Obituaries – Minot Daily News

Hope Bedard

Aug. 6, 1918-Aug. 11, 2008

DUNSEITH Hope E. Bedard, 90, Rugby, formerly of Dunseith, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, in a Rubgy hospital.

She was born Aug. 6, 1918, to Charles and Edna Hanefeld in Wilton. She married Rene Bedard April 17, 1938, in Dunseith.

Survivors: daughters, Gayl Lamoureux, Chino Valley, Ariz., Lynn Shelver, South Bend, Ind., Nicole Whitmire, Columbus, S.C., Jean McDaniel, Falls Church, Va., Juay McClanahan, Fort Collins, Colo.; sons, Nikkey, Rock Springs, Wyo., Jim, Sheridan, Wyo.; 15 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren.

Memorial service: Friday, 11 a.m., Peace Lutheran Church, Dunseith. (Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau)

Condolences from Bonnie Awalt Houle (56):

Dear Gary,

So sorry to hear about the passing of Hope Bedard.  Hope was a very kind lady.  When I was expecting my third child I ran into some terrible health issues which required I get shots every week.  It was the middle of the winter and getting to the Doctor became a problem.  Hope Bedard volunteered to give me the shots, at no cost to me.  She was wonderful to me, and showed me great kindness.  She will be missed.

Bonnie Awalt Houle 56

Message from Ron Peltier (70): 

Message for Floyd (59) & Ann Prichard from their children.  Ann is recovering from a Lung transplant.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Posted 11 minutes ago

Happy 48th Anniversary Mom and Dad! As we think back about the journey you have taken throughout your marriage, we are truly humbled. You are a genuine testament to what it means to have incredible love, deep commitment and never-ending strength along with an adventurous attitude and a giving spirit. Because of your profound faith in God and your enduring dedication and love to each other, you have always pulled through life’s challenges just as you both are doing now. We love you so much! Your daughters, Kim, Gina and Pam (oh…and Thumper too!)

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers.

Latest update for Ann Pritchard:

Wednesday, August 13 12:15PM

Posted 8 hours ago

Grandma had a challenging night last night. They made quite a few changes to her support systems that took a toll on her. They changed some of the filters, etc. which causes the body to react to the new surfaces causing inflammation and bleeding difficulties. As a result, they had to give her some more fluids with some necessary medicines. They have decided not to try and remove the ECMO today and let her body rest and recover a little more.

They did perform a bronchoscopy today, during which they inserted a small camera into the lungs to view the passageways and surfaces. They found quite a large amount of thick fluids in the primary passageways, which they were able to suction, this should help a lot. The surgeon was very happy to remove this amount of fluid and thinks that it will help a bunch. Additional good news is that the primary passageways of the lungs still look healthy, after they removed the fluid. The surgeon was relieved about this as well. He said they look good.

The rest of today they will let her rest and try to remove more fluids.

The x-ray after the bronchoscopy showed a great improvement over this mornings x-ray. It looks the best it has so far!

Messages from Diane Larson Sjol (70): 

Gary,
I was driving home from Bottineau to Minot three nights ago and
noticed a star outshining all the others in the sky.  I think it was
put up there for you for all this wonderful work you are doing uniting
all of us.  I can’t put into words how important this forum is and how
much joy it brings to people.  Once again, thank you….Diane Larson
Sjol

Diane, It brings great pleasure to me too, that you enjoy what I’m doing.  I also enjoy doing this.  It keeps me connected to the states from here in the Philippines.  I too, wake up each morning with excitement to see what new messages I have from all of you folks.  Remember, it’s day time for you guys when it’s night here.  We are the same time as New York, but on opposite ends of the day.  Gary

Reply 2 from Diane Larson:
This is a reply to Maria Parlade,

I am Diane Larson who was a good friend of Angelina.  I remember your
mother made us matching red cordoroy skirts.  I remember Angelina
spending time at our house in Dunseith and then we had to mvoe to
Germany.  Can you please tell me how to get ahold of her?  Thanks.
Diane Larson Sjol

Reply 3 From Diane Larson:

To Bev Morinville,
I am so  happy that your cancer is gone Bev.  Our prayers have been
answered.  Take care my friend.  Diane Larson Sjol

Reply 4 from Diane Larson:

To Bob Lykins,
Thank you for your great explanation on TCK…you have triggered an
interest in the subject for me and I will check out the web. I would
also love a copy of your writings…address 712 South Main Street,
Minot, ND 58701 and appreciate it very much.  The Third World Culture
concept explains alot to me….

I lived in Germany three different times…the first when I was a
baby…was in Augsburg, near Munich…the second time was in
Wildflecken, which was the most influential time I spent there.  I was
in the 5th through 8th grades, learned to speak German and was on a
mission of self discovery.  We traveled every summer, camping like
most people did back then, and visited Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Austria and other parts of Germany.  We would be gone for an entire
month of leave and met great people and other teenagers from different
countries and had a blast.  I hope those memories never leave me.
There was also a certain camaraderie among military kids, just like
there is among military families who are stationed away from home,
especially abroad.  I wish I had stayed in contact with those kids.  I
would love to read the book you mentioned so will look it up.  Thanks
Bob for this great info….

Diane Larson Sjol

Question to Bill Grimme from Diane Larson:

Did that grocery store used to be something else?  I am referring to
the one in the photos from Russia.

Reply from Dale Pritchard (63):

I forget if Bob Keeshan was in the list of veterans the other day.  It’sinteresting to note that when Lee Marvin was wounded on Iwo Jima, Bob Keeshan, well known as Captain Kangroo, helped carry Lee Marvin to safety.  True heroes these guys!

Dale

Letter from Vickie Metcalfe (70): 

Vickie, This is a wonderful letter.  You are a great writer!  Thank you so much for sharing.  Gary

Greetings Gary and Maria Parlade,

WOW! So many wonderful people in response  the #190 of today
who I have fond recollections of;
GLENN SHELVER chauffeured many people to church, come Sunday
morn at Peace Lutheran.
One of those quiet, gentle, unassuming Christians was, HOPE BEDARD.
Blessed be her memory. …………………………………….
Ahhh.   MARIA  PARLADE.  Frequently, the past few weeks
through Gary’s news, I’ve read and pondered about the idea of “third
culture” from  the various classmates, upper classmates and former
teachers who have had opportunities……and the freedom… to
choose to live in other countries around the world.   I have never
had the opportunity to do that geographically. Thank each of you for
that insight.
Maria Parlade, wow Because,  thoughts frequently when
thinking about third culture ideas. I have started to  zoom in on
memories of I believe your sister, ANGELINA PARLADE.
The fall of 1961, when I began fourth grade, our family,  in
the hills  over the summer, had just acquired running water,indoor
plumbing and an oil furnace.  However, we still had the old  wooden
telephone ie, central operator and the telephone number # of a short-
a long___ and a short- .  Either, we’d walk or mom would drive  1 1/2
miles to meet the big yellow school bus which  drove down high way
#3. The many miles over hills and around curves on the old high way.
We couldn’t just go home or call home if sick or dumped milk over our
selves or had a bloody nose. We just made do.  But,  Excited, you
betch ya!  Because;
Now, I was upstairs in the white school house with  the
wonderful woman who, in my future, became………….. my role model
as a teacher, FLORENCE CONROY.
In that fourth grade class there were the city kids from
Dunseith, some prairie kids, and  many scared kids from the little
one room country schools from all over the hills, whose world had
just expanded considerably to the big white school house and the big
town of Dunseith.  There were brown kids coming in from the
reservation federal land,and were choosing to attend public school
rather tan the boarding schools. They lived in little houses which I
do remember  b-4 the govt. housing.  And a girl whose dad was not
living with her family because he was in the service somewhere ie.
Diane Larson.  And then, of course, there were the  San Haven kids.
One girl who got on the bus was a quiet girl who spoke a kind
different English, her name, Angelina Parlade.
At that time in Dunseith School, we were all from different
cultures within those classrooms. Cultures from the little pockets of
the hills, the prairie, San Haven,federal land, and city of Dunseith.
Here, in fourth grade, I felt we were all ok human beings.
Each of us was special.  Mrs.Florence Conroy gave us that gift that
sense of identity.  She was all about _INCLUSION.  We each belonged
to her.  And, belonged to to each other. No one ever tried to
disappoint her by bad behaviour to her or by bullying each other.
Mrs. Conroy had learning centers everywhere in that room.
Underneath tables covered with blankets, some children would be
watching a slide projector for science, while others in another
corner. pulling out with fingers and sharing jars of paste and
macaroni for art, still  another area students would be reading lines
for a play. Others would be tossing bean bags to learn multiplication
tables.  Every now and then, we could get a whiff of the blue
duplicating ink when the door of the little room where the manual
machine was opened.   And, Mrs. Conroy would bring stuff to eat we’d
never ate before, like “Hasty Pudin”.
The ideas and energy  of Mrs. Conroy was abounding and endless!
Music?  Well  Mrs. Conroy was certainly not  musically, on
the scale of Mr. Don Johnson .  Sharon Zorn, when she could walk over
from the high school, play the upright piano accompanied as we sang,
Davy Crocket or Blue Bird Blue Bird,… if not,  Mrs. Conroy in her
own key, taught and sang to us in  German, ‘Fraulein” or “Wooden
Heart as she discussed Elvis as a GI in Germany and Cassius Clay, the
boxer.
Quiet time…. She’d read, and read,and read…… away we’d
be transported.  Oh the places, cultures,  our travels took us … in
the many, many books she read, …. the world she opened to us , and
we become I think….. ie. third culture citizens.
It was through , “The Weekly Reader” we read and discussed
project ‘Hope’, the hospital ship.  Once a week,we eager students
wondered where that paper would take us.
One day, her lucky helper placed  the Weekly Reader on each
desk.  An unidentified man not someone we knew about. Many students
did not have T.V’s. Who was this guy?  This a bearded guy in green
uniform and cap, with a rifle? There was a  BIG gasp as quiet
Angelina , now quite white stood over her desk and spat on her weekly
reader!  Yep a big, big spit!  Then she said, “I spit agh, I spit!”
OOOhhhhhh.  Aghast, I looked around to my classmates who had
the same expression!  Silence. We turned and ALL eyes averted away
from Angelina and upon Mrs. Conroy.  She was calm and serene. She
just seemed to float toward Angelina putting her soft plump hand on
Angelina’s shoulder. A gentle squeeze.
That was what we teachers call, “A TEACHABLE MOMENT.”
Mrs. Conroy with her calm hand on Anglina, then directed us
to read orally… all about the guy in green. Then, she, encouraged
Angelina to tell us about that man, his name was, Fidel Castro.  Our
very own, Angelina Parlade became our teacher in that class and on
through the next recess.
Please Maria ,Please thank dear Angelina.
Over the years, I have often wondered about her. Especially,
as I share with my students about her profound effect on me as a peer
from another culture who imparted and shared  her knowledge of Cuba
with we, her fourth grade classmates.  I am so delighted that Gary
has connected you!
Morinville, Marmon, Azure Clan. Keep the faith, for another
former 4th grade classmate Debbie Morinville.
To the Pritchard family, peace and prayers.
Thank you Dick for sharing about our dear friend Carroll who
taught me all about WWII on the German front.  Oh, y’all out there in
Gary Stokesland, if you could have known that gentle man, he was
small in stature.  It was my privilege and Dick’s that he revealed
and left a huge imprint on our hearts with his knowledge and pure
honest patriotism.
My heart is with you all  my dear friends.Til we meet again
through e-mail. Later, Vickie
–
Vickie L. Metcalfe

Alaskan Cruise:

Folks, I got a message from Randy Flynn telling me his Mother – Minnie Flynn, his Aunt Edna (Susie) Millang and his sister K Flynn Richard are all signed up for and will be joining us on our Alaskan Cruise.  Gary
From Lois Lilleby Fielding (51): 

All the nice stories about Glen Shelver reminded me of the time he drove several of us high school girls to a Dragons basketball game in New Rockford, maybe a tournament.  A spring blizzard was raging, but somehow our parents allowed us to go.  The weather was a white out, but Glen was not concerned and we arrived safely.  I think he enjoyed young people very much and we all enjoyed the adventure, however I don’t remember who won the game.

A crazy incident:  One evening, while in early high school, Marshall Awalt, Dorothy Lamoureux, Shirley Johnson and I decided to go to Bottineau via the old gravel road in Marshall’s Model A (I think) with rumble seat.  Several miles out, the car was out of gas, so we walked awhile until we saw a farm home with a gas tank.  Through a window, we saw a man sleeping on a couch   We hoped to awaken him and buy some gas.  We knocked on the window, but he would not wake up.  The biggest problem was that his geese kept chasing us and hissing loudly.  Finally, we just walked back to Dunseith several miles and in the dark.  I guess we did not plan ahead.

Question:  Girls basketball started in Dunseith in about 1950.  How long did that continue?  We played using those old rules for girls.

Updated report for Ann Pritchard (Lung Transplant) posted by her daughter Pam:

MONDAY, AUGUST 11 11:00AM

Posted 8 minutes ago

Once again there was improvement on the x-ray from this morning, the middle section of the lung is showing some reduction in fluid. Yesterday and last night were stable as well. They are still trying to get as much extra fluid as they can out of her, this will help reduce the fluid in the lungs. We are waiting today to see how her immune cells have responded to the immune supressing treatment. The hope is that they are low in number. Additionally, we are still waiting to hear how the rejection antibodies are responding to the treatments. They may do another blood plasma cleaning this afternoon, depending on these results.
The whole team wants to try and gradually get her off of the ECMO machine. The sooner they can remove her from the machine the better. They want to begin this process tomorrow.

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

Larry Hackman sent me an email today explaining the way the films were
shown at the theater. He said they were usually on 4 or 5 reels and the
people that had shown the films before would sometimes just throw them
back in the cans and let the next show hall try to figure out if they
were rewound or in the wrong order. I guess we were a little hard on
Tony for sometimes missing a cue! One other thing I remember happening
at the Althea was when someone in the back would kick a pop bottle over
and it would roll down the slope under the seats, nearly all the way to
the front row. There was no carpet, just the hardwood floor so it would
rattle and klink off the steel seat legs on it’s slow roll to the front!
Just thought it might bring back some memories for some of the readers
who nearly all went to the show at one time or another. Thanks again Gary!

Dick

Reply from Shirley Brennan (60): 

Yes Gary:

Yes Mike Groff is my nephew Pat’s Son. Joanne Bernstein’s Cousin.

Shirley

From Randy Flynn (70): 

Gary,

This past spring some memories of Notre Dame Academy in Willow City were mentioned. Many students from Dunseith attended Notre Dame Academy for a year or two. Allen Richard remembered Sister Albert as did the younger Neameyer twins.  I would like to inform those who knew Sister Albert Marie she has died.  I only received a message and was not home to speak with the caller.  I believe she departed this world on Friday night or early Saturday morning.  I have no further information at this time but will provide further information when I receive it.

From talking with Sister Albert over the past 25 years, I know she loved all of her former students.  To those who remember the joy and love of Sister Albert Marie, please, celebrate her life with a prayer.

Gary, thank you for all you do, for all of us.
Randy

From Allen Richard (65): 

Sister Albert was my first grade teacher at Notre Dame in Willow City.  Also Angela Berube and Rene Casavant.  I also remember that Joe, Gerald and I think Aime Casavant as well as Doreen and Jonne Houle had her as a teacher.

I’m sure a lot of others in the blog had her as a teacher too.

George is an old college buddy from Forestry days.

Allen

From: ndgeo@

To: allenrndmn@
Sent: 8/11/2008 10:03:36 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Sister Albert Burkhartsmeier

Al:

Sister Albert had passed away last friday night.  She suffered from alzheimers for a long time.  She had been getting weaker for the last two weeks.  She was more than ready for her death.
She was one who I am glad to have known.  So now we pray for her soul in heaven and not for her earthly health.

Take care of yourself.
George

Message/Picture from Bill Grimme (65): 

Gary,

Glad you liked the photos I sent. Hope they didn’t bore the family.

The girls in the night club picture were the bartender and the waitress. They said something to me in Russian and I assumed that they had asked to have their picture taken with me. At least that was my interpretation. I hope it was right.

Here is a picture from Paris. I have  wanted to eat a “Royale with Cheese” (a McDonald’s quarter pounder in France) ever since John Travolta talked about it in “Pulp Fiction”. So, I managed to get one in Paris.

Bill

Bill, you are so modest thinking we’ll be bored with your recent trip. We won’t.  We’d love a round trip report to include all your routes of travel.

I am including your cousin Wendal Cushing with this sending too.

Folks, Many of you probably remember Wendal Cushing from your forestry days.  Wendal was a professor there for many years.  Wendal’s mother and Bill’s mother were Fassett sisters.  Wendal lives, in Bottineau, next door to one of our 65 class mates, John Bedard.  They live one  bock over from my brother Darrel.  Last summer when I was out walking, Wendal was working in his immaculate yard.  When I walked by he stopped everything he was doing and invited me to sit down for a visit of which I did.  Gary.

                                    Bill Grimme in Paris

 Newspaper article from Larry Hackman (66): 

Folks, Larry Grossman is the nephew of our former DHS teacher, Mr. Ben Grossman.

Paul Grossman’s (70) Reply to Larry Hackman (66):

Yes, He is my cousin-we are the same age-that was quit  the story.  Sorry, I did not get back to you sooner – I am never in the house in the summer.   Paul

Area Deaths – Minot Daily News – Posted August 12, 2008

HOPE BEDARD, 90, DUNSEITH, DIED MONDAY IN A RUGBY NURSING HOME. (NERO FUNERAL HOME, BOTTINEAU)

Hope’s Daughters, Gayl Bedard Lamoureux and Juay Bedard McClanahan, along with Hope’s grandchildren Lyle and Joni Lamoureux are on this distribution.

Gayl, Juay, Lyle & Joni; you and your family have our sincere condolences with the passing of your mother and grandmother. We will publish her obituary as soon as we get it.  Gary

From Maria Parlade Corral (62):

Hi Gary; I graduated from Dunseith HS in 1962. At the beginning of the school year(1961) we had just arrived from Cuba and in Dunseith is where I learned to speak English . I was the oldest  of six of my brothers and sisters that were in school also and being the oldest I had to learn English fast. I remember that in my class were the Bedard triplets and I think Nancy Hosmer but I have never read any news from them in your wonderful collection of memories that you so faithfully send to all of us who had the privilege of living in Dunseith even if it was for only a short time. I enjoy reading all the news although I don’t know most of you. Actually we lived in San Haven since my father was a doctor there.

I have lived in Miami Florida since 1969 after I completed my college and M.A. I am married and have 5 children and seven grandchildren. One of the things I want to do is to go back with my husband and show him North Dakota specially Dunseith.. I have heard that the San Haven Hospital has been knocked down. Has Dunseith grown a lot.? One thing I can tell you is that when we arrived to Dunseith from a tropical country to me it was like coming to paradise. We found peace and freedom and we lived with fear no more. Thank you for letting me remember that every time I get one of your emails.   Maria Parlade Corral

Maria, We remember you folks well. You guys were a great inspiration to our school and the community.  If, in the future you decide to visit the Dunseith area, I know the Dunseith folks would be glad to see you.   Yes, San Haven has kind of gone to the ruins. Thank you so much for this reply.  Gary

From Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

Updated report for Ann Pritchard (Lung Transplant) posted by her daughter Pam:

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 5:00PM

Posted 5 hours ago

A quick note on the ECMO stop test performed today…
They essentially reduced her added oxygen from the ECMO machine to zero and she did well, keeping her oxygen level up and carbon dioxide level down, with just the help from the ventilator. They weren’t able to do this until around 4pm so they want to wait until the morning to completely remove the machine. They need the same surgeon who put in the large catheters for the machine to remove them as well and it is getting too late in the day. They want to do it first thing in the morning, so they have a whole day shift to monitor her progress when she is fresh off the ECMO.

When they turned down the ECMO, it resulted in a reduction of her sedation that was being put in via that machine. She was fairly aware for a little while, blinking, moving arms, legs, head, and following commands. They gave her additional sedation to make sure she stayed comfortable. They were going to continue to keep the ECMO at zero for a couple hours to make sure she is ready in the morning. Everyone thinks tomorrow will be the last day for the ECMO machine.

From Bonnie Awalt Houle (56): 

Good Morning Gary,

Starting my morning with a good cup of tea and your memories from the past certainly gets me off to a wonderful start.  Thank You.

The girl’s basketball teams that I remember were with Shirley Johnson, and Donna Sunderlund playing.  Donna wore # 00 and they called her “Donuts”.  The next group I can remember was with Mr. Berg Coaching, Millie Crum, Arlene Lamoueux, Viola Hobbs, Betty Lou Poepple, Janice Leonard, Doris Peterson, Lois Hiatt, Carol Fassett, Elaine Schneider, Neva Haagenson, Arliss Nordquist, Joy Nordquist, and Bonnie Awalt. The next year it was Mr. Conroy coaching with Arlene, Millie, Marlene Kraft, JoAnn Kester, Micky Haagenson,  Janice, Lois,  and I.  Then I guess Mr. Conroy gave up and they hired Virgil Vanorney.  I think coaching girl’s rather than boy’s was quite a shock for him.  We did have a good team that year and began winning games, I think we won most of our games but when the Tournament came along we faced Newberg. The Newberg Girl’s Team had been the State Champions for 3 years running and we get them our second game.  Mr. Vanorney had worked out an unusual way to keep us from getting creamed.  He wanted us to STALL everytime we got the ball we were supposed to just pass it around and keep it as long as possible, if they couldn’t get the ball they couldn’t score.  People were booing from the stands and yelling play ball.  It was a difficult game and we lost to the State Champions.  Virgil only coached girl’s that one year!  Marlene Kraft should remember alot more about the games, Marlene was a great basketball player, she and Arlene Lamoureux were probably the best players I can remember.  Someone must have pictures of the girl’s teams.  It would be fun to see some of them.

Bonnie Awalt Houle ’56

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

Ivy Eller Robert’s forward on movie stars and their service record was
very interesting. I have studied WWII and have many books and VHS tapes
on the entire war, but several of these stars were never listed! Thanks
Ivy! There was a WWII veteran from our area by the name of Carroll
Carlson. He became a very good friend of mine in his later years and
told me many stories of the battles and travels during the war. He
served in a artillery battalion on a tracked 105mm gun. He was in North
Africa and chased the Germans into the sea and then was brought to
England where he trained for the Normandy invasion on Omaha Beach. He
survived the war and was is Pilsen, Austria on VE Day. I asked him if he
drank any beer there, as it is well known for it’s breweries. He said,
“We nearly drank the place dry”! One thing that really got Carroll riled
up was when someone mentioned anything about John Wayne! John Wayne,
according to Carroll, was never close to any action but was given medals
and honored for his parts in the movies like ‘The Sands of Iwo Jima’ and
others! He used to say “Why that chicken____ son of a ____ laid around
around Hollywood, drinking Scotch, while the rest of us were getting
shot at, and they give him the medals!” Sometimes when Carroll was a bit
down, I would intentionally mention something about a show that was
going to be on television starring John Wayne, and he would IMMEDIATELY
rev up and rant about that ‘NO GOOD ____!’
Soon the blues were gone and he was back to his old self! Carroll was
very proud of his service and his unit and kept every scrap of
information pertaining to battle history of his unit. He would bring out
old books with pages of underlined script telling of the battles and the
big pushes and breakouts he was involved in. He told about seeing
hundreds of German planes flying over his position during Hitler’s
strike at the beginning of The Battle of The Bulge. He said they could
have blown him to bits but were ordered to fly all the way forward
before bombing anything. He could see the airmen in the planes looking
at him! They were low! Vicky Metcalfe compiled much of Carroll’s life
history in a ‘book’ and because of her, we now have much of his story
and memory chronicled. We lost our old friend in 2004, but his story
lives on due entirely to the foresight and efforts of Vicky! I would
like to take this very public forum to say– Thanks Vicky! And again,
thanks Gary!

Dick

From Shirley Brennan (60): 

Gary,

Would you please send this to Randy Flynn. You asked once about the Groff family.  Mike was found dead last night in his home.

Shirley Brennan

Shirley, Is Mike a son of your sister Patti from the class of 52?  Gary

Updated report of Ann Pritchard posted by her daughter Pam:

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 4:30PM

Posted 8 hours ago

The overall results of the ECMO stop test, over the couple hours they performed it, were good. With no help from the ECMO in providing oxygen she was able to stabilize on her own and even get better over the test period. From what I understand, this means that the lungs starting to do there job of providing oxygen to the blood and removing the carbon dioxide. We will see what the doctor’s final interpretation of the test results are tonight or tomorrow.

Around 2:30pm she began another round of blood plasma cleaning. She tolerated the procedure so well last night that they were comfortable doing it again this afternoon. I talked to the Dr. in charge of this procedure and it is pretty cool how it is done. They take the blood and spin it in a centrifuge at a certain speed. At this speed the heavy components which include the red blood cells which transport oxygen and the white blood cells which fight infection are separated from the rest of the blood, which is called plasma. This plasma is then taken from the blood and replaced with fresh plasma from blood donors. The plasma that is taken from the blood contains the rejection antibodies, that is the point of doing this procedure. Each time they do this they use about 16 units of plasma, this means that about 16 different blood donations are required to do this procedure once. They are on the 4th run of this procedure. So roughly 64 donations were needed to perform these procedures for her. Amazing!

I think tomorrow I am going to go donate some blood…

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Today as I was out in the tractor baling hay, I was thinking about the

early 60s when the Althea theater had ‘midnight shows’. Most were horror
shows with the likes of Vincent Price and Boris Karloff being their
‘worst’! One I remember well was ‘House on Haunted Hill’ starring
Vincent Price. All the parents let us go as I suppose they had now real
idea what the shows were about! I remember being about 10 or 11 and
having the dickens scared out of me, as at that age you aren’t yet able
to separate fact from fiction. Anyway, at one of these shows an older
high school student, who had been drinking (No Name Here), sat right in
front of some of my friends and me. He was really paying attention to a
quiet scene when my friend (No Name Here Either) blew up his empty
popcorn bag and smacked it! The older guy screamed right out loud and
jumped up, much to our amusement, but then realized what had happened
and slapped the crap out of my buddy! Oh well, it seemed like a funny
thing to do at the time! Most of the time we got popcorn in boxes and
when the popcorn was gone we folded them flat and threw them like a
frisbee! Tony Hackman was the projector man and most movies were on two
reels. Sometimes he didn’t catch the end of the first reel before it ran
out and there was a blank screen for a few seconds. Everyone would yell,
“TONY–COME ON–WHAT THE HECK”, and throw their popcorn boxes at the
screen!! The second projector would start clattering and we were back to
the show! Just another memory from growing up in old Dunseith! Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Susan Fassett Martin (65): 

I don’t know which ND Gen site Neola was refering to, but there is an article on an Edward Masse on pgs 70-71 in the Prairie Past and Mountain Memories book.  He did have connections in Canada, so probably the same family.   It doesn’t say anything about a photgraphy shop tho.  I can send a copy of the write up to whoever was asking if I had an email address.

I am planning (along with Paula) on a trip to ND( Walhalla) on the 15th of this month.  I may be in Dunseith a couple of days, but have no concrete plans so far.

Hugs, Susan

Susan, please keep us posted with your tentative Dunseith plans.  I know lots of folks would love to see you.  You could arrange for folks to see and visit with you and if they like, look through some of the many scrap books of Dunseith memorabilia that you have.  Gary

From Bill Hosmer (48):

Gary, to assist Neola in her quest about a Masse Photo shop.  Page 70 of the Dunseith Centennial Book PRARIE PAST AND MOUNTAIN MEMORIES has an article about Edward and Emma Maase.  I remember that they lived just south of Floyd Nelson’s big house on the west side of town on the property which is now owned by Dennis Espe.   Since there is a strong Canadian connection the initiator may find some tie, although there is no reference to a Photography business.

I remember delivering sale bills to their house and getting the aroma of the tobacco he raised and cured right in the home.  The bird house in the picture of them in the Dunseith book is a memory I have, also, in going into their yard.  Their French accent was very strong, and I had trouble understanding them when I was a kid, probably 70 years ago.  It seems every time I saw him he had a curved pipe in his mouth. Thanks for another networking clue, Gary.  Thanks, Bill Hosmer

From Tim Martinson (69): 

Hi Gary,  Looking back thru the email list I find that I am missing

numbers 1, 14, 15, 81, 97, 111, 167,  and I received 186 but the

emails were covered by the article on the Johnson murders so

the emails were not readable.  The summer has been wet and

about the only excitement when it rains is the fishing is usually

excellent. My daughter and I spent a day on the Kenai River

and she was the lucky one, landing a 55 pound King.

Take Care,  Tim

Folks, If any of you are missing any of these messages, please let me know so I can resend them to you.  Gary

Moscow, Russia Pictures from Bill Grimme (65): 

Folks, Bill Grimme returned last week from a Russian cruise and a trip to Moscow, Russia.

I am sharing with you, some of the pictures he has shared with me.

Bill, you look great sporting that beard!  Who are the ladies in the Night club picture with you?

Gary

                             Bill Grimme in a Moscow Night club

Gary,

Believe it or not, this is the inside of an underground subway stop in Moscow. Clean.

Bill

Gary,

Can you believe this grocery store?

Bill

Folks, I just had a very nice visit with Bill Grimme (65).  He just returned from a 12 day Russian Cruise.  He had a wonderful trip.  Bill also told me he is seriously considering a trip to the Dunseith area next month, September. Bill is retired and is living in Birmingham, AL.   Gary

From Sharon Zorn Gerdes (62): 

Gary, I have been gone a long time, but one of the families that I never forgot, ( and often come to my mind) was Don and Bernice Johnson. They were so loved and highly respected, and that senseless loss was staggering to the community and all who knew them. Often I thought about Dick and wondered what happened to him and how he could forgive and live through something like that.

Thanks again for the wonderful job you are doing. You have created an entirely new world of memories that are forever precious and I eagerly wait for the next messages. Sharon Zorn Gerdes

Invitation to CarePage: Ann (Floyd (59) Pritchard  From her daughter Pam Smith: 

Note: Ann recently recieved a Lung Transplant.

ANN PRITCHARD – FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 12:30

Posted 1 day ago

Mom had another good night last night – she continues to stay very stable making small gains. There was some concern that the amount of liquids going into her body were greater than the amount her body was eliminating. This was happening because of all of the medication they were giving her. They gave her lasicks medication to help her get rid of the extra fluid. It worked and now her fluid levels are equal. There goal is to eventually get her body to eliminate more fluid than going in so that it will start to pull the fluid out of her transplanted lung. The X-ray today shows that her transplanted lung is still full of fluid. However, the lung is still pliable and soft and the doctor can even hear that it is trying to work. She was also having some difficulty with the level of her blood platlettes being low. This was causing her to bleed at the sites where the ECMO machine enters her body. They gave her more platlettes last night in hopes to help her blood clot better. However, the challenge is that they don’t want it to clot too much as it will then clot in the ECMO machine. The doctors are very happy with her progress. It is very slow which is to be expected. They say we have now gone 100 feet into the mile we must go to bring her out of this situation. We love reading your messages to mom and the family so keep them going. We show them to dad each night and plan to read them to mom as soon as she can understand. Scott, Ann’s grandson arrived today and will be staying with Floyd. Floyd was able to get into the Gift of Life House last night. If you would like to send him any cards or messages, his address is: Floyd Pritchard Room 22, c/o Gift of Life House, 705 Second Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902. Love to all!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 10:20 PM

Posted 24 minutes ago

Today was another stable day. The nurses all said that today went well. As I was leaving tonight they were going to do another blood cleaning to get rid of the rejection antibodies and inflammatory agents in her blood. They decided to do this because the rejection antibodies were elevated this evening. The primary doctor was not in this evening since he was up all night last night due to other cases. Hopefully the chest x-ray will show improvement again tomorrow morning.

Wayne (61) & Rosemary Smith:

Wayne & Rosemary, Congratulations on your 40th.  I’m hoping you had a good celebration. It takes a few days extra to get my paper here in the PI, so I’m posting this after your celebration for folks to see.  Gary

Darrayl Habberstad – DHS Class of 1959

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

I found this on the ND Geneology sight. Can any of you help? Neola

According to the 1910 Census for Dunseith City, Gilbert Township, Rolette County, the entry for Antoine Moss (whose actual surname was Masse) is listed as occupation Photographer/Own Shop.

Can anyone confirm/advise if there is a business directory/reference that might confirm if there was in fact a photographers shop at that time?

Thanks,
Lynne – Alberta Canada

From Bob Hosmer (56): 

To Gary Morgan— Gary, I haven’t adjusted to our culture either–and it’s a good thing.  Keep swimming upstream; it shows that you’re alive.

We also know third culture life.  We lived in Japan for 15 years and our kids are truly third culture.  Our son never did adjust back to the states.  He has been more years in Japan than the states, married a Japanese, has three children and one granddaughter.

I’ve always appreciated your sport skills.  You were all around a superb athlete.  Your brother, Dick, also was very good.  I ran with him one evening through shanty town and all the way to San Haven on the dirt road that lead up that way.  It wasn’t a race.  It was a challenge to one’s stamina.

I find being anchored to the Unchanging One gives me the needed stability in our current post-modern culture.

Have a good day.

Bob Hosmer

From Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

From LeaRae Parrill Espe (67):

Since we have had quite a few football stories lately, I wanted to let everyone know that the Bottineau Jr College (Forestry) is reinstating Football after nearly 50 years.  September 20 will be the Homecoming game and they are inviting all former alumni to take part in activities.  That will also be the weekend for Fall Festival and many activities are planned around the city.   Coach Neil Arntzen headed up a committee for fundraising to get this program going again.

Folks,

I ran across this article in the 1982 Dunseith Centennial book about the deaths of Don & Bernice Johnson.  A while back we had many replies from you folks addressing how Don & Bernice had touch your lives in many ways. Dick has continued their legacy with all of his community involvements and to us with all that he contributes.  Through Dick, the Johnson family continues to be a pillar of the Dunseith/Rolette county community.

Gary

Dick Johnson’s reply to my message.  Gary

Gary,

This story was in the newspapers all around the state when it happened,

but many folks probably don’t know what all happened in detail so it
wouldn’t hurt to post the article for them. It was a terrible time for
our small family for sure, but the entire community stood behind us
throughout the ordeal and we will never forget that. Red Paint filed an
appeal a couple years ago but lost so should be there for good. De
Noyer, I was told, was released after serving part of his sentence but
violated his parole and went back. I heard he died in a car wreck some
time later. Never did hear for sure. Thanks Gary!

Dick

My message to Dick. Gary

Dick,

I ran across this article in the Dunseith Book that I had not seen before.  I know that it was a tremendous loss for you loosing both of your parents at the same time and in such a brutal way.  Being an only child would have made it even worse.  Reading this article, your parents were well loved and highly respected by the community.  Their passing was felt by the entire community.

I’d love to post this, if it’s OK with you. If you rather I didn’t, I will totally understand.  Please let me know.

Gary

Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:neolag@min.midco.net

Does anyone recognize this gentleman?

Obituary provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe :neolag@min.midco.net

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

The world is indeed getting smaller.  I just read Sybil Johnson has been added to your list (I’ve already sent an email to her.).  She/Auggie and family lived about four houses south of Wally/me in Minot when they/we lived on 22nd St. N.W.  Her youngest son was in my class.  I’m embarrassed I can’t think of his name.  Kelly is the only name that comes to mind, but that was Auggie/Sybils’s older son.  I believe he was killed in an accident at the Air Force Base when he was working there. Sad,  I remember their daughter well, too, but her name also eludes me.  I’m hoping she will reply and “fill me in” on what’s been going on in their lives these last years.  I can tell the years have passed since the Johnson family and I first met.  I see Sybil is a great grandmother.  When I first met them, her daughter was in elementary school.  Hi, Sybil. 

I am so happy to hear Ann’s lung transplant went well.  As you know, the Birchwood, besides having a beautiful setting/decor, serves excellent food.  You most likely remember Floyd bought Dad’s garage in Bottineau when Dad retired.

Back to sorting pictures. 

Neola

Request from Jean Eurich Roland:

Hi Gary.  I’m Jean (Eurich) Roland, a former Dunseithian!  I’ve heard oodles about your efforts and was wondering if you can add me to your mailing list.  My email addresses are:

I understand that my sister-in-law, Ann Pritchard, will be a topic of your communications in the coming days.

Thank you so much.  I look forward to further communication with you.

Regards – Jean

Jean L. Roland, RN, BSN, CPHQ
HCQIP Inpatient Project Coordinator
NDHCRI
800 31st Ave SW
Minot, ND  58701
phone: 701-852-4231
fax: 701-838-6009
e-mail:

Jean, Yes, Mona Johnson is keeping us updated with Ann’s Lung transplant.  Floyd/Ann are on our distribution list as well. Your family raised Floyd, so he is truly your brother.  Your cousin’s Dale and Carl Pritchard are also on this distribution list.  Gary

Ann Prichard’s updated condition from Mona Dionne Johnson (48):

Gary:
I am told that Ann Pritchard is still in critical, but stable condition, but is showing slight improvement, following her lung transplant.

Mona Dionne Johnson

From Keith Pladson (66): 

Gary,

Thanks for the 1940 input on Ackworth.  One of the persons mentioned was my Uncle Willie Thompson.  Willie died at a fairly young age and thus I don’t remember him in person at all.  My mother spoke often of him.  He clearly was very important to her during her childhood.  I was not aware that he was ever at the Kramer CCC, so I found this rather interesting.   Uncle Willie was married and him and his wife (Rose?) had two children.  However, they lived in Wisconsin, so we had virtually no contact with them.  To the delight of all of my siblings and myself, Willie’s son (our cousin) Matthew attended our mother’s funeral in 2001.  It was the first time most of us had ever met him.  What a wonderful surprise and blessing that was.

Also mentioned in the item were my Grandmother Alice, my Aunt Esther and my Mother Ella.  I’m sure some of the readers of this blog remember my mother and all of her family.  Except for my Aunt Lillian who lives in Superior, WI, all of my mother’s family is now gone (the older generation, that is).  Interestingly, my mother and her older sister Esther were as close as sibling can be and until my mother’s death, they spoke to each other every day (either in person or by phone).

Thanks again, Gary, for including that little item.
Keith Pladson (Class of 66)

From Keith Pladson (66):

In reply to Crystal Fassett Andersen’s input on No. 81 (did you mean it to read No. 181 Gary?), my sister Fern Pladson Beaver (class of 67) is a member of the cast in some community theater production in the Devil’s Lake area.  Though I have not been able to attend any of the presentations (it’s a long drive from Virginia), she says she really enjoys her role and invites all friends, relatives or old acquaintances to come and enjoy their work.  My sister Florence Pladson Sime (class of 62) has been to one of the productions and could probably tell more about it.  How about some input Florence?

Keith Pladson (Class of 66)

Keith, That was meant to be issue No. (181), not (81). I noticed the mistake after I had sent the first two lists.  I have 7 distribution lists for sending these daily messages.  I am limited to 99 folks with each sending, so I have all you folks divided up into 7 distribution lists. I have a return copy sent to myself on each list, so I can monitor if they go through.  Gary

From Gary Morgan (54):

Gary & All,

A while back Mr. Lykins mentioned that Third Culture people often feel more comfortable  living overseas and that he had a heck of a time adjusting to living in the States.  Who isn’t uncomfortable living in our society of Godless schools and government, alternate lifestyles, political correctness and litigation hungry lawyers?  I’ve lived in the U.S. all my life and I still haven’t adjusted.

Gary Morgan

From Randy Flynn (70):

Reading the story of the DHS Football teams after WW II and Glen Williams response about your father (Kenny Morgan) and Virgil Vanorney working with the football team, I would like to hear any stories you have about either of these men’s athletic experience.  As a boy, I remember both men officiating football and baseball games.  At that time I assumed both men grew up in Dunseith or Rolette County as I did in the 60s.  Sometime after I graduated from High School,  I hear a story that Kenny Morgan was a great athlete in Minnesota before moving to Dunseith.  I also thought I read where Virgil Vanorney was on several ND State Championship Teams.

Can either of you share any information about their experience?  It would be interesting?

Thank you.

Randy Flynn

From Rod Hiatt (69): 

Here is a picture of Brian Fauske on his 56 th Birthday. Brian lives just north of our cabin on Long Lake so we generally are fishing, riding his Rhino or at least having coffee 4-5 evenings a week. Kind of brings back some of the old memories when we use to run together back in our younger days.

We would have gotten him a real cake with all the candles but there was a burn ban in Bottineau at that time.
I hope you enjoy the photos that I shared from my HP Photosmart software.

Get your free version today at

                  Brian Fauske (Class of 70) – August 2008

From Evon Lagerquist (77): 

Gary, the man in the picture with Mary Ann Hagen is Alvin Haagenson. He is Cheryl’s dad….

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary, the guy sitting by Mary Ann Hagen is Elvin Haagenson. This is in the

other photo from Neola. Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Cheryl Haagenson (71): 

That handsome gentleman with Mary .Ann Hagen is Elvin Haagenson, my Dad.  He is 95 and lives at home with me in Dunseith.  He has lost most of his eye sight due to Glacoma

but still does well.  He stopped his Sun!day afternoon poker games a couple  months ago. Thanks for asking. He was surprised to hear that his picture was on the “machine” and said to get it out there who he was!  Thanks again Gary for all you do!
Cheryl Haagenson

From Florence Pladson Sime (62): 

Hi, the gal in the front row on the Azure picture is Christine,

who is a beautician. She has the white sweater on. The gal in the
back row with the red top on is Viola. She was married to Hartley
Carlson from Bottineau. She was a teacher at the Dunseith Day
School for many years.

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary, the picture of the Azure family has several I know–Red sweater in

the back row is Viola who was married to Hartley Carlson in Bottineau.
The gal on the front far right is Carol who runs Azure’s Store on the
Jack Rabbit road. The gal with the light hair runs a beauty shop next
door to the store, but I’m not sure of her name.Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Debbie Poitra Rondeau (77): 

This is in reply to the Fred Azure and Belcourt Police pictures.

Top Row: Viola,Lois,Morris,Rosalie (Azure )Thomas And sitting from right sideis: Cecelia (Azure) Thomas,Delia,Fred,Christina and Carol Azure. Rosalie and Cecelia both licve in Rolette.

Belcourt Police Department:

Sitting: From left to right is
Doug Manson-George Longie-Chuck Laducer-Kent Sayers-Leroy Jeannotte-Darly Laducer-and Daune Gourneau

2nd row: Starting from the right side
don’t know the first name? Wessel’s -Lillian Lafountain-Maryann Delorme-Pewe Jeannotte-Ron Trottier-Jeantte Grant-_______________?Freddie Blue

Standing: Left to right

Francis Thomas-Bob Gourneau-Duke Vettleson-Gary Falcon-Howard Longie-Joe Blue.

Top Row: Viola, Lois, Morris, Rosalie (Azure )Thomas

Sitting: Cecelia (Azure) Thomas, Delia, Fred, Christina and Carol Azure.             

Sitting L to R: Doug Manson-George Longie-Chuck Laducer-Kent Sayers-Leroy Jeannotte-Darly Laducer-and Daune Gourneau

2nd row: don’t know the first name? Wessel’s -Lillian Lafountain-Maryann Delorme-Pewe Jeannotte-Ron Trottier-Jeantte Grant-_______________?Freddie Blue

Standing L to R: Francis Thomas-Bob Gourneau-Duke Vettleson-Gary Falcon-Howard Longie-Joe Blue.

From Mona Dionne Johnson (48):

Gary:

Floyd Pritchard’s wife, Ann, received her transplant lung ! last
evening/night, and her daughter, Pam, says she responded to staff and is
back under sedation for the day.  Wonderful !  I am sure the family
would appreciate prayers, prayers and more prayers for her recovery and
reception of her new lung.  I am so happy for her.
Mona Dionne Johnson (48)

Ann, I was not aware of any health problems you are experiencing.  I hope all goes well with your new lung. Our prayers are with you.  Gary

Folks, Floyd and Ann are the owners of the Birchwood up at Lake Metigoshe. Gary

Ginger LaRocque Poitra (65): 

Hi Gary,

I am using my daughter Roxane’s computer, she’s the daughter who lives right next to us. Michaela lives closer to us now also, she moved to Belcourt a couple weeks ago.

Our summer vacation will be over on Monday, back to work we go.  School begins on the 20th of August. This school year we will see some changes in our school.  The Elementary will have a big school all to our selves as the Middle School has moved to the old High School because the new High School was occupied last school year.
I’ll write again.  Nice to hear from all of you.

Ginger (LaRocque) Poitra (“65)

Ginger, It’s great to hear from you. I am glad that you are getting these messages all the time now.  We thoroughly enjoyed seeing you and your sisters last summer.  Bernadette really enjoyed your company and was so glad she met and learned to know you and your sisters.  Gary

Request from Trish Larson Clayburgh (73): 

Hi Gary and Sybil,

This will serve as your introduction to each other.  Gary, I met Sybil in Cheyenne, Wyoming today and learned that she was married for many years to Augie Johnson from Dunseith.  (Sybil was from Minot).  She would like to be added to the “Gary blog”, and her email address is:

Sybil’s husband was a cousin to Don Johnson, Dick’s father, and is living in Minot.  We had a good time noticing what a small world it is, and she will no doubt know many of the folks that write in, or are written about.

Sybil, I hope you enjoy reading the stories and tidbits that people submit through this wonderful web connection.  I bet it stirs up a ton of memories for you, as it has for all of us that can’t wait to read the daily post.

Thanks Gary once again for all you do!

Trish

Reply/Omission/Correction form Bob Lykins (DHS teacher – mid 60′s): 

Interesting.  Cyber-space does some fascinating things.  What you highlighted in red begins and ends a whole piece on characteristics that I sent in my message.  I pointed out that living overseas gives us a greater insight into other cultures and other ways of thinking.  It builds in us a higher tolerance for alternate ways of life.  We tend to be bi-lingual while other people in the world, for the most part, speak only one language.  I also pointed out that the nuclear family was much closer and tended to do more things together as a family unit while the extended family had less influence on us.  I also said that those students who spent their high school years in schools overseas tended to gravitate towards occupations that would bring them back overseas as this was “home” to them.
Folks who live their whole lives in the U.S. have a hard time understanding this concept.  Those of us who have spent much of our lives growing up, and/or living, and working overseas can relate to this all too well.  It gives us an identity rather than leaving us wondering if we fit anywhere.  We are “Third Culture.”

Bob

Gary,

Bob Lykins reply to Diane Larson Sjol: 
Reply to Diane Larson Sjol.

It is obvious that you have found an occupation through which you can put your lessons from living overseas to good use.  This is not at all surprising as this is the trend of young people who have grown up overseas.  My two oldest children, who grew up in Japan and Germany, have gone on to such occupations.  My son is with the Department of State and my daughter studied and sang opera overseas.  She later also enlisted in the Air Force as a linguist.

As for my writings, you might try obtaining my most concise summary which can be found in the Kappa Delta Pi “RECORD,” Winter issue, 1986, pages 39-43.  I have more recent work but this is a better summary.  If you send me your mailing address I will send you a copy.

My studies have dealt primarily with the effects of living overseas on students and my writings reflect this.  However, these characteristics apply to adults as well.  Once Third Culture, always Third Culture.

Where did you live in Germany?  I lived for 28 years in the Wiesbaden area working at Lindsey Air Station.  I also worked at the Abrams Complex in Frankfurt and at Rhein Main Air Base.  No doubt we were “in country” at the same time and our paths probably crossed on occasion.  I worked for DoDDS and as an education coordinator traveled to all of the elementary and secondary schools giving workshops and working on curriculum.  I was also active in overseeing and running several student activities at the Germany level such as the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Seminars for students and Model United Nations.

It’s always great to touch base with a TCK (Third Culture Kid).  You may want to do a Web search on the “Third Culture.”  When I first started doing research in the subject, in the earIy 1980′s, I was one of a very few doing so.  Today there are many.  Even an outfit called Third Culture Family Services exhists in Pasadena, CA.  Probably one of the best works I have read recently is the book, “THIRD CULTURE KIDS: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds,” by David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken, Intercultural Press, Inc., 2001.  It is good material and presents a nice listing of resources and bibliography.  It’s an easy read.

Glueck haben und Auf Wiedersehen.

Bob Lykins

Reply from Keith Pladson (66):

Gary/Ivy Eller Roberts,

I don’t go online everyday as some (perhaps most?) do, so had not read your input, Ivy, until today (No. 180).  Wow!  I knew many actors had served in uniform, but not all of the ones you named.  You are so right about the current crop of actors and actresses we have.  Interestingly, many of them are also in the 14 percentile of the population who would like to see all reference to God, Jesus Christ and the Ten Commandments removed from any and all Government monuments, edifices, publications, money, etc.  Hmmm…
Keith Pladson

Reply from Glen Williams (52): 

Gary…That was a great article on the 1953 football squad….Thanks to Gary Morgan..

Gary mentioned that Virgil Vanorney  volunteered to coach the 1950 football squad to teach team members football basics,  prior to our new paid coach arriving…that is true as far as it went….

What he forgot to mention was that his dad, Ken Morgan, also helped with the pre-season coaching duties…it was the combination Ken Morgan and Virgil Van.. that got the team off on the right track…as Gary mentioned …..

I think the team members all believed that if the two of them had continued as coaches we would have had a much better season in 1950 and 1951….

I believe it was not until Lincoln Jerstad  (sp) became coach that the team really started having winning seasons…

So thanks to Ken and Virg…. They taught the new team all of the football basics….

Glen Williams class of 1952….

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

The 1950 football picture and stories got me remembering some later
football playing we did at DHS. I don’t remember the year exactly, but
about 65-66 we were having a problem keeping Marvin Kalk from going
offside (crossing the line before the ball was hiked). Marvin was a big
guy and was one of us linemen. Real often he would tear into the
opposition as soon as the quarterback started his rundown. We even held
onto his jersey but he just couldn’t wait and often caused us a
penalty.. Other than that, he was a good player. One time the coach
asked how we were going to keep Marvin from jumping the gun? I think it
was Frank Evans who said, “Let him play center, he won’t go before he
hikes the ball”! It worked well, but Marvin would watch between his legs
to see if the quarterback caught the ball and the opposition would turn
him nearly inside out just about every time he hiked the ball! As we
charged the line we could hear poor Marvin howling on the bottom of the
pile, on the line! But he did his job and never went offside again!
Darrel Fassett mentioned the rivalry between Dunseith and Rolla. It was
the same when we played and probably still is! I remember when in a game
in Rolla, one of the Rolla players grabbed Dave Shelver’s face guard and
yanked it over backward! He could have broken Dave’s neck! Several of
the Dunseith fans ran out on the field in protest and here came the
Rolla folks! I remember it being quite tense for a while as the refs
tried to calm things down. It was so cold, and light snow was falling,
that the quarterback borrowed a pair of gloves to try to hold on to the
ball! Tempers still flared when stuff like this took place, even on a
cold miserable night back in about 1962! Thanks Gary!

Dick

The following pictures have been provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

This is a picture of my Dad, Bob Stokes, and Lloyd Awalt carrying “Old Glory”, the United States Flag, in the annual memorial day parade in Bottineau.  From as far back as I can remember, Dad was in that parade, every year, and always carried “Old Glory”. Heaven forbid if he saw anyone anywhere mishandled, abused or even misfold the American flag. Dad and Lloyd were Ligonier partners for years.  Dad and Lloyd conducted and participated in many military funerals in the Bottineau area. Dad is now deceased (Aug. 2000).  Lloyd continues to be a very devout legionnaire and VFW member. Dad had the honor of having Lloyd fold and present the American flag to his family at his burial at the Ackworth Cemetery.  I never asked Lloyd, but I kind of think dad requested him to do that, knowing that he would do it right and he did.  Dad’s flag is now displayed, every memorial day, on his post, at the Bottineau cemetery.  Gary

Dick Johnson’s (68) reply (Gary Cota): 

Gary,

I see no one has answered Neola’s question about Gary Cota’s family. His
wife, Darla, is from Deering, ND and her maiden name is Brummond. The
older of their sons is Maynard, the younger is Dean. Gary is now retired
and  lives in Dickinson, ND. He is battling both cancer and loss of his
eyesight. I called and talked to him a couple months back and he said he
only has about 10% of his sight left. He was still upbeat though, even
with all the problems. His sons live in Grand Forks and Bismarck the
last I heard. Gary is my mother’s first cousin, as their mothers were
sisters. Gary graduated from DHS in 1956. He said they don’t have a
computer so no email. I think they would like to have the picture that
Neola found. I suppose their mailing address is on the master list you
compiled. Thanks!

Dick

Folks, I got Gary Cota’s phone number from Dick.  I just talked to him. He has a few health problems and he told me he is 90% blind, but he is upbeat.  He was really glad to get my call. He does not have email, but his phone number is 701- 290-2550. He gave me permission to give it out to all of you folks. I know he’d love to hear from you guys.  Gary

From Crystal Fassett Andersen (70): 

Hi ! Dale & I just returned from our annual retired postmaster get together. Each year we try to attend one of ND wonderful small community theaters. Last year we all gathered here in Walhalla for the play at Frost Fire,our local theater. This year we went to Ft.Totten to se “Hello Dolly!” and lo and behold who was the male lead ,but none other that Dunseith class of 71 graduate Gary Fulsebakke. He was superb!!! He and Art Rude,Don Berg & Alan Henning were our boys quartet during our high school years and my sister Paula was their accompanist,so I was thrilled to see Gary perform. If you still live in the state or are back for a visit,I would make this a stopover. A lot of talent came out of Dunseith,so any of you who were the lucky ones to have this talent,please let the rest of us know where and when you are displaying your talents. If I am anywhere close,I will be there. This goes for you,Dick & Brenda. I am only on the “other” side of the state!!!   Thanks again  Gary. Crystal Fassett Andersen

Request from Diane Larson Sjol (70): 

Gary,

Would you please add my dad, Norman Larson to your email list?  He

will really like getting them from you…he graduated from Bottineau
in 1943 and he and my mom got married in Dunseith and my mom and Leona
Hosmer were sisters (Verdellis Richard)..so that is his connection
with Dunseith and he knows alot of people. there…his email address
is

Thanks. Diane

From Diane Larson Sjol (70):

Hi everyone,

I have to comment on Shelver’s Drug store.  I remember sitting and
twirling around on those stools while waiting for my cherry
coke…those were the best floats and sodas around….I also remember
some of the candy we got there and the wonderful smell of that store.
I can’t go down main street in Dunseith without looking for it, the
bakery and Hosmer’s.

I really appreciated the photos of the stars and their contributions
to our armed service…I never knew that and will forward the info to
my dad who will get a kick out of it.  Also, Gary, please add my
sister Norma (Larson) Vaughn’s email to the list.  She attended schook
in Dunseith too when we were kids but only went to the first grade
there. She will be home on Tuesday the 5th and we will make our pit
stops in Dunseith…Thanks again for this forum.  It means alot.

Diane

Comment from Bob Lykins (DHS teacher – mid 60′s): 

Gary,

Boy, I don’t know what is happening to my submissions but, when I send them, they look error free and then when I read them in your e-mails they have dropped paragraphs and symbols where some corrections have been made.  It doesn’t look good for an old typing teacher.  Must be my computer and how I am approaching corrections and additions.  Maybe Bill Grimme has some thoughts.

Bob

Reply to Bob Lykins from Diane Larson Sjol (70): 

Reply to Bob Lykins,

Thanks for that great explanation Bob. It really makes sense to me
now.  It explains my interest in transcultural nursing.  As a nurse
and nursing instructor, I try to teach the importance of other
cultures and honoring their traditions.  It is very conducive to
healing when we follow the customs and traditional beliefs of others
in providing them care.  I too could go on and on about this subject.
I would love to read some of your articles. How can I get ahold of
them?  Moving around the world instilled a love in me for other
people.  I find that I am a “people person” and very interested in
different ways of life.  I love Germany and would live there and
practice nursing there for a couple years if it would be possible.
But let me say that wherever I have gone I have always proudly told
others that I am an American.  In spite of the turbulent times our
country is going through, I am proud to be an American.  We are free
to do as we want….in everything.  No one tells us how to “be”.  What
has allowed us to keep our freedom are the men and women who stand up
for it and fight for it every day without being asked to.  People like
all of you are what this country is all about.  We help each other, we
learn from each other, we support each other, we love each other.  Who
woulda thunk it?  Just remember…. Margaret Mead, famed
anthropologist, once said, “Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the
only thing that ever has.”  I think we are on our way.  Diane

The Shelver’s – From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

It was once said by someone, that the only thing that doesn’t change the
fact that everything changes. It is true, but it seems to me that
progress has stolen much of our history. One thing that comes to mind is
the soda fountain that was in Shelver’s Drug for many years. We met
there after school and had chocolate or cherry Cokes just about every
day. Edna Leonard and Glen and Annabelle Shelver would serve us some of
the best drinks in the country. I remember they also had Green River
Lime and Mission Orange, but I always had chocolate Coke! They also had
ice cream sundaes and malts and other items. The booths and stools, as
well as the counter were original varnished wood and were beautiful dark
wood. When the drugstore was remodeled in the early 60s, this was all
removed to update the drugstore to a much more modern building. They
then had just a pop machine and for a while we still gathered there for
a bottle of pop, but something was definitely missing! When driving
through Dunseith, I nearly always remember the good times we had at the
drugstore and now even the building is gone.We have recreated a soda
fountain, with booths and back counter, at the Rolette County Museum
site in St John. We even have a very old ‘Shelver Drug’ sign displayed
with it! The museum is open every Sunday from 2-4 and by appointment
anytime! This is from Memorial Day through Labor Day, so if you are in
the area stop in or give us a call and we will show you through the
buildings and displays. My number is 701-263-4564 and Mel’s is
701-477-5819. If we aren’t able we will find you a guide. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Message/Picture from Gary Morgan (54): 

Gary & All,

Attached is a snapshot of the entire 1950 football team that my mother took after we had beaten Belcourt in our first game of the season.  We had previously thumped Towner in a practice scrimmage so we were on a roll.  Back row: Billy Leonard, Marshall Awalt, Clayton McKay, Bob Leonard, Jerry Blake, Don Hiatt & Stephen Renault.  Front row: Gary Morgan, Eddie Leonard, Dick Morgan, Jerry Williams, Glen Williams & Don Hosmer.  White jersey: Barry Shelver.  We only had 12 game uniforms so Barry, being only a lowly 8th grader didn’t get one.  However, in the next game, against Leeds, Stephen got his nose broken, a not uncommon  occurrence in those days, and was out for the season.  This was a good thing for Barry cuz now he got a game uniform.  I don’t know why Bill missed the team picture.  This was the first football team Dunseith fielded since before the war and we took our lumps.  We played Belcourt twice so got two wins but were humiliated by Leeds 60-13 and also beaten by Rolla, Towner and Bisbee twice for a record of 2-5.  We were competitive in all but the Leeds game.
The next year, we won our first two games but in the second one, against Rolette, Don Hosmer’s head met Eddie Leonard’s knee and they were both knocked out of action.  Since we only had three subs to start with, including 90 lb. Barry Shelver and 75 lb. Gary Woodford, we had to cancel the rest of the season.
Janice is right.  Old school friends are special.

Gary Morgan

Neola Kofoid Garbe’s reply to Gary’s comments from yesterday: 

It’s sad, but Doris Kessler is now living at Good Sam.  I’m not sure of her mental abilities now–I think they are slipping somewhat.  I visit with her sometimes when I see her there–say “hi” for sure.

Neola

Neola, I am so sorry to hear of Doris’s condition.  She was such a mentally sharp lady.  Gary

From Bob Lykins (DHS Teacher – mid 60′s): 

Gary and all,

In response to Diane Larson Sjol’s comments regarding living military.  People such as Diane have an identity of their own.  It is called people of the 3rd culture.  Gary, you are Third Culture, I am Third Culture.  Anyone who lives and works in a culture not of their own, nor do they intend to become a part of the host culture, is called a Third Culture person.  Our first culture is that in which we have been raised.  Our second culture is any culture in which we have lived.  The effects of living in a host culture give rise to a third culture person.   Gary, you live in the PI, Diane has traveled the world as a member of a military family, I have lived and worked in Japan and Europe with DoD schools.  Living this way of life builds in us certain characteristics that set us apart from the general population.   One is that we are very well traveled and have experienced a variety of situations which has taught& r to return to a Third Culture Community.  Approximately 70% of them accomplish this by enlisting in the military or working for the government overseas, obtaining employment with International business, or as missionaries.  To a Third Culture person returning home often times means returning overseas where they have been raised.  This is not being anti-American.  In fact, like Diane and the rest of us, we are fiercely patriotic.  It is just that we feel more comfortable in a Third Culture environment.  I must confess that I have had a heck-of-a-time adjusting to living back in the States and I look forward to returning to Germany for a couple of months in the fall.  I could go on and on about this subject since it has been and continues to be one of my studies.  I have written several articles and lectured widely to governmental institutions and international business concerns on this subject.  It answers a lot of questions by people

Bob Lykins

From Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

Reply from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Ele’s forward was right on down to a tee! Don Martel’s forward about the
Ten Commandments is also right on. I’ve always wondered what these
people think our laws were based upon! Where would you have gotten the
idea that stealing and killing and other crimes were wrong if it wasn’t
from the Ten Commandments? I think lawyers and judges have confused
themselves as to where the laws are founded! Common sense is fading in
our legal system. Dad always said that nothing is so simple that a
lawyer can’t complicate it! I think he was right! Thanks Gary, Ele, and Don!

Dick

Message/Pictures from Paulette LaCroix Chisholm (68): 

Gary,

So many people in the Dunseith area seem to have a tie to Washington state.
We went to Port Townsend, WA for 10 days the first part of July and visited
“Hurricane Ridge” where there are many beautiful snow capped peaks and hills
flocked with spring flowers.  The mountains, while we were there, were
filled with smoke from the California fires. They weren’t as visible as they
might be.  I shared pictures of our trip with Lola Metcalfe Vanhorny and she
wrote back with interesting family memories.  She gave me permission to
share them with the “Gary Blog.” Feel free to post her story or any of the
pictures I sent along.

Tim, Many of your gabbier classmates are very excited and happy to hear the
good news about you.  We hold you in healing light.

To our service people, we cannot thank you enough. Thank you for sharing and
please tell us more about your experiences in Viet Nam or the Middle East.
Whenever we fly we always give a round of applause for any person we see in
uniform.
Thanks Gary,
Paulette LaCroix Chisholm

Paulette, I have pasted Lola’s lovely letter below.

I know that area of Washington state really well.  I lived in Bremerton, located on the Olympic Peninsula, for 37 years.

Bremerton is just an hours ferry ride across the sound, to the west, from Seattle. Gary
Lola,

Wow, what a story! Thanks for sharing that. I never knew all this went on.
Those paths we don’t take…  I thought this a good
story to share with the Dunseith blog, but of course would leave that up
to you.
Paulette

(Lola Metcalfe Vanorny’s (68) reply)
I remember in 1961 we went to Seattle to  my brothers  (jim jr)
graduation

for his masters-  he worked at Boeing–  and   to Denny Creek in the
cascades for a picnic with all the MEtcafe relatives– they mostly settled
in Seattle–  I loved  it there!  anyway–  –  gorgeous!– my parent s
moved to Seattle in 1939 cause Gary had asthama  so bad and  after he was
about a few months old –  he had spent almost his entire life in the
hospital   –   the dr in Bottineau –  told my folks that he would not
survive if they didn’t leave this climate!– soo they sold everything they
had and paid the dr bill to the bottineau hospital  it took everything
they made on their sale–  except enough to buy a pickup   and moved to
seattle–  —  this is as I remember from what my Mom told me—

– Dad started out with a wheel barrow digging basements and then as the
war ended,    the cement era  came into being and he started a construction
company and poured cement all over the Seattle area and Alaska– –but Mom
said their weekend was  always   picnics at Denny Creek!! in the
Cascades–   –

When we visited it was just like a dream!!!_   gorgeous!!!!! — water so
clear you could see to the bottom of the creek and we walked across a log
and watched the fish etc – rocks — it will be forever  burned on my
mind–

air so light and clear and the smell of the pine trees–  AND QUITE
COOL!!!—   like heaven —
my poor Mom when she had to move back to NoDak!!!_)-   Dad decided he
didn’t want to raise his kids in that environment (that was at the time when the
unions came into being –  even bombings at houses etc..  and you had to
party with the “Good Ole Boys”   and drink and gamble mostly forget the
family—–and he knew that would be very detrimental to famiily life ( he
sold out to his partner Chris Berg who became a millionare—  with
offices  in 11 different  countries)    —   however always stayed in touch and
friends with Dad—a very good friend–

soooo  – he  bought a farm in the Turtle Mt for  $400 and moved  everyone
back to nodak—LeRoy Strongs lived in their house so Dad just built on a
lean -to and -they all lived together –  (which is why I think there is
quite a bond between the two families even to this day)———no
electricity –no water-  sometimes a phone —-more often than not it
didn’t work  ————— nothing just a house in Rolette County-and onto a farm

and start up buying cattle etc.      farming  –  .and lots of work!!!  that meant 4 babies

and 3 more subsequently!–  and   hauling your water for everything and even laundry-and

hanging  clothes on the line in the winter until they froze and then bring them into the house
to finish drying and then iron  EVERYTHING –clothes    even the t
shirts–hankies –    and sheets and dishtowels –  with a “sad Iron” that
you heated on the wood stove  .  milking cows and feeding calves and

cooking–endless cooking on that wood stove and oh man could she cook!!–
and send the kids with their Dad to Kelvin  on Saturday night for
groceries and selling cream (like a vacation ha! )     and then scrub and
wax and shine the whole house for Sunday– which ALWAYS  meant company for
meals!!–  after church   in the summer  – but church  the winter was
called Little Prairie Ladies Aid and all the members of the church went to
different households for  church– ( the old country church was too cold
to heat–)  –  which started around 10 am in the  selected home’s
living room and kitchen area  and as soon as church was over it was time
for potluck dinner and an afternoon of visiting and kids playing and
babies being played with– I remember that well– what fun we had!!–

Mom said she cried the entire trip home   (she had lived that cold nodak
winters and very poor and hard work   for all those living then during the
depression— all her life and had it soooo nice in Seattle with all the  conveniences –
washer ,  dryer , vacuum , sidewalks , new homes,,  new things and lots of
fun–  people from Nodak went there to work and stayed with Mom and Dad–
and she cooked and did their laundry when they went to work in the
shipyards mostsly–  she talked of Max Petersons and the Schimetz’s
staying there –   etc)    .  and when they stopped in North Dakota in the spring of

1945– whatever town they were in the wind shipped a flag so hard it about tore it  apart   –  soooo
unhappy- but Gary did okay and mother—– being mother –  so good
natured –  –  adjusted–took things in stride and “bloomed wherever she  was
planted !!  she got to love Nodak again —and  adjusted and  was happy  where  she was
always!–  she was such a flexible person–  and was happy all the
time—- I don’t ever remember seeing Mom when she didn’t act really happy
to see us !==whether at home or in public–   yes she was a beautiful lady
both outside and inside!!–  and Dad knew that and he appreciated it –
always trying to make her quit working so hard– !
Dad promised Mom that he would put in electricity and water as soon as it
was available and he did –   I just have vague memories of them hauling
in a bathtub and all of us kids trying to be the first to be in it –  I  think
they got electriccity when I was about 2 yrs old cause that is all i
remember about that –  anyway enough rambling  — I have always wanted to
go back there-    it is absolutely heaven on earth!!–  I supposed it has
all changed now though–

in the early 80′s Jay and I decided to go to Montana and visit his Mom’s
sister Lucille and her husband– — we stayed with them and had a ball
fishing on a dam in montana – well,  as long as we were that close —-I
insisted Jay and our kids see the “Road to the sun ” in Glacier –cause i
remembered it from when i was a kid——–    with Dad —       so we
took off for there – I remember going through there with the folks and how
beautiful  it   was and I wanted Jay and the kids to see and enjoy  it–yeah
right !  they sure did and had a ball!!! =–  however –I was on the
floorboards scared to death-  I supposae the responsibility of kid did it
for me — I was never so glad to get out of mountains!!–  anyway gotta
close this for tonight — morning comes early — but thanks for  the
pics–gorgeous–Love ya -Lola

Pictures provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:
Do any of you recognize any of the folks in these two pictures?

Neola, for all of us from the Rolette/Bottineau county areas, this is a very

familiar and beautiful remembrance.  I remember these sunrises well, on #5.

For those of you around the Bottineau area, the Name Doris Kessler is Familiar.

She is the former owner of the Bowling Alley currently owned by her son Tom, so

it is still in the family.  Doris continues to be a very active civil affairs member of

the Bottineau community.

The mornings before each of  my parents funerals, Dad in 2000 and Mom in 2004,

We, along with many family members, went to the Bowling Alley for Breakfast.  We filled

up 5 or 6 tables.  When we went to pay the bill, Doris said everyone’s breakfast is

on me.  She paid for everyone.  For many years prior to my parents deaths, they ate

every evening meal at the Bowling Alley.  Often times on week ends they would eat

all 3 meals there.  During the week they ate their noon meals at the Bottineau

Senior Center. Gary

From Ele Dietrich Slyter (69):

I thought maybe your readers would enjoy this one–I sure did. Ele

Those who grew up in small towns will laugh
when they read this.

Those who didn’t will be in disbelief and
won’t understand how true it is.

1) You can name everyone you graduated with.

2) You know what 4-H means.

3) You went to parties at a pasture, barn,
gravel pit, or in the middle of a dirt road.  On Monday you
could always tell who was at the party because of the scratches
on their legs from running through the woods when the party was
busted. (See #6.)

4) You used to ‘drag’ Main

5) Most people went by a nickname…

6) You scheduled parties around the schedules
of different police officers, because you knew which ones would
bust you and which ones wouldn’t.

7) You could never buy cigarettes because all
the store clerks knew how old you were (and if you were old
enough, they’d tell your parents anyhow.)  Besides, where
would
you get the money?

8) When you did find somebody old enough and
brave enough to buy cigarettes, you still had to go out into the
country and drive on back roads to smoke them.

9) You knew which section of the ditch you
would find the beer your buyer dropped off.

10) It was cool to date somebody from the
neighboring town.

11) The whole school went to the same party
after graduation.

12) You didn’t give directions by street
names but rather by references.  Turn by Nelson’s house, go 2
blocks to Anderson’s, and it’s four houses left of the
track
field.

13) The golf course had only 9 holes.

14) You couldn’t help but date a
friend’s ex-
boyfriend/girlfriend.

15) Your car stayed filthy because of the

dirt roads, and you will never own a dark vehicle for this
reason.

16) The town next to you was
considered ‘trashy’ or ‘snooty,’ but was actually
just like your
town.

17) You referred to anyone with a house newer
then 1950 as the ‘rich’ people.

18) The people in the ‘big city’
dressed
funny, and then you picked up the trend 2 years later.

19) Anyone you wanted could be found at the
local gas station or the dairybar.

20) You saw at least one friend a week
driving a tractor through town or one of your friends driving a
grain truck to school occasionally.

21) The gym teacher suggested you haul hay
for the summer to get stronger.

22) Directions were given using THE stop
light as a reference.

23) When you decided to walk somewhere for
exercise, 5 people would pull over and ask if you wanted a ride.

24) Your teachers called you by your older
siblings’ names.

25) Your teachers remembered when they taught
your parents.

26) You could charge at any local store or
write checks without any ID.

27) There was no McDonalds.

28) The closest mall was over an hour away.

29) It was normal to see an old man riding
through town on a riding lawn mower.

30) You’ve pee’d in a cornfield.

31) You laughed your butt off reading this
because you know it is true, and you forward it to everyone who
may have lived in a small town.

I would not have wanted to have been raised
any other way!!!!

Tough times don’t last… Tough people do

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends, Last Saturday night a few of us played music for a wedding reception at Long Lake, for Amy Kester and Eric Nabon! . We had a great meal and a real nice crowd. Amy is the daughter of Jim and Connie Halvorson Kester [64]. The evening was full of surprises. Nancy Hosmer Baldwin and Colette Hosmer came up and said HI and we had a’ too short ‘ conversation with the music and all! Then later as I was taking a break, Greg and Angela Berube Malget came over and visited for a while. I asked Angela if indeed her brother Robert had broken his leg, while snow skiing in the ditch behind a car, and she said YES he did! I thought I remember seeing him with a cast from the accident, but now I know for sure! It was probably unimportant to most of the readers, but after I mentioned it I wondered if I was wrong, when no one replied. I remember Robert Berube had a grayish blue 51 Chevy two door with full disk wheel covers. I believe he sold it to Garrett Myer and he rolled it up by Lake Upsilon the next winter on the icy road coming out to highway 43. I was going ice fishing one Saturday and saw the car on its top in the ditch, luckily Garrett didn’t get hurt but the car was done! I think it was the winter of  64-65, but don’t know for sure. Thanks Gary! Dick

From Diane Larson Sjol (70):

I would like to comment on my sister Cheryl Larson Dakin’s post about  military life.  We usually disagree slightly on whose version of our  life is correct so this may be a first but she is right on the mark.   Growing up in the military brought many challenges…having to change  schools and move to a new location and make new friends, leaving  behind old friends every three years….but we stood by each other as  a family and joined the hundreds of other military families who were  doing the same.  To us it was our way of life.  We were privvy to many  exciting adventures within the US and abroad.  We learned about  culture and being sensitive to others…we learned how important it is  to look out for each other.  We were always proud that our dad was in  the Army and we were proud that we were Americans.  We must remember  that our military is a voluntary service where men and women join of  their own free will to preserve what our flag and country stand  for….so yes, a huge thanks to all who serve; to all who have served;  to those who didn’t make it back; to those we are still waiting for.  One thing that got us through and made our lives easier was when we  were able to go back and live in Dunseith among old friends and  relatives.  I always felt at home there even though I only went to  school off and on during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades.  Between  posts we always came back to ND and to Dunseith to visit family…so I  am also proud to be a member of the “Dunseithians”. Diane

Glen Williams (52) Reply to Bev Morinville Azure (72):

Bev you are right one of the guys is Barry Shelver….and he has changed somewhat from 1950…..

From Janice Leonard Workman (56):

Gary, The guys in the picture are Barry Shelver, he must have been the water boy in the football picture is it was 1950, he probably was in 7^th or 8^th grade.  The next one is Gary Morgan (#4 in the football pic), then Clark Crum, (#10), last but certainly not least is Jerry Williams (#11).  So there is Barry, Gary, Jerry, and Clark, four best buds in high school and after.

From Martha Lamb Schepp (68): 

Hi Gary,

If my mind doesn’t fail me, I believe from the days of Kelvin Homemakers that today is your Mom Elaine’s birthday. Thinking of your Mother today.
Martha Lamb Schepp

Martha, You are absolutely correct. My mother was born on July 29, 1921.  You have a fantastic memory.  How well I remember your mother, Dorothy,  and my mother being members of the Kelvin Homemakers along with many others from up in that area, some of whom are on this distribution list.  I don’t want to start listing the former members for fear of missing someone, however reading the Dunseith News in the Bottineau Courant I see that the Kelvin Homemakers is still a very active organization with Leola Lagerquist, Elenore Fauske and Mary Ann Hagen.  They were all members with our mothers years ago. You and I attended many functions associated with that organization in our younger days.  The men would be visiting in one room and we kids would be in another room while the ladies had their meeting.  Those were fun days.  Gary

Tim Hill’s (68) progress from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Last night while I was working on a tractor in my shop, the phone rang.

I was real busy and grumbled to myself about who wants something now!
When I picked up the phone, this familiar voice said, “Hi Dick, this is
Tim”! It was great to hear his voice again and to hear how strong and
alert he is! He was just like the old Tim, full of fun. We had a good
chat and went over a bunch of the stuff we did over the years, some I
have sent to the Gary Site—and some NOT!! He is doing as well or
better than is normally expected and is very positive about the outcome.
Tim is amazing! He enjoys the emails and reads them every day! It will
go by quickly and soon he will be back home, giving us all a run for it!
Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Cheryl Larson Dakin (71):

Hi Gary and all

I’ve enjoyed reading the comments and experiences about the military and wanted to add a couple of my own thoughts. My dad retired from the Army in 1970, the summer before my senior year in high school. All my life we lived on army posts except when we came back to Dunseith when Dad was stationed places where we either couldn’t join him (Korea) or we had to wait (up to a year sometimes) before we could join him, mostly overseas. Since there were so many long stretches when he was gone, when he did get home we would sometimes “fight” to see who would get to unlace his boots. It usually ended with one of us at each leg. We were so proud of our Dad and what he represented to us. We still are. Anyway, we grew up with soldiers marching and the American flag flying, the Pledge of Allegience and assemblies where soldiers came to talk to us about our country and freedom and what it meant to be American. All the movies we ever went to began with the Star Spangled Banner and everyone stood and either saluted or stood with their hands on their hearts. If you weren’t seated yet, you waited. When we were in Ft. Belvoir, at 5 pm the bugler started playing taps and the flag was lowered and everyone anywhere near the parade ground stopped, drivers got out of their cars and saluted the flag and waited there until the flag was safely folded and put away. Only then did traffic start again. When my dad was in Viet Nam, all the wives got together to support each other, to worry together, sometimes cry together, and rejoice when they learned their husbands were on their way home. Life was not without some real hardships but it was a wonderful way to grow up. It is truly an honor to lend whatever support we can to the  men and women serving in our military. So to them and to their families left behind I want add my prayers for their safety and to say a great big THANK YOU for all they do to protect our freedom and our way of life.  And thank you Gary for giving us this forum.

Cheryl Larson Dakin ’71

From Bob Hosmer (56): r

Gary,

Sure do enjoy hearing from every one.  Just a note: I do think #8 in the football line up is me.  I would have been a freshman I think.  If the picture is before 1952, then it isn’t me.

Bob Hosmer

Glen William’s (52) reply with the correct names: 

Gary…you got them all correct except number six….and that is me…

Now can you match the four guys in the 2007 photo with the 1950 team members….

Glen Williams

Gary.. The attached 2007 reunion photo pictures four guys who were members of the 1950 football team…can you you match the 1950 football individual team members  with the individuals in the 2007 photo…????

No looking back now…!!!!

Glen Williams

From Ivy Eller Robert (74): 

Gary…

I read all of the stories about you men & women that have bravely given their lives for us and to us. Whether they were killed while serving in the military or not, in a way, when they entered the military, doesn’t matter what branch, their lives were changed and so they gave their lives to us. Not having anyone close, that I can recall, that have served in the Military, I just can’t imagine what some of them have endured for us. It’s like this example, I can’t ever fathom what it would be like to be an alcoholic, recovering or what! I’ve never had to experience that. I’ve been around a few people that have, but until I would walk in their shoes, I will never know for sure what that’s all about. I feel that way about the solders that have served our country so that we can be free.
I’ve wanted to reply to some of the stories I read, but haven’t until now, Vickie Metcalfe’s & Sharon Dana’s emails really touched me. I feel saying THANK YOU to those people that have served our country is not enough but what else is there to say & do but THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
Ever since the U.S. got into Iraq, this time, I’m finding more co-worker and new friends, that have been in the military & have been to Iraq or have served some where in that region. When I meet someone new and find out that they have served our country, I make it my priority to say “THANK YOU” for what you have done. If they are a co-worker, I try to take them to lunch or to buy them a beer or coffee after work, just to say THANKS. It seem such a very small thing to do for what they have done for us, but not knowing how else to show my own appreciation to them, I choose to do the lunch thing.
All I can say to all of you who have served or are serving right now: THANK YOU, YOU TRULY ARE HEROES to those of us like me! GOD BLESS YOU!

And God Bless you Gary, for this blog……it really has united old friends and families from Dunseith. It’s amazing…….

Ivy (Eller) Robert
From Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

FromBob Hosmer (56): 

Hi Gary,

The story about Glen Shelver brought back a lot of memories.  I remember evening a man came into the drugstore with a bleeding wound in his head.  Glen looked at it cleaned the wound and stitched it back together again.

I remember when I was about 12 years old that I was impatient with the slow burning fuse of a home made bomb I constructed using sulfur and powdered zinc tightly wrapped in tissue paper.  I finally went the direct route and lit the tissue itself.  The bomb went off before I got my hand away and the zinc and sulfur had burnt my hand an blackened it with residue.  I didn’t want my mother to know what happen to my hand and ran down to the drug store to see Glen Shelver.  He brought me around the soda bar turned on cold water which soothed the burns and then wrapped it in some gauze. He probably put some save on it too, but I’m not sure.

Another thing he and Annabelle would do is measure the height of Barry and his friends on a vertical water pipe.  I was always the top line of all that were measured.

My wife and I saw Annabelle a few months before she died.  We stopped at Rugby and found her sleeping in a chair in the lounge area.  We gently woke her up and when she saw me she said “Hi Bob.”  She was a 102 then.  When she was 101 we visited her and Hope Bedard. Walking down the hall way (Katrine was with Hope and I was with Annabelle) Annabelle said to me as we walked a clipping pace, “I don’t like to walk with Hope.  She’s walks to slow.”

Just some thought to share.  thanks to everyone who is contributing.

Bob Hosmer (56)

Picture/Message from Sandra Zeiler Vandal (62): 

The picture of Arnold and Lorna was taken while we were up in Rugby for Arnold’s b-day. At the same day, we went to see Connie Peterson and Blair Tandeski at the folks’ old farm. They really appreciated  Connie and Blair’s hospitality. Take care, Sandra and Mike

Folks, The messages from here to the bottom of this email all relate to the 1950 Dunseith squad football picture that was provide by Glen Williams.

From Florence Hiatt Dahl (50): 

Mercy……….58 years ago a picture of the Dunseth squad…Picture 52.  The faces all look familar, but the only one I can put a name to is my brother Don, number 2.  A bunch of good looking fellows…..
From Janice Leonard Workman (56): 

Hi Gary, in the football picture Glen Williams sent  #1 is Bob Leonard, # 10 is Clark Crum, #9 Barry Shelver, # 4 Gary Morgan, #5 Dick Morgan, #12 is Marshall Awalt.  I think that #8 is Don Hosmer, #11 is Jerry Williams and #2 could be Don Hiatt, I also think that Glen Williams knows all in this picture because he is either # 6 or 7.  Oh, yes Kick McKay could be #6 or 7 also.  My 3 older brothers, Bill, Bob, and Ed were on one of the 1^st football teams Dunseith had in the early 50’s.  On the same team were the Morgan boys, Dick and Gary and the Williams boys, Jerry and Glenn.  There was an article in one of the papers about all those brothers, probably the Turtle Mountain Star or the Dunseith Journal.  I don’t see Bill at all on the picture, and #3 could be Ed, but he isn’t smiling and not wearing glasses, so I can’t be sure.  It also looks like someone, maybe a coach is smudged out of the picture on the left.  The team played 6- or 9-man.  These days, when you see a football team picture, even in high school, there are many more players than in this picture.  I think Auburn High School has about 50 or 60 on their team.  Of course it’s a much bigger school also.  Anyway, when Dunseith started it’s football program, I was not in high school yet.  In the picture, Barry Shelver was probably a freshman.  When I got into high school, Mr Jerstad was the coach and the cheerleaders always got to go to the away games, but we didn’t have buses, so we rode with whoever.  What fun those days were!!!

Janice Leonard Workman
FromBonnie Awalt Houle (56): 

Good Morning Gary,

The football picture sure brings back lots of memories.  This picture was taken only shortly before Eddie Leonard went into the San Haven with TB.

#12 Marshall Awalt, #10 Clark Crum, #8 Don Hosmer, #11 Unknown, #9 Barry Shelver, #1 Bob Leonard, #2 Unknown, #4 Gary Morgan, #5 Dick Morgan, #6, #7, both unknown, #3 Eddie Leonard.  Was the coach a fellow named Mr. Blake?

The stories of the Military Men from our community are wonderful, we have no idea what they have been through.  Marshall was in Korea, and also in Vietnam twice, he never talks about his experiences.  From the medals he has earned we know he did what was expected of him to the best of his ability and then some.  Thank God for small town boy across the country who have given their all so we can life in peace.

Bonnie Awalt Houle (56)

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

I sure you will get several IDs on the football picture. I will throw in

my guess.
No. 1–Bob Leonard
4–Gary Morgan
5–Dick Morgan
7–Kick McKay
10-Clark Crum
8–Don Hosmer
9–Barry Shelver?
6–Bill McKay?
2–?
11-?
12-?
3–?

Jerry Williams is probably one of the players, if he has the
picture. Gary Morgan will know these guys are!

Dick
From Ellen (Graff-58) Myrick: 

Some names/gueses od 50 football team:  12 ?, 10 Clark Crum, 8 Bob Hosmer, 11 ?, 9 Barry Shelver, 1 Bob Leonard, 2 Don Conroy, 4 Gary Morgan, 5 Dick Morgan, 6 & 7 Glen and/or Jerry Williams, 3?

Ellen (Graff-58) Myrick

Photos/message from Glen Williams (52):  

Gary this is a “cleaned up photo”that I eamiled you before….someone said they could not recognize anyone….maybe this will help….It was the 1950 squad…and Bob Leonard was number 1…now who else do you recognize?

Glen Williams

Gary.. The attached 2007 reunion photo pictures four guys who were members of the 1950 football team…can you you match the 1950 football individual team members  with the individuals in the 2007 photo…????

No looking back now…!!!!

Glen Williams

Vickie Metcalfe’s (70) reply to Sharon Longie Dana (73) & Gary: 

Note: Sharon Longie’s letter follows Vickie’s below.

I write this, as I was influenced by the sharing of Dunseith Veterans, Gary, and to Sharon Longie , because, as Sharon continues to write, her clarity of heart and her pride as an American Citizen will not be silenced.

Meanwhile back here in ND.

Gary, Last week, I ran into your brother, Darrel at Wal-Mart.   Bud and I discussed the recent sharing of Ken N., Warren A, your’s,  Evon’s pics of  her Lagerquist brothers and others, this past month.  Through the words, eyes, minds, and  heartfelt sharing of pictures and first person experiences of Viet Nam, you let us know…pieces of  your experiences….in that another world outside of Dunseith.

Bud and I discussed, that while you were there;  We, back home, on the farm were doing chores, sharing rides into the weekly confirmation classes and bumping along in the slow yellow school buses over dusty gravel roads to and from Dunseith school.  While at school,we’d go through the motions, acting to be normal teens, to fit in, in hallways, classes,study halls, Stella’s lunch,Speech and  POD, then long bus ride home again chatting nonsensically with our second families ie our  bus buddies.

Silence on what  we’d watched so intently on T.V., in our living rooms the night before.   After the animals were well fed, the chores done, supper with family visiting around the kitchen table, clean up dishes, then dashing to get the best space on the floor, in front of the t.v. with dad sitting in his easy chair…  just 1/2 hr. time to watch news before homework,

Yup. Those little 1 or 2  t.v. channels flickering.. shadows.. sounds…shhkkhhs crackely ..grays, black and whites,  or whoa the nightly news with  Quiet. Watch. Listen. Dan Rather, Chet Huntley, David Brinkley and Walter Cronkite.  … New T.V?.. forbid __color, vivid colors…reds,…explosive….raw, raw feelings….. Acute Silence. Homework.

One Sunday,the new Lutheran Church had been built, the members were voting on a new name.  I sat in one of the pews with my parents and siblings at the old Dunseith Church. Various speakers from the congregation put in their plugs, speaking  on 3 or 4 or 5  names.  My thoughts rambled away… as an errant teen (you know how much more intelligent we were then?), thoughts like, “these names don’t make sense to me and those old church grown ups.. don’t seem to be aware of ..what’s going on in the world.”  The pastor spoke, ” as conferments, you are members of the church and each conferment gets to vote on new name for the combined congregations. ”  My thought,  ” Wow. That, and, we weren’t even 21….”

I was respectful. My mouth was Silent.  But, my heart thump thumping, so bursting inside as I listened to  names like, Ebenezer, ..Trinity,..St.___, then someone spoke a word….What? Who? What was that? a feeling of hope,”Perhaps there are grown-ups here who are aware of what’s going on in the news.”  I had the feeling of  Hope!  “Were they  throwing out a name just to fill a quota to vote on? ” No. All the  names were put  on a written ballot, and all conferments present  from Dunseith Lutheran, Rendahl Lutheran, and Little Prairie Lutheran voted.

“What name did we all  feel in our hearts?”

It came to pass………….. when the votes were counted.

PEACE

To, Each of you, the military warriors &  members of military families, X and current, I  know now, that we, may have been silent to each other during those trying times. Often confused just trying to figure out how to make sense of stuff and then communicate.  I believe, Each of us; the errant teens, the Ladies aide mom’s, the wise leader -elders, the silver starred (grand)mothers, the VFW dads’, We were just there in Dunseith together,with  thoughts and hearts flying those many miles to Viet Nam, to you the guys there.

You, our hometown big brothers and bus buddies, a belated but heartfelt                        THANK YOU AND PEACE. Vickie Metcalfe

Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:41:10 -0700 (PDT)

From: Sharon Dana <msmtice@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: msmtice@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Hello #172, Well said.

To: “Vickie L. Metcalfe”

X-EduTech-MailScanner-From:

Thanks Vickie, i appreciate it. Since i went in the service and was a military wife you see a different side to freedom. I went to a concert tonite for a young man who was on American Idol. His name is Phil Stacey and he wrote a song about Old Glory and sang it there and it brought tears to my eyes becasue people do forget and we can’t forget we are Americans every day and what we have is not just given to us we fought many fights to be where we are. I am jsut thankful for those freedoms and able to wxpress it. Sometimes its a hard thing for me to do quietly because i have been on both sides of the fence and i like that freedom side alot. I will quickly tell you a story about my sone David when we lived in Japan, he was 10 years old and one day it came out in the base paper that there was going to vbe a demonstration at the Main Gate of our Naval Facility and any families that lived off base were to come and stay on the base til the deomonstration was
over, they expected it to be peaceful but wanted to insure our safety. So i did what they asked and went on the base. We were told what time the demonstrtion was going to be going on and once things cleared up and folks went home, we to could go home. Well my son asked if he could see how the Marines were keeping us safe at the main gate so i decided to drive him there so he could see what was happening. The gates of course were closed and standing there shoulder to shoulder were United Sates Marines all across the gat with the rifles drawn but not pointing at anyone but there were ready. My little boy couldn’t believe his eyes and he asked “they are doing that so that we can live here and still be Americans” and i said yes that they would defend us and die for us if necessary. He never forgot that day. Neither have I. Seeing them there and knowing i lived on foreign soil a few miles from that gate makes you appreciate your freedom and love that flag
even more.

Thanks again Vicki, i was a little surprised no one else said anything about what I wrote. check out that website from Grys site the one about losing someone, i went and listened to the video and its awesome…………makes you feel proud.

Sharon

Sandra Zeiler Vandal’s (62) reply to Gary Metcalfe (56): 

Hi Gary,  in response to Gary Metcalfe,  That accident was approx. 59yrs. ago.  What I have been told—we went to Kelvin for birthday candles for my cake.  It was my 5th b-day..guess you could say I did it up right!!!  A couple from Canada came around the corner going a bit fast, but certainly not expecting to see a child on the road.  What I remember—a long time in the hospital(Mom with), a cast from above my waist, down both legs, and very itchy knee caps.  Going home still with the cast and scooting around on the floor and up&down the staires.

Dr. Nelson put a metal plate in my leg along with springs and screws and hoped for the best.  I have some great scars (sewed up with cat gut, must have had a fancy med. term for that) I am very fortunate ,the best is what I got.  I don’t remember how many of stitches—how long ago was your accident, Gary .  Sandy Vandal

Dave Wurgler’s (64) Reply to the Dunseith Peace Lutheran Picture: 

Gary : You probably know I left Dunseith in 66 but I think i can pick a few of this photo that I remember so here I go. Back row 4 right Erling Berg, 5 right Stan Salmonson, my brother in law,6 right Cliff salmonson, 3rd row 2 right Joan Wurgler, maybe Salmonson, my sister, 2nd row 4 right Agnes salmonson, oops then Deloris berg, Erlings wife wow now Imight be getting confused but 5 right is Caroleen Lider splash Williams and 1st row Don Johnson 2right Cliff Halvorson 3right  is Laurel or loren Sturuck, and 7 right is Don Willaims. This is the best of my recolection, and if anyone else can contribute I will be looking. Happy Day Dave (64)

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Thanks to Bob for sharing his/his daughter’s/granddaughter’s story. I can’t even imagine the pain an incident like inflicts on a family.  The sad part is that (I understand) most “shakers” are good/decent people; they just “snap” for a bit.  So sad.  I haven’t had time to read the article; I hope it remains on the net for a few days.

When I get ready, I’m going to the hospital again.  I have to admit my mind/body need more rest.  Tomorrow is the Class of ’58 reunion; that’s the class I actually graduated with.  I plan to attend the banquet on Monday/picnic on Tuesday, although chances are great, the banquet is all I’ll attend. 

You can mention in your email that I’m not doing much with pictures these days, due to Mom’s being in the hospital–if you want to.  My energy level is dropping. 

Neola

From Floyd/Carmen Leonard Richard: 

That picture of the fellow in uniform that was unidentified is Larry Richard, son of Ernest Richard and Beatrice Slyter. They lived in Bottineau when he graduated from high school, but they previously  lived in Dunseith and some of their children attended grade school there.Their daughter, Marlene (Richard) Parslow was a member of the class that graduated in1965 and attended the gathering at the Dunseith Country Club last year. Larry lives in Pennsylvania and is an ordained minister. He also served in Viet Nam.When the family went to Minot to meet the plane when Larry returned from service, he talked about his expericnces  over there, but when they arrived at his home, he told his parents that was all he was ever going to say, and that he never wanted to talk about Viet Nam again.

Ernest Richard is a brother to Floyd and Don Richard and Stella Schmeitz.

Marlene Richard Parslow’s (65) Reply to Gary: 

Note: Marlene was with the DHS class of 65 before her family moved to Bottineau. I am pretty sure Larry Went to Bottineau too.  They have lots of relatives from and in the Dunseith area.  And yes, as Carmen Richard stated, Marlene did attend our DHS class of 65 reunion last summer

Yes!!  This is my big brother, Larry!!  Who has this picture?   Wasn’t he a handsome dude?  Today he is a Methodist Minister in Pennsylvania.

Yes, LeRoy, Dianne, Lester, Jim, Mike, Deb, Peg, and Brad are all my siblings!! We are all doing well. My father, Ernest, passed away 2 years ago.  My Mom, Beatrice (Slyter) is still alive.  She will be 86 in November.

Thanks for asking about this picture!!
Marlene(Richard)Parslow
715-425-7525

 
Photo/message from Glen Williams (52): 

Gary this is a “cleaned up photo”that I eamiled you before….someone said they could not recognize anyone….maybe this will help….It was the 1950 squad…and Bob Leonard was number 1…now who else do you recognize?

Glen Williams

From Florence Pladson Sime (62): 

In reply to Neola question about Tom and Carolyn Boguslawski, they live in Lewiston, Idaho. I don’t know their exact address.

Keep up the good work as it is great to hear all the news about
people that you haven’t heard of for years. Florence

Tom & Carolyn Wilhelm Boguslawski, stamped Nov. 24, 1967

Folks, Several of you have replied to the Dunseith Lutheran photo with names. I will compile all your messages and repost that photo, hopefully, with tomorrows message.  We are still missing the identity of several folks on that photo, so please reply if you recognize any of the unidentified folks in that picture.  Gary

From Vickie Metcalfe (70): 

Dear Gary, Another reflection;Dick’s story about Glen Shelver.

My parents had a deep abiding respect for Glen and Annabelle Shelver.

Cliff and Lottie Metcalfe, whenever they needed medical questions answered would  go to the back of the drug store, to seek Mr.  Shelver’s wisdom and counseling.    As a kid-member of Dunseith Lutheran, now Peace Lutheran, I observed Glen and Annabelle Shelver as a  deeply spiritual couple. Truly  a couple  who “walked the walk”.   They exemplified, “true character traits”, they humanely valued and treated every person they met with dignity ….. no matter who you were, what your income was, how you looked, how old  or young you were,  what you wore.. the color of your skin, regardless of  any disabilities mentally,  physically, or morally. etc.

My dad,( Cliff) remembered, reflected and  relayed the character traits imparted to him by  many wonderful hometown folks, from time to time noting that from the  time he was a fatherless teenager,  Glen Shelver was right up there for him as a role model and “as good as any doctor”.

Here is the story I recall dad witnessing, “One day  in the fall of 1964 when Emil Metcalfe and his family moved back to Dunseith. The big Metcalfe brothers, Cliff and Emil wearing their white plastering bibs were walking  up main street ( probably after pie at the cafe :).)   Glen Shelver called out of Shelver Drug gesturing to them,  “You boys come in I want to look at something.  Emil and Cliff stepped into front of the drug store, he motioned them to the  back, past the front counter, past Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Shelver,and other customers,  past the roasting nuts, and beyond… the over-the-counter displays,then behind the back counter, the safe, into the back room.

Mr. Shelver said to Emil, “It’s been along time, hold out your hand. Emil did and  Mr Shelver smiled at Emil’s hand but did not shake, just  said, “How is it?  Emil said,  It’s fine”.

preface this ,  In the mid 1930′s when  the 4 youngest Metcalfe children were living  with their mother, Rose in Dunseith. Emil would do odd jobs around town to supplement the family income.  One day,  Emil’s entire thumb was cut off.  Emil  picked up his thumb where it fell gripped it with his fingers in the palm of his hand and ran straight to Glen Shelver at the drug store. At first, Emil wouldn’t open his hand, because he thought the thumb would be thrown away.  Glen Shelver  patiently, quietly,calmly, talked Emil into opening his hand, then with skilled swiftness, without a facial reaction, cleaned the wound where the thumb had been. Then, cleaned the thumb.  He placed the two together…. without stitches, pulling an ointment off the  back shelf smeared it all over, wrapped it tightly and said to Emil “leave it alone, don’t get it wet and let it heal…..

It healed and Emil had full use of his wonderful  hands….

Back to the 1964 story……Glen Shelver then opened up his ledger and showed  Cliff and Emil the entry of that day in the 30′s.  Dad noted there were pages  upon pages of entries ……pages of unpaid bills..Dad said, Promptly, Emil reached in his bibs, pulling out his check book.  Glen Shelver said  to Emil, ” I didn’t ask about the hand to be paid.” But Emil said, “I know but,I  can pay now.”  And Emil paid………..not much by 1964 standards that old  mid 1930′s bill.

after note, as a niece I recall….Uncle Emil our Metcalfe family gentle giant, had big big baseball glove size, strong but gentle hands..

Ah, but for the value of one  hand.  And the  value and wisdom of Glen Shelver.

Vickie  Metcalfe

From Allen Richard (65):

Re: Dick Johnson and Glen Shelver.

There has to be hundreds of glen stories out there.  He was an amazing guy and as nice as he was amazing.  Dad was kind of the local “pseudo vet” out on the prairie — He and Bae Pigeon before Bae moved to town.  With Glen’s advice Dad and Bae performed nearly every vet function on livestock that wasn’t specifically designated to licensed vets.  Back in those days that covered quite a spectrum!  I learned a lot too, but got away from livestock well before my skills were on the same planet with Dad or Bae.

I think the “old school” pharmacists were kind of like the “horse doctor’s” of the 1800′s and dentists like Doc Holiday —- multi talented and self trained —.  Here in Midland a local dentist or pharmacist bagged a bank robber– with a rifle — from his office window!

Anyone remember the infamous “Zip to Zap” in 1969?  The guard was sent into Beulah or Hazen to push the college kids out of town as the party wore down.  One guard member “goosed” student in the butt with his bayonet.  I saw the local pharmacist stitch him up through the window of the drug store.

Like i said– these guys were multi talented–Glen was just a wonderful human being on top of all that.

From Sharon Longie Dana (73): 

Gary and Friends,

In the summer of, I believe, 1966 my good friend Rich Campbell got his
first car! He came driving into our yard in a gray Plymouth two door,
about a 1950 model he had just gotten from his great aunt Lilly from
Langdon! Rich, please correct me if my memories are off. It was a well
kept little car and he was proud as could be! John Bogus and I were in
our garage working on one of our cars and walked out to take a closer
look. The interior was original and still had a real nice wood grained
dash! We asked Rich how it ran? He reached in and hit the key and it
purred–sorta! John and I looked at each other and both said, ‘It’s
missing’, at the same time. Rich wasn’t really into mechanics like we
were so hadn’t noticed the miss. We checked out the engine and found a
dead cylinder. I pulled out the spark plug and there wasn’t any
compression in the cylinder, whatsoever! I put a screwdriver in the
spark plug hole and found that the piston was standing still when the
rest of the engine was running!! We tore the engine down and found that
the piston had broken in two and the bottom was going up and down while
the top stood still. I had never seen that before or since! We took a
used piston out of a junk engine my dad had at the farm and put it back
together and it ran fine! The good part is that Rich and his
father-in-law restored the old Plymouth just a few years ago, and as far
as I know the old used piston is still going up and down! I believe Rich
took the broken piston and painted it gold, and kept it for an ash tray,
although as far as I recall he never smoked.  Rich, am I close here,
it’s 42 or maybe 43 years ago so the old mind may be off a little!
Thanks to Gary and all who share their memories of old Dunseith!

Dick

Photo from Glen Williams (52): 

Gary….I attached a photo of the DHS football team in the early 1950′s….It was one of the first teams when football was re-introduced at DHS..

Glen Williams

The following four pictures have been provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Gary,

I’ll take this picture along to Good Sam and give to Lillian.  This is to share with your list if you would like to.

Neola

Invoice says LeAnn Davis, Jan 7, 1972

Another courthouse picture, no name.
April 5, 1969 printed on the backside.

Message/Picture from Mel Kuhn (70): 

Mel, I am so sorry I missed this message of yours and Dick’s with yesterday’s mailing.  Gary

Howdy Gary,

Yesterday must have been a slow news day so I guess it must be time for me to throw in some more babble. I survived a weeks VACATION with my wife on a trip to Indiana. We went down to go to a reunion of her side of the family and her dad’s 80th. birthday. I had never met any of her family except for her dad and sisters and kids. I hadn’t been back to Indiana for 25 years and had forgotten about the 900% humidity there in the summer. It really made me appreciate the Turtle Mts. when we got back. My wife and her Dad took me on a trip back in the back country somewhere to see where the old family farm was. I swear I saw some little albino boy in bib overalls sitting on the front stoop picking a banjo back there somewhere. The sounds of pigs squealing was making me a little nervous. The drive down went fairly well and I was glad because I truely do love my wife and I didn’t want to have to kill her. So I stopped and got a roll of duct tape and bound her hands so that she would keep her fingers off of the radio and AC buttons. I tried to explain to her that when you’re on the passenger side you aren’t allowed to touch buttons. Women just can’t understand this. What’s up with that anyway? Now I suppose Lola V. will be passing this on to my wife at work to see if she can get me in trouble again.

Well after a slow start here in the Turtle Mts the June berries are finally out and are real tasty. I hope this gets Larry Hackman to thinking about a June Berry pie. Do any of you remember when we used to really have a lot of berries. Some company would park a semi-trailer behind Hosmer’s Store and would buy up all the chokecherries that the locals would pick. I was never any good at this as I would eat more then I put in the bucket. I have a couple of nice wild raspberry patches in my yard but never make anything out of them. I just go stand in the middle and eat my fill. Lots easier then baking a pie.

I’m hooking on a picture of my son Ricky who is in the Guard and is scheduled to be deployed to Kosovo ’09 sometime. Well I guess that’s enough babble for now.

Mel Kuhn[70]

                                          Ricky Kuhn

From Dick Johnson (70): 

Gary and Friends,

One time in the early 60s, I cut the end nearly off my left thumb when I
picked up a jar that was cracked. I grabbed the jar tightly, thinking it
was heavy and it broke in my hand! I ran into the house, while squeezing
my thumb to stop it from bleeding. Mom was taking a nap on the couch and
when she woke up and looked at my thumb, she fainted and fell back on
the couch! I ran up to the clinic but no one was there–it was Saturday!
The only other place I could think of to get help was the drugstore. I
went in and walked to the back and asked Glen Shelver if he could help
me. He took me in the back of the store to a sink, and then said to let
go so he could see it. When I took the pressure of it was still bleeding
bad! Glen had some powder of some kind that he put on the wound and it
stopped the bleeding he then cleaned and bandaged it and said to be
careful not to bump it on anything. The last thing he said was, “And
don’t ride your bike”! I went home and showed Mom how Glen had fixed me
up, much to her approval! I sat around for a while and then decided to
head over to Campbell’s to see what Rich was up to that afternoon. Well
as I walked past the garage, there sat my bike! I hadn’t tipped that
bike over for a long time, why walk?!? I took off like always, cutting
through between Hassen Murray’s and Marie’s Beauty Shop, jumped off the
curb and rode across Main street, like always! When I got to the curb on
the other side of the street, by the Dakota Hotel, I went to jump back
up on the curb there, but with only one hand on the bars, the bike jack
knifed and I flew off, landing on the sidewalk ON MY BAD HAND! I sat up
and looked just in time to see the bandage turn red! I walked back into
the drugstore and back to see Glen! The first words out of his mouth
were, ” I TOLD YOU TO STAY OFF THAT DAMN BIKE”!! He fixed me up again,
but this time I pushed my bike home and left it there!! I am sure I
should have had stitches, but my thumb healed perfectly, with only a
scar, thanks to Glen Shelver! The comedian, Jackie Gleason, once said
that nowadays when a kid gets sick, they get him a private nurse, when
he was a kid he broke his leg and his old man took him to the drugstore!
How true! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Irene Pigion’s Obituary provided by Vickie Metcalfe (70): 

Gary, I  copied the following for your information;

Irene Pigeon is dear Lise’ ( Rousseau) (DHS Class of 64)  Metcalfe’s mom.  Vickie

Lise/Larry Rousseau-Metcalfe

3029 34th Ave SW  #230

Fargo, ND 58104

(701) 364-5410

No email address
Irene Pigeon, 88, of Fargo, died July 22, 2008, at Elim Care Center in Fargo, ND.

The daughter of Jeffrey and Marie Pronovost, Irene was born December 19, 1919, at Lac a la Tortue, Quebec, Canada where she grew up and attended school.
On July 8, 1944, she married Roland Coutou at Grandmere, Quebec, Canada. He died June 8, 1946, of a work-related accident.

She remained in Canada until 1950 at which time she married Joe Rousseau on November 25, and they moved to North Dakota where Joe farmed. In 1956 they moved to Dunseith where she worked at San Haven Sanitarum for fifteen years. Joe died November 12, 1969.

Irene then married Romulus Pigeon on June 15, 1972. They lived in Dunseith until his death in 1979. She then moved to Carrinton, ND.

In 2003 she entered Elim Care Center where she remained until her death.

She is survived by: her daughter, Lise Metcalfe (Larry) Fargo, ND; grandsons, Brian (Kiki) Columbia, CA, and Christopher (Kristina) Fargo, ND; brother, Clement Pronovost, and sister, Liette Boulet (Aime) both of Montreal, Canada.

Memorial service: Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND.

Please sign the online guestbook at (www.hanson runsvold.com).

From Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

Pictures provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Do any of youknow the folks in these two pictures?  Gary

Blog (170) posted on July 24, 2008
Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

I forgot to ask if anyone would be interested in having this picture.

Hi Gary,

I’m busy sorting/scanning/saving/sending courthouse pictures.

I don’t know where/why this picture was taken, but I recognize some of the people as being from the Dunseith area: Clarence/Helen Christianson Bye, Clarence/Alvina Brudwick Christianson, Clifford/Alma Christianson Halvorson, Clifford/Alice Lindberg McKay, Lester/Dorothy Halvorson, Mr./Mrs. Medlang, Art Rude.  I’m sure many of those in your “lists” know all the people in the picture, so I don’t need to know who they are. 

I have the Dunseith/Belcourt graduation pictures on my mind, too.  When I get more of them sorted, I thought maybe I would put them in a box/boxes and take them to Dale’s/some other place in Dunseith on a certain day/time.  You could send the day/time to your lists, and anyone who thinks they might have relatives/friends included, can show up and look through the boxes.  I was also thinking I would send a list of the names that are on the backs of the pictures (to you, so you can send them to your lists), so people have an idea whose pictures are in the boxes.  What do you think of this idea?  It will take me awhile, as I have pictures on almost all surfaces in my apartment, except one chair in the kitchen/my recliner/bed/computer chair.  I love this project, but it is definitely time-consuming.  I also have pictures I’m delivering in Bottineau.  I would LOVE to go to the courthouse again, but I don’t dare–I don’t have room for more pictures!

Neola

Folks, What was the occasion of this photo. Many of you are in this picture. Stan Solmonson, I see you standing in the back.  I also recognize Don Johnson sitting to the left in front.

Can any one identify those in this picture? I will resend this out with names when we have everyone identified.  Gary

Ele Dietrich Slyter’s (69)reply to the Amie DesRaches Family: 

Hi Gary, Thought I’d send these pictures of Rodney and Lyle . Rodney was stationed in Vienam and Lyle was in Germany.

                    Robney Lagerquist (67)

                          Lyle Lagerquist (68)

Viet Nam Pictures & message from Kenny Nerpel (65): 

Turtle Mountain Americans,

Regarding Gary’s Vietnam photo: Gary Wall and Gary Stokes

Wow, those are some strack troops (ideal in military dress, demeanor and
bearing). Notice the bloused boots and clean uniforms. I think I
remember using something called boot blousers when we were in basic and
AIT to get that clean professional look, but I never saw anything like
that in Vietnam. Where did you get them anyway? Where I was we got clean
uniforms in bulk every two to three weeks, whether we needed them or
not. Sometimes they came in by convoy; other times they just dropped
them out a chopper and then it was a mad scramble to try to find
something near the correct size.

The attached photos (Trang Bang, The Road and The Road2) are of members
of my platoon while on road security (it looks like blue ribbon was the
beverage of choice back then) and of Vietnamese soldiers (White Mice)
searching through the belongings of people wanting to use the road. All
photos except the the one taken from the air were taken the same day
along the dirt road Six Alpha, which connected the village of Trang Bang
with FSB (Fire Support Base) Pershing. The brown-uniformed guys are
South Vietnamese police called white mice; the nickname came from their
uniforms and I think that they sometimes wore white helmets and gloves.
The photo from the air is of a small fire base (Dees) taken from an
approaching helicopter. The smoke indicates where they want the chopper
to land.

It’s been about forty years now, so maybe it’s time for a Vietnam story:
The Road

Highway 1 was a paved highway out of Saigon (Ho Ci Minh City) running
through Cu Chi, Trang Bang and on towards Tay Ninh. It proceeded
northwest about 15 miles to the city of Cu Chi and then it was about 8
miles farther to Trang Bang. Near Trang Bang was a bridge and FSB
Stuart. The road where these pictures were taken was the dirt road Six
Alpha, a secondary road leading from Trang Bang north to FSB Pershing
then on to the Saigon River. The Vietnamese fellow (Wine Maker) visiting
with the troops lived along this road and made some of the worst rice
wine that has ever been made. He was always more than willing to share
some of it with us and we were willing to partake. We figured what are
they going to do to us anyway? Send us to Vietnam? This road was a
supply route and had to be patrolled to protect the convoys supplying
FSB Pershing about 4 to 5 miles up the road from FSB Stuart. Daily
convoys from Cu Chi took this route and required heavy security because
of constant mining of the road and harassment of the convoys by the VC.
Road security was welcome duty. It afforded the opportunity to mingle
with the locals and it was a break from the other duties of the
infantryman. Even though considered good duty it was not without danger.
On one of my first assignments to road security I remember saying, “this
isn’t so bad.” On that day we were providing security for the
minesweepers, which involved patrolling both sides of the road while the
engineers went down the middle sweeping for land mines. I happened to be
the closest to an engineer when a mine was discovered. I took a seat on
the shoulder of the road while the engineer proceeded to dig the mine
out. Suddenly there was a deafening explosion. The mine had been
triggered. I looked up and saw huge chunks of earth flying up and then
dropping back towards the ground. Another member of the platoon who had
been “in country” for awhile came over to me to see if I had been
injured and when I said I had not, he remarked, “I think you should help
look for the body parts. I always do because if this happens to one of
my friends, I think it would make it easier for me to help bag up the
body.”

Welcome to Vietnam!

Kenny

FromArdys Bakken Horner: 

Gar:  Delores and Erling Berg   Stan and  Jaon Salmonson are in this photo…I wonder if it wasn’t something to do with Peace Lutheran church…about the time of the dedication of the new church  in l969  Ardys Bakken Horner

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary,

I think the unidentified man in the back row might be Clarence
Christianson.  Row  two is ‘ Gladys’ Henning  then  possibly  Mrs.
Christianson. The gal by Joan I don’t know, she may have been a bank
employee or a teachers wife?? I may not be right here so we will see if
someone else knows for sure.  Thanks!

Dick

Picture/Message from Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Gary,

This is a LARGE picture: 16″ X 20″.  I checked the Turtle Mt. phone book, but no Tom is listed.  Do the Boguslawski’s in your email lists know where Tom/Carolyn live?  It might be expensive to mail, but if I can deliver it locally, I’d be happy to do so.  Or if someone in the Dunseith area would like to pick it up when I finally get the pictures to Dunseith, I’d be happy to include it in “the box”.

Thanks to your email lists, Gary, and the courthouse pictures, I have now met Angela Berube Malget and her husband, Greg–If I’ve misnamed you, Greg, I’m sorry; I can’t locate the email that contains your name. After meeting me, I know you have no problem believing this! Ha!  We met in Bottineau yesterday.  I was able to give Fern’s and Edward Berube’s pictures to Angela in person.  What fun!!!

Neola

Tom & Carolyn Wilhelm Boguslawski, stamped Nov. 24, 1967
Are Tom & Carloyn from Dunseith?

From Bev Morniville Azure (72): 

From Bob Lykins (DHS teacher in the mid 60′s):

Gary,

I hope this goes through and people are able to access the story and photo gallery. Although most people on the Dunseith list do not know my daughter, Carrie, her story is one that everyone should be aware of as “baby shake” occurs all to frequently, not only in our country, but across the world.  It is a condition that is caused by a crime of violence perpetrated in most cases by the father.  My former son-in-law was and, I guess, still is a nice guy.  But, he made a terrible mistake and for a moment lost his cool, shook my grand-daughter, and forever changed our world for the worst.

The main story appeared in last Tuesday’s (Ju;ly 22nd) USA Today paper.  The “baby shake” story was also made a lead in USA Today’s website (given below).  I talked with Carrie the other day and she said her boys were tickeled to see a picture of their mom and Winter in the banner at the top of the front page of USA Today sandwiched between Payton Manning and the Joker.  Care has, in the past, along with Winter traveled far and wide lecturing about “baby shake” and how to prevent it.  Unfortunately, Winter’s present condition prevents her from traveling great distances and so they limit their activities to around Syracuse, Utah where Care’s husband is stationed at Hill AFB.

While my daughter, Carrie, credits my grand-daughter, Winter’s will to live to her strong soul. I believe it is as much a credit to my daughter’s incredable strength of, love, and dedication to her daughter that has given Winter a longer life than expected.

Gary, I send this message to you to distribute far and wide in the hope that people will read their story and if, in doing so, it saves one little child from being shaken, well, just think how powerful that would be.  Maybe, just maybe, all of the pain and loss of quality of life Winter has suffered, all of the heartache my daughter has endured, and all of the sadness my family has carried over the years will have been worth it.

Bob Lykins

> Carrie and Winter are part of a big USA Today story on “baby shake.” In the newspaper they could not get everything in so they made the story a lead on their web-site. The second site listed below has their photos. You can also access the photos by clicking on “PHOTO GALLERY” in the story. I wonder if it made the international edition. I guess it is on page 5 of the national edition. It came out on Tuesday. After viewing the photos and seeing what Carrie had to say, I must confess I shed a few tears. Through it all Care has shown such great courage. She has been and continues to be a wonderful daughter.
  
Bob 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-21-shaken-baby-syndrome_N.htm 

 http://www.usatoday.com/news/gallery/n080722_sbs/flash.htm?gid=634 

“Our Home Town” From Vickie Metcalfe (70): 

Gary,

You’re site has many folks fondly remembering, thinking and
then communicating  their remembrances and commenting on the
perceptions of others.
Gary, Today, I believe, not just communication…but one the
greatest gifts of your site is the evoking  and re-awakening of
wonderful remembrances for the times gone by, drawing on the
commonalities of all  of us who read and share the love of our
“Hometown” and the fondness of our hometown cohorts.

This morning after reading, I was bombarded with feelings;
Aye. The nostalgic warm cozy ones for yesteryear’s, peaceful
order of chore time in the gentle country barn as I  read Dicks and
Tim Martinson stories. Then,viewed the sweet,  brotherly love of “Age
of Innocence” , of Tim and Terry Martinson (Tim’s 1950′s picture ).
While, remembering,  “The smell of the sweet hay, the warmth
of the cow’s flank when resting  my head  there, as  milked swished
into the pail while gripping the smooth teats, the dark, fluid gentle
eyes of a cow,looking well pleased chewing her cud, the mewing of
cats looking for a stream of milk to catch,while the old dog lapped
up milk, and a hen squawking to let you know she laid an egg,and the
team of horses chomping on oats. While the thoughts reflected  on
are; just being in the contentment of the present.

Then, I read on and thought of the perceptions of others….
Of downtown  Dunseith through the eyes of adventurous teens
on Saturday nights……..
Of those sharing the pain with the loss of integral family
members.  And others asking for prayers for those who are ill and
medical care.
To “Hello Viet Nam”, through the eyes of an Ackworth country
boy and  a Bottineau city boy.
Then ” Hello Viet Nam Again”… years later……………..
Thank you all for  your stories shared  through words and pictures.

Gary, Many people passing through Dunseith may think its
?…But,  Thanks to cyber-space, your site has helped to revive, our
hometown community.
Did you ever imagine years ago while in Viet Nam, you’d be
writing around the world to  your hometown folks through cy-ber space?

Later. Vickie

Vickie, This cyber space technology sure does bring a lot of folks together from around the world.  With us the neat part about it is that we all share these neat messages, together, at the same time, in mass communication around the globe.  From here in the PI, I feel well connected to the states, thanks to you guys.  Gary

“More Farm Life” From Dale Pritchard (63): 

Gary,

According to my Dad, we had the only cows in the country he knew of who
could read.  We had a couple of my neices and nephews (non-farm types)
who stayed with us a few days once.  My Dad had a small board with each
cow’s name on it above their stantion in the barn.  My Dad was in the
barn with these other kids when the dog brought the cows around the back
side and herded them in.  He greeted each cow by name and told it to
take it’s place, which it did.  The kids were really amazed and always
wanted to see that again each time they came back.  On the other side of
the barn were pens for the calves depending on their size.  Sometimes
they would make a mistake and go in the wrong pen.  My Dad said the
calves were still learning how to read so they didn’t have name tags
yet.  It wasn’t often that he came up with something off the wall like
that but when he did, it got remembered.

Tim Martinson mentioned putting hay in the haymow.  We initially used
horses to pull the hay from the hayrack to the haymow.  It went up and
in and one of us tripped the lock so it fell where it was needed.  In
later years, My Dad bought an old truck which he wanted for the
rear-end.  He put this rear-end on wheels of it’s own and hooked the
shift lever in there somehow.  This thing ran off the tractor’s power
take-off.  Put it in a forward gear to pull the hay up and in the barn
and put it in reverse to rewind the cable.  It worked fantastic for
pulling people out of ditches also.

Gary, you might remember what we called the “Bug?”  That was the result
of another project of his.  The “Bug” came from another old truck that
he stripped down, put a seat on it facing the rear dual wheels, and had
rear wheel steering with what was originally the front wheels.  That
project’s only purpose was to bull rake hay to bring back to where we
stacking it.  With a heavy load in the bull rake, the rear wheel
steering worked a lot better.  The second best part about that thing was
when we were stacking hay away from home.  We usually drove it to and
from the field because there was room for all of us and it was a little
faster than the tractor, but not much.  Rear wheel steering and speed
just don’t go together.  This was when Hiway 43 was still gravel.  Cars
from out of state would meet us, stop and turn around so they could pass
us, then wait for us to go by again so they could see again what they
thought they saw.  I can still visualize them talking later about seeing
Ma and Pa Kettle with their car.

My Dad was a self-taught welder and could make almost anything once he
decided it was possible.  He also welded broken parts for many of the
neighbors for a number of years.

Dale Pritchard

Dale, How well I remember your dad being the inventor that he was and also being the neighborhood welder.  He was a very smart man with a ton of common sense.  Your dad could weld anything regardless of the difficulty or the metal and his welds held. When ever a piece of machinery broke down my dad was down to see your dad to get it welded.  Your dad would stop whatever he was doing, even if he was out in the hay field.  He would go home and weld what ever my dad had that needed to be welded. I remember your dad had a portable welding machine too that he would take to jobs that could not be delivered to your house.  I also remember that backward running bull rake that your dad made.  I remember you guys haying Esther Tangen’s, now the Pladson, meadow using that machine.  I remember you guys going to and from the hay fields, on the main roads, with that backward running machine too.  It was a very unique invention of your dad’s.  Gary

Reply from Diane Wenstad Wiebe (69):

This is reply to all the Dunseith & Co., group and Neola’s email; thanks for the obit of Beryl Satrang. Yes, Alfred is mother’s brother and there were three boys and two girls in the Satrang family. There was Alfred, Berdella, Lela, John and Clyde.

I was able to attend Beryl’s funeral along with Melvin and Terry, my bothers that live in Michigan, N.D. It was a very nice funeral and seen family that we do not see and how sad it is to loose contact with everyone. Gary as it has been said so many times before and often how great this emailing has brought the community of Dunseith back together. It is nice to know as we loose our love ones that somehow out there knows  the people of the families, friends and community can share the good and bad of daily good news like so many have had, ex. Tim Hill, the Morinville family, Hanson family, etc. and the trouble of others.

Ester Evenson became a very good friend to my dad in the senior apartments until he passed away. She often cooked, baked and visited with him everyday.

We always make time to drive up to the hills again like we did when we were back for Alberta’s funeral the end of May. The hills sure are pretty and so green. To all you that can still live in the hills, we think of you. You all continue writing to keep us wonder what will be on the next email.

Diane Wiebe (Wenstad)

From Sandra Zeiler Vandal (62): 

Had to reply to Larry,and Saturday Night Fever.  Dunseith had to be the best when it came to gathering together as a community on Saturday evenings. The cream, eggs, nickle, was it the same for us all?  My memories go back before graded , graveled roads.  Going out to the hwy 3 with the horses.  Dad had a shed on Howard Foss’ approch where he parked the car, then he would leave the horses in the shed until we came back.  That was winter, in the summer when it was wet we would drive through the Peace Garden, and park by the fence.  Our house was  at the west side of the garden .  When I was just a little girl? I would pretend to be sleeping, and Dad would carry me over the fence to the house.  Way past my bedtime ofcourse.

.What a great time and place to grow up.  The Turtle Mts. are still great, and really enjoyed my last visit home. Celebrated Dads 88th Birthday (Arnold ) and a good 4th of July.  So, Larry, your story did bring a smile and maybe a little tear to my eye, so thanks for the Memories.                  Thanks also to you Gary for your time and effort, this hi-speed rocks, good to be in the 21st Century!       Greetings to all, Sandra Vandal

From Gary Metcalfe (57): 

Thank you to Larry, Terry, Janice and Dick for the great stories about the nostalgia of Dunseith at that time.  Janice, I wonder where I was on that fateful day??? Sorry I missed out on the fun!!

I remember my first stroll down the street of Dunseith, somewhere near LaMoureux’s garage, I noticed a guy fall in behind us in the next row of people coming down the street, he must have had engineer boots on, I found out later that his name was Kenny Hill.  Janice, do you remember Kenny Hill’s first car?  He had what a he called a “cut out” in it, I thought it was really cool.
My sentaments exactly, high school days were FUN, FUN, FUN!!

Bill Hosmer, if it wasn’t for the diversity of the area that you mentioned, these memories would not be nearly as interesting.
Gary Metcalfe

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary, Larry, Tim, and Friends,

The farm memories are great, keep them coming! Tim’s recollection of
milking is so true. I stayed at the farm with my grandparents a lot when
I was young. Milking cows by hand was just part of life back then,
everyone did. In the summer of 1961 a group called the ‘Helldrivers’
came to the Bottineau fair. They did stunts with cars and motorcycles
and when I saw their ad in the local newspaper I was really excited.
Grandma  said that if I wanted to go they would take me, because I had
worked pretty hard with the chores all week. We milked 15 to 20 cows
twice a day and carried the milk up to the house to separate the cream,
and then carried the separated milk back to the barn to pail feed the
calves. We did the chores on the day of the show and then got all
cleaned up and headed for the fair. The ‘Helldrivers’ were great and
could drive cars on two wheels and over jumps and rolled vehicles in
front of the crowd! We stayed until about 11 PM and then got back in the
old Ford for the long ride home, about 32 miles. When we got home they
said to change my clothes as we had to milk! By the time we were done
with the routine, it must have been 2 AM! This was the price we had to
pay for a day at the fair! I remember thinking, it’s no wonder Grandpa
never wants to go anywhere! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Folks, I have thrown in several Viet Nam pictures with today’s message.

Gary Wall and I were stationed together in Viet Nam in 1969.  We both worked in the same small Dental clinic in Cam Rhan Bay.  Gary was a Dentist and I was a Dental Tech/Assistant/Hygienist & Motor pool mechanic.  Having been born and raised on a farm I was mechanically inclined and was able to keep the company Jeeps & Duce and a half’s (2 1/2 ton trucks) running. I worked mornings in the clinic and afternoons on vehicles.

Gary Wall was a Bottineau boy and I Dunseith.  We met for the first time in Viet Nam.  Gary had a Dental practice in Bottineau for a few years, I think in the late 70′s early 80′s, when he purchased Dr. Troyer’s office. Gary is married to Loretta Neameyer from the DHS class of 72.  Gary and Loretta recently built a new home, in Bottineau, across the street from Connie Halvorson Kester.

Gary Wall along with Lloyd Awalt and Neola’s brother Jim Kofoid are very active Bottineau VFW members. Gary was the Bottineau VFW commander for a number of years.

Gary

           Gary Wall & Gary Stokes – Viet Nam – October 1969

                         Warren Anderson (65) – Viet Nam

             Warren Anderson’s return trip to Viet Nam in 2006

Folks, I was just informed that Patty Boguslawski Gottbreht will be joining us on the Alaska Cruise.  She and Cheryl Haagenson will be cabin mates. Patty is one of the friendly happy faces that you see, while shopping, at Wayne’s (Barbot) Super Value in Dunseith.  Wayne has a beautiful store with such a friendly and very professional staff. I think Wayne is a good mentor in that department.  Gary

From Alan Poitra (76): 

Beer Can Alley, what memories that brings to mind.  Back in the day, we always seem to have a good time back on that old road.  As well as Halvorson’s Grove and maybe a few other spots around Dunseith. To those classmates from the late 80′s and 90′s and today, we did not have all the (lets say) luxuries kids have today, there was not the 1600 channels on TV, game boys, X-box, cell phones and all the other gadgets that seem to monopolize teens today, we made our own fun and Beer Can Alley was one of the hotspots to party.  I remember one time, there were probably 7-8 cars parked on the road and we all of course had a few beers and we use to seem to have a good time just standing around joking and babbling about this and that, when around 11 or midnight, this car came driving up slowly but surely, the lights were off and they just drove right up to us and we were thinking I wonder who this is, when all of sudden the lights came on and we realized it was the cops, well needless to say, all you could hear were cans and bottles flying thru the air into the ditch and car doors slammin, one of the guys with me knew we had beer in the trunk of my dads car and thought we are gonna get caught, so he took the trunk key and broke it off in the keyhole, thinking then they would not be able to open the trunk, well that was correct but now I had to explain to dad how that happen but if I remember we got it out and another made, I will not mention any names of the group that use to hang out and have a few night caps, just to protect the innocent…  That was one that comes to mind, now I can remember many times I have seen many, many upper classman showing up a little happy at dances and what not…come on guys and gals share some of those foggy memories…  We all have them and hopefully you will not get in trouble with mom and pop…

A walk down memory lane is good for the heart!!!

From Deb Morinville Marmon (70): 

Hi Gary,

This is to Dick Johnson.  I had no idea that you were such an old car buff. I’m hopeless about cars. When people ask me what kind of car I have I tell them “it’s gray”  We have a Classic Car Club here in Miles City.  The 3rd weekend in May we have a gathering called the “Bucking Horse Sale”  They bring in wild horses and buck them out for sale to the rodeos.  On Saturday morning there is a big parade and the CCC makes up a good part of it. Although I don’t know anything about the cars it sure is a beautiful sight.

To Larry Hackman.  Although I grew up in town your story about farm life was so vivid I felt like I was one of the kids! My parents originally came from Bottineau to run the creamery but it burned down after a few years.  At one time Mom ran a satellite station in the back of the AC bar and us kids helped her out.  The smell of fresh cream was unbelievable.

Hope everyone is having a great summer and doing lots of fun things.  My fun is having hip replacement surgery on August 11.  Oh boy!  But after I will be able to walk without a walker or cane.  That is worth looking forward to.

Deb Morinville Marmon 70

From Janice Leonard Workman (56): 

Hi Gary and all,  I knew Harry and Rachel Fassett a long time.  My folks had a café on Main St where Wayne’s grocery is at now and the Fassetts lived 1 block behind and across from Lucien Bedard.  My brothers chummed with the Fassett boys.  I can remember when I first learned to ice skate and there would be what seemed like hundreds of kids at the rink.  During Christmas vacation (10 days or more) the rink would be full all day, every day.  James Fassett would always keep track of the younger kids and when a game of pump, pump, pull away would start he was always helping get the younger girls across.  I think all the little girls loved him, he was truly a “hunk”.   When I worked for McCoys in the Crystal Café, Rachel was the pastry cook and was she ever good.  I would work some Saturday mornings when Bob McCoy couldn’t get up and I would get the first hot donut out of the lard and also the first hot caramel roll.  They melted in your mouth.  Then when I went to the Forestry, Rachel had moved to Bottineau and cooked at the college.   Harry was police in Dunseith for a while after my dad, he was always nice to the kids.

The Saturday night story brought back memories too.  I guess when I was in 7^thand 8^th grade, my friends would “walk the streets” I don’t know what we were looking for, but it was something to do.  Later when we had boyfriends with cars, we would cruise the streets, what a bore that sounds like know, but then it wasn’t.  A lot of Saturday nights after I was in high school, I worked at the café and couldn’t cruise, and usually didn’t get home until way past the time the streets were rolled up.  When I didn’t work and would cruise, we always ended up at one of the parking places.  There was the old “airport”, “pregnant hill”,  the city park, and lovers lane were some of the places and the next Monday, everybody at school knew where everybody had parked.  What fun!!!!!

Then there was the time, in the spring of 1955, when almost all the juniors and seniors and some sophmores skipped school one afternoon.  In the group that I went with there was DuWayne Lang, Mickey and Neva Haagenson, and Bonnie Awalt..  DuWayne, Mickey and Neva hadn’t been in school in the morning, so they wouldn’t be missed, and we thought we wouldn’t get caught.  However, another bigger group, also skipped, and we were all caught.  For punishment, we had to outline the rest of our History Book,(about 8 chapters) which we were never going to finish anyway, we had a huge typing  and science or biology assignment.  We typed our history outline and used it twice.  Mr. Jerstad (typing) wasn’t as up tight as Miss Shurr (History).  But when we talk about that day now, we know it was worth the punishment and whenever a bunch of us get together, we always bring that memory up.

Those were the best of times!!!!

Janice Leonard Workman, Class of 56

From Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

ok   how about Larry  and Dick getting together and writing a book?   Loved your story Larry was  fun to go back in time again  . I always think we were the  luckiest generation to live  and  after  reading these  stories  I  am sure of it. I only wish  my kids  could have known Dunseith( the people)  back then. Bev

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Larry, another great story of days long gone by! Can anyone remember how
the stores almost all had canvas awnings that were cranked down on hot
summer days? It kept the stores cooler by shading the sun from shining
in the large windows. I thought it was neat! The main thing Larry’s
story reminded me of, was the crowd that was in town on Saturdays! Larry
you were right, people parked cars on the first two blocks on both sides
of main street. My Grandpa Henry Olson sometimes would park his car on
Main street early in the day, and leave it there so we had a place to
sit and watch the people and the action in the evening! Thanks for the
memories, Larry! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Story from Tim Martinson (69): 

Gary,

I’m sure you will be getting responses on Larry”s 50′s story so will
send off a few of my early memories of days on the farm which Larry left
out.  I’ll explain now as many may wonder I too had a connection to
the farm experience that a lot of town people know little about.  It
amazes
me when I talk to someone about having a garden and how delicious the
home grown vegetables are and they respond with, it sure must cost
a lot to by all those plants, and I respond with not when I start
everything from seed.  That is when I get the lost look, start from
seed?  It sets
me back a little when I realize that yet again I have come across
another person who has had no connection with the plant growth cycle and
what it takes to bring a crop to harvest and then used for feed on
the farm or sold as produce for the market place.  The home gardener who
tries to get the seed in the ground as  early as possible after
spring frost and then hurries in the fall to can, blanch, freeze and
preserve all the
fruits of their labor throughout the summer.  I must say that I was
one of the lucky ones to have been there, done that as in Larry”s story.

In the winter when the cows and horses were kept close to the barn if
not in the barn because of the cold and only let out to get well
water, that
was either hand pumped or engine pumped with a belt attachment to the
pump into a galvanized water trough and kept from from freezing at
that time with a type of snorkle stove inserted in the tank and wood
or coal burning.  The stove kept the water from freezing solid but
when it was
below zero and windy there was always surface ice that needed to be
broken so the animals could drink.  It always amazed me how warm
those old barns were in the winter when the animals were kept inside.

Now to keep and feed those barn animals grass was cut and dried then
picked up as with a pitchfork and pitched onto a hayrack, transported to
the barn where it was stored in the haymow.  When I was small all
this was accomplished with the use of horses, rope, tackle, and a
huge hay
picking tine that would grab the load  take it to the barn eave then
inside the barn by a steel I beam and deposited throughout the
haymow.  I
use to love playing and jumping off those hills of hay.  Feed was
ground up with a small mill and stored or made as it was used.  What was
really neat were the little homemade stools that were used for
milking and what about those kickers what an invention for those cows
that
were a little touchy.  Now to top this off was that swinging tail and
what to do with it especially if it was a little crusted over,
getting smacked in
the head hurt.  I always recall the warning of stay close to the
middle of the barn because there was no way of telling when and what was
coming out of the back end of those cows, and it did at anytime.
Thinking back,  it was kind of funny to look in at a cow as they were
looking
back at you and she would let a load go, plop, plop, plop, or what
seemed like never ending splish.  Milk the cows, separate the cream then
feed the calves with the leftover milk.   My Grandpa Martinson would
always set aside a bucket of cream under the house that he would let
ferment and turn a tad ripe then take the top off and eat it like
cream cheese.  Dad told me he did not  have the stomach for that
stuff.  ” Uff Da”

Winter time in a barn brought in all the critters and to my surprise
there were still mice even though most of the cats were in there
also.  The
cats were probably saving a few breeders for spring time when the
kittens were born.  It seemed like there was always a owl in the haymow,
she was probably picking off a mouse here and there.  Springtime
always brought in the chicks with the heat lamps, feeders, and waterers.
Strangely the cats left the chicks alone.  Then there were those hens
that laid a clutch of eggs outside and paraded around all summer with
their chicks a scratchin and pecking.  Oh the sow and her piglets we
must not forget,  root, root, root, and stay out of her pen she can
really
get mad easily when a piglet squeals.

One of the crappy jobs on a farm was the barn cleanup.  I can
really remember the winter time since it involved a lot of movement
in the barn
with the cows.  Move the cow, shovel the old bedding into the gutter,
put down new bedding, move the cow back to her spot.  And they had
their own spot, it seemed like there was always a cow that tried to
move in on another”s territory and always got  butted out of the
way.  Back
to the gutters which by now were overflowing and seeking out all the
low spots to drain to.  Time to hitch up the horse to the stone boat and
bring it around to the back of the barn and load it up with that crap
in the gutters then pull it out to the manure pile and off load it
there.  The
fun part was the ride out and back behind the horse on that old stone
boat.

As time went on so did the milking of cows by hand and cows died or
were sold and not replaced.  The horse was the longest to stay and
one day she went down but we were able to get her back on her feet
and she lived on for a short time.  So ended what at one time was a
small dairy that supplied milk to town a mile away.  Dad told me how
he and his dad had traveled to Dunseith to purchase a bull calf up at
San Haven.  He raised the calf and then entered it at the Bottineau
County Fair and took the Blue Ribbon.  The bull was huge according
to Dad.  I was surprised that San Haven had their own cattle and also
Greenhouses since I can not remember any barns but I think that the
greenhouses were located east of the power plant.  Maybe someone has
the layout or blueprints of San Haven, when it was first proposed?

I”m sending along a picture of Terry and I with the Barn and Granary
in the background.

Take Care,  Tim

                                  Tim & Terry Martinson

Obituary/Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Note: Mrs. Lawrence (Lela) Wenstad was a Satrang. I believe she was a sister to Alfred, Beryl’s husband.  Gary

Beryl’s picture is at the bottom of the email and also an attachment.

My condolences to all Satrang family members.

Neola

Note: Casey & Esther had a diner in Bottineau for years and also up at the Peace Garden.

Ken & Sharlyn, Casey & Esther’s children, both graduated from Dunseith

Picture/reply from Bill Grimme (65): 

Neola,

Thank you for posting the nice picture of my uncle, Harry Fassett. Harry was my mother’s brother.

Here is a picture of Harry and his family. Back – Rachael and Harry. Front L-R James, Donald, Orville, and Carol.

Harry had a repair shop in Dunseith for a while. It was located across the street from the Lucien Bedard home, I believe. Carol died at a fairly early age. I was fairly young when Harry left Dunseith, but, I can tell you, he was a very nice uncle.

Bill Grimme
                                                         Harry Fassett Family

              Back – Rachael and Harry. Front L-R James, Donald, Orville, and Carol.

From Mona Dionne Johnson (48): 

The Harry Fassett family lived in the Thorne area and of course all of

his kids attended Russell School where we did out in the country.  Harry
was our bus driver back then when buses changed from horse-drawn covered
sleighs in the winter to what he drove which was a Model A – he had
taken out the back seat and replaced it – adapting it with two board
connected at the ends, making it so twice the amount of kids could ride
in the back.  In winter when we traveled to school and got by Ed
Leonards’ place, the snow would collect on a low area of the road to a
point that one could not get through.  He just drove that Model A into
the ditch and we drove in the field until we got past the snowed area
and  then back on the road and on to school !!      His oldest son,
James and I started school together, in fact the last few days of school
before we started first grade, he and I went to get used to school a
little, and I remember the teacher had us both in her lap as we were
welcomed to school.  His sister, Carol, and my sister were classmates.
James and I went thru the 8 grades at Russell.  He went somewhere else
his first year high school, then came to Dunseith for the rest,
graduating together with me in ’48.  He had a beautiful voice in song
and sang at our graduation.   I remember the teacher having us sing
together when we were in the lower grades.  What memories !
Mona Dionne Johnson ’48

From Susan Fassett Martin (65): 

Harry Fassett was the son of Gilbert and Sadie Fassett.  Gilbert was a brother to my grandfather, Wilmar H Fassett.  In my dad’s history book it states, ”  Harry & Rachel (Federick) moved to Dunseith from the Thorne area in 1943.  Harry operated an auto and tractor repair shop and also served on the Dunseith force until 1956 when he moved to Bottineau to become chief of police there.  Their children all completed high school in Dunseith. ”
Harry Fassett and Rachel Frederick had four children:  James, who married Lvonne Cox,  Donald, who married Christine St Pierre, they divorced and Donald remarried Agnes Harris–he died in 1984:  Orville, who marred June Johnson and Carol, who married James Tessin–she is also deceased.

Harry had 12 siblings.  My dad also writes,  ”  Gilbert and Sadie were married in Devils Lake and came to Rolette county in 1897.  They staked their claim in Russell township near Thorne and they lived out their lives on that land.  They lived in a sod shanty until about 1910 when they built the big frame house which served them the rest of their lives.

As a youngster in the 1920′s, I remember that we looked forward to a visit to “uncle Gil and aunt Sadie’s”.  In addition to their large family there always seemed to be lots of company around on Sundays or other special days.  All of their children were talented, though untrained, musicians on a variety of instruments from piano to the mouth organ and jewsharp so there was always singing and dancing.”

I have pictures of Harry and my grandpa holding a stringer of fish that they caught at Belcourt Lake and lots of history. If any of the Harry Fassett family reads this and would like any copies of any family history, please get in contact with me.  I am happy to share.

Bette Nerpel is here in Sd visiting me.  She is a first cousin to my father and 81 years of age.  She had a phlethora of knowledge about the “old” days in Dunseith.  I have been prompting her for memories and stories.  What an interesting  lady to visit with.  She lives in Bottineau.

Thanks for all the memories.  Hugs and prayers.  Susan

Reply from Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

ok   Gary’s  site  it is.  Gary  I think  you have done one  of the nicest things  a person can do you have bought old  friends  , families  and  who  knows  back together again. I have  been blessed  many many time reading  and laughing at the  stories  that  have  been told . Now  I  really do wish someone  would start  spilling  the  secrets  about   the  classes  of   the  younger  groups  like  70  up  I know we have alot of stories  to tell. How about a  few  from BEER Can Alley for a start.  Bev

Reply fromFrom Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Terry Hiatt’s mom was Delores and his grandmother was Julia Hiatt, my

grandmother Myrtle Olson’s sister. Colette, thanks for the compliment
but I think if we remove the memories of Dunseith from our minds, these
stories may be of much less interest. We all remember many places and
things to fill in the gaps in our stories that others would not be able
to do. Thanks for the encouragement though! Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Larry Hackman (66): 

Gary

How are you today?  I hope this finds you and your family well.  Gary this is kind of long.  If you want to save it for a slow day that would fine with me.  You know,  i haven’t given you pie report yet this spring.  the rhubarb was excepional this year.  Maybe because it was a cool spring, it grew slow and tasty.  I had a pie, a upsidedown cake, and a rhubarb crisp.  They all were to die for, if you know what I mean.  DELICIOUS  I can hardly wait for the second cutting.  But, there is nothing like rhubarb in the spring.  Do you have rhubarb on the islands?

You take care Gary and have a good day.

Larry

Larry, Any day is a good day for one of your very interesting stories.  I know a lot of folks will relate to and enjoy this wonderful nostalgic story that you have shared with us today.  Gary

1950′s Saturday Story

The 1950′s Saturday night always began on Friday back on the farm.  The boys were all given hair cuts if needed.  This was done by mother using a scissors.  Then she washed everyones heads.  I remember her digging into our ears.  She said it was to get the grumberras (potatoes) out.  I always thought she was trying to save time by cleaning both ears from one side.  Just kidding mom.  The girls got their hair washed and wrapped around them little silver pipes that were about three inches long and about 3/8 inches in diameter and full of holes for air circulation. Each little pipe had a clamp and wire clip.  The wire clip had a little red bead at the opposite end which snapped into the end of the pipe curler to lock the hair and the pipe together.  Mom plastered the girls heads with these pipes. Then in the evening after the chores were done and before going to bed, it was baths for everyone. Hot water was obtained from the reservoir that was part of the wood burning cast iron cook stove that sat in the corner of the kitchen.  Behind that stove in the winter time was my favorite spot.  It was a great place to soak up the heat right after coming in from freezing outside. The only running water in them days, was the person running back and forth from the pump with a pail.

The next morning mom and dad milked the cows, usually a little later then usual because the cows would have to wait until we got back from town.  The folks then separated the cream from the milk with a hand cranked machine called a cream separator, the cows and horses wee turned out into the pasture for the day, the eggs were gathered and cleaned, the chickens, calves and pigs were fed and watered.

My folks milked 15 to 20 cows every morning and every night by hand. The cows were so tame that in the summer time they just layed around in the barn yard after being chased home by one or all of us kids. Getting the cows home from the pasture for milking in the evening was our job at that time.  The folks would just walk around the barn yard from cow to cow with their pail and milk stool.  The cow would get up when they approached, or would have to be told or bumped with the milk stool to let it know that it was its turn to be milked.  Us kids were also in the barn yard sitting on the cows pretending we were cowboys and occasionally using the cows for water guns in a milk fight. The folks discouraged this, as it was a waste of milk and sometimes they would get shot.  The cats loved it. Mother always claimed she could milk three cows by hand to every one my dad milked by hand, but she was still glad to have the help. She also would get more milk out of each cow. Warm hands? I suppose. She always claimed that my dad was so slow that the cow was going dry while my dad milked it.  For you “city slickers” of which I became one at a young age, a cow can not produce milk unless it gives birth to a calf, so for about two months of every year it does not produce milk and is called a dry cow.  A cow that has just given birth is called a “fresh” cow. A little Biology!  Not only is this information entertaining its educational?

Back to the story and Saturday morning.  We, the still clean kids job, was to stay in the house and stay clean on Saturday morning.  Sometimes on Saturday morning to keep us busy and out of each others hair, mother would pour the ingrediants, milk, cream, sugar, and salt into a churn and we took turns, turning the crank to make butter and of course to get our reward.  Drinking the buttermilk.  If their was no butter to churn and nothing else to do we boys busied ourselves by adjusting them pipes attached to the girls heads.  We figured if we adjusted them just right we could make contact with them space aliens out there.  We found by twisting and turning these pipes in the girls hair we could get all kinds of volume and just when we thought we were about to make contact with them aliens, mom would come with the broom and we boys would have to make a run for it.  She must of thought that we would make contact and she would have more work preparing for company?  Mom didn’t want any unexpected guests for dinner because we were going to town.  We called lunch, dinner, and dinner, supper back on the farm. Confused, I still am. Back to the pipe curlers!  We, boys knew if we adjusted them just right, that we would have made contact with them space aliens (at least it sounded like we were about to make contact) Just think if we would have made contact, we would all be rideing in space ships by now,  instead of having a few astronauts out there, orbiting around the planet trying to thumb a ride?

Back to the curlers?  In the sixties didn’t the girls start rolling their hair around  beer cans?  Yes, I think some did drink the contents before they put them in their hair.  Their hair didn’t turn out as nice but I don’t think they cared. Maybe some of them made contact with the space aliens.  Let us know, would you.

Remember the eyebrow pencils.  Some made the brow curl up on one side and on the other eye it would curl down.  You didn,t know if they were winking or blinking. Probably to much beer?

Remember dad getting ready for town.  He would get out that straight razor and run it across them razor straps.  It sounded like somebody getting spanked on a bear bottom.  Then he would take this large cup and add a little water into it, and then stir the contents with this brush until it created a foam. Then he would take this brush and paint this foam all over his face.  Probably scared the aliens away?  He would then again run the razor over the straps to sharpen it more, and then he would use that sharp instrument to scrape the foam and the beard from his face.  I remember in some houses in the kitchen there hung a razor strap with each boys name on it.  These people had girls but they never had any of the girls names on any of the razor straps? Go figure.

After lunch (dinner) the car was loaded with the crate of eggs, (12 dozen eggs) that were gathered and cleaned all week and usually a couple 8 gal. containers (cream cans) of cream that was separated from the cows milk with the hand cranked machine.  The kids were all put in the back seat except for the trouble maker, who had to sit up front between mom and dad. The littlest kid was held by dad as mom would drive. Dad was already losing the ability to move his legs due to MS.

Remember the beautiful scenic drive on old highway #3 through the Turtle Mountians.  That highway curled around

and over the hills and up against  the shores of the lakes as it took you into town. It still is a pretty drive but not as pretty as it once was.

Remember when the San hill was really a steep hill with a small hill and curve at the bottom.  We use to try, and did pass some cars up, while going down it on our bicycles.  Remember Garret Myers had the first new 3 speed in town.  He wiped out with his new red bike on the hill while rideing it from the Peace Gardens to town.  He broke his arm and was covered with street pizza (abrasions).

We the Hackman were now entering Dunsieth for a fun saturday and to get our supplies for another week on the farm.  Cruiseing into town and just before we would hit that intersection north of Morgan Lumber Co., mom would roll down her window and throw her arm straight out the window and keep it there.  I always thought she did that to keep that old 1948 maroon Chevy upright as we made that left turn.

We would pass by Johnsons.  Don had the first new Ford Mustang car in town. I remember standing in their yard with several other people admiring it. Don and Dick always wore the glasses with the Buddy Holly frames. I was diagnosed with needing glasses in the 5th grade, and I wanted a pair of them black framed glasses, but the lady that was helping me pick out the frame, said I was good looking enough to wear any type frame and presuaded me to chose another.  I still wish I would have chosen the black frames as I would have felt more comfortable around town.  A few that wore the black frames were John Morgan, Don Egbert, Larry Metcalf, Wayne Smith, Gregory LaCroix, Gary Stokes, and Kenny Nerpal.  Ken it was too bad about you not making it, to the barn dance.  I know you made it to the house, but the house was only half way between the parking area and the barn.  There were several people in the house visiting, but the party and the band were in the barn. And Kenny there was even a fiddler in the band.  You and Haggard Merl may also be right about the hay loft.  There was straw falling down from between the loft floor boards, but I thought it was falling because of the vibration of the music. You sure missed a good barn dance by leaving so fast?

As we proceeded east on the street and where we took a right turn in front of the Northern Hotel,  where Egberts lived, you noticed the wood piles.  Someone had stacked the wood so that the split side of the blocks all faced outward and were placed in straight lines from the top center of the pile down to the ground.  The piles of wood looked more like hay stacks then a pile of split wood. Who had the time?  The piles were located in the area, where the Kalk house would be built. Believe it or not, Dan Kalk, had a path worn into the sod of them hills east of the San Haven to his house located about one mile east of the San, from walking back and forth to work.  Remember Dorothy Egbert who grew them sunflower plants that were 10 ft. tall.  She made the Turtle Mountian Star. Dorothy probably should of been a botanist, as she also had flowers blooming all year long in her planters out in front of the hotel.  Adrian Egbert who would do almost anything to win a bet said, “that he once ate 49 boiled eggs to win a bet”.  Adrian who also ran a taxie, like Gary Metcalf mentioned, took a fare from Dunseith to Seattle and back without stopping to sleep.  Which would be quite a feat even with todays roads and vehicles.

The Leonard house was the next one we went by on the street going south after we made a right turn in front the northern Hotel.

I remember Ed Leonard being the C.O.P. and being parked by the phone booth in front of the Dakota Hotel.  He always had a smile and would give you that famous one finger wave.  No, not that finger, it was with the pointer finger off the brim of his stetson hat.

We would take another right at the end of Leonard’s yard and go west and in a half of a block we would arrive at the Bottineau Creamery.  There Floyd Dion would help unload the cream and take it into the creamery for weighing and testing. The folks would get a cream check that would would enable them to buy groceries for another week.  Then we would drive up to either Hassen’s Store or Sine’s Store to sell the  eggs. At Hassen,s Store, O’Neal, we called him Neal, who would take out a 1″ by 10″ board about 3 feet long and lay it between the backs of two chairs. He then hung a light beneath the board. In the center of this board was a 11/2″ diameter hole that he would set eggs into one at a time.  The light beneath the board would cause the egg to become translucent. This was called egg candling. I guess if he saw something looking back at him from the egg, he would make balute?

After the folks got paid for the eggs they would give each of us kids a nickle and tell us to buy something that lasts, because thats all we were getting to spend.  So we would buy either a black cow or a sugar daddy sucker and then we were on our own to run run the streets of Dunseith, while the folks ran their errands and visited with other folks.  There were people every where.  The sidewalks were crowded with kids running everywhere and with grownups in circles visiting and some always moving from business to business.  The streets were full of vehicles from one end to the other, even the side streets were full.  Saturday night in Dunseith was like one huge carnival.  I remember there was usally a wagon parked between the Red Owl and the Bakery selling popcorn.  I couldn,t afford any popcorn because I had already spent my nickle, but I remember it sure smelled good and added to the atmosphere that I as a 6 year old farm kid, remember well.   Saturday night. It was a great night.  When it was dark and time to go home the folks would gather us all up and put us into the car.  We the kids, would all fall asleep on the trip home,  We would be put to bed when we got home and then the folks would go out and milk the cows and take care of the animals, to start the routine all over, to prepare for the next Saturday night.

It would be fun to go back to them times.

I hope this at least brought back some memories and maybe put a smile on your face.  Them were the days!

larry

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Axel Johnson told me about an incident from our area, from way back.
There was a bachelor named Carl Strand who lived near the southwest
shore of Sucker lake. He lived in a small house and liked to do a little
too much drinking at times. Axel kind of kept an eye on him to see that
things were OK. There was a small opening in the trees along the creek
from Sucker lake to Horseshoe lake where Axel could see the smoke from
Strands chimney if the wind wasn’t too strong. He said that after a bad
winter snowstorm he looked over to see smoke but there was none. He went
over and knocked on the door but got no response. He said he opened the
door and went in and found Carl, sitting, sleeping by his table. The
house was very cold so Axel went over and told him he better wake up and
build a fire or he might freeze to death! Axel said he didn’t move so he
touched his arm and he was frozen solid! Axel notified the sheriff and
they came up with a sleigh and horses and loaded him in the sleigh. He
was frozen in a sitting position and when they laid him down he looked
grotesque, so they went by the straw pile and covered him with straw to
not scare people they might meet on the road back to Dunseith! I told
this story to Bill Fassett several years ago and when I said they
covered him with straw, Bill pointed at me and asked if I knew the rest
of the story? I told him that was all Axel had said to me. Bill said his
dad, Wilmar [Old Bill] went along with the undertaker to get the body
and told Bill that when they got to town, they sneaked the body into the
back of the funeral parlor and then went over to the hardware and
borrowed a livestock water tank , which they filled with hot water to
thaw the guy out! Together we had the whole story from start to finish!
Carl Strand had a brother from Minnesota, named Andrew, who moved to
Carl’s house and stayed until the early 50s. Grandpa Hans Johnson bought
the land when Andrew went to the Old Soldier’s home in Lisbon, ND. We
still call the land the ‘Strand place’, to this day! Thanks Gary!

Dick

 Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): 

Yes, Gary, Bernice (Seim) Lindberg moved back from the west coast in the late sixties/early 70′s, worked at San Haven and married Elmer Lindberg.

When my mom was recovering from brain tumor surgery in January of 1980, Bernice volunteered for a few days to stay and help my mom.  (My dad was blind from diabetes and Mom, after the tumors destruction, was also blind in one eye)

In the 80′s, when she became infirm from illness,  Bernice moved to Bottineau Good Sam. for more specialized nursing.  I recall that  Elmer moved into Golden Keys apts. across the street then to be close by her, where he visted her every day.

And, I recall when  she was hospitalized at St. Andrews and her son came to visit, Elmer was never far from her, gruff and blunt.

Yes, Elmer could be gruff, but beneath the crusty exterior, his old fashioned heart was kind.

Ah..from one farm kid to another,  I also remember the days of pickin rocks, which seemed to always multiply and grow especially after a good disc ing!  Vickie

From Lois Lilleby Fielding (51):

Hi Gary:  I have been very interested in hearing about Tim Hill and his progress.  Years ago, when I worked at the University of Minnesota Hospitals, he had heart surgery there, and I was happy to give a pint of my blood for his surgery.  Murl Hill is a friend, of course.  Lois Lilleby Fielding.

From Bob Hosmer (56): 

I’m enjoying the reflection of Dunseith friends and acquaintances.  Reading the barber shop stories brought back memories.  I’m glad Sharon Peterson shared about Marlin Williams.  I visited Dunseith once when he was barbering and he cut my hair–twice in fact.  The first time was Ok, but I came back the next day to have him do some finishing touches.

Does anybody have any memories of camping on Wild Cat Island just north of town or hiking up to Indian Mound and Mineral Springs.  Those areas were wonderful kinds of retreats for me.

By the way, my email address will change on July 24th from rkhosmer@ torkhosmer@ .  Please use the former until that day.  Thanks, Gary, for all the wonderful work you are doing to keep all of us in touch with each other.

Bob Hosmer (56)

From Bev Morniville Azure (72): 

Colette, I agree  Dick  needs to write a book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I  also  think we need a  name  for this  blog .  When I  am  telling  people  about  it  I  never  really know what to call it. ie  i tell my  husband  everynite  what has  been  written for the  day  so I  call it the  Gary site.  Bev

Bev, The Gary sight is just fine.  I have each and every group message saved to include the many massages that were shared with the class of 65 before we expanded to include the whole Dunseith alumni. There are several thousand or more messages in all.  That’s a ton of history with a lot of pictures. In the future, some ambitious person could compile all this into a book. It would be a lot of work, but would make a very nice book. It would be a big book. Gary

Reply from Alan (42) & Phyllis Campbell:

Note: Cathy, I should have double checked the spelling of your name. The Article had Kathy.  Gary

Gary:  In answer to your request for the names of those at the ribbon cutting at the Grand Opening of the new Bottineau Security State Bank they are as follows:  left to right: Jeff Campbell (class of 76), Phyllis, Cathy (class of 73), Jeremy (Jeff’s son who is working this summer at the Botno bank and is a Junior at U. of Mary in Bismarck),Alan, Bottineau Mayor Doug Marsden, Donovan Bertsch (a bank director), Rich  (class of 68 and also a bank director) and David (class of 71).    A little correction on the story – William (Bill) Campbelll came to the bank in Dunseith i n 1933 from Omemee where he, Violet and Alan were living.  Several Dunseith businessmen including W.E. Hosmer, Joe Lamoureaux and Wm. Gottbreht among others asked him to come to Dunseith to run the bank.   I forgot to mention above that Alan was a graduate in the class of 1942.  He went to Jamestown College where eventully he and Phyllis met!    These parents are very proud of all their children and the good education they received in Dunseith and thank you and others for your nice comments!Incidentally all four kids are happily married and all living in North Dakota!  Alan and Phyllis have ten grandchildren – all out of high school now – plus two great-grandchildren.   We do enjoy reading the emails from near and far!

Picture provided by Neolo Kofoid Garbe: neolag@min.midco.net

Jim Sr. is deceased and Mildred rescently moved to the Good Samaritan home in Bottineau.

Jim & Mid Fulsebakke children:

Message/Picture from Dick Johnson(68): 

Gary and Friends,

Sharon was correct. Right after Godfreys left, Marlin Williams had the
barber shop between the bowling alley and the drugstore. I guess the
cleaners, where Lyda Kolberg worked, was just on the south side of the
drugstore and then the barber shop. One time when I was eleven and Terry
Hiatt was 10, I went in to get a haircut from Marlin. He grinned at me
and said, “So you are going to be a barber”! I said, “What–no”! He said
Terry was just in and had him cut all his hair off because of the mess
‘I’ made! Here Terry had tried to give himself a haircut and cut a strip
right down the middle and was embarrassed, so he told Marlin I did it!
He used one of the old time hand clippers and really cut it short.
Terry spent a lot of time with me as he lived with his grandmother for
several years off and on. He came back from Washington in 1967 and went
with us on a trip to the Worlds Fair in Montreal, Quebec. It was called
Expo 67.From Montreal we went to NY City and down the coast clear
to Virginia and back home. The attached picture is of Terry on our back
step that summer with my first guitar. I bought the guitar from a guy
for $5. as it was in two pieces. I fixed it up and played it for several
years until  after Brenda and I were married, when she bought me a
better one for my birthday. Later in life, Terry and his brother Randy
had a band and traveled from Washington as far as Montana playing night
spots. Do you suppose he got the ‘itch’ from my old guitar? Thanks Gary!

Dick

Dick, Who was Terry’s Grandmother?

Message/pictures from Allen Richard (65):

To those who remember my daughter form the reunion, here she is at the National Cherry Festival Parade in Traverse City, MI last weekend.  She went from 8th grade band to the Bullock Creek 90 piece varsity marching band.  The Lancers Marching band have been at this parade for the last 45 years.  Susan was in the parade for three years.  Alaina will beat her by a year.

Alaina is working on a U-Tube page with her piano teacher.  For her 5th grade talent show, she accompanied herself in the performance of “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera.  She also does the vocals for our agency video.

www.literacymidland.org

Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Note: Harry Fassett was the cheif of police in Bottineau for a perod of time.

Do any of you remember any of the Harry Fassett family?  Gary

From Sharon Peterson Harmsen (63): 

Hi Gary,

Recent emails have prompted me to write again.  But first of all, please take a moment to visit the CaringBridge website for Tim Hill as outlined in the email dated July 14th.  The site is: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/timhill and is easy to use.  I just did and it sounds like Tim is doing OK with his new organs in spite of a few minor setbacks.  What a great guy to receive such a special gift of life from another special family (the donor family).

The barber stories caused me to think of another barber that no one has mentioned yet and that was my uncle, Marlin Williams.  He barbered in the shop south of the drug store for several years and I always felt special when I was able to go stay with he and Doris in their apartment behind the shop.   Me and my friends had great fun sitting in the barber chair and spinning around and pretending we were “doing each other’s hair”………….I believe Marlin also was a regular barber at San Haven when those residents needed a hair cut.

And stories of Eva Seim are very special to me as she was my teacher for my first three grades when we attended country school south of their farm.   Our families were very good friends and spent much time together over the years.  She and Art were very special people to me and I still have mementos from both of them;   An ID bracelet from Eva with my name engraved and silver dollars from Art.  Art and I always enjoyed each other’s company because he and I both liked being around horses.

Gary, as like everyone else, I wait for my “Dunseith Fix” every morning.  Thanks for all you do to keep us connected.

Sharon Peterson Harmsen

Colette Hosmer’s (64) reply to Dick Johnson (68): 

Dick,

You’ve got to write a book. The world need a collection of your stories — start now!

Colette

Ardys Bakken Horner (teacher) to Dick Johnson (68): 

This is to Dick Johnson and his Pals…I am surprised he survived his childhoold with the stunts he pulled?  Ardys Bakken Horner

From Kenny Nerpel (65):

Gary,

Just a note to let you know I have changed my email address to

Kenny

From Dick Johnson (64): 

Gary,

When you mentioned your brother Allen ‘Big Ally’, I was just wondering
what he has been doing for the last 45 years or so? I heard that he was
working in Wyoming many years back, but I see he is now in San Diego.
Just curious! Thanks!

Dick

Dick, My brother Allen and his wife Janet, have been living in San Diego since about 1991. Allen is the maintenance man for a larger apartment complex in SD.  I just talked to them several days ago. Things are going fine for them.  Allen is scheduled to have corrective lazar surgery done on both his eyes in several weeks. He’s hoping to restore his vision to 20/10.

San Diego is a nice city. In 2002 the shipyard sent me down there, for nearly 4 months, to work on one of the Submarine overhauls that our yard was in charge of. That same year I spent 6 months at Kings Bay Georgia working on a Trident Submarine Overhaul that our yard was also in charge of.  Had we not moved to the Philippines in retirement, I think we would have retired in the Jacksonville Florida area.  When I was in Kings Bay, we really liked that area. Gary

From Dick Johnson (64): 

Gary and Friends,

Gary, when you mentioned Elmer Lindberg and his 46 Ford Coupe, it
brought the memory of that old car sitting in the trees west of his
house. I think, if I remember right, Tim Martinson bought it and drove
it for a while in high school. I know Tim reads and comments on this
blog, so maybe he can fill us in a bit as to what became of it. How
about it, Tim Bear?? Again, as always, thank you Gary!

Dick

From Lee (Leland) Stickland (64): 

Gary,

On 7-11-08. your send date, I was paging through YOUR great daily provisions of news and saw my name,  Lee Stickland WHOA.  Sure enough, as I paged down, there was my Grand Father.

Yesterday I printed a copy of that photo which my cousin, Sharon Peterson Hermson had provided and was kindly included in your sending of  # 157.

I took that printed image to the nursing home for Dad to see and to have.

He determined that his father LEE is sitting on the right; not on the left,   I interpret the original accompanying caption to evince that Lee is one the left?

This morning, 7-16-08, I called Joy Peterson, Sharon’s Mom and my Dad’s sister and she confirmed that indeed Lee Stickland is on the right as the picture is viewed.

Edward le’ Marchant Stickland became known as LEE; circumstance for aka not being known by me.  I saw Dad this morning after talking with Joy and I learned that my grandfather LEE was born in 1896, died at age 53, in 1949 when I was 3 years old.

A 4th cousin, Diane Creamer, who lives in Madera, CA called me over a years ago.  She asked if I knew a Edward Stickland.  I replied that I did not.  She said his middle name and I said sure that is my grandfather.  She than said that she is my 4th cousin.

Diane has a drive to detect genealogies and has done so with the Sticklands’, way back to John and Mary (Tucker) living in Somersetshire about 1810.

Geroge Tucker Stickland born Feb 14, 1816 in Bristol, England and died in

Iowa January 6, 1861 having been the first recorded Stickland to locate to and in America.

Just ramblin’, Gary but wanted to provide the above info re: the names for the gentlemen shown in the picture that is herein referenced.

Gary, it is much said but not be me,  YOUR labors of daily duty for the enjoyment of and by so many is to be heralded.

Lee Stickland

Lee, Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention.  I have reattached the photo with the corrections below.  Gary

Front L to R: Max Peterson, Nels Landsverk &  Lee Stickland
Back: Ray Brennan

Security State Bank & the Alan Campbell Family:

Folks,

I have gotten the Bottineau Courant ever since I left ND in 1966.  That will come to an end next month though, when my current subscription runs out. Starting about 8 months ago they had to start adding a declartion form with each issue when sending it to me here in the Philippines.  Instead of costing less than a dollar for sending 2nd class, it now costs over $4.00.  The currant is sucking up the extra expense until my prescription runs out.

I just got this paper announcing the opening of the Dunseith bank branch in Bottineau.  I think pretty much everyone of us know the Campbell Family.  They have been in the banking business in the Dunseith community since 1905. They have served the community well. Alan & Phyllis and each of their children, Jeff, Rich, Dave & Kathy are all on our distribution list. They are wonderful folks.

With the Campbell family being so well known in our community, I just wanted to share this with you folks.  I know that they have a great staff working for them too.

Can anyone identify those in the ribbon cutting picture?

Gary

From  Pamela Fugere Schmidt (73): 

Gary, Vickie, and all:

Saw Vickie’s write-up on Eva Seim and have to credit her as the Teacher who had the most impact on me…sharing a love of reading that blossomed into a love of lifelong learning.  This was a Teacher who changed many lives.  If memory serves me, she taught my father and most if not all of my siblings.

Pamela Fugere Schmidt
Vice President
www.siamarketing.com

Gary’s reply to Vickie Metcalfe:

Vickie,

You mentioned Bernice Seim was married to your uncle Archie Metcalfe.  A few years after Archie’s passing, Bernice was married to Elmer Lindberg.  Elmer lived about a half mile into Bottineau county on hwy 43 (Peace Garden road) up in the hills.  Alice McKay and Elmer were siblings.  Bernice became an aunt to all the McKay siblings too.  Until he got married to Bernice, Elmer had been a bachelor his entire life.  My brother Allen and I picked lots of rocks for Elmer from his fields.  He had some fields to the north of his buildings that continually grew healthy rocks.  Elmer was quite a guy with his, whine twitched, heavy Norwegian accent and his old 46 ford coupe.  Elmer always treated Allen and me well.  He sometimes came across as being a little gruff, but he was basically a very nice guy.

After Bernice died, Elmer moved into Bottineau into the apartments located across the street to the south of the Good Samaritan home.  He volunteered lots of hours over at Good Sam, folding towels, etc.

Gary

From Allen Richard (65):

To Angela– Thank you for asking about Susan.  She is doing very well.  Chemo therapy will be her choice.  The doctors at Mayo are not telling her to do it–but not telling her not to take it  either.   If she chooses to go ahead with it we should still have all this behind us by early next year.  Amazing how even a mild case of breast cancer can take a year out of your life.

On a couple of happier notes, I now have 3 — count-em 3 grandsons.  Cooper Allen Parisien was born last Friday.  Jack and Kelani live in Jamestown.  He is director of security and safety at the State Hospital and she is an electrical engineer with Goodrich.

Also I have a trip to Seattle coming up in late October.  Business related, but I’m tacking on some time on both ends.  Hope to see a few of our dozens of relatives out there — and maybe stay with Aunt Louise.

You free for coffee say Nov. 2 in Minneapolis?

You can fill me in on the rest of your visit with the Robert boys!

Dave Wurgler’s (64) reply to Bev Morinville (72): 

Bev:  Hey that was great, brought a lot of memories as far as the cars, songs movies and all things that happened in that era. It was a blast growing up and cruisin in the 60′s. My third car was a 1960 white Chevy Impala 2 dr hard top which I had before leaving Dunseith in 1966. There was a lot of main st. cruisin in Dunseith with that car plus a lot of trips to Botno to check out and hook up with a few gals. THE GOOD OLE TIMES hahaha.  Thanks Bev and Gary keep up the good job and the e-mails comming, very interesting. Dave (64)

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

A while back I sent some stories about Axel Johnson, my grandfather’s
brother. A third person story about Axel was told to me by John Brennan.
John said that years ago someone set off a 55 gallon barrel at the gas
station in Dunseith, and said they would fill it with gas when they were
ready to go home. He said the kid working at the station filled it while
it was on the ground. The guys stopping by the gas station asked him how
he thought he could get it back up into the back of the pickup, as a
full barrel of gas weighs over 400 lbs! Then of course there was a
argument over how much the barrel weighed! Axel came in during this
discussion and someone asked him how much it weighed. Before he could
answer, one of the guys said it was over 400 lbs, to which Axel replied,
“No it can’t be, because I can lift a barrel of gas and I can’t lift 400
lbs”! John told me Axel wrapped his arms around the barrel and then
stood up, lifting the barrel off the ground! He then said, “See, it
don’t weigh no 400lbs”! John said to me, “That was the most ‘inhuman’
thing I have ever seen’!! Just one of many stories about Axel! Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Loraine Neameyer Haas (72): 

I can identify the  David Eurich Family with the help of Mary Knutson whom I work with.  Back Row:  Sharon Hanson, Eileen Nelson, Norman Eurich, David Eurich.  Front Row:  Mary Knutson, Dorothy Strietzel, Jean Roland, Winifred Eurich.

Loraine Neameyer Haas

Loraine, Mary was with the class of 62.  She was married to Leroy (Bud) Knutson (Deceased).  Winifred is a Pritchard, sister to Robert & Corbin, originally from the Ackworth community.  Corbin Pritchard was married to my mothers sister Luella.  She died in 1944, with TB, at San Haven. Gary

Back L to R:  Sharon Hanson, Eileen Nelson,
Norman Eurich, David Eurich
Font L to R: Mary Knutson, Dorothy Strietzel,
Jean Roland, Winifred Eurich

Carolee Casavant Halvorson’s (75) reply to Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

My husbands name is Jeff. His parents were from Rolette. Both are deceased. Thier names were Orris (Bud) and Leslie Halvorson. Jeff’s Grandfather is John Fish also the father in law to Margie Landsverk Fish .                                       Carolee Halvoson

 Carolee, If I’m comprehending this all right, Margie Landsverk (57) is your husbands aunt.  I had no idea that you guys were related.  Gary

Sharon Longie Dana (73): 

Gary and Friends,

Rod was right, Hank’s haircuts weren’t the best! One time we had a

basketball game in Rolla, for seventh or eighth grade players, and when
I went out on the floor to play, Mom heard somebody behind her laugh and
say, “I wonder where he got his haircut”? She said she was so
embarrassed because she was sitting with all her Dunseith friends! There
were spots where Hank cut right down to the ‘wood’, like they say! I
used to look through the window at the guys waiting for a haircut and
then decide whether or not to go in or come back the next day. Hank
never disinfected his electric clipper, most of the time he never even
shut it off between haircuts! Some of the guys hadn’t had a haircut for
a long time and I was not too sure what they might be carrying in that
mess! The other barbers, south of the drugstore, were probably the
Godfreys. There was a father and son who both were barbers. The older
Godfrey used to do the entire haircut with only a scissor, and of course
a straight edge razor around the bottom. His haircuts were just as good
as anyones, old school I suppose. There is a short joke about the guy
who went in for a haircut. As the barber was getting ready, the guy
explained how he wanted it cut. He wanted it longer on one side than the
other, real short in the back, and some long hair in the front that
falls in his eyes every time he looks down. The barber said, “I don’t
know if I can give you a haircut like that”. The guy said, “Why not, you
did last time”!!! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Bev Morinvill Azure’s (72) Reply to Dave Wurgler (64): 

Dave  , thanks  for  the  memories  I  do remember some of those  but  I am younger  then  you  so i clicked onhttp://cruzintheavenue.com/TakeMeBackToTheSixties.htm so  if  you are  younger  then  Dave and his  fellow seniors ( in all  due respected to them)  click on this link and  be  taken  back to  another   great time in  history.

  GOD  BLESS YOU …………BEV

From Vickie Metcalfe (70): 

Gary, to  Neola…..

Fern Berube is Musette (Berube’s)  (class of ’74) mom.  Fern, I believe, was married to Lawrence Berube and   the sister in law to Eva (Berube) Seim, & Fortune  and Edward Berube, Mrs. Dionne, etal.. .. The Berube’s were a huge family all related to Jim Berube.   They  were also related to the Mongeon’s & Greniers.

Eva (Berube) Seim  of French descent, was raised in the Thorne area ,taught rural schools before teaching first grade at Dunseith. She met and married Arthur Seim, of Norweigian descent.  Their son, Edwin graduated from Dunseith High School.  Their two daughters, Marion and Margaret graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Willow City.

My dad, Cliff lived with the  John  & Ingrid Seim and Art & Eva Seim families, as a teen., prior to WW II.  They all were wonderful mentors and kind of… family, as Bernice Seim, Art’s sister was married to my uncle, Archie A. Metcalfe.

John Seim encouraged Dad to be baptized and confirmed when he drove my dad to Little Prairie Lutheran Church on Sundays. I was blessed to stay after school at times, with Grandma Seim, who  lived  about 1/2 block from the big white school house.  I have fond memories of Art and Eva (Berube) Seim, wonderful friends and neighbors growing up, as my parents purchased the farm adjacent  to Art and Eva.

Eva was close to her Berube family, often showing me pictures of them and spoke highly of them. One of Eva’s sisters worked for the foreign service in Europe…. Nuff said… Vickie Metcalfe

Picture/message from Angela Berube Malget (65):

Hi Gary and all,

I can identify the Edward Berube family picture.  Front row left to

right is Gary, Perry, Evelyn (Edward’s wife) holding their youngest
child Tim, Sharon and (as Evie said), either Tanya or Briana, Sharon’s
daughter.  Back row, left to right is Brian, Brenda, my Uncle Edward and
their son in law, Dave Kelly (Sharon’s husband).  Eldon was not included
in this picture.  Evie, you were so right about Dave–great guy and his
friends he introduced us to were equally as nice.  Remember, (Cecile and
Marge too), how they showed us all a very good time in our first
ventures to Minneapolis??  I should also mention here that Brenda is
battling cancer right now while maintaining such a positive attitude.
While this blog has been so enjoyable, we’ve also learned about so many
of you that are going through difficult health problems.  There is truth
to the saying that when you have your health, you have everything.

To Evie–thanks for your kind words about my Mom.   She is doing well in
her assisted living arrangement and enjoying the activities they have to
offer.  She does a lot of greeting card making.  She too has a positive
attitude.  I consider myself lucky to still have a parent living.

To the Tim Hill family–my best to all of you.  We haven’t heard for a
few days.  I do hope everything is going well.

To Allen Richard–how is Susan doing?

I was really happy to hear about Lise Rosseau a few weeks back.  I had
been meaning to ask.  I knew she had married Larry Metcalfe but didn’t
see her on the roster.  I will try to get in touch with her.

I am sending a picture of me and my family on the 10th Ave. bridge here
in Minneapolis which is downstream from the new 35W bridge.  They have
been conducting tours every Saturday morning.  We took the tour
yesterday, July 12.  As you can see on the left, the final gap on the
bridge (both north and southbound lanes) will be filled with concrete
sometime this week.  They expect to be completed 2-3 months ahead of the
target date of December 24th.  On the left is my daughter Sarah, a
senior at Mankato State (approx. 80 miles south of Minneapolis), Danelle
who works with the National Park Service in Fort Collins, CO.,
(currently home on vacation), my husband Greg, and me.  We had 40 mile
an hour winds that day (just a bit strong) but temperatures in upper
70′s – a gorgeous day!  I have listed the website for much more
information and pictures.  It’s all very interesting.

http://projects.dot.state.mn.us/35wbridge/index.html

Thank you again Gary and Bernadette for all time and effort you have
given to re-connect so many people.

Angela Berube Malget

Angela,You have a very nice looking family.  This is the first picture that I have ever seen of your girls.  Gary

Tim Hill’s (68) Web Site (Laurie Evans Hill (75): 

Hello Gary,
Sorry that I didn’t have the site address down for you; this is
what they have listed: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/timhill.
Thanks for all that you do to keep us connected to the hometown–
we have had fun reading all the stories while Tim has spent alot
of time in the hospital the last two years. We can usually find something to laugh at when going online with you! Tim has had a really good day-it’s truly a miracle, it’s hard to believe a week has gone by already-once he is out we will have to stay close for 3 months, they have a Transplant house for patients and their caregiver-so far they are full, but might have an opening next week- there are alot of transplant patients right now and it’s great to see them come out into the hallways to walk with their family and just see the smiles on their faces.Thanks again Gary, Laurie Hill

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

Thank you so much for including the picture of Angela, Evie, you, Bill, and also the picture taken on Fern’s 90th birthday.  In the email I sent to Angela/Mrs. Berube, I wrote Mrs. Berube was a beautiful lady (in the picture), and I was sure she still is.  I can tell from the picture you sent, I was right–she is still a beautiful lady.  I can also tell she’s beautiful outside AND inside. 

Thanks to Evie and Carolee for your comments.

Neola

From Rod Hiatt (69): 

Dick remembers Hank the Barber because of his old car, well I remember

Hank because he always had some horses out on his little farm west of
Dunseith.
My Dad seemed to always be doing some type of horse trading with him,
but Hank never seemed to want to finish the trade as he hated to part
with the one he already had.
There was another barber in town by the name of Pat ?, who had his shop
just south of the drug store. Now Pat was actually a better barber than
Hank, but he was
also I think 2 bits or 50 cents higher. Now with Hank you had basically
2 choices of haircut, a butch crew cut or his zip you up the sides and
back of the neck and kind of give you that bowl on the head look. As I
got a little older and needed a haircut, I would tell Mom or Dad that I
was going to Pat the Barber for the more expensive hair cut, but would
go to Hank and use the extra money to buy candy and pop. Even back then
we knew that it was only the matter of a few days between and good
haircut and one of Hanks. I really never figured  that was actually
telling my folks a lie it was kind of just out smarting them a little,
but I’m sure they had something figured out when I wore my hat pretty
much day and night for that first week.
From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

It seems as though kids survive things that could be deadly. There was a

movie at the Althea that was a detective-cop type, good guy, bad guy
show starring Robert Culp. I can’t remember who his partner was, but
they were both the good guys and were being hunted and chased by the bad
guys. One scene in the movie caused a bunch of us to debate whether or
not it could be true. Robert Culp sneaked up behind the bad guy’s car
and put a piece of newspaper in the filler pipe for the gas tank, and
lit it on fire! He then circled around and took of in his 61 T-Bird with
the crooks on his tail. All at once their car exploded in flames and
flew up in the air! I said it wouldn’t blow up like that! John Bogus
said it might. There was a controversy with a few others adding, “It
would not, or it would, too”! This grew into an issue! One night we were
cruising around town in my 47 Plymouth and started to debate the
explosion again. We usually made at least one pass through the old dump
ground on our cruises, just to see the new ‘arrivals’. This night
someone had dragged in an old 48 Chevy four door and then pulled off the
wheels and tires and dropped it on the ground. We decided to end this
debate right now! I parked my car up on the main road and we walked over
and removed the gas cap and sniffed the tank. It had fresh gas in the
tank, but we had no way of knowing how much. I laid on the ground and
tapped the bottom of the tank and it sounded empty. We put a piece of
paper in the tank filler pipe and then argued about WHO was going to
light it! John said, “You are the one who says it won’t blow up like the
show, YOU light it”! Now I’m not quite as sure! I carried a small can of
gas in my trunk so took that and poured a small line of gas from the
paper down the fender and across the ground for about twenty feet. After
that I put the can back in the trunk and the guys all headed for the
road by my car. I stood back and threw a match! I remember turning to
run and heard this loud bang behind me! The rocks and dirt passed me on
my run to the car! The expressions on the faces of my friends told me
something big was going on behind me! I turned around just as the rear
of car was coming back down! They said it was about four or five feet in
the air! It didn’t burn because the tank was empty, but gas fumes
explode, not gas! John won! I lost! Debate over! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Folks,

I thought I’d share the file of the 16 Casavant siblings that I have in my records.  They are all still living and as you can seeall but Joe and Aggie live in ND.  They are a wonderful close knit family.  I remember Mrs. Casavant, well, working in the lunch room of the old school basement cafeteria in the early 60′s.  I have talked to Mary Ann, many times, putting these class lists together.

She is always so friendly and nice.  Rene & Joe were in my class of 65.  I saw Rene, Joe and Gerald, numerous times, this last

summer at the reunion. Wonderful folks.

I know many of you know at least several members of this family. Now you can see the whole family list.

Gary

                                                 The Casavant Family of 16 siblings

Pictures provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Folks, Please identify those in these pictures.

Terry & LeaRae, this is a good picture of you guys even if Terry does have his eyes closed.

             Terry Espe & LeaRae Parrill

           Dean Pigeon Family, stamped May 13, 1970

From Dave Wurgler (64):

Burma Shave with the Statler Brothers

You may needto watch it twice;once to watch the Burma shave signs change and once to catch all the pictures plus listening to the music of the Statler Brothers. THIS IS REALLY GREAT. For those of you too young to remember “too badyou missed it!”