would love to hear stories that anyone would care to share….

Thanks

Cheryl Larson Dakin

Cheryl, That’s the same church. I have contacted Kenny Pederson and Jerry Larson who were confirmed with me, to get a copy of their picture. They are both currently searching for their copy and will scan and send me a copy when they find it. It was thru the Metigoshe churches that I learned to know a huge percentage of the Bottineau County Turtle Mountain folks in my growing up days. Gary

Confirmation Picture:

From Harlyn Oppeboen (51): Colorado Springs, CO

I enjoyed hearing about someone in my confirmation class. I have already scanned the picture and have attached it. I dont remember all of the people however.

Harley Oppeboen

Harley, This is great! I’ll bet we’ll get these folks all identified too. I know you must be one of the three standing behind Rev. Lovaas.

Folks, Please reply with identities of these folks. I will repost with names. Gary

Rev. Lovaas

Alex/Dianne Voeller Pedie Family photo:
From Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND

As you know, Dianne taught in Dunseith, and, I think, Belcourt. She/I are classmates.

Neola

Dunseith Alumni Website http://garystokes.net/default.aspx

Folks, I thought I’d share this with you. This is the activity we have had on our Website this month. The past several months we have been averaging about 900 visits per month. With the pace this month we are on our way to 1,500 visits. As you can see, folks are viewing multiple pages with each visit. I try to post the daily blogs on this Website at the same time I sent them out via email. Gary

Philippines:

Folks, Since posting Isa’s Picture (Bernadette’s 3 year old great niece) several days ago, several of you commented wish comments wishing to see more pictures. Her she is with her 5 year old brother, JM. I took this picture several hours ago and they are still in the same place exactly as you see them in this picture. Normally it’s JM and his brother JO that are waiting for me in the mornings to get on the computers. This morning it was Isa and JM. With the noise of their computer games and their excitement with them, they get a bit noisy for me, so I take them and the Laptops outside on the porch. They have a good strong internet signal out there as well. These kids are so involved and into their games, that they did not even realize I was taking this picture. Their mother will come looking for them in an hour so for their dinner meal. Gary

9:00 AM Thursday Jan. 14, 2010 – Cebu Philippines

JM (5 years old) & Isa (3 years old)

Question from Harlyn Oppeboen (51): Colorado Springs, CO

Gary as a kid growing up in Dunseith, I remember picking potatoes for someone. I don’t remember who it was or where the potato fields were. Do you remember or possibly some of your reader? I do remember there were several kids involved. I would guess it was in 1945 when I was about 13.

Harlyn Oppeboen

Reply to a personal message about the Traffic in the PI

From Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC

Whoa! Didn’t realize that you lived in such a large city or that traffic was that congested during rush hour. I wouldn’t want to go too many places with traffic like that! I did my rough traffic time during the last ten or so years that I lived and worked in Minneapolis. When Terry and I first moved there in 1974, we could drive to any place in twenty minutes. By the time I moved to St. Cloud 26 years later, some roads we just didn’t drive on and others were parking lots much of the day. Back roads were the fastest.

Here in Greenville, SC getting to the main shopping center is relatively easy, but there is a four mile area called Woodruff Road filled with trendy strip malls and restaurants where most people shop. Whoever designed that area should have bodily harm done to them. At Christmas, it’s best not even to attempt Woodruff Road – stop lights at most intersections and traffic backed up onto the interstates. Fortunately I don’t like shopping that much so I only am on Woodruff a couple of times a month – and only during working hours.

I wish you could attend the upcoming Dunseith reunion. Since you have initiated this blog, you have become Mr. Dunseith!!!!!! I don’t think you know how important your blogs are to those of us who have Dunseith connections. Your blog is like a daily cup of coffee at Dale’s Cafe ‘”shooting the breeze.” It’s a warm, loving connection that ties all of us to so many people. Because of you, I’ve connected with Lola, Dick, Charlene, you and others – heart attachments that would hot have happened otherwise. Your “work” is extremely valuable. Thank you.

Brenda

Brenda, I thanked you with a personal reply for these nice comments, but I want to do so again with the blog. I try to keep things focused on topics of interest to the Dunseith Alumni. That includes topics/pictures of the Alumni folks both past and present and any history and stories that folks would like to share. We can not loose that focus. I will slip a forward in here and there, but I try to keep them to a minimum. Yes, I too have connected & reconnected with so many great folks doing this. Those connections are invaluable. The older we get the more invaluable these connections become. Gary

From Gwen Struck Dumas (68): Havre, MT

Hi Gary,
I thought in one of the blogs I saw Kelly Woods as attending the May reunion, but don’t see him on this list. If he is indeed attending I would like to add my son Michael (Mike, as he prefers) Stevenson to the list. He and Kelly have started communicating due to this blog and haven’t seen each other in nearly 25 years. They played together constantly when I still lived in Dunseith and he always came with Charlene to visit in Bottineau. They were just the cutest little buddy’s!! And could I tell some funny stories about the two of them. Anyway thank you for all you do and Blessings to the two of you in the new year.
Gwen

Kelly Woods (89) Reply: Massena, NY

Gary, 

As much as I would love to come, I cannot attend this year.

Leave restrictions at work will only allow me to attend my nephew’s graduation in Olalla Washington this June.

Mike and I had some pretty good times as children in Dunseith. I remember playing in the store that his grandparents used to own, and all the times I would visit my own grandmother in Bottineau and take off and see Mike at his mother’s house. A lot of memories your blog has refreshed.

Thank you for all your hard work.

Kelly Woods

Class of 1989

Kelly, This must be your brother Jeff’s son who is graduating. He lives in Olalla. Olalla is about 20 miles south of Bremerton. Having lived there for 37 years, I know that area well.

Gwen, I will add your son Mike to the reunion list. Gary

Country school reunion date correction posted yesterday

Reply from Linda Gardner: Vienna, VA

HI Gary – I had a wonderfully long conversation this afternoon with Orvin Hagen. Not only did he yodel for me but he sang in Norwegian as well. Maybe we can get him to yodel at the Country School Reunion. BTW, the date of the reunion is July 10.

Linda, I really goofed with yesterday’s posting. The Country School Reunion date is July 10th as stated in your registration form. I quickly misread June 1st as being the reunion date when in fact that is when you’d like to have all the applications returned by. I have attached your sign up form again with this message.

I’m glad to hear that you had a nice visit with Orvin. Orvin told me he has had recent requests to yodel in some of the many community affairs he is associated with. I’m sure, if requested, he will Yodel for you guys at the reunion. Yodeling is a natural talent of his of which he is very good at. Orvin was one of the few neighbors who could converse with Mrs. Ole Rispa too, who pretty spoke only Norwegian. There is only one Orvin Hagan on the face of this earth, the one we love and remember so well. He is a guy with many perfected natural talents. He’ll be 89 years old this coming July and still going strong. In 2007 he still had his fast walk. Gary

Reposting of the G.R. Gleason Co. post card June 29, 1928

From Alan Poitra (76): Bloomington, MN

Hi Gary, I thought the readers would enjoy this tidbit of history in the automobile business back in the day. I know I have seen this ad before but was not sure if it was on the blog… very interesting compared to todays prices and I wonder if this would still be honored…:)

Alan,

Yes, it was on this blog that you saw this. I first got this from Sharron Gottbreht Shen posted with message 387 on 3/2/09. At the time I was thinking she actually had the post card with the Bottineau post markings. Then on 3/18/09 I received this same post card from Bill Hosmer (48) of which I reposted with message 403. When received it from Bill I knew it had to be posted on the NET.

This is so interesting, I received this same card several days ago from a good friend of mine who lives in AZ that sends out 6 forwards each day. This was one of his forwards to his list of 50 or so folks. This guy has never heard of Bottineau and I don’t think realizes I came from ND either. So this card is making it’s rounds. I remember lots of talk about the C.R. Gleason dealership in Bottineau, but they had been bought out by Theels from the time I can remember back too. You are like me, you see these things knowing you’ve seen them before but have forgotten where.

It’s been nearly a year since this was last posted, so I thinks it’s due for another posting.

It’s great hearing from you.

Gary

1928 Car Repair Mailer

Automotive repair in 1928……… and on a penny postcard…….

Folks,

As what’s been usual practice the last while, I’ve been taking the two laptop computers along with Bernadette’s nephew’s 3 kids, ages 3, 5 & 6, outside on the porch when they show up in the mornings to play on the computers. They just get too noisy for me.

It was so cute a few minutes ago. Isa, short for Isabella, the 3 year old girl, came in the office telling me low bat. She knows I have the charger and will connect it up to her computer of which I did. She then turned it back on getting back into the internet and into her game. Those 3 kids are giving computer lessons, not only to the other kids, but the adults as well. Her brothers have momentarily taken a computer break and are playing with the other kids. Gary

Isabella

Folks,

I had a really nice chat with Gary Metcalfe when he called me yesterday. In the course of our conversation he said to me “you are a cousin to Jean Pladson Aren’t you” and of course I proudly said “Yes”. He said “I leaned to know her and a lot of the folks that attended church at Metigoshe when we went to church there”. This morning, evening in ND, I decided to call Jean of which I did. As always we had a good visit. Gary & Sue, she remembers you guys well. She remembers Leah, your daughter too. Jean is also first cousins to the Morinville siblings. She was telling me about visiting and spending time with Bev when she was in the hospital for the last time. She also saw Deb when Deb visited Bev in the Hospital in Minot. As most of you know Deb had a stroke a year or so ago that has left her paralyzed on one side and affected her speech. Jean said she for sure knows people and had an emotional bonding with her. Jean is still living on the farm in the hills. She lives a half mile south of Highway 43 on the county line.

Gary

Reply from Mona Dionne Johnson (48): Lake Metigoshe, ND.

My son, Ross, no longer lives in ND. He did live in Kenmare many years,
working in the Bank there, but in 2002 moved to Lake Havasu City and
started up a bank with three others. I just returned from visiting them
for a few weeks over the holidays.
Mona (Dionne) Johnson ’48

Reply from Diane Larson Sjol (70): Minot, ND.

Allen, I really enjoyed the pictures of the Pigeon family and Gary is
right, you are the spittin’ image of your uncle Ydola…and I always
thought you took after us Richards…:)

I had to smile at Bernadette getting her nails done….I could handle
that. Good to see a photo…sure had fun on the cruise.. We are
sitting her in Minot with about 36 inches of snow and so happy that it
is going to be 20 above today. It has been very frigid weather…20
below…for the past several days…and that is too cold for me.
Still we bundle up and go out and about. Reminds me of the time in
fourth grade at the old white school house in Dunseith when one of the
kids dared me to put my tongue on the metal bar outside…he said it
would stick and I didn’t believe him..so, of course I did it with
several kids watching. Lo and behold, my tongue was stuck and I was
saying ” Go and get the teather…go and get the teather…while my
tongue stayed on the metal bar…she poured some water on it and it
came loose…can you spell dumb?

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Orvin Hagen Memories:

From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND.

Gary and friends,
The name Orvin, brings warm smiles on many faces of recognition!
Just this week Wes and Ovida Scheinder and I were discussing
the difference between lefse and tortilla’s. Wes was reminded of his
brother Warren’s childhood friend Orvin Hagen. One afternoon, Orvin
walked south cross country from the Hagen farm four miles to visit
Warren. That evening, Orvin was invited to stay the night. , Mrs.
Schnieder went to off to bed and the house became quiet, the boys
had the “hankering” for a treat. Orvin knew just the thing. As
Orvin and Warren proceeded to mix up some dough, the wood stove was
fired up. They didn’t eat the first piece, Mrs. Schnieder was
aroused to a house full of smoke and a floury mixture burning on top
the kitchen stove. And the Schneider family was formally introduced
to lefse by Orvin.

Some years ago, Floyd and Dorothy Lamb celebrated their
wedding anniversary at the International Peace Garden. Orvin and I
were somehow talked into, by the very convincing Martha and Dean to
re-enact a wedding. Those two were always very convincing
cousins……I was shy , Orvin was not…….Dean insisted I was to
act the groom’s part because I looked like a Lamb. Giving in, I
slicked my pulled hair back under the collar of a white dress shirt
and tie, someone drew a mustache under my nose. Wearing trousers, I
stood alone in front of the lodge. People were puzzled,still, very
quiet. Me, I was quit sober wondering “what am I doing, Oh yeah, I
‘m doing this for Floyd and Dorothy.” …….I didn’t have to act
nervous …I was trembling. I stood there with shaky knees
pretending to be Floyd awaiting his lovely Dorothy. Suddenly,Uncle
Floyd’s booming laughter filled the lodge as Orvin decked out in a
wig and dress came simpering down the aisle carrying a bridal bouquet
of rhubarb leaves. Soon, the whole lodge was filled with laughter.
Thanks to Orvin the day was filled with joy.
Vickie Metcalfe

Folks,

Orvin will be at the “Turtle Mountain Country School” Reunion this coming June 1st. This reunion is being organized by Linda Gardner and will be held at the Twin Oaks at Lake Metigoshe. I posted the registration form yesterday. For those of you interested and need the form, please reply to this message and I will forward a copy to you.

Orvin was very well know throughout whole area and beyond. He was the head gardner at the Peace Garden for years. He was also our 4-H leader, a job of which he held for over 20 years. Since retiring, Orvin has lived in Kindred ND. Kindrid is a small town near Fargo. Orvin continues to be very active in community affairs. Orvin continues to be young at heart and he is the same ole Orvin we have always known.

Gary

Wes and Ovida Schneider:

From Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND.

Hello Gary and friends.
“Are you all wintering well?”
My across the street to the north neighbors are Wes and Ovida
Schneider. Buie watches for them out the window and loves to visit
them in their warm cozy kitchen. Wes gives him just one treat,
gently strokes and scratches him behind his ears. Ovida puts out a
dish of fresh water. Buie is so happy and relieved of winter “cabin
fever”.

Wes tells stories, some of his siblings. One story is of his
older brother Sal’s friend Jim Metcalfe, coming to stay overnight,
in the morning Wesley and his younger brother Warren, woke to hear
the older boys….young men in the process of breaking a horse.
The battle between young men and the horse was underway. Wes and
Warren peered out the upstairs window watching when Jim
…….finally managed to stay on the horse and galloped away for
a long time. Riding back later into the yard the horse was more
manageable.

Wes also boxed with the Metcalfe boys, he was a little older
than Emil. He said Emil was quite strong and held back. on his
punches. He thinks he may have boxed with Clifford. I asked him if
he boxed Leona? (My dad Cliff said Leona was quite good….as he
finally managed to win a match with her when he was….17. ) Wes
said he hadn’t ever boxed Leona, so maybe she only sported with her
brothers..

Wes told me there were also boxing gloves at Dunseith school
which students could us and box at times.
Wes also recalled times when his parents drove up into the
hills to pick up some of the Metcalfe family to attend church at
the Dunseith Stone Church. After church,they would then, all eat
Sunday dinner at his parents, Pete Schneider (the elder) home 5
miles west of Dunseith. Rose Metcalfe’s beautiful voice would
entertain them all with hymns and favored songs. ( I need to ask Wes,
if any of his own musically gifted sisters accompanied grandma on the
piano or drums? In the later afternoon, one of the Schneider’s
would drive the Metcalfe family home

His father Peter (the elder) drove school bus, farmed with
horses, and milked cows. Cream cans were hauled twice a week into
the Dunseith depot train station and shipped to Minnesota.
And, he remembers the local Dunseith rural mail carriers Glen
Williams and Adrian Egbert.

Yes, I am very fond of my neighbors, Wes and Ovida. I don’t
get dog treats or scratches behind my ears….Ovidia puts out a
“little lunch and tea”……..And then, they treat me with a nice
visit. All the while, my wee white dog contentedly, sleepily
drowses with Wes’ strokes as we listen to wonderful history.
Keep cozy and winter well. As ever. Vickie

Freida Schneider Ferguson’s Obit reposted with picture:

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: neola@min.midco.net Bottineau & Minot, ND.

Freida Ferguson

(Died January 6, 2010)

Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences
Send Flowers

Freida Ferguson, age 97 of Bottineau, died Wednesday at a Bottineau nursing home. Funeral will be held on Monday at 10:00 am at theGraceLutheranBrethrenChurch in Bottineau. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 pm until 9:00 pm at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. Burial will be at theRiversideCemetery in Dunseith.

Freida Ferguson, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Koch) Schneider, was born on June 27, 1912 at LaCrosse, KA. On July 31, 1955, she married Wallace Ferguson at Carrington. Wally passed away on July 15, 1990.

She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Gonsales ofSan Francisco,CA; brother, Wesley Schneider of Bottineau and nieces and nephews.

DeAnn Gottbreht

Posted by Paula Fassett (71): North Branch, MN

Hi Gary:

I have DeAnn’s approval to send you this…………I would like to let everyone know of a fund raiser that will be held this month for DeAnn Gottbreht. DeAnn is the daughter of Brenda (Hill) Mueller (70) and Ernie Gottbreht (65). A few months ago, DeAnn was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has been undergoing chemo and will also undergo surgery sometime in the near future. DeAnn is also expecting her first baby in the next few months, but Mom and Baby are both doing well. If you’d like to check her Caringbridge journal and/or leave her a message, you can find her at:http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deanngottbreht

DeAnn lives in Portal, ND, where she works as a Customs and Border Protection Officer. On January 21, friends and co-workers there are sponsoring a fund raiser for DeAnn to help with medical expenses. They are sponsoring a soup and sandwich benefit at the Portal School from 11:00 AM until 6:00 PM. All donations will be matched by Thrivent Lutheran. I’ve asked DeAnn about donations from those of us who cannot attend but would like to help out and would also like the donation amount included in the total for the matched amount. DeAnn is going to check with the organizers and will post that info on her Caringbridge site.

Please keep DeAnn – and her very supportive family – in your prayers!

Paula Fassett-Pfuhl

Reply from Roger & Connie Zorn Landsverk: Bottineau, ND

hi just read 01-5-10 Dunseith news alumini.

I didn’t know Alma Halvorson (Mrs, Cliff Halvorson) was a teacher. I took care of Cliff as a Home Health nurse in his home alot before as he died.

I saw Ruth Pederson yesterday @ Good Samaritan center.She was Roger’s teacher. She’s a nice lady. I know Diane Pedie too. She lives in Bismarck & is a retired teacher. That’s a nice pic. of Debby & Bud. Take care Roger & Connie

Connie, is this the Ruth Pederson that was married to Pete and lived in the hills? As I remember they lived in the Long Lake area. Ruth and my mother were very close friends. They were very active members of the Metigoshe Lutheran church Ladies Aid. Gary

Hill Side School:

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): Forsyth, MO

Reply to Floyd Dion…Thanks for the come back Floyd. You letter kind of closes a chapter on Hillside Township for me. When we started talking about this area, thanks to Vance Bailey and Gary Stokes, I did not realize what a vital area it was in the old days.In all my years, it was isolated without roads and had been vacated, so now I have a clear picture of where Wilmer Dion lived. When my dad’s old dog got into Wilmer’s chicken coop, it must have been the way Wilmer handled that infraction, as Dad always had great respect for Wilmer. Just one more of his thousand stories.

That great teacher, Laura Olson, was raised about 4 miles east of your old place and you must have some war time stories with six uncles in WW1, looks like Army at that.

I can still smell that glue Alphie used on the boot repair. I don’t think he was aware of the fact that he was so entertaining and that French accent did a lot for Ernie Richard too!

Thanks Gary Stokes and all who contribute. Gary Metcalfe

Spencer Teal:

From Bonnie Awalt Houle (56): Becker, MN

Dear Gary, I am writing to tell you and your family to count their blessings, they could be living in Minnesota where the snow squeaks when you walk, and your car grumbles when you try to start it.

Spencer Teal has been mentioned and I’d like to relate some of my memories about him.

The Teals were close neighbors to us. Spencer considered our home his home away from home. Everyday at noon he would stop at our home for lunch. (No hot lunch program at Dunseith back then.) Lunch was not the only meal he had with us as Spencer kept close tabs on the days that my Mother baked. When Mother baked caramel rolls you could count on Spencer stopping by. Spencer was a good friend of my sister Eleanor and when ever Eleanor and her friends were spending an evening at our home Spencer was included. When the little kids (me) got in the way of the teenagers Spencer would make a deal with us. If we would go to our bedrooms and stay out of the way he would promise to make each of us a drawing of our choice. The next morning we would find our drawings waiting for us. These were not quick crude drawings, they looked almost like photo’s and we loved them. Sometimes they were on paper and often they were done on the large chalk board. They were pictures of “Pokey” Spencer’s cat, and his dog “Judee” and our horse “Star”. Spencer helped us make snowmen that looked just like people. Once the picture of our snowmen was printed in the Dunseith Journal. He treated us like the little brothers and sisters he never had. Spencer was a very talented man.

Bonnie Awalt Houle (56)

Previously posted with message 653

From Dick Johnson (66): Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

One guy from the class of ’46 at DHS was Spencer Teal. He was the son
of Bill and Irene Teal. Bill was the depot agent at Dunseith for many
years. Spencer was traveling with a dance troupe from Paris, France and
was enroute to Japan when the passenger jet he was on crashed on Mt.
Fuji in Japan in 1966. There were no survivors. A young woman from
Leeds, ND was also on that plane. I think she was traveling as part of a
beauty pageant or similar function. I still have the Life Magazine that
tells the entire story of the crash. Spencer was in the same graduating
class as my folks and was a friend of theirs.
Thanks Gary!

Dick

Note: The plane crash aritlce Spencer was killed in is posted with message 654.

Dunseith Alumni Website link – http://garystokes.net/default.aspx

Johnson Families:

From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

Gary,

I think Mona will write to you with info on Shirley Johnson
Haagenson. Shirley was a sister to Chuck, Mona’s husband and also a
sister to Warren and Walter Johnson. Their dad was employed at the San.
They too, are a separate ‘Johnson’ and not related to either side of my
family. I think she graduated from DHS in ’51 but would have to look it
up for sure. She and ‘Hogie’ spend their winters in Yuma, AZ and spend a
lot of time with my uncle and aunt, Cliff and Joy Johnson, going to
music jams and visiting. Cliff always has news on what he and Joy and
the Haagensons have been up to.

Dick

Dick, I did not realize that Shirley Johnson Haagenson was a sister to Mona’s husband Chuck and that Johnson family. Putting the class lists together I discovered that Norman/Shirley Johnson Haagenson & Cliff/Joy Nordquist Johnson were very good friends but not related. Norman/Shirley & Cliff/Joy did not have email when I was putting the lists together.

Cliff is a brother to your dad Don. He and Joy live Elmo, MT. Did Cliff attend Dunseith? I don’t have him listed in any of the class lists. He was an educator with a college degree, so he must have attended high school somewhere. Joy (Nordquist) graduated from DHS in 1955.

Norman & Shirley Johnson Haagenson live in Vancouver, WA. They both graduated from DHS in 1951. Gary

Reply from Erling Landsverk (44): Portage, WI

Hi Gary and All!

I knew that there were quite a few children in the Greig family. Most of them had married and moved away. The members that I mentioned were the only ones that were living at home when I knew them.

They seemed to be ignored by some, so we invited the children over to play and visit. We knew they were extremely poor but they were proud and never complained. I remember going to their home once looking for some livestock that had strayed. I was suprised to see that they had dirt floors in their log home. Mrs Greig was very cheery and I liked her immediately. Martin, the oldest boy was a game warden, and I guess Raymond worke where ever he could find it. The three girls and Jimmy were bright students, and never caused any problems at school. I remember Jimmy wearing a felt hat, the style popular with men in the 20’s and 30’s. Must have been a hand me down, He was not very big but he wanted to hunt with me, and he always brought his dog Limpy, a rat terrier with, you guessed it, a limp. He couldn’t have been much older than 9 but he was apretty good shot with a rather disreputable looking slide action 22 caliber rifle. I guess he struck me as someone who would make his own way without help. The reason I asked is that i really would like to talk to one of the family members for old times sake. I am sorry that Jimmy is gone. He was a good kid.

Thanks for listening to an old sentimental fool .

Erling

Erling, Violet Greig Coats lives in AZ. I found an address for a Violet Coats in Mesa, but no phone number. She is 87 years old. There are Greig’s listed in Rugby and Bismarck. I’m pretty sure they are all members of this same family. Gary

Norman Johnson:

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

Gary and Friends,

In answer (maybe) to Gary Metcalfe’s question about Norman
Johnson—-he was a brother to Bennie, Johnnie, and Hank, and all the
sisters. I don’t personally remember him when I was young, but we did
stop by in Washington state to see him once. He was staying with his
daughter, Betty Johnson Belcourt who was married to Alfred Belcourt.
Norman had a son named Wesley, who married Mavis Espe. He also had a
daughter named Bernice, who was married to Billy Metcalfe.I think it was
in the 70s or so that Grandma got the word that he had passed away out
west. I didn’t know he was in the well drilling business around here but
he sure could have been. If this isn’t the Norman Johnson you are asking
about—I’m going to give up! Too many people with the same name! Thanks
Gary!

Dick

Norman Johnson:

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57): moniesue@yahoo.com Forsyth, MO

Gary,

Sue wrote – Gary thought this was such a neat video that he wanted to share it with you.

The Norman Johnson I am thinking of I am pretty sure was married to one of Nick Lunde’s daughters. He was referred to as “Dry Hole Johnson” and had a colorful past. He was a water well driller.

As if you don’t have enough to think about, Norman “Snooky” Haagenson’s wife, Shirley was Chuck and Walter Johnson’s sister. I am sure you knew of them. Chuck was the Laundry man at San Haven for years.

I thought the BEAR video was educational at the least. Thanks for all your hard work. Gary Metcalfe

http://www.flixxy.com/bear-animal-nature-film.htm

James Andreoff’s Obituary:

Posted By Ron Peltier (70): Dunseith, ND

Gary: The Andreoff family lived north of San Haven back in the early 60’s and the whole family packed up and moved to the Minneapolis area about this time. My father (Joseph J. Peltier) was close friends with Mike, who was a younger brother, and real close with John. Mike died from a brown recluse spider bite about 10 years ago. I haven’t seen John since my father died which was on October 5th, 2002. I remember John on his Harley Davidson bike pulling up to my dad’s house unannounced in the summer and my dad and him would take off on his Harley Davidson. It was real funny to see two elderly men going down the road on a motorbike, my dad in back. John will be greatly missed.

Ron Peltier

Freida Schneider Ferguson passed away:

Posted by Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

Gary, FYI

Freida Ferguson was an older sister of Wes Schneider. She is also
the aunt of Betty Jane (Schneider) Lamb.

Minot Daily Obituaries
POSTED: January 7, 2010

FREIDA FERGUSON, 97, Bottineau, died Wednesday in a Bottineau nursing
home. (Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau)

Teal Family:

Reply from Bob Hosmer (56): Lynnwood, WA

Hi Gary,

I enjoy these conversations coming through your expertise and coordination. Bonnie mentioned Spencer Teal. I didn’t know what close friends he had. Though I spent a lot of time with Bill Teal at the Depot as a kid, I never got to know Spencer that well. I used to watch him skate on the old rink across the street from our house and I was amazed at his style and ability–especially his ability to skate backward. I watched closely and may have asked him how to do it. Anyway, I started skating backward in his style and loved it. It was the way I chose to skate most of the time–switching forward and backward with ease, until the motion actually tore the runner off the bottom of my skate boot a winter or two later.

Bob Hosmer

Ruth Larshus Peterson:

Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

And a good North Dakota cold crisp day to Gary, Connie Zorn Landsverk and all,

Ruth Peterson, was married to Pete Peterson of the Long lake area. I believe she was related to Mr. Rude and his mother Hannah through the Larshus side of the family. Her husband was Pete. Her sister-in-law, Grace Peterson, who was married to Oscar also taught in Dunseith.

Oscar and Pete’s sister, Bertha ({Peterson) Kittleson was a long time cook at Bottineau Central school. She is a thoughtful hard working, lady with a great memory and sense of humor. A truly wonderful person! Always up for a good visit, We’ve had many good chats about when Bertha in her teens, first taught country school, it was Wetherall. She boarded with the Howery family just south of the school ( the farm later owned by Hilda and Leroy Strong). Bertha told me of teaching there two terms. Among, student names, she mentioned were the Howery children, Eurich girls, Lorraine,Jack , and Bertha, Metcalfe and a Gillis girl. Her father brought her over to Willow Lake township and left her to her employment. Bertha got so very homesick. She told me and recalled one weekend dreading the time away from family, so, choosing not to stay where she boarded, she walked and walked the many miles through the hills and trees west to her parents farm in Bottineau County. She arrived late on a Friday night . her father was kind enough to bring her back onSunday night. Bertha also was one good cook. I haven’t had good school sauerkraut since she left!

Her sister-in -law, Ruth Peterson also has many memorable stories of country schools and people. Last summer, I visited Bertha and Ruth at the 3:00 p.m coffee time which is open to anyone. Also there, were the Dion’s, Floyd and Louella. Ruth’s daughter shared with us the Norweigian” sound/vocabulary to make when one takes a taste of something so good …….like…….Juneberry pie and your really anticipating….. the juicy…. sweet… berry taste……..and get an unwelcome surprise she said it was was !!!!!!!!!!!. Ah hah! Now I have my first Norweigian word in my vocabulary list. …..And to think, I used to just say Yuck! Ish! Ackkkk! Bug or worm!

Later Vickie

Vickie, Racking my brain, I remember Ruth Peterson being a school teacher. I never knew her in that capacity though. I think she must have been hired in Dunseith after I graduated. I knew Pete and Ruth thru the church. As I remember Ruth and Pete were married later in life. You are right with Ruth being related to Art Rude. They are first cousins. Some of Art & Ruth’s other cousins are Lloyd Larshus, Rena (Ernie) Roland and Dorothy (Reuben) Clark. I remember Oscar and Grace Peterson too.

From Aggie Casavant (69): Fort Mill, SC

Hi Gary,

With more years behind me,than ahead of me, I thought for sure I would leave this life saying,nothing has ever left me speechless…

I just finished watching the video of “The Bear” by Jean Jacques Annaud… I’m speechless…. Aggie

Linda Lagasse Passed Away:

Reply from Linda Johnson Juntunen (72): Perth, ND

Hello Gary,

Thank you and Neola for your questions and concerns. Paul Juntunen is our nephew, he is married to Linda Lagasse’s daughter, Wendy. It is not so much Linda that is from here but her husband Joe is from the Rolla area.

Linda J. Juntunen

COO

Microlap Technologies, Inc.

Ph 701.477.3193.ext 18

From:

Neola

To:

Gary Stokes

Gary,

Marlene Henderson sent this to me; she probably sent it to you, too. I know you have Juntnen’s in your list, but I don’t know how closely they are related to Mrs. Lagasse.

Neola

Linda L. Lagasse

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GARNER – Linda L. Lagasse, 66, of Garner passed away Thursday (Dec. 31, 2009) at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn., after a brief but courageous fight with leukemia.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner with the Father Brian Dellaert officiating. Burial will be in Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner with a rosary at 4 p.m. and a scriptural wake service at 7 p.m. 
Linda L. Lagasse, the daughter of Peter and Eunice (Wilson) Etzen was born Sept. 21, 1943, in Forest City. She graduated from Forest City High School in 1961. On April 11, 1964, she was united in marriage to Joe Lagasse in Minneapolis, Minn. They lived in several states before making their home in Garner in 1976. Linda was employed as a secretary, waitressed and managed food establishments throughout the years in the area. She retired in 2006 from Perkins Restaurant in Mason City. Linda was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed spending her time reading, doing crossword puzzles, baking, spending time with her family, friends and foremost being with her grandchildren.
She was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, Red Hat Society and the Blind Association in Mason City.
Linda is survived by her loving husband, Joe, of Garner; son, Robin Lagasse of Minneapolis, Minn., and his daughter, Summer; daughter, Wendy (Paul) Juntunen, of Rolla, N.D., and their three children, Jadyn, Haley and Kylie; daughter, Dawn (Brian) Henley of Marshalltown, and their two sons, Creighton and Matt; and two nephews, Brad and Bryan Saathoff.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Sandra Saathoff; and brother, Scott Etzen.
Cataldo Funeral Home, 641-923-2841.

Pigeon Family photo:

Reply from Allen Richard (65): Midland, MI

Others who attended Hillside school. The Pigeon family – early 1950’s Back row -Ydola, Theodore (Ted), Ubald (Jack), Romulus (Bae) front — Louise, (Horsman) Pigeon, Hortence (Pigeon) Robert and Emeline (Richard) Pigeon.

The other pictures are of Pigeon Store and the view they got of the farm from the pasture about a half mile westl.

Allen Richard

Spam messages:

Folks, I had some messages that went to spam that I did not catch. I’ll be honest, I had not checked my spam for a few months. I’m hoping I didn’t miss any of your messages that went to spam. My spam messages are automatically deleted in one month, so I could have very well missed some. If I have not personally replied to a message or if it has not been posted, I have not seen it. Thanks to Kenny Nerpel for realizing his message was probably going to my spam, he was successful in getting his message to me using another email address. That’s when I checked my spam. Kenny knows my policy and knew I had not seen his message. Gary

This message went to my spam on 12/14/09

From Nancy Hosmer Baldwin (62): Lake Metigoshe, ND

Hi Gary,
You can add my name, Nancy (Hosmer) Baldwin and my fiance, Keith Kontzie to the May get-together in Dunseith. By the way, my home was one of four listed for the “Home Sweet Home” Holiday Tour yesterday and it is surprising how many who came to tour are on your site or at least know about it. What a terrific connection you give to all of us — like one big happy family.. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

This message went to my spam on 12/26/09

From Lynn Halvorson Otto (75): Seoul, Korea